I’ve lived in Southern California all my life, and I’ve visited Los Angeles more times than I can count. I also lived in East LA for a year after college. I love this city, so I’m always disheartened to hear visitors talk about how much they didn’t like it. Yeah, the traffic can be frustrating, …
If you’re coming to the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington, don’t just go to Olympic National Park. I took a 4-day road trip around the peninsula and discovered there was so much more to see outside the national park. The national park is stunning, don’t get me wrong, but there are also some …
If you only have 2 days in Glacier National Park, you need a plan. Glacier is a massive national park that is so popular a reservation used to be required to enter. In 2026, Glacier is no longer requiring ANY reservations. So, now that there are no reservations required, expect even more crowds. Is it …
Is it doable to visit Portland in a weekend? Yes! I did just that and fell in love with this charming Oregon city. In just two days, you can experience the best of the city, from its coffee culture to its scenic waterfalls. So, if you’re planning to explore Portland in a weekend, follow my …
Why take the Crater Lake Trolley Tour when you can simply drive yourself around the lake? Is it really worth the extra expense? I had the same thought until I experienced the Crater Lake Trolley Tour firsthand. The trolley offers a unique way to explore Crater Lake, and, best of all, it’s guided by a …
Visiting Wild Horse Island is sure to be a highlight during your trip to Montana. It was for me. Search for the remaining five wild horses, spot bald eagles and bighorn sheep, and hike some incredible trails. We were virtually the only ones exploring the island, which made us wonder — why? I thought Wild …
California has the most national parks of any state in the U.S. There are 9 in California (Alaska comes in a close second with 8). I made it my personal mission to visit all 9 national parks in California, partly for fun, partly out of curiosity. Now after visiting all 9, which ones do I …
Lassen Volcanic National Park gets a tenth as many visitors as Yosemite and Yellowstone, and yet it shares some of the famous features of these national parks. Volcanic hydrothermal activity? Check. Lassen Volcanic has all four of the types of volcanoes found in the world, and it has several hydrothermal areas, such as Bumpass Hell …
Planning on visiting Redwood National and State Parks? Good choice. The majestic redwood trees along northern California’s jagged moody coastline are a sight to behold. Redwood National Park was one of my favorite national parks in California (and I’ve been to them all!). With three days in this area, you can see and do a …
The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego is an incredible place to hike, offering a unique combination of cacti, pine trees, wildflowers, and ocean views. However, there are six trails here, so it can be hard to know where to start or which Torrey Pines trail to hike. I’ve hiked all six Torrey …
