There’s a moment driving across the Mackinac Bridge when Lake Michigan and Lake Huron stretch out beneath you in every direction and you realize you’re about to enter somewhere that doesn’t feel quite like the rest of America. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — locals just call it “the UP” — is that rare place where the … Read more
I’ve seen some wild things in my years of chasing experiences across North America — northern lights flickering over Iceland, bioluminescent bays glowing in Puerto Rico, a meteor shower from the floor of Death Valley. But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the night I sat on a damp log in the Tennessee … Read more
There’s a window every year — usually sometime in mid-to-late May — when the mountains wake up. Snow that’s been accumulating since November starts melting in earnest, and every creek, stream, and drainage swells into something thunderous. If you’ve ever stood at the base of a waterfall during peak spring runoff, you know the feeling: … Read more
I showed up at Glacier National Park on a Tuesday in late June expecting the kind of elbow-to-elbow madness I’d experienced at Yellowstone the summer before. What I found instead was a place so vast, so absurdly layered with mountain ranges and glacial valleys, that the crowds thinned out the moment I stepped past the … Read more
I showed up in Taos on a Tuesday afternoon in late June, windows down, the Rio Grande Gorge stretching out to my left like the earth had cracked open just for the drama of it all. My plan was simple: two nights, maybe three. I stayed five. That’s the thing about Taos — it doesn’t … Read more
The Magic of April in Vail: When Winter Meets Spring I’ll never forget my first April morning in Vail. I woke up to six inches of fresh powder on the mountain, but by noon, I was hiking through wildflower-strewn meadows in a t-shirt. That’s the kind of day that only exists in shoulder season—the magical … Read more
# Asheville, North Carolina: Spring Paradise in the Blue Ridge Mountains There’s something magical about Asheville in spring. As the winter chill melts away and the Blue Ridge Mountains awaken from their slumber, this charming mountain town transforms into a vibrant tapestry of blooming flowers, fresh mountain air, and endless outdoor adventures. I’ve been fortunate … Read more
# Asheville, North Carolina: Spring Paradise in the Blue Ridge Mountains There’s something magical about Asheville in spring. As the winter chill melts away and the Blue Ridge Mountains awaken from their slumber, this charming mountain town transforms into a vibrant tapestry of blooming flowers, fresh mountain air, and endless outdoor adventures. I’ve been fortunate … Read more
The Day America Took My Breath Away I’ve driven thousands of miles across this country, from California’s coastal cliffs to Maine’s rocky shores, but nothing prepared me for the Beartooth Highway. This 68-mile stretch of U.S. Route 212 between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Wyoming, isn’t just a road—it’s a transformation. In less than … Read more
Why Spring is Magic for Southeast Waterfalls There’s something almost primal about standing before a thundering waterfall in spring. After months of winter quiet, the Southeast’s waterways come alive with a raw power you have to experience to understand. I’ve chased waterfalls across the country, but nothing compares to spring in the Southern Appalachians—the rush … Read more