The Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop Hike is arguably the quintessential Death Valley hike. Over the course of a few hours, it takes you through the harsh and lifeless – yet stunningly
While far from the type of excursion most people picture when they think of Death Valley, hiking Telescope Peak is one of the park’s most thrilling and rewarding adventures. The National Park may
Racetrack Playa and its sailing stones have mystified scientists and adventurous travelers alike for over a century. Situated in a remote and hard-to-reach part of Death Valley National Park, the playa is a
At half a mile wide and up to 777 ft deep, Ubehebe is Death Valley’s largest crater. While visitors have the option to simply overlook the colorful crater from the parking lot, more
The massive Mojave National Preserve, located between Joshua Tree and Death Valley, is one of California’s most overlooked outdoor destinations. The towering Kelso Dunes alone are worth the trip, while other parts of
Spreading out to nearly 800,000 acres, Joshua Tree National Park is the place where the Colorado and Mojave deserts converge. Millions of visitors flock to this harsh desert environment each year to admire its uniquely
While easily one of the most thrilling hikes in southern California, the Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Loop Trail often gets overlooked. It’s not a part of any major park system, nor is
At over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest State Park. For reference, if it were a US National Park, it would rank among the top twenty largest. As such, you
Just north of San Diego is a gorgeous State Park that doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves. The Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve is home to the Torrey pine, one of the rarest
Right in the center of the Baja Peninsula is one of the largest coastal dune sheets of North America. But despite it often appearing on lists of ‘Top Places to Visit in Baja,’
With the native languages and traditions of Baja now largely extinct, the peninsula’s numerous cave paintings are all that remain of the ancient cultures that once lived here for millennia. In fact, sites
A small town of under 4,000 residents in the southern part of the Baja Peninsula, Mulegé is about as remote as it gets in Mexico. But while experiencing the town can be challenging in
For such a small town, Baja California Sur’s Loreto has a lot going for it: historical buildings, beaches, mountain views and an abundance of wildlife. In the following Loreto guide, we’ll be covering
La Paz, a city of 250,000 residents, is the capital and largest city of Baja California Sur, one of Mexico’s most sparsely populated states. While long overshadowed by the nearby resort city of
About 60 km north of Mazatlán is one of Mexico’s most obscure – and most unusual – archaeological sites. You won’t find a single pyramid or tomb at Las Labradas, but you will encounter
Sinaloa’s Mazatlán is among Mexico’s most scenic coastal cities – both in terms of its natural surroundings and its colorful architecture. And among Mexico’s many beach towns, it arguably has the widest variety of
The Nayarit state capital of Tepic is far from being one of Mexico’s most talked-about cities. Frankly speaking, the main thing it has going for it is its location. Situated between the tourism
Colima, situated between Jalisco and Michoacán, is one of Mexico’s smallest states. Nevertheless, it has quite a variety of things to do while remaining largely undiscovered by tourists. In the following Colima guide,
Like the state of Colima as a whole, the archaeological sites of La Campana and El Chanal, both located in the state capital, are seldom talked about. But these were once the most
Guachimontones, reachable as a day trip from Guadalajara, is the state of Jalisco’s flagship archaeological site. It’s most known for its unique round pyramid (itself known as a ‘guachimontón’), of which there are
Jalisco and its capital Guadalajara are where many of the things so commonly associated with Mexico – like sombreros, tequila and mariachi – were born. And with its metropolitan area consisting of 5,250,000 people,
The state of Guanajuato, home to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato city, is one of Mexico’s premier tourism destinations. But despite its capital León being one of Mexico’s largest cities, few tourists visit. In
Aguascalientes, located in the state of the same name, is one of the lesser-visited cities of Mexico’s Bajío region. And frankly speaking, few would consider it the country’s prettiest big city. But among Mexicans,
As with nearby Guanajuato and San Luis Potosí, the city of Zacatecas grew immensely wealthy as a mining town, with much of that wealth being reinvested into beautiful buildings. As we’ll cover in
Located about 56 km south of the city of Zacatecas is one of Mexico’s most overlooked and mysterious archaeological sites. Was La Quemada merely an outpost of a mightier civilization further south, or was
The former mining town of Real de Catorce is one of Mexico’s most fascinating destinations. But being located in a remote part of the country at an elevation of over 2700 m, it’s
Photos alone can’t truly convey what a place is like, and without visiting, it can be hard to tell many of Mexico’s old colonial cities apart. But San Luis Potosí’s historic center is arguably
Those who happen to come across images of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, with its countless towering cacti as far as the eye can see, often wonder how to go about planning a visit.
Mexico is home to countless colonial-era towns and cities, many of which have been designated as Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns) by the government. But not all of them are equal, with some consisting of little
It’s hard to believe that the rugged sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Canyon can be found just seventeen miles from the Las Vegas Strip. But while easy to reach, a day at Red
At over 3 million acres, Death Valley is the largest National Park in the United States outside of Alaska. Needless to say, you can’t expect to see it all in a single extended
Situated in the Mojave Desert just an hour east of Las Vegas, Valley of Fire State Park is home to so many beautiful formations that it even rivals some US National Parks. In
Outside the town of Panaca, Nevada lies a Southwest hidden gem. Despite having become a Nevada State Park as early as 1935, Cathedral Gorge gets relatively little attention, likely due to its remote
Bryce Canyon is the smallest of Utah’s Mighty 5 by far. At around 36,000 acres (or 72 km2), it’s less than half the size of Arches. And it’s nearly a tenth the size
Some describe visiting northern Arizona’s White Pocket as like walking across a giant glob of strawberry swirl ice cream. Others liken it to exploring an alien planet. Whatever it may remind you of,
The Grand Canyon has long been one of America’s most iconic and popular destinations. A large majority of people, however, visit what’s known as the South Rim. The North Rim, in contrast, sees
The small town of Kanab, Utah serves as a base for countless geological wonders, and it would probably take weeks to see them all. Below, however, we’ll be focusing on three remarkable sites
Even if you don’t recognize the name, you’ve surely seen photos of Antelope Canyon’s wavy sandstone walls at some point, be it a computer desktop background or digital ad campaign. Located just outside
While Page, Arizona’s top attraction is undoubtedly Antelope Canyon, there are still plenty of outdoor activities to experience within easy reach of the town center. The following list of the top things to
There are few towns with names as unusual as Mexican Hat, Utah – a town of a few dozen people about 25 miles north of Monument Valley. But there’s much more to Mexican
Monument Valley is arguably one of the most photogenic places on the planet. But a large portion of it is off-limits without a guide. So, to gain special access to the backcountry, you may
Monument Valley is arguably one of the most beautiful places in North America – if not the entire planet. But visitors are only allowed access to a small portion of it without a
Thanks to its appearance in numerous influential films over the years, Monument Valley has become synonymous with the American West. Officially known as Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, it’s not a US National Park,
Shortly after the collapse of sites like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde, the unique Ancestral Puebloan city of Hovenweep arose in what’s now southeastern Utah. Hovenweep National Monument is mainly known for its
The Great Sage Plain, which encompasses southwest Colorado and southeast Utah, was settled between 500 and 1300 AD. In its heyday, it was the most densely-crowded part of the Ancestral Puebloan world. Today,
Despite having been occupied for a relatively brief period of time, the cliff dwellings of Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park make up what’s arguably the most breathtaking archaeological site in the United States.
Northwestern New Mexico is home to some of the most bizarre yet strikingly beautiful rock formations on the planet. Under ordinary circumstances, such unique landscapes would attract hordes of visitors year-round. But the
The American Southwest is home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. But even with so much competition nearby, New Mexico’s bizarre Bisti Badlands is among the most breathtaking and
If there was one holiday or event most representative of Mexican culture, it would have to be Day of the Dead. And nowhere else in Mexico celebrates the holiday quite like Oaxaca. In
The Four Corners region of the Southwest United States is arguably the most archaeologically rich part of the country. While Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde are easily the top highlights, many visitors miss
Situated in a remote corner of northwest New Mexico are what were once the United States’ largest manmade structures. Established by the Ancestral Puebloans over a millennium ago, Chaco Canyon (officially known as
Just about an hour outside of Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument is a unique archaeological site consisting of dozens of cave dwellings carved into the walls of the scenic Frijoles Canyon. In the
Known for its adobe buildings, thriving arts scene and fascinating blend of multiple cultures, Santa Fe is one of the United States’ most unique cities. And it’s also among the country’s most historic,
While many visiting Tulum stop at the Tulum Archaeological Zone and nearby Cobá, the area is home to a third Mayan site that remains off the radar for most travlers. Muyil, which is located
Just 7 km south of Kabah, the ancient Mayan city of Sayil shares a lot in common with neighboring sites in the Puuc region. The city, however, was founded in the 8th century AD
Located around 50 km from Mérida near the town of Maxcanu, Oxkintok is one of the more obscure Mayan archaeological sites. But it’s arguably among the best. The extensive ruins are home to
Texcotzingo, a former Aztec botanical garden, spa and royal palace, is one of Central Mexico’s most obscure archaeological sites. But it shouldn’t be. This fascinating hilltop site was founded by Nezahualcoyotl, the legendary
Built during the final days of the Aztec Empire, the temple complex of Malinalco is unlike any other in Mesoamerica. Carved into the side of a hill at over 100 m above the
Situated within the suburb of the same name, Tenayuca is considered to be the best-preserved Aztec temple, as it was one of the few that the Spanish never touched. Despite being accessible via Mexico
Established in 1964, Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology is easily the country’s top museum, and also among the best in the world. The museum is home to over 600,000 objects belonging to