national park

Tag

blue and multicolored stained glass ceiling in a marble room with a circle fountain and statues in the middle

Experience a Traditional Romanesque Bathhouse

The bathhouses at Hot Springs National Park are the perfect, maybe only, place in North America where you can still experience a Romanesque Bathhouse. Hot Springs, Arkansas, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and therapeutic geothermal waters you won’t find many places. It’s a great destination for a relaxing weekend getaway or a girl’s trip. There are 47 natural hot springs in Hot Springs National Park that filter into historic 19th and 20th-century bathhouses. Today, two bathhouses on...

A natural hot spring

Recharge in the Healing Waters of Hot Springs National Park

If you’re looking for a rare and restorative national park experience, Hot Springs National Park should be on your shortlist. Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park offers a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and therapeutic geothermal waters you won’t find anywhere else in North America. It’s the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend getaway. I traveled solo to the park because I needed a long, hot soak and lacked an excellent bathtub or natural...

A dark red steel bridge surrounded by green trees

New River Gorge National Park: Explore the Beauty of West Virginia

The New River Gorge in West Virginia is the newest national park in the United States. This little-known location wasn’t on my radar for a long time, but I’m glad I found it. This park is worth visiting if you like outdoor recreation, history and spectacular views. I’ve been to 29 national parks and there are the types that are closed off like a theme park and those that are part of the community that you might drive through on...

5 Activities to Try in Great Smoky Mountain National Park

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a park like no other with abundant wildlife and frequent bear sightings. It’s been on my list too long, but I finally made my way to it for a three-day trip I won’t soon forget. Three Reasons Great Smoky Mountain National Park is Famous Great Smoky Mountain National Park is famous for its “smoky” vistas, extensive hiking trails, and density of wild black bears and synchronous fireflies. It’s one of the most popular...

A large waterfall cascades over a brown and green granite cliff. Green trees surround

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a hidden gem in the Midwest

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a hidden gem in Ohio worth visiting. Located 30 minutes south of Cleveland and Akron, this park has a diverse landscape of forests, meadows, wetlands, and rivers and a rich history and culture. Being an urban park, it’s not entirely like other big national parks because it’s intersected by small towns and somewhat disbursed. However, that means cell service is plentiful, roads are paved, and locations are easier to navigate. Visitors find waterfalls, a spectacular...

Aerial view of the Cabot Trail road snaking through green trees alongside the ocean

6 Amazing Places to See in Nova Scotia

These six places in Nova Scotia, Canada, are a must-see if you’re considering visiting the country or living in the area and are down for a few day trips. I traveled in Nova Scotia on a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada. It’s one of the most scenic, spectacular places of the many I’ve visited. 1. Bay of Fundy The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia is the only place on Earth where the tides...

3 Reasons The Watchman is the Best Trail at Zion National Park

The Watchman Trail in Zion National Park is the most underrated and overlooked trail in the system. That’s to your disadvantage. It may be my favorite of all the hikes in the park. Now, hear me out. I have my reasons. Zion is a hiker’s park. Unlike most other national parks, if you’re going to Zion, chances are you’re also a hiker of some level. Sure you could just drive through and look at the glorious bright red-orange mountains, but...

Red sandstone cliffs in front of blue ocean and blue sky. A woman walks by in the distance.

8 Unique Things to Do on Prince Edward Island

There are many things to do on Prince Edward Island, but the best part may be the drives down two-lane highways, seeing flashes of its unusual bright red soil, yellow potato blossom fields, and old-world charm of small villages you pass through. I spent several days on PEI near the end of a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada and found it different from all the places I’d been. This island is still relatively untouched...

Climb into Cliff Dwellings at Bandelier National Monument

Imagine if you could go back in time and see the way that ancient people lived. Pretend you could even go into their homes, see where they planted their food, and learn about how they survived. You can, at Bandelier National Monument. I spent a day hiking around the park, climbing ladders, and exploring these ancient homes. All of it was amazing; some parts were easier to get to than others. Regardless, it is a one-of-a-kind experience that everyone interested...