 Visiting Glacier National Park has been on my national park bucket list for as long as I can remember. It was exciting to finally get to the park on our latest family vacation. The location, tucked away in the northwest corner of Montana, provided the opportunity to combine the trip with a visit to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. We spent 3 full days in Glacier, with a good mix of touring by car, hikes, a boat tour, and a few longer hikes thrown in. The park is huge, at over 1 million acres, and advanced planning was time well spent. Keep reading to hear more about our 3-day itinerary in beautiful Glacier National Park.
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It’s hard to describe the grandeur and beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow-capped mountain peaks, meadows, tundra, wildlife, and beautiful alpine lakes can be found within the over 265,000 acres that make up the park. Once you arrive, you will understand why this park typically ranks in the top five national parks for visitation, with well over 4 million visitors a year. We recently spent a few days enjoying the park as part of a Colorado family vacation. This gave us time to hike to beautiful alpine lakes, drive parts of Trail Ridge Road, and search for wildlife. You can see our three-day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary below to get a better sense of how we planned our days in the park.
 Have you heard of beautiful Estes Park, Colorado? Its proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park—just minutes down the road—makes it the perfect place to stay when visiting the park. Even if you don’t plan to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, there are plenty of things to do in Estes Park. Getting there from Denver is relatively easy, roughly 70 miles from downtown, and just under 90 minutes drive time. We spent four nights as part of a summer vacation in Colorado, with plenty of time to explore both downtown Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. With an elevation of 7,522 feet in town, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beautiful scenery no matter the season. Keep reading to learn more about what to do in Estes Park during the summer.
Are you planning a trip to Alaska? If so, you’ll want to spend at least a day or more visiting Denali National Park & Preserve. Ranked by landmass, Alaska holds claim to some of the largest national parks in the United States, with Denali coming in at number three at a whopping 6 million acres (with Wrangell-St. Elias and Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve at one and two, respectively). It’s certainly the largest national park that I have ever visited, with its namesake Denali towering at 20,310 feet. But don’t let the massive size scare you. There are activities for everyone, including easy hikes, bus tours, and a visit with the famous sled dogs. Whether you are visiting Alaska on a land trip or on a cruise, here are some things to do with at least two full days to spend enjoying the spectacular landscape of Denali National Park.
When I started researching our 10 day trip in Alaska, I realized that spending time in Seward was a must-do for many reasons. Among other things, it is home to Kenai Fjords National Park, glaciers, and abundant marine life. Seward is about two and a half hours from Anchorage by car, but you would want to make time for stops along the way. It’s also a busy cruise port during the summer season. Whether you travel to Seward by the Alaska Railroad, bus, or car, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery along the way. After arriving by train, our first view of Resurrection Bay and the snow-covered mountains gave us pause to stop and take it all in. We spent 3 days exploring Seward, which gave us a chance to enjoy activities like a wildlife cruise and kayaking during the day and the local restaurant scene at night. The jaw-dropping scenery on a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise is one of the top reasons to plan a visit to Seward.
Alaska is a big place and certainly overwhelming when planning a first visit. When we started putting together our first, big empty-nester Alaska trip back in late 2019, I decided to reach out to Alaska Tour & Travel for assistance. It made sense to turn to a local company to put together our Alaska vacation package given the vast size of the state. The trip was all mapped out by January 2020, before travel came to a screeching halt. Fast forward to August 2022, and we finally got to take our Alaska trip. It was an amazing 10-day adventure that began and ended in Anchorage and included Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Talkeetna in Southcentral, Alaska, and Denali National Park in the Interior region. I am confident this trip will be the first of several to see more of Alaska.
 When you visit Joshua Tree National Park, you’ll find more than just hiking, rock climbing, star gazing, and viewing the iconic Joshua trees. The park is home to Keys Ranch, a place where you feel like you have stepped back in time, surrounded by artifacts from an old movie set in the middle of the desert. In fact, since 1975, this spot in Joshua Tree National Park has been listed on the National Historic Register. The artifacts at Keys Ranch set the scene for a story of grit and determination of Bill Keys and his family. I wasn’t sure initially if this 90 minute ranger-led tour would fit in with our two day itinerary for Joshua Tree National Park, but it was actually a nice break after a few hikes in the morning and lunch. Here’s 3 reasons to book the Keys Ranch Tour on your visit to Joshua Tree National Park, plus a few favorite photos.
If I’ve learned one thing about visiting America’s National Parks, it’s that each park truly offers something unique. California’s Joshua Tree National Park, home to two different desert ecosystems, the Colorado and the Mojave, is no exception. Our recent California trip to visit family gave us the opportunity to explore the park’s roughly 800,000 acres. So what’s special and what’s there to do in Joshua Tree? Experiences at the park span scenic drives, hiking and rock climbing to stargazing, ranger-guided tours at historic Keys Ranch, and unique flora and fauna. Read on to learn about our favorite Joshua Tree hikes, a two day plan for exploring the park, and tips you’ll want to save if you are planning a visit.
*This post was updated March, 2023 
Have you ever heard of the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia? Don’t let the name fool you, the New River is considered to be the second oldest river in the world. The area was recently redesignated, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve became America’s 63rd national park. We recently spent a few days exploring this expansive, outdoor area and came away impressed by the scenic views and variety of activities. Like most of our national park visits, there was much to see and do, and not enough hours in the day. Besides the scenic mountains, the area offers multiple levels of hiking and mountain biking trails, white water rafting, rock climbing, fishing, and a thrilling opportunity on the New River Gorge Bridge Walk. As a bonus, the park has no entrance fees! Keep reading to find things to do at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, plus a few tips to know before you go.
If you have traveled to Virginia, you probably have seen the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan. After living in the state for over 30 years, I’ve discovered many things to love, including mountains, lakes, iconic food, local beer and wine, history, and tons of opportunities for outdoor adventure. The geography in the state varies, with the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountain ranges in the west, and coastal beach areas in the eastern part of the state. In between, lakes and rivers offer water activities, fishing, hiking, camping and other fun outdoor activities. Throw in the close proximity of Northern Virginia to Washington, DC, and it’s a great choice for family fun. I hope that this list of 30 things to do in Virginia gives you a sense of the variety of activities the state has to offer for both visitors and locals. This Virginia bucket list has been broken down into several categories to help with planning. As locals, we think this list includes something for everyone.
*This post was updated August, 2024 |
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