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6 Awesome Things to Do on San Juan Island
San Juan Island is one of Washington State’s favorite summer destinations. Situated within eyeshot of Canada in the northern Puget Sound, the fleck of emerald land defies the hustle and bustle of nearby Seattle. On San Juan Island, the pace of daily life slows to a peaceful amble. It is the type of destination that lures relaxation-seekers and nature-lovers. The type of place where lapping waves and cooing seabirds act as a soundtrack to the scenery. Among its eclectic mix of things to do, the island boasts natural, artistic and…
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Cascade Loop Road Trip in Washington
Washington’s Cascade Loop paints a dramatic portrait of the Pacific Northwest’s raw and wild scenery. The area’s roadside attractions feature granite mountain peaks that reach toward the sky, quaint towns nestled among greenery, and emerald islands sprinkled across cobalt waters. While many stops along the Cascade Loop are must-sees on their own, together they form an unforgettable road trip itinerary. Along its course, the road trip reveals a tapestry of lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains. With twisting scenic byways and opportunities for jaunts into untamed wilderness, the 440 mile loop…
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The Mighty 5: A Guide to Utah’s National Parks
Southern Utah is an expansive desert wilderness that beckons travelers from around the world. One of nature’s great canvases, it features chiseled canyons, red rock hoodoos, delicate arches, soaring cliffs, and lonely unpaved roads. I’ve said it often and I’ll say it again: There’s no place quite like southern Utah. While the United States has its fair share of breathtaking landscapes, southern Utah is truly out of this world. The legendary area—home to some of the American Southwest’s signature attractions—boasts some of the most iconic desertscapes on Earth. Its swath…
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Best Hikes in Zion National Park
Zion National Park encompasses 232 square miles of pure awesomeness. The red rock wonderland boasts narrow sandstone canyons, soaring red cliffs, and pockets of lush vegetation that burst with life. From its intoxicating blend of brilliant colors to its serpentine canyons flanked with sheer walls, the Utah park brims with bucket-list backdrops and incredible hiking opportunities. I first visited Zion when I was fourteen. I remember standing in awe of the park’s towering rock walls and saturated color scheme. Three visits and sixteen years later, the park has not ceased…
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Things to Do in Arches National Park
Arches National Park is a masterpiece of nature and a beloved Utah tourist destination. Renowned the world over for its delicate rock garden, the national park is among the most iconic places in the United States. In Arches, giant sandstone arcs frame snowy peaks and juniper-clad desertscape. While the entire area is a red rock paradise, there is no doubt that these natural rock arches are its primary draw. Indeed, its signature sandstone span is so lauded, that it has become a symbol of the American Southwest—emblazoned on license plates,…
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Visiting the Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park offers some of the most enthralling vistas in the American West. Blanketing more than 520 square miles of the Colorado Plateau, it conceals winding river canyons, towering rock pinnacles, and ancient Native American settlements. The Colorado and Green rivers are the prime sculptors in the area. Aided by erosion, they have chiseled out a tapestry of gullies and mesas that fans out over the vast desert landscape. The majority of this immense area remains an obstacle for all but the heartiest back-country explorers. But in Canyonlands’ Island in…
