Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of the most fascinating places on Earth. I know — strong claim — but this place is truly unique. The hike to High Dune offers the perfect introduction to the vast dunefield, striking a great balance between effort and reward with breathtaking views of rolling sand dunes and the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In this article, I’ll take you on a hike into the dunes, weave in some story time and life lessons inspired by the sand, and share the essentials to plan your visit.

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.

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.

Winters in California are mild, and on the Central Coast, the temperatures do not differ much from those in summer. In fact, a dry and sunny winter day may even feel warmer than one of the many foggy and windy summer days. In January, after a long stretch of rain, we took the opportunity on one of those summery weekends and headed out to Point Reyes for a little backpacking adventure to the Coast Campground and Santa Maria Beach.