Travel in the Southwestern USA is fun for the whole family or for a solo hiking trip. We’ve spent many road trips and vacations exploring Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and California. Whether you’re looking to have an adventure in Yosemite National Park or if you want to take a couples trip to Las Vegas, we’ve got suggestions.
One of the best road trips our family has done multiple time is the Utah National Parks road trip, starting in either Vegas or Salt Lake City. Trips from Joshua Tree NP to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are always a hit with our kids. We do lots of hiking and visit lots of museums, so have a ton of information to help you plan.
And yes, California does fall into the Southwest and that’s where you’ll find a few of our repeat destinations such as San Diego, the Central Coast and Disneyland! We have spent many happy days on California beaches and touring wine country. We love California.
Clearly the Southwest is one of our favorite regions in the US. If you have any questions, please let us know. Enjoy browsing and finding your perfect Southwestern USA itinerary!
Visiting Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego is the perfect mix of nature, history and nautical interest. It's ideal to add to family travel in SoCal and is a great budget friendly activity.
The Bodega Bay Lodge is a beautiful property set just off the beach on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California. Review and ideas for things to do in the Bodega Bay area of Sonoma County.
There are so many choices of where to stay when planning a trip to Zion National Park. We range from camping to to hotels nearby to National Park Lodges. Everybody's budget is different when they travel. Luckily, our ideas for where to stay at Zion National Park include the gambit of lodging styles, including national brand options.
There are lots of great places to eat in Mammoth Lakes, California. See top picks for unique, healthy spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner before skiing or after hiking. So many choices, but these are guaranteed good.
There are more than 100 lighthouses in the USA. These picks are beautiful, easy to visit and make for picturesque road trip adventures, from the Florida Keys to the Oregon Coast.
The Best Western Plus Island Palms Resort Hotel in San Diego is ideal for families. Centrally located, great pools, and delicious restaurant, it's a perfect San Diego hotel.
Outside of the National Park there are tons of things to do in Yosemite Country. From hiking in the Sierra National Forest to off-roading and horseback riding, our top picks for adventures outside the National Park.
Summer in Mammoth Lakes, California is full of fun things to do. While people usually think of Mammoth as a ski destination, it's also full of summer hiking, kayaking, boating and more. See the best things to do in summertime!
What could be more perfect any time of year than a California Central Coast road trip? Nothing. Leaving the SoCal area out of Los Angeles and heading north up the…
We’ve just returned from our first family trip to Disneyland with all four of us and it was incredible. We were so fortunate to get to experience not just Disneyland…
We get a lot of questions about attending Pride events with kids. This year we flew to California and did the San Diego Pride celebration and had a great time.…
This epic Utah biking journey takes you through Color Country, from Cedar Breaks National Monument to Grand-Staircase Escalante. Staying in eco-huts along the way, doing a 190 mile mountain bike adventure in Utah is a bucket list item for outdoors people.
The Hoodoo Moab Hotel is the perfect luxury property just outside Arches National Park. See what makes this resort great for families and an ideal break in the middle of the most rugged landscapes of Utah.
This Utah National Parks road trip plan takes you to all five parks, includes some stops at amazing Utah State Parks and goes off the beaten path for an amazing trip. Includes hotel recommendation and how to plan this fun Utah road trip.
The Capitol Reef Resort at the edge of Capitol Reef National Park is one of the most unique properties we've seen. Located in the center of the state, this Utah glamping resort is fun with kids, or perfect for an adults-only National Park trip.
The Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite is ideal for exploring the quiet side of Yosemite National Park. From family cabins to rustic retreat lodging, the Evergreen Lodge has many options and is located very near Hetch Hetchy and Groveland, California.
Everybody seems to have an opinion about overrated sights and places to visit. Roadside attractions are totally cliched to stop at, but why not stop? Viewpoints on highways that have…
We've been looking forward to this road trip for a LONG TIME. Like, I can't even tell you how long. We are finally exploring more of the Southwest with the…
There is nothing like a California Coast road trip. That California life is so awesome with all that nature and sunshine. What better way to experience it than by doing…
Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the most beautiful Spanish missions in Southern California. Located between San Diego and Los Angeles, see what there is to do at San Juan Capistrano and in the surrounding area.
Zion National Park is known for its epic hikes and canyoning routes, but it's also full of fun hiking trails that are great with kids too! By now you’ve seen that…
Outdoor things to do around Phoenix are plentiful, even in the heat. From getting on the water to hiking in Tonto National Forest, the best things to do outside around Phoenix.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is an incredible experience with so many things to do and see. Both Disney World and Disneyland have this awesome Star Wars land. This guide to Galaxy's Edge is ideal for having a great visit to galactic village of Batuu.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is the closest option to Disneyland and California Adventure. This review has all the details of staying at the Grand Californian, amenities and tips for planning the best Disneyland trip.
Hot air ballooning in New Mexico is a must do. Whether you're there for the Balloon Fiesta or are visiting White Sands National Park, all the information for where to do hot air balloons and when, all over New Mexico.
Before we went hiking at Valley of Fire with kids it just looked like an Instagram heaven. That's all that we knew about it, all from photos that people had…
Visiting Zion National Park is doable in any season with helpful information and planning. Tips for using the shuttle, driving, where to stay and best hikes in Zion NP.
These California Missions make for great road trip stops as you drive from San Diego to San Francisco. Enjoy beautiful chapels and learn about California history with these missions along El Camino Real.