Niagara Falls in Upstate New York is one of the top waterfalls in the world. And most visitors head to the Maid of Mist boat tour. Yet find more like a state park to explore along with a movie and…
Olympic National Park is a year-round destination with over 1,440 square miles of wilderness. As the convergence of several ecosystems, visitors can explore the mountaintop vistas, old-growth rainforests along with beach and lake activities. Best of all, Olympic National Park…
Imagine a rustic escape set among towering spruce and pine in the Pacific Northwest. Now the best part–get all the weathered shingles and sunset campfires along with barista coffee and gourmet meals. It is possible at the Lake Quinault…
Located 70 miles from Rapid City, Badlands National Parks is another must for your South Dakota vacation. Boasting buttes, pinnacles and spires, the striated rock formations feature fossils along with wildlife. To make the most of your time in Badlands,…
A movie made me do it. Back in 1977, Steven Spielberg’s movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind introduced a generation of kids to Devils Tower, including me. Since then, I vowed to see the eery stone tower in person. About…
It’s the most visited National Memorial outside of Washington, DC. Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota it’s more than a road trip stop. The Black Hills are a destination worthy of a week of fun with Mount Rushmore,…
A good road trip stop can be a must for a destination. With a blend of timeless appeal paired with good food, few road trip attractions can beat a drug store in South Dakota. Seriously, Wall Drug tops my list…
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a California gem that boasts fewer crowds than Sequoia or Yosemite. Yet it offers all the scenery plus volcanoes. The legendary volcanic activity of the Cascade Mountain Range is just to the north. And Lassen…
National Parks in Washington Most a few hours from Seattle, the national parks in Washington offer the best scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Though more than temperate rainforests and evergreen forests, learn about the volcanic Cascade Mountains along with the…
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park feels like a national park with its top wildlife viewing, recreation opportunities and facilities. On my first visit, I completely underestimated the appeal of Custer. Then drove away wanting…
Oregon offers a varied landscape. Explore the volcanoes and the glacier-clad mountains of the Cascades. Or see the lakes and caves nestled in-between. The Columbia River offers watersports and scenery along with a study in the last ice age. And…
Best Places to Stay in National Parks with Kids Let the kids roam free. See wild animals in their native habitat. Find fields of wildflowers. Roast a marshmallow. Take a hike. And forget about the phone. That’s what a National…