The Mayan civilization was home to many mighty cities, but few were quite as influential as Tikal. Not only was Tikal a political and cultural powerhouse for centuries, but its iconic towering pyramids
Guatemala’s Petén region is home to several accessible archaeological sites. But aside from the world-famous Tikal, Yaxha is the only other site that can easily be reached by tour. And that’s probably because
Belize’s various Mayan sites aren’t always that easy or cheap to reach. One major exception, however, would be Cahal Pech – just about thirty minutes on foot from the tourism hub of San
Caracol in southern Belize was one of the Mayan world’s most dominant cities, and is accordingly the country’s largest Mayan archaeological site. But it’s also the most difficult to reach, so most visitors
Xunantunich is one of Belize’s best archaeological sites, and it’s also one of the easiest and cheapest to reach. Like many Mayan sites in Belize, the Xunantunich ruins are comprised of just a
Inhabited from around 200 BC to 900 AD, Altun Ha would reach its zenith in the 6th century. And though it was likely just a medium-sized city in its day, the Altun Ha ruins are now
Tropical Belize is teeming with wildlife, and for many visitors, spotting animals will be one of the highlights of their trip. One of the most ubiquitous animals you’re bound to see (and definitely
Lamanai was one of the longest continually inhabited cities of the Mayan world. And its three grand pyramids reveal how important it must’ve been in its prime. Located in central Belize, most people
Located 25 km southeast of Mérida is a site that even many Mayan ruins enthusiasts have never heard of. The site of Acanceh was first established back in the Preclassic Period (700 BC–50 AD).
Situated between the modern city of Mérida and the Gulf Coast, Dzibilchaltún long played a pivotal role in the regional salt trade. While not the most elaborate Mayan ruins you’ll find in the region, the
The Ruta Puuc, or ‘Puuc Route,’ is a term used to collectively refer to five Mayan sites located south of Mérida. Not only do they share similar histories, but each former city-state was built
Situated between the urban centers of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley isn’t your typical National Park. It’s divided up into various sections with modern towns and residences scattered between them. While it lacks
Nearly everyone enjoys a good ghost town, though exploring abandoned places often comes with potential risks. But not Montana’s Garnet Ghost Town, a former mining town located near the city of Missoula. Managed
Montana’s Glacier National Park attracts about three million visitors each year, making it the 11th most-visited park in the country. But due to weather conditions, a large majority of visitors come between July
Montana’s Glacier National Park is the quintessential hiker’s park, while it’s also home to a thrilling scenic drive. But with so much to see and do, planning for your first trip to the
Many who’ve done it call the Highline Trail one of Glacier National Park’s quintessential hikes. As we’ll cover below, the most challenging part of the hike is figuring out transport to the trailhead.
Constructed over the course of nine years and completed in the 1930s, Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only way to get from one end of Glacier National Park to the other (without leaving park
Waterton Lakes is located in southern Alberta, just across the border from Glacier National Park. The two parks, in fact, make up the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. But those basing themselves at Glacier may
Many visitors to Glacier National Park regard the Grinnell Glacier Trail as their favorite hike in the park (though the Highline Trail is another top contender). But what makes it so special? Though
Glacier National Park is comprised of several different districts, but lots of visitors call Many Glacier their favorite. The area offers some of the park’s best hiking experiences, while it’s also home to
Known for its hydrothermal features and wildlife, Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest parks in the country. Most people visit in summer, but at 7,733 feet (2,357 m) above sea level,
At over two million acres, Yellowstone requires several days to fully appreciate. While it would probably take weeks to see 100% of the park, three or four days is enough to see the
Yellowstone will forever be known as the United States’ (and the world’s) first-ever National Park. Designated in 1872, it remains one of the country’s largest and most unique parks to this day. But
Just about every corner of Yellowstone National Park is home to something special. And the northern part of the park is no exception, as it’s here that you’ll find the stunning travertine pools
Located in the western part of Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin is home to hundreds of hydrothermal features like geysers, mud pots and fumaroles. While it may not be as well-known as Upper Geyser Basin
At over two million acres, Yellowstone has a bit of everything – geysers, wildlife, a large lake, and a scenic 20-mile canyon, the latter of which we’ll be focusing on in this guide.
Aside from its geysers, if there’s one thing Yellowstone is known for, it’s wildlife. While you’ll inevitably have a few chance encounters while exploring the park, where should one go in hopes of
For those with several days in Yellowstone, exploring Yellowstone Lake is one of the top things to do in the park. The lake covers 136 square miles, and with 110 miles (180 km)
Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the world’s very first National Park. While the US is now home to over 60 such parks, visiting Yellowstone remains a unique experience thanks to
As its name suggests, Grand Teton National Park is most known for its stunning 40-mile-long Teton Range. From all throughout the park, one can enjoy unobstructed views of the mountains, whether it’s from the
As its name suggests, the highlight of Grand Teton National Park is viewing the Teton mountain range from a variety of angles. But when it comes to hiking, the park either has numerous
Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is an overlooked gem. But while the park does indeed contain many craters, it doesn’t quite resemble the moon. Instead of dust, the park
Southern Idaho is often overlooked in favor of neighboring states. But Twin Falls and its surroundings – particularly the stunning Shoshone Falls and Box Canyon – make for the perfect stopover when traveling
Utah has so many incredible locations – many of which remain relatively unknown – that it would probably take a lifetime to explore them all. With that said, this Utah Mighty 5 road
Utah is home to five incredible National Parks that are collectively known as the Mighty 5. But nobody can seem to agree on which is best. After ranking Utah’s Mighty 5 in my head,
The Great Salt Lake is among the saltiest bodies of water in the world, while it’s also among the largest lakes in the western USA. It’s such a big deal that they even
Most people will visit Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district via a smooth, paved road from central Moab. But if you have the right vehicle, driving up the many switchbacks of
Dead Horse Point State Park is situated atop the same mesa as Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district. As such, it offers similar views. But as it’s outside the National Park
Arches National Park, just outside of Moab, Utah, is home to over 2,000 natural arches. But while many of them are inaccessible, you can expect to see a few dozen of them while
While Zion’s Angels Landing and The Narrows are renowned for being some of the most unique hikes in the country, Arches National Park‘s Fiery Furnace should definitely be included in that conversation. While
The Needles is the southernmost of Canyonlands National Park’s three main districts. But there’s no way to drive there directly from the Island in the Sky, the park’s most popular area. As such,
Established as recently as December 2016, Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument consists of a staggering 1.36 million acres. While it does indeed include beautiful scenery, the land is largely being protected due to
Canyonlands National Park is the largest of Utah’s Mighty 5. It’s comprised of multiple different districts such as The Needles, the Maze and the Island in the Sky, the latter of which is
Located at the southern end of the San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley State Park is known for its thousands of hoodoos which, with a bit of imagination, can make you feel as if you’re
Just east of Capitol Reef National Park – an underrated destination in its own right – are even more obscure geological landmarks that relatively few have heard of. Everyone driving along Utah State
Established in 1971, Capitol Reef National Park has a bit of all the things that Utah’s other parks are famous for – arches, hoodoos, canyons and stunning overlooks. But it’s easily the least
Cathedral Valley may be part of Capitol Reef, but it looks and feels like an entirely different park. The district is most known for two main sections: the Bentonite Hills and the Temples of
After dealing with stressful hike permit lotteries and timed entry systems at other Utah parks, visiting Capitol Reef National Park is a breath of fresh air. The park’s flagship hike – Navajo Knobs
The southern half of Utah is home to so many parks and unique landmarks that plenty of great destinations get lost in the shuffle. Kodachrome Basin State Park is one such overlooked site.
Hiking The Narrows is a one-of-a-kind experience that has you hiking through a gorge cut out by the North Fork of the Virgin River. In other words, the river is the trail! And
Zion National Park’s Angels Landing is one of America’s most thrilling hikes, as the final section can only be traversed by grabbing onto metal chains. But thanks to its uniqueness, the hike has
Death Valley National Park is one of America’s largest parks and also one of its most diverse. Infamous for its extreme summer temperatures, the park can also get surprisingly cold in the mountains
Given the massive size of the National Park and how distant its main landmarks are from nearby towns, planning a perfect Death Valley itinerary is extremely tricky. There are also plenty of other
Death Valley National Park is the United States’ largest park outside of Alaska. While many picture it as a lifeless desert, at over 3 million acres, few other parks offer as much variety
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