Once Glacier Point Road closes for the season, hiking the Four Mile Trail becomes the only way up — and there's only a short window before ice and snow close that trail too. This narrow stretch of late fall is the absolute sweet spot for the hike: more solitude at the top, ideal temperatures for the climb, and golden late-fall light. Here's everything I learned hiking it on a sunny late November day, including what you need to know to be fully prepared.

The Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park is among the most popular day hikes, and for good reason: it leads you to the well-known Landscape Arch and many more lesser-known arches, along a trail that will also impress you with other rock formations and views reaching beyond the desert landscape to the seasonally snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the distance. In this article, I take you along this not always so straightforward, yet all the more rewarding trail, and share what I learned along the way.

The Northern California coast is where the state shows its wildest side. Winding roads along rugged Pacific views, damp fern-covered forests, redwoods more than a thousand years old — acres upon acres of nature with the occasional small town in between. A road trip up this coast feels like stepping back in time. Here are 9 of my favorite places, with the best hikes, where to stay, and what to know before you go.

Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America — likely more than 760,000 years old and possibly over a million years old. For all that time, Eastern Sierra streams have been pouring in, carrying salts and minerals down from the mountains. With no outlet for roughly the past 80,000 years, water can only leave through evaporation, and the salts stay behind. A handful of species have evolved to thrive in exactly these conditions, and they do it in staggering numbers. I'll share how to best explore this special lake, plus all the details about its existence and the life it supports that make it so fascinating beyond its beauty.

The Cinder Cone Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park might be the most surreal hike I've taken in California. The destination is a perfectly symmetrical 350-year-old volcano you can climb up and walk into, with red volcanic dunes and jagged lava beds spread out below. There are flowers and trees growing out of bare gravel, a forest with no understory, and a crater you can stand inside. Here's what I noticed.

The Parker Lake Trail in the Ansel Adams Wilderness might be the best effort-to-reward ratio of any mountain hike in the Eastern Sierra. The destination is a glacially carved lake with water so clear it carries a faint turquoise tint, framed by rugged Sierra peaks. But if you slow down and look closely, there's a whole other hike happening alongside the scenic one. Early summer is when wildflowers push through dry scrub, bees move between blooms, and streams run full with snowmelt. I hiked to Parker Lake at the start of July and paid attention to the details. Here is what I found.

Shaped by ancient volcanic forces and home to soaring California condors, Pinnacles National Park comes alive in spring. With blooming wildflowers, active wildlife, and comfortable hiking conditions, it’s one of the best times to explore this rugged and often overlooked landscape. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit—from standout natural features and my recommended scenic hike to insights into the plants and wildlife that make Pinnacles such a unique and rewarding destination.

Observing the sparkling stars in the night sky at a truly dark place is an awe-inspiring experience. Most of us don’t have access to such dark night skies right outside our doors, but there are still many places in the world where one can gaze into a star-filled sky, with the Milky Way offering a glimpse into the beauty of the universe. In this article, I will cover everything you need to know to capture a great shot of our home galaxy. I’ll discuss the essential gear you’ll need to begin with, when and where to venture out to photograph it, and how to set up your camera to take a good shot once you have all your gear, the right place, and the right time.

Monterey Bay, located on California's central coast, is renowned for its stunning marine life and spectacular whale-watching opportunities. In this article, I’ll share everything I learned on whale-watching tour as someone who gets seasick, share insights on why Monterey is such a prime location to spot marine life, and provide everything you need to know before venturing out on a shaky boat into the ocean.

Anchorage is located right on the Cook Inlet to the west and framed by the Chugach Mountains to the east. While Anchorage is most popular during the short summer, it is as stunning in winter, when snow covers most of the landscape and ice creeps across the water. Here, I share with you what outdoor activities I enjoyed around Anchorage during the colder season. Spoiler alert: It is an outdoor paradise year-round, not just summer.

Step into the ancient forests of Redwood National and State Parks, where towering redwoods reach for the sky and carpets of ferns create a magical understory. Wander along trails and scenic drives, encounter plant- and wildlife, and feel the quiet majesty of an ecosystem that has thrived for millions of years. This guide helps you discover the best hikes, plant- and wildlife highlights, must-see spots, and seasonal tips to make the most of your time among these giants.

Explore the wild landscapes of Point Reyes National Seashore, from hiking along rugged cliffs and spotting tule elk and elephant seals—both once believed extinct—to observing migrating whales. This guide covers the best hikes, wildlife highlights, seasonal tips, and top places to stay for an unforgettable visit.

I never expected a farm tour to be one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Kauai. But Lydgate Farms changed that, and the way I think about chocolate along with it. Nestled among vanilla vines, pepper plants, and cacao pods in the lush hills of Kapaʻa, this working farm offers one of the most educational, delicious, and genuinely surprising experiences on the island. In three hours, I went from someone who ate chocolate without thinking about it to someone who understood — and tasted — the difference that origin, fermentation, and craft actually make.

Mori Point, located just south of Pacifica, is a beautiful place on the Californian coastline and is only a short drive from San Francisco. With its rugged bluffs, the wild ocean crashing at the shore, black beaches, carpets of wildflowers in spring, and abundant wildlife, Mori Point is a great example of what is possible when restoring natural landscapes after decades of exploitation.

Joshua Tree National Park is one of my favorite national parks in California. To me, deserts are one of those places where you really feel small and insignificant as a human being - in a very satisfying way. In this blog article, I will share my favorite things to do in the park during fall and winter, give insight into the history and geology, provide accommodation tips, and guidance on park entrances.

Joshua Tree National Park is not just bare desert — it is a place of surprising diversity and full of wonder. While I admittedly do have a thing for deserts, Joshua Tree can also convince those of this incredible ecosystem who find deserts generally boring and lifeless! Two days is a good amount of time to discover different features of the park. This post focuses on which hikes and places I’d recommend to pick for just two days in the park.

What could be more breathtaking than a road trip from California’s rugged coast across Utah’s deep red deserts to Colorado’s rushing mountain rivers in late spring? Imagine yourself traversing the vast, sun-scorched deserts along the Loneliest Road in America, gazing into the universe under some of the world’s darkest skies, hiking the tallest sand dunes in the Northern Hemisphere, and admiring turquoise alpine lakes while looking down at bone-dry deserts stretching endlessly below. In this article, I’ll take you through my absolute favorite outdoor adventures on a road trip from California’s coast through Utah and Nevada’s wild landscapes to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Moab is a hiker’s, adventure seeker’s, and desert lover’s paradise. From here, you can easily reach two iconic national parks — Arches and Canyonlands — but there are also plenty of incredible hikes outside the parks. This region is exactly what many people imagine when they think of Utah. While Moab is close to famous trails like Delicate Arch, you’ll also find hidden gems where you can enjoy some peace and solitude. In this guide, I’ll share my top hiking recommendations in the Moab area — both within and beyond the national parks.

San Francisco is one of those rare places where city life and the outdoors blend seamlessly. If you love nature but still enjoy culture, food, and architecture, there’s really no better city (at least IMHO)! Even if cities aren’t your thing, you’ll still find plenty of ways to get outside — from beaches and forests to cliffs and coastal dunes. In this guide, I’m sharing my favorite outdoor things to do in San Francisco — a mix of well-known spots and hidden gems for locals and visitors alike.

A trip to Oʻahu, or any Hawaiian island, is not complete without snorkeling, and Oʻahu has many fantastic spots for it, whether you go on your own from the beach or join a guided tour! To me, swimming is always so calming and relaxing, and exploring the underwater world lets you dive into a completely different world beneath the surface. In this article, I’ll share with you my favorite snorkeling spots on Oʻahu, along with tips for making your own trip as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.