What 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 MoreWhat are the best hotels in Yosemite? Today I'm sharing 5 of my favorite unique hotel stays in & around Yosemite National Park, ranging from luxury resorts to airbnb villas to dog friendly stays. Check out this comprehensive travel guide to learn about lodging dining options, room & suite amenities, family friendly activities, and proximity to main entrances to plan your next Yosemite vacation.
Read MoreWondering what the Fall colors look like right now in Yosemite Valley? I spent the last week exploring my top spots in Yosemite National Park for enjoying the autumn foliage, and I'm excited to share the current conditions today for this first week of November 2024. I'm rating the park as a "Go Soon" with a mix of vibrant colors at spots like Bridalveil Fall, Cooks Meadow, and Yosemite Chapel.
Read MoreWhat are the best ghost towns in California? Bodie and Calico might be two of CA's official gold & silver mining ghost towns, but Silver City Ghost Town is one of the top historic spots to visit this year. Located in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the Kern River, Lake Isabella, and Sequoia National Forest, this top day trip destination is a short drive from Bakersfield & Los Angeles.
Read MoreLooking for a great stop on your next road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas? Calico Ghost Town is a family friendly pit stop located in the Mojave Desert near Barstow, CA along Interstate 15. Packed with history, attractions & fun activities, this old silver mining town now is one of the best roadside spots to explore a Wild West atmosphere in California. Stretch your legs and enjoy great food!
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 MoreWhat are the best spots in the Eastern Sierra for Fall photography? Today I'm sharing a travel guide for the top 10 photo spots near Bishop, California to see the Fall colors. We'll be heading into Inyo National Forest to find perfect locations to set up the tripod, including North Lake, Bishop Creek, Aspendell, Lake Sabrina & more, along with valuable photo tips to prep you for your 395 trip.
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 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 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 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 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 MoreI spent the last week in Yosemite National Park checkout out what the waterfalls and flooding is looking like now. Check out the current conditions of Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, the Merced River, and the Spring wildflowers blooming in the park and where to find them. Read this Spring travel guide to plan your upcoming Yosemite road trip to see its raging waterfalls & abundant wildlife.
Read MoreJoin me at the world's first national park as I share my First Timers Guide to Yellowstone National Park. Mostly located in Wyoming, Yellowstone offers so many things to do, so I've put together a travel guide with all of the top spots to visit on your next Yellowstone road trip vacation, including where to find the best geysers (like Old Faithful & Grand Prismatic), wildlife, and waterfalls.
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