States
Black River Falls
Hats off to the Wisconsin DOT! Rest Area 54 on westbound I-94 hides a scenic boardwalk trail up Belle Mound worth the detour.
Read MoreSedona
Hats off to Sedona, Arizona! Dramatic red rock buttes, hiking trails, and art galleries make it an easy day trip up I-17 from Phoenix.
Read MorePipestone National Monument
Hats off to Pipestone National Monument! Native nations have carved ceremonial pipes from this sacred Minnesota quarry’s catlinite for 3,000 years.
Read MoreThe Pelicans of West Central Minnesota
Hats off to Minnesota’s wetland conservation efforts! American white pelicans, absent for 90 years, now thrive again in Hutchinson and Marshall.
Read MoreSouth Dakota Badlands
Hats off to Badlands National Park! Dramatic eroded formations, roaming bison, and a Dark Sky Park make this a must-see South Dakota stop.
Read MoreCuster State Park
Hats off to Custer State Park! Home to one of the world’s largest publicly owned bison herds and the annual Buffalo Roundup since 1965.
Read MoreBridges of Madison County
Hats off to the Bridges of Madison County! Six historic covered bridges near Winterset, Iowa, made famous by the beloved novel and film.
Read MoreJoshua Tree National Park
Hats off to Joshua Tree National Park! Drive south to north to watch Colorado Desert cacti give way to Mojave Joshua trees and iconic rock piles.
Read MoreElephant Seal Beach
Hats off to the elephant seals of San Simeon! Every winter, massive seals haul out along California’s Highway 1 to breed and raise their pups.
Read MoreSalt River Birds
Hats off to the Salt River Project! Herons, egrets, and more urban wildlife line the Salt River walkway near Tempe Marketplace.
Read MoreCalifornia Highway 1
Hats off to California Highway 1! Hairpin turns, towering cliffs, and endless Pacific views make it one of the world’s great coastal drives.
Read MoreMcDowell Mountains
Hats off to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve! At 180 miles of trails, it’s the largest city park in the U.S. — the Gateway Loop is a Scottsdale favorite.
Read MorePapago Park in Phoenix
Hats off to Papago Park! Hike the buttes on the west side, then visit Hole in the Rock, Hunt’s Tomb, and the zoo fence line to the east.
Read MoreThe White Tank Mountains
Hats off to the Waterfall Trail at White Tank Mountains! An easy, stroller-friendly path west of Phoenix passes ancient petroglyphs along the way.
Read MoreThe Lost Dutchman
Hats off to Lost Dutchman State Park! Choose the easy Treasure Loop, the strenuous hike to the Basin, or watch BASE jumpers atop the Flatiron.
Read MoreHole in the Rock at Papago
Hats off to Phoenix and Tempe Parks! Watch the sunset frame perfectly through Hole in the Rock at Papago Park, then explore Hunt’s Tomb nearby.
Read MoreHorsetooth
Hats off to Larimer County Parks! Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins offers mountain vistas, sandy beaches, and its namesake rock legend.
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