Southland Casino Hotel features a 20-floor, 312 room hotel, five restaurants: The Ignite Steakhouse, The Kitchens buffet, The Fry House, The Grind Coffee Bar, and Seasons Café, along with four different bars. See more about Southland Casino and Hotel and to book your own stay at www.southlandcasino.com The Hotel:
The rooms are nothing special, unless you book one of the 12 penthouse suites. They come with wrap around views, remote controlled lighting and curtains, and a relaxing sitting area.  The Casino: The gambling floor covers the area of over two and a half American football fields. The main gambling area is non-smoking with a separate smoking section. It is so refreshing to be able to walk through a casino and subsequent hotel lobby that isn’t full of cigarette smoke. The casino and main middle bar are open 24-hours, seven days a week. The only downside is that game-side drinks are not free like many other casinos around the world, and sometimes it can take a while to get a drink because of the casino’s popularity, especially on weekends. The casino also has live music Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It underwent a $320 million expansion in 2022 and hopes to have another expansion to its gaming floor in the next few years to include a stage and second on-floor bar.  Live Oak Bourbon Bar: One of Southland’s bars is a craft cocktail bourbon bar featuring hundreds of bourbons from around the world. They also have more “upscale” appetizers and food options without needing a table or reservation like Ignite Steakhouse. On Tuesdays they offer flight special which include different bourbon, wine, beer, or whiskey samples along with appetizer flights of seafood, charcuterie, fruits, or vegetables. Ignite Steakhouse
The crab cakes were the hit of the appetizers with the lamb lollis being a close second. The 40 oz. bone-in tomahawk steak was of course the most talked about and photographed item we ordered on its own specialty made plate, but it was also the most delicious piece of meat. It was perfectly salted and served with an assortment of flavored butters that we didn’t even need.
Then for dessert the interesting combination of a warm chocolate brownie with locally made key lime ice cream was a hit. Though many of us could barely think about desert after how full we were, we all enjoyed as much as we could and were glad we did, it was delicious. The meal was expensive, but the ambiance, waitstaff, and food were all up to par for the fares Southland charged. It is worth a meal, even if you aren’t staying at the hotel or planning to gamble. I would gamble its one of the better steakhouses on this side of Memphis.  The Kitchens buffet
Besides their regular food stations, every night has a theme. Monday is International, Tuesday is Regional Barbeque, Wednesday is Steak, Thursday is Cajun, and the weekends are All-You-Can-Eat Crab Legs. Depending on the day and time you are eating, the buffet meals range from $22.99 up to $54.99.  While casinos and gambling might not be for everyone, Southland really tries to cater to a diverse crowd who might be there for the drinks, to watch a big game, or have a great meal. As long as you are over the age of 21, Southland can be an unexpected place to visit and stay just right outside of Memphis. See other things to do in Memphis:
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The entirety of Graceland has expanded beyond his mansion into an almost amusement park like complex. The entrance to the grounds feels like a walk down Main Street USA in Disneyworld. Part of that is because there are gift shops everywhere you turn and loud Elvis music being pumped through speakers every few feet.  The house itself requires a bus ride to get to from the main ticketing area. The tour starts with a quick video about Elvis’s legacy and some of the memorabilia you can see in the museums before they snap your picture (if you want a keepsake) and pile you onto a bus for a short five-minute drive across the road. Graceland is no mansion by today’s standards, but back in the 1950s you can tell this place was revered like a castle. It features top of the line China in the dining room, at the time cutting edge appliances in the kitchen, stunning stained glass in the all-white living room, along with chandeliers galore. 
The most surprising part of the house to me was the basement. There is one room just full of built in televisions with a bright yellow sunk in couch to watch all the shows your heart could desire – which back then was probably only a handful compared to today’s thousands of cable channels. Then next to that room is the tapestry room, complete with floor to ceiling pleated cotton fabric and a billiard table. Both rooms truly highlight his taste, money, and lavishness brought back from his time in Las Vegas. 
The house also features a barn for Lisa Marie’s ponies, a separate home office and recording space, and an area that has now been turned into a showcase of the houses floor plans and original receipts for purchases of all the furniture and craftsmanship put into the home. It’s remarkable to see how much materials have changed in price since he built the place!
The backyard, as I was not expecting, is also his gravesite. Along with his parents, his daughter, and his grandson. It was a somber sight to see after just walking around the place he cherished and had some many lively experiences in for so many years before his untimely death.
When you are done with the tour of the house there are three museums left to see back on the other side of the road. A bust will take you back over to the main entrance area where you can walk through the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, and Elvis Movie Exhibit. All are included in the price of the upgraded entrance ticket. Each of the museums are filled with things related to the different chapters of his life. His many cars used both personally and on movie sets are on display. Along with his war memorabilia from his time spent serving our country in the Army. Other movie set pieces, posters, and costumes are shown alongside large projector screens playing clips from the many movies Elvis was in during his career on the golden screen.
Then, his gold records, flyers, stage worn shoes, and of course his famous jumpsuits are all on display in the music part of his career. There is also a cool showcase of other famous celebrities’ outfits that were inspired by Elvis in different performances.
Outside of these museums sit his two planes, The Lisa Marie and The Hound Dog II. These are interesting almost time-capsule like experiences, full of shag carpeting, dark suede furniture, and outdated technology.  Here are some tips you need to know before planning your own visit: Give yourself plenty of time.
Book your visit ahead of time.
 Go on a weekday.
 The entire experience is surreal to think about how such a celebrity like Elvis Preseley lived and used these items that are now on display behind glass cases. How things that were so impressive back there seem so miniscule to today’s celebrity class elites. It’s funny how things change with the passing of time, yet still seem so important because of who they belonged to. Elvis was a man unlike any other before him, and his legacy still lives on strong today. I highly recommend a visit no matter how big of a fan you are, just to marvel in the extravagance.
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Read things to do around Tennessee:
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 | Idaho has over 300 known natural hot springs. It’s situation along the continental divide makes it a geological wonder of The United States with the most hot springs of any state. There are hot springs in every region, near almost every big city in Idaho. I haven’t been to all, but here are the ones we had on our list to visit during our honeymoon road trip from Mississippi around the southern part of Idaho to the Sawtooth Mountains. |
Be sure to see to watch our video from the 75-mile backpacking loop we attempted!
Cove Creek
We actually stumbled upon this spring while leaving Stanley looking for a campsite for the night. This roadside hot spring is somehow barely visited compared to its neighboring Sunnbeam, which was always crowded when we drove by. It’s a beautiful little riverside pool, perfect for about 10 to 12 people.
Goldbug
 | One of the most popular hot springs in Idaho requires a two mile, uphill, hike to get to. It is 100% worth it in the end, just don’t go on a scorching hot summer day like we did. After the hike up in the blazing sun, the last thing you will want to do is get in a piping hot hole in the ground. There are about 20 different pools you can choose from ranging in size and temperature. Explore them all and enjoy the views! |
Horsecreek
This hot spring was recommended to us from someone we met while at Cove Creek. He claimed it was his favorite in the state. It took hours to reach on a very windy dirt road and if it wasn’t for the drive, I would have probably agreed with him.
The hot spring itself has been dug out to make it deeper. It’s different than other hot springs because you essentially stand in it instead of sit in. It also has a little structure around it trapping in the heat, making it feel almost like a steam room. It truly is relaxing.
The hot spring itself has been dug out to make it deeper. It’s different than other hot springs because you essentially stand in it instead of sit in. It also has a little structure around it trapping in the heat, making it feel almost like a steam room. It truly is relaxing.
Sunbeam
This is a very popular riverside pool right off the main road out of Stanley heading towards Salmon. Every time we passed here it was packed so we never stopped, we preferred Cove Creek’s lack of crowds instead.
Bonneville
Located near Grandjeann, this hot spring has a campsite nearby and requires a short hike to get to. It has a couple of different pools and a nice little waterfall.
Miracle
This resort has four large central pools and 21 private pools available for rent, some of which also have cold plunges available. You can also rent a dome yurt or pull up your RV to stay a little longer. Check out all the details on their website here: www.miraclehotsprings.com
Durfee
Durfee is close to the Utah – Idaho border near the town of Almo. There is one large swimming pool created from the natural hot waters. There is also an Airbnb on site if you need a place to stay. Learn more: www.durfeehotsprings.com
Haven
Private soaking sessions must be booked to visit Haven’s mineral pool. You can also book a stay in one of their four motel rooms that have their own private pools! You can book your soak or stay on their website: www.havenhotsprings.com
Kirkham
Located about an hour and half outside of Boise, Kirkham is one of the more popular hot springs. There are two bigger pools and a few smaller ones with hot water waterfalls. There is limited parking so visiting on a weekday is advised!
Lava
There is an entire town dedicated to hot springs! All the hotels have private pools, and the town has public riverside springs along with Olympic sized swimming pools and water slides. Learn more about the world-famous town on their website: https://lavahotsprings.com
Frenchman’s
Just outside of the famous Sun Valley Ski Area inside the Sawtooth National Forest is a nice hot pool. It is recommended to have 4WD to access the pools because of the long rocky drive. They are perfect for a post ski or post hike soak in any season.
These of course are not all 300+ hot springs in Idaho, these aren’t even all the ones in southern Idaho alone. For a full list of all the swimmable hot springs check out this other listing site, www.idahohotsprings.com
See more things to do in Idaho:
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 | Sun Valley is the premier ski town of Idaho. It is a gorgeous little place set along the base of the Smoky Mountains, just near Idaho’s famous Sawtooths, all part of the great Rocky Mountains. This exquisite mountain town is home to world class skiing, but also plenty of things to do year-round. My husband and I visited Sun Valley and its neighboring town of Ketchum during the summer of 2023 as part of our honeymoon. We spent a romantic evening dining, walking around, and attempting to listen to the symphony – more on that later. |
We chose to stop in Sun Valley/Ketchum after hearing how luxurious the town was from several friends, and also because of its proximity to our trailhead for our big 50-mile hike on The Grand Sawtooth Loop, which you can read all about here: www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-honeymoon-backpacking-the-75-mile-grand-sawtooth-loop-in-idaho
Even though we were only here for a day, I did lots of research on all the things we could have done and can do for future trips back. Here are things I found to do during any visit:
Where to Stay:
- There are plenty of luxury lodges and resorts, especially close to the ski areas. You can also rent a condo or Airbnb house. No matter where you stay, or what season you visit, you will more than likely pay a pretty penny to be in Sun Valley. Rooms range anywhere from $200-800 depending on events, the season, and what day of the week.
- We stayed at The Knob Hill Inn and it was $475, after taxes, for the night. We had a beautiful view of the mountains from our extremely spacious hotel room’s balcony, and we were within walking distance from the shops and restaurants in town. It did take a car ride up to the base of the ski area, but the hotel had a free shuttle! The bar inside was hopping all night. For a night of our honeymoon, it was worth every dollar.
 The view from our hotel balcony at The Knob Hill Inn. |  Outside the Knob Hill Inn. |
Dining:
In the downtown area of Ketchum there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat after a long day on the slopes or a fancy white table cloth dining experience. There is something for every taste and budget.
We were recommended by a friend, and native to Ketchum, to visit:
We were recommended by a friend, and native to Ketchum, to visit:
- The Knob Hill, but since it was where we were staying, we wanted to venture out and go into town.
- Enoteca - wood-fired pizzas and fresh Italian food.
- The Pioneer Saloon - the historic bar and restaurant that prides itself on its history and steaks.
- The Ketchum Grill - her old workplace, and the restaurant we ended up choosing. We had a wonderful, handmade meal with a bottle of wine outside on the terrace. It was the most romantic dinner we could have spontaneously had!
 My delicious dinner at The Ketchum Grill. |  The Ketchum Grill's menu. |
Shopping:
Sun Valley Road is full of locally owned boutiques and shops. You can easily spend an entire afternoon wandering in and out of shops looking at and purchasing high-end clothing, shoes, purses, and ski gear. There are also plenty of other stores on the surrounding streets in downtown as well!
Seasonal Things
Symphony / Summer Concerts:
 Everyone leaving the symphony when we were arriving. | During the summer Sun Valley hosts concerts and shows at the amphitheater at the base of the ski resort. On Sundays they have the local symphony come out and do a free performance. We tried to watch the symphony during our visit, but didn’t realize it only lasted an hour – hour and a half. By the time we wrapped up dinner and got a ride from the shuttle at The Knob Hill Inn, we missed the show! |
Hiking:
There are tons of trails on the Sun Valley Ski Resort mountains and in the surrounding areas. Checkout AllTtrails.com to find one suitable for your skill levels or one of the ones SunValley.com recommends:
- Bald Mountain Trail: This iconic trail takes you on a 3000+ foot climb to the summit of Bald Mountain, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
- Proctor Mountain Trail: A local favorite, this loop takes you around Proctor Mountain, providing views of Bald Mountain, Ketchum and Sun Valley.
- White Clouds Trails: The White Clouds trail network is perfect for families and beginners, with leisurely hiking and biking trails right next to the Sun Valley Lodge.
- Wood River Trail: This multi-use trail runs alongside the Big Wood River and offers a paved, flat, scenic route that's ideal for long-distance running, walking or biking.
Biking:
Like most ski resorts, during the summer Sun Valley opens some of it’s groomed ski trials for mountain biking. You can either huck it up the mountain and peddle to the top, or chose the easier downhill-only option and ride the gondola up. There is over 400-miles of trails to chose from!
Hiking and biking trail map.
Fly Fishing:
Wet your lines and catch some trout at any of the nearby freshwater rivers and streams in Ketchum, including The Big Wood River which runs right through town. There’s also Silver Creek and the Wood River which are world renowned waters. Hire a guide from any of the outfitters nearby to show you the best spots or just go out and wade on your own. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a day on the water.
Horseback Riding:
In the summer you can book either a carriage ride or a horseback trail ride around Sun Valley. Rides are roughly 45 minutes to one hour long and can be booked at SunValley.com.
Sled Riding:
In the winter you can enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride through the beautiful snow covered landscape of Sun Valley. Rides are 30-minutes long and weather dependent. It is encouraged you bring a blanket, dress warmly, and bring a hot cocoa for the ride! Book online at SunValley.com..
Skiing:
Sun Valley has two mountains open to skiing, Bald Mountain (also known as Baldy) and Dollar Mountain.
Baldy is for the more experienced skier, although it features a themed Adventure Trails for kids and 30 acres of gladed terrain for all ability levels. Bald Mountain has 12 ski lifts and over 100 different runs ranging from easy greens to expert double blacks.
Dollar Mountain is perfect for kids and those who want to play. It has the “wandercarpet” that brings children up a small beginners’ mountain and eight terrain parks for those looking to hone in their trick skills. It’s not as big as Baldy but seems like just as much fun!
Baldy is for the more experienced skier, although it features a themed Adventure Trails for kids and 30 acres of gladed terrain for all ability levels. Bald Mountain has 12 ski lifts and over 100 different runs ranging from easy greens to expert double blacks.
Dollar Mountain is perfect for kids and those who want to play. It has the “wandercarpet” that brings children up a small beginners’ mountain and eight terrain parks for those looking to hone in their trick skills. It’s not as big as Baldy but seems like just as much fun!
Map of Bald Mountain's ski trails.
Map of Dollar Mountain's ski trails.
There is so much to do and see in Sun Valley and Ketchum in every season. This post just begins to scratch the surface of all the activities available in this remarkable mountain landscape.
Other Places in Idaho:
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| | Our first destination in Idaho was right on the Idaho / Utah border, The City of Rocks National Reserve. We arrived at our reserved campsite right before dusk and set up camp under the incredible sight of the glowing Milky Way. The City of Rocks is an International Dark Sky area, and the night sky is just absolutely remarkable. We reserved our campsite on our way into Idaho on the National Park's website, here. It cost us $14 for the night. |
| We woke up and enjoyed a slow morning at our campsite. John didn’t hang around camp long before he started climbing up the nearby rock face that walled off our campsite. We enjoyed the early morning sunshine and scoped out a trail below us. We packed up our camp and grabbed our day packs before attempting to hike down the Boxtop Loop Trail before we realized it was getting a little steeper than we were hoping for a casual early day-hike. We made it about a mile before deciding to turn around. |  |
We instead chose to get to most of the park’s main attractions by vehicle. We stopped at Elephant Rock, Twin Sisters, and Window Arch.
After seeing how cool the valley below looked and how fun the rock climbing seemed, we honestly wished we had stayed for multiple nights to truly explore the entire area. We would have loved to have seen how different the views would’ve been by hiking down into the formations, but instead we just spent one day driving around and gawking at the natural wonders.
It was a very beautiful, really easy to access park, and we will certainly be coming back on any other trips we are in the area so we can come back and truly explore the depths more.
See more things to do in Idaho below:
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 | One of the weirdest, quirkiest, most interesting places we found in Idaho was The Mammoth Cave & Shoshone Bird Museum. Located just 10-miles north of the town of Shoshone, this fascinating place has been passed down generation to generation – and for good reasons. It costs $15 for adults to enter both of the museums and the cave. We spent roughly two to three hours exploring all of the funky things inside, but with kids I could see it taking either longer or shorter depending on their intrigue with the crazy animals and other things in their collection. |
| There are two museums full of taxidermized animals from across the world. There had to have been over a thousand different kinds of mammals, insects, rodents, and invertebrates plus fossils, rocks, and pottery items on display. |  |
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Some of the things are extremely rare, including the collection of two-bodied or two-headed animals. Those were probably my least favorite parts of the exhibit’s items, but most of the rest of the things we found absolutely fascinating.
 | The museums are located on top of a huge private cave, that probably stretches on for miles and miles underground, but they have only explored portions and opened an even smaller distance to the public. They give you lanterns to walk around because the cave has no lights or electricity and is completely dark inside. It was super fun to walk around like we were miners or explorers. |
Inside the cave they have also found the remains of a cave bear, which apparently is different than a modern-day bear. It might have hibernated in the cave during an ice age or discovered the cave after a volcano. Some of the remains can be found on display inside one of the two museums.
Overall, it was such a fun little stop to explore the entire facility and all of their family heirlooms. It’s not like a normal museum, and that’s what we liked about it. If you are ever in the southern Idaho area we highly recommend a visit!
Overall, it was such a fun little stop to explore the entire facility and all of their family heirlooms. It’s not like a normal museum, and that’s what we liked about it. If you are ever in the southern Idaho area we highly recommend a visit!
See more things to do in Idaho below:
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 | When planning a trip towards Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, or a road trip through The "Mighty Five" National Parks in Utah - these restaurants cannot be missed! Bryce Canyon Country includes the towns of Escalante, Tropic, Panguitch, Bryce City, Cannonville, Henryville, and the surrounding 3-million acres. There is so much to do and see in the area, but no vacation is complete without really good food. |
This is by no means a complete list of all the amazing restaurants in the area, but these are a few that I have tried and just absolutely loved. Save them and try to stop by on your trip through Utah!
i.d.k BBQ
| Between adventures in Grand Staircase National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park, make a stop in Tropic, Utah, for a quick and delicious BBQ meal. Pick between a meat plate, BBQ sandwich, nachos, baked potato, or salad and don’t forget their peach cobbler in a cone for dessert! See the full menu on their website or social media pages here: https://idkbarbecue.com/ |  Pulled pork, brisket, a sandwich, coleslaw and beans from i.d.k BBQ. |
4th West Pub
| Grab dinner at the only pub on Utah’s Scenic Highway 12 - which runs between Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon - at 4th West Pub in Escalante. Enjoy local beers and classic bar fare at this renovated service station. Try to time a visit with their trivia nights every third Thursday of the month or during one of their live music shows on the second Saturday of each month. |  One of their branded hamburgers. |
Ebenezer's
| Looking for a different type of dinner experience? Checkout a country-western show at Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill nightly from April to October. Enjoy a cowboy meal of flank steak, BBQ, or baked salmon or chicken, while listening to The Bryce Canyon Wranglers share the story of Bryce Canyon National Park through classic country hits and original pieces. It’s fun for the entire family! |  Ebenezer's Barn and Grill home to the famous country music dinner show! |
Kiva Koffeehouse
| This might be one of the most beautiful coffee shops in Utah and maybe America! Kiva Koffeehouse was designed to blend harmoniously with the Southern Utah landscape. Its 180-degree views from inside and patio with 360-degree views and a view down into the valley below make it a spectacular destination coffee house. The shop is only open Wednesday to Sunday, and the kitchen closes daily at 3 PM. |  The outside of the beautiful Kiva Koffeehouse. |
See more about Kiva Koffeehouse and their on-site Kottage for rent here: https://www.kivakoffeehouse.com/
Pizza Palace
Pizza Palace has been rated the best pizza in Southern Utah year after year. Their recipes have been passed through generations since the early 1990’s. Enjoy a specialty pizza or create your own at this Utah staple.
See the full menu of The Pizza Palace here: https://www.brycecanyonpizza.com/
See the full menu of The Pizza Palace here: https://www.brycecanyonpizza.com/
Read about more things to do around Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in my guides below!
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 | Over 80% of the state of Utah is protected public or National Park lands. One of Utah's most famous "Mighty Five National Parks" is Bryce Canyon. It's red rock hoodoos are unlike anywhere else in the world, but there is so much more to Bryce Canyon Country than just the national park... Bryce Canyon Country includes Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome State Park, and so much more in its over 3-million acres of protected lands. |
It can be hard to not only pick what activities to do around Bryce Canyon Country, but it can be even harder to find a good central location to stay. This list ranges from high-end places to stay to campgrounds and RV parks all around Escalante, Utah.
Read about things to do in Bryce Canyon Country here!
Under Canvas Bryce Canyon
My tent at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon.
Under Canvas is a world-renowned luxury, off-grid glamping resort with two locations near Bryce Canyon Country. The Bryce Canyon location is only 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park and the Powell-Grand Staircase location is on the south side of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument with access to the public lands in less than ten minutes.
| Under Canvas Bryce Canyon hosts fifty different solar-powered canvas tent sites perfect for solo-travelers, couples, or families alike with their variety of tent options that can sleep between two and six people. Each tent comes with an outdoor and indoor lounging area and a wood-burning stove inside to keep you warm during the chilly nights. Full bathrooms, battery operated lights, and a battery pack for charging small devices like cell phones are only a few of the other amenities you’ll also enjoy. There are also outlets in the attendant's tent and bathrooms for plugging in larger items and blow dryers available at the front desk. |  The wood fired stove in my tent. |
The bed in my "deluxe" tent at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon.
There is a restaurant onsite named Embers that serves delicious, locally-sourced breakfast, lunch, and dinner that you can enjoy al fresco around the propane-fueled bonfires. There are also complementary s’mores every evening along with free events and hiking trails that can be enjoyed by all.
The outdoors eating area at Embers - Under Canvas Bryce Canyon.
Book your own tent on their website here: https://www.undercanvas.com/
Canyon Country Lodge
If glamping isn’t your thing, stay at the more traditional hotel in the town of Escalante, The Canyon Country Lodge. Their hotel features a hot tub, swimming pool, fitness area, and laundry services. They also have an on-site restaurant and complimentary breakfast every morning. The rooms come in standard king size suites or double queen beds each with wifi and smart TVs. The bathrooms also feature large walk-in showers with organic bath products.
Check their availability on their website: https://canyoncountrylodge.com
The Canyon Country Lodge in Escalante, Utah.
Ruby’s Inn
The closest lodging to Bryce Canyon National Park is the historic Ruby’s Inn which has been operating for over 100 years. It is situated just yards from the entrance to the park and is actually the pick up location for the park’s shuttle system!
Ruby’s Inn features many different kinds of lodging options from RV hook-ups and tipi campsites to luxury king suites with in-room jacuzzi spas. The Inn also has three different dining options to satisfy every hunger pain. The Cowboy Buffet & Steak Room offers sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner; The Canyon Diner has fast grab-and-go options and pizza; while Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill features a country music show during dinner every summer night.
Ruby’s Inn has something for every type of traveler, and it’s one of the best gift shops outside of the park!
Ruby’s Inn features many different kinds of lodging options from RV hook-ups and tipi campsites to luxury king suites with in-room jacuzzi spas. The Inn also has three different dining options to satisfy every hunger pain. The Cowboy Buffet & Steak Room offers sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner; The Canyon Diner has fast grab-and-go options and pizza; while Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill features a country music show during dinner every summer night.
Ruby’s Inn has something for every type of traveler, and it’s one of the best gift shops outside of the park!
Learn more about Ruby’s Inn on their website here: https://www.rubysinn.com/
See more things to do near Bryce Canyon National Park and Escalante National Monument in my guides below:
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 | One of the most unique national parks in America is nestled in the Four Corners Area of Colorado. Mesa Verde National Park is over 50,000 acres of protected land, encompassing some of the most fascinating man-made structures. Mesa Verde is home to the world’s largest area of pueblo buildings, and these are different than most others. They are built hundreds of feet above the ground directly into the red rock canyon walls. |
It is impossible to visit the park and not feel a sense of wonder: “How were these built?”, “Who lived here?”, “Where did they go?” Archeologists and geologist only speculatively answer these questions. The area is truly a wonder of history that, in my opinion, no one will ever truly understand.
I have had the privilege to visit the park a couple of times, and it leaves me amazed every time. This is one of the lesser visited National Parks, and I hope to provide guidance for anyone who wants to see these marvelous structures on their own.
I have had the privilege to visit the park a couple of times, and it leaves me amazed every time. This is one of the lesser visited National Parks, and I hope to provide guidance for anyone who wants to see these marvelous structures on their own.
The famous Cliff Palace.
When to visit:
- The park closes many roads and does not offer tours during the winter (September to May). To get the most of your experience at Mesa Verde, you will need to visit during the summer months. The summer is the most popular time to visit any national park, so if you can go during weekdays and avoid major holidays like Memorial Day and The Fourth of July, it is more likely you’ll be able to get reservations for campgrounds and guided tours. The weather at this high elevation in Colorado is temperate, warm, and windy during the daytime and fairly chilly at night routinely dipping down into the 40’s. When planning your trip, be sure to check the weather on The National Park website here: www.nps.gov/mesaverde
From our first trip in June 2016.
Where to stay:
- Lodging is very limited around Mesa Verde. To get into the main part of the of park takes about a 45-minute drive from the Visitors Center entrance. The entrance is about 55 miles from Durango – the closest sizable town – and about ten miles in different directions from Cortez and Mancos, two much smaller towns.
- The park has one lodge and one campground. Both prefer reservations but will take walk ins if there is availability. When we went for our first time in 2016, we managed to snag the very last campsite for one night but couldn’t stay for a second due to reservations. You can make camping reservations online here: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/lodging-camping/morefield-campground/
- I have never stayed at The Far View Lodge, but its location in the heart of the park is ideal for travelers hoping to stay multiple nights. It is only open April to October and ranges from $149-186 a night. You can reserve your stay on their website here: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/lodging-camping/far-view-lodge/
 Camping at the Morefield Campground. |  View from the drive in summer 2016. |
Booking tours:
- The pueblos are hundreds of years old and extremely delicate. The park doesn’t allow access to many without guides walking people through the formations under careful watch. Booking tours in advance is pretty much a requirement. Occasionally, you can snag an open spot, but it is very unlikely you will be able to walk into the park and get a tour at the time you are hoping.
- Reservations for The Cliff Palace (the crown jewel of the park), The Balcony House, and the Square Tower House can be made here: https://home.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/cliff_dwelling_tours.htm
- Ranger guided tours are not required for Spruce Treehouse, Cedar Treehouse, Step House, or Badger House Trail. Please be respectful of the sites by observing the “Leave No Trace” principals, leaving the preserves better than you found them, never taking any artifacts, or making graffiti or marks on any surfaces.
 Our ticket for our Balcony House tour. |  Self guided tour at The Step House.  Our range guiding us around The Balcony House. |
Things to bring to the park:
- National Parks Annual Pass
- If you plan on visiting more than one national park or Mesa Verde for more than one day, I recommend purchasing an annual parks pass. A single day’s entry to any park is around $30 and an annual pass is $80. Purchase the annual pass for access to all of America’s parks, national forest lands, and more. You can purchase an annual or day pass at the entrance to any national park!
- Food and water.
- There are a few cafes in the park, but they are expensive and primarily located around The Far View Lodge and not near the formations. Make sure to pack plenty of snacks, breakfasts, lunches, and lots of water especially if you are camping inside the park or plan to do any hiking. If you will be near your car, you would rather over pack than overheat or be dehydrated!
- Camera and binoculars
- You will want to take lots of photos and videos in the park. Bring an extra-large zoom lens and binoculars to see the far away dwellings as well. Make sure to pack spare batteries and a way to charge them during your visit.
- Portable chargers
- Electricity hookups are rare in the park, so bring portable chargers for phones and camera batteries. There is little phone service, so you won’t be using them much, but you will want to take pictures and videos, so make sure they are fully charged!
- Map
- Since there is little cell service, be sure to grab a map from the visitors center so you know where you are going. Also make sure to ask the rangers about any closures or other things that might not be on the map, including incoming weather.
- Rain jacket
- Anytime you are hiking, you should bring rain gear. Weather changes rapidly at high elevation and summer storms regularly roll in late in the afternoon, so bring rain gear and a jacket to have just in case.
Here is how I recommend traveling the park:
- Before arrival:
- Reserve your campsite or room at the Far View Lodge and book tours during your dates. here: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/
- Study the map online and make a plan for visiting the park based off when tours are available. Continue reading to see when I recommend touring each site!
- Day one:
- Spend a few hours learning about the history at the Visitors Center. Soak in all the information you possibly can before witnessing any of the structures firsthand. Take notes, think of questions to ask on your tours, and get excited!
- Start up the road into the park, pull off at every viewpoint, and learn about the geology and history.
- Take Weatherill Mesa Road to The Step House. Again, make sure to stop at all the viewpoints along the way, then take the self-guided walk through The Step House to get an up-close and personal experience in a pueblo dwelling.
- Take an afternoon tour of The Long House. This is one of the dwellings you need to book a guided tour to see, so try to pick a time slot later in the afternoon to give yourself plenty of time to get there and enjoy the scenery on the way up.
- After your tour, continue walking The Long House Loop paved trail to end your first day!
 View of the mesa from the entrance to the park. |  View of mountains from a pull off. |
The Step House.
- Day two:
- Book an early tour of The Spruce Treehouse and walk through the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum afterwards.
- Then, take a couple of hikes around the Spruce Canyon Trail and up to Petroglyph Point. Both are around 2.5 miles round trip.
- Stop and take a lunch break at Spruce Tree Terrace or enjoy a packed lunch from the many picnic sites around the park.
- Then, drive up to Mesa Top Loop to explore the many sites there.
The Spruce Treehouse.
- Day three:
- Save the two best places for your last day and take pre-booked tours at The Balcony House and, finally, the famous Cliff Palace saving the absolute best for last!
- Soak up all the wonder and glory of these two sites and take time to reflect on all the things you have just witnessed over the last few days. Make your way back out of the park and stop by any sites you haven’t seen or go back to any that you really enjoyed.
 It takes several wooden ladders to reach The Balcony House. |  The Balcony House. |
The Cliff Palace.
- Optional day four:
- If you are staying in the park, especially at The Morefield Campground, take an extra day to do the hikes that lead out of the camping area.
- Prater Ridge Trail is about 7.8 miles, The Knife Edge Trail is 2 miles, and The Point Lookout Trail is 2.2 miles. Pick a trail that is up to your hiking abilities, or try to accomplish all three in a day! See more about the elevation gains, estimated completion times, and more on AllTrails.com
- After Mesa Verde:
- From Mesa Verde, head to other amazing archeological sites nearby like Hovenweep National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Shiprock New Mexico, Canyon De Chelly National Monument, or even The Grand Canyon!
John and I at The Grand Canyon before visiting Mesa Verde National Park. Click to read more!
There is so much to do and see in the ancient American southwest. I hope this post helps you plan the most throughout, jam-packed, educational trip you could ever hope for.
Mesa Verde is a truly remarkable place to witness, and I hope every person can experience the sheer wonder that this place holds at least once in their lives.
It will change the way you view hardship, simple living, and your modern conveniences and may put your world in a perspective you might have never imagined. It is a place unlike anywhere else in the world, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Mesa Verde is a truly remarkable place to witness, and I hope every person can experience the sheer wonder that this place holds at least once in their lives.
It will change the way you view hardship, simple living, and your modern conveniences and may put your world in a perspective you might have never imagined. It is a place unlike anywhere else in the world, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Read about other Colorado National Parks here:
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 | Tulum, Mexico, was my dream destination for my bachelorette party for so many reasons: lots of dance clubs, exquisite cuisine, and, of course, beautiful beaches. I planned my trip to Tulum months in advance, and the first thing I did was look for a place to stay. Fortunately, I found one of the most incredible places I think I could have found! Read my entire "Tulum Planning Guide" to see all the research I did and my "Tulum Bachelorette Itinerary" to see where all we ended up going! |
Beach vs. Town
The first thing we had to decide was exactly where in Tulum we wanted to stay, at the beach or the town. I spent a lot of time reading blog posts and videos comparing the two sides of Tulum. After finding that all the places where we wanted to eat and party were near the beach, we decided it was the ideal place.
We stayed at Casa Cosmo Tulum where the heart is!
There is only one road that leads from the main part of town to the beach, and I read that there can be traffic causing a less than two-mile drive to take anywhere from 20-45 minutes on busy weekends. That did not sound nice for our group especially since our large group of nine would need to hail more than one taxi.
Note that there are no Ubers or Lyfts in Tulum, so taxis are the only way to get around town without a car. Bikes and Mopeds are also very common, but the roads are not very well-maintained, so driving or riding isn’t really easy.
Staying near the beach, however, came with a huge upcharge. Airbnb’s were at least three times more expensive, but being able to walk everywhere was worth every penny.
Note that there are no Ubers or Lyfts in Tulum, so taxis are the only way to get around town without a car. Bikes and Mopeds are also very common, but the roads are not very well-maintained, so driving or riding isn’t really easy.
Staying near the beach, however, came with a huge upcharge. Airbnb’s were at least three times more expensive, but being able to walk everywhere was worth every penny.
We had beautiful sunrises every morning.
Tulum is Expensive
Compared to the rest of Mexico, Tulum is a very expensive, touristy town. We spared no expense with our Airbnb but tried our hardest to save money when it came to things like taxis and some of our meals.
One of the best perks about our Airbnb was being able to hire a private chef! Our first night, we had our host bring in a chef to cook us the most unbelievable four course meal. It included three kinds of appetizers, shrimp, octopus, an entire fish, then two rounds of different cuts of steaks. It was incredible.
Our host also helped us stock our fridge and pantry with groceries, fresh fruit, snacks, and coffee. There was also plenty of fresh water to drink!
Our host also helped us stock our fridge and pantry with groceries, fresh fruit, snacks, and coffee. There was also plenty of fresh water to drink!
 The first course from our private chef. |  One of the MANY fish plates our chef made us! |
Tulum is a Party Town
Tulum is a major party hub; that’s part of the reason I wanted to come here! That being said, we stayed near some of the most popular clubs and bars, and it was very noisy every night. Even on Sunday, we could hear loud bass music until nearly 8 in the morning. It was pretty insane. I recommend bringing earplugs no matter where you stay.
In a party town, comes safety concerns too. Lots of drinking can lead to wild nights, and as a group of girls, we were on high alert, but the place we rented came with a 24-hour security guard! It was very comforting. Everytime we came home, he was standing there waiting to walk us back down the driveway and lock the gate behind us. We felt so safe.
In a party town, comes safety concerns too. Lots of drinking can lead to wild nights, and as a group of girls, we were on high alert, but the place we rented came with a 24-hour security guard! It was very comforting. Everytime we came home, he was standing there waiting to walk us back down the driveway and lock the gate behind us. We felt so safe.
 Dancing at Vagalume's Beach Club. |  We all got sparklers at Taboo that evening. |
Now, The House(s)...
The Casa Cosmo Tulum came with three separate houses enclosed in one fenced area complete with a pool and full kitchen. There was a master house featuring a balcony with a view of sunrise and sunset and two cabana houses each with showers and multiple bedrooms. In total, the compound could have easily slept 12.
 One of the cabana houses.  Each room also came with a hammock! |  The master bedroom. |
It costs us $6,800 for three nights in early January. As I said, we spared no expense to rent these houses. The safety, the location, staff, and everything was just perfect and worth every penny.
The balcony in the master house.
Book your own stay in The Casa Cosmo on the Airbnb website HERE and let them know Taylor, aka The Traveling Tacos, sent ya!
Chloe and Sarah will enjoy knowing it!
Chloe and Sarah will enjoy knowing it!
Read all of my travel guides for Tulum below:
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 | Tulum is full of so many beach clubs, bars, and late-night spots; The plethora of places to go was one of the main reasons I chose Tulum for my bachelorette party! This is by no means a definitive list of places to party, because we were only able to explore so many during our three-day weekend, but I did a lot of research beforehand, and these were the places I found that I felt were absolute must-do’s. |
If you want to read our Bachelorette Party Itinerary, click here, or if you want to read my Tulum Trip Planning Guide see more here!
Vagalume
This photogenic beach club is one of the first things that pops up on Google when you search Tulum. These famous pool hands were something I made sure we saw during our trip.
We booked a pool day here for Saturday afternoon, and fortunately, the club wasn’t terribly crowded or rowdy when we were there. This was both a pro and a con, but we were a touch hungover from the night before, so it was nice to not have blaring music and tons of people around. I have seen photos and videos on their Instagram when the place gets lit for certain DJs or events.
Instead of craziness, we had ourselves a nice, secluded spot and could get as wild as we wanted without feeling forced. Luckily, we got a covered cabana spot. Our reservations were from 1 - 6 pm, and had we not had a cover, I feel like we would have all been sunburned.
There was also a $150 per person minimum which was not expressed to me when we made the reservation. It was a little hard for us to actually hit that minimum with nine people, but we purchased cocktails, a bottle of champagne, two bottles of Titos, and some food and only went over the tab by $100 total (not including tip)!
The quesadillas were AMAZING. We talked about how good the sauce in them was literally all weekend. Probably one of the better, unexpected places we ate in all of Tulum.
The quesadillas were AMAZING. We talked about how good the sauce in them was literally all weekend. Probably one of the better, unexpected places we ate in all of Tulum.
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Taboo
This place is awesome! I will say it was a bit different than we expected at night. We thought it was going to be a club, but instead, we were seated at a table just like any other restaurant.
The music, though, was fantastic, and there was a live violinist who would play along to the hip-hop music getting everyone up and into their chairs dancing and singing along. It was so much fun especially when they gave us all sparklers!
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I wish we would have also made a daytime reservation here, because this beach club gets WILD based on their social media! They have saxophone players and bottle girls with sparklers lining the pools. If the day club is anything like it is at night, this place is crazy no matter when you go!
Check out their social pages to see what I mean and check out my own TikTok below to see more!
Confessions
For a more traditional club vibe, we found Confessions. This sandy floored club was just what we were looking for – a good house DJ with lots and lots of dancing. We were advised to come here by our bartender at Taboo, and we were very happy to have found it. We stayed here till closing time at 3 am and had an absolute blast.
This is one party place we did not make, but it was on my list and recommended by one of the girls on my trip who had been. It is on the north end of the beach, so it would have required a taxi ride for us to get too. They have lots of concerts and DJs here nearly every night of the week.
Papaya Playa Project
Check out their website, here, to see their schedule of events, hotel room pricing, and to make a reservation for their day club or a table at night.
Photo from GQ Magazine.
Even though it was a super quick weekend, we packed a whole lot in and got an amazing feel for the clubs and bars there. We truly had ourselves a time at my bachelorette party. Read more about Tulum in my “Full Guide to Tulum”, here, or in my itinerary post here!
Read more of my guides from Tulum below:
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| | Tulum, Mexico, is a must visit place for clubs, beaches, and of course, the food. The food scene is as exquisite as one might imagine in such a high-end tourist destination. The location on the water gives way to freshly caught seafood with, of course, an authentic Mexican flare, and there is also a good bit of Asian influence in the town. We found both high-end and inexpensive, hole-in-the-wall places to grub during my bachelorette weekend. Read my “Tulum Bachelorette Itinerary” to see where all we went in the weekend and my “Tulum Planning Guide” for more details on everything here! |
Tseen Ja above Azulik Hotel
| Tseen Ja is a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant serving up sushi, hot stone steaks, and delicious cocktails. This restaurant was the sole reason I wanted to come to Tulum. I cannot deny it. The nests above the jungle are the most picture-perfect tables I had ever seen in my life. This spot put Tulum on my radar based on Instagram alone. This was, by far, the nicest and most expensive meal we ate in Tulum. |  Walking to our nest at Tseen Ja. |
The group before our dinner.
We reserved one of the larger nests which comes at a hefty price of $700, but it was completely worth the price to check this place off my bucket list. We also had a minimum of $150 per person for food and drinks. At the end of the meal, the price for the reservation of the table was taken off the final tab, and we each spent just a bit over our minimum not including tip.
Visit their website or give them a call to reserve a nest!
 Walking up to Tseen Ja, |  Another dining nest in Tseen Ja. |
The inside restaurant at Tseen Ja.
We passed around plate after plate of freshly caught seafood rolls, and I think we tried nearly everything on the menu including the deserts! It was remarkable.
Our favorite things we ate here were the Black Cod Misoyaki and the tempura rolls.
Our favorite things we ate here were the Black Cod Misoyaki and the tempura rolls.
 Our favorite sushi roll. |  Some of the tempura roll. |
See more from our dinner above the trees in my TikTok video below!
Fresco’s
We found that Fresco’s was a great, easy place to grab brunch. Their menu changes weekly or monthly depending on the season and the ingredients they can get, and I loved that! Everything was super fresh and delicious making it a great place to cure a hangover.
Funky Burrito Garden
This alleyway restaurant is crazy! We were the only patrons in the restaurant when we went, and the servers went all out to show us a good time. They brought us round after round of shots, hookahs, and were pulling us onto the bar to dance with them by the end of the meal. It was a dance party with dinner on the side.
The Funky Burrito Garden.
The food wasn’t anything to remember, but the service and experience sure were. The food was inexpensive, the drinks kept flowing, and we all left very happy to have found this funky little place!
Dinner at Funky Burrito Garden.
Casa Malca
Pablo Escobar’s former mansion is now turned into a luxury hotel and restaurant. We had reservations to eat here one night but canceled our plans after having a bit too much to drink during the day.
I was very excited to see this gorgeous estate but wasn’t too bummed when we changed our plans. It is a bit pricey, so it helped us save money by not going!
I was very excited to see this gorgeous estate but wasn’t too bummed when we changed our plans. It is a bit pricey, so it helped us save money by not going!
 Photo from Travel + Leisure. |  Photo from Open Table. |
Casa Jaguar
Another place we didn’t make was Casa Jaguar. A friend said she made reservations at this restaurant months in advance during her trip to Tulum, and it was her favorite place to eat. It looked like a nice, 5-star restaurant under a beautiful, thatched roof, but we just didn’t have time to make it.
Photo from Culture Trip.
All the places we ate were spectacular. Read when and where we ate at each place and about all the things we did in between in my full “Tulum Guide” here!
See more guides to Tulum below:
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 | Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is situated alongside the Colorado River, tucked into the red rock mountainside of the Western Slope of The Rocky Mountains. The town itself is a beautiful, quaint place full of great hiking spots, world class fishing, and the world’s largest mineral hot spring pool! It took me over a dozen trips to Glenwood Springs to learn about this amazing fact. I had visited another nearby hot spring resort Iron Mountain before even learning about Glenwood Hot Springs. |
Glenwood Hot Springs opened its doors back in the 1880’s, but its healing mineral waters were used by the Ute Indians for decades (if not longer) before then. The waters are filled with 15 minerals coming from The Yampa Spring, and The Ute called it “Big Medicine” for its healing qualities.
There are two pools at Glenwood Hot Springs. The larger pool is a 405 by 100-foot pool full with over 4 million gallons of “healing” waters. This pool is a constant 92 degrees, and the smaller "Therapy Pool" is a toasty 104 degrees.
There are two pools at Glenwood Hot Springs. The larger pool is a 405 by 100-foot pool full with over 4 million gallons of “healing” waters. This pool is a constant 92 degrees, and the smaller "Therapy Pool" is a toasty 104 degrees.
 The larger exercise pool. |  The smaller, and hotter, "Therapy Pool". |
Location: 401 N River St, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Glenwood Springs is located about 3.5 hours from Denver, Colorado, just off of I-70. Glenwood Hot Springs is located at the edge of town alongside the Colorado River near The Hotel Colorado. It is an easy walk or drive from downtown.
Glenwood Springs is located about 3.5 hours from Denver, Colorado, just off of I-70. Glenwood Hot Springs is located at the edge of town alongside the Colorado River near The Hotel Colorado. It is an easy walk or drive from downtown.
Looking down from the walking bridge to town.
Price: $29 for the day
Passes can be purchased at the counter or online before arrival. The passes are good for the entire day, and you can come and go as you please during their hours of operation (9am-9pm). There are also gazebos and towels available for rent. Each day pass also comes with its own locker to store your clothing and other items.
There are also packages available from Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort, and with Glenwood Adventure Park. Check those out here:
https://www.hotspringspool.com/specials-packages#packages-pool
Passes can be purchased at the counter or online before arrival. The passes are good for the entire day, and you can come and go as you please during their hours of operation (9am-9pm). There are also gazebos and towels available for rent. Each day pass also comes with its own locker to store your clothing and other items.
There are also packages available from Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort, and with Glenwood Adventure Park. Check those out here:
https://www.hotspringspool.com/specials-packages#packages-pool
Outside The Spa and Athletic Club areas.
Amenities:
Glenwood Hot Springs is also known as “The Athletic Club of The Rockies”, and there is a gym with workout classes available. The gym access is an additional charge but includes access to the pools as well.
Glenwood Hot Springs is also family friendly and has slides and a splash pool available during the summer season. (When I went in November, these were closed).
There is also a lodge on site with a variety of rooms. When you book a night’s stay you gain access to the pools free of charge! Although I have not stayed here yet, if you plan a vacation to Glenwood Springs, I suggest considering the lodge as a place to stay, so you can have free and unlimited access during your trip!
Glenwood Hot Springs is also known as “The Athletic Club of The Rockies”, and there is a gym with workout classes available. The gym access is an additional charge but includes access to the pools as well.
Glenwood Hot Springs is also family friendly and has slides and a splash pool available during the summer season. (When I went in November, these were closed).
There is also a lodge on site with a variety of rooms. When you book a night’s stay you gain access to the pools free of charge! Although I have not stayed here yet, if you plan a vacation to Glenwood Springs, I suggest considering the lodge as a place to stay, so you can have free and unlimited access during your trip!
A view of the entire facilities from my drone.
Glenwood Hot Spring vs. Iron Mountain Hot Spring vs. Yampah Spa Vapor Caves
There are actually three different hot spring locations in Glenwood Springs, and each is distinctly unique:
There are actually three different hot spring locations in Glenwood Springs, and each is distinctly unique:
- Glenwood Hot Springs boasts the largest pool in the world and is used more for its “healing” properties in conjunction with its athletic club.
- Iron Mountain has 16 different pools ranging in size and temperature. It is also right along the river, so you can take a cold plunge if you dare!
- Yampah Spa’s caves are located inside the mountain and can only be used for 10-12 minutes at a time. The caves have 125 degree water pumped through three rooms and provide a sauna-like experience.
 Iron Mountain Hot Spring. |  More from Iron Mountain. |
Plan a trip to Glenwood Springs and visit each of these different spas and hot springs to experience their different qualities and minerals and leave town the most relaxed you have ever been in your life.
There is something in the water in Glenwood Springs, and it is magical!
There is something in the water in Glenwood Springs, and it is magical!
Learn about more places to visit around Colorado below:
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 | Telluride, Colorado, is a picturesque town located in the valley of the San Juan Mountains, but it is an expensive place to visit. It’s probably one of the most “boujee” places in Colorado. Hotels can range from $300-500 during an off weekend with Airbnb’s few and far between. |
However, I found a very nice, relatively cheap place to stay just outside of town. See more in my video below!
I had never stayed in a hostel before December 2022, but after this great stay, I plan to come back to this one and try more in the future.
Staying in a room with strangers in a dorm-styled room has never really appealed to me and, quite frankly, scared me. That is, until I went to Telluride and hotel rooms were over $400 for just one night and my only other option was to sleep in the car. Staying in a dorm-styled room seemed safer and much warmer than the backseat of my Jeep.
Staying in a room with strangers in a dorm-styled room has never really appealed to me and, quite frankly, scared me. That is, until I went to Telluride and hotel rooms were over $400 for just one night and my only other option was to sleep in the car. Staying in a dorm-styled room seemed safer and much warmer than the backseat of my Jeep.
That’s when I found The Bivvi Hostel. With beds starting at $55 and private rooms at $150, it was a deal I couldn’t pass up!
As I mentioned, staying in a hostel always kind of scared me. I was worried about who might be in a room with me, having things stolen, and overall cleanliness, but Hostel Bivvi completely blew me away.
I chose to stay in their cheapest option, which was a 6-person room with bunk beds. Each bed came with its own locker, ear plugs, towels, and was just as nice as any hotel I have visited.
I chose to stay in their cheapest option, which was a 6-person room with bunk beds. Each bed came with its own locker, ear plugs, towels, and was just as nice as any hotel I have visited.
The Hostel Bivvi was incredible!
I ended up only having one roommate who was super nice and polite during my single night stay, and very quiet when she left early the next morning while I was sleeping. She had actually stayed in the same room the weekend before too. She said she absolutely cannot get enough of the place when she comes to ski Telluride!
Then, all the people I met in the lobby at breakfast were super nice too. The staff was also helpful by answering my questions and giving me a tour for my videos.
Then, all the people I met in the lobby at breakfast were super nice too. The staff was also helpful by answering my questions and giving me a tour for my videos.
Compared to the other places in Telluride, The Hostel Bivvi was by far the best option. I would recommend it for anyone traveling to Telluride especially if you are solo. The people here will make you feel welcomed and safe.
I will say that the short 15-minute drive out of town wasn’t the most convenient especially if it’s snowing late at night. The other pros completely outweigh this one con.
Book your own night at The Hostel Bivvi here:
I will say that the short 15-minute drive out of town wasn’t the most convenient especially if it’s snowing late at night. The other pros completely outweigh this one con.
Book your own night at The Hostel Bivvi here:
See more from my entire weekend skiing in Telluride:
Watch more from other trips to Telluride, here:
 | Imagine leisurely floating down a massive river on beautiful, blue-sky, sunny days through tall, sharp, red, steep canyon walls all around you. Now imagine this without having to do any paddling or cooking for four days. That is what Dinosaur River Expeditions provides on their Gates of Lodore white-water rafting trip down The Green River through Dinosaur National Monument. |
Dinosaur River Expeditions blew my expectations out of the water (pun intended) on my first ever white-water rafting trip.
Visiting Dinosaur National Monument had been on my Colorado Bucket List for years and visiting by river is one of the best ways to see The Monument.
The entire Dinosaur National Monument is 210,000 acres. The Green River and its tributary waters encompass 58 miles of the monument with a majority of that being inaccessible by roads and barely by foot. Dinosaur National Monument also includes The Yampa River which converges with The Green River to make up for the rest of the park.
The entire Dinosaur National Monument is 210,000 acres. The Green River and its tributary waters encompass 58 miles of the monument with a majority of that being inaccessible by roads and barely by foot. Dinosaur National Monument also includes The Yampa River which converges with The Green River to make up for the rest of the park.
The waters inside the monument are highly protected. I was unbelievably lucky to have been able to join a chartered expedition. Only a handful of groups can be on the river each day.
Two chartered and one private expedition can launch on The Green River per day, and only one private and one charter expedition can launch on The Yampa River daily. These restrictions keep the landscape in the monument beautiful, clean, and wild.
Check out the Dinosaur River Expeditions website to learn more about all of their trips through The Green River, Yampa River, and Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
There are other companies allowed to go through Dinosaur National Monument, but Dinosaur River Expeditions is the only locally owned operator!
There are other companies allowed to go through Dinosaur National Monument, but Dinosaur River Expeditions is the only locally owned operator!
This was my first guided river trip ever, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect or pack before we left. After going through Dinosaur River Expeditions online checklist, I felt well-prepared.
After the trip, there were a few things I really wish I had packed including:
After the trip, there were a few things I really wish I had packed including:
- Another pair of pants - I cannot stress the importance of sun protection while on the water enough. There is nothing worse than getting sunburnt one day and having to endure additional days in the sun. I brought one pair of quick dry capris with me and wore them nearly every day. I wish I had brought one more pair so that when they got sandy, I could put on a fresh pair.
- A jacket -Nights and early mornings inside the canyon were pretty chilly. I wish I had brought a jacket to sit around the fire at night and to eat breakfast in the morning.
- Extra pairs of clothes - I was so used to packing for my normal backpacking trips that I didn’t realize I could have brought multiple pairs of clothes like pajamas or t-shirts. When my clothes got soaked one night, it would have been nice to have had dry clothes to change into!
- Fun things to keep you entertained at night - The guides did a great job providing activities especially for the kids including bocce ball, costumes, and a homemade water slide. I wish I had brought more books and my journal. There was a lot of peaceful downtime that I spent fishing and photographing, but I still had plenty of leftover time I could have spent reading or writing.
- Headlamp - This is needed for going to the bathroom at night. There is a specific toilet system they ask you to use, and it can be hard to find in the dark.
- Solar charger - If you have one, I recommend it along with battery banks. You will want to take lots of pictures and videos on the trip, and I was super glad to have brought mine, but I kept it in my overnight bag, so it was useless during the day. I should’ve kept it on the boat with me to charge my things during the day!
- Booked a hotel for the arrival night - This isn’t something I wish I packed, but after the long, hot days on the water, the last thing I wanted to do was camp after the expedition. I was lucky to get a room at The Dinosaur Inn between the Fourth of July and the rodeo arriving the next weekend!
Other than clothes and personal items, the only other thing we had to pack were our tents. It was as easy as that! Everything else like food, water, and chairs were all covered by Dinosaur River Expeditions.
It was a luxurious trip to have every meal cooked and guides rowing me down the river, except we were all pretty dirty by the end of the trip! That being said, to be so well taken care of did feel like pampering.
It was a luxurious trip to have every meal cooked and guides rowing me down the river, except we were all pretty dirty by the end of the trip! That being said, to be so well taken care of did feel like pampering.
The entire four-day trip is documented in my video below! Watch it to see just how gorgeous this national monument is.
Here was our itinerary for our four days on The Green River:
Pre-Trip – Dinosaur River Expeditions Office
The night before we left for our trip, we all met for the first time at Dinosaur River Expeditions’s office in Vernal, Utah. We went over safety procedures, general guidelines and information, then received our dry bags.
We each received an overnight bag to hold our clothes and other things along with a day bag for personal items to keep near us on the boat.
After we all asked questions and met the guides; the owners, Jen and Tyler; and all the other rafters, we were dismissed to go pack up and get a good night’s rest before meeting early the next morning.
The night before we left for our trip, we all met for the first time at Dinosaur River Expeditions’s office in Vernal, Utah. We went over safety procedures, general guidelines and information, then received our dry bags.
We each received an overnight bag to hold our clothes and other things along with a day bag for personal items to keep near us on the boat.
After we all asked questions and met the guides; the owners, Jen and Tyler; and all the other rafters, we were dismissed to go pack up and get a good night’s rest before meeting early the next morning.
Day One – The Gates of Lodore
Before we hit the water, we met at The Dinosaur Inn to load our bags and tents into the vans around 7 a.m. Once we were all in the vans, we rode nearly two and a half hours from Vernal, Utah, to The Gates of Lodore.
Before we hit the water, we met at The Dinosaur Inn to load our bags and tents into the vans around 7 a.m. Once we were all in the vans, we rode nearly two and a half hours from Vernal, Utah, to The Gates of Lodore.
Arriving at the Gates of Lodore put in.
When we arrived, the guides were already there with the boats and waiting to load them with our gear. It was a quick process, and before I knew it, we were pushing off!
Our guides rowed for only a few minutes, and we were entering The Gates of Lodore. It felt like we were entering into another world when we crossed through “The Gates”. The landscape changed from an open beach area to a narrow, steep red-rock canyon that dwarfed us.
Our guides rowed for only a few minutes, and we were entering The Gates of Lodore. It felt like we were entering into another world when we crossed through “The Gates”. The landscape changed from an open beach area to a narrow, steep red-rock canyon that dwarfed us.
The Gates of Lodore from The Green River.
The first half of the day was nice and smooth before we stopped for lunch at Winnie’s Grotto. We took a quick hike into the canyon while the guides prepared our first lunch. After a lunch of taco salad wraps, we hopped back into the boats, but not for long before we stopped to scope out Disaster Falls.
Lunch at Winnies Grotto!
Disaster Falls was named during the famous John Wesley Powell expeditions. They crashed their boats here and only saved a barrel of whiskey. When we made it past the falls safely, we arrived at Whiskey Beach where our guides aptly had a bottle of whiskey waiting for us! It wasn’t long until we set up camp at Pot Creek. The guides prepared dinner for us and set up a nice little bonfire in the middle of our circle of chairs.
Scoping out Disaster Falls.
| That night, we went to bed with stars overhead, but that quickly changed around 2 a.m. when the bottom dropped out of the sky, and a lightning and thunderstorm broke out. Several of us had our rain flies off our tents, and I learned the next morning that everyone had just as disastrous of a night as I had. Tents were flying all over the place, and people’s gear was now soaking wet. We all survived and had some fun stories to tell, but we all learned a lesson and slept with our rain flies on our tents for the rest of the trip. |  Campsite #1, learned to put the rain fly on every night after this one. |
Day Two – Hell’s Half Mile and Triplet Falls
It was the Fourth of July, and all of us were cheerful and chipper despite the lack of sleep during the storm the night before. After the guides cooked our breakfast of French toast and sausage, we packed away our soaking wet gear and right away started the day on the water with some rapids.
It was the Fourth of July, and all of us were cheerful and chipper despite the lack of sleep during the storm the night before. After the guides cooked our breakfast of French toast and sausage, we packed away our soaking wet gear and right away started the day on the water with some rapids.
Happy Fourth of July!
First up was Harp Falls and then Triplet Falls before Hell’s Half Mile. This was our most eventful day on the water with all of these rapids coming back to back to back with stopping and scoping the river required for Triplet Falls and Hell’s Half Mile.
All the guides successfully navigated the falls, and we stopped for a nice sandwich lunch when it was all over. We didn’t have a far float to our campsite after lunch, so I hopped in a “ducky” inflatable kayak for the rest of the day.
All the guides successfully navigated the falls, and we stopped for a nice sandwich lunch when it was all over. We didn’t have a far float to our campsite after lunch, so I hopped in a “ducky” inflatable kayak for the rest of the day.
The inflatable kayaks they call "duckies" because they follow along behind all the big boats!
We set up camp and dried our things before dinner and the Fourth of July festivities. Our guides brought hair coloring, leis, costumes, and glow sticks to get us in the mood for Independence Day. They even put on a “fireworks” show at the end of the night by throwing glow sticks and banging mats on the ground to imitate a real show. It was a great way to end the very silly night.
 Ben coloring peoples hair. |  Fourth of July patriotism. |
Day Three – Echo Park
We awoke to the daily yelling of, “Coffee!” by the guides and a delicious breakfast of bacon and eggs. We had all slept much better than the first night, so we packed things up a bit earlier.
We awoke to the daily yelling of, “Coffee!” by the guides and a delicious breakfast of bacon and eggs. We had all slept much better than the first night, so we packed things up a bit earlier.
Breakfast.
It was a much calmer day on the river compared to the first two in terms of rapids, but geologically, the scenery was the most dramatic on the third day; We passed through some of the most famous parts of Dinosaur National Monument.
 These are different layers of formations on top of each other. Millions of years old rocks. |  Mitten Park as seen from The Green River. |
Echo Park and Steamboat Rock are near the convergence of The Green and Yampa Rivers. Echo Park is named for a massive rock wall that when yelled at can echo over a dozen times. That day, we only heard three echoes, and the guides said timing is everything here!
Steamboat Rock at the confluence of The Green and Yampa Rivers.
Next, we went through Whirlpool Canyon before stopping for lunch and a hike at Jones Hole. This beautiful stream comes from a fish hatchery above the canyon walls, so some of us opted out of the hike to do some fishing. We didn’t have any luck, and I regretted missing out on things like “Butt Plug Falls” and some ancient petroglyphs.
Jones Hole - I stayed to fish while the group went on a hike.
| We went just a bit further downstream to set up camp. This campsite was the windiest place I’ve ever been! Even the folks from Chicago were complaining, and they’re from “the windy city”! | |
We had a pretty gritty dinner with the wind blowing sand all over our plates and the cooking area, but the guides lifted our spirits by building a water slide out of one of the boats being flipped upside down. Another group of guests took it upon themselves to put on a shadow puppet show against the canyon walls, and we all had a great laugh before getting into our tents.
Day Four – Split Mountain
The final day of the expedition was bittersweet. Many of the kids on the trip couldn’t wait to get home, shower, and sleep in their own beds, while some of us - myself included - wished the trip never had to end. As we sat around and ate our pancake breakfast, we all reminisced on how sweet the trip had been and how much we cherished each other’s company.
The final day of the expedition was bittersweet. Many of the kids on the trip couldn’t wait to get home, shower, and sleep in their own beds, while some of us - myself included - wished the trip never had to end. As we sat around and ate our pancake breakfast, we all reminisced on how sweet the trip had been and how much we cherished each other’s company.
Sunrise from our last campsite.
We had a very easy day boating through Island Park. The water was almost lake-like in its stillness, and there were no rapids at all. Our guides actually had to work the hardest here to push us through. Island Park was the hottest, and frankly most annoying part of the entire trip.
We circled back into Split Mountain, and because of the open landscape with still water, the biting bugs and mosquitoes were out in full force. We were here midday, so the sun was also beating down. Luckily, this section didn’t last too long, and we were back between the walls of the canyons for lunch.
We circled back into Split Mountain, and because of the open landscape with still water, the biting bugs and mosquitoes were out in full force. We were here midday, so the sun was also beating down. Luckily, this section didn’t last too long, and we were back between the walls of the canyons for lunch.
After our last meal on the water of Caesar salad wraps, we played a fun game of “Yee-Haw” - a game that requires people to memorize moves to throw at their neighbors in hopes to get them out. After a sweet, young girl won the game with her great impersonation of a pumpkin, we hopped back into the rafts one last time for the final stretch.
Split Mountain was a gorgeous final area. The swirly mountains surrounded either side of the river appearing to have opened up for the water to pass through. I sat in awe knowing this was the last view I would see from the river.
Split Mountain was a gorgeous final area. The swirly mountains surrounded either side of the river appearing to have opened up for the water to pass through. I sat in awe knowing this was the last view I would see from the river.
Back into Split Mountain!
The exit off the boat was just as quick as our entrance. Once we docked, we quickly grabbed our belongings and loaded them into the vans. Just like that, we were back where we started!
We rode back to The Dino Inn and unloaded the dry bags into our respective vehicles. It all happened so fast that it felt like a big slap in the face by reality, but once we said our final goodbyes, it hit me how truly incredible this trip had been.
We rode back to The Dino Inn and unloaded the dry bags into our respective vehicles. It all happened so fast that it felt like a big slap in the face by reality, but once we said our final goodbyes, it hit me how truly incredible this trip had been.
I could never say enough great things about Dinosaur National Monument, Dinosaur River Expeditions, the guides, the other guests, or the overall experience I had during this four-day white-water rafting trip. It was truly remarkable.
Book your own adventure with Dinosaur River Expeditions, here!
After I finally came down from the clouds and reality truly did set back in, I spent the next few days exploring around Dinosaur National Monument and the Vernal, Utah area.
Read more about that entire solo road trip in my blog posts here!
Read more about that entire solo road trip in my blog posts here!
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 | Dinosaur National Monument encompasses 210,000 acres of protected lands across Colorado and Utah. The monument is aptly named for the concentration of dinosaur bones found near the convergence of the Yampa and Green Rivers, but the name doesn’t fully capture the glory of the entire sanctuary. I left Dinosaur National Monument absolutely blown away by the beautiful scenery and the fascinating things I learned. It surpassed anything I ever expected of this national monument. |
Dinosaur National Monument is one of the lesser-visited areas in Colorado because of its remote nature, and most peoples’ common misconception is that there is nothing to do or see in the surrounding area. They’re really missing out!
There was so much to do around this area of Colorado and Utah called “Dinosaurland” that I ended up spending an entire week exploring!
There was so much to do around this area of Colorado and Utah called “Dinosaurland” that I ended up spending an entire week exploring!
You can read about my entire week-long road trip here and see more in my YouTube video below:
After I spent four days and three nights inside the monument on The Green River with Dinosaur River Expeditions, I finally went back into Dinosaur National Monument to see the bones, petroglyphs, and all the viewpoints I had seen from the river.
| Rafting The Green River with Dinosaur River Expeditions. |  Dinosaur River Expedition's guides rowing us down The Green River at Mitten Park. |
Note that it costs $25 to enter the park, or you can purchase an annual National Park pass for $80. I recommend the annual pass so you can spend multiple days in the park. Three visits, and it pays for itself. Throw in some other national parks and protected areas, and you’re covered!
The Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall
From Vernal, Utah, the first place I went in Dinosaur National Monument was the famous “Wall of Bones” at the Quarry Exhibit Hall. I arrived at the visitors’ center and walked around for a good bit learning about the geologic makeup of the park and the bone quarry.
The 3-D map of Dinosaur National Monument inside the visitors center.
A shuttle leaves from the visitors’ center to the quarry every 15 minutes. There is also a hike that leads to it, but I opted for the free ride.
The dinosaur bones were discovered here in 1908. After 20 years of excavating, the exhibit hall was built, and no bones have been removed in decades. The wall of bones is bigger than I imagined. It is massive! It’s over 800 feet long with hundreds of bones inside including 20 complete skeletons.
The dinosaur bones were discovered here in 1908. After 20 years of excavating, the exhibit hall was built, and no bones have been removed in decades. The wall of bones is bigger than I imagined. It is massive! It’s over 800 feet long with hundreds of bones inside including 20 complete skeletons.
Fossils inside the "wall of bones", discovered back in 1908.
It is remarkable to behold. I probably spent over an hour - maybe closer to two - reading every detail and observing the wall as much as I could.
See more from “The Wall of Bones” in my video below:
When I left the quarry exhibit hall, I grabbed a pamphlet for a self-guided auto tour up Cub Creek Road (the main road in this portion of the monument).
Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs
The first stop on the auto tour was called The Swelter Shelter. This stop was a quick walk to a wall full of petroglyphs which are ancient rock carvings.
The first stop on the auto tour was called The Swelter Shelter. This stop was a quick walk to a wall full of petroglyphs which are ancient rock carvings.
Petroglyphs at the Swelter Shelter
Split Mountain
The next few viewpoints were of Split Mountain, the wild, tilted rocks along the edge of the skyline. Split Mountain is called so because The Green River splits it and divides the mountain in two.
It’s a geologically fascinating formation to learn about. You can read more on the NPS website here!
The next few viewpoints were of Split Mountain, the wild, tilted rocks along the edge of the skyline. Split Mountain is called so because The Green River splits it and divides the mountain in two.
It’s a geologically fascinating formation to learn about. You can read more on the NPS website here!
Split Mountain viewed from the road.
Turtle Rock & Elephant Toes Butte
The next stop was Turtle Rock, a precious rock formation named for its shape. Right up the road from it was Elephant Toes Butte, another cute rock formation easily seen from the side of the road.
The next stop was Turtle Rock, a precious rock formation named for its shape. Right up the road from it was Elephant Toes Butte, another cute rock formation easily seen from the side of the road.
 Turtle Rock. |  Elephant Toes Butte. |
Lizard Petroglyph
The Lizard Petroglyphs can also be seen from the road with a pair of binoculars or a zoom lens, but I suggest walking up the steep path to the top. There are so many more petroglyphs than just the lizards! Plus, the views of Split Mountain around the corner are stunning. It’s steep and strenuous but well worth the walk.
The Lizard Petroglyphs can also be seen from the road with a pair of binoculars or a zoom lens, but I suggest walking up the steep path to the top. There are so many more petroglyphs than just the lizards! Plus, the views of Split Mountain around the corner are stunning. It’s steep and strenuous but well worth the walk.
 AN interesting flute character petroglyph near The Lizards. |  The famous Lizard Petroglyphs. |
Views of Split Mountain from The Lizard Petroglyphs.
Josie Morris Ranch
The last stop on the Utah side of the auto tour was Josie Morris’s Ranch. She built the cabin in the early 1920’s and lived there until her death in the 60’s. She was an incredible pioneer woman who outlived five of her husbands. She might have been a cattle thief with the outlaw Butch Cassidy, but she was never charged.
The last stop on the Utah side of the auto tour was Josie Morris’s Ranch. She built the cabin in the early 1920’s and lived there until her death in the 60’s. She was an incredible pioneer woman who outlived five of her husbands. She might have been a cattle thief with the outlaw Butch Cassidy, but she was never charged.
The Josie Morris Cabin.
See more from the cabin she built around minute 6:25 of my “One Day in Dinosaur National Monument” video below:
Entering into Colorado:
For touring the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument, I downloaded The National Park Service’s App and followed a guided audio tour through my car’s stereo system.
You can download The NPS App here!
You can download The NPS App here!
Canyon Visitors Center
My first stop on the Colorado side was the other visitors’ center. It was nowhere near as impressive as The Quarry Exhibit and “The Wall of Bones”. It was still very informative and provided great information about the park.
My first stop on the Colorado side was the other visitors’ center. It was nowhere near as impressive as The Quarry Exhibit and “The Wall of Bones”. It was still very informative and provided great information about the park.
The Colorado visitor center.
Overlooks
This side of the park is essentially just scenic overlooks that have some long trails. I pretty much just pulled over for a few minutes at each to learn about the geology, see the views, and snap a few pictures.
I drove north stopping at Escalante, Canyon, Island Park, and Echo Park overlooks.
This side of the park is essentially just scenic overlooks that have some long trails. I pretty much just pulled over for a few minutes at each to learn about the geology, see the views, and snap a few pictures.
I drove north stopping at Escalante, Canyon, Island Park, and Echo Park overlooks.
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| If you have time and the proper vehicle, I recommend driving down to Echo Park. Steamboat rock is a beautiful formation. I saw it from the river and didn’t find it necessary to drive down to it, but it's a remarkable sight. | Steamboat Rock at Echo Park from The Green River. |
Harpers Corner
I saved the best for last with Harpers Corner. It is the pinnacle point on the auto tour of the aptly named “Harpers Corner Road”, and it leads to some of the most beautiful viewpoints in the preserve.
I saved the best for last with Harpers Corner. It is the pinnacle point on the auto tour of the aptly named “Harpers Corner Road”, and it leads to some of the most beautiful viewpoints in the preserve.
From Harpers Corner, you can look back into time and see millions of years of formations twisting and swirling before your eyes. I say in my video that it is more beautiful than the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, and I stand by that. The scenery is truly unlike anything else I have ever seen.
I was so lucky to have been up there alone, because I got emotional. To look at something so truly unique and fascinating was absolutely surreal. I had to pull myself away from the view as the sun started to set and ended my week-long road trip at the top of Harpers Corner Trail.
I could never recommend strongly enough for people to take the time, go out of their way, and step back in time at Dinosaur National Monument. You’ll view, what is in my opinion, our country’s greatest scenery.
See more from my entire week long road trip through "Dinosaurland" Utah and Colorado below:
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 | Unknown, mysterious, and ancient things fascinate me. When I learned that Vernal, Utah, was home to some of the largest collections of petroglyphs, ancient Native American rock carvings, I rescheduled my entire road trip to see the gallery. Nine Mile Canyon is actually a 40-mile-long canyon full of petroglyphs. I spent an entire day searching for these ancient rock drawings and carvings. It was unreal how many were littered across the rock faces. |
You can read more about the other things I did on my road trip around Vernal, Utah, and Dinosaur National Monument in my blog post here!
I drove south from Vernal through Myton, but you can also drive north from Price; the later route is a touch easier because of the mile markers. I followed this guide created by Road Trip Ryan to help me locate dozens of petroglyph sites.
Read the guide I followed through Nine Mile Canyon here!
Read the guide I followed through Nine Mile Canyon here!
Here are the petroglyphs I found listed with their nearest mile marker:
The Great Hunt - 46.3
I started on the east side and worked my way west. The first petroglyph I found was The Great Hunt. I put this into Google Maps and found the parking lot well-marked with a sign.
There was a nice, short trail that led right to the art. This panel was very well-kept and preserved, and I walked around as much as I could. It was a great piece to start!
There was a nice, short trail that led right to the art. This panel was very well-kept and preserved, and I walked around as much as I could. It was a great piece to start!
The Great Hunt at mile marker 46.3
Big/Pregnant Buffalo - 46.0
Another easy piece to find was the large buffalo. This was marked with a sign and another short walk led me right to it.
 ​The parking sign for the Big Buffalo at mile marker 46.0 |  The Big Buffalo. |
Daddy Canyon - 44.15
This BLM site was full of art - both petroglyphs and pictographs. (Petroglyphs are carved into the rock walls while pictographs are painted using dyes and paint). This area has many more petroglyphs than pictographs, but if you walk around and look hard enough at Daddy Canyon, you will find both along the trail and down in the wash.
This BLM site was full of art - both petroglyphs and pictographs. (Petroglyphs are carved into the rock walls while pictographs are painted using dyes and paint). This area has many more petroglyphs than pictographs, but if you walk around and look hard enough at Daddy Canyon, you will find both along the trail and down in the wash.
 One of the petroglyphs in Daddy Canyon. |  Pictographs in Daddy Canyon. |
A panel of pictographs in Daddy Canyon.
Rassmussen’s Cave - 44
This formation has a tragic story. The owner was tired of people trespassing to view it, so he hired some boys to paint “No Trespassing” in the cave. He apparently didn’t give them clear directions, and the boys stenciled the words right on top of the petroglyph. It is such a shame.
This formation has a tragic story. The owner was tired of people trespassing to view it, so he hired some boys to paint “No Trespassing” in the cave. He apparently didn’t give them clear directions, and the boys stenciled the words right on top of the petroglyph. It is such a shame.
Rassmussen's Cave at mile marker 44.
Across from Nutters Corral - 39.3
At this point, the petroglyphs started to be difficult to find. Many required steep hikes including this one right across from Nutters Corral and after the oil well if you are driving east.
I flew my drone up to this location before hiking up to see it. I wanted to make sure it was worth it, and it sure was!
At this point, the petroglyphs started to be difficult to find. Many required steep hikes including this one right across from Nutters Corral and after the oil well if you are driving east.
I flew my drone up to this location before hiking up to see it. I wanted to make sure it was worth it, and it sure was!
I flew my drone up to this panel across from Nutters Corral at mile marker 39.3
At The Cattle Guard - 38.8
Park at the cattle guard and go over it if you are traveling east. Look up, and start hiking. This was another spot where I flew my drone to survey before actually hiking. Once again, it was worth the short, steep scramble up to the petroglyphs.
Park at the cattle guard and go over it if you are traveling east. Look up, and start hiking. This was another spot where I flew my drone to survey before actually hiking. Once again, it was worth the short, steep scramble up to the petroglyphs.
The petroglyphs above the cattle guard at mile marker 38.8
Pictographs - 37.2
There is a nice panel of pictographs at this location. Like I said, pictographs are not as common in the canyon as the petroglyphs, so this is a good one to visit. A short, easy trail takes you to it.
There is a nice panel of pictographs at this location. Like I said, pictographs are not as common in the canyon as the petroglyphs, so this is a good one to visit. A short, easy trail takes you to it.
The pictographs below the petroglyphs at mile marker 37.2
The Big Crocodile - 35.9
I flew my drone up to this spot as well. The hike up was short, steep, and rocky, and I was tired of walking around in the heat. It was very cool to look at, and I wish I had walked up, but when there were hundreds of other places to see, I had to start picking and choosing.
I flew my drone up to this spot as well. The hike up was short, steep, and rocky, and I was tired of walking around in the heat. It was very cool to look at, and I wish I had walked up, but when there were hundreds of other places to see, I had to start picking and choosing.
The Long Line with The Weird Hand - 35.5
This took a short, steep hike to get to like many of the other unnamed locations, but it led to a very interesting formation with a very long line carved across multiple rock faces. It was one of the most intriguing pieces.
This took a short, steep hike to get to like many of the other unnamed locations, but it led to a very interesting formation with a very long line carved across multiple rock faces. It was one of the most intriguing pieces.
The Snake - 35.2
This panel included a huge snake on one side that continued around to many other rocks. It was easy to find after a short hike up to the canyon wall.
This panel included a huge snake on one side that continued around to many other rocks. It was easy to find after a short hike up to the canyon wall.
The Owl Panel - 35
This was the last named parking lot area where I stopped. It was very easy to walk from the car and follow the path to the panel. There are petroglyphs on every single face of the rocks, so I encourage walking around and viewing more than just the Owl Panel!
This was the last named parking lot area where I stopped. It was very easy to walk from the car and follow the path to the panel. There are petroglyphs on every single face of the rocks, so I encourage walking around and viewing more than just the Owl Panel!
Harmon Junction
At Harmon Junction, I just viewed the art from my car. I used binoculars and my camera’s zoom to see the panel from the comfort of the air conditioning. I did this at several of the next locations, but none were anything spectacular, so I didn't photograph them.
At Harmon Junction, I just viewed the art from my car. I used binoculars and my camera’s zoom to see the panel from the comfort of the air conditioning. I did this at several of the next locations, but none were anything spectacular, so I didn't photograph them.
Balanced Rock - 32.475
This was the very last area I visited on my self-guided tour. There are petroglyphs on either side of balanced rock. I parked on one side of the rock and walked to the other. These were some of the more weird images. One looked like someone getting sucked in a portal, and the other looked like a character from the 90’s tv show, “The Real Monsters”.
This was the very last area I visited on my self-guided tour. There are petroglyphs on either side of balanced rock. I parked on one side of the rock and walked to the other. These were some of the more weird images. One looked like someone getting sucked in a portal, and the other looked like a character from the 90’s tv show, “The Real Monsters”.
I decided, after being weirded out by these pictures, that it was time to go. The sun was beginning to set, and I was exhausted from the exhilarating day of searching for ancient artifacts. This was an incredibly fun day of self-guided exploration, and it was one of my favorite parts of my entire road trip.
See more from the entire day in my video below, and see more from my solo Dinosaurland, Utah, road trip here!
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 | During John and I’s 2022 Memorial Day Weekend road trip, we explored places in Utah we had never been. We went beyond the national parks and managed to avoid crowds on this incredibly busy American holiday. The Cosmic Ashtray was a highly recommended place for us. Not only had I seen it all over Instagram, but our friends had been the summer before and said we absolutely had to go. |
This epic crater is full of finely ground, bright red sand and looks like it’s a scene from another planet. John and I were so excited to get there.
Even though our friends told us about it, it was one of the more difficult places for us to find on our trip.
The first place we messed up was going to the wrong trailhead. Instead of following our All Trails app which had the directions for the trail to follow, I put The Cosmic Ashtray into my Google Maps GPS and it led us to a spot more North of the crater.
Our campsite the night before we set out on the hike.
Luckily, we had cell phone service at this trailhead and were able to look at the map and see there was another path from where we were. Little did we know, there wasn’t much of a trail. Instead, this turned out to be a bit of walking around, up, and over hills, searching for waypoints and our final destination.
The rocks were very smooth and mesmerizing. They were created by a layering process of volcanic rocks piling atop each other for millions of years. We walked among them for miles looking out onto the horizon and hundreds of more miles of rocks. We were baffled by the beauty.
 Towards the beginning of the trail. |  The entire hike followed cool formations like this. |
Fortunately, it was a cloudy day, because the trail is extremely exposed with very few trees on hot, desert rocks. *A word of warning: we brought our dog with us, and we eventually had to put shoes on her, because she got very hot on the way back. She also would not have been able to make it out of the ashtray, so we had to take turns holding her back.*
Maria in her My Busy Pet paw protectors.
We walked for miles constantly checking our maps to make sure our bearing was correct. We didn’t see anyone the entire time we were wandering which was super cool. Finally, after many, many hills, we arrived at the ashtray about two hours after leaving the trailhead.
You can try to follow the same “path” we followed on All Trails here. I recommend downloading the maps and staying LOW at the rock hill bases!
You can try to follow the same “path” we followed on All Trails here. I recommend downloading the maps and staying LOW at the rock hill bases!
When we walked up to the rim of the ashtray, we were welcomed with faces full of sand. Big gusts of wind started shooting sand up at us and pelting us in the face but, boy, was the sight unbelievable.
Our first view of the volcano!
The crater is gigantic. We had no idea when we walked over the final ridge that we were on the edge of the rim. Then, as we walked over and braced ourselves against the wind, we looked over the rim down onto the pit of bright orange sand. We walked around the rim and meandered our way down into the actual pit itself.
It felt as if we were in an otherworldly place.
We took turns using the hand holds down onto the sand and running and kicking around in the sand dune. We, of course, got up close and personal with the rock inside the dune, but didn’t stay long because the sand was still relentlessly whirling around.
Running from the sand storm.
We took pictures and videos, but sadly couldn’t fly our drone because of the wind. We withstood as much as we could of the sand hitting us before we started making the journey back.
We were still in wonder of the beautiful surroundings but quickly hiked back, because it started to get hotter as the afternoon went on. After we made it back to the car, we thought about how freaking cool the ashtray had been, and the fact that it was hard to find made it even cooler. We only saw two other couples while we were there!
We were still in wonder of the beautiful surroundings but quickly hiked back, because it started to get hotter as the afternoon went on. After we made it back to the car, we thought about how freaking cool the ashtray had been, and the fact that it was hard to find made it even cooler. We only saw two other couples while we were there!
All smiles while being pelted in the face with sand.
See more from our entire hike up to The Cosmic Ashtray in my video below!
See more from the rest of our Utah Memorial Day Road Trip!
 | The first place we went on our big Memorial Day Weekend 2022 Utah Road Trip was Hanksville, Utah. Hanksville is a town on the eastern side of Capitol Reef National Park and home to The Bentonite Hills also known as The Blue Hills of Utah. These blue hills are mounds of volcanic ash layered on top of themselves formed millions of years ago. These rainbow-colored domes stick out among the barren desert landscape. |
We arrived in the very small town right before sunset. Initially, we were going to camp somewhere away from the blue hills, but since it was still light out, we decided to scope a spot and set up camp nearby before it got too late.
We drove the crazy long yet decently maintained dirt road up to what we thought would be our destination. We weren’t completely certain what we were looking for or if we were looking in the “best” area.
We put The Mars Desert Research Station into our Google Maps and quickly started exploring.
We put The Mars Desert Research Station into our Google Maps and quickly started exploring.
The road up to the hills was a sandy, rocky, dirt road.
We pulled up to the first spot where we noticed the rainbow-colored hills. There was a car there, so we were hesitant to park and kept driving. We did a bit more driving and searching, actually a lot more driving and scoping, before eventually circling back and parking where the only other car was for miles.
We parked on the opposite side of the bentonite formations and quickly grabbed our camera gear and drone. We were in a bit of a hurry to make it up the hills, because the sun was setting quickly.
We parked on the opposite side of the bentonite formations and quickly grabbed our camera gear and drone. We were in a bit of a hurry to make it up the hills, because the sun was setting quickly.
The best place to put into your GPS is the Mars Desert Research Station. CLICK TO SEE!
We arrived during what photographers call “the blue hours”. An hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset, the blue and purple hues appear more intense on these stratified domes. We arrived just in time. We were able to hike up the hills, send our drone out, and scope out the entire landscape before it got too dark. It was an unbelievable sight.
The view of the blue hills from our drone.
The next morning, we woke up in the pitch black predawn and got ready to catch the “Blue Hour” before sunrise. As soon as the sun broke over the horizon, we sent up the drone. We didn’t think it was possible after reviewing the footage from the night before, but the sunrise videos were much more colorful!
A different side of the bentonite hills.
We spent as long as we could hiking around, staring out over the horizon, and gawking at the magical landscape laid out in front of us. When the sun actually rose over the horizon, we packed up our gear. The sun really washes out the colors of the blue and purple when the reds and oranges are brought out by the warmth of the sun.
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We had so much more to keep exploring on our road trip - and his was just our first stop! See more from our entire road trip around Utah in my blog post and videos here.
 | Palisade, Colorado, is a fertile oasis in The Colorado Plateau, right at the start of Colorado’s Western Slope desert landscape. Palisade sits along the Colorado River where the land is rich from the mix of nutrients in the soil and water. Thanks to this soil and the combination of the hot days and cool nights, Palisade is well known for its produce. |
Palisade is most famous for its peaches, but we came for it's second most popularly produced item - its wine.
To celebrate the town’s history of farming, The Fruit and Wine Byway was created and dedicated to help visitors learn more about the local farms and see where things are grown and purchase goods to help support the local businesses.
The Fruit and Wine Byway is a 25-mile road featuring over 25 wineries/vineyards and nearly 20 farms and farm stands. There are many ways to traverse The Fruit and Wine Byway. You can travel by car, by bike, by segway, or even by horse!
You can read all the ways you can tour through Palisade on The Visit Palisade website here!
We chose to bike just a small portion of the byway June 10th, 2022. Watch our video from the mini-winery tour in my YouTube video below!
Where to Rent Bikes:
| I rented my bike from Rapid Creek Cycles (Palisade Cycle & Shuttle on Google Maps). It was recommended on the Visit Palisade Website, plus our friend was working at the Copeka Coffee Shop right next door, so it made our pick up and drop off very easy! |  Rapid Creek Cycles in downtown Palisade. |
Regular or E-Bike?
When I walked into Rapid Creek Cycles, I was asked if I wanted a standard bike or an electric bike (e-bike). I asked the manager to help me choose, and we looked at the map to determine distance and other things.
My friends all brought their own bikes, and the e-bike would have me going a bit faster than the group, but they were already out at a winery nearly two miles from the cycle shop, so we decided I should get the e-bike to catch up to them as quickly as I could.
My friends all brought their own bikes, and the e-bike would have me going a bit faster than the group, but they were already out at a winery nearly two miles from the cycle shop, so we decided I should get the e-bike to catch up to them as quickly as I could.
Rapid Creek's E-Bikes.
There was a very big price difference. The e-bike cost nearly double for the day, so talk with the sales rep before deciding. Mine was super helpful in recommending the best wineries to stop at too.
Check the Weather Before You Go!
Palisade gets HOT in the summer. The dry, desert landscape frequently reaches above 100 degrees June through August. It is recommended to tour Palisade September through November or March through May.
We went in June, and it was upwards of 90 degrees the day we rode around, so we made sure to carry lots of water and keep hydrated and out of the sun as much as we could.
We went in June, and it was upwards of 90 degrees the day we rode around, so we made sure to carry lots of water and keep hydrated and out of the sun as much as we could.
Riding down the Fruit and Wine Byway!
Route Recommendations:
The Fruit and Wine Byway is 25 miles long, and that is a hefty distance to do on a bike in a day with over 40+ stops. Take a section of the map and try to accomplish everything in one area to save energy and allow yourself to see as much as you can at once.
We chose to do some of the North / Downtown route because of its proximity to the bike rental shop and the campground where we were staying.
North of the River:
The Byway can be divided into two sections: north of the river and south of the river. North of the river includes downtown Palisade and is a more closely grouped collection of taste rooms and farm stands.
South of the River:
The section south of the river is much further spread apart. Down on this side, the byway actually passes by full vineyards and farms. It takes longer to get between them, since you have to go through acres and acres of farmland.
Here is how we spent our day on The Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway!
Red Fox Cellars
Our first stop was at Red Fox Cellars. Strangely, when I met my friends here, they weren’t drinking wine. Instead, they were sipping on a flight on ciders trying flavors from peach, orange creamsicle, cucumber & citrus, to roasted Chile. Each was very interesting. We tried the entire menu of ciders and agreed we liked the orange creamsicle and peach the best.
 The outside of Red Fox Cellars. |  My orange creamsicle ciders on the bar. |
Maison La Belle Vie
| The next stop was right down the road at Maison La Belle Vie. We were super excited when we arrived at this winery, because it had food and frozen wine. We quickly grabbed the large table inside and soaked in the air conditioning before sucking down some “frozé” or frozen rosé. The views from this winery were beautiful. It has small grape vines in the back you could see through the windows and from the patio. It was stunning with the big, bright mesa behind it. |  The entrance to Maison La Belle Vie. |
We ordered sandwiches, sausage and cheese platters, and lots of drinks. See their menu and lists of wines on their website here!
 The view in Maison La Belle Vie. |  My peach slushy, sausage, and pretzels. |
Carboy Winery
 Carboy Winer at Mount Garfield Estate. | Our favorite stop was Carboy Winery at Mount Garfield Estate. It was absolutely gorgeous with its views and had so much space that it was easy for us to spread out inside and outside to enjoy their delicious drinks and food. |
Again, we ordered some frozen drinks. This time, we ordered a peach flavor mixed with sangria, and some others tried their Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc.
View their menu, beautiful tasting room space, and their Airbnb property on their website here!
View their menu, beautiful tasting room space, and their Airbnb property on their website here!
 The upstairs sitting area at Carboy Winery.  Another view of the upstairs area at Carboy. |  My frozen peach and sangria mixed drink. |
Palisade Brewing Company
For our next stop, we were trying to go to The Ordinary Fellow but ended up on the wrong side of the fence and went inside Palisade Brewing Company instead.
Their menu was full of different IPAs, lagers, and blondes. Check out their rotating menu here!
Their menu was full of different IPAs, lagers, and blondes. Check out their rotating menu here!
Inside Palisade Brewing Company.
Little did we know, Palisade Brewing Company would be our last stop. It seems that the switch of alcohol types might not have been the best idea and made us a bit sleepy. We talked about a few more places but sadly never made it anywhere after our beers.
Here are the other places we had on our list to visit:
Colterris Winery
This was recommended to us multiple times as having the best views in Palisade. It was on the other side of town right along the river, but we didn’t make it that far east.
See their website here!
See their website here!
Photo from Colterris.com
Varaison Vineyards & Winery
Near Palisade Brewing, this cute little house seemed to have a nice patio in the back with lights perfect for a sunset sip. Sadly, we only drove past it and never stopped in.
See this quaint place for yourself here.
See this quaint place for yourself here.
Talon Wines at the Meadery
We passed this one several times going in and out of town, since it's located on the main road into town, Highway 6. We were intrigued by the meadery part of the name, but never went to check it out. Maybe next time!
See their website here.
See their website here.
Plum Creek Cellars
Another spot on Highway 6 was Plum Creek Cellars. It looked like another cute home-style winery.
See their website to learn more here.
See their website to learn more here.
| Colorado Vintner’s Collective From the photos, this tasting room looked like a nice, outdoor space with a great view of the mesa. It was right next to the train tracks, so it looked like a cute train stop. We passed it a bunch but did not go in to try it out ourselves. See what it looks like here! |  From @coloradovintnerscollective Instagram |
Clearly, we still have much more to see and try on The Fruit and Wine Byway, but what we did do and see in Palisade was so much fun that we cannot wait to come back again and again to eventually visit each location.
We rode back to our campsites happy and reveling in the gorgeous scenery around us and the incredible day we had all had together.
Watch more from our entire visit to Palisade in my YouTube video below!
Read some of my other Colorado travel guides:
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 | Colorado Springs is Colorado’s second biggest city behind Denver. It sits at the foot of the Cheyenne Mountains that create a beautiful mountain backdrop to the city. John and I love popping down to Colorado Springs for a fun day or quick weekend getaway. We also like to take first time Colorado visitors to help mark off some of the highlights of the state. In this blog post I will share some of our favorite things to do in Colorado Springs! |
 Garden of the Gods. |  Riding the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. |
Where to stay:
If you plan to spend a weekend in Colorado Springs, there are a few different places I recommend staying. You can book a normal stay in a hotel or Airbnb, or you can go glamping!
Cronin Mountain
If you don’t know what glamping is, it’s short for “glamorous camping”. At Cronin Mountain, you can sleep in luxury canvas tents complete with beds, heaters, and bathrooms. The glamping resort is tucked away in the secluded wilderness inside the Cheyenne Mountains just 30 minutes above town!
 One of the glamping tents. |  Our picnic atop Croning Mountain. |
Read more from our glamping trip at Cronin Mountain and see more in my YouTube video below. Use code TACOS15 for 15% off your stay on
The Broadmoor
| If the full-blown luxury stay is more your thing, then I recommend staying at The Broadmoor Hotel. It’s a historic Colorado hotel with a rich history and stunning grounds. |  The Brroadmoor Hotel. Photo from The Broadmoor Hotel's website. |
The Broadmoor also offers a mountaintop experience in an all-inclusive resort, a ranch stay, and a fly fishing camp available for rent if you have the means and can find availability!
Book your own stay at The Broadmoor Hotel here: www.broadmoor.com
 The Brroadmoor Hotel. Photo from The Broadmoor Hotel's website. |  The Ranch at Emerald Valley. Photo from The Broadmoor Hotel's website. |
Things to Do in Colorado Springs:
Hike Seven Falls
 | Another thing to do on The Broadmoor property is to hike to Seven Falls. Seven Falls is a stunning waterfall with seven tiers. It is a nice and easy hike up a gradual path through the canyon, and at the end, there is a restaurant, gift shop, and stairs up to some overlook platforms! |
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Visit Garden of the Gods
One of the most iconic spots in Colorado is Garden of the Gods. These famous red rock formations are on websites, postcards, and company logos all across the state.
These rocks are not only gorgeous to see, they are very easy to access and extremely easy to explore. We love Garden of the Gods so much that John and I even took our engagement photos here!
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Read our “Garden of the Gods Guide” for the best viewpoints, first timer’s tips, and driving directions. Plus watch my video below from the time I went horseback riding through the park with Academy Riding Stables!
Ride The Pikes Peak Train
Another famous Colorado spot is Pikes Peak. Although it's not the highest peak in Colorado, it is one of the most visited mountain peaks!
You can drive, hike, or ride the train to the top. When you ride the train up, you receive a nice history lesson about the first sumitters, Pikes Peak’s role in the song “America the Beautiful”, and so much more!
You can drive, hike, or ride the train to the top. When you ride the train up, you receive a nice history lesson about the first sumitters, Pikes Peak’s role in the song “America the Beautiful”, and so much more!
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Watch more from our ride up to the top of Pikes Peak below and book your own seat on the train here.
Visit Manitou Springs
Although not technically Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs is nearby. This is technically the location of the train station to ride up to the top of Pikes Peak. There is so much to do in Manitou, but here is how you can spend an afternoon:
- Walk around town and try the springs! It’s called Manitou Springs for all the different varieties of minerals in water. You can walk around and try all the different springs on an easy walk around town.
- Hike the Manitou Incline. If you really love stairs and grueling workouts, try hiking the Manitou Incline. I have never attempted it and never plan to. It seems a little too intense even for me. It’s an Olympic training site, and that’s what makes it so famous. Learn more about the climb here.
- Cave of The Winds is an above and underground adventure area. Visit the caves below the surface then ride a zip line over the canyon above. See more about Cave of the Winds on their website here!
- See the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Again, another thing we have never done is see the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Very similar to Mesa Verde, these are ancient Native American homes tucked away into the nearby cliffside. Learn more about the cliff dwellings here.
 The Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs. |  Tasting the springs in Manitou Springs! |
I hope this guide helps you plan a memorable trip to Colorado Springs. It is such a wonderful city full of truly iconic, picturesque places to visit!
Read more Colorado vacation guides below:
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 | John and I tried something new and went glamping for a night in Colorado Springs! If you are unfamiliar with what “glamping” is, it’s short for “glamorous camping”. In short, it is staying out in the wilderness with luxury amenities like a bed, bathroom, etc. |
Normally when we go on adventures, we are sleeping on the ground in our own tent that we have to pack in and set up, but this time, everything was done for us. All we had to do was show up with clothes and some food. It was as easy as that!
We went down to Colorado Springs to check out the newest glamping resort, Cronin Mountain, situated right above the city in the nearby Cheyenne Mountains.
We went down to Colorado Springs to check out the newest glamping resort, Cronin Mountain, situated right above the city in the nearby Cheyenne Mountains.
Cronin Mountain is only 30 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, yet it feels like a secluded wilderness escape. Once we made the switchback-filled drive up the mountain and arrived on site, there wasn't another person around.
The 35-acre property features three canvas tents nestled under the mountainside. They are bordered by a calming stream on one side and a rock face with hiking trails that lead to the private mountain top.
Cronin Mountain is 7,777 feet above sea level, and you can either drive or hike up to it. The tents are situated right at the base and blocked from wind among the trees.
Cronin Mountain is 7,777 feet above sea level, and you can either drive or hike up to it. The tents are situated right at the base and blocked from wind among the trees.
The canvas tents themselves come complete with anything you could need during your trip. The resort is completely off-grid, so even though there is no electricity, they still have heaters, a stove, and a restroom!
The tent comes with comfortable beds inside, a couch, tables and chairs inside and out, coolers to keep food, propane stoves, pots and pans, and all the utensils needed to cook a meal. Again, all we had to bring was our own food and clothes.
The tent comes with comfortable beds inside, a couch, tables and chairs inside and out, coolers to keep food, propane stoves, pots and pans, and all the utensils needed to cook a meal. Again, all we had to bring was our own food and clothes.
You can have some of your food provided if you purchase a luxury, mountaintop picnic with Melody’s Moonlit Memories! Additionally, downtown Colorado Springs is less than a 30-minute drive away.
We enjoyed a sunset charcuterie board atop Cronin Mountain by adding the Luxury Picnic option. We ate cheese, meats, nuts, fruits, and crackers all evening at this ultra-romantic spot all set up just for us by Melody herself. It is a dreamy location perfect for engagements or elopements.
We enjoyed a sunset charcuterie board atop Cronin Mountain by adding the Luxury Picnic option. We ate cheese, meats, nuts, fruits, and crackers all evening at this ultra-romantic spot all set up just for us by Melody herself. It is a dreamy location perfect for engagements or elopements.
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After the delicious spread and semi-strenuous hike up and down Cronin Mountain, we slept easy in the cozy, comfortable room. We never once needed the bear spray that was provided by Cronin Mountain, and we slept through the night without any visitors in our bed except our own dog, Maria.
We could not have asked for a more relaxing, convenient mountain getaway. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the ocean of outdoor adventure and camping or if you just prefer glamping, Cronin Mountain is an excellent option.
We could not have asked for a more relaxing, convenient mountain getaway. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the ocean of outdoor adventure and camping or if you just prefer glamping, Cronin Mountain is an excellent option.
Read about other things to do in nearby Colorado Springs in my "Weekend Guide to Colorado Springs".
 | Pikes Peak is known to many as America’s Mountain thanks to the song “America the Beautiful”. The line, “purple mountains majesty above the fruited plains,” is about the view from majestic Pikes Peak peering over Colorado. |
Getting to the top of Pikes Peak was the only thing my grandparents wanted to do when they came to Colorado. They wanted to stand atop the mountain and take in the view of Colorado, and John and I weren’t going to let them down.
Book your own tickets on the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, here!
You can ride, drive, or hike to the top...
We chose to ride The Pikes Peak Cog Railway up to the summit of Pikes Peak on August 21st 2021. We rode it not long after the grand re-opening ceremony of the railway!
During 2019, the railway company decided to remodel and refurbish the old trains and cogs and re-opened in June 2021 after a two-year hiatus. 2021 marked the railway’s 130th year of operation.
During 2019, the railway company decided to remodel and refurbish the old trains and cogs and re-opened in June 2021 after a two-year hiatus. 2021 marked the railway’s 130th year of operation.
Watch more from our ride up in my YouTube video below!
We chose the railway instead of driving or hiking up the mountain for the fun, educational experience. We also made this decision, because the road up to Pikes Peak was closed for a marathon the weekend we were visiting.
Check online before making your trek up!
The marathon, a speed drag race, and a few other events shut down the road and trails over the course of each year. Not to mention, the weather can have an effect in any season. It was only 28 degrees at the mountaintop when we went in August, so make a note to check the weather on their website too.
Book tickets beforehand:
We purchased our tickets online at https://www.cograilway.com/ride/ and reserved seats on the right side of the train for a 9 AM departure time.
I mention our side, because the train does not turn around at the top. Pick your side according to the view you want. The left side peers over Colorado Springs and is more open, while the right side hugs the mountainside and provides views of the mountain landscape.
I mention our side, because the train does not turn around at the top. Pick your side according to the view you want. The left side peers over Colorado Springs and is more open, while the right side hugs the mountainside and provides views of the mountain landscape.
We arrived just a few minutes before our 8:45 AM boarding time and walked right through the depot onto the train. Before too long, we started climbing up the face of Pikes Peak. Steadily, the train took us from the wooded forest, beyond the treeline, and up through the rocky and windy mountaintop. We could even feel the incredible winds rocking the train back and forth!
Our conductor allowed the previous train to come down the final stretch before making the final ascent up into and above the clouds and finally to the top of Pikes Peak. When the train stopped, we were 14,115 feet above sea level.
Our conductor allowed the previous train to come down the final stretch before making the final ascent up into and above the clouds and finally to the top of Pikes Peak. When the train stopped, we were 14,115 feet above sea level.
We only had about 15 minutes on top of Pikes Peak before we had to get back on the train. It was a little rushed for our liking, but it was so cold at the top that we didn’t complain.
There is a gift shop inside the new visitors’ center, and my grandparents bought some souvenirs. They also got some of the famous Pikes Peak doughnuts. They are made with a special, high-altitude recipe, and they were delicious!
There is a gift shop inside the new visitors’ center, and my grandparents bought some souvenirs. They also got some of the famous Pikes Peak doughnuts. They are made with a special, high-altitude recipe, and they were delicious!
There are lookout platforms all around the top near the train station for views down onto Colorado Springs. Sadly, it was extremely cloudy when we were up there, and we didn’t get any good views until we were boarding the train to leave.
We boarded the train and eventually started our descent. We listened to the announcer continue explaining places, history, and stories as we kept looking out for anything we had missed on the way up. The trip down felt much faster, and we were quickly back at the platform.
We all agreed that it was a great, easy, fun way to see one of America’s most iconic places. We just wished the weather had been better, so we could’ve seen more. Maybe next time, we will brave it and make the drive up to spend as much time as we want at the peak
We all agreed that it was a great, easy, fun way to see one of America’s most iconic places. We just wished the weather had been better, so we could’ve seen more. Maybe next time, we will brave it and make the drive up to spend as much time as we want at the peak
See more from this ride up and down Pikes Peak in my YouTube video below:
See other things to do in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs!
 | San Juan Capistrano is California’s oldest neighborhood. It is located right outside of Los Angeles in Dana Point, Orange County. This extremely historic small town is so quaint and charming. It is a place everyone should visit! |
| I spent just one afternoon visiting San Juan Capistrano and know that I did not see everything. We arrived around 1 p.m. and only saw a small portion of town. That being said, we had a FABULOUS day in this beautiful little town, and I know my mom will be back one day to actually visit the historic areas, because the place is worth going back to! |  Walking around Los Rios Street. |
Watch our day in San Juan Caspistrano in my YouTube video below:
Here is how we spent our day plus a few things we planned to see that we didn't get to:
Shopping on Los Rios Street
Los Rios Street is the oldest street in California! It still has 40 original structures including a few native adobes. Most of the area is a residential street, but there is one section of shops and restaurants.
We wandered in and out of all the artists’ store fronts and bought clothes inside Las Catrinas.
Las Catrinas on Los Rios Street.
 Had our fortunes read! | Fortune Reading There is a psychic shop on Los Rios Street. We visited to have our palms and a deck of cards read to let us know our fortunes. We will see how accurate she was when the time comes! |
Afternoon Tea
My mom and I made reservations at The Tea House on Los Rios, and it was the most adorable place. We sat in the back garden and absolutely had ourselves a time enjoying round after round of tea and champagne, finger sandwiches, salad, and of course dessert.
My mom and I made reservations at The Tea House on Los Rios, and it was the most adorable place. We sat in the back garden and absolutely had ourselves a time enjoying round after round of tea and champagne, finger sandwiches, salad, and of course dessert.
Lunch at The Tea House on Los Rios - I recommend The Royal Tea assortment!
This restaurant was great for an adult mom and daughter day. We saw lots of kids and teens there, bachelorette parties, and husbands and wives. It was a place for everyone with good food and an even better atmosphere.
 The Tea House on Los Rios. |  Our assortment of finger foods. |
Learn about The Mission
The Mission is a church that was built to help evangelize the natives. Due to its early closing time, we did not make it in time to visit during our day in San Juan Capistrano.
Learn more about The Mission and purchase tickets on their website here!
The Mission is a church that was built to help evangelize the natives. Due to its early closing time, we did not make it in time to visit during our day in San Juan Capistrano.
Learn more about The Mission and purchase tickets on their website here!
Photo from The Mission's website.
Visit the Train Station
Another landmark in town is the train station. We essentially did not cross the train tracks during our day. The town is practically split in two by the tracks, and we primarily stayed on the one side.
See more about the now Zephyr train station here.
Another landmark in town is the train station. We essentially did not cross the train tracks during our day. The town is practically split in two by the tracks, and we primarily stayed on the one side.
See more about the now Zephyr train station here.
| Swallow’s Inn Bar After we left, I had a friend recommend this local bar. She said it was an absolute must do while in town. Sadly, we will have to save it for next time! |  Photo from countrydancingtonight.com |
I hope to get back to San Juan Capastrano one day to learn more about this beautiful site of California.
Until then, read more California guides below!
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 | Hollywood, California, is the city of dreams and an absolutely fascinating place to visit. Nothing compares to the fame of this Los Angeles area. Between the movies, television shows, and musical records that have been produced here, there are just too many famous landmarks to explore in the city. You could spend your whole life trying to learn all the stories that Hollywood holds. My mom and I only spent one day exploring the city, and it was just enough time for our first time visiting. |
Hollywood and Los Angeles can be a bit overwhelming. There are lots of people on the streets and lots of cars on the road. It isn’t necessarily the easiest city to get around, but here is where we managed to go during our short time in Hollywood:
| The Hollywood Sign One of the most iconic sights in Hollywood is the Hollywood Sign. This famous location is not as easy to get to as you might think though. Most spots to see the sign are on private property, and to get up close requires a 2-mile hike to the sign. We, however, found one of the best places to view the landmark for free. |  The Hollywood Sign! |
Mom and me selfie with The Hollywood Sign.
 We didn't want to take any pictures in case there were residents currently living in the houses. | Laurel Canyon We took a ride through a crazier side of Hollywood’s history and drove through Laurel Canyon. The 70’s hotspot was home to famous singers like Jim Morrison, Frank Zappa, and Neil Young. Even magician Harry Houdini lived here too. This is also where the famous Wonderland Murders took place. You can see all of these properties from the road, but they are private, so it’s best to learn as much as you can beforehand by reading the book Strange Scenes Inside The Canyon or by getting a tour! |
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Start on the east side of Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame and see all the stars of famous celebrities like Shirley Temple, Audrey Hepburn, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, and dozens more. Walk west towards The Chinese Theater to see handprints in the concrete and see the world famous theaters.
Start on the east side of Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame and see all the stars of famous celebrities like Shirley Temple, Audrey Hepburn, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, and dozens more. Walk west towards The Chinese Theater to see handprints in the concrete and see the world famous theaters.
 Stars on The Walk of Fame. |  The Chinese Theatre. |
While on the walk of fame or driving around nearby, here are a few famous spots I recommend checking out and learning more about:
- Capitol Records - The producers of ABBA, The Bee Gees, The Beastie Boys, Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, and more!
- Scientology Building - See one of the most infamous churches in the country right off The Walk of Fame.
- Viper Room - See where River Phoenix was shot and killed.
- Whiskey a Go Go - A very famous nightclub.
- Mel’s Drive In - Grab a burger and fries from the diner made famous by the movie American Graffiti.
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Beverly Hills
Drive the famous Rodeo Drive, or go shopping if you can afford it. There is a lot to do and see in Beverly HIlls, and we did not stop long enough for me to write enough. We drove Rodeo to say we did it and took a picture at this sign on Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica Pier
The last thing we planned to do was visit The Santa Monica Pier ro ride the ferris wheel, play arcade games, and grab dinner overlooking the water. Sadly, we didn’t make it because of traffic and the sheer amount of other things we had done during the day.
The last thing we planned to do was visit The Santa Monica Pier ro ride the ferris wheel, play arcade games, and grab dinner overlooking the water. Sadly, we didn’t make it because of traffic and the sheer amount of other things we had done during the day.
Photo from Santamonicapier.org
As I stated earlier, this is by no means the complete guide to a day in Hollywood, California, but it was a really fun and eventful day for us!
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Talkin' 'bout Tacos:
I'm Taylor, aka Tacos! I am sharing my journeys and experiences from across the world, hoping to inspire travel and adventure in all who read!
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