Destination Unknown

Utah is home to the "Big 5" National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef. These parks are spectacular to explore, with plenty of nearby camping options. The natural beauty, amazing rock formations, and breathtaking views make them worth visiting. Utah is the 13th largest state in the US but ranks 30th in population. With about 85,000 square miles (220,000 square km) of area to explore, I'd say every square mile is worth exploring. I've spent time at each of the 5 National Parks, camping, hiking, photographing, sitting on a rock meditating, and enjoying the scenery.  But my absolute favorite place in Utah isn't one of the "Big 5"; it's Goosenecks State Park in the southern part of the state. Located near the southern border of the state and close to Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park is worth checking out. I've been there three times and plan to visit again. Here are my top three reasons I love Goosenecks State Park: Never C...

After spending most of the summer on the East Coast, I began my yearly trek west for the winter. October brought me to the Midwest and my elusive 48th state. I finally ticked Indiana off the list. I’m not sure how I missed Indiana for so long—I’ve driven across the country seven times and somehow managed to go around it every time. One of the more unique places I visited in October was Casey, Illinois, home of the World’s Largest Everything. I originally saw on Google that they had the world’s largest golf tee, so I decided to check it out. When I arrived in town, I noticed a directional sign pointing to all the other “World’s Largest” attractions. I really enjoyed my time walking around town and talking with the locals. It’s a pretty quirky little place. I spent a few days with friends at a nomad gathering called Nomad Nexus at the fairgrounds in Oakwood, Illinois. It was a weeklong event, but I stayed for just a couple of nights and had a great time ...

I've visited so many awesome places in 2025 so it was difficult to narrow them down into a Top 10 List, but these 10 are the ones that stood out the most.   1.        Chiricahua National Monument - March    Located in the southeastern Arizona, Chiricahua NM is a beautiful area to explore. There are many unique rock formations, including hoodoos and balancing rocks. There is a very nice Visitor Center with a very helpful staff ready with maps and suggestions on where to go and what to do in the area.  The drive-up Bonita Canyon is amazing and at the top is Massai Point, elevation 6870ft (2094m) and the views are breathtaking. There are plenty of hiking trails to discover and valleys to explore. I was there in mid-March and there was still a good amount of snow in the area. I will absolutely return to explore this place more extensively.   2.        White Sands National Park - March   White Sands is ...