One of the most photographed spots in Canada is Spirit Island in Jasper National Park. This scenic spot was iconized when it graced the back of the Canadian $5 bill. The scene is found on the world’s second-largest glacier-fed lake which holds more beauty than could be placed on every banknote worldwide. This is Maligne…
Best of Great Sand Dunes National Park – Top 8
For many, it comes as a surprise that the largest sand dunes in North America are not found in one of the southern deserts but rather in Colorado’s high Rocky Mountains. Great Sand Dunes National Park is an odd but beautiful place with many surprises. Here, surrounded by peaks that rise over 13,000 feet, even…
Dry Tortugas Guide – Florida’s Remote National Park
There are many reasons to visit Florida’s most remote National Park—Dry Tortugas. They include a storied history that dates back to 1513, an abundance of birds and sea life, and really dark skies. You can read all about the Top 9 reasons to visit Dry Tortugas on our website. While there are many things to…
Visiting Dry Tortugas – Top 9 Reasons
For many the 106-mile journey down the world-renowned Overseas Highway on the southern tip of Florida is an adventure that ends in Key West. However, for those looking for more seclusion and adventure, we suggest continuing west for another 70 miles. You’ll find a small cluster of seven islands known as the Dry Tortugas. These…
Visiting Garden of the Gods – Top 8 Activities
The Garden of the Gods park in Colorado Springs, Colorado is consistently rated by TripAdvisor as one of the best parks in the country. Upon arriving at this natural wonder it is easy to see why. Massive red rock fins protrude hundreds of feet into the air. This would be a stunningly beautiful park anywhere…
Hiking the Assiniboine Trail to Mount Shark Trailhead – Day 5
We started this adventure of hiking the Assiniboine Trail by slogging 13 miles through rain, snow, and lightning. But on this final day, we traversed the trail in warm t-shirt weather and clear sunny skies. It is amazing how fast things change in the Canadian Rockies. Today’s journey would take us 8.5 miles with only…
Assiniboine via Wonder Pass – Backpacking the Assiniboine Trail Day 4
After spending the morning hiking nearly 7 miles and over a thousand vertical feet, it was time to say goodbye to our Magog Campsite and continue our backpacking journey of Mount Assiniboine via Wonder Pass. Our destination for the day was the Marvel Lake Campground. To get to Marvel Lake there are actually two choices….
Exploring Mount Assiniboine – Day 3 & 4 Backpacking the Assiniboine Trail
In January, when I started booking our summer plans for the Canadian Rockies, this journey to Mount Assiniboine was a dream. We had intended to spend the better part of two and a half days exploring the heart of Mount Assiniboine and hiking many of the side trails. This would have included The Nub, Windy…
Magog Lake Campground from Og – The Assiniboine Trail Day 2
I eagerly awoke early from our cold, uncomfortable slumber at Og Lake and poked my head out to see that the cloudy conditions of the evening before hadn’t changed. I ventured down to the lakeshore and snapped off a few images of Magog Mountain reflecting in the water, but much like the night before Mount…
Backpacking the Assiniboine Trail via Sunshine Village – Day 1
I want to tell you about a 36-mile journey through the most gorgeous, mountainous terrain we have ever laid our eyes on. Complete with perfect summer mountain weather that revealed the beauty and majesty of the place in ways that boggle the mind. This is the journey that I envisioned when we set out backpacking…
Guide to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
Hidden deep inside the Canadian Rockies is an entire provincial park without a single road. This oasis from the modern world has one of the most stunning landscapes capped with a peak that is often compared to the iconic Matterhorn of the Swiss Alps. This Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies is called Mount Assiniboine. Even…
Visiting the Petrified Forest National Park – Top 7
Visiting the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona has long been on my list of places to see. However, I pictured it as maybe a stopover on a way to someplace far greater—like the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park. Luckily for us, our nomadic lifestyle allowed us the flexibility to end up staying several…