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’ve chased swimming holes across more states than I care to count, and I’ll tell you this: nothing — and I mean nothing — beats the feeling of finding that perfect natural pool on a scorching July afternoon when the asphalt is soft and your car’s A/C gave up two hours ago. Hotel pools are … Read more
Every year around this time, I start scrambling for the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Flowers wilt, chocolates disappear, and honestly, most moms I know — my own included — would trade every bouquet in the world for a weekend away from the daily grind. This year, Mother’s Day falls on May 11th, which means there’s … Read more
I’ve logged somewhere north of 2,000 miles on trails across North America over the past eight years, and if there’s one piece of gear that can make or break your day hike, it’s the pack on your back. Too small and you’re leaving essentials behind. Too big and you’re carrying dead weight. The wrong suspension … Read more
There’s a moment about two hours east of Duluth when Highway 61 narrows, the birch trees crowd close, and Lake Superior opens up on your left like something out of a painting you didn’t know existed. I’d driven a lot of American roads by that point — the Pacific Coast Highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, … Read more
Why Great Smoky Mountains is America’s Spring Wildflower Capital There’s a reason botanists and wildflower enthusiasts flock to the Great Smoky Mountains every spring. This isn’t just about pretty flowers—it’s about witnessing one of North America’s most spectacular natural displays. I’ve spent years chasing wildflowers across the country, from desert superblooms to alpine meadows, and … Read more
Why Desert Super Blooms Are Nature’s Most Spectacular Show There’s something almost supernatural about standing in a desert valley that was barren brown last week, watching it erupt in color overnight. I’ve chased wildflower seasons across the American Southwest for nearly a decade, and 2026 has already delivered one of the most extraordinary desert superbloom … Read more
The Weather Whiplash Reality of Spring Camping I learned this lesson the hard way in Yosemite back in April 2022. One day I’m hiking in a t-shirt under brilliant sunshine, the next I’m huddled in my tent watching snow pile up on my rain fly. Spring camping in national parks serves up this kind of … Read more