I hate big cities.

They’re often filled with miles of traffic and rude people rushing to a job they hate, as well as restaurants and hotels price-gouging tourists because they’re in the middle of the action. Then there’s the overpriced paid parking no matter where you go or the street people harassing you for a dollar or the pollution killing your lungs.

All that stress and anxiety! It’s just not my thing.

But every so often, I discover a city that feels different or has a unique vibe that makes the rest of the unpleasantries pleasant.

Cleveland is a place I never expected to embrace.

For me, it’s not about the Browns or the Guardians, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or even my love for A Christmas Story — all things this city is certainly known for.

I think it’s about the people.

This town boasts a strong community of hardworking, blue-collar Americans who exude pride while continuing to support their beloved sports teams regardless of their win-loss record. Many of the folks I’ve talked with are down-to-earth, a genuine quality to appreciate in this day and age.

Perhaps my affection for The Forest City, as it’s called for the 24,000 acres of green space surrounding it, is also largely due to the cultural influence of European immigrants, evidenced by its architectural beauty and the diverse cuisines available throughout the city. As a Dutch-American, it certainly resonates within my soul.

Cleveland is an eclectic blend of some of the best things life has to offer.

Speaking of …

The Westside Market, with its broad range of fresh-cut meats, seafood, and produce, along with the endless plethora of breads, pastries, pierogis, cheeses, and other prepared food, will make you feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven. Never have I enjoyed such tasty delights in one place. It is easy to spend hours walking here, looking at all the delicacies it offers. You just gotta visit if you get the chance!

That’s not all.

One cannot discuss Cleveland without talking about beer. Great Lakes Brewing has perfected its craft and offers a wide selection that will make your mouth water. Their Vibacious Double IPA and Christmas Ale are among the best beers I’ve ever had the pleasure of drinking. The food is also worth mentioning.

For other amazing breweries in the area, I’d recommend Dark Room Brewing in Geneva and Eleven Three Brewing in Chardon. You can’t go wrong there either.

Right now, we’re completing our third road trip to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio (NEO) as we housesit for some of our best friends, and I can honestly say I never expected to fall in love with this part of the United States.

The wooded landscape is filled with towering trees and rolling hills. The weather is cool and mild for the beginning of summer. And the variety of wildlife scurries about in search of food as the rain trickles down. It’s a slower pace of life here. It feels so peaceful and welcoming. Maybe someday it could even be home.

The best part of these experiences, however, is being able to share them with the people you care about most: friends and family who bring you joy and a smile.

We would’ve never discovered this part of NEO without Brent and Michelle, who have always opened their home and their hearts to us since we met them. I’m glad they moved here and shared Ohio with us in the way they have.

As for the Rock Hall of Fame. Yeah, it’s a groovy experience and worth the visit if you love music and the artists who created it, but it pales in comparison to the rest.

Finally, the thing about road trips is you never know what you might find. Sometimes you go into it expecting it to be what it’s like in your mind, but soon discover it’s the complete opposite. That’s been Cleveland, Ohio, for us.

So as you plan your travels, keep an open mind. It might just change your life.

While most of our travels have been within the United States, we have also traveled outside the country and have really enjoyed our international trips. We’ve visited seven different countries since we started our nomadic journey: Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Luxembourg. This brings our total country count to 20 overall.

We’d love to do this more, but international trips are a little more expensive than wandering around the US in our van, and we just haven’t jumped into that as much. We have discussed visiting different cities or countries and renting an Airbnb for a month or so in places where it’s affordable. Maybe we’ll try in 2027! Who knows! haha!

Canada is an easy international travel destination and we’ve enjoyed our visits there. We drove up into Quebec, stayed in Quebec City for a few days, then drove through part of Ontario and really enjoyed it. We also visited the other side of the country - Vancouver, British Columbia. We did an Alaskan cruise that ended there so it made for an ideal time to check it out. We spent a couple of days in the city before traveling back to the states and really enjoyed it!

Mexico is a place we’ve visited numerous times before our nomadic journey began but only once since we started. We visited Cozumel while on a cruise, though we chose to spend most of the day on the mostly empty ship since we’d been there before. 😉 Now, with all that’s in the news about the country, we definitely don’t plan to head there anytime soon.

Europe is definitely one of our favorite destinations and we’ve VERY much enjoyed spending time there. We’ve been several times, but on our last visit, we got to spend a couple of months there and loved every minute of it. We have several family members in the Netherlands who are so gracious to take us in and also show us around so we can enjoy amazing things in their area. (James is a 1st-generation American on his mom’s side, so there’s still plenty of family there.) We love spending time with them and are so anxious to get back for another visit. Hopefully, this economy will improve soon so we can afford to get back overseas.

While in the Netherlands, we also took the train to France and spent a couple of weeks touring Normandy and staying in Paris. That was definitely amazing and something we will always treasure.

There are SO many things I could pick as favorite international spots, but I would say these were definitely some of the highlights - all from our last trip to Europe:

📍 Normandy D-Day Experience Tour (with Gold Beach Company) - France

📍 North Caves Maastricht Underground - Netherlands

📍 Aachen & Monschau - both in Germany

📍 Vianden Castle - Luxembourg

📍 Going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France

It’s so hard to pick just a few but those are the ones that really stand out in my mind.

One of these days, we hope to explore even more countries and see other amazing things around the world. There’s so much to learn from experiencing other cultures. Those are the kind of experiences we truly treasure.

~

Have you traveled internationally? What’s been one of your favorite cities/landmarks/destinations?

What are your most overrated tourist spots?

I recently came across this question online and it piqued my curiosity because I’m sure every traveler has at least one place they thought didn’t live up to the hype. Then I saw this article showing the top 50 tourist traps in the world, and it got me thinking about what really makes a destination not worth visiting, and whether this is too subjective a question.

As I browsed through their list of places all over the world that tourists have said aren’t worth it, I realized that no matter how “touristy” a place might be — or how annoying some aspect of it is — I personally still find value in seeing them all. Even though there are places I wouldn’t go back to, there’s no spot I’d say that was never worth visiting!

The Mental Floss article mentioned places like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Times Square, and SeaWorld in Orlando, which were interesting choices, because we’ve been to the last two and thought they were great. And while we’ve heard the area surrounding the Hollywood Walk of Fame isn’t the best place, I’d still love to see it at least once.

As for the list, only one was in the United States. Many are in countries we haven’t visited yet, but some were places we have been:

• The Eiffel Tower in France

• The Trevi Fountain in Italy

• Niagara Falls in Canada

• The Red Light District in Amsterdam

There were things about each one I didn’t love; however, I still enjoyed seeing them in person and immersing myself in the atmosphere. They are still tourist destinations you should have on your list.

What was the worst place to visit?

This was the biggest surprise for me! The #1 spot for the worst place to visit was a tie between Wall Drug in South Dakota and Fisherman’s Wharf in California. Both are located in the United States.

While James has been to Fisherman’s Wharf, I haven’t, so I can’t speak for it – though he would agree this place is overrated. Both of us have been to Wall Drug, and honestly, we thought it was a pretty fun stop.

My Surprising “Meh” Moment

If I could choose one tourist destination that underwhelmed me, it would be Plymouth Rock.

The area around it is beautiful, the town of Plymouth is charming, and there are plenty of cool things to see… but the first time we walked up to the rock itself, we were like — this is it? It’s so small! 🤏 😂 The portico surrounding it is massive compared to the rock!

Different strokes for different folks.

I guess it just goes to show that it takes all kinds of people to make the world go ’round, and that everyone has a different set of ideals for vacation spots. If you’ve ever read the negative reviews that National Parks get, you know what I mean.

Who visits a National Park and is surprised, or disappointed, by what they find? 🤷‍♀️

By the way, if you haven’t read Subpar Parks by Amber Share, I highly recommend it. It’s an entertaining reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What about you?

I know there are plenty of places that don’t live up to people’s expectations or get way too much hype. That’s fair. It’s all part of traveling!

So tell me… Which tourist spots have you visited that just weren’t worth it? Or do you think every place is worth seeing at least once?

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One of our favorite things to do while traveling around the United States as nomads is to visit National Parks. Our love for the parks began in August of 2020 when we visited Rocky Mountain National Park. We had just sold our house and almost everything we owned so we could take off on an epic travel adventure, roam the country, and explore beautiful places.

I’m so thankful for what we discovered at RMNP.

Before we went to the park, we actually spent some time in Colorado Springs visiting Garden of the Gods, some local parks, and of course Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak area - a must-see if you visit Colorado Springs. This is where we realized how much hiking and being outdoors appealed to us. (Side note: here’s a funny story from before our full-time travel when we visited Pikes Peak.)

We visited the local REI store and got some new hiking boots with the help of a fantastic associate. Hiking boots can be a big investment so she guided us through the process and gave us pros and cons for different boots and helped us pick the ones that were best for us. She did a good job because I still have those boots almost 5 years later and I still absolutely love them. They were a GREAT investment! (The style I have is no longer available but the brand is Altra and they’re amazing!)

Once we were officially set with some hiking gear, we were ready to get out and explore a little more. We made our way to Estes Park where we spent a few days checking things out, hiking, and exploring.

And we absolutely fell in love with the area.

At that time, we had an itinerary mapped out and other places we needed to reach by certain dates, so we kept moving, but we knew we’d want to return to the area and spend more time. And boy, have we!

We’ve visited several times and have spent at least a couple of months there. Honestly, we’ve said that if we decided to settle down in one place again, we’d probably choose somewhere in Colorado. I don’t think we could ever afford a place in Estes Park because tourism has made it very expensive, but staying somewhere within an hour or two could be ideal so we could take overnight trips into Estes Park or RMNP anytime we wanted.

So what do we love about this park in particular? There are SO many great hikes, some amazing scenic drives, and the views are incredible everywhere you look.

After visiting there numerous times and exploring many areas of the park, these are our top spots to recommend. (And there is still SO much we haven’t explored!)

Bear Lake Road

Bear Lake Road is one of the park's most popular areas, so much so that you need a timed-entry reservation specifically for this area in addition to a park reservation during peak season, or you won’t be allowed in. There are many incredible trails, lakes, and viewpoints along Bear Lake Road, making it a must-see. Here are a few of our favorites.

Bear Lake

Bear Lake itself is beautiful, and there is an easy 0.75 mile loop around it for hiking and taking in the views. Multiple trails spur off of this loop so that you can venture off and see many other beautiful spots, too. (More on some of those below.)

The Bear Lake parking lot can fill up really fast, so you can park at the Park & Ride Parking lot and take the free shuttle to any of the stops along Bear Lake Road. This can also be nice if you do a hiking trail that starts at one location and ends at another - you can catch the shuttle at the end of your hike to get back to your car.

The drive down to Bear Lake is definitely beautiful and one to enjoy, so whether you take the shuttle or drive yourself, you’ll want to take in the views as much as you can!

Sprague Lake

Sprague Lake, also located on Bear Lake Road, is a beautiful spot with a straightforward hiking trail—a 0.8-mile loop around the lake. The scenery from every angle is stunning. Visiting before sunrise is a fantastic experience; watching the sun rise behind the mountains is simply breathtaking!

Plus, you'll beat the crowds if you head into the park that early. 😉 There are also several other trails in the area if you want to explore further. We’ve been told this is a great spot to see wildlife, but unfortunately, we didn't get lucky with that while we were at the lake.

Lake Haiyaha

This is a spot that a local recommended to us, saying it was one of her favorites. It was a challenging hike but ended up being one of our favorites in the area.

The hike to Lake Haiyaha is a 4-mile moderate in-and-out trail starting at Bear Lake. Not only do you get to see one of the most stunningly unique lakes in the area—which is green!—but you also pass by Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Dream Lake. You can even take a short spur up to Emerald Lake.

As I mentioned, it was a bit challenging because it’s a steady climb the whole way, and once you reach Lake Haiyaha, you have to scramble over some rocks to get to the water and enjoy the view. But it’s completely worth the effort! The scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

Alberta Falls

We chose the Alberta Falls via Glacier Gorge and Fire Loop trail to explore this area. We hiked 3.3 miles, and it’s considered a moderate trail. There are so many beautiful sights to see along this trail - including some stunning waterfalls, of course!

Glacier Creek runs alongside the trail, giving you beautiful views of it—both at ground level and from above as it flows through a canyon. We saw some adorable little chipmunks (which are honestly everywhere in the park), some stunning trees, and even a hint of fall foliage in a few spots.

Moraine Park

While there are many more incredible trails and spots to explore in the park, the last one on my list today for Bear Lake Road is Moraine Park. This is a fantastic area to relax and look for wildlife.

We’ve come through here multiple times and seen huge herds of elk hanging out in the meadow. It’s amazing to watch how they interact. In one picture, you can see that the bull is guarding his herd, making sure they listen to him, and preventing other males from getting too close. It’s truly fascinating to watch!

Trail Ridge Road

If you take Trail Ridge Road toward Fall River Pass, you’ll be driving the scenic route up into the mountains and will see many beautiful scenic turn-offs!

There are several spots where you can pull over to enjoy the park's stunning views. This road is only open for part of the year, so depending on the month, you can only go a certain distance. When we visited, it was closed beyond a point, but we really appreciated the section we got to see. So I definitely recommend checking it out - even if you go a little way down.

Sheep Lakes

To get to Sheep Lakes from the Beaver Meadows entrance, you’ll take Park Entrance Road up to Trail Ridge Road and take the split to the right. That will take you over the mountain and down into the valley where the lakes are.

If you’re interested in seeing wildlife, this is a great place to visit, hang out, and watch with your binoculars. This is a popular area for spotting bighorn sheep, elk, and moose. We had heard quite a few people talk about spotting some fantastic wildlife in this area while we were there, so we headed that way several times to hang out and watch. We got lucky on a couple of occasions and saw a moose and a bighorn sheep.

It’s a vast, open meadow with a couple of small lakes and beautiful mountain views surrounding it. It’s a part of the park worth driving to!

Longs Peak

Longs Peak is the most famous mountain in the park and it’s the tallest—reaching 14,259 feet. You can see it from many vantage points, but my favorite is the turnoff along Park Entrance Road about 3.5 miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. It’s just before the road splits to go right down to Sheep Lakes or left to continue on Trail Ridge Road. There’s a large pull-off area where you can park, get out, and enjoy the view. It overlooks Beaver Meadow, and the view is truly breathtaking.

WHEW!

That’s just a short list of things you can find in the park, but there are SO many more amazing areas. We hope to get back, check out new trails and scenic views, and share them in the future.

For now, this is just a sampling of the beauty this park holds and a good starting point for exploring when visiting from the Estes Park area.

Important Things to Remember

• It’s important to know that during peak season (May-October), you'll need a timed-entry reservation to enter the park. During those months, you can also enter the regular part of the park before 9am or after 2pm without a reservation. We are early risers and loved going in before sunrise or just after. This is a great time to see the animals more active, avoid most of the crowds, and enjoy the sunrise from inside the park!

• If you want to access Bear Lake Road and all the amazing things in that part of the park, you need a reservation that includes it - it isn’t included with the regular park reservation. The window for making a reservation for this area is from 5 am to 6 pm, so don’t plan on getting in outside those hours without one. That area fills up quickly, so as soon as the reservations are available, you should be online to secure yours. As mentioned above, this is one of the most incredible parts of the park, so you don’t want to miss it.

• The lines can get quite long during peak season, so make sure you arrive well ahead of your two-hour window for your timed entry. Honestly, I would suggest getting there right at the start of your window, just to be safe, or arriving with plenty of time to spare before 9 am so you don’t have to wait at the gate. Even if your Bear Lake Road reservation is later, you can explore other parts of the park and then head over to that gate at the right time.

• Make sure you carry plenty of water and have some snacks if you’re going on an extended hike.

• Download any maps you want because there’s a good chance you’ll lose cell service and not have access to your device.

• Make sure you leave no trace - don’t take things on a hike and leave them behind. Keep up with all of your snacks, drinks, and trash etc.

Have you visited Rocky Mountain National Park before? What’s your favorite spot in the park? Do you have a favorite trail? I’d love for you to share in the comments.

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Colorado is one of our favorite places and we were so excited to get back to some of our favorite spots but also check out some new places! These are the places we visited:

Durango

One of the things I’ve dreamed of doing for ages is taking the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train. We finally got to make that a reality and it did not disappoint. 😍 The train travels up into the mountains along the Animas River and the views are just beautiful. We even got to experience all types of weather - rain, snow, sleet, and sun. haha!

You also get a couple of hours to explore the town of Silverton and grab some lunch. This is a full day adventure starting at about 9am and arriving back in Durango around 6pm and it just such an incredible experience.

In Durango we splurged and stayed at the Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn which is just a couple of blocks away from the train station and right near downtown. I say splurged because we normally keep things pretty budget friendly since this is our full-time life. With taxes and fees, this hotel was about $182 a night. 😱 That is NOT budget friendly. That’s about $100 a night MORE than budget friendly. If we spent this much regularly we’d be out of money. lol! It was an awesome place to stay though. They had a happy hour in the evening, a great vibe in the atrium area, and really good breakfast.

We were comfortable splurging with this because we are Capital One Venture X card holders and we get a $300 travel credit each year and we used that plus some travel points to cover the cost of the hotel. We decided it was worth it so we could stay right downtown for a few nights. (If you’re looking for a great card, we really love our Capital One accounts. If you click that link we’ll get a referral bonus too - which helps our travel dollars go further - so we’d be so appreciative. 🫶🏻 )

If you’d like to check out the train journey, we shared parts of the trip on our YouTube channel.

Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic & Historic Byway

After Durango we were trying to decide which way to head next. We could either go up Highway 550 and visit Silverton (again), Ouray, and then on up to Montrose… or we could go around the mountains and take Highway 491 to Highway 141 and into Grand Junction.

Highway 550 is called the Million Dollar Highway and, while it’s known for it’s amazing views, it’s notorious for being one of the scariest roads because of its steep drop offs, no guardrails, rockslides, and accidents….it sounded a little risky to us. lol! James decided he wasn’t about to drive that highway so out west it was.

The great thing about changing up plans is sometimes you find something else amazing that you didn’t even know was there. That’s what happened on this leg of the trip! We stopped off in Naturita at the visitor center and ended up meeting this really awesome, helpful lady who told us all about this scenic byway. It was the road we were on and planning to take but we had no idea that it had so many amazing things to see.

This scenic byway is so beautiful. There are cool things to see along the way but the canyons that you drive through and the cliffs, mountains, and rock walls that you see on this drive are just absolutely incredible! Pictures don’t do it justice so if you ever find yourself near Highway 141 in western Colorado, this is a must see.

Want to experience it through our eyes? Check out our YouTube video.

Grand Junction

Grand Junction was our next destination. It’s an area we hadn’t been to before and we were excited to check it out and see what the area was like. We were also excited to visit Colorado National Monument - we are huge fans of the National Park Service after all. ;)

We’ve been trying to camp as much as possible on this trip so that we could enjoy the great outdoors a lot more but also so we could keep our daily expenses down. So we looked for a nice place to camp and settled on KOA in Grand Junction. While this place was really nice and had good amenities, it was a little pricey for our taste. It was cheaper than a hotel of course but a little pricey for a campground - especially since we’re just in a tent and just use a tiny bit of electricity and that’s it. We paid right around $60 a night and stayed a couple of nights. It was worth it but we’ve found KOAs to be too expensive most of the time as many of them are even more than that. (We do have a video review of this particular location posted here if you’re interested plus a post review here.)

So after we got our camping situation settled, it was time to explore. We enjoyed checking out the town a little and driving around to see what it was like. But of course the highlight of this area is Colorado National Monument. And let me tell you that place is incredible!

When I think of National Monuments, typically I think of smaller areas with a focus on an event or a person or something but this is a big park with a beautiful scenic drive through the whole thing. I’m surprised this isn’t a regular National Park. The cliffs, canyons, and mountain views are just incredible everywhere you look.

If this hasn’t been on your list of places to go, you should definitely add it. It’s right next to Grand Junction and only took about 10-20 minutes to get to the entrance from our campground so it’s very easy to access. You can get all the info about the park here.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

After Grand Junction we headed south on Highway 50 toward Montrose so we could go visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Now, if I’m being honest, I have to admit that I had never even heard of this park until a couple of years ago. This park was established in 1999 so it’s fairly new compared to many of the parks. But I’d heard that it’s a pretty cool place so we wanted to go see it of course.

To say this park has a wow factor would be an understatement. As we walked up to the first viewing area to look over the canyon, we both just said WOW! I mean, there’s no way to truly capture how amazing this canyon is and how HUGE it is! The canyon is 2,722 feet deep at it’s deepest point - that’s just over half a mile!!! 😳 Granted, it’s no Grand Canyon but it’s pretty incredible. We definitely recommend stopping in for a visit. You can take the scenic drive, you can walk out to various view points, and you can hike trails as well. Learn more about the park here.

Curecanti National Recreation Area

This ended up being a little bit of an unplanned stop but we absolutely loved it. We found this on recreation.gov and realized they had great campgrounds there and it was only about an hour from Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. So after we finished at the park we headed that way and picked a spot at Elk Creek Campground, paid only $24, and had a great time camping out right by the lake. We got to watch a beautiful sunset too. (It wasn’t busy at all when we were there but you may be better off reserving in advance if you’re traveling there and need a spot on specific nights.)

Pagosa Springs

Pagosa Springs was our last stop in Colorado on this leg of the journey. This is a place where we’ve spent lots of time before and we always love it. We always book a stay at Club Wyndham through our membership with Armed Forces Vacation Club and we get an amazing deal. They have such a great property there and the staff and amenities are both top notch. We definitely recommend staying here if you’d like a condo in town.

We spent a week relaxing, going for hikes, watching the adorable fox babies down the way from our condo, celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary, and just having a good time.

We also did a video about our adventures from Grand Junction all the way to Pagosa Springs so check that out too if you’d like.

So that wraps up part 3 of our big summer adventure! Stay tuned for part 4 soon as we travel into Utah and northern Arizona. :)

~

Have you traveled to any of these places? We’d love to know what you thought.

For the summer adventure that we’re on, we just made our way through the northern part of the state as we worked our way from Oklahoma to Colorado. (You can check out part 1 of this adventure here.) We found some new spots we hadn’t been to in New Mexico and we really enjoyed our time there. These are the places we visited…

Pecos National Historical Park

There are a variety of things you can see and do at this park. We chose to do the Ancestral Trail that’s near the visitor center. This is a 1.25 mile loop that takes you to see a variety of ruins, pueblos, kivas, a mission church, and views around the area that are amazing. It’s always so fascinating to see the ruins that have remained for hundreds and hundreds of years!

If you’d like to visit you can learn all about the park here.

Click here to watch our YouTube video review of the park.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

As we continued working our way toward Colorado, we stopped off in Santa Fe to browse the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. I’d heard that this was a nice museum so I wanted to check it out! The museum was actually quite a bit smaller than I expected and didn’t have a ton to see but I did enjoy seeing what was there. These were a few of my favorite pieces.

A little side note - one of the things we purchased in the last year was a membership at a museum that gives us reciprocal benefits at tons of other museums around the country. It’s called NARM and it’s a fantastic program. Museums can get pricey and when you travel full-time and need to keep the budget tight, museums don’t always fit that budget. I’ve been keeping track of this so we could make sure it was a benefit to us and we’ve visited 13 different museums around the country and saved $340 so far! The membership only cost us $110 so it was well worth it!

I’ve since learned there’s another program called ROAM that does the same thing so when we renew next year I’m going to make sure to choose a museum that’s part of both and get a membership there so it opens up more opportunities for us. :)

Abiquiu Lake Camp Ground

Riana Campground at Abiquiu Dam is where we camped out for the night as we passed through New Mexico and we were so pleased with this place! We found it on the map as we were traveling through and it looked promising so we crossed our fingers and headed that way from Santa Fe. We didn’t need to worry at all - it was incredible!

This campground is reserved through recreation.gov and it’s only $20 for the night - including hookups! It’s a beautiful place with walking paths, a playground for the kids, a hiking trail near the water, and a marina nearby. We would definitely stay there again!

Click here to check out our video review of the campground.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

From our campsite we headed out on Highway 96 to Highway 550 which was a beautiful, scenic drive by the way. But let me tell you, once you turn off Highway 550 to head to the park, it’s an unpaved road and some of it is a little rough. haha! It’s totally drivable but just kind of bouncy in spots. But the drive in is beautiful and once you arrive onto the NPS property, not only will you be on paved roads again but you’ll get to enjoy some amazing ruins!

There is a scenic loop that goes through the park with various parking areas so you can get out and check out the ruins. Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also has the largest great house I’ve ever seen! It’s an incredible thing to walk through these ruins and see how things were built hundreds of years ago.

There are also hikes and areas for camping and other outdoor activities so depending on how much time you want to spend, you could enjoy lots of things in the park.

If you’d like more info about this park you can find that here. We also did a video to show off the amazing stuff to be seen. Check it out here.

And that ended our tour of New Mexico! It was short and sweet this time. As I mentioned before, we’ve traveled all around the state and visited tons of amazing places. If you’re looking for other cool things to do/see you might check out these places. This isn’t an exhaustive list but it’s a few of my favorites.

Nature

• White Sands National Park

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park

• Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Wild Rivers Visitor Center, La Junta Point (all in the same area)

City

• Old Town Albuquerque

• Old Town Santa Fe

Attractions

• Four Corners Monument

• Roswell (if you like fun and quirky stuff)

If you’d like recommendations on anything particular in New Mexico please feel free to ask. We might have been there and could tell you more about it!

~

Have you visited New Mexico? What’s been one of your favorite spots?

Ever since we put our buns in the sun at the Schlitterbahn and Comal River back in 2022, we’ve had the hankering to return to South Texas to explore some towns we didn’t get the chance to visit on that particular road trip adventure.

We heard Fredericksburg was a place we needed to check out, so back in March, we were finally able to make it happen, and thankfully, it was during their famous Trade Days at Sunday Farms.

So, how did it all turn out?

Visiting Fredericksburg in Texas

OMG, it was so damn busy!!! 😱

We had forgotten it was spring break in Texas, and the traffic and crowds were overwhelming. Finding a parking spot took a while, and once we got into the enormous throngs of people, my highest priority was quickly making my way to the Fredericksburg Brewing Company.

Like a madman on a mission and Moses parting the Red Sea, we made our way over a mile before reaching the Promised Land, where I could alleviate my insane anxiety by quickly consuming two cold beers.

Overall, the brewery was nice, and despite the beers being pricy for the size, they were good. Would I go back? Probably not. But I was feeling less stressed after consuming them, and it made the rest of the journey a little more enjoyable, so that was a win!

We then spent a few hours wandering along East Main Street on US-290, exploring the many local shops and tourist attractions.

Fredericksburg was founded by German settlers in 1846 and was named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. The town boasts a rich European heritage, evident in the many German bakeries and restaurants, as well as in its architecture. It’s a beautiful community with a wide range of activities, making it an excellent destination for shopping, eating, sightseeing, and drinking wine.

Speaking of. As for wineries. WOW!

Never in our lives have we seen so many incredible-looking vineyards lining the highways. It was like visiting Las Vegas with all the casinos everywhere, only it was all upscale wineries begging for our attention, ones we would likely never fit in with or be able to afford. If this is your thing, you will hit the jackpot!!

Because the town was so busy, we visited only a few local establishments before moving on, but we did get to experience Trade Days.

Fredericksburg Trade Days

Trade Days is a monthly flea market event with acres of tools, collectibles, antiques, clothing, jewelry, and much more. Some items are out in the open, while most are stored in the seven barns on the property. It feels like a small town all by itself, featuring a Biergarten, live music, and food vendors. There's something for everyone, and it’s easy to spend a lot quickly—though we wouldn't know.

Unfortunately, it was windy as hell, thanks to the jet stream causing all the high wind problems throughout Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas, and we were constantly sand-blasted by the flying dirt. Otherwise, it would have been a perfect time. If you ever get to this area, we highly recommend exploring it.

Other places worth mentioning.

Luckenbach, Texas

Located only 15 miles southwest of Fredericksburg, Luckenbach is not what you’d expect, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you enjoy beer, BBQ, and live music. The old post office and general store are the highlights, though you can spend time walking around the property while drinking an adult beverage and listening to the local talent.

Wimberley, Texas

Despite the crowds and traffic, we loved our time in Wimberley, a small town with an amazing arts and culture scene. You’ll quickly notice the quirky hand-painted cowboy boots throughout the vicinity, hear the outdoor live music, and smell the incredible flavors of the local restaurants. It’s got a groovy vibe that will make you want to stay as long as possible.

We stopped at Ceremonial Botanicals as we walked the streets; it was one of the coolest shops we’ve ever visited, and the plants were stunning! The Budaful Hiker also had some fantastic hiking t-shirts and other gifts. Cypress Creek Coffee House served us some kick-ass cold brews and gave us a nice break from the day's heat.

Our final destination was The Let Go, so I could grab an overpriced can of McConauHaze IPA and enjoy a lackluster experience, but to be fair, it was busy and chaotic. Better luck next time, maybe.

Rockport, Texas

The city of Rockport was on our way to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (which will be a separate post), and even though we didn’t take time to venture around, we did discover a hidden gem on our quest for caffeine.

Main Street Coffee House is located at 802 East Main Street, and their shop, as well as their drinks, were magical. They have an Alice in Wonderland theme, whi’s really fun and different, but the owners and team were super friendly and welcoming. I also spent an hour talking with locals about traveling, business, and art.

Canyon Lake, Texas

Donetta and I spent two nights truck-camping at Lake Pointe Resort at Canyon Lake, hanging out with 30 deer roaming the grounds. This was an incredible place to stay because of the location, the peacefulness, the entire facility, and the people who work and live there. Plus, they allow rooftop tents.

Unfortunately, the lake was down and very dry, so we didn’t do much there, and some of the other local places we wanted to visit were closed.

We also visited the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Dinosaur Valley State Park, and Padre Island National Seashore, but each deserves its own post.

There were also some rough patches during this road life adventure!

The Texas heat, which we didn’t expect so early, and our truck’s air conditioner not working, made some of those days brutal. 🔥 We also encountered a large hailstorm in Georgetown, Texas, which damaged our truck, tonneau cover, and rooftop tent. ⛈️ And there were excessively high winds with sustained gusts of 50+ mph in the region, which caused major damage and fires. 🌬️

Aside from the weather, we had a fantastic time in the Hill Country of South Texas.

If you’re looking for other recommendations, let us know; we still have a list of “must-sees” and stops we can put in the comments below. Donetta always has a handy spreadsheet of places we stop, and she adds her input as well.

Enjoy your day.

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I recently read a story about Hot Springs National Park, and it reminded me of a funny one about us and that park, so I thought I’d share and maybe give you a laugh. 😂

One of the things we love to do in our travels is visit National Parks. If we’re going to be anywhere near one as we drive through a state, you better believe I’m going to try to fit that in to our itinerary.

A couple of summers ago, we were heading from Oklahoma to North Carolina for my company’s annual convention, and I was looking to see what we could do along the way. Of course, Arkansas is the first state we would go through, so I started looking at the map to see what might be worth stopping to see there. Since I’m always a sucker for National Parks and I saw Hot Springs NP, I added that to the list.

Now that we’ve been traveling for almost five full years, we’ve seen a lot of things, and we’ve been a lot of places, and sometimes things get a little mixed up in my mind, and I forget where we’ve been. As we drove into the area, I had a weird feeling like we’d been there before. And this was way more than déjà vu! Haha! I started recognizing a few things and thinking things looked familiar.

Thankfully, when we first started traveling, I decided to keep a list of all the places we were visiting. I wanted a record of what we’d seen, what cities we’d been to, and all the fun things we’d done. So I pulled out my trusty list and…

Hot Springs was there!

We’d been to Hot Springs in 2021 and visited the National Park then. 🙃

I have no idea how I’d forgotten. We also went to Eureka Springs that year, and I think I merged the two in my mind and thought we had only been to Eureka Springs, even though we still needed to visit Hot Springs.

We had a pretty good laugh about it — especially once we got into town near the National Park and remembered all of it. How I could have forgotten it all is beyond me. Lol!

But at least it was along the route of our bigger journey, and we hadn’t traveled there specifically, wasting time and money. We ended up having a good time anyway, before continuing our drive east.

Since we’re on the topic, let me tell you a little about the area.

If you’ve never been to Hot Springs National Park, it’s an interesting one for sure. The bulk of it is a big hill right in the middle of downtown. You can drive in and take a little scenic drive to see the area, which is beautiful, of course! There are hiking trails and campgrounds, and you really feel like you’re out in nature, not right near town. It’s crazy!

In the town, there is a visitor center, and of course, there are also bathhouses along the main street so that you can take a dip in the hot springs. Plus, there are numerous souvenir shops, restaurants, and all kinds of fun things to do along the main street in town. It’s definitely a cool place to visit if you haven’t checked this one off your list of National Parks yet.

Have you been there before? What did you think?

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Over the last five years, we’ve crisscrossed the country more times than we can count, and there are places we’ve explored that we seem never to get enough of. Sedona seems to have a firm grip on our hearts and souls because we’ve stayed here more than any other place in the United States.

So what makes this Arizona town of 9,861 people so special?

From the moment we made our way north on Highway 179 from Interstate 17, we were captivated by the energy and beauty of the red-rock buttes.

When you’ve lived in the flat plains of Oklahoma most of your life, and the only thing you see that’s that color is the red dirt, the fascination with those colors of the southwest can draw you in, especially when the sun hits the landscape at various times of the day. And being in such a vibrant, open landscape, with those glorious canyons and desert plants stretching in every direction, it just feels surreal.

As we explored Sedona, I thought about the Native American tribes and early pioneers who lived in the region in the early 1900s, and how this majestic place must’ve been before the tourism industry and wealthy people took over this town.

Don’t get me wrong—it’s beautiful today, and I’ve yet to find another place like it. However, experiencing the wonder of that beauty in the days before mass civilization, with millions of hikers, must have been epic!

Regardless of its past, present-day Sedona is very special.

What makes Sedona so special?

Aside from the scenery that will enliven your spirit and soothe your soul, there’s a deep mysticism that cannot be easily explained.

Perhaps it’s the vortices, the swirling bands of energy that many visitors seek for spiritual enlightenment or healing, that create this sense of happiness and peace. While I might not believe everything the metaphysical community teaches, I do know there’s something spiritual here that will transform your life.

Additionally, the weather always seems to be fantastic.

Donetta and I have been in Sedona at different times of the year and the climate is always inviting. When most of the country was enduring horrific arctic temperatures back in January, we were sweating our asses off in the afternoon heat while hiking the canyons. Even when we encountered snow here, it was warm enough to get out on the trails.

But there are plenty of non-hiking places to visit as well.

What does Sedona offer visitors?

Sedona offers visitors many cafes, bars, restaurants, spas, thrift shops, art galleries, stores, a couple of breweries, and dozens of touristy Jeep and ATV excursions. There are also a couple of historic museums to check out.

As for the people, you’ll discover this is a truly diverse town. There are the hippies and hipsters, the vagabonds and aristocrats, the white collar and blue collar, and everything else in between. It feels like no matter who you are, you are welcome to join this eclectic community, a rare kind of experience these days.

I’ve often joked that if we ever decided to stop our road life adventures, Sedona would be one of the top five places I’d like to live because of all these things mentioned, but also because it’s so close to Flagstaff, Jerome, Prescott, Oak Creek Village, and so many National Parks we love.

It’s certainly a prime location, but the downsides are that it’s expensive to live here and that the tourism industry can make it extremely busy. Other than that, it’s perfect, in my opinion.

Because we’ve spent so much time in Sedona, we’ve decided to begin working on a handy guide for those who want to experience this magical place. This guide will include tips on saving money when visiting, our recommended places to check out or stay, how to avoid the crowds, and other valuable information to make your visit the best it can be. Be sure to subscribe to our online magazine to be notified when this is ready.

In the meantime, here’s what we suggest for your visit.

Food and Drinks

Because we cook most of our meals to save money and be healthier, we haven’t visited many local restaurants. Our usual routine is to drive to Walmart in Cottonwood for groceries or to Bashas in Sedona.

• Colt Grill: Located in the Village of Oak Creek, this is some of the best BBQ we’ve had! The sample platter of smoked meats is fantastic, and even with two people, we always have leftovers.

• Sedona Bike and Beans: Located in the Village of Oak Creek, this fantastic coffee shop also rents bikes. Their staff is always friendly and helpful, and their coffee kicks ass.

• Sedona Beer Co.: There are two locations, Uptown and Basecamp, each offering great beer and food.

• Sedona Red Rock Coffee: Located on the west side of Sedona, this is a great place to hang out and work while enjoying some strong brew. We met the new owner and she’s a great person.

Hiking and Trails

There are endless options for hiking, and depending on your fitness level and abilities, you’ll discover a wide range of trails. We always use the AllTrails app to research our options, though the ratings can be unreliable.

The following trails have been our favorites so far:

• Devil’s Bridge Trail: Moderate

• Airport Loop Trail: Moderate

• Birthing Cave Trail: Moderate

• Bell Rock Loop Trail: Easy

• Slim Shady and Made in the Shade Loop: Easy

We also strongly recommend following the advice below for a better experience.

Start early. Trailheads can be packed and, with limited parking options in most places, starting early in the morning will save you a lot of frustration - especially on the weekends! Using the free Sedona Shuttle is also a great option.

Bring water. The sun makes those rocks hot, so you can quickly find yourself in a dangerous situation if you don’t have plenty of water. Stay properly hydrated and carry enough water for the hike you intend to take.

Purchase a pass. You must have a parking pass for most, if not all, of the trailheads. This can be purchased at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. If you have a national park pass, this works as well and must be displayed on your dashboard.

Pack accordingly. Many tourists do not prepare for their adventure. It’s best to wear good hiking shoes, carry snacks and water, and have a light rain jacket or sweatshirt just in case you end up in a bad situation.

Respect others. Please be courteous to the people around you and respect the rules, such as pack it in, pack it out; yield to hikers going uphill; avoid loud conversations; and don’t hog the trail.

Entertainment

As stated, there’s no shortage of things to do in Sedona, but here are several recommendations from our adventures.

• ATV Rental: Spend a day on the ATV trails on the north side of Sedona. It’s not cheap to do, but well worth it. We loved it!

• Sedona Heritage Museum: Learn about the history of Sedona and see one of the last Old Western movie sets.

• Sedona Arts Center: See incredible artwork by local artists, browse the store, and wander the grounds.

• Silver Son West: Check out an eclectic gallery filled with old signs, ceramics, pottery, jewelry, and a whole lot more!

• Happy Trails Shop: Buy the best t-shirts and stickers at this local store just off the downtown strip.

Places to Stay

We are vacation club owners for Hilton Grand Vacations (formerly Diamond Resorts International), and we use our owner privileges for these properties. We’ve stayed at all these resorts and have ranked them for your convenience.

1. Sedona Summit: Located on the west side of town, this is our favorite resort because it’s quiet, with less traffic, offers walkable access to trailheads, includes incredible amenities, and is closer to Cottonwood and Jerome.

2. Bell Rock Inn: Located in the Village of Oak Creek, this gem offers easy access to popular trailheads. It’s also next to Colt Grill and Sedona Bean & Bike, though it sees more roadside traffic.

3. Los Abrigados Resort: Located in the heart of Sedona, this upscale property makes it easy to visit local shops and galleries, grab a bite to eat, and walk to the touristy downtown areas. It’s also a hectic place!

4. Club Ridge on Sedona: Located at the southern end of the Village of Oak Creek, this property includes a golf course, fantastic amenities, and access to several local restaurants and shops. It’s a decent drive to downtown Sedona.

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When people learn we are digital nomads and travel full-time, one of their first questions is usually about our favorite place. It’s always tough to choose a favorite because we’ve seen so many incredible sights and visited so many beautiful spots across the United States and around the world.

But I felt inspired to sit down and reflect on the many adventures we’ve had, and these are the things that stand out in my memory as being some of the most amazing experiences, in no particular order.

1. Alaska

We’ve been to Alaska twice, spending time in Fairbanks, Denali Park Village, Anchorage, and Seward. We also did an unforgettable 7-night cruise from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia. We saw so many incredible things along the way.

Probably my favorite thing was our whale watching excursion in Icy Strait during the cruise. Seeing the humpback whales literally got my emotions going. It was such an incredible experience and a fantastic sight to see!

I also loved our train ride from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The views were amazing! In Anchorage, one of my favorite experiences was going for a bike ride along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. And then the bus tour down to Seward from Anchorage was also memorable. There is just nothing like the views in Alaska.

2. Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park is definitely one of our favorite places. We’ve visited several times and spent many weeks there at a stretch. Our favorite visit was during rut season. Hearing those elk bugling and seeing large herds all around is an incredible experience.

In addition to the town being a favorite of ours, Rocky Mountain National Park is definitely one of our top favorites. The hiking is just amazing and the views around every bend are just beautiful. We’ve hiked tons of trails in that park and they’ve all been so great!

RMNP is where we began our National Park journey in the summer of 2020, when we started our full-time travel life, so it’s also very sentimental to me.

3. San Diego, California

Spending a few weeks at the beach in San Diego was something we did during our first six months of traveling, and we absolutely loved it! We had been there before (it was one of the few vacations we could take with our children!) and knew we wanted to spend more time there. It did not disappoint. The beaches are simply beautiful and so peaceful. We also went on a whale watching excursion that was SO much fun! We saw so much sea life and had the best time.

The weather is definitely a big draw to San Diego, too. It’s pretty much perfect every day - not too hot, not too cold. There are beautiful flowers everywhere and the vibe is just so lovely. It’s definitely a great place to visit.

4. Maui, Hawaii

We had the opportunity to visit Maui with some great friends, and it was the most incredible trip. It was such a blessing, and we’re incredibly grateful for it. The views around the island are unbeatable, and the beaches are fantastic. Our favorite activity while visiting was an excursion that took us the entire length of the Road to Hana with a guide. It was a full 12-hour day filled with one amazing experience after another.

We also enjoyed visiting Lahaina and taking a glass-bottom boat tour to see all kinds of amazing things on the ocean floor. Sitting on our condo balcony each night and watching the sunset was pretty epic, too.

5. Europe

We love Europe and have visited four different times. Our daughter lived in England for a while, so we visited her there. Additionally, James is half Dutch and has family in the Netherlands, which has given us another great place to visit and spend time.

We have absolutely loved hanging with family and visiting the town they live in. It’s such a different way of life, and it’s one we wholeheartedly enjoy.

There are lots of other places nearby that we’ve visited as well… a couple of great towns in Germany - Aachen and Monschau; a fantastic castle in Luxembourg; Brussels, Belgium; and we even spent a couple of weeks in France. Our daughter met us in Paris for a week, and we had a blast sightseeing and strolling around the beautiful city, but probably the most incredible part of France was touring Normandy.

We stayed in Bayeux and took a D-Day tour of Normandy that was just so moving—definitely one of our top experiences.

6. California National Parks and Coastal Drive

We went on an epic road trip through numerous National Parks and many beautiful places in California, then along the coast to Washington, as we made our way to Seattle to fly out to Alaska.

This adventure ranks among my favorite road trips. The scenery was stunning. I had never been to northern California, so seeing a completely different landscape compared to southern California was incredible. From the towering trees in Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks to Half Dome and Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park, and the coastal drive offering amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, it was truly an awe-inspiring journey.

7. Hitting all 50 states!

This isn’t just one place; it’s the feeling of being able to check off all 50 states on our list of visited places that was truly incredible! I had dreamed of doing this since I was a kid. James and I had traveled a bit before our nomadic life started - some for business and some for vacation — and we already had many states marked off the list. But when we arrived in Alaska for the first time, we finally got to check off number 50! That was a huge achievement for us!

In Conclusion

This is by no means an exhaustive list of places we’ve loved. These are just the few that come to mind first when someone asks what we’ve enjoyed most.

Writing this post has also made me realize how many spots we still haven’t covered! We’ll need to document those and other places so we can share more about the amazing experiences we've had.

What about you?

Do you have a favorite place you’ve visited that ranks in your top ten? We’d love to hear about it. And if there’s a place you’re interested in traveling to and want to know more, let us know—then we can share our experiences if we’ve been there.

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Back in January, we decided to explore a new route on our journey from Sedona, Arizona, to Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Since we hate driving the interstates, we did a quick internet search for backroads and discovered a place called Window Rock (Tségháhoodzání), located along Highway 246 in Arizona. It is the largest Diné reservation1 in the United States and serves as the capital for the Navajo Nation.

To be honest, I was hesitant to take this route.

The Navajo Nation has stringent rules on non-natives entering its land and recreational areas, which also require permits. Not to mention, we’ve seen numerous warnings for non-natives at Navajo stops along I-40 since we started traveling in 2020, urging tourists to stick to gas stations and fast-food restaurants only.

We certainly didn’t want to disrespect their laws or culture, nor did we want to contribute to more problems the white people have already brought to this nation, so I was unsure how we’d be received, or whether we’d even be allowed to drive there.

After doing more research, we found that our visit would be fine as long as we followed these rules and guidelines. So, we headed toward Highway 246.

The drive toward Window Rock was amazing.

Filled with red rock mountain landscapes and vast open ranges, it didn’t take long for my apprehension to give way to peace. We enjoyed the incredible scenery and the road less traveled, rarely seeing another vehicle along the way.

As we arrived in Window Rock, we checked into our hotel.

This Quality Inn was one of the nicest properties of its brand we’ve stayed in. It was clean, the room was spacious and pleasant, and the staff was welcoming and friendly. Despite the restaurant undergoing renovations, our breakfast was fantastic!

After that, our first stop was the Navajo Nation Museum and Library, conveniently located just steps from the hotel.

Navajo Nation Museum

This beautiful building functions as a versatile event center. It includes a museum, library, snack bar, gift shop, information center, and several offices. It also features an outdoor amphitheater and an authentic Navajo Hogan.

As we entered the museum, I felt an overwhelming sadness.

Having worked with several Native American tribes in the past and having read several books about the Navajo Code Talkers, I knew the horrors of what these people endured historically, especially the Navajo Nation.

If you do not know this history or have never heard of The Long Walk, this summary from the National Museum of the American Indian captures it.2

Major General James H. Carleton ordered Christopher (Kit) Carson to defeat the Navajo resistance by conducting a scorched-earth campaign across the Navajo homelands. Carson burned villages, slaughtered livestock, and destroyed water sources to reduce the Diné to starvation and desperation.

With few choices, thousands of Navajo surrendered and were forced to march between 250 and 450 miles to the Bosque Redondo Reservation. While intended to be a reservation, Bosque Redondo functioned as an internment camp. The U.S. stationed soldiers there to make sure that the Diné could not leave.

From the beginning, the plan was to force the Navajo to adopt white American cultural values; however, many Navajo resisted cultural assimilation and would continue the fight until they were allowed to return to their homelands.

Sadly, this is just one of many dark and disturbing moments in the history of our country, when an entire nation of Indigenous people was almost wiped out because of the color of their skin, language, and way of life.

The museum lays bare these facts and atrocities, and I cannot, in good conscience, write this article without sharing this critical information. We cannot ignore this history, nor should we ever allow such things to happen again.

The Navajo people also include a heartfelt and inspiring gallery from different artists depicting Native American culture and life, including the introduction of alcohol into their society and the monstrous damage it caused to their nation. It was a mixture of celebration and challenges.

We also saw essential artifacts, including the sole copy of the 1868 Navajo Treaty and several items belonging to the Navajo Code Talkers.

Navajo Tribal Park and Veterans Memorial

Our second stop was to see Window Rock itself and honor the Navajo Military Veterans who served our country.

This small park is located near the Navajo Nation headquarters and administrative offices and is stunning to see! Because of its cultural significance, you are not allowed to get up close to the rock formation or climb it, but it is worth it, even just from a short distance.

Additionally, the Veterans Memorial, established in 1995, honors many Navajo Code Talkers, whose native Diné language was used to develop unbreakable codes in World War II and was crucial to our victory. The names of Navajo war veterans are also featured within this park.

J.L. Hubbell Trading Post

The next day, as we left Window Rock and headed west toward Highway 191, we discovered an original trading post for the Navajo people and new settlers.

The J.L. Hubbell Trading Post is a historic site dating back to 1874. John Lorenzo Hubbell purchased it in 1878, and it was sold to the National Park Service in 1967.

Stopping here was a true delight. It houses many historical artifacts, still has original buildings, and is one of the last operational trading posts in this country. You can purchase authentic Navajo rugs and artwork, camping supplies, and even cans of SPAM.

Plus, you can get chased by the chickens and see the sheep for a bonus.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Our last stop in the Navajo Nation would be something spectacular!

Canyon de Chelly was an epic adventure despite the howling, frigid winds we endured on the day of our visit. The views along the drive and at the stopping points are simply indescribable; you have to see them to believe them.

The canyon is home to many Diné people who raise livestock and continue to live here as they did 5,000 years ago. As we hiked along one of the viewing areas, we met a 75-year-old man who owned some of the land below. He shared stories of growing up there, of waiting for the floodwaters to recede before he could get home. Despite his age, he walked much faster than we could.

As we made our way to the end of the canyon and back, we remained mesmerized by the enormity of this place and the beauty it held.

Before we left the park, we ran into a Navajo couple whose car was somehow stuck in a ditch. Despite my mother’s warnings to never stop and help people because they might carjack us, I wasn't about to leave them stranded there.

After we freed the vehicle from the deep sand, the young man thanked me, prayed for me in his native language, and told me I was the only white person who had ever helped him. I replied that I was simply a Native American trapped in a vanilla body who hated Kit Carson. He burst out laughing, then gave me a manly hug.

I don’t say this to give myself credit, only to remind us all to be open to helping and loving our fellow humans, no matter the color of their skin or where they come from. It was a glorious exchange I’ll never forget.

Thank you to the Navajo Nation.

Those two short days around Window Rock were very special to us, and they opened our eyes even more to a proud people and nation who, in my opinion, deserve eternal blessings and respect for what they have endured.

I am grateful for our opportunity to visit and for your hospitality.

Ahéhee’

When I was a child, I was enamored with the variety of trees in our yard, and every spring, I couldn’t wait until they burst forth with the greenery of new life. Especially our large Mimosa tree, which was the center of activity for cicadas and children alike!

I remember spending hours climbing in that Mimosa tree, its branches reaching towards the heavens in every direction, filled with pinkish-white flowers. Much to my mother’s chagrin, I always pushed the limits on how far I could go, seeking to summit the canopy’s top without falling to the ground, some 20 feet below.

We also had the towering cottonwood tree, which reached far beyond our house's roof and into the sky. This giant was much harder to climb, but it wasn’t long before I conquered it and discovered how to leap from its sacred branches onto the roof below. My parents were never happy about that.

However, my favorite memory was from our pecan tree.

Every year, it would be the bane of my existence because as it shed hundreds of greenish brown pecans to the earth below, it was my responsibility to rake them up, separate the good ones from the bad, and deliver them in buckets so they could be prepared for my mother’s famous pecan pie. I enjoyed the food, but not the labor!

But it’s what my dad did with that pecan tree every Christmas that made it so special.

For some reason, he decided it would become his tradition to break out the extendable ladder, climb up those rickety branches as far as he could go towards the top, and drop one single strand of outdoor lights straight down to the bottom for his glorious act of Christmas spirit.

After he died and our childhood home burned down, that giant pecan tree stood firm, along with that single strand of lights.

Thirty-three years later, it’s still there.

Trees are very special to me.

While they provide us with the oxygen we need to live and breathe, I’ve always had a deep connection with nature, and I can feel the surge of energy and life as I walk among them. Sometimes, I even think I can hear them speaking, as if they’re trying to tell me incredible stories of adventures from decades past.

It sounds weird and crazy, but it is what it is.

As we hike trails across the country, I always find myself reaching out to them, feeling the beauty of their skin, and offering my gratitude for the joy they bring me.

Maybe it’s all deeply rooted in the memories I have from my early days or because I realize they will likely be here long after I’m gone. Whether it’s a juniper, an aspen, an oak, or a willow, they receive my sincerest appreciation.

Sometimes in life, we forget the essential things.

Rather than being present and thankful for the beautiful moments we have right now, we get obsessed over the stuff that doesn’t matter when we’re dead.

Being outdoors reminds me to be fully present, to take it all in, and to enjoy what I have, because just as childhood memories fade fast, so does the very life I’m living right now.

Right before my dad died, he told my sister, “It’s amazing how we take a breath of fresh air for granted.” Walking among the trees always reminds me of this.

Today, I encourage you to take a walk.

Surround yourself with the trees that give us life.

Listen to what they might say.

And then take a moment to be grateful for the very breath you breathe.

You’ve been blessed with another day.

And that is a true gift.

Seeing the incredible amount of elk during our visit to Estes Park last year was one of the greatest wildlife experiences we’ve ever encountered.

If you’re from a state like Oklahoma, where large game like this is non-existent aside from elk farms or zoos, it’s easy to understand why it’s easy to be mesmerized by such observations.

And we were extremely thrilled!

When we arrived in Estes Park in 2022, the annual rut was underway, so large elk sightings are typical in Rocky Mountain National Park during this time, as they migrate from higher elevations to lower pastures for mating.

However, you don’t have to drive to the park to see them.

Our first sightings of these beautiful creatures were smack dab right in the middle of town at Bond Park.

Half a dozen cows (females) were nonchalantly grazing the grass and resting in this park next to the police station. You could easily walk up to them, BUT it’s not recommended, as they can become aggressive — especially when male bulls are present to protect them.

So avoid the temptation to pet them while taking a selfie.

Besides, you could get a ticket from local police officers for not giving the wildlife ample space. Keep 75 feet away from them and it will all be good.

But wait, there’s more!

During our daily river walks to visit the stores or Kind Coffee, we often saw plenty of bulls and cows hanging out near the visitor center or stores. Sometimes, we even had to wait 30–45 minutes to cross a trail because those elk just don’t care about you or your caffeine fix. LOL!

The Estes Park Golf Course is a common gathering spot for these large animals and offers an excellent opportunity to view them.

The males seem to enjoy the putting greens, much to the frustration of golfers, as they often tear them up during their afternoon naps. The females are usually found on the fairways not far from the bulls. There are also areas along the walking path where they rest with the calves — which have plenty of warning signs for visitors to be cautious.

Yet at different times, we’d see herds meandering along the highway by the water park or eating in the locals’ backyards.

The elk are everywhere in town.

What’s up with the bugling?

For several weeks, we would hear the bulls (males) bugling day and night. This somewhat eerie sound is used to attract cows while warning other bulls to stay away from their harem.

Research led by Dr. Jennifer Clarke at the University of Northern Colorado suggests that different types of bugling sounds mean different things. One sound communicates that the bull is in the area with his harem; another warns the cows that they’re straying too far from their bull; and others tell potentially competitive bulls that they’re too close to the first bull’s harem and in for trouble if they come closer. - Outside Magazine, My Colorado Parks.

Are elk really dangerous to approach?

Most of the time, these creatures appear relaxed and calm as people approach them, which can easily deceive you into thinking they are domesticated animals.

However, they are wild and can be very dangerous.

I watched a bull elk go after a photographer in Bond Park, and I have seen many videos where people and cars were attacked.

The males, like most of us dumb guys, get highly aggressive when their testosterone is flying high. They can be unpredictable in behavior, can run up to 40 mph, and jump 8 feet vertically.

And with weighing up to 700 pounds, they could easily kill you.

It is wise to give them plenty of space. You don’t want to be on the news because you wanted to hug one.

Other cool things to know.

Whether we observed the herds at Moraine Park, Upper Beavers Meadow, or along the golf course, it was interesting to learn about elk facts from others or see how they behaved, including:

• High-pitched squeals by calves: A newborn calf communicates to its mother this way; she recognizes her calf by its voice.

• Low grunts by the males: They use this to signal danger or when dumb selfie-takers are getting too close.

• Bulls aggressively chasing cows: If a harem cow wanders from the herd, the bull will stretch his neck out low, tip up his nose, tilt his antlers back, and circle her.

We also learned that the cows and calves live in loose herds, while the bulls are bachelors who generally live alone. They usually only come together for the rut, then go their separate ways when it’s over.

Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.

Experience it for yourself.

If seeing elk in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park interests you, plan to visit in September for the best chance to see them around town.

You can still see them at other times, but this was when we saw the most action in the area, though the large herd we discovered on our drive was at the end of October.

So you never know!

We hope you get to enjoy this incredible experience for yourself.

Visiting Estes Park in Colorado has been one of the most incredible and memorable experiences of our lifetime.

No matter which highway you take to this small town nestled in the valley of Rocky Mountain National Park, you'll quickly be overwhelmed with a sense of wonder as you encounter majestic scenery in every direction.

The enormous power of the mountains and the beautiful emerald-green trees certainly make their presence known. They reach as far as the eye can see. You could get lost there and never be found.

Estes Park feels like a slice of heaven on earth, a place where you can find endless happiness and discover overwhelming peace to fill your soul.

Words could never fully capture the experience, but we can give you a glimpse of what it will be like.

The Town

The town of Estes Park itself is something special, like one of those quaint, happy places from a cheesy Hallmark Christmas show. Only a thousand times better.

Lying at the mouth of Rocky Mountain National Park, the town is filled with a variety of shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a popular tourist destination that doesn’t feel like a tourist trap, striking the right balance between business and pleasure.

There can be huge crowds and heavy traffic that test your patience, but the energy is absolutely contagious. It makes you want to be here.

As you walk the main street, you will notice people from all walks of life and different countries coming together to enjoy a magical setting. And if you’re lucky, you will see the incredible herds of elk who make their way into town, owning the roads and outdoor spaces as they roam.

If you know the secret routes and the times to explore, you can sometimes avoid the larger crowds and have more space for yourself.

This is how it was to us in the six weeks we stayed in Estes Park, and it started to feel like home, a comfortable and welcoming place we never wanted to leave.

The Outdoors and Wildlife

If you enjoy being outdoors and seeing an abundance of wildlife, you’ll soon discover Estes Park delivers it all.

Taking your time to walk around Lake Estes does so much to energize your mind, body, and soul. You’ll be able to spot bald eagles, watch herds of elk, gaze at the beautiful mountains, ride your mountain bikes, or sit in solitude with a zen-like feeling at various points around the path.

The hiking trails in the area are endless joys of wonder.

No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, you have unlimited options for hiking without even going into RMNP. We loved our time at Lily Lake and on the other trails. We even managed to reach the summit of Twin Sisters Peak.

The wildlife is also unlike any place I’ve been.

Besides the gobs of wild turkey, rabbits, chipmunks, and mule deer, we spent hours watching large herds of elk do their thing all over town. We also saw bighorn sheep and moose, but unfortunately, no bears.

It was so refreshing and invigorating.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Whether you decide to take US-34 or US-36 from town, the drive towards Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely stunning. However, you have to be careful because the roads can be overrun at times by herds of elk.

In our experience, there’s nothing quite like driving through and exploring RMNP! You can spend days hiking on trails, taking photos, watching wildlife, or just standing in awe of the captivating views throughout the property.

Once you enter RMNP, we highly recommend driving the entire Bear Lake Road route, even if you need to take the free shuttle. Plus, walking around Sprague Lake and stopping at Sheep Lake (where moose, elk, and sheep are often found) are also a must!

The downside can be the crazy amount of traffic.

It’s not uncommon to have to wait an hour to get into the park at certain times of the day, and when any wildlife appears close to the roads, you’ll come to a complete standstill. We highly advise being prepared by carrying food, water, layers of clothing, and filling your gas tank before entering the park.

And as much as we don’t want to share this secret, if you prefer to avoid the crowds and see more wildlife, it’s best to start your visit very early.

Our List of Recommendations

Road Life Magazine has plenty of recommendations for your next visit to Estes Park, Colorado. Please note that some options are available only seasonally.

Shopping

• Brownfields: Hands down the best place to get souvenirs at great prices.

• The Lazy Moose: Fun and quirky apparel

Food and Drinks

• Smokin’ Daves BBQ: The best food and value we found in town!

• Kind Coffee: Amazing coffee and people, plus they have sugar-free options.

• Fresh Burger Stop: Great burgers, fantastic prices. Located in Sinclair.

• The Barrel: Delicious beer and outdoor vibes.

• The View: Upscale dining and incredible views. Open seasonally.

Hiking and Walking

• Lake Estes Visitor Center: So much to do around here and beautiful walking paths around the area.

• Lily Lake Loop: Take this breathtaking route into the mountains and then walk the easy path around the small lake. It’s totally worth it!

• Lumpy Ridge Trail and Gem Lake: This hike is moderate, with stunning views and rock formations.

• Emerald Lake Trail: A moderate and challenging hike, but with incredible views for photography.

Going on an Alaskan cruise was a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Not only do I love cruises, but I’ve always wanted to travel to Alaska and see that beautiful land.

Another goal of mine has always been to visit all 50 states. When James and I started traveling full-time four years ago, we began working through the few states we had left to reach that goal. We knew Alaska would be number 50 on our list, and we planned to do it in my 50th year.

I was so excited!

But we never dreamed that travel restrictions would still be so strict in some areas in 2022 because of the pandemic, and, unfortunately, my dream of getting to Alaska and going on a cruise was not to be in my 50th year. 😦

Thankfully, things improved in 2023, and we finally booked an epic journey to Alaska. To say I was excited for this adventure would be one of the biggest understatements of the year and my life!

We wanted to see as much of the state as we could (which would still be a tiny fraction of it, considering how MASSIVE this state is), so we flew into Fairbanks to start our journey in the north and work our way south.

Fairbanks

We visited a variety of things in the Fairbanks area:

• Downtown Fairbanks

• Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center

• Golden Heart Park/Plaza

• North Pole, Alaska, and the Santa Claus House

We even met up with some friends stationed at Fort Wainwright, and they took us to see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and to a couple of amazing breweries — Silver Gulch and HooDoo Brewing Company. Such a fun time!

Train Tour of Alaska: Fairbanks to Anchorage

After spending a couple of days exploring Fairbanks, our amazing friend dropped us off at the train station, where we rode the train south to Anchorage, with a two-night stop in Denali National Park along the way. We booked this through Gray Line Alaska, and we couldn’t have been more pleased. We enjoyed epic views on both legs of the journey — all the way to Anchorage.

Some of the awesome things about the train trip were:

• Amazing views the whole way south.

• On the first leg, we had the option to head to the upper deck to see the view from the glass-domed car.

• Transportation to our lodging in Denali Park, as well as luggage transfer, was provided.

• On the second leg, there was dining service on the lower level of our train car, and our regular seats were on the upper level with a glass dome roof for fantastic viewing.

• Bar service on the second leg with an excellent bartender

• There was a tour guide on the second leg and she made the trip SO fun! She was entertaining, shared great information, and even played some fun games with us.

Denali Park

As I mentioned, we had a two-night stop in Denali National Park so we could explore it a little. I can tell you right now that I would love to go back and spend a LOT more time here. There is a lot to do in the area, and while we made the best of just a couple of days, there was so much more we could have done.

As part of our trip package, we were provided a super cool cabin at Denali Park Village. This place was amazing. It had a lodge with rooms in the main building, a few more traditional hotel buildings, and lots of little cabins,  which is what we got. It was so much fun!

During our two-day visit, we enjoyed a variety of things in the area.

• Denali National Park — we visited the visitor center and the learning center, then wandered the immediate area. (There is SO much to do here if you have a lot more time!)

• Sled Dog Demonstration that is done for FREE in the park- this was AMAZING!

• ATV adventure in Healy — also AMAZING!!

• Music of Denali Dinner Theater at McKinley Chalet Resort, which was included with our trip package — this was so much fun!

• Exploring/hiking around Denali Park Village, where we stayed.

Anchorage

After our stop in Denali Park Village, we finished our train tour by heading down to Anchorage, where we booked a little Airbnb with a lovely host. Her home was small and cozy, with everything we needed for a pleasant stay. One of the things we loved about this place was borrowing her e-bikes and going for amazing bike rides in the area. I hadn’t ridden a bike in YEARS and it was so fun! Especially since they were electric and helped out a lot.

We mostly walked or rode our bikes to the places we wanted to explore, since the house was within walking distance of downtown, but one day we rented a car through Turo and drove a little farther out to see the area.

This was our first experience with Turo and we were very pleased with it! It was so much cheaper than a regular rental car, and the renter lived within walking distance of our house, so we could walk over, pick it up that morning, and take off on our fun!

The things we loved exploring in Anchorage were:

• Downtown Anchorage — shops, breweries, restaurants, etc.

• Tony Knowles Coastal Trail — an amazing way to enjoy nature and see some incredible views, including an eagle and a moose

• Potter Marsh — a beautiful nature area

• Beluga Point — great way to see the Turnagain Arm and some sea life

• Resolution Park & James Cook monument — cool history of the area

• Earthquake Park — a good way to try to view Mt Denali

• Kincaid Park — a beautiful park area with walking paths to explore

• Ship Creek — great way to go up in elevation and see some views of the city and the surrounding area from above

Tour Bus to Seward

We spent almost a week in Anchorage exploring the area, and then it was time to move south again. We booked a full-day bus excursion with ACT Big Bus and enjoyed incredible views all the way to Seward, plus many adventures along the way.

The tour bus excursion included:

• Pick up that morning at a hotel that was only a block or two away from the house we stayed in

• A couple of stops at scenic viewpoints so we could get out and take pics

• A stop at the Wildlife Conservation Center to see many amazing animals

• Lunch (provided at the conservation center)

• A visit to Exit Glacier, which is part of Kenai Fjords National Park, with time for a hike

• Transportation directly to the cruise terminal with luggage transfer

It was an incredible day! We saw so many amazing things and had such a great time.

Our tour guide was fantastic and shared lots of interesting things about the area as we traveled south. Having the chance to get off the bus and explore several regions was also really lovely. It made the day so enjoyable, as if we were really experiencing the area rather than just driving through.

The Cruise That Never Left

This is where the story turns sad, and that’s why I shared at the beginning that it took two tries to make this trip of a lifetime.

As we drove south to Seward, we had no cell service for most of the way. This is a pretty remote area, so we were completely cut off from the outside world and just enjoying the experience.

Sadly, as we left the National Park and drove into the cruise terminal, we regained cell service, and many phones chimed and received notifications at once. While we were enjoying our day, our cruise ship had struggled into Seward, and we learned the issue would not be fixed in time for our cruise to proceed.

It was cancelled.

To say I was devastated would be an understatement. This had been a dream trip of mine for most of my adult life, and as amazing as the rest had been, the cruise was to be the highlight.

I was crushed.

We arrived at the cruise terminal on Friday afternoon, and even though we learned the cruise had been cancelled before we boarded, they still let everyone on and let us enjoy the ship. We were told we had until Sunday to make arrangements and leave the boat, so at least it wasn’t an immediate dismissal.

But let me tell you, it was complete chaos!

When thousands of people expect to cruise from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia, it creates quite a headache for travel. We all had to scramble to figure out what to do. We had to get back to Anchorage, then figure out how to get home from there, since we had flights booked from Vancouver for a week later.

We eventually got our wits about us and put a plan together, but it was so upsetting to miss the final leg of this fantastic trip. Thankfully, Royal Caribbean took good care of us all and made the situation as bearable as possible under the circumstances. As I mentioned, we were allowed to stay on the ship free of charge for a couple of days and they provided compensation as follows:

• Free drink packages and free internet for everyone on board for the two days until we had to leave

• Transportation back to Anchorage

• Help with flights if we wanted them to book and reimbursement if we booked ourselves (this didn’t go quite as easily as they said, but we did end up getting it all resolved eventually)

• Full refund for the cruise

• FCC (future cruise credit) for the amount of the cruise fare (less taxes and fees) to be used on another cruise booked within a year

After we got home and started looking for options to try again, we found the same cruise itinerary for May 2024—and even at a lower cost! — So we booked that with our FCC and planned to go again.

Because this booking was at a lower cost, we had additional credit left, which we used toward a cruise we took in July 2024 out of Florida. That made the situation a little better, at least.

The Triumphant Return to Alaska

So fast forward from September 2023 to May 2024 and we were off for the final leg of our dream trip. Again.

We took an epic road trip from Oklahoma to California, visiting National Parks along the way (Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Yosemite, and Redwood), then all the way up the coast to Seattle, where we caught a flight to Anchorage.

From Anchorage, we took the bus back down to Seward — this time we took the quick route that went directly to the cruise terminal, with no stops. We arrived that morning and boarded the ship as soon as boarding opened.

I’m not going to lie, this ship (Radiance of the Seas) had some problems again a few weeks before this cruise, and I was SO nervous that something was going to go wrong. I don’t think I really relaxed and felt it would be okay until at least halfway through the cruise.

But the cruise was fantastic and went off without a hitch, and we enjoyed every moment of it. Our stops were as follows:

Hubbard Glacier

The first full day was just a day of cruising, and we got to see Hubbard Glacier. It was also our 33rd wedding anniversary, so it was fun to celebrate that while enjoying our time on the ship.

Juneau

In Juneau, we enjoyed walking around downtown, strolling the boardwalk, and heading down to the area to see the humpback whale statue — The Whale Project. Juneau is a beautiful town and one we really enjoyed!

Skagway

In Skagway, we booked an excursion to explore White Pass. We chose the bus option over the train—partly for cost, but also because it promised a little more of a tour of the area, and you can get out and see things along the way. While it was enjoyable and we had a good time, I think if we did this again, we would try the train instead. The weather wasn’t as great at this stop, so the views were beautiful, but I do wonder what they would have been like if it hadn’t been so cloudy and drizzly.

After the excursion, we wandered the town and learned a little about its history. One of the interesting things about this town is that it’s the only town that hasn’t been burned down at some point, so it’s all original buildings. It was so cool to walk the old boardwalk sidewalks and see all the old buildings and wide streets. Such a beautiful place!

We checked out Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, a museum all about the gold rush; we visited one of the local breweries, shopped in some of the touristy shops, and just enjoyed the beautiful views of the town. It’s a fun little place!

Haines

This was a day with two ports, so we arrived in Haines in the evening and spent just a few hours there. It was a beautiful sight as we arrived at the port. I thought we were looking out over the town, but it was actually Fort Seward that we saw. The city itself lay to the right, so we set out to walk around and explore it a little.

This was my least favorite port, as there didn’t seem to be much to see or do here, especially so late in the day,  but it was still a beautiful place with amazing views.

Icy Strait

This was my FAVORITE stop!! I could write an entire post just about this place (and I just might!) because it was that great and there was so much amazing stuff to see. For this post, I’ll say that we did a whale watching excursion and saw some incredible wildlife, such as sea otters, humpback whales, orcas, and eagles, and we had such a great time.

It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

We also went ashore and explored the Adventure Center and the surrounding area, rode the gondola to another location, hiked the nature trail back to our port area, and walked along the shoreline, where we saw incredible sea life. It was truly a fantastic experience and one I will never forget.

Ketchikan

This was a really cool little town. We enjoyed wandering around the downtown area and visiting the shops. We checked out the Creek Street area and marveled at how it’s all built above the river. Even though it wasn’t the season for the salmon to be running, we had fun seeing the salmon ladder and where they go upstream.

We also explored the Discovery Center and learned about the area's history. Alaska is definitely a fascinating place with a rich history.

To wrap up the cruise, we sailed through the Inside Passage and on into Vancouver. Since much of this segment took place at night, we didn’t get to see many of the views and truly enjoy this portion of the cruise. But the views all along the way on this cruise were just incredible. I couldn’t get over the beauty at every turn.

Even though it took us two tries to get this trip of a lifetime in, it was well worth it. This was the adventure of a lifetime, and Alaska's beauty is unmatched in my experience thus far. There are lots of beautiful places on this earth, and Alaska is one of the best in my opinion!

Have you been to Alaska? What was your favorite part?

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Want to see the worst National Monument on the whole list of 431 areas in the National Park System? We found it. I mean, we haven’t visited all of them yet, but I can’t imagine there is one worse than this. 😂

A little backstory, first.

I have a passport book, so I can stamp it and get a sticker at the National Park areas we visit. We were at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado recently, and they had a stamp for Yucca House National Monument. I hadn’t heard of it, so I looked it up and discovered it was only a few minutes from where we were staying! So I added that to our agenda and off we went the next day to check it out.

The drive there was beautiful, with amazing views, but it was strange. First off, there was a sign pointing down the road to the National Monument, but there was also a sign reading "No Trespassing-Private Property."

Sooooo which is it?? 🤷‍♀️

We ventured down the road and ended up right in front of someone’s house. They had a big barn over to the side with a huge driveway area and that was basically where you had to park — we guessed anyway. I kind of wish I’d taken pics of the area, but I was so caught off guard I didn’t even think about it. We felt like someone might come out and yell at us any minute to get off their property! lol!

We parked and got out, but they were watering their yard, and you had to walk through it and across this boardwalk to reach it. We didn’t want to start the day all drenched from a sprinkler system, so we opted NOT to go over there. 😉

It didn’t look like there was much there anyway. It was SO bizarre.

After the fact, I looked on Google and read these reviews:

“This place needs to be demoted. Probably the lamest NP site I’ve ever visited.”

“It’s basically in someone’s yard. Only a single wall uncovered and only one side of that. The most rinky dink of NPS units I’ve ever seen.”

“This has to be the strangest National Monument I’ve ever been to. It’s hidden in the middle of nowhere. When we first got to the destination we thought we were given the wrong directions since it led up to someones house dirt parking lot… But nope, it was correct. At the corner of the parking lot is a sign that points to a gate “Yucca House National Monument”. No park rangers, no visitor center and no sign of life.”

I was cracking up! These people posted exactly what we thought!!

Guess we should have read the reviews first and not wasted our time. But I got my stamp and we technically went to see it!!

Are you a National Park fanatic like we are? Have you had a bizarre experience anywhere like this? Share your story in the comments.

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We have been blessed to travel to all 50 states plus 20 other countries and, while I could probably actually sit and make a very long list of places I’d visit again, as I thought about the conversations we’ve had as we’ve traveled, I realized there are a few places that have really stood out to me as places I’d like to visit again. I’ve narrowed it down to my top 3 places that I’d go back to right now if I could. ;)

Estes Park, Colorado (Rocky Mountain National Park)

This has been one of our favorite destinations in our four+ years of full-time travel. We’ve visited Estes Park three times so far and we’ve spent a little over 6 weeks there within those three visits. Not only do we love the town and the whole vibe of the area, but it’s right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park where amazing views and incredible hiking trails abound. We absolutely love National Parks and this is one of our favorites. The sooner we can get back there for a lengthy visit again the better. ;)

Glacier National Park, Montana

When we first started our travel adventure we had mapped out a plan that took us through 10 different states over the course of 6 weeks or so and one of those states was Montana. We loved this part of the country so much! While in Montana we visited Billings, Helena, Kalispell (which is where we visited the park from), Bozeman, and West Yellowstone. This whole area was just amazing. We spent 8 nights visiting those areas and we’ve said ever since that we want to go back and spend so much more time there. It’s just a beautiful part of the country and there are so many things to explore and see!

Maine

One of the main places I’d like to go back to in Maine is Acadia National Park, but I can’t even limit my wish to that because there is SO much more to see in this beautiful state.

We were able to visit in September 2021 and it was just beautiful! The coastline is gorgeous and lined with so many lighthouses and amazing shorelines. It was also the very early beginning of the fall season when we were there and we even got to see some beautiful fall foliage.

Because of the way we travel, we don’t always plan out in advance exactly where we’ll stay and when we arrived in Bar Harbor, Maine, we discovered that this area is VERY expensive. lol! Because of that, we used our hotel rewards points that we had accumulated and only spent 3 nights there. We had a great time exploring the town itself as well as Acadia NP but it just wasn’t enough time.

The furthest we went into the interior of the state was Bangor — everything else was pretty much along the coast. So we would love to go back and not only visit the coast and see Acadia National Park again, we would love to go further into the state and even travel all the way up and over into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Of course this just barely scratches the surface of amazing places that exist out there in our beautiful country — and world! There are SO many places that we want to go visit. There is so much beauty out there just waiting to be seen and I can’t wait to find it!

What about you? Are there some places you’ve visited that you would love to visit again?

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If I’m being honest, Kings Canyon wasn’t even a park I was familiar with, and I couldn’t have even told you it existed before I started researching places to see in California. As I planned our big road trip through the state, I was looking at the map to see what was worth seeing and came across this park. Since we’re all about seeing National Parks, I knew this needed to be added to the agenda.

Kings Canyon National Park is connected to Sequoia National Park and sits directly north of it. Both parks lie in the Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. Interestingly, much of the scenic drive through Kings Canyon lies within the Giant Sequoia National Monument, not within Kings Canyon National Park. So if you’re visiting this area, you’ll not only be able to check Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks off your list, but you’ll also get a National Monument checked off as well.

Depending on what you like to do while visiting a park, this is definitely a park you can see in a day if you’re just looking to check it out and take in some amazing views. We spent just one day seeing it, and here are the things I recommend checking out.

Official Sign

We always love to take a pic at the official park sign, but unfortunately, we never found one for Kings Canyon. I don’t know if we just missed it or if there isn’t one. I’m assuming we missed it, but I have no idea where it could have been if there is one.

We found a sign for the Giant Sequoia National Monument as we headed toward the Kings Canyon Big Stump entrance. It was along a narrow highway and a ways beyond the pull-off area, and I didn’t want to walk that close to the road, so we opted to take our pic from a distance. haha!

Big Stump of the Mark Twain Tree

Had I done a little more research about this area before we went, I probably would have seen that there is a stop near this entrance for Big Stump, but I never saw that while we were there, unfortunately, so we didn’t see that. But it sounds like it’s a pretty cool thing so I would add that to your agenda.

King Canyon Visitor Center

I always enjoy visiting all the visitor centers in a park because they’re different, with a variety of things to learn about. This one was nice, with lots of displays where you could learn all about the trees and the area's landscape. And of course, you can get your NP passport book stamped and grab some souvenirs if you’d like!

General Grant Tree Trail

This is a beautiful area! When we got to this area, we walked the trail to see the General Grant tree. This tree is the 3rd largest tree in the world by volume! It’s impossible to capture in a picture how amazing these trees truly are. The perspective just isn’t there with a photo. But the trees on this trail are just incredible.

One in particular is one that is a fallen tree. It’s so large that you can walk through the inside of it with plenty of space. It’s a pretty cool feature along this trail because you can enter from either end of the tree and walk through the whole thing, going right through the middle of the whole trail loop.

Once we finished walking this trail, we decided to pull out our cooler and have a little picnic lunch on the back of our truck overlooking a little valley. It was such a peaceful area and it was nice to sit and listen to the sounds of nature.

Panoramic Point Overlook

This overlook is accessible by road if the road is open. Unfortunately, it was not the day we were there, but I would definitely include this on your route if it’s available.

Highway 180 — scenic drive through the canyon

As I mentioned before, this part of the park is actually part of Giant Sequoia National Monument until you’re almost to the Cedar Grove Visitor Center. This road was open to Grizzly Falls that day, so that was as far as we could go, and then we turned around to head back.

There are several pull-off areas, viewpoints, and overlooks along this route. They all offer amazing views of the area. You can see things like the canyon, waterfalls, the Kings River, and, of course, beautiful mountain views.

I will warn you, some sections of the road are a little scary! haha! You’re driving along the edge of the mountain, and the canyon is a steep drop off the side of the road, so be prepared for that! Thankfully, the majority of it isn’t like that, and it’s just a nice, scenic drive.

Hume Lake

Once we came back through the canyon after reaching Grizzly Falls, we took the turnoff for Hume Lake to take that drive down to the south to meet up with Generals Highway. We discovered even more beautiful areas down this road and this is definitely a route I’d recommend.

Hume is pretty amazing. Not only is it a beautiful lake area, but it also has a huge campground and a little town with shops and other essentials to take care of your basic necessities. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, so you could easily spend several days in Hume and still have plenty to do.

Generals Highway Overlooks

Our last stops on our adventure through Kings Canyon National Park were Redwood Mountain Overlook and Kings Canyon Overlook — both of which are on the Generals Highway east of the Big Stump entrance. Both of these overlooks offer gorgeous views, and it’s a nice way to wrap up the day.

We loved this area, with some amazing views, so it’s definitely worth a visit. If you have more time and can venture off the road to hike, maybe explore Boyden Cavern (extra cost), or camp at any of the many campgrounds. This could be a place you easily spend much more time. But if you’re like us and you just want to take a day to drive through and see the highlights, this will help you do just that.

Traveling is supposed to be an adventure filled with glorious and wonderful memories we will hopefully never forget. As travel writers, we strive to share positive insights to help you enjoy your trip even more.

Unfortunately, there are those times when things beyond our control can ruin those precious moments and make us wonder why in the hell we took a road trip in the first place.

Like when you happen to discover the worst drivers in America.

Because most of our travel is based in the United States and Canada, while driving our truck, we get to see a lot of great things — especially when we take the roads less traveled. It’s one of the perks of what we do.

But sometimes we’re forced to take highways and interstates, and it has become a sort of hellish nightmare in certain places.

We’ve stared in the face of death numerous times in our vehicle and had to clean the shit out of our seats and shorts, which isn’t pleasant at all. Some interstates even bring us such horrible flashbacks and anxiety that we’ve become day drinkers. 😜

So today I want to share the top three states we believe to be the worst, just in case you’re planning a future trip. This way, you can be fully prepared with a well-stocked first aid kit, adult diapers, proper insurance, and a bottle of rum to calm your nerves when it all goes wrong.

Additionally, I’m sorry if you live in one of these places. I don’t mean to offend you and your people, but seriously, learn to drive better.

#3. California

Despite the crazy prices, questionable politics, and a growing homeless population, we absolutely love California and the incredible experiences it has provided.

San Diego is my happy place, and there are so many fantastic National Parks, beaches, and smaller towns to explore that will make you smile. Southern California is vastly different from Northern California, making for a very memorable drive.

Speaking of…

For the most part, there aren’t as many horrible drivers in CA as in the other states listed— it’s just the sheer amount of ’em on the roads at any given time.

There’s no planning around traffic because you never know when those thousands upon thousands of cars will be on the road. They keep you guessing and anticipating so you’ll be forced into some purgatory to atone for your sins!

I recommend carrying plenty of water and a couple of milk jugs to pee in just in case you find yourself crawling the asphalt hell of Interstate 5.

#2. Texas

Something about pickup trucks, guns, and “everything’s bigger in Texas” creates an attitude that makes Texans feel untouchable.

If you get anywhere near the metro areas of Dallas, Austin, Houston, or San Antonio, you’ll discover the true American Spirit formed by raging testosterone and relentless aggressiveness.

And now that the liberals from California and New York are making a mass exodus from their land to this big state due to better tax and housing rates, I’d expect a rise in seething anger and road rage. Be ready for a gun fight.

When we go through Texas, we do everything possible to avoid the I-35 corridor, especially near Dallas and Austin, because of the insane traffic and the constantly changing, confusing highways. Even with Google Maps or GPS, it will lead you to a gauntlet of suffering.

However, I will say Texas has some fantastic places to visit, and if you can deal with those drivers, it is worth boot scootin’ around the state.

#1. Florida

Buckle up and tighten your seatbelt for this one because no place makes us as fearful as the “Sunshine State!” 😱

Florida has a lot to offer on a road trip — including beautiful beaches, outstanding resorts, tons of entertainment and amusement parks, and, in certain cities like Miami or Orlando, an exciting nightlife. The state also provides you with the rudest and most dangerous drivers in the entire country.

Fifteen years ago, we drove I-95 south on our way to a cruise, and on this six-lane highway to hell, our lives flashed before our eyes. A vehicle in the far-right lane struck another car, causing a chain reaction of destruction. We met a white pickup truck spinning out and heading on at 70 mph.

We were badly shaken and our rental car* was totaled. Thankfully, our injuries, while painful, weren’t severe enough that we couldn’t continue our trip.

The worst part, if that wasn’t already enough, was the people slowly driving by after our wreck, giving us the finger and telling us to get the fuck out of the road! Then, after the firefighters arrived, they asked me if I could help push that crumpled heap of metal out of the road while my flesh still burned from the activated airbags.

SERIOUSLY? WTF???

After that life-changing encounter, I proudly wore a t-shirt a friend from Florida made for me, which said,

If the humidity in Florida doesn’t kill you, the drivers will. ☠️

Sadly, nothing has changed since then.

We’re now back in the “Sunshine State” after another cruise and it’s appalling how many crazy assholes and raging lunatics are behind the wheel of a 4,000+ pound missile screaming down the highway at 80 mph or more, while drafting the asses of other 4,000+ pound missiles like dysfunctional NASCAR driver rejects.

You don’t have to stand hours in line at a Disney ride to feel the thrill of a lifetime. Just drive down any major street for five minutes, and you, too, can see your life pass before your eyes. 👀

What’s even more messed up is that Floridians proudly admit to this. Crazy.

*Note: Florida is a no-fault state, so we highly recommend getting extra insurance. We didn’t usually do this for rental cars before, but on the day of our wreck, we did, and we were so glad we did.

Not-So-Honorable Mention

There’s one last place I have to call out and warn people about, but it’s not the entire state, so it doesn’t make the list. If it did, I’d rank it #2!

U.S. 95 is a deadly stretch of highway that runs north and south in the southwestern part of Nevada. It’s a two-lane road in the middle of the desert that requires nerves of steel. Or a case of insanity.

We stopped in the town of Hawthorne to visit the Hawthorne Ordinance Museum, which is absolutely incredible. As I left to continue our journey, two of the older military veterans there warned me to be very careful driving south on this nightmare of a road.

I thought they were screwing with me, but they weren’t.

For the next 90 minutes, as we made our way to Tonopah, it was a white knuckle and butthole puckering experience as we battled high winds, blowing dust, and drivers with a death wish.

It was like a childhood game of chicken, where drivers on both sides of the road would risk everything to pass long lines of semi-trucks and other vehicles, with very little time or space to avoid oncoming traffic.

This tempting of God’s judgment and grace was too much for this old-school Catholic trouble-maker because doing so meant getting more than whacked by a ruler — it meant the possibility of meeting Jesus in a tuna can.

No thanks, bro!

Just remember to go slow.

Part of the joy of traveling is being able to experience your adventures at a slower pace. You miss so much when it’s pedal to the metal. The idea is to arrive at your destination safely, so please slow down.

And to all those daily drivers frantically racing to get to a job they hate or a family commitment they loathe, why not kick back and listen to some Jimmy Buffett instead? It’s not worth killing yourself or others in the process.

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading!

We recently took a road trip through California to visit several National Parks. As we travel around the country, exploring nature and seeing wildlife are our favorite things to do, so seeing these parks has been a bucket list item for me.

They did not disappoint!

Sequoia National Park wasn’t even really on my radar when I started mapping out a plan for the road trip through California, yet in some ways it ended up being my favorite of all the places we visited on this trip.

The views were just incredible everywhere we looked. Even just driving to the park offered some beautiful sights to see — and of course, we always have to get the touristy photo at the sign. 😂

But for those who are looking for something of a guide to let you know what to see and do while you’re visiting the park, I thought I’d share my top tips and places to see so you can get all the highlights of the park included in your day.

We got to the park early and spent the whole day just driving around and taking it all in, so this can be done in one day. If you have more time, you’ll be able to do even more, and you can choose to go on some hikes and really explore further.

We entered through the Ash Mountain entrance and drove in from the southwest on Highway 198, so these are basically in the order we did them based on that. Because we were there in the winter (and much of the park was up in the mountains), some areas were still closed, so not everything was open to us. The Moro Loop/Crescent Meadow Road was closed when we were near there in the morning, but we got SUPER lucky: when we came back later that day, it had opened for the season! If you are going through the park and not leaving the same way you came in, you’ll want to do these in a slightly different order.

With that being said, here are my top things to see in the park.

Foothills Visitor Center

I’m going to include this as the first place to see, but we actually didn’t get to see it until the end of the day. We arrived too early in the park and it wasn’t open yet. They have a small souvenir shop, restrooms, and a few displays about the area for you to explore. I always enjoy visitor centers because they usually have interesting facts about the park, and you can learn some cool stuff there.

Tunnel Rock

Next, you’ll come across this rock. It used to be a tunnel in the road, but now it’s just a walking path beneath it, and the road runs along the side. It’s fun to get out and walk around the area, walk through the tunnel, and check out the sign that gives all the info about how it was made.

Giant Forest Museum

This is pretty much just like a visitor center. They had some super cool displays that show how big these trees truly are, and it’s pretty mind-blowing! They have a few souvenirs on hand, and you can get your passport stamped here, too. Also out front is Sentinel — one of the larger trees in the park.

Big Trees Trail

This is a lovely walking path through the woods, with a nearby meadow where you can see some of the huge Sequoias. Some have fallen, so you can see how massive the tree's base is and the root system as well. It’s a .7 mile loop, and you can start from the Big Tree Museum or the parking lot across from the museum.

Sherman Tree Trail and General Sherman Tree

This trail is a pleasant hike with great views of the trees, including the General Sherman Tree. It’s not flat and has some steep spots as well as quite a few steps, so be prepared for that. There is a parking lot in a different area if you have a handicap tag and need an accessible path.

The General Sherman Tree is the biggest tree on Earth by volume, so it’s quite a sight to see! It’s fenced off to protect it, but there is a loop that goes around the whole tree so you can see it from every angle.

If you have more time or you’re visiting the park for multiple days, the Congress Trail splits off from the Sherman Tree Trail, and you can head further into the Giant Forest to see even more of the notable trees in the area.

Lodgepole Visitor Center

This was by far the busiest visitor center in the park, and it was tough to find a parking spot! Once I got inside to check it out I could see why.

Not only was this a place with information about the park and ways to learn more about the trees, but it was also a market where you could find a wide variety of things, from groceries to souvenirs to camping gear. Plus, there were some food places inside. So for anyone who spends a few days here — especially camping inside the park — this can be a place where you can stock up on any supplies you might need or grab a bite to eat if you’re hungry. And then you can also grab some souvenirs if you wish. I didn’t even think to take pics of this area, so nothing to show you from here.

Generals Highway

Driving the Generals Highway from the Lodgepole Visitor Center toward the north entrance of Sequoia National Park is a beautiful scenic drive. It goes further into the mountains and offers breathtaking views! There are pull-off areas along the route so you can step out, enjoy the view, and snap some photos.

We had initially planned to continue through the park this way and exit via the north entrance, but one of the girls at the visitor center told us the road wasn’t good and it wasn’t a good idea to drive all the way through. We later found out it's actually a pretty decent road, and we could have gone all the way through.

I’m not sure whether she misunderstood where we were headed or just had bad information, but from what others told us afterward, that road is fine. If you decide to travel on, check that the road is open and safe to drive.

Moro Rock Loop/Crescent Meadow Road

The good thing about being told that we shouldn’t continue along the Generals Highway was the fact that we went back through the park the same way we came in, and when we got back to Crescent Meadow Road, it was OPEN! At least to Moro Rock Loop anyway. This road is closed in winter and reopens sometime in May, depending on weather and snow conditions. Well, we got fortunate, and they opened it up the day we were there! This turned out to be one of our favorite areas in the whole park.

This road branches off from the main road (Generals Highway) right next to the Giant Forest Museum. The road is very narrow and winding, but it’s totally worth the drive. Once you get down near Moro Rock, you get more amazing views of the mountains, plus Moro Rock itself is a pretty amazing sight to behold!

If you’re feeling strong and adventurous, you can climb to the top of Moro Rock. Some steps go to the top and while I had absolutely no desire to do that whatsoever, it was cool to see others doing it.

You will also find Tunnel Log in this area. Not going to lie, this area was a bit of a mess: a whole line of cars was circling the loop to drive through the log, and each one stopped to take pictures as they went. People seemed to be having fun with it, though, so whatever floats your boat. We opted to park farther up the hill and walk down to see the area without getting into all that traffic. (We even got lucky and got a pic in between cars so that it looks like the area was empty!)

We wandered around this area a bit and came across quite a few fantastic things, besides all the giant trees. One tree had fallen and broken into pieces, so you could step inside and see how massive it was. Another huge tree had fallen, its base still intact. We also saw quite a few deer just strolling around the area, checking out all the people while they grazed. It was a wonderful place to end our day, leaving us feeling as if we'd seen some amazing things.

As I mentioned earlier, some parts of the park are closed during the winter, and those closures can stretch well into May because it's up in the mountains. Several areas and roads were still closed when we visited, so we weren’t able to explore every part of the park. If you visit later in the summer, you can add even more to your agenda if you wish.

If you enjoy hiking, there are tons of trails throughout the park, so you could spend days here and still not see it all. But if you have just a day or two and want to drive through and see the park's highlights, this list will help you do it.

I would say this park is in my top 10, and maybe even closer to the top 5. It’s truly a beautiful place, and seeing these trees is something you can’t imagine until you’ve been there in person.