Explore the beauty of Mica View Trail in Saguaro National Park East! Discover accessible hiking in the Cactus Forest, stunning views of Mica Mountain, unique cacti like saguaros and chollas, and abundant desert wildlife. Learn about the area's rich history, including Indigenous heritage and conservation efforts. Perfect for nature lovers seeking an easy hike in Tucson's Rincon Mountains!
Read MoreWhat is Zzyzx Road? If you've ever taken a road trip from LA to Vegas along I-15, you've probably seen this strange Zzyzx road sign near Baker, CA. Located in Mojave National Preserve, this roadside stop was once a "health resort" in the mid 1900s, and now the abandoned structures are home the Desert Studies Center. Visitors are welcome to explore parts of the grounds, so let's take a look!
Read MoreToday I'm sharing my favorite camping gear and adventure travel essentials from this year. Looking for a great gift for your spouse or camping buddy? Check out my full product reviews of inflatable kayaks, pop-up tents, sleeping bags, hiking poles, portable power stations, folding chairs, head lamps, and more...all perfect for the upcoming holidays and for your next camping & outdoor adventure.
Read MoreLooking for the best spot to camp & kayak in the Eastern SIerra Nevada Mountains? Join me today as I share my complete travel guide to a camping & kayaking adventure at Convict Lake in the Inyo National Forest. Located in between Mammoth Lakes and Bishop along HIghway 395, this alpine lake is perfect for photography, fishing, boating, and camping, especially during autumn with the fall colors.
Read MoreSeeing the Fall colors at North Lake is bucket list experience. This week we're camping at the North Lake Campground in the High Sierra, with quick & easy access to several hiking trails as well as capturing epic & iconic photography of North Lake during peak Fall season. This is my top spot to camp in the Eastern Sierra near Bishop, CA, surrounded by quaking aspen trees & the autumn foliage.
Read MoreWondering where to see giant trees in California? One of the best spots to hike among some of the largest, oldest & tallest trees in the world is at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park near Wawona & Oakhurst. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to learn about the rich history, top hiking trails, and info to plan your next Yosemite adventure vacation & road trip.
Read MoreLooking for the ultimate family fun road trip to Yosemite National Park? Play the Fossils to Falls scavenger hunt and collect all 10 trading cards, starting at the Fossil Discovery Center in California's Central Valley, taking you thru Coarsegold, Oakhurst, Bass Lake & more Madera County gems, ending in the Yosemite Valley...and then enter to win a great Yosemite Adventure Vacation Prize Package!
Read MoreThis week we're taking a day trip to Bass Lake in Madera County & the Sierra National Forest just south of Yosemite National Park. We're renting a pontoon boat from Millers Landing Resort and having a picnic on the water while looking for wildlife on the Bass Lake shores. Read this complete travel guide to learn about the best hiking trails around the lake, as well as the best places to eat.
Read MoreThis week we're taking a road trip along the California Central Coast to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, nicknamed "mini Yosemite". With its hiking trails, towering coastal redwood trees, abundant wildlife, and lodging options (including camping and Big Sur Lodge cabins), this CA state park along Highway 1 is one of the top places to go in Big Sur. Read this travel guide for all the park details.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the easy trail to the historic McGurk Cabin & McGurk Meadow in Yosemite National Park. This hike is easily found off Glacier Point Road and it takes hikers through a pine forest to a historic structure and lush meadows with wildflowers in the Summer. Wildlife is abundant in the Yosemite Wilderness, such as deer, coyotes, and black bears.
Read MoreJoin me at Andrew Molera State Park along the Big Sur coastline for a complete visitors guide to help you plan your next Central California road trip. This comprehensive travel guide shares detailed information on hiking trails, camping, wildlife, and historic structures. Want to know where to find beach access in Big Sur? Molera beach is one of the best beaches along Highway 1 in Big Sur.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the easy trail to Painted Rock, located near Soda Lake in Carrizo Plain National Monument. This activity near Bakersfield, California makes a great day trip from Los Angeles, providing visitors a chance to see ancient prehistoric Native American rock art that is still culturally significant today for the Chumash & Yokut indigenous peoples.
Read MoreWhat is the best 2-day itinerary for Yosemite National Park? Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the perfect weekend in Yosemite, optimizing your Summer road trip schedule, taking you to some of the best viewpoints and hiking trails in the park, offering you views of iconic landmarks like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls & El Capitan. Experience the best sunrise & sunset spots in Yosemite.
Read MoreThe Tioga Pass Entrance is open for the 2024 Summer season in Yosemite National Park. Connecting Mono Lake, Lee Vining, and US-395 with Big Oak Flat Road, Tioga Road features some of the best views and things to do in and around Yosemite, including multiple waterfalls, lakes, and trailheads to easy & strenuous hikes. Read this travel guide to explore the current conditions on opening week.
Read MoreDiscover the Ventura Botanical Gardens in Ventura, CA, a lush hillside oasis with diverse ecosystems, flowers & plants from Mediterranean, Chile & South Africa. Nestled behind Ventura City Hall, the gardens offer stunning coastal views, abundant wildlife & a floral superbloom. Visit the Welcome Center and explore nearby Grant Park and the historic Serra Cross for a complete nature experience.
Read MoreThe Big Sur coast is home to several California State Parks, and they are all worthy of a stop on your next Highway 1 road trip. Check out this travel guide to explore the best hiking trails and what wildlife to see on your Big Sur adventure in each state park, including Garrapata, Point Lobos, Andrew Molera, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Limekiln, Point Sur, and Hearst San Simeon.
Read MoreToday I'm sharing a comprehensive visitors guide for Glacier Point, one of the most iconic clifftop viewpoints in Yosemite National Park. This famous overlook provides the perfect spot to photo Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall, and the Yosemite Valley below. Read this complete travel guide for preparing your hiking or photography adventure, and learn about its rich history.
Read MoreToday I'm sharing the best spots to escape the crowds when Yosemite National Park gets too crowded. This top vacation destination in California can get very busy, especially in Summer, but there are so many places to go and things to do to enjoy Yosemite in solitude. Check out this travel guide for my top 10 Yosemite spots to avoid crowds, which includes great hiking trails and waterfall views.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the easy 3.5 mile trail along the Wawona Meadow Loop. This is the perfect hike to avoid the busy Yosemite Valley crowds and escape the hot Summer sun. This family and dog friendly trail circles the historic Wawona Golf Course and is found right off Highway 41 near the Wawona Hotel just a few miles north of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Read MoreThe Bridalveil Fall Trail is now open after years of being closed for a massive restoration project, so this week we're hiking the easy family and kid friendly path to the base of this iconic Yosemite waterfall. This travel guide explores one of the top things to do in Yosemite Valley, especially during the Spring and early Summer seasons, when the Yosemite National Park waterfalls are raging.
Read More
