Canyonlands National Park is an amazing national park located in southeastern Utah near the town of Moab. We visited it during our Utah exploration trip. It was a must-see on our list and it did not disappoint. Breathtaking views and amazing opportunities for hiking and off-road adventures. Island in the Sky and the Needles were the two regions we explored. Due to the size of each region, it is recommended that you spend a day in each at least.

The park is divided into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the combined rivers—the Green and Colorado—which carved two large canyons into the Colorado Plateau. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character. Author Edward Abbey, a frequent visitor, described the Canyonlands as “the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth—there is nothing else like it anywhere.

It is hard to argue with Edward Abbey, the park is a true masterpiece created by the forces of nature and there is nothing like it anywhere. The sheer vastness of the views is just breathtaking. Both the Island in the Sky and the Needles are a must-see. Plan to see both. You would not be disappointed!

Lodging

As we mentioned in the Arches National Park adventure we stayed in Moab during this trip. It is a very strategic location when it comes to this park, the Arches, and the Dead Horse Point State Park. Due to its close proximity to these amazing parks, the hotels get booked very quickly. Plan at least 3-6 months in advance. Moab is an amazing and vibrant town full of offroad and hiking enthusiasts and awesome places to eat.

The Island in the Sky District

The Island in the Sky district is a massive mesa elevated more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, with panoramic views of spectacular canyon country up to 100 miles in every direction. The district is defined by the Green River to the west and the Colorado River on the east. A paved road with several scenic pullouts leads from Moab to Island in the Sky, making it one of the easiest areas to explore.

We found this to be very true. The region was very easy and convenient to explore. Great roads and the parking is right next to the viewpoints. Great trails all around. Amazing views!

Here are some of the viewpoints that the district is known for:

The Grand View Overlook

As the name suggests this is one of the most impressive overlooks in the park. The views are absolutely breathtaking. We spend a lot of time resting and walking around the edges. There are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the views. Take a break, relax and just enjoy this beautiful piece of Mother nature’s art.
Getting to the Grand View overlook is very easy but due to its popularity parking is an issue. Have that in mind and plan accordingly. It is the busiest overlook in the park.

Shafer Canyon Overlook

Great overview of the Sharef Canyon and the Shafer Trail. The stop is right off the main road and the overlook is a very short walk from the parking lot. To get to the edge you have to be careful since there is not a great walkway leading to it. However, it is absolutely worth it. The trail is quite popular.

Buck Canyon Overlook

An awesome overlook that offers a view to the east. One of the best places to view the main road leading to the park. It’s a short walk from the parking lot with a good amount of observation space.

Green River Overlook

This southwest-facing viewpoint affords the best views of one of Canyonlands’ two mighty rivers: the Green River, deep in its channel 1,300 feet (396 m) below. Visitors can also see features of The Maze district and the White Rim Road.

Apparently this overlook is also one of the best places to watch the sunset. We witnessed it at the Needles overlook. However, this overlook looks like a perfect sunset photo destination! Next time we will give it a try.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are in the vicinity of the city of Moab, you have to visit both the Arches and the Canyonlands National Parks. Both offer unique and breathtaking views that are unmatched anywhere in the United States. We truly enjoyed our visit and we are already looking forward to booking the next.

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Dead Horse State Park is well known in Utah for its breathtaking overviews of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. The main view is somewhat similar to the Horse Shoe Bend in Arizona but from a higher elevation. Other views rival those in the Grand Canyon. The park was well maintained and in great condition. During our visit, the number of people also was very reasonable. No big lines to get to the main overlooks etc. The park covers 5,362 acres (2,170 ha) of high desert at an altitude of 5,900 feet (1,800 m).

The legend of Dead Horse Point states that in the late 1800’s the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck was then fenced off with branches and brush. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

Getting There

The park is about 40 miles from the city of Moab. This was our “base” during the first phase of our Utah exploration trip. We highly recommend visiting Moab. It is a city full of offroad adventurers and nature-loving travelers. Also, the food was very good. The city is strategically located right next to the Arches National Park and driving distance to the Canyonlands National Park. Amazing destination if you want to park hop and explore what Utah is all about. However room availability in the hotels there is scarce and you need to book way in advance. In our case, we booked more than 4 months ahead.

Overlooks

The views of the Colorado River and the Canyonlands National Park are breathtaking. You could also drive down right next to the river bend but we decided not to due to time constraints. However, you would need a 4×4 off-road-ready vehicle for that trip. Photo opportunities are everywhere. We loved every single view and spend most of the day walking between the different overlooks. Getting to the main viewpoints is very easy. They are within walking distance of the parking in most cases. Parking also was not an issue.

Other Highlights

The park is also a desirable destination for mountain biking. The Intrepid Trail System has three hiking and biking loops ranging from one to nine miles with varying degrees of difficulty. In general Utah’s parks were packed with mountain bikers and everywhere we went we noticed at least a few of them. We even witnessed a biking movie being shot in the park with a photo crew, big cameras, etc. Park is also pet-friendly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, visiting Dead Horse State Park is a no-brainer especially if you are staying in Moab. It offers unique views of the Colorado River and the Canyonlands National Park. f you enjoyed the Horse Shoe Bend you definitely would enjoy the Dead Horse State Park.

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Arches National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the United States. It is also the most popular (some would also argue most beautiful) one in Utah. So popular that the Delicate Arch is on the official license plate for the state of Utah. So busy that finding parking during the busy season is close to impossible. Our visit was during the month of April. The weather was perfect for hiking and sightseeing. Never before we have witnessed arches created by nature in such a fashion and we were amazed by their sheer size and beauty. It is hard to describe them since words or pictures hardly do justice in cases like these. You just have to witness this absolutely unique place. One of the most beautiful national parks we have ever visited in the USA.

Lodging

We stayed in Moab. We have heard of the city before but never in our lives, we thought it would be such a colorful and busy “base” for offroad enthusiasts and adventure seekers. An amazing little town with tons of things to do and see. It is also so conveniently located near the Arches National Park that you can walk to it from Moab. Food-wise we Yelped as usual and loved the Trailhead Public House & Eatery (their wings were to die for), Antica Forma Pizza, and the Indo Grill Indian Cuisine. Those were the places where we really liked the food and the wait times were not in hours but minutes.

Things to See

It is also not just the arches that make the park unique. There are tons of other rock formations that just seem impossible to be formed or created without some sort of intelligent design or human interference. Here are some of the most famous attractions that we thought are must-see:

Delicate Arch

The most iconic arch in the park. Its location and access are tricky since you do have to hike for few hours to get to it. The total trail length round trip is 3.2 miles from the parking lot. It is moderate difficulty. There are also few places where you have to be careful in terms of walking and not be afraid of heights. Once there you need to be careful as well since as you can see from the photos there are areas where it is not super safe to run and jump. You can find more details about the trail here.

Double Arch

This one is interesting because of its double-arch formation. Getting to it is very easy just a few minutes walking from the parking lot. That also contributes to the number of people you would see there and the need to remove them from your photos in post-production. It was also interesting to know that the Double Arch was used as a backdrop for portions of the 1988 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

North Window & South Window Arches

North Window & South Window, or the Spectacles, as some people call them, are the first major arches you see upon entering the Park. Though they are easy to view from a distance, these arches are much more impressive if you take a short walk to stand inside them. Both are easily accessible from the parking lot via a short hike. You can actually see the Turret Arch from the North Window Arch.

Just around the South Window Arch is the North Window Arch. If you climb close enough you can see through it the Turret Arch as well. All three are in close proximity accessible from the same parking lot. Not much hiking required to see them at all.

Turret Arch

This one is quite interesting in terms of the rock formation right next to it. It is visible through the North Window Arch and photographed from there quite a lot. It is also very busy since it is easily accessible and kids love climbing it. Ours did so as well 🙂

Landscape Arch

Toward the back of the park, in the Devil’s Garden area, you can find the Landscape Arch. With a span of 306 feet, it is the longest arch in the United States and 4th longest in the world. It is mindblowing how something like this can form through the years. Nature and time are amazing architects!

Balanced Rock

The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet (39 m), with the balancing rock rising 55 feet (16.75 m) above the base. This rock is the largest of its kind in the park, weighing approximately the same as an icebreaker ship or 27 blue whales.

Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, and Courthouse Towers

Just on the side of the main road, there is a stop with a great overview of some of the other park attractions. The three Gossips is quite interesting since it is a rock formation that literally looks like three people very close to each other “gossiping”. The Sheep Rock and the Courthouse Towers are also part of this landscape. Definitely worth the stop.

Conclusion

Arches National Park is a must-see for any explorer and nature lover. There are not many places on planet Earth where you can witness arches like these. There are not many places where you can get so close to them and take a photo. Amazing park and very much worth its popularity and ranking as one of the best parks in the United States. We absolutely recommend it!

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Bonneville Salt Flats is a unique destination in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. It was on our radar for a long time and finally, we made it there during our Utah exploration trip. There are so many amazing things to see in this state that this gets overlooked for some reason. In our opinion, it is a must-see. It is so much fun for kids and an amazing place for pictures.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake. The property is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is known for land speed records at the “Bonneville Speedway“. Access to the flats is open to the public.

The salt flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide with total area coverage of just over 46 square miles. Motor vehicle use is limited by seasonal closure during the spring when the salt is moist or has standing water on the surface. We did drive for a short time on one of the sides for few pictures. Coming from Salt Lake City you first see the dry side and many people just turn back after that. You have to remember that few more miles down you actually get to see the side with the water. It is definitely worth the drive. Essentially you drive until you reach this sign:

The Bonneville Salt Flats are quite famous also for the last speed events held there. Since 1914 at the part of the salt flats known as the Bonneville Speedway. We had no idea about these events really. Next time we will plan so that we can experience at least one of them.

There are five major land speed events that take place at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Bonneville “Speed Week” takes place mid-August followed by “World of Speed” in September and the “World Finals” take place early October.

Lodging

We stayed in Salt Lake City and drove to the Salt Flats and back. It was an awesome opportunity to experience the capitol of Utah. We loved the city. The view of the mountains surrounding it is hard to beat. Lovely city. Great food as well. If you are Utah Jazz fan then you do not want to miss taking a photo next to the arena or even go to one of their games! The restaurants in the downtown were quite booked and for some there was 2 hours wait time for takeout! Plan accordingly.

Things to have in mind

There are few things to have in mind before going. During the day it is quite hot and sunny. Sunscreen and hats are a must. You need a lot of water not only for drinking but to wash the salt from your clothes and skin. Our son was completely soaked and had salt on his arms and feet. You would need to wash sooner rather than later. Wet napkins help a lot! Shoes soaked with this salt are quite hard to wash. It would take a few wash cycles to get them back to normal. It goes without saying but be mindful of others and keep your eyes salt-free.

There are bathrooms at the first stop but not where the sign is so have that in mind. Be careful driving, only do off-roading if your car can take it. It is not uncommon for cars to get stuck and deal with roadside assistance. Car rentals do not like off-roading with their cars.

Conclusion

Must see destination. Plan for 1 full day and bring lots of water and some food if you do not want to drive back and forth for food. It is a common practice to buy a temp cooler and store sandwiches for the trip there. The drive is not that much overall and the views on the way are also worth seeing. Since this is not national park drones are allowed. You can also walk as much and as far as you want on the salts.

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The city of Temecula is approximately 58 miles (93 km) north of downtown San Diego and 85 miles (137 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Temecula is bordered by the city of Murrieta to the north and the Pechanga Indian Reservation and San Diego County to the south. Temecula had a population of 100,097 during the 2010 census and an estimated population of 114,761 as of July 1, 2019. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989

Lodging

We wanted to make sure we stayed at the wine county close to the wineries and the old town. We chose the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa and we loved the location. Great views as well not to mention the close proximity to more than a few other wineries as well. Right at the entrance of the resort, there is also a large grapefruit tree nursery which looked amazing. The hotel (and the wine county itself) during the winter season is not as beautiful as during the summer so have that in mind when planning. You definitely want to come and visit when everything is green! The resort looks great. They also offer balloon rides and various other unique experiences.

The resort is also about 15 minutes from Old Town and about 10 from various shopping plazas etc. Since we made our first visit during the winter season we are now planning another trip during the summer for that balloon ride and the green vistas :).

The resort food was not great during our stay. We did not like most of the dishes we tried. Their filet mignon was the only thing we actually liked. For breakfast, we did the Le Coffee Shop in the old town which was awesome. Great food and coffee. We did try the recommended Toast breakfast place but it was not nearly as good as Le Coffee in our opinion. For dinner, we loved the Hana Sushi #6. Probably one of the best sushi we have had in a long time. Here is a list of the resturants and breweries in the region.

Things To See

The main destinations for us in Temecula were the Old Town, the wine country wineries, and the Ricardo Breceda Gallery & Sculpture Garden. We did want to also do the balloon ride but postponed it for our next visit during the summer. We would do breakfast and lunch chilling in the Old Town and then spend some time in the wineries. Our stay felt short since we really enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and the beautiful views.

Wine Country

You can spend a few days wine tasting at the various beautiful wineries. A good amount of them have “transformed” to resorts and offer lodging and various other amenities as well. We visited during the winter season and all the great views were brown and dull vs green and beautiful. During the summer the wine country looks completely different. The wines we tried were pretty good and the atmosphere is very relaxing and great for a family getaway. For a list of the wineries and local shops click here.

The Old Town

We loved this place. Every breakfast during out stay at Temecula was in there. It gets very busy in the afternoon and the main street gets packed. Various old school bikers and classic rides can also be found traversing the city. Many buildings have that wild wild west look which we loved. You can walk across the town in about 30 mins. Overall it is a great to see place and we loved our time there.

Ricardo Breceda Gallery & Sculpture Garden

During our travels in California we started noticing these scrap metal statues at various locations. We found quite a few of them during our road trip to Anza Borego. It turns out in Temecula Ricardo Breceda (the sculptor) has his main gallery and office. That was an awesome surprise for us since we are big fans of his work. His gallery was about twenty minutes from our resort so it was no brainer to explore it. We also met him there. Very nice and humble artist. If you have a chance to visit his gallery do so you wound not be disappointed. It is an awesome place for kids as well.

Overall we truly enjoyed our stay in Temecula. The old town and the wine country are great places to relax and enjoy some time with family and loved ones. With the number of wineries there, it is certain you will find the right cup of wine for any occasion. Don’t forget also to try the balloon ride which this region is also known for.

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Yellowstone National Park (web site) is one of the absolute best parks in the United States. It is consistently ranked in the top 3 parks in the country. The sheer amount of unique attractions makes it such an amazing place to experience. The numerous valleys, thermal basins, mud pools, geysers, canyons, and wildlife passing right next to your car gives you the feeling that you are in a grand theater going from one play to another. If you have a chance to visit Yellowstone do not hesitate! It is truly a special place.

Interestingly it was Yellowstone that started the entire “National Park” movement as it was the first one to be established as such in 1872. The area it covers is 2,219,791 acres (8,983 km) and it is visited annually by close to 4 million people. The number of visitors is quite large and very noticeable during the peak seasons. So noticeable that it makes it hard to enjoy the park. To give you an example we witnessed 15+ miles long traffic line to exit the park due to road closure. Booking a stay in the park needs to be done more than a year (in some cases two) in advance!

Wildlife

Yellowstone is truly unique when it comes to wildlife. To us, it felt like we were on a safari most of the time. Elk, Bison, and all kinds of other animals just walk freely on the roads and literally around you. Grizzly bears are also common and bear spray is recommended if you are hiking backcountry.

There are nearly 300 species of birds, 16 species of fish, five species of amphibians, six species of reptiles, and 67 species of mammals—including seven native ungulate species and two bear species.

Things to see

First, let’s start with a link to the park map to make things easier to follow. The image below is part of it (click to enlarge). We focused our attention the first few days on the well known major attractions. In the last few days, we visited less known ones and revisited some for another peek. The roads inside the park form two circles one on top of the other like the number 8. There are five entrances to the park. Lake Yellowstone is located at the lower southeastern side of the park.

Now that the map is out of the way let’s talk about the attractions. First, note that half of the world’s active geysers are located inside Yellowstone. 500-700 active geysers per year! They are spread/grouped in what is called basins. Those are Norris, Monument, Upper, Midway, Lower, West Thump, and Backcountry Geyser Basins. Each of these basins contains various geysers, hot springs, mud pots, etc.

Midway Geyser Basin / Grand Prismatic Spring

Probably the most iconic attraction and one that is almost always on the book and magazine covers. The Grand Prismatic Spring is a must-see attraction. Extremely hot water travels 121 feet from a crack in the Earth to reach the surface of the spring. It is the third-largest spring in the world, bigger than a football field at 370 feet in diameter. It is by far the most photographed thermal feature in Yellowstone.

The bright, vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The mats produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature gradient in the runoff. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.

There are two ways to see it. The first one is climbing the stairs and walking right next to it. This does give you a closer look but let’s face it with that size looking it that close is not going to impress you as much as those famous photos you have seen of the spring.

The second option is to take the Fairy Falls trail (see next attraction) which leads to an awesome overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring. We recommend both but we liked much more the later view. Seeing it from a distance really makes it stand out. It shows you those bright colors and their contrast with the rest of the landscape. The bellow image is a slightly zoomed view of what you can expect to see from there:

Parking can be tricky if you plan to see the basin in the middle of the day. So have that in mind. Visiting early in the morning or in the late afternoon would be better parking wise but you would not experience the same colors. We found space at the Midway Basin parking after waiting and making a few rounds. Fairy Falls parking was less of a problem during our visit.

Midway Geyser Basin / Fairy Falls

Quite a popular attraction and a very nice trail for a family walk. The trail is .5 mile long and climbs 105 feet. It goes through a few different areas in terms of landscape. Its overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring is absolutely worth seeing. It is in the initial part of the trail and it is not really difficult to reach. Note that the view is not the same as all the drone photos you might have seen in the magazines. Drones are not allowed at all in the national parks. They apparently are only allowed when it comes to commercial material used to promote the parks.

Upper Geyser Basin / Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful is a cone geyser. It was named in 1870 during the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park to be named. It is a highly predictable geothermal feature and has erupted every 44 minutes to two hours since 2000.

Honestly, we did not like the Old Faithful Geyser that much. It felt overcrowded and the actual geyser was nothing special. It is so famous since it is the most predictable and consistent when it comes to eruptions. We watched it do its thing but we felt few of the other geysers in the Upper Basin area were as good if not better (and much less crowded). It might be just us however since we got spoiled with some crazy geyser eruptions during our trip to Iceland.

Upper Geyser Basin / Daisy Geyser

The Daisy geyser was kind to us and gave us a great performance. It sustained its eruption for a good amount of time. Just enough for us to take enough pictures and for our son to enjoy. It was our first geyser eruption we witnessed in Yellowstone. There are benches there as well and a nice wooden walkway around the geyser. Plenty of space to sit, relax, and enjoy.

Upper Geyser Basin / Castle Geyser

Another popular geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin. We were not able to see it erupt but after the few eruptions, we witnessed that day we were already more than familiar with the experience. It is called a castle geyser since it resembles the look of a small ancient castle.

Upper Geyser Basin / Grand Geyser

The Grand geyser did not disappoint when we were there. Although it did not erupt as high as we expected it sustained the eruption for minutes! Wave after wave it kept going. It surprised us really. We had a great time. It was not as crowded as we expected so that was a plus. Overall we do recommend the Grand Geyser even more than the Old Faithful. You are much closer to the actual geyser and the eruptions seem to last longer.

Thermal Pools

Geysers are one of the main reasons to visit Yellowstone. Another is to witness the beauty of its thermal pools. There are so many of them spread throughout the different basins. Different sizes, colors, and shapes. They really set apart the park and leave a long-lasting memory. Looking back now geysers fade in comparison to all the colors and beautiful formations the thermal pools showed us. Pictures do not really do justice to the crystal clear blue water and the orange colors around the edges of the pool. Truly amazing creations by mother nature.

Yellowstone Grand Canyon

We have visited few times the Grand Canyon National Park so the Yellowstone version did not impress as much in scale and vastness. It did impress with its colors and waterfall views. It is a must-see either way. After all the yellow everywhere you see there is the main reason the park is named Yellowstone. The hikes and views are exceptional. We visited both the South and the Northside and we recommend both. They have different viewpoints and great spots for pictures. Quite a few people on the trials and the vista points but it is manageable.

The canyon is approximately 24 miles (39 km) long, between 800 and 1,200 ft (240 and 370 m) deep and from .25 to .75 mi (0.40 to 1.21 km) wide.

The canyon village close by offers a good general store and few places to eat. The main cafeteria offers various food options but we found almost all of them to be mediocre at best. During a pandemic, there are not many things to eat in national parks so we did not complain much as you would imagine. The general store has a burger place which is ok if you are into burgers.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Another impressive attraction in Yellowstone is the Mammoth Hot Springs. Located very close to the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. The spring was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate.

The hot water that feeds Mammoth comes from Norris Geyser Basin after traveling underground via a fault line that runs through limestone and roughly parallel to the Norris-to-Mammoth road. The limestone from rock formations along the fault is the source of the calcium carbonate. Shallow circulation along this corridor allows Norris’s superheated water to slightly cool before surfacing at Mammoth, generally at about 170 °F (80 °C).

During our visit, there was almost no water on the terraces. There was however still plenty of steam coming out and that presented some nice photo opportunities. This attraction is quite popular so expect plenty of people around you and not many parking spots available.

Lamar Valley

Located in the northeastern corner of the park, the Lamar Valley, along the Lamar River, in is often called America’s Serengeti for its large and easy-to-see populations of large animals.

Probably one of our most favorite parts of the park. The vastness of those valleys and the amount of wildlife everywhere was mind-blowing. This is by far your best chance to see a bison herd roaming free. We saw at one point probably a few herds in one place. Also, Lamar Valley is considered the best place to see wolves in Yellowstone. We were not as lucky during our visit. You have to be there early in the day or later in order to spot them based on what we learned. In either case, just driving through Lamar Valley is enough to appreciate the beauty of the park.

Lodging

Staying inside the park would require good planning and booking a long time in advance. For us, we were only able to book the Lake Yellowstone Hotel due to the coronavirus outbreak. During that time period, all major hotels inside the park were closed with few exceptions. Very few respectable restaurants were open and only for taking out. We chose the Lake Yellowstone Hotel due to its great location and good reviews as far as food options go.

Our room was in the Sandpiper Lodge which is part of the Lake Yellowstone Hotel but it is a separate building right behind the hotel main one. Only the Sandpiper Lodge and the cabins were available during the coronavirus pandemic. Both buildings are rated as 3-star hotels. The cabins felt too small for us so we did not consider them at all. Note that the hotel has no wifi and no internet access. The lake is only a few minutes away walking distance and it is gorgeous (especially during sunset time). Almost every time we were at the shore in the late afternoon we saw either multiple elks or few bisons walking around. Beautiful animals.

Food

In general, there are plenty of places to find food in the park. Each village has a nicely packed general store and more than one option for dining. In our opinion, the Old Faithful general store has the best flatbreads for lunch and its dining restaurant was absolutely amazing. Best food we had in the park by far. Their bison ribs were to die for! Lake Yellowstone hotel restaurant is supposed to be also very good by it was closed during our stay. Grand Canyon Village food was nothing special. Mammoth Springs’s food options were decent. We did like their hotdog offerings and their french fries. Overall if you are not visiting during a pandemic you should be good in terms of food.

Conclusion

Yellowstone is an absolute must-see. There is no other park in the USA to offer such a variety of attractions and different wildlife to see. The park is very well maintained and closely monitored in terms of wildfires and road issues. During our visit, various roads were under construction. Rangers for the most part are nice and friendly.

The main concern as always is the number of people in the park. Some people dislike the park on that issue alone. We noticed that at peak hours and on holidays there are more people in the park than there should be. It felt crowded and even unpleasant at times. Thankfully we only had a few days like that and for the majority of our stay, we were way bellowing the park average visitors. So have that in mind when you are planning your visit. The summer season is the busiest. Other than that Yellowstone was amazing to us and we highly recommend it.

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The only long drive part of the trip is the initial drive to the Napa Valley which is ~ six hours. We did it in this way since we are familiar with that drive already and we really wanted to get to Napa quickly. It just feels you are on a vacation once you are in Napa for some reason :). After that things are smooth and the ride is enjoyable to Lake Tahoe and Big Sur. So lets breakdown the stops.

LA to Napa Valley, CA ~6-hour drive

As I mentioned already this is the longest drive. It is also not the most interesting one. The main reason for us to want to get through it as quick as possible and start the next day fresh in Napa Valley. You can of course stay at a hotel somewhere in the middle and make it easier from the driving perspective. Once in Napa life is good and with a good meal and a glass of wine, your vacation has officially begun. At least it always feels that way for us when in that place. You can read more about our Napa Valley experience here as well as recommended places to stay.

Day 3 – Nappa Valley to Lake Tahoe, CA ~3-hour drive

Now that drive is a whole different story. Not very long and filled with great landscapes and vista points. It might take you more than three hours if you stop frequently (like we do) so have that in mind. Lake Tahoe was the main goal of our trip so we spend about five days there. You can read more about our Lake Tahoe experience here.

Day 7 – Lake Tahoe to Monterey, CA ~5-hour drive

You have tons of options here. Monterey, Carmel By The Sea, or even Napa Valley (again) are all great stops for the night. We were already familiar with Carmel so we decided to explore Monterey for a day. Also, we chose to drive more that day so we could have extra time the next one when driving through the Big Sur. You almost never have enough time to truly enjoy the Pacific Coast Highway. So many awesome vista points, trails, and beaches to visit. Anyway, before we get there here are a few of the shots we took from Monterey.

Day 8 – Monterey, Big Sur & San Luis Obispo, CA ~3-hour drive

After having a great breakfast in Monterey at the amazing Crapes of Brittany we drove through the one and only Big Sur. Although the Pacific Highway is one road, how you go about driving through it and where you stop is all up to you. We practically stop and almost every vista point and trail looking for another breathtaking view. One thing we found out is that the vista points at the beginning have more accessible coastal views than those closer to LA. They also have more interesting rock formations and less beach area. Just something to have in mind.

We stopped at the Rugged Point for lunch and then ended up spending the night and the most unusual hotel we have visited in CA. The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. The hotel is quite difficult to be described in one word.

So many colors and different styles. Each room has a different story and decor. Overall good place for one night and for the experience. The service was good overall. Food-wise we were not impressed at all. Few options close by that we could also recommend are Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. Both we have visited before and we liked as destinations and for things to see and explore.

Day 9 – San Luis Obispo to LA ~3-hour drive

Driving back depending on where you stayed you can either take your time or just get home and get ready for whatever is next on your schedule. We were not impressed that much by the Madonna Inn and since we have already been to Pismo Beach and Morro Bay decided to just get home and get ready for the next week.

Overall this was one of the better road trips we have done and by far the best in 2020 (so far). Great landscapes, awesome food, wine, and relaxation. Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe are hard to beat as a vacation destinations. Big Sur never disappoints with its beautiful coastal views. We absolutely had a blast. Hope you would too if you decide to use the same itinerary.

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Lodging

Picking a good hotel in Chiang Mai with a central location is very important. The economical state of the country is such that many five-star hotels are at the price level of 3 stars in the United States. We stayed at the Le Méridien Chiang Mai which is literally in the center of the city. From there it was a breeze to explore and get transportation to attractions that were driving distance from the hotel. The room, food, and service were awesome. Also, there were tons of options around the hotel including one of the best Japanese sushi we have ever tried. The Night Bazar is also within walking distance if you feel like shopping in the very late afternoon.

Things to See & Do

Our main goal was to visit as many temples, animal parks, and other tourist attractions as possible. Some were very close by others required close to 3 hours drive from the hotel. Doi Suthep was very close. Elephant Rescue Park was about an hour drive. The floating market, white and blue temples were much further. Some of the roads were in heavy construction at the time and there was some traffic as well.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple

One of the most beautiful temples we visited during our trip. Probably the most famous and busiest of all we explored. So much detail it is absolutely awesome to see. The temple is 15 km (9.3 mi) from Chiang Mai and situated at an elevation of 1,073 meters. Since it is high in the mountain you can also see great views of the city.

The name of the Temple (Wat Phra That Doi Suthep) actually explains what the temple has. Phra entails of an honorific Buddha image, and That means a relic. Combining the two tells that there is a relic of Buddha’s in the sanctity of the Wat, and in this case it’s half of Buddha’s shoulder bone.

The temple itself is quite large and has various different buildings, statues, and places to explore. There is a huge sitting Buddha as well as one laying down on the terrace of the temple. From there you can oversee the Chaing Mai downtown and just relax and enjoy the views. Make sure you have some water with you. You must remove your shoes when going inside the temple.

Elephant Rescue Park

When in Thailand you must visit one of the Elephant Parks/Sanctuaries. The overall experience is hard to beat and for us specifically was the first of its kind. The overall drive to the park was about an hour. We booked a private tour which includes our family and the guides only. The park rescues elephants from around Thailand and heals them. Some of the elephants were used in the logging industry others performed in circuses. The experience took about half a day and it also included an awesome lunch. Overall one of the absolute best attractions we experienced in Thailand. Highly recommended! Here is a link to the Elephant Rescue Park Website.

Wat Rong Khun, The White Temple

The White Temple is an interesting one. Build very differently than the other temples and it feels more of Thailand’s version of a Disney Land theme park than anything else. It was by far the most detailed and unique architecture wise temple we saw on our trip. Nothing came close really. Turns out it is not an actual temple but a privately owned art exhibit. And as such it is impossible to take a decent photo once inside due to the number of people everywhere. It does get less crowded in the afternoon. You also need to buy a ticket to enter.

Wat Rong Khun is a privately owned art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed, constructed, and opened it to visitors in 1997.

Rong Suea Ten, The Blue Temple

After we visited the White Temple our driver recommended seeing the Rong Suea Ten or as it is known to tourists – The Blue Temple. It is a short drive and well worth it. Beautiful architecture and attention to detail. Build by a student of the main architect of the White Temple. It is also an actual real temple with a huge sitting Buddha inside. There are various statues around it that we could not stop taking pictures of. Each one more unique and better (sometimes scarier) looking than the other. If you are visiting the white temple make sure you visit this one as well. It is much smaller in size but offers a lot in color and detail.

Rong Suea Ten was established in October 27th, 2005  and successfully complete in January 22nd, 2016, It is on the area of 6 acres. Blue color represents the Dharma, the Lord Buddha virtue code of moral that spread all over the world becomes the doctrine of logically naturalistic as the bright blue sky. This temple displays the contemporary Buddhist art that implied the Lord Buddha ‘s doctrine.

Night Bazaar

The Night Bazaar was within walking distance of our hotel and it was recommended to us by the locals. It is a large covered marketplace hosting tons of merchants selling all kinds of handmade items and food. There are more than a few restaurants there as well. Overall it was nice to see and experience. Make sure you look after your belongings since the place is packed with all kinds of people. That was a recommendation by the locals.

Conclusion

Overall we absolutely loved our stay at Chiang Mai. So many and so different experiences. From temples and parks to elephants and tigers. The food as well as the service was great. People were very nice and overall always helpful. The only issue we had was with the traffic and the overly busy attractions (like the temples we visited).
We highly recommend Chiang Mai!

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Death Valley is the largest, hottest, driest, and the park with the lowest elevation in North America. It is an absolutely amazing national park and almost always in the top five parks to visit in the USA. We went there during the worst possible time (end of August) and we truly understood why Furnace Creek was named so. It was the hottest place we have ever been to in our lives. When the wind was blowing it did not bring any joy … it felt like it brought molten lava on your skin. It was scorching hot, 120 degrees hot! The silver lining was that the park was practically empty and a few of the days we were there the weather was in the low 90s. Also, most of the places we wanted to see were the only ones there. Having the Racetrack Playa, Ubehebe Crater, etc only for us was truly priceless! No lines, no cars, no people, just you and the wilderness.

We drove from Los Angeles and it took us about five hours with some occasional traffic. Please note that although we were with 4×4 SUV (Subaru Forester) it was not sufficient to get us to some of the park attractions without upgrading the tires to all-terrain ones. Since we did not have these we suffered a punctured tire one of the days and we had to jump through hoops to fix it. On the next day, we just rented a Jeep with the right setup and we went whenever we wanted with zero concerns. This is especially true for the Racetrack Playa.

Quick Summary

• Sunset: See at Dante’s View
• Sunrise: See at Zabriskie Point
• Most Unique Attraction: The Racetrack Playa

Lodging

There are not many places to stay in the park. Right next to Furnace Creek there is an awesome hotel called The Inn at Death Valley. It looks and feels like an oasis in the desert. It has all the things you would expect from a four-star hotel and we truly enjoyed our stay there.

Things to see

The park is humongous. It has attractions to see which can easily take an entire day driving for a round trip. Some of them are packed and close to Furnace Creek but The Racetrack, Ubehebe Crater, and others would take you good three-plus hours one way to get to. Here are the things we were able to see and really enjoy:

Eureka Valley Sand Dunes

This trip is the one we had trouble with our 4×4 Subaru Forester. The road is rough and it does require all-terrain tires. The drive is long and there is no reception or super spotty one you can not rely on at all. So if you are going in that direction make sure you are properly equipped and have tons of water with you. Due to the fact it was so hot that day we reached the dunes but did not hike them etc. We were the only living souls there and it was truly a unique experience. During the winter season, this would be an absolute must-see attraction. Note that if you do not plan to hike the dunes this attraction might not be worth the risks during the summer.

Ubehebe Crater

The Ubehebe Crater is on the way to the Racetrack Playa and most of the people do both in one trip. It is absolutely worth stopping there. The view is magnificent. We visited this crater two times and both it was just us and the few birds flying over the crater. There are plenty of great views around the crater as well as hikes you could takedown. You also get an awesome view of the valley around the crater.

Racetrack Playa

This to us was the columniation of our adventure. It was a long drive on some unforgiving gravel/rocky roads but it was absolutely worth it. The Racetrack is famous for its flat valley and the rocks which leave tracks on the desert floor. Like they are alive and move on their own. It has been a mystery for quite some time.

Just like most of the other places we were the only human beings on the racetrack. It was truly ours for the few hours we stayed there and it felt magical. The fact that that day it also rained and the temperature was in the low 90s also helped! The drive is long and slow. You need a proper SUV with the right tires to make it. We rented a Jeep with all-terrain tires at Furnace Creek. They tell you when you get the car that you can not drive more than 10 miles per hour on the gravel road. They do not tell you right away however that more than 75% of the road is gravel/rocky road. Going there takes time since you also do not know exactly what to expect.

Note that the photos below do not show the bad sections of the road where you drive over small to medium size rocks. Driving more than 10 miles per hour felt risky on the way there and we kept it around that speed.

For those of you who still wonder how do those famous rocks move in the RaceTrack Playa here is the mystery explained. We witnessed the tracks ourselves. There were plenty of them all around the floor.

Artist’s Palette

This attraction is one of the few that are close to Furnace Creek and easy to reach. Roads are perfect and all you need is to pack and move out of the car to enjoy this beautiful landscape. Overall one of the better and more colorful attractions to see in the park.

Badwater Basin

We truly wanted to walk the mile or so “hike” and reach the end of the Badwater Basin but it was not realistic due to the 115 degrees weather that day. It is a unique walk and if the weather allows it we think it is worth it. This was by far the busiest place we encountered in the park. It is in close proximity to the Furnace Creek and can easily be visited in combination with other ones (like the Nature Bridge, Artist’s Palette, etc).

Devil’s Golf Course

It is not a real golf course of-course but it is truly a unique desert-like landscape. Everywhere you look there is only desert and dried land. It is just off the main road and can easily be combined with the Badwater Basin, Artist’s Palette and others to be visited in one day.

Dante’s View

By far the best view of the entire park is at Dante’s View. The road is great and well maintained. You can also visit the Zabriskie Point on your way. This also is the best place to enjoy the sunset and stargaze since it is at a high elevation (almost 5,500 ft). It does get busy so have that in mind. Especially if you plan to take pictures of the sunset make sure you are there early. Plenty of tripods with cameras were there on our arrival.

Zabriskie Point

On the road to Dante’s View, you can stop and see one of the better and more colorful mountain landscapes at Zabriskie Point. If you stay at The Inn it is 15 minutes drive. We visited this attraction two times since during the day it is very exposed and the shadows ruin the pictures. At sunrise, this was one of the best views we experienced in the park. The viewpoint has 360 degrees view of the different color hills and it is a nice place to just sit and relax enjoying the landscapes. With some coffee that is one of the best ways to start your morning while in the Desert Valley National Park.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

If you plan to climb any of the dunes in Death Valley our recommendation would be to try the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. They are very close to the main road and you can simply park and start hiking on the sand. There are bathrooms and plenty of parking there as well. Hiking the Eureka Sand Dunes is a lot harder and it takes hours to get to them via a harsh gravel/rocky road requiring special tires and 4×4 vehicles etc.

Rhyolite, Nevada

Death Valley is also famous for its ghost towns. One of them is Rhyolite. Although it’s not actually in the park or even in California. It’s just off of nearby border town Beatty, Nevada, and from 1905 to 1911 it was known as the “Queen City.” We visited the remains of this town on our way out of the park and we left it with mixed feelings. Most of the buildings had fences around them and you could not really get into any of them. There were a bunch of ghost statues and few abandoned cars etc but overall nothing like what we expected.

Conclusion

Overall Death Valley National Park was one of our most memorable adventures. The park is humongous and easy to get lost if you do not follow the main roads. The park during the summer is insanely hot and unwelcoming if you do not like (or can deal with) hot weather. The attractions are so unique and different that it makes it hard to compare with other parks in the USA. The main roads are in great condition and most of the places have proper signs. If you are into the off-road attractions Death Valley would not disappoint and can offer plenty of places to visit and enjoy. For us personally, Dante’s View and the Racetrack Playa were the most interesting and memorable attractions. The first one due to the 100-mile view of the park and the other since it is so unique and with so much history. Overall Death Valley is a blast and we highly recommend it!

Links

• Death Valley National Park Web Site
• Death Valley Wikipedia page / Weather & monthly temperatures
• The Inn at Death Valley Booking Page

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Big Bear Lake was inhabited by the indigenous Serrano people for over 2,000 years before it was explored by Benjamin Wilson and his party. Once populated by only the natives and the grizzly bears, from which the area received its name. Grizzly bears were not found in the region after 1908. Today, there are black bears in the region since their introduction in 1933, and they are sometimes sighted in residential areas.

It is a very popular destination during almost all seasons. In the winter its ski resorts are packed and during the summer it is an amazing place for a family trip. We visited it during the month of May and the weather was perfect. The lake is by no means the size of the Crater Lake but its big brother is located quite high at 6,790 to 7,200 ft (2,070 to 2,190 m) elevation.

The city itself is significantly less crowded than during the winter season. If you want a relaxing time at the lake there are plenty of places to stop and fish or just relax. The Big Bear Lake Village is also a great place to spend time shopping and dining. There are plenty of restaurants for lunch and dinner as well as some quite nice desert locations.

The village itself is quite colorful. You can find a lot of handmade wooden statues of various animals placed around the main street. If you drive around the lake you would find that this is a common theme and many of the houses and businesses have those displayed next to their buildings. It gives the city a very unique vibe.

Food

If you are staying in any of the hotels/resorts and would like to have an amazing breakfast outside you should try the Grizzly Manor Cafe. We loved every single bite there and would absolutely recommend it. We found it by “Yelping” and it did not disappoint at all. It is always packed so have that in mind when you do your planning.

Getting there

Getting to Big Bear Lake is an adventure by itself. One filled with a long winding road and amazing views. If you have the time do not rush and spend some time at the many pullouts along the road. Some of the views there are really breathtaking.

Overall if you are in the mood of spending time outside and enjoying nature Big Bear Lake would not disappoint. During the winter season, the place is truly alive and buzzing with people. In the warmer months, it is much less busy and offers tons of outside activities. There are plenty of lodging places and more than a few highly rated restaurants.

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