Tag: hiking

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One Day in Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

If I’m being honest, Saguaro National Park was not high on my list. But, when we took a family trip to Phoenix over the holidays, I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to check it out. This happened to be our first trip with a baby and Riley was only 3.5 months old at the time. We also went with the whole extended family, so I knew right off the bat this was not going to be one of our more adventurous visits to a national park. It turned out Saguaro made for the perfect day trip on this vacation and was definitely a trip highlight for me.

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Packing for Havasupai

Beaver Falls from above

Gathering gear and packing is by far the most overwhelming part of a backpacking trip for a beginner. Havasupai was our first real backpacking trip and so we are beginners ourselves! We did do a ton of research in preparing for this trip as we wanted to make sure we were comfortable and not miserable while trying to enjoy our time in this beautiful place. In this post I’ll provide our final packing list for Havasupai, including what we couldn’t have lived without and what we didn’t need or use.  Continue reading “Packing for Havasupai”

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Hiking Angel’s Landing

Hiking Angel's Landing, Zion National Park

My first visit to Zion National Park was 2 days of a 7-day road trip through Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion. When choosing hikes, the famous Angel’s Landing was, of course, one of our top options. But after reading all the warnings, we decided to opt for the slightly less terrifying, Observation Point. I knew I’d be back to Zion and figured I could always try hiking Angel’s Landing next time. Continue reading “Hiking Angel’s Landing”

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Planning a Trip to Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls has been gaining quite a bit of attention on social media lately! It is arguably the most beautiful waterfall in the United States.  Havasu Falls, along with Navajo Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls are all located within Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Indian Reservation just outside of Grand Canyon National Park. Getting to these falls is not easy but is definitely worth it. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing how I finally checked Havasupai off my bucket list! I’ll also include tons of information and tips to help you in planning a trip to Havasu Falls including how to get permits, a sample itinerary, and much more!   Continue reading “Planning a Trip to Havasu Falls”

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The Ultimate Guide to Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is up there as one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. The picturesque backdrop of the Teton range behind the still waters of glacial lakes simply can’t be beat. And with its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton offers the perfect stop on an epic Wyoming road trip. In this post, I’ll share the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park, plus how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and much more!  Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Grand Teton National Park”

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The Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Bison in front of Old Faithful Lodge, Yellowstone National Park
It took me a lot of time to plan my trip to Yellowstone. The area is huge, there’s so much to see and so much ground to cover. You could spend a week in Yellowstone and barely scratch the surface. That’s why I put together this comprehensive guide to Yellowstone National Park that includes, when to go, where to stay, what to eat, what to do, and sample itineraries to help you get the most out of your Yellowstone vacation.

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Hike the Awa’awapuhi Trail on Kauai’s Napali Coast

The landscapes of the Napali Coast are part of the reason that millions of people travel from all over the world to visit Kauai. Most people see this rugged coastline via air or boat. But don’t underestimate the thrill of walking along a ridge between two sheer cliffs with panoramic views of the turquoise Pacific ocean. Continue reading “ Hike the Awa’awapuhi Trail on Kauai’s Napali Coast”

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2 Days in Yosemite National Park

Tunnel View Overlook, Yosemite National Park

My very first visit to a national park was Yosemite and it was a 2-day stop on a road trip around northern California. I can remember planning for it and feeling overwhelmed at the amount of recommended things to do and see. I honestly had no idea that I was about to visit one of the most popular landmarks in the US. At the time, I really didn’t know much about national parks, but I was definitely left wanting more. Continue reading “2 Days in Yosemite National Park”

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3 Days in Cape Town

Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town offers beautiful scenery, history, vibrant culture, great food (and wine), beaches, adventure and wildlife. It’s a city that should be on everyone’s bucket list! We visited Cape Town as a stop on our honeymoon to South Africa and Mauritius. To read more about the trip as a whole, click here. During our 3-day stay in Cape Town, we rented a car and stayed in Cape Cadogan. Cape Cadogan is a boutique hotel located about 3 miles from Table Mountain, off Kloof St., near a lot of bars and restaurants. Continue reading “3 Days in Cape Town”

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Hike to Maryland Heights

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park not only offers great views, but there’s a ton of history. The park covers over 4,000 acres at the border of Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. It’s also where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers converge and the midpoint and headquarters of the AT (Appalachian Trail). Maryland Heights is the highest mountain that overlooks Harper’s Ferry, offering spectacular views. Continue reading “Hike to Maryland Heights”