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  • Historic California US 395 Route road sign

    California Highway 395 Road Trip: Best Stops, Lakes, and Historic Sites in the Eastern Sierra

    ByMatt Smith October 25, 2025November 3, 2025

    If you’re planning a California road trip, Highway 395 deserves a top spot on your list. Running along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains, this 150-mile stretch from Bridgeport to Lone Pine is packed with classic small towns, alpine lakes, ghost towns, and even the oldest living trees on Earth. We’ve driven this…

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  • Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park

    When Is the Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park?

    ByMatt Smith June 22, 2025November 3, 2025

    The short answer is late June to early September. The very best time to visit, in our opinion, is mid-August. How did we come up with this answer? Well, we had to draw a picture to explain. See below. Three Key Things to Consider You’ll want to consider three things when deciding when is the best time…

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  • Zion Lodge front lawn in Zion National Park

    Zion Lodge: A Classic National Park Experience Away from the Crowds

    ByMatt Smith June 21, 2025November 2, 2025

    There’s something special about waking up in the heart of Zion Canyon, stepping outside, and walking straight from your room to the trailhead while the red cliffs glow with early morning light. It’s all part of the Zion Lodge experience, a quieter, more immersive way to start your day in the park. Yes, it’s true….

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  • The Narrows in Zion National Park

    Hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park: You Gotta Do This Hike

    ByMatt Smith June 15, 2025November 3, 2025

    The Narrows in Zion National Park is one of the most unforgettable hikes we’ve ever done. It’s a slot canyon carved by the Virgin River, and unlike most trails, this one doesn’t run alongside a river—it is the river. At times, the water was up to our armpits. And yes, we got completely soaked. We’ve…

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  • Karen in one of the tunnels on the Historic Railroad Trail in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    The Historic Railroad Trail in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    ByMatt Smith June 11, 2025November 2, 2025

    What trail takes you through five massive tunnels, offers sweeping views of Lake Mead, and was once a supply route for one of the greatest engineering feats in American history? The Historic Railroad Trail in Boulder City, Nevada, might just be one of the most unique and underrated hikes in Southern Nevada. Every time we’re…

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  • Park Avenue Trail in Arches National Park

    Park Avenue Trail in Arches National Park: A Short Hike with Big Views

    ByMatt Smith June 10, 2025November 2, 2025

    On our Utah road trips, we almost always roll into Moab late in the day. After a long drive, we’re not quite ready to dive into a big hike, but we are itching to get into the park. That’s when we head straight for Park Avenue. It’s become a tradition for us: check into our…

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  • Kanarra Falls ladder 2025

    Kanarra Falls: A Short Slot Canyon Hike with a Big Payoff

    ByMatt Smith June 10, 2025November 2, 2025

    Just south of Cedar City in the tiny town of Kanarraville, there’s a trail that manages to pack a lot of southern Utah’s beauty into just a few miles. Red rock cliffs, a cool flowing creek, a narrow slot canyon, and even a waterfall you climb by ladder, it’s all there. And thanks to a…

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  • Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

    Hiking to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

    ByMatt Smith June 9, 2025November 2, 2025

    If there’s one hike that defines Arches National Park, it’s the trail to Delicate Arch. This freestanding natural arch is the park’s crown jewel and easily one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state of Utah. It was even featured on the Utah license plate for years. (We wish they’d bring that back.) Hiking…

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  • Lady in the Wind rock formation in Lower Antelope Canyon

    Exploring Lower Antelope Canyon: What to Know Before You Go

    ByMatt Smith June 9, 2025November 2, 2025

    At first glance, it doesn’t look like much, just a thin crack in the desert floor outside of Page, Arizona. But follow a steep staircase down into that narrow gap and you’ll find yourself in a world of swirling sandstone, sculpted by water and time. This is Lower Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon that feels…

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