Discover the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon, CA—an incredible free year-round wildlife experience along California’s scenic Highway 1. Learn about the fascinating history, conservation, & seasonal activities at this elephant seal colony. Plan your road trip visit to see newborn pups, epic male battles & stunning coastal trails. Explore nearby Hearst Castle, Cambria & more!
Read MoreExplore 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 are the best places to stay in Yosemite National Park? Today I'm sharing one of the best Yosemite hotels for your next national park vacation. Centrally located near iconic landmarks, hiking trails, and viewpoints, Yosemite Valley Lodge is one of the top spots to stay in the park. Hike to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls, see Half Dome from Cooks Meadow, and grab food at on-site restaurants.
Read MoreWhat is the best photography gear for travel bloggers? What camera should I buy? As a content creator, I get asked these questions often, so today I'm sharing our top 10 photo gear guide for travel & adventure photographers & creators. Find out my favorite DSLR cameras for beginners & professionals, as well as other essentials, including tripods, camera bags, memory cards & action video cameras.
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 do Fall colors look like right now? GO NOW / GO SOON! Read this Eastern Sierra Fall Colors Report to find out what the current conditions look like at North Lake, Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Convict Lake & June Lake Loop. Get my estimation on when the Fall colors will be arriving in the Bishop & Mono County regions, so you can plan out your upcoming Fall adventure road trip.
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 MoreWhat do Fall colors look like right now? Read this Eastern Sierra Fall Colors Report to find out what the current conditions look like at North Lake, Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek, Sagehen Summit, Convict Lake, Virginia Lakes & Conway Summit. Get my estimation on when the Fall colors will be arriving in the Bishop and Mono County regions, so you can plan out your upcoming Fall adventure road trip.
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 in Mono County, CA to see the Fall colors. We'll be heading into multiple national forests to find perfect locations to set up the tripod, including Convict Lake, June Lake Loop, Mammoth, Conway Summit & more, along with valuable photo tips to prep you for your 395 trip.
Read MoreWhat do Fall colors look like right now? Read this Eastern Sierra Fall Colors Report to find out what the current conditions look like in Mono County, California, including hidden gems like Rock Creek Lake (PEAKING SOON), Convict Lake & June Lake Loop...and get my estimation on when the Fall colors will be arriving so you can plan out your upcoming Fall foliage adventure road trip.
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 MoreWhat do Fall colors look like right now? Read this Eastern Sierra Fall Colors Report to find out what the current conditions look like at North Lake, Aspendell, Cardinal Village, Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek, and Intake Two...and get my estimation on when the Fall colors will be arriving in the Bishop region of Inyo National Forest, so you can plan out your upcoming Fall adventure road 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 MoreYosemite Village is the perfect stop on any trip to Yosemite National Park. Located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, this hub offers visitors several family friendly activities, museums, information, and dining options. Important Native American artifacts and history are on display. Guests can visit the Ansel Adams Gallery and stock up at a grocery store to get food, Yosemite gifts & memorabilia.
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 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.
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