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!
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 taken and posted to […]
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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.
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It’s rare that just one of us dads gets to escape for a trip with just one of the kids. It happened though!! It really did! Oliver (our oldest) and I (Rob) got to […]
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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.
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National Parks are a great place to enjoy fall colors. From the mountains of Glacier National Park to the hills of the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway, these are the best National Parks to find autumn leaves and fall fun.
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The best places for fall colors in the USA, from the Lakes Region of New Hampshire to Napa Valley. 15+ picks for easy weekend getaways for autumn foliage across the United States.
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Hiking in Pinnacles National Park in California is a beautiful and fascinating experience with caves, desert and canyons. A great addition to road trips or a weekend day trip from San Francisco, see how to plan a visit to Pinnacles.
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Utah’s National Parks get all the attention, but there are some remarkable Utah state parks and national monuments that give the National Parks a run for their money. We have some great Utah state […]
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Perfect West Coast National Parks road trip plan, from Joshua Tree to Olympic National Park. Stops in the Sierras, Central Oregon, and the best of Washington State’s mountains.
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The Santa Maria Valley wine country is one of our favorite wine regions. During the COVID pandemic, LA’s wine country is still open with precautions and new wine experiences. See hot to visit SMV wine country RIGHT NOW!
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Disneyland. We’ve been so many times through the years. I used to work at Disneyland and have friends that still do. It’s one of the most special places we go back to. In this […]
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In this podcast episode Disney’s California Adventure is our hot topic. Truth be told, we tend to spend more time in DCA than in Disneyland. Maybe it’s the smaller crowds; maybe we like the […]
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Kings Canyon National Park is beautiful and full of epic trees and view. Visiting Kings Canyon in any season is fun and interesting, but beware of snowy days. Tips and tricks for hiking at Kings Canyon and where to stay (National Park lodge!).
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Joshua Tree National Park is so unique, and hiking during the super bloom is one of the best things to do near Palm Springs. Guide to trails and the best time to visit Joshua Tree NP.
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These are the best places to kayak in Arizona. From Page and Grand Canyon territory to kayaking and SUP near Phoenix, launch sites to explore Arizona’s National Parks and beyond.
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Reno and Lake Tahoe have so many more things to do than casinos and skiing. I’ve created an ideal itinerary for enjoying all kinds of outdoor adventures, history, and great food all around Carson […]
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The San Francisco Bay Area National Parks sites include breathtaking nature, historic homes, famous WWII sites and more. Perfect for learning about the USA or just enjoying the Bay Area. Explore beaches, the Redwoods and more.
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By now you know that visiting Carson City, Nevada is a must-do and it is a pretty cool town. After three visits I can say that it’s one of my favorite places in the […]
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The Santa Monica Pier is one of the most iconic sights on the West Coast, and though loaded with tourists, is the perfect plan for an afternoon in the Los Angeles area. From the beach to the Ferris wheel nothing could be more Southern California.
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After traveling solely in Florida for months and months, I got to visit Carson City, Nevada to see how things were being handled during the coronavirus pandemic, and to find ways to visit safely. […]
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Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited or dreamed about destinations in the United States. Can you blame everyone for wanting to explore the valleys and peaks that are the subject of […]
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Over the years we’ve had many visits to the Santa Maria Valley. It’s our favorite off-beat destination on the California Coast. While the world, or at least the USA, is still battling COVID-19 it […]
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Nobody wants to waste their time when they’re in Disneyland. Between rides and entertainment, there’s always something to entertain and something to wait for. This is our guide to the best shows in Disneyland […]
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We’ve loved visiting the Santa Maria Valley of California for years, ever since our first visit in 2017. We wanted to take a different approach to visiting on our most recent trip, so went […]
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Knott’s Berry Farm may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Buena Park, but this vibrant city has so much more to offer, especially on the culinary front! Here’s your guide to exploring Buena Park’s diverse and family-friendly restaurant scene, packed with unique experiences and guaranteed good eats.
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The most Instagramable town in California is Guadalupe, CA, on the Central Coast. With colorful art deco buildings, street art and unique nature, it’s an Instagram dream.
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What does it take to have a perfect Palm Springs weekend getaway? A few things: great hotel, fun and relaxing plan, somebody wonderful to escape with (even if it’s just yourself). We had all three of these things and enjoyed a much-needed dads three day weekend away to Palm Springs.
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