Travel through farmland, up a steep mountain, into a Japanese cedar forest, and hike along a levada as you make your way to the picturesque valley of Ribeira da Praia to the banks of Lagoa do Fogo. This is it – peak hiking in São Miguel, and you must add this one to your itinerary!…
After a lovely morning visit to the Chá Gorreana Tea Factory, we recommend spending the afternoon hiking the PRC29 SMI Trail to visit Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and Cascata do Salto do Cabrito. Salto do Cabrito is one of São Miguel’s most popular waterfalls! Learn more about what to expect on the trail, as well…
An absolute must-do is visiting the Chá Gorreana Tea Factory on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. Here, you can take a tour of the factory, sample the tea, and hike 2 amazing trails, one of which travels through the gorgeous tea fields overlooking the plantation and ocean. This is a perfect day…
You have made it to the Azores! It’s 8:00 am local time, and you got 1 hour of sleep on the flight over from the United States. 😴 You can’t check into your hotel until 4:00 pm, so what do you do? Explore, of course! Head toward Lagoa das Sete Cidades first to explore the…
Planning an Azores itinerary? São Miguel is the largest and most diverse island in the archipelago, and 9 days gives you enough time to do it right. From volcanic calderas filled with impossibly blue water to jungle waterfall hikes, geothermal hot springs, Europe’s only tea plantation, and hydrangea-lined mountain roads that look like they were…
Looking for the best things to do in Harpers Ferry, WV? This charming historic town sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers at the meeting point of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. It packs a remarkable amount of history, scenery, and character into one very walkable day. From John Brown’s Fort to…
Planning on more hiking in Shenandoah National Park? In our opinion, this is one of the best hikes to complete. The 8-mile loop will lead you through lush forests, past six cascading waterfalls in White Oak Canyon, and several steep, rocky cliffs along the Cedar Run Trail. With plenty of cascades along the entire hike,…
Panoramic mountain top views and waterfalls await on the Hawksbill Loop and Dark Hollow Falls Trails in Shenandoah National Park. First, hike to the highest point in Shenandoah National Park: Hawksbill Mountain. This can be done as an out-and-back hike or a loop trail for more fun. When you reach the summit, enjoy the panoramic…
One of the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park is the Old Rag Mountain Loop. On this trail, you will encounter a hike through the forest as you make your way toward the rocky outcrop of Old Rag. From here, squeeze your way through and scramble over the boulders as you work your way to…
Planning a Shenandoah National Park itinerary? You’ve picked one of the most accessible and rewarding national parks on the East Coast, and one that most people dramatically underestimate. Shenandoah stretches 105 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, packed with waterfall hikes, summit scrambles, and one of the most scenic drives in the eastern…
On your final day in Yellowstone, check out the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail for some epic views of this massive, rainbow-colored spring on your way to Fairy Falls and Imperial Geyser. This hike has it all! Getting a bird’s-eye view of the Grand Prismatic Spring is a must-do, so head here first. Then, after…
One of the hottest areas (literally!) in Yellowstone is the Norris Geyser Basin Trail area. The highest temperature recorded here in a scientific drill hole was 459°F! That’s hot. The only way to explore this area is via the Norris Geyser Basin Trails along the raised boardwalks. This was one of our favorite areas in…
The Bunsen Peak Trail is a great moderate/hard hike in Yellowstone that you should add to your hiking list! Standing at a lower elevation than most other peaks in the area, Bunsen Peak is often snow-free before the rest of the mountains in Yellowstone National Park. This trail is popular, and parking is somewhat limited,…
As the sun comes up, take a scenic drive through Lamar Valley on your way to Dunraven Pass to hike the Mount Washburn Trail. Lamar Valley is a great place to spot some Yellowstone wildlife, so it’s best to hit the road early. There are two trails that summit Mount Washburn, and we’ll discuss more…
After exploring the West Thumb Geyser Basin in the morning, head to the “Grand Canyon” and complete some easy hikes in Yellowstone. By using the Clear Lake Trail, connector trails, and the South Rim Trail, enjoy an afternoon hiking to see gorgeous waterfalls. Start the Clear Lake Artist Point Loop at the Grand Canyon Of…