Plan the perfect day trip to Saguaro National Park! Check out this 1 day itinerary, which includes 10 top spots to visit in Saguaro West & East, including hiking details and viewpoints of Saguaro's best areas, Bajada Loop Drive, Cactus Forest Drive, and Signal Hill. If you're planning a multi-day road trip, download my complete 2 Day Itinerary & Travel Guide, which includes hotel & dining info.
Read MorePlan the perfect day trip to Joshua Tree National Park! Check out this 1 day itinerary, which includes 6 top spots to visit in Joshua Tree, including hiking details and viewpoints of Joshua Tree's iconic landmarks, including Arch Rock, Heart Rock & Skull Rock. If you're planning a multi-day road trip, download my complete 2-3 Day Itinerary & Travel Guide, which includes hotel & dining info.
Read MoreDiscover the best kayaking adventures in CA from Death Valley to Yosemite National Park, the Eastern Sierra & Morro Bay! Explore the stunning waters of Badwater Basin, Convict Lake, Tenaya Lake & the Merced River. Learn about must-have gear, like the best inflatable kayak, waterproof dry bags, compact binoculars, and life jackets to ensure safety, comfort & unforgettable moments on the water.
Read MoreExplore the beauty of Mica View Trail in Saguaro National Park East! Discover accessible hiking in the Cactus Forest, stunning views of Mica Mountain, unique cacti like saguaros and chollas, and abundant desert wildlife. Learn about the area's rich history, including Indigenous heritage and conservation efforts. Perfect for nature lovers seeking an easy hike in Tucson's Rincon Mountains!
Read MoreWhat is Zzyzx Road? If you've ever taken a road trip from LA to Vegas along I-15, you've probably seen this strange Zzyzx road sign near Baker, CA. Located in Mojave National Preserve, this roadside stop was once a "health resort" in the mid 1900s, and now the abandoned structures are home the Desert Studies Center. Visitors are welcome to explore parts of the grounds, so let's take a look!
Read MoreLooking for a great stop on your next road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas? Calico Ghost Town is a family friendly pit stop located in the Mojave Desert near Barstow, CA along Interstate 15. Packed with history, attractions & fun activities, this old silver mining town now is one of the best roadside spots to explore a Wild West atmosphere in California. Stretch your legs and enjoy great food!
Read MoreToday we're exploring the Cap Rock Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park. This is the perfect family friendly spot to take an easy hike and enjoy a bbq lunch at the picnic area amidst towering rock formations, cactus & endless Joshua trees. Read this travel guide to discover one of the top things to do and places to go in Joshua Tree on your next SoCal weekend road trip from Los Angeles.
Read MoreRead this complete guide about the stops along the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park West. Located in the Tucson Mountain District, this is the perfect family friendly activity on your Southern Arizona road trip. This AZ travel guide covers the picnic areas built by the CCC and multiple hiking trails, such as the Valley View Overlook Trail, and the short hike to Signal Hill petroglyphs.
Read MoreLooking for the top places to see Spring wildflowers in California? Check out this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to see current conditions of Red Rock Canyon State Park along Highway 14 north of Mojave. This desert superbloom makes a great SoCal road trip from Los Angeles. This underrated park also provides camping at the Ricardo Campground, which is perfect for stargazing & astrophophotography.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park. Located along Bajada Loop Drive near the Red Hills Visitor Center and the Signal Hill Petroglyphs, this hike is one of the top things to do in Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District). Walk among giant saguaros, see abundant wildlife, and enjoy panoramic vista views of the Sonoran Desert.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Trona Pinnacles located near Ridgecrest, CA in the Searles Valley. This is a perfect stop when taking a road trip from Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park. This BLM land is filled with unique rock formations that have been used as a filming location for many TV shows, commercials & movies, and currently there are wildflowers blooming.
Read MoreCan you kayak in Death Valley? Yes! Currently the National Park Service is allowing park visitors to take kayaks and stand up paddle boards onto the historic Lake Manly, the ancient lake that has reappeared at Badwater Basin. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for all the info you need to plan your kayaking adventure to Death Valley National Park, a perfect road trip from Los Angeles.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Discovery Trail, THE most family friendly trail in Joshua Tree National Park. Located across the road from Skull Rock, one of the top things to do in Joshua Tree, this easy hike takes visitors through slot canyons and towering rock formations, with opportunities to learn and see all kinds of wildlife and plants, including cholla cactus.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Mosaic Canyon Trail inside Death Valley National Park. Along this moderate hike we find narrow slot canyons & unique rock formations, making this one of the top things to do in Death Valley. This is one of the best hikes on any road trip to Death Valley because the 2 mile gravel road leading here means it's a lesser visited area in the park.
Read MoreToday we're driving the one-way Cactus Forest Drive loop and stopping at 10 of my favorite overlooks and hiking trails in Saguaro National Park East (Rincon Mountain District). Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to learn about trail distance, hours of operation, and one of the best sunset spots in Tucson. This drive is one of my top things to do in Southern Arizona along your AZ road trip.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to exploring the Hall of Horrors slot canyons in Joshua Tree National Park. This is a Joshua Tree top spot along your Southern California road trip through this desert park. Hiking this trail takes you around large rock formations, through a Joshua tree forest, and scrambling into narrow slot canyons, making for a perfect vacation adventure.
Read MoreYou can hike to an arch rock in Death Valley! Check out this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Natural Bridge Trail in Death Valley National Park, which leads you through slot canyons to the largest natural arch in the park and to a dry waterfall. Enjoy views of Badwater Basin and its temporary lake along this easy to moderate hike, which is one of my top things to do in Death Valley.
Read MoreIs Death Valley open? YES! Death Valley National Park has reopened after a 2 month closure, but many roads and features in the park remain closed to the public. Read this Flying Dawn Marie complete travel guide to taking this desert road trip now. Learn about current conditions, traffic delays, and the historic road damage & flooding, including pics of the Badwater Basin lake from Dantes View.
Read MoreDesert Ecology Trail is located in Arizona's Saguaro National Park at the East Rincon Mountain District. This family friendly path is only 0.3 miles & the trail is paved. Numerous interpretive panels line the trail with information on the history of this area, the wildlife found here, native plants and much more. This is a popular trail for birders and you can relax on multiple benches here.
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.
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