Looking for the ultimate family fun road trip to Yosemite National Park? Play the Fossils to Falls scavenger hunt and collect all 10 trading cards, starting at the Fossil Discovery Center in California's Central Valley, taking you thru Coarsegold, Oakhurst, Bass Lake & more Madera County gems, ending in the Yosemite Valley...and then enter to win a great Yosemite Adventure Vacation Prize Package!
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the easy trail to Painted Rock, located near Soda Lake in Carrizo Plain National Monument. This activity near Bakersfield, California makes a great day trip from Los Angeles, providing visitors a chance to see ancient prehistoric Native American rock art that is still culturally significant today for the Chumash & Yokut indigenous peoples.
Read MoreYosemite Village is the perfect stop on any trip to Yosemite National Park. Located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, this hub offers visitors several family friendly activities, museums, information, and dining options. Important Native American artifacts and history are on display. Guests can visit the Ansel Adams Gallery and stock up at a grocery store to get food, Yosemite gifts & memorabilia.
Read MoreDiscover the Ventura Botanical Gardens in Ventura, CA, a lush hillside oasis with diverse ecosystems, flowers & plants from Mediterranean, Chile & South Africa. Nestled behind Ventura City Hall, the gardens offer stunning coastal views, abundant wildlife & a floral superbloom. Visit the Welcome Center and explore nearby Grant Park and the historic Serra Cross for a complete nature experience.
Read MoreToday we're checking out the top 10 photo spots in San Fran, California. This Flying Dawn Marie travel guide will take you all over SF to the best viewpoints for photography, such as Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio of San Francisco, Legion of Honor, and Lombard Street. We'll capture great Instagram shots of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and many other iconic landmarks in the Bay Area.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting each viewpoint along Desert View Drive in Grand Canyon National Park. Driving to these overlooks is one of the best family friendly things to do in Grand Canyon. Stops include Navajo Point, Desert View Watchtower, Lipan Point, Shoshone Trail, Duck on a Rock Viewpoint, Pipe Creek Vista, Moran Point, Yaki Point, and Grandview Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the Lowell Historic District in Bisbee, AZ. One of the popular things to do in Arizona is walking down Erie Street, lined with vintage cars, antique signs & old buildings. Lowell is located just south of Old Bisbee and the Copper Queen Mine near the Lavender Pit. Stop for food at the Bisbee Breakfast Club, one of best restaurants in Bisbee.
Read MoreRead this comprehensive Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Bisbee, AZ. Discover what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in this charming small town in the Mule Mountains of Cochise County. If you're planning a trip to southern Arizona, this complete guide will inform you about the top restaurants, activities, shops, art, museums, tours, hotels, and Airbnbs in this historic mining town.
Read MoreThis week on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog we're partnering with B Active Bisbee, a family owned local business providing fun adventures & rentals in Southern Arizona. We'll be taking guided hikes, renting e-bikes, and learning about the rich history and art scene in this historic mining boomtown. This shop specializes in golf cart, hiking, walking, e-bike, and wine experiences in Old Bisbee.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Chiricahua National Monument in southern Arizona. Taking a road trip to the unique rock formations of the Chiricahua Mountains is one of my favorite things to do in Cochise County. Going to see these hoodoos is a great day trip idea from Tucson and Bisbee. Today we're hiking the Echo Canyon Grottoes Trail and to the Massai Point Overlook.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in the Central Valley of California. Situated a few hours away from San Francisco and Los Angeles, this small CA State Park is one of the top things to do in Bakersfield. Learn about the African American pioneers that founded this town, and explore the old structures as we celebrate Black History Month.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for a winter stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel Library Suite in Yosemite National Park during Christmas time. With views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Glacier Point, this historic hotel is a great place to stay in Yosemite Valley. Visit the Dining Hall, Grand Lounge and Mural Room, and book guest rooms where Queen Elizabeth, JFK, and Barak Obama stayed.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to Wind Wolves Preserve near Bakersfield in the Central Valley. Located near the I-5 at the Grapevine, this preserve offers great hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and educational resources for adults & kids about the nature here and the Chumash Native Americans that once lived here. You might even see elk, rattlesnakes, black bear, and mountain lions.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the California ghost town of Bodie State Historic Park along Highway 395. Located a half hour north of Lee Vining and the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park, this Gold Rush boomtown has been preserved in a state of arrested decay by the CA State Park Service and showcases 200 old structures, including a jail, schoolhouse, church, and bank.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe on the California side. There are many things to do in Lake Tahoe, but this Northern California landmark offers a look into Lake Tahoe history. Explore old structures, including the Pope Estate and Baldwin Estate, which is now home to the Tallac Museum where you can learn about the native Washoe people.
Read MoreToday we're taking the short and steep hike down to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay State Park on the California side of south Lake Tahoe. This historic structure was built nearly a century ago and is one of the best representations of Scandinavian architecture in the United States.
Read MoreToday we're in Sequoia National Park along Generals Highway exploring Hospital Rock, an ancient Native American site with pictographs from centuries ago. We'll also check out bedrock mortars and take the short hike down to the Kaweah River.
Read MoreToday we're stepping back in time as we explore an old film location just north of Los Angeles in Simi Valley. Corriganville Park was home to sound stages, a man-made lake, and entire western town that were backdrops for 3,000 movies, TV shows, and commercials.
Read MoreToday we're taking the easy hike along the Barker Dam Trail Loop inside Joshua Tree National Park. We'll explore rock formations, a historic dam, and Native American petroglyphs from thousands of years ago.
Read MoreToday we're exploring historic structures and homesteads of Grand Teton National Park near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Moulton Barns of Mormon Row and the JP Cunningham Cabin have been offering picturesque views for over a century.
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