North America Directory of Tips, Stories, and Advice

Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park Are a Worthy Duo

August 5, 2022July 28, 2022

When we visited Moab, Utah, we have to admit that our primary goal was to explore Arches National Park and all its brilliant trails.

But since we had an America the Beautiful National Park pass and wanted to see as much beautiful nature as possible, it made sense for us to add on a drive through Canyonlands National Park just about 35 minutes away by car. It wasn't until we arrived that we realized there was yet-another park worth checking out nearby, the much lesser visited Dead Horse Point State Park.

Since we did not time our visit correctly to add in a visit to Dead Horse on our Canyonlands outing, we returned on a separate day to check this one out (with another 70+ minute round trip drive- whoops). After visiting both, we realized that these two parks would be completely doable on a single visit for those who plan better than we did.

So in this one, we thought we'd share a bit more about what you can see in both parks plus highlight why these two parks make a perfect duo for a day trip from Moab.

Hiking Acatenango Volcano For The Most Incredible Sunrise

July 21, 2022July 20, 2022

Already when landing at the airport of Guatemala City, you’re usually greeted by the view of smoking volcanoes. What a landscape!

Guatemala is the country of volcanoes, and hiking Acatenango Volcano is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many.

While I cannot deny that the Acatenango hike is really exhausting, the reward of the views and surroundings on top are priceless.

Among the many volcanoes in Guatemala, hiking Acatenango Volcano is the most popular. And that’s for good reason. After a tough 4-5 hours climb to the base camp, you’re rewarded with an incredible view of the other volcanoes.

The most spectacular sight by far is Acatenango’s active neighbor, El Fuego Volcano. Every few minutes, you can see smoke and lava flying high in the sky, accompanied by a loud roar.

So let’s get to the juicy part: How do you get up there?

The America The Beautiful Pass is the Best Deal in the USA

August 5, 2022July 19, 2022

Prior to taking an out west road trip, my brother (who is trying to go to every national park in the country), told us to pick up the America the Beautiful Pass to save money as it is “the best deal in the USA”.

This card, clocking in at $80 per year, gets you entry into every paid national park in the country plus thousands of other sites managed by entities like the National Park Service (NPS) and others.

It took just one trip for this card to pay itself off, and after that we still had 12 months of free access to all of the amazing sites around the country.

I hate to say it, but my brother is right– it really is the best deal in the USA!

So in this one, we thought we'd share more about what all you can get with the pass, planning logistics to keep in mind, and other tips for planning your visit to a national park in the USA!

Tower Arch is One of Arches NP’s Least Visited Trails

August 5, 2022July 12, 2022

Most trails at Arches National Park in Utah are, for lack of a better word, popular. They are so popular, in fact, that unless you get to the park before permitting hours, odds are good you'll be on the trails with dozens upon dozens of fellow hikers.

But there are still a few trails within the park that most visitors do not attempt, and the trail to Tower Arch is one such hike. We wouldn't be surprised if more than 20 people take the hike on any given day, and that is due to just how remote this particular trail is.

So in this one, let's share a bit more about the Tower Arch hike- what you can see, hiking concerns, and how to get there to begin with!