Today we're exploring the Cap Rock Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park. This is the perfect family friendly spot to take an easy hike and enjoy a bbq lunch at the picnic area amidst towering rock formations, cactus & endless Joshua trees. Read this travel guide to discover one of the top things to do and places to go in Joshua Tree on your next SoCal weekend road trip from Los Angeles.
Read MoreRead this complete guide about the stops along the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park West. Located in the Tucson Mountain District, this is the perfect family friendly activity on your Southern Arizona road trip. This AZ travel guide covers the picnic areas built by the CCC and multiple hiking trails, such as the Valley View Overlook Trail, and the short hike to Signal Hill petroglyphs.
Read MoreToday I'm partnering with Visit Yosemite Madera County to share the Top 10 Photo Spots in Yosemite National Park. This photography travel guide shares the best viewpoints and most Instagrammable viewpoints in the park, including Taft Point, Yosemite Valley Swinging Bridge, Olmsted Point, Tunnel View, Sentinel Dome & Glacier Point. Explore stunning scenes with Half Dome, El Capitan & waterfalls.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Lewis Creek Trail in Sierra National Forest. Located in Oakhurst, California south of Yosemite National Park, this hike takes you to two great waterfalls, Red Rock Falls and Corlieu Falls. This is one of the top things to do when staying at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, CA. This is the perfect add on to any Yosemite road trip along Highway 41.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park. Located along Bajada Loop Drive near the Red Hills Visitor Center and the Signal Hill Petroglyphs, this hike is one of the top things to do in Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District). Walk among giant saguaros, see abundant wildlife, and enjoy panoramic vista views of the Sonoran Desert.
Read MoreThis week we're taking a long day trip from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park to see Firefall, the natural phenomenon also known as the Horsetail Fall Event. This travel guide covers a one day itinerary with recommendations on driving directions, points of interest, where to park, and how to access one of my top spots to view Firefall from across the Yosemite Valley along Four Mile Trail.
Read MoreCould Chiricahua be our next National Park? Chiricahua National Monument is a great road trip idea when visiting Bisbee or Tucson in Southern Arizona, and Massai Point provides the best views inside the park. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for all you need to know before you visit this Wonderland of Rocks, including hiking trail details and the rich history of this region.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Discovery Trail, THE most family friendly trail in Joshua Tree National Park. Located across the road from Skull Rock, one of the top things to do in Joshua Tree, this easy hike takes visitors through slot canyons and towering rock formations, with opportunities to learn and see all kinds of wildlife and plants, including cholla cactus.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Mosaic Canyon Trail inside Death Valley National Park. Along this moderate hike we find narrow slot canyons & unique rock formations, making this one of the top things to do in Death Valley. This is one of the best hikes on any road trip to Death Valley because the 2 mile gravel road leading here means it's a lesser visited area in the park.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about the best hikes in Yosemite National Park. Today I'm providing the hiking details about 12 great Yosemite trails, one for every month of 2024. Yosemite is awesome all year, so join me in exploring what to do in Yosemite, like Firefall, Mirror Lake, Hetch Hetchy, MIst Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and Inspiration Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie hotel review about Tenaya at Yosemite in Fish Camp, CA, one of the best hotels near Yosemite National Park. Join me as I stay in one of the Premium Explorer Cabins and discover all the amenities and family friendly activities that Tenaya Lodge resort has to offer during Christmas & all Winter long. We'll enjoy dining & restaurants, and take a private Yosemite 360 Tour.
Read MoreToday we're exploring the hoodoos & grottoes along Echo Canyon Trail in Chiricahua National Monument. Chiricahua makes for a great stop along a Southern Arizona road trip, and is one of my top things to do when traveling to Bisbee, AZ. The grotto formations along this hike are spectacular and remind me of slot canyons found in other national parks. Read this travel guide for more info!
Read MoreToday we're driving the one-way Cactus Forest Drive loop and stopping at 10 of my favorite overlooks and hiking trails in Saguaro National Park East (Rincon Mountain District). Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to learn about trail distance, hours of operation, and one of the best sunset spots in Tucson. This drive is one of my top things to do in Southern Arizona along your AZ road trip.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to exploring the Hall of Horrors slot canyons in Joshua Tree National Park. This is a Joshua Tree top spot along your Southern California road trip through this desert park. Hiking this trail takes you around large rock formations, through a Joshua tree forest, and scrambling into narrow slot canyons, making for a perfect vacation adventure.
Read MoreToday I'm sharing my favorite holiday gift ideas for road trip warriors. My Top 10 Gift Guide features several products perfect for Christmas and the holiday season, including the hats I wear, camping equipment I use, my best hiking boots, and the camera equipment we use for video & still photography. I'm also including a special gift and an Etsy promo code for national park t-shirts and posters.
Read MoreJoin me along the easy hike beside Bonita Creek to Faraway Ranch in Chiricahua National Monument. If you're planning a trip to Southern Arizona, check out this travel guide, which includes info on Bonita Creek Trail, the pioneers & indigenous history, and the abundant wildlife seen here. This is one my top things to do in this park, and it's a great road trip idea from Bisbee and Tucson, AZ.
Read MoreYou can hike to an arch rock in Death Valley! Check out this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Natural Bridge Trail in Death Valley National Park, which leads you through slot canyons to the largest natural arch in the park and to a dry waterfall. Enjoy views of Badwater Basin and its temporary lake along this easy to moderate hike, which is one of my top things to do in Death Valley.
Read MoreCheck out my top 15 best spots to see the Fall colors in Yosemite Valley. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for seeing the Fall colors in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park typically peaks later than the Eastern Sierra Fall foliage, but late October is the perfect time to see the Autumn leaves pop with color along Southside Drive, Cooks Meadows, El Capitan Meadow, and Tunnel View.
Read MoreIs Death Valley open? YES! Death Valley National Park has reopened after a 2 month closure, but many roads and features in the park remain closed to the public. Read this Flying Dawn Marie complete travel guide to taking this desert road trip now. Learn about current conditions, traffic delays, and the historic road damage & flooding, including pics of the Badwater Basin lake from Dantes View.
Read MoreLocated along the Tuolumne River just off Tioga Road in the heart of Yosemite National Park, the trail to Soda Springs and Parsons Memorial Lodge is a can’t miss high country hike.
The hike begins begins by crossing the famous Pacific Crest Trail briefly with wonderful views of Lembert Dome in the distance and this easy hike leads you to the natural springs and the historic landmark lodge.
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