I recently got a chance to test out the KÜHL® SILENCR™ KARGO SHORTS in exchange for an honest review. I was grateful for this opportunity as I have some of their pants that I like to wear for hiking and everyday use. KÜHL® is a great brand with a lot of options for outdoor enthusiasts. The Silencr shorts are no exception and they come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. They also have many other men’s shorts to choose from.
…The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Pinnacles National Park in 2 Days
It happened again – a park that you will mention to others who have never heard of it is the one that gives you such a special memory that you can’t forget about it. Pinnacles National Park fits that for us (as does Lassen Volcanic). Pinnacles National Park is located about 3 hours south of San Francisco. Pinnacles is protected for a few reasons but primarily because it is a key nesting habitat for California Condor and while I can’t guarantee you will see one, I will confidently say that you will. The more you are willing to hike into the High Peaks area, the more likely you will see them up close!
…1 Stunning Day in Channel Islands National Park
Our recent trip to California included 1 stunning day in Channel Islands National Park! This park requires some planning and early reservations for your ferry, so plan ahead. We visited Santa Cruz Island after a lot of research and would suggest you do the same! Read on to see our best logistics and hiking tips for your next trip to Channel Islands National Park.
…An Amazing 2 Days in Lassen Volcanic National Park
We had the most amazing 2 days in Lassen Volcanic National Park! This park, which is sadly overlooked in a state with Yosemite, Death Valley, Redwood, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and other beautiful spots, should be a destination on your road trip because it is so unique!
Unique meaning a mini-Yellowstone, Haleakala, or Mount Rainier. This park is home to both the world’s largest plug dome volcano (Lassen Peak) but also is home to all 4 types of volcanoes (plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and stratovolcano), which is rare in such close proximity. It is also home to a geothermal area named Bumpass Hell that feels like Yellowstone. You also have some higher elevation areas that felt like a high elevation mountain.
…Essential National Park Packing List
National Park vacations have become more and more popular. This is evidenced by how much busier the parks have become since we started our goal in 2015 of visiting as many National Parks as possible before our kids graduate high school. When traveling to a National Park adventure there are some key items to pack whether you plan to rough it and camp at the park or whether you plan to relax at a nice home rental or hotel at the end of a long day of hiking. We as a family have visited 50 National Parks so far so we have a good idea of what we consider to be essentials for packing no matter the park we are visiting. We have compiled our essential National Park packing list for ANY National Park vacation.
…Stunning 3 Days in Redwood National Park
We came for 3 Days in Redwood National Park for the trees, but stayed for the unexpected and special beauty of the ferns, the beaches, and the tidepools! Here is how we had a stunning 3 days in Redwood National Park!
This park, much like Olympic National Park, has a lot more to it than people typically would think. We came from the north on our way from Crater Lake National Park and a quick stop at the Oregon Caves National Monument. The beauty of the drive through the mountains and along the Smith River on Highway 199 was special before we came upon the exit for the Howland Hill Road near Hiouchi, CA in the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park.
…3 Unique Days in the Crater Lake Area
Crater Lake is the deepest and one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. It is also both easy to visit and hard to experience. It is easy to visit because as long as the road is plowed you can get to see the lake itself often. It is hard to experience because the shore is approximately 900 feet below the rim drive and only one path leads down to the lake itself. Making matters worse is that the trail, as well as the boat rides that leave from it, are not open to visit for as long as you would expect and the boat tour was still closed in late June when we visited.
…Fun 2 Days in Saguaro National Park
Sunshine, check. Cactus, check. Desert, check. Mountains, check. City, check. Er wait, City? Yes, Saguaro National Park is both in Tucson but in fact the two sections of the park are divided by the whole of the city. I know this may sound like a detractor, but in both the Rincon Mountain and Tucson Mountain districts you will find that it is quiet, isolated, and feels wild enough to qualify as a National Park.
Once you are done with your hike you can grab a great lunch or dinner or choose to return to your luxury resort and soak in the pool. Or, you can camp, boondock, rent a home, or sleep in a cheap motel. Obviously, one of the best parts of Saguaro is that it is so approachable and easy to visit.
…Why we should care about National Parks
A special post by Kelsey Nelson
Introduction
When was the last time you walked in a National Park? How did that make you feel? Was it calming? There are 4 reasons that will be introduced to prove that National Parks are helpful to humans, animals, and the environment.
The Best Things to do in Voyageurs National Park with Kids
Our summer trip to Voyageurs National Park was perfect – it included beautiful sunsets, stunning lakes, great hikes, and some fun history. We spent a total of 4 nights in the park, with 3 of those being on the water on our houseboat.
As mentioned in our other post here on Voyageurs National Park, we went out on Crane Lake and as a result some of these things to see are on that side of the park, but we visited Kabetogema Lake Visitor Center and Rainy Lake Visitor Center as well so we got to two of the three Visitor Centers and did activities at each of them. We have organized this post by the nearest visitor center so you can choose where you go and what to see in that area.
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