Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “california”
One of the best ways to explore the USA is on a good old-fashioned road trip. Cruise along Route 66, road trip through the Florida Keys, explore the American Southwest, or even drive from coast to coast. In this guide, we share 18 of the best USA road trips…18 great ideas for your next big adventure. About these USA Road …
Death Valley…just the name inspires a sense of wonder and mystery. With barren salt flats, towering mountains, mysterious sailing stones, shifting sand dunes, rainbow-colored mountains, and canyons to explore, there is a lot to do here. In this post, learn about the best things to do in Death Valley National Park, with suggestions on how to plan your time. At …
Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the United States. But don’t let its mysterious name and seemingly barren landscape discourage you from planning a trip here. This park is full of wonderful surprises. In this article, get the details on how to plan a Death Valley day trip from Las Vegas. About this Death Valley Day …
If you are looking for a challenging hike in Death Valley, Grotto Canyon may be perfect for you. Hike through narrow canyons, navigate your way up and over difficult obstacles, and enjoy this quiet, seldom visited trail in Death Valley. This is a very adventurous hike and only those with prior hiking experience should attempt it. We have tons of …
If you like the idea of exploring sand dunes, climbing down into an extinct volcano, hiking through canyons, and seeing one of the United States’ most unique landscapes, Death Valley is calling your name. With 2 days in Death Valley, you can see the main highlights, although more time allows you to explore further. Here is our two day Death …
When you think of Death Valley, what is the first thing that comes to mind? A barren desert landscape, crawling with scorpions and rattlesnakes? Yes, you can find that here, but there is so much more to Death Valley National Park than a forbidding desert landscape. We spent several days touring the park and fell in love with this place. …
Mosaic Canyon is a fun hike to do in Death Valley National Park. There is just enough rock scrambling and navigating through obstacles to keep things interesting. Mosaic Canyon narrows and widens several times throughout the hike so the views are always changing. This tends to be one of the more popular hikes in Death Valley, so be prepared to …
Death Valley National Park is filled with unusual spots to visit and the Racetrack Playa may be one of the most bizarre. This is the place to see those mysterious sailing stones…the large rocks that somehow glide over this dry, muddy surface, leaving imprinted trails behind them. This is not a spot you can just visit on a whim. Getting …
The Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop is an easily accessible, enjoyable hiking trail in Death Valley. Hike through sandstone canyons, enjoy the view from Manly Beacon, and explore the golden mudstone hills that make this part of Death Valley look so interesting. If you want to add a hike to your Death Valley to-do list, the Golden Canyon – …
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks sit side by side in central California. Filled with alpine peaks, deep canyons, and the largest trees in the world, you could spend several days here. However, if you only have one day, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of both parks. We visited Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park on …
San Diego is famous for its beautiful beaches, family friendly activities, and its near perfect year-round weather. Tour an aircraft carrier, say hello to the elephants at the world famous San Diego Zoo, go on a day trip to La Jolla, and take your pick of numerous bars and restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter. San Diego makes a great travel …
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of San Francisco? The Golden Gate Bridge? The legend and the stories of Alcatraz? Cable cars climbing up and down the steep hills of the city? San Francisco is a big city, filled with lots of things to do. It has a colorful history, beautiful harbor, and lots …
Cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge was one of our favorite experiences in San Francisco. We are always on the search for adventure, and by joining the holiday crowds on a July 4th weekend, this was a bit on the crazy side. Throw in some fog, some wind, and just enough hills to keep things interesting, and you’ve got yourself …
Yosemite National Park is packed with famous landmarks, awesome hikes, and breathtaking views. If you are planning your first trip to Yosemite, how do you know what to do? I am a big fan of lists (and photos!). In this post, I list the best things to do in Yosemite: the best landmarks to visit, the best views, and best …
Hiking to the top of Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall is one of Yosemite’s most popular activities. You have several options to get there and the route you choose will have a big impact on what kind of experience you will have. Two trails wind their way up to these waterfalls, the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail. So, …
There are a lot of great reasons to hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. From the trail, the views of Yosemite Falls are magnificent. For part of the hike, you are close enough to feel the spray and hear the waterfall thundering down the mountain. Halfway up the climb you get an amazing view of Yosemite Valley, with …
The hike to Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most challenging and most memorable hikes. On this hike you get to walk on some of Yosemite’s most popular hiking trails, view the Vernal and Nevada waterfalls, and walk through shady forests of Sequoia trees. But the best part of the trail is the final climb on the Half Dome cables …
If you have plans to hike to Half Dome, you must have a Half Dome permit. A maximum of 300 permits are awarded per day in a lottery system. In this guide, we cover why you need a permit and how to get one. Why Do You Need a Permit? Since 2010, the National Park Service has required hikers to …
Have you ever wondered what it is like to climb the Half Dome cables? Did you even know that hiking Half Dome was something you could do? I will admit it, when I saw my first photos of people clinging to the steel cables on Half Dome, climbing one of Yosemite’s most famous icons, this hike got added to our …
With just one week remaining of our 396 day journey around the world, how are feeling about finally returning to the USA? Honestly, we are ready to come home. We are actually looking forward to it, which I would have found hard to imagine just a few months ago.The four of us are exhausted…this traveling schedule has really been wearing …