We have zig-zagged across the country and, boy-oh-boy, do we have some gems to share! Browse campsites, off-road trails, scenic outlooks, oddities, museums, hiking trails, and more.
The Rimrocker Trail is an off-road and OHV route from Montrose, Colorado to Moab, Utah. The trail traverses terrain from pine and aspen forests to rolling hills of sage and cactus. The road condition varies from regularly graded gravel to rutted dirt roads and one high water crossing. The trail winds through federal and private land so be conscious of signs along the road when selecting a campsite or taking side adventures on other trails.
I'm sure we've all been there. It's been a busy build up before vacation. You have major responsibilities and small details to clear up at work and home before taking of for an extended trip. And so, when the day to depart arrives, it's a mad dash to fill suitcases, collect necessities, and get going. There is always something that gets forgotten. And the more there is to pack, the more there is to forget.
Among the pines and aspen trees, off a bustling gravel forest road, on the far outskirts of Montrose, Colorado, and absolutely free, the Iron Spring Campground is an wonderful surprise.
We have been through Kansas before, but only in transit to other places. We stopped by Monument Rocks in 2016. But that is about it. This time, we visit another of Kansas’s 8 wonders: the Strataca Salt Mines. While, above ground, this region seems as unremarkable as most - wide flat farm land cut by railway tracks - the town of Hutchinson has hidden depths.
There are many ways to explore Mesa Verde, be it by car, hiking trail, or guided tour. Like many National Parks, Mesa Verde boasts a dramatic scenic route with numerous vista pullouts and interpretive displays. Even visitors with severely limited time can enjoy a quick taste of the park by driving the Mesa Top Loop to wet their appetite for a longer visit. Hiking trails across the park highlight not only the remarkable structures in the park but the beautiful landscape.
I got elevation sickness. And it’s not as if I only did one thing wrong. So let me walk you through all the ridiculous mistakes I made so that, maybe, you can avoid the same fate.
Some people have the roof space on their vehicle to have a rack to carry kayaks. Aside from our roof being prohibitively tall, we also intend to mount solar panels on the roof. So, if we want to travel with our equipment to explore the water, we need something small enough to fit inside our rig.
Many mines languish after mining has ceased. Louisville Crushed Stone gained a new lease on life when it became the Louisville Mega Cavern, hosting a tour, ropes course, zip lines, and other activities all in the former mine's cavernous rooms.
It was National Dog Rescue Day. We didn't know that when we saw the small, adolescent pup wandering the parkway for the second time that day. Earlier, we thought: someone will know what to do with the guy. But now it is evening and the dog is still wandering dangerously close to the road.
We do not come to Anza-Borrego with particular plans. So, in the morning, we go into town, Borrego Springs, for a recommendation on what to do with the day. A little research indicates that there is a community of big horn sheep in Anza-Borrego and the place to see them is the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail.