Why Your Next Trip Should Be To West Virginia

I’ve driven through West Virginia before and crossed it off my list of states to visit. Little did I know it was a completely hidden gem. The only reason I was trekking down to this state is because B found out it was designated a national park. And as someone who hopes to one day visit all 63, this one clearly had to be visited.

I was completely blown away by West Virginia. It’s embarrassing how little I knew about this state prior to visiting. It reminds me so much of New England, but the trafficked crowds are replaced by friendly faces. Everyone we encountered in West Virginia was kind. From the cars that moved an entire lane over while we cycled on the road, to the servers at hole-in-the-wall spots, to a passing car smiling and waving as we ate ice cream on a bench on Fayetteville’s main street.

I fell in love with West Virginia, and here’s why you will too. On your trip, you should:

Summersville Lake from an overlook spot on the drive down to the beach access parking lot.

Take a swim in Summersville Lake.

West Virginia’s largest lake is not only near Fayetteville and America’s newest national park, but it’s absolutely stunning as well. We stumbled upon this dreamy reservoir when B was researching a body of water for us to swim in as we train for our triathlon races coming up.

Parking at the lake is amble and only $5, which felt like a steal for the gem that it was. It’s a popular spot for swimming, relaxing, and boating. There’s a kayak launch as well!

Stroll through historic Fayetteville, WV.

One of my favorite things to do in a new town is walk around the main street. I’m a sucker for a charming small town, and Fayetteville is exactly that. There is a cathedral-turned-café in town, along with local shops. There is an incredible pizza place (Pies and Pints) that exceeds the hype. Parking here is also very accessible.

Learn how grist mills work by visiting the Glade Creek Grist Mill.

This mill may look familiar because it’s one of the most photographed ones around. A quick drive from Fayetteville to Babcock State Park brings you to a large parking lot and epic views of this mill.

Tip: Visiting during operating hours to see this mill in action!

Hike in New River Gorge National Park.

Y’all know I love a good hike and even better views and boy does this park not disappoint. I felt like within a half mile of every hike I went on, there were views, if not sooner, of the New River Gorge. The hikes also all were less than a fifteen minute drive away, most were less than 10 from Fayetteville.

Here are a few of my favorite hikes (I even did a couple of them twice!):

Long Point

An iconic hike that’s viewable from the bridge itself. It’s truly a spectacle to drive across the bridge and peer out to see a tiny, exposed cliff. The hike up is mostly flat and downhill for a little over 1.25 miles. It’s a quick one and ideal for sunsets. We had the summit to ourselves for sunset. Unreal. The last half mile requires some ascent to return, with about 350 ft gain on your way back.

It’s a busy hike during the day, so plan accordingly. There is a good amount of parking here.

Endless Wall

The parking lot for this trailhead fills up swiftly, but because the hike is short, hikers also exit the lot almost as frequently. I did this hike twice and scored a spot both times. If you go out and back, it’s a little under two miles, but I suggest hiking a loop and you’ll end up at another parking lot. This also serves as a great backup parking lot if you don’t want to wait for a spot at Endless Wall.

If you decide to hike the loop, it’s about three miles and almost 400 feet of elevation gain, though you don’t really feel it. This is also a popular climbing spot, so you may get lucky and see a few climbers rocking it on the ledges.

Beauty Mountain

This hidden hike doesn’t have an official parking lot, but it does have a trailhead. As soon as you step onto the trail, you have views. Instantly. It almost doesn’t seem fair! We hiked for about a mile along the trail and were swept away by cliffside views of the New River almost the entire way.

Soak in the beauty of Sandstone Falls.

I initially saw these falls while researching the NRG and didn’t put it on our itinerary. B wanted to go and so off we went to explore another part of the national park. Sandstone Falls is near Hinton, WV, about an hour and a half drive from where we were centrally located in Fayetteville. You drive through the mountains and there isn’t a handy bridge to connect you, so that adds to the driving time. It’s a scenic drive and leads you to a boardwalk hike that’s accessible by all. The falls are striking. I felt like I was exploring newfound land, not West Virginia.

These falls should make it on your list of places to explore. There were plenty of people fishing here, as well as sitting among the rocks and enjoying the views under the summer sun.

Sandstone Falls Boardwalk

The wide, accessible trail leads you to several viewpoints of the falls. It’s also dog-friendly!

What are you most excited to experience in West Virginia?

The Best Way to See the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia

If you peer closely, you can see the catwalk directly under the road.

At the end of 2020, the New River Gorge in beautiful West Virginia was designated a national park, making it America’s 63rd national park. One of the highlights of the New River Gorge is the bridge.

Through the construction of this bridge, the commute between the mountains of West Virginia was cut down from forty minutes to one. The access this bridge provides to the locals is immense, and I love that a visit to this park includes driving across it each time.

This bridge, at the time of its creation, was the longest, steel single-span arch bridge in the world. Today, it’s the fourth. It is 3,030 feet long and 876 feet above the rapids below it. It’s taller than the Space Needle in Seattle and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. It comes just shy of the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building.

While you can access these other impressive monuments and buildings by elevator or a long walk up, there is something quite unique about the New River Gorge Bridge that you simply cannot do anywhere else.

The absolute best way to see the New River Gorge Bridge is by walking across it. No, not walking on the road where cars are driving past. Rather, walking directly beneath those cars. I highly recommend a bridge walk when you visit the New River Gorge National Park. You can book a bridge walk here.

The walk is guided and costs $72 with tax. It’s completely worth it. What I also love about this guided tour is that it’s accessible. Everyone can enjoy this experience!

The catwalk is quite wide with railing alongside the entirety of the walk.

Here are a few tips for how to best enjoy your experience walking across one of the coolest bridges you’ll ever explore:

1. Book your tour in the evening – choose the 5pm time slot! The lighting is best and you may catch a glimpse of the sunset, depending on what time of year you go. West Virginia can also get hot, so it’s a great idea to avoid the midday heat if possible.

As we headed off the bridge, we watched the sun set behind the West Virginia mountains.

2. Secure your phone. This sounds obvious, and the Bridge Walk store even sells phone cases to fasten your phone around your neck for $5, but take this seriously. About 5 minutes into our walk, after we were already strapped in, a woman behind me dropped her phone. Casually down 876 feet.

You can bet I held onto my Nikon and iPhone a little tighter the rest of the way.

3. Only take what you need. You will be locked in on a harness for a couple hours, so all you need to have on you is whatever device you’d like to take photos with and remember to wear closed toe shoes.

4. Sit down along the catwalk.

The entirety of the bridge walk is spent walking 3,000 feet across the bridge. How neat is it that you can sit and dangle your feet from this incredible bridge? When your guide allows (usually once you’ve hit the halfway point to be fully above the river), take a seat!

The bridge walk was such a neat experience that is unlike any other national park adventure!

Are you adding a bridge walk to your New River Gorge itinerary? Let me know if you do!

Everything You Need to See in Acadia National Park, Maine

Ah, Acadia National Park — where the mountains meet the ocean. Truly, the best of both worlds.

Five years ago, I told myself I’d never run another half marathon unless it was somewhere scenic. It’s not too much to ask for to need great views when you’re running for more than two hours, right? As a result, when I came across a race in Acadia National Park, I thought to myself, this is exactly the place I would run a long race in. And so, I signed up.

Acadia Half Marathon

I camped with a few friends on park grounds, spent the night gazing at the stars on rocks with the Atlantic breeze chilling my face. I rose the next day, ran for what felt like forever (turns out it’s a hilly course), and experienced Acadia for a brief moment.

Fast forward five years and it felt like time to revisit this spot. We stayed at a KOA (my go-to stay spot for adventures) minutes from Bar Harbor and the park. My first visit, despite running so many miles through the park, didn’t really result in me truly experiencing the park. This time around, we had an agenda full of Acadia adventures to enjoy.

New Englanders are at a slight disadvantage with the National Park system with Acadia being the only national park in the area, but a major advantage is that it’s within driving distance! For us in Western Mass, this drive is about five hours. Not rough at all considering the Adirondacks are a little over a four hour drive and I consider that a day trip sometimes.

If you find yourself looking for local adventure, or wanting to experience the beauty of coastal Maine, Acadia should move up to the top of your travel list.

Here’s everything you need to see and do in a weekend in Maine’s (and really, the Northeast’s) gem:

Hikes

Beech Mountain

A short, somewhat rocky hike up to a fire tower with stunning views of Echo Lake and nearby peaks. The total hike is a little over a mile. I suggest hiking clockwise for the best views on this loop (along the .4 mi of the trail). You can make it about halfway up the fire tower for a better birds-eye-view. On your way down on the loop, the views get even better. I highly recommend this hike in the afternoon on a sunny day. It’s dog-friendly as well!

Beehive Mountain

The Beehive trail has been at the top of list. I hike often, so anytime there is a little diversity in the type of terrain or trail, I jump at the opportunity to climb it. Beehive is particularly unique because of its steep incline involving rungs. I soaked it all in. One moment you’re walking along a rocky, dirt path staring up at the summit, and the next you’re climbing up rungs with your hands and gazing at the ocean and sandy beach below. Again, I’m a big fan of intriguing trails.

If you’re afraid of heights, I’d take this trail slow. It’s totally doable for all ages and completely worth it. Once you soak up the beach views, head up to the summit and immerse yourself in Norwegian-like greenery and islands. I felt like I was somewhere far away, a feeling I solemn get in New England, or the U.S. for that matter.

Precipice Trail

This trail sounds epic. More rungs, more incline, more steep drops - it’s my kind of adventure. You climb about 1,000 feet in under a mile. Unfortunately, both of my visits to Acadia have been in May and June, which is prime time for peregrine falcon nesting. This trail is often closed during late spring to summer for this reason. All the more reason for me to visit Acadia again one day in autumn!

Experiences:

View sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.

Arrive an hour early to get a scenic spot on the rocks. Parking here is also limited. Bring a rain jacket as the waves enjoy crashing the rocks, thereby soaking you by default. Watch as the colors in the sky unfold before your eyes in vibrant orange and red hues.

Drive the 27-mile Park Loop road.

Stop along the way for hidden gems and solitude in spots like the ones below.

Watch the U.S.’s first sunrise at Cadillac Mountain. You need reservations for the busy summer months due to limited parking, so you’ll need to book a vehicle reservation to snag one of these coveted spots. If you’ve worked up an appetite since you woke up before 4 AM for this experience, head into Bar Harbor for breakfast at Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast. Always get a grilled blueberry muffin. Especially when in Maine.

Is Acadia on your list of places to explore? What are you most excited to see or do?

A Guide to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

My 32nd national park!

I knew the least about Big Island prior to visiting. All I knew was that Volcanoes National Park resided there, and so I needed to visit. That’s the beauty of wanting to achieve a list. Sometimes, in order to cross a place off, you find unexpected beauty. We stayed in this beautiful Airbnb off the grid right outside the park immersed in the rainforest. I highly recommend it if you’re planning to spend time at Volcanoes!

We headed into the park our first night, headlamps in tow. I usually try to limit my night explorations in unknown places, but seeing this park at nighttime is an absolute must.

The lava glow at Volcanoes National Park.

We drove into the park near the Kīlauea Visitor Center to explore the Kīlauea Overlook. The parking lot was nearly empty on this mid-April evening, and we walked the minute up to the overlook. We weren’t entirely prepared for what we were about to see, or in this instance, not see.

When researching this park, I knew an eruption occurred a few months earlier in December, and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of lava up close. I wanted the feel the radiating warmth of the lava against my skin, but instead I only felt the cool air bringing my body to a chill. If you make it out to this park at night, bring a jacket. Or two.

When we walked up to the Kīlauea Overlook, a hazy reddish hue like a gentle brushstroke of acrylic paint just touching the canvas for the first time caught our eye. “That’s it?” My friend remarked.

Instead of lava flow, we were met with lava glow. The glow appeared a deep orange and red blend on camera. A rarity for the picture to be more astounding than the image in reality. Below is the daytime view.

We explored the park in more depth the following day. We discovered another viewpoint at Volcano House that would be neat to see under a starry sky. We walked along the crater rim. Truthfully, I thought there would be hiking in this area, but all the sidewalks are very accessible and were all .2 or .3 miles of walking. Once we felt we had seen the crater enough, we drove onward to the Thurston lava tube. Another short traverse led us through a scenic rainforest and into a lit cave. At night, the lights are off if you want the full cave experience.

Across the street from the lava tube is a beautiful short trail as well with vistas of a crater floor you can actually hike down into and on!

If I come back to Volcanoes one day, I would love to walk across the crater floor at the Kīlauea Iki Crater Overlook. It’s a 400 foot descent and a little over 3 miles of hiking down. The birds-eye-view is above.

We hopped back in the car and headed down the Chain of Craters Road – a road lined with lava rock. The final destination on this road would lead us to the ocean. I love variety in a national park and like Olympic in Washington, Volcanoes provided us with desolate, dark lands contrasted a few miles away with the glimmering ocean.

A .6 mile out-and-back along a road led us to Cliffs of Moher, Ireland views. Also known as the Hōlei Sea Arch on the Big Island. The arch formed from waves slowly eroding it, which is neat to consider it is constantly changing. This little ocean visit was a highlight of the park for me particularly because of the road to get down to it, and eventually, back up.

Hōlei Sea Arch at Volcanoes National Park

Our final adventure led us to the summit of Mauna Kea, one of Hawaii’s largest volcanoes. From its base underwater to the peak, it’s over 33,500 feet, meaning it’s taller than Mt. Everest (if you count what is submerged in water). Pretty neat, right?

There is an observatory 13,803′ feet up to watch the sunset from. We made it up 9,000 feet where we were met with this worrisome sign (the eerie fog didn’t help) and a guard along the road.

And to think, we were just by the coast with the ocean breeze.

We drove from sea level to this point in about an hour and a half, so the sign makes sense. The remainder of the road can only be traveled with AWD, and most rental car companies won’t cover the damage from this road specifically.

The ominous road that leads to the guard checking if you have AWD or not.

So here’s the sunset from our little spot 9,000 feet up in the sky.

Our sunset above the clouds, but still a few thousand feet below the summit.

Did you have Volcanoes National Park on your list of places to visit? What part of the park can you not wait to explore one day?

Two Best Ways to Experience Haleakalā National Park

My 31st National Park!

I have had dreams of visiting this park for years, but was too afraid to island hop solo four years ago when I was last on Oahu. This time, with friends in tow, I would make it to see this dormant volcano. And better yet, I’d find unique ways to explore what it has to offer. With that, here are the two best ways to see Maui’s only national park, Haleakalā:

1. Drive up Crater Road for sunset.

On a clear day, if possible, drive up Crater Road. The drive alone takes you through a variety of trees and landscapes. As you make your way up the winding road, you’ll want to stop and take in the clouds. Soon enough, you’re above the clouds – an experience most of us only take part in on an airplane, not actually outdoors.

The beautiful above-the-clouds drive up Summit Road.

I had only been in the clouds once before on my trek on the Inca trail, so this was a refreshing delight. There are a handful of pull-in spots to step out safely and take a picture at an overlook.

Take advantage of all the lookout points like these.

If you are pressed for time, make your way to the summit parking lot to not miss the sunset. Once you park, head up a very short (and I mean, short) path to the viewing points of the crater. The trail we hopped onto is the Keonehe’ehe’e Trailhead, which takes you into the crater (also referred to as the Sliding Sands trail).

This isn’t what I often picture Hawaii as at all and I loved every moment of it.

You’ll stay on the trail for .1 miles and a remarkable view of the dormant volcano greets you suddenly. At this viewpoint, you have the volcano on one side, and on the other, a stunning sunset above the clouds.

Watching the sun disappear into the clouds at the summit of Haleakalā.

The road to the Haleakalā Observatory is closed, but you can make the half mile or so trek to the top. I initially wanted to do this, but my friend suggested we stay where we were and wow was I glad she said that. We had a kaleidoscope of colors setting on the crater as we turned around and watched as the clouds consumed the sunset. Had we of watched sunset from the observatory, we would have missed the crater views.

Above is the short hike up to the Observatory since the road is blocked off to car access.

2. Reserve a bike tour to cycle down from the park.

When I found out you could bike downhill from Haleakalā, I was sold. I reached out to Bike Maui via email and they were extremely helpful in assisting me in picking the right ride. They offer so many – from sunrise rides to self-guided. I booked the morning self-guided tour, which started off at 9 AM at their location near the park.

The same Summit Road, but immersed in the clouds.

Our incredible tour guide, Kimo, drove us to our drop-off location just outside the park. He provided great commentary and humor along the way, and mapped out our ride for us back to the bike shop.

He also had a keen eye for photography, and took this silly shot for us.

I would highly recommend Bike Maui for your tour company! The equipment was clean and comfortable and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful.

We biked down some of the winding road we had just driven up the previous night for sunset, and stopped along the way for some scenic vistas. The ride overall was comfortable, beautiful, and quick. My Garmin logged the ride at 22 miles with a gain of 236 ft. The entire experience took 5-6 hours with the set-up and drive time with the guided tour on the way. The ride down is entirely up to you and your speed, but it is also almost entirely downhill, so there’s no way it’ll take you hours. All in all, an awesome way to experience Haleakalā aside from seeing it at sunset.

Our ride took us under the clouds and through more of the beauty this park has to offer.

Planning a Trip to Hawaii

How to Plan a Hawaii Trip: 4 useful tips to get started planning your island getaway!

1. Narrow in your days.

As a teacher, I’m limited to what times of year I can travel. However, that isn’t the case for everyone. Consider if you can possibly fly out on a Thursday, when flights are cheaper. Gauge whether you will need time to recover from the time changes and consider if a night in California is affordable and worthwhile for you. It turned out that our flights were cheaper if we flew direct to California, stayed the night, and flew out the following morning. A win-win.

2. Map out your experiences.

We knew we wanted to bike down from Haleakalā National Park in Maui, but we also wanted to night dive with manta rays on the Big Island. These excursions are not offered daily, so we needed to map out what days and times they were offered and go from there.

My favorite way to map things out visually is with Google sheets. I have used the same template for trip planning for a few years now thanks to a tech savvy friend of mine. Here’s what our first two days in Maui looked like, mapped out: times, dates, experiences included.

If you’re interested in the template above, subscribe to my blog at the bottom of this page, and I’ll send you my template for free!

3. Read up on safety precautions.

Since we’re still living in a Covid world, it’s important to minimize any surprises (some are inevitable!) while traveling. Going into Hawaii, I knew we would need a negative Covid test to enter Maui. Here’s what we needed to do:

• Create a Hawaii Safe Travels profile.

• Enter in all the information for where you will be staying. Since we were island hopping, we spent a bit of time entering all of this in.

• When booking a Covid test, we read through Hawaii’s Trusted Partners to determine which ones were close by. We landed on CVS because of convenience, but it did cost us $139.

• After receiving a negative test, we uploaded it to the Safe Travels profile. The website suggests you print a copy, but I strongly recommend you do. If for some reason your QR code doesn’t get sent to you (which it did for one of my friends), then the printed negative test allows you a stress-free passage through.

• Finally, 24 hours before your departure to Hawaii, fill out the pre-travel form and you’ll receive a QR code. Save this email or screenshot it for easy access when you land.

• That’s it! Unless you are island hopping. If you’re staying in Oahu the entire time, you’re good to go. If you are going to Oahu after another island, you’re also in the clear. If, like us, you decide to go elsewhere, like Big Island, we needed another negative result within 72 hours of departing to Big Island (meaning our original negative results to Maui would no longer suffice). We budgeted and booked time in our itinerary to take a CVS test while in Maui.

*This post was written in early May, after a week spent in Hawaii at the end of April. Hawaii officials are in talks about a vaccine passport, which would allow mainland travelers to bypass several of the above protocols. During my trip, this was not made official yet. *

4. Leave room for unplanned adventures AND for driving time.

We wanted to visit a black sand beach in Maui, but it didn’t work out, so we added one in last minute in Big Island (pictured above). My next tip is to leave time in your itinerary for unplanned adventures like this one, and for driving from place to place.

One thing we did not realize when booking airbnbs is the distance to what we wanted to do. On Big Island, we had this incredible, off-the-grid Airbnb right outside Volcanoes National Park. The only setback was that our manta rays excursion and the airport we were flying out of were two hours away.

If we had done more research, we would have stayed in that Airbnb for one night to explore Volcanoes National Park, then stayed near Kona the next couple nights to save on driving time.

Lastly, leave room for the unexpected: someone wants a snack, a picture, a pee break. It all adds up, so be sure to leave time in your itinerary for these little stops that often are forgotten about until it’s in the moment.

I hope these tips help you plan your adventure to the beautiful islands of Hawaii! Stay tuned for the next few posts where I take you with me into craters, volcanoes, and underwater. Subscribe to my email list below to be the first to find out when I post!

Three Must Visit Lakes in the Grand Tetons

When we first planned out our trip to Grand Teton National Park, I was stoked to find out there were several short hikes. From taking a gander at Jenny Lake, to short walks, you are bound to enjoy your time in the Tetons no matter how you spend your time.

The best part? The Tetons also have an incredible bike path (very few national parks do) that takes you from Jackson Hole into and throughout the park. The bike path is paved and lengthy, ending at Jenny Lake. You can also continue along roadside. We were thrilled.

We parked inside the park and biked from there. We brought our own bikes, but there are several places in town to rent from. If cycling isn’t your thing, you can also explore these scenic lakes by foot or by car.

Check out the three lakes I recommend spending your Teton time at:

Taggart & Bradley Lake

Taggart and Bradley lake are everything you imagine about the Tetons and more. As soon as you park at the trailhead, you are greeted with inspiring views of the Tetons. Just the trailhead parking lot alone is a sight to take in. Arrive early because this parking lot caters to hikers of all types: those who are tackling the grands, those who are going for a leisure stroll, and those who needed a quick pee stop.

We scored the last available parking spot at the Taggart Lake Trailhead (only a few miles in from the national park entrance) and began our hike to Taggart Lake. At a little over two miles, while gazing almost entirely at the Tetons above, we reached Taggart Lake.

Another 1.5 miles on the trail led us to Bradley Lake, which was easy to miss at the junction. This lake was less crowded, and just as stunning as Taggart. A little over two miles led us to complete the loop at around 5.5 miles and 500 feet elevation gain total.

Jackson Lake

This national park is quite large, but we were determined to see as much of it as we possibly could. From hiking to a couple lakes, to biking alongside the road, we also explored the northern part of the park by car. This drive brought us to Jackson Lake, where the summer blue sky seamlessly blended into the shimmering crystal waters.

I could stare at this view forever. It’s the perfect spot to eat your packed lunch, stop for a break, or simply relax. Plenty of viewpoints to pull over for with ample parking to take in this dreamy view.

What’s your preferred way to see the lakes - bike, hike, or drive up to the view?

Best Day Hike in Glacier National Park

Glacier is Montana’s gem. Truly. From the summer wildflower fields to the grazing wildlife, to the glaciers. Oh my goodness the glaciers! I left part of my heart in Glacier and I cannot wait to go back.

With initial plans to hike to the Grinnell Glacier, only to find out the night before that that part of the park was closed (summer 2020), we swiftly searched our NPS map for other hikes. The maps that the park service provides are jampacked with information about wildlife need-to-knows, safety measures to take, and hikes to explore. I highly recommend grabbing a map when you arrive (or check out GNP’s breakdown by regions of the park here).

Turns out, Grinnell Glacier can also be reached from the skies. Lucky me! Instead of reaching the glacier from the ground-level, we’d be hiking up to the lookout spot surrounded by the peaks. In hindsight, part of the park’s closure worked out in our favor because I never would have experienced this trail otherwise.

We set out early in the morning. Early in Glacier summers means 3:30 or 4am with the peak tourism. You would think a park in the furthest part of Montana would be kept as a hidden secret, but alas, the secret’s out. Glacier is a gem no one wants to miss out on.

With only one road to the trail’s access point, we quickly found ourselves in traffic. Shuttles that usually run throughout the park were shut off. Parking was full at Logan Pass, but we were fortunate to snag a spot half a mile away alongside the road in a designated parking spot.

Hiking along the Highline Trail…

Moments later, we embarked on the Highline Trail and I kid you not, every step had mountainscape views. Wildflowers and even some wildlife (deer, marmots, and mountain goats) along the trail as well. My first experience with a marmot is one I’ll never forget. As soon as I set my eyes on this adorable, sunbathing creature, a screech was let out that sounded like someone was being attacked. Turns out this adorable little thing has a fiery side to him. We quickly hiked on.

Even if you only have a couple hours to spare, hiking the Highline Trail is completely worth it. We gave it the day to see the glacier, so we made our way up the majority of the hike’s ascent to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. The sign lies to you when it says .6 miles away. Trust me.

Closer to a mile of what felt like an endless uphill, we reached shimmering, aqua blue waters outlined by ice. It looked surreal.

With time to spare, we decided to make our way to the Granite Park Chalet, not too far from the start of the ascent to the glacier overlook. Glacier originally had over ten chalets built to mimic the vibe of Switzerland – ultimately, to promote tourism. Why go to Switzerland, when you can have it all right here in Montana? Sadly, various situations led to many of them no longer standing. The Granite Park Chalet is one of two remaining in the backcountry.

The views from this chalet are phenomenal. The fact that this trail is extraordinarily stunning and leads you to a homey chalet just tops it. Bookings fill up swiftly, for good reason, so plan ahead if you’re hoping to snag a spot at this dreamy stay. We did an out-and-back from the chalet, adding up to 3,700 elevation gain in 18 miles of trekking.

The Granite Park Chalet also has a campground below it, not too far away. It’s the perfect entry into the backcountry if that’s your thing. My heart was completely full after this hike. If you only have a day to devote to hiking, this is your trail for a taste of all the delights that Glacier offers.

A Beginner’s Guide to Skiing

There are so many reasons not to ski. It’s expensive. It’s tough. It’s overwhelming to think about where to begin. All great reasons to try it out, right? By now you know I love the mountains and winter, so it was only a matter of time before I tried out a winter activity outside of hiking that includes my favorite things: great views, high adrenaline, and a good challenge.

I’ve only gone skiing four times in the last five years, so I’m still very much a beginner. Here’s my guide for beginner skiers (with the hope that you start skiing with paying less and enjoying more):

1. Look Local.

My first couple times skiing, I joined a friend to a popular ski destination in Vermont. The trip was essentially a hefty cost on my end to ski the bunny hill (for beginners). Heads up, there are bunny hills at every ski mountain and each time I practice on them to get what little “ski legs” I have up and moving again.

What I wish I had done is find a local ski mountain instead as I was starting out. It’s way more affordable! A nearby mountain for me cost $30 for the ski lift pass and $35 for equipment (skis, boots, and poles). It’s still a pricey way to spend an afternoon, but way better for your budget than the fancy spots.

2. Build your equipment bank.

The first time I skied, I rented (or borrowed) everything. I borrowed pants from a friend, paid $10 to rent a helmet, and wore an old winter jacket. I lucked out one snowy day that I opted out of renting goggles, but actually needed them. A ski lift operator gave me a hand-me-down pair for free. You’ll notice that skiing can get expensive, swiftly. The first time you do it, try to borrow attire from a friend and rent any remaining equipment. If you find you enjoy skiing, then begin building your equipment bank.

It takes some patience, but wait for the season to end. I purchased incredible ski pants at Eastern Mountain Sports for a fraction of the actual cost (solely because it was the end of the ski season). The following year, I purchased a helmet at Costco for $60. Each year I add to my equipment so the cost is never outrageously high for me as I continue to get into skiing.

Another tip: ski mountains and ski shops often have goodies on sale at the end of the season as well, not just adventure stores like EMS. Be on the lookout at the end of March and pre-season around September for bargain buys!

3. Know your direction. Going up the ski lift is all fun until you have to immediately hop off and are unsure of which way to go. Obviously going the wrong way can be disastrous. There are three types of trails for skiing: green circles, blue squares, and black diamonds. These are always clearly labeled on ski mountain maps and at the top of the lift.

If you’re ever uncertain, there is always an operator at the bottom of the lift before you get on that you could ask, as well as inside the lift at the top. It’s way better to clarify your direction than to end up going down a black diamond when you aren’t ready. For context, I’ve only gone down greens and I still have a great time.

Aim to do your research in advance as well. Every ski mountain has trail maps on their websites that you can download or screenshot to your phone.

4. Enjoy the learning. As someone who tried skiing in their early 20s, I was intimidated by the toddlers tackling the black diamond trails while I took on the bunny slope for the fifth consecutive time. I’m serious, it’s impressive what kids can do. They’re fearless!

Once I stopped fearing what would happen if I fell, my arms flailing reduced and I remembered the procedure for how to stop. I love that no matter what age you are, you can continue growing. Even if it means falling a time, or two.

Let me know if you’ve ever tried skiing! If you have, what tips would you give others just starting out?

How to Plan Your Trip to Yellowstone National Park

Driving east through Wyoming would never give you the impression that it is home to one of the U.S.’s most fascinating and largest national parks: Yellowstone. It’s where Montana’s forest green meets Wyoming’s Wild West. Western Wyoming, on the other hand, looks much like the Wild West in your head, solely missing the tumbleweed rolling slowly across the one-lane “highway.”

Needless to say, western Wyoming was one of those long stretches of road where you aren’t sure if your car will make it on your current tank of gas before you see another gas station (or any sign of life, really). If I haven’t convinced you yet to visit Wyoming, just wait. When you reach the little pocket of northwestern Wyoming, you’ll feel transported to another world. Seriously, Yellowstone felt otherworldly.

We spent a couple days in the park absorbing as many geysers, hot springs, and wildlife viewing as possible. We spent a great amount of time driving from destination to destination. It felt like navigating through an IKEA with all of the stops on the map that we wanted to explore.

Check out the map below from the National Park Service and you’ll see what I mean. There are miles upon miles between each destination region– almost like the kingdoms at Disney World, except it’s more like nature’s amusement park. Summer in Yellowstone feels similarly to a summer trip to Disney World – crazy crowds (and cars) everywhere.

We split up the park into sections to take on to get the most out of our days. With summer travel plans coming into fruition and you find adding the northwestern pocket of Wyoming on your list, here’s how to make the most of Wyoming’s Wild West.

Divide the park into these three sections to see all the fascinating beauty Yellowstone has to offer:

1. Canyon Village

Canyon Village contains the Grand Canyon. Not to be confused with the Grand Canyon down in Arizona. Also for East Coasters, this is not to be confused with the Grand Canyon of the East in Letchworth State Park in New York.

Mt. Washburn was on our list to hike in the Canyon Village area, but its location put it right in the middle of a road construction project. If that’s the case for you, it’s still worth exploring this section of the park. Places to see: The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Artist Point, and the accompanying Falls (Lower and Upper).

These scenic viewpoints are all very short, well-marked trails that work for all types of hikers. A bonus if you’re heading back south is Hayden Valley.

Bring your binoculars because wildlife love the vastness of this valley, especially when dusk starts to set in. If you forget about this tip, you’ll see loads of cars parked alongside the road to remind you to keep your eyes peeled.

2. Old Faithful and West Thumb/Grant Village

With our map in hand, we embarked on a self-guided geyser tour through the heart of Yellowstone National Park. We spent a day going from geyser to geyser. We made our way first to Old Faithful — given that it’s the most popular (and named appropriately). The park gets the timing of this geyser narrowed down to a small window, so you won’t need to waste time waiting for it to erupt. It’s quite the spectacle.

After Old Faithful, we explored the Upper Geyser Basin, Lower Geyser Basin, Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin, and West Thumb Geyser Basin (pictured below. I told you – a great deal of geysers. Turns out, Yellowstone is home to over 10,000 geysers, hot springs, mud spots, and the sort. Each of these geyser basins takes about a half hour or less to walk around and explore.

The Grand Prismatic Spring was well worth the view. We gave this one a little more exploration time. Parking here was also limited, but spots opened up quickly as the walking loop to view the spring isn’t long.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Black Pool in West Thumb Geyser Basin

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Old Faithful

3. Mammoth Hot Springs

This northern part of the park was way quieter, which might be why it was my absolute favorite. Like I said earlier, I’m a tourist, but I’m not a fan of hoards of tourists. I love the local feel (hard to come by in the heat of summer in America’s first national park).

The Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces are a small point on the large map. In a matter of steps, you are viewing jagged, salt-like walls with Montana in the north. I felt transported back to Peru’s salt mines in Maras with the coloring of the limestone in a desert-like landscape. This part of the park is also “near” Lamar Valley, another massive valley ideal for spotting wildlife. We ran into multiple bison jams here.

Is Yellowstone National Park on your list yet? What spot do you want to see the most?