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Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
When it comes to red rock landscapes, southern Utah has no shortage of awe-inspiring attractions. The swath of fiery-hued land is so striking that even its lesser-known areas are ripe with places to see. I became fully cognizant of Utah’s far-reaching splendor while road tripping through Capitol Reef National Park—a place tourists often bypass in lieu of the state’s other more renowned landscapes. Capitol Reef is the underdog of Utah’s Mighty 5. In fact, the national park receives so little attention that I wondered if it might even be worth…
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Hiking in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Bend Oregon is blessed with an abundance of nearby natural wonders. The town sits on the dry side of the Cascade Mountains, where forests and desert converge. Head west out of town, and you’ll be greeted by shimmering lakes, towering ponderosa forests, and snow-clad peaks. Head east, and the desert unfolds outward, as far as the eye can see. It isn’t difficult to understand why tourists flock to the mountains and lakes west of town. The area is a dreamland for hikers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. But when crowds inundate…
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Things to Do in Bend Oregon
Located smack in the center of Oregon, the city of Bend boasts access to some of the state’s best outdoor offerings. The charming mountain town lies sandwiched between a national forest, a desert wilderness, and a national volcanic monument. Within half an hour, its tourists and residents can reach a string of sparkling lakes, some of the country’s best rock-climbing cliffs, and Oregon’s largest ski resort. Bend is a scenically-endowed town that is teeming with things to do and places to visit. Once merely an afterthought on Oregon itineraries, Bend…
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Exploring the Cascade Lakes Highway in Oregon
When it comes to natural splendor, Central Oregon is a land of plenty. It features everything an outdoor adventurer could dream of: verdant forests, towering snow-capped mountains, arid desert, and ancient lava flows. Amongst all its alpine beauty and high desert magic, I sometimes forget that the area is a mecca for water sports as well. But Central Oregon’s lakes and rivers are not merely an afterthought. In fact, the Cascade Lakes—a necklace of sparkling pools along the eastern edge of Central Oregon’s Cascade Mountains—are some of the state’s most…
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Visiting the Coastal Sand Dunes in Oregon
The wind-sculpted Oregon dunes are among the most alluring features of the central Oregon coast. Formed over the course of millennia and ever expanding, they comprise one of the largest tracts of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. Along a 50 mile stretch of Highway 101 between Coos Bay and Florence, the shifting sand mountains harbor a unique ecosystem. They conceals coastal lakes, marshes, rivers and spruce forests. At the heart of this sandy wonderland, lies the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Whether you’re looking for peaceful solitude or…
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Things to Do on a Sedona Weekend Trip
Sedona’s seductive landscape has long attracted healers and psychics. Many spiritualists allege that the area contains vortexes that swirl with energy and hold restorative power. And as a result, the town overflows with crystal shops, hypnosis centers, and psychic studios. But it isn’t only the mystics and healers that are lured by Sedona’s magnetism. The town’s setting amidst vegetation-carpeted cliffs is a nature-lover’s dream. Nestled within this backdrop are tourist attractions that bewitch even the most die-hard New Age skeptics. In recent years, outdoorsy adventurers have been drawn to Sedona for…
