The Rocky Mountains are home to some of America’s most breathtaking landscapes, and nowhere are they better showcased than in Rocky Mountain National Park. Creating this Rocky Mountain National Park Guide was a joy, because this park truly deserves the spotlight.
If you love outdoor adventure, then you will love all of the activities and sights that are outlined in my Capitol Reef National Park Guide. While some of the other national parks in Southern Utah may get more attention on tourist sites, any hardcore national parks enthusiast will tell you that Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden gem in the US National Parks system.
While Arches and Canyonlands draw most visitors to Moab, the Corona Arch hike remains one of the region’s true hidden gems. Close to town, easy to reach, and accessible for most hikers, it’s quickly becoming a local favorite—especially since the arch itself is every bit as big and beautiful as the famous Delicate Arch inside Arches National Park.
Known by many as the “Niagara of the West”, the breathtaking Shoshone Falls in Southern Idaho is a landmark that all travelers who visit the American Southwest should have on their itinerary. With a drop of 212-feet (roughly 65-meters), Shoshone Falls is actually 45-feet (or roughly 14-meters) taller than the infamous Niagara Falls on the border between New York State and Canada. In addition to the high drop, the fact that rim of Shoshone Falls stretches to roughly 1,000-feet wide makes this waterfall special. So if you are a waterfall enthusiast, landscape photographer, or just love to see some of mother nature’s breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, the Shoshone Falls in Southern Idaho is an absolute must-see destination.
As anyone who has traveled the United States by car extensively will tell you, sometimes you just happen to come across a landscape during your travels that so completely blows your mind that it renders you speechless. For me, one of these is undoubtedly the kind of weird, extremely cool, and very unique landscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument in southern Idaho. If you aren’t familiar with this park, you are definitely missing out. If you were to take a road trip thru Idaho, the contrast between the black lava formations and craters found inside the national monument and the landscape found throughout the rest of the state is nothing if not striking.
My trip to the American West and Southwest is fast approaching and I have been very busy putting together a detailed itinerary for our trip. There are no flights or hotels involved in this trip, so you would think the planning process would be easier. On the contrary, I have found that the logistics of planning a cross-country camping road trip are even more complex than planning your typical fly-and-stay vacation. Add to that the complexities of the COVID-19 situation and it has been a very interesting travel planning exercise.
As a beginning hiker, the tougher 14ers in Colorado like Capitol Peak, Long’s Peak, Little Bear Peak, or “The Deadly Bells” might be too much for you to tackle at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set your sights on the clouds. In fact, there are a number of challenging, yet completely doable, 14ers in Colorado that beginning hikers can attempt to tackle. With the experience of summiting these easier peaks under your belt, it won’t be long before you build up the experience and confidence needed to tackle some of the more difficult peaks in Colorado.
While Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon may not be as well-known as some of the other parks in the Western United States, that doesn’t mean it isn’t every bit as beautiful. In fact, as lake parks go, it may be the most beautiful in America. Centered around a deep, water-filled volcanic crater that has formed the deepest lake in North America, Crater Lake is also well-known for its rough wilderness and great hiking and snowshoeing trails. If you aren’t into hiking, getting out on the crystal blue waters of Crater Lake to Kayak or go for a swim may be just what you are looking for. Regardless of what you do when you visit, one thing that won’t be in short supply during your stay is tranquility.
The Great Lakes region is one of the most overlooked travel destinations in the United States, offering a surprising mix of natural beauty and memorable experiences. A standout highlight—often featured in any Mackinac Island Visitor Guide—is Mackinac Island on Lake Huron. Once a military outpost, it’s now a peaceful, car‑free escape for travelers looking to slow down and disconnect.
In this edition of my countdown of the top United States travel destinations, I am going to conclude my countdown with items 1-10 on my list. There are some fantastic places to add to your United States travel bucket list on here, some of which are lesser-known travel treasures. If you don’t have a travel bucket list for the United States, this might be a good time to start one. With this list, you will have no shortage of amazing ideas!
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