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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...

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

Drive the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton’s Highlands National Park

The drive along Cabot Trail in Cape Breton’s Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, is unparalleled. Found on Cape Breton Island, this natural wonder includes mountains, valleys, waterfalls, rocky coastlines, Acadian and Boreal forests, the Cape Breton Highlands and White Hill, the highest point in Nova Scotia. All that is to say: it’s a spectacular drive and a beautiful place to spend a few days. Cape Breton Highlands National Park encompasses 366 square miles in the northernmost part of...

A white lighthouse sits amid pine street and rugged rocky coast next to the ocean

10 Unique Things About Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is unique because of being one with the community, sections of it interspersed and overlapping small towns with deep coastal heritage. It’s a place to see if you like hiking, biking, climbing, swimming, camping, boating, fishing, or watching the sunrise. If the rugged coastal landscape, abundant forest, and natural scenery beside the ocean sound appealing, this may be the place for you. I visited Acadia at the tail end of a nearly two-year solo road trip that...

A marshy green oasis filled with swampy waters, trees and bushes

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Sleepy Hollow

You’ve heard of Sleepy Hollow and the headless horseman, but do you know about the other Sleepy Hollow Cemetery? This one is in Concord, Massachusetts and there are so many famous authors buried there they named a section “Author’s Ridge.” As a taphophile, I had to visit. I recently visited Concord while traveling in my van on a two-year solo nomadic road trip, hiking, visiting historic sites, and staying in short-term rentals. I stopped at the homes and locations made...

Monticello exterior with people walking up

11 Fun Things to do Near Madison, Virginia

There are so many fun things to do near Madison, Virginia; you may be surprised. When I recently stayed for a month, I was shocked at how places and activities on my ever-growing list of things to do kept expanding. It was astonishing since I’d never heard of the place before renting a little cottage there. But it ended up being an idyllic location in the Shenandoah Valley within just two hours of many premiere Virginia locations and attractions. Plus,...

the washington monument reflected in the tidal basin with clouds

6 Must-See Monuments and Memorials in Washington D.C.

Planning will be your best friend if you want to see the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. The city has hundreds of monuments, memorials, statues, and historic sites. Deciding which ones to see can be mind-boggling, but it doesn’t have to be. There may be hundreds of monuments and memorials in Washington DC, but only a few are required viewing. Deciding which monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. to see may be easier than determining whether you’ll see them...

Thin trees in a swamp with green moss at their base.

5 Unique Reasons Congaree National Park is Worth Visiting

Synchronistic Fireflies and Champion Trees are two reasons to visit Congaree National Park. Plus, Congaree is among the least visited parks, making it blissfully uncrowded. I’ve been to 25+ national parks and there are essentially two types: those people go to and those they don’t. Some parks are filled with amenities, trails and things to do and see, and other parks quietly exist to protect rare and spectacular environments. Congaree is one of the latter. It protects the largest intact...