Convict Lake
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Easy loop hike around a popular lake with blue waters, scenic mountains, trout fishing, and nice fall foliage.
Upper Owens River
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Popular, scenic, and easily accessible spot for trout fishing.
Lundy Canyon
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
One of the finest hikes in the Eastern Sierras, the route features waterfalls, aspen groves, beaver ponds, and beautiful scenery.
Parker Lake
Location: Lee Vining Area, Northern California, Eastern Sierras
Nice scenic hike to an alpine lake perfect for trout fishing.
Aspendell
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Cute community in the Eastern Sierras with beautiful fall foliage.
Silver City Ghost Town
Location: California, Eastern Sierras
Collection of historic buildings from mining camps and settlements through the area, restored in a picturesque state of arrested decay.
⊗ Freeman Creek
Location: California, Easter Sierras
Fun technical route with waterfall rappels, slides, and nice scenery.
Beach Horseback Ride/Swim
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, St. Petersburg
Spice up a typical beach horseback ride with a horseback swim in the bay.
Skunk Ape Research Center
Location: Florida, Everglades Area, Ochopee
Gift shop and zoo run by the family of the world’s leading Skunk Ape expert, Dave Shealy.
Cape Romano Dome House
Location: Florida, Everglades Area, Marco Island
The ruins of a famous local landmark – a beach house made of interconnected domes – are slowly being lost to the sea, creating a great spot for snorkeling.
Transept Trail
Location: Arizona, Grand Canyon, North Rim
Easy hike through pleasant forest at the edge of the canyon, with occasional magnificent views.
Bright Angel Point Trail
Location: Arizona, Grand Canyon, North Rim
Short and easy hike to the classic North Rim viewpoint near the lodge.
Point Imperial
Location: Arizona, Grand Canyon, North Rim
Beautiful viewpoint at the highest elevation in the North Rim.
Montezuma Hot Springs
Location: New Mexico, East of Santa Fe, Montezuma
Historic hot springs in a natural setting.
Dwan Light Sanctuary
Location: New Mexico, East of Santa Fe, Montezuma
A place of refuge where you can escape from the stresses of life in a beautiful room full of light and rainbows.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Location: New Mexico, Santa Fe Area
Neat park showcasing tent-shaped hoodoos and other interesting geology.
Palos Verdes Diving
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Dive the recently recovered kelp beds off the Palos Verdes coast.
Avalon Wreck Dive
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Nice wreck of a late 19th century steamer with some interesting visible machinery remnants.
Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
Location: Arizona, Southwest, Phoenix area
Historic site with rocks covered in vast numbers of remarkably clear petroglyphs.
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
Location: Arizona, Southwest, Yuma
Walk in the footsteps of the Southwest’s most notorious criminals and see the inspiration for the popular film “3:10 to Yuma”.
Castle Dome Mine Museum & Ghost Town
Location: Arizona, Southwest, Yuma
Great ghost town and museum that’s highly interactive and full of artifacts from the original townsite and mines.
Parunaweap (The Barracks)
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Beautiful remote canyon with side canyons to explore, excellent narrows, and a great pictograph panel; best done as an overnight backpacking trip.
Glen Canyon Dam
Location: Arizona, Lake Powell Area, Page
Massive dam constructed from 1956 – 1966 which created the Lake Powell reservoir.
Horseshoe Bend
Location: Arizona, Lake Powell Area, Page
Short hike to a view of the iconic section of the Colorado River where its path creates a horseshoe-shaped bend around a pillar of rock.
Lone Rock Canyon Kayaking
Location: Utah, Lake Powell Area, Western Lake Powell
Quick canoe or kayak outing through a nice little canyon on the quiet western end of Lake Powell.
⊗ Catstair Canyon (Complete)
Location: Utah, Kanab area
Short and easy technical canyon with a neat stacked car feature (yes cars! flattened and stacked!), some nice sculpted rock, and a rock art panel.
Upper Catstair Canyon
Location: Utah, Kanab area
Short non-technical canyon hike with interesting stacked cars and some pretty sculpted rock sections.
Johnson Canyon Movie Set
Location: Utah, Kanab area
Former film set used for Westerns made in the 1930s to the 1960s.
Paria River Valley
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Southern
Toadstool Hoodoos
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Southern
Easy hike to some cool hoodoos.
Pipe Spring National Monument
Location: Arizona, Northern, Kaibab area
Interesting national park centered around a natural spring which was a major resource for both the native Paiute people and Mormon settlers.
Mill Ruins Park
Location: Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Picturesque park showcasing the 19th century water power features, canals, and tailraces of the milling operations that made Minneapolis into a thriving industrial powerhouse.
Sculpture Garden
Location: Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Sculpture garden with numerous modern art sculptures, including the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry.
St. Anthony Falls
Location: Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Originally the only major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi, the site was converted to a concrete spillway along with a lock and dam as part of stabilization efforts at the turn of the 20th century.
Minnehaha Park
Location: Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Large state park most famous for its attractive 50 foot waterfall, but which includes numerous gardens, trails, and sites to explore and discover.
⊗ Ice Cube Canyon ♦
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon
Awesome canyon in the Red Rocks area with loads of rappels through beautiful sculpted narrows; requires a strenuous approach.
⊗ Weeping Springs Canyon ♦
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Excellent canyon with nice scenery, fun rappels, and an optional packraft exit.
Bighorn Canyon
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Great non-technical canyon with some interesting obstacles, ending at a great lunch spot on the Colorado River.
Δ Death Pit and Ore Cart Mine Δ
Location: Secret (West Coast, United States)
Fabulous mine site with excellent artifacts and mine shafts
Rabbit Peak
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Intense hike with sweeping desert views to a beautiful, semi-isolated mesa.
Three Sisters Falls
Location: California, San Diego area, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Well-known hike to a series of three waterfalls that create nice swimming holes.
Eagle Cliff Miner’s Cabin
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Short back-country hike to a neat and well-preserved historic miner’s cabin
Willow Hole
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Hike through the Wonderland of Rocks area to a seasonal water source with willow trees.
Skull Rock
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Loop trail through a maze of cool rock formations, including the notable Skull Rock; several climbing areas are nearby.
Desert Queen Mine
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Explore the remains of a successful gold mine including mine shafts, various pieces of mining equipment, and some building ruins.
Wonderland of Rocks Traverse
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Epic semi-technical day hike through the massive boulders of the Wonderland of Rocks.
⊗ Rattlesnake Canyon
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Great find in the desert: a fun, short technical canyon with cool sculpted walls.
Hidden Valley
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Easy loop hike around a beautiful natural enclosure with great climbing options.
Keane Wonder Mine
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Hike to the ruins and (closed off) mine shafts from one of Death Valley’s most successful gold mines.
Eureka Dunes ♦
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (North)
Remote sand dunes offering beautiful scenery, nice camping options, and the potential to hear the dunes sing.
Hallmundarhraun
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Vast lava field with rugged scenery and great Northern Lights photography opportunities
Rútshellir
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Fascinating old cave which was expanded and used for storing hay and as a smithy
Ice Caves ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Although every ice cave is different, and they constantly change, they’re always fabulous.
Fjallsárlón
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Lesser-known (but still very nice) glacier lagoon next to the famous Jökulsárlón
Svartifoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Beautiful and unique waterfall framed by black columnar basalt cliffs
Skaftafellsjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Easily accessed glacier in Skaftafell, requiring a short,easy hike to reach the base
Merkurker
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Travel upriver through a narrow, enclosed fissure and explore fun caves and rock formations in this lesser known gem.
Gígjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Outlet glacier of Eyjafjallajökull whose surrounding landscape was radically transformed in the 2010 eruption.
Hrunalaug
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Adorable little hot spring that’s suffering from overuse and irresponsible tourists
Friðheimar
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Fabulous lunch option: dine in a greenhouse surrounded by tomato vines
Faxi
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Nice, rarely visited waterfall that can be viewed from multiple angles and includes a neat fish ladder.
Blue Lagoon
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Scenic geothermally heated pool that’s become an iconic but pricy tourist attraction
Reykjanes Nature Preserve
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large, infrequently visited nature preserve offering numerous opportunities for hikes and sightseeing
Reykjanes Lighthouse
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Picturesque lighthouse in a beautiful area
Valahnúkamöl
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Rugged coastal area with cliffs and scenic rock pillars
Deildartunguhver
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Reykholt
Prolific hot spring with the highest flow in Europe
Snorralaug
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Reykholt
Visit one of Iceland’s oldest hot springs, the pool used by Snorri Sturluson in the Middle Ages
Darwin Falls
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Panamint Springs Area)
Easy hike to a lush green canyon with a waterfall in the middle of the desert
Charcoal Kilns
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Panamint Springs Area)
Remarkably well-preserved large beehive shaped charcoal kilns built in 1877
⊗ Keane Canyon ♦
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Technical canyon descent through an area with lots of great mining ruins
Titus Canyon
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Backcountry road through some stunning scenery including colorful hills, a narrow canyon, a ghost town, and petroglyphs.
Leadfield Ghost Town
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Small, picturesque ghost town off a backcountry road with the intact remnants of a couple of buildings
Harmony Borax Works
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)
Ruins of the successful borax plant near Furnace Creek where 20-mule teams were used to haul the borax across the desert to the railroad
Zabriskie Point
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)
Viewpoint showcasing beautifully eroded Badlands in multiple directions
Mesquite Flat Dunes
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Stovepipe Wells area)
Large and easily accessed dune field offering various opportunities for exploration
Artist’s Palette
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Scenic drive featuring beautifully colored hills and views of banded cliffs.
Devil’s Golf Course
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Vast field of eroded rock salt spires
Badwater Basin
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Iconic salt flats at the lowest elevation in North America
Ashford Mill Ruins
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Ashford Junction area)
Small collection of ruins from an early 1900’s mill and mining settlement
Keane Wonder Mill
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Easy to access ruins of the mill and tramway for the very successful Keane Wonder Mine.
Fry-Koegel Trail
Location: California, San Diego, Poway
Scenic and less used option for hiking up Mt. Woodson and reaching Potato Chip Rock.
Potato Chip Rock
Location: California, San Diego, Poway
Hike to an iconic San Diego natural landmark for a classic photo op.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Location: California, San Diego, La Jolla/Del Mar area
State Natural Reserve covering 2,000 acres and protecting the critically endangered Torrey Pine; scenery includes sweeping coastal views, rugged canyons, and jagged cliffs.
Victoria Beach Pirate Tower
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Laguna Beach
Iconic 60 foot tower built on Victoria Beach in 1926 – the tower encloses a spiral staircase which provides private beach access for the property owner.
Green Climbers Home
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
A climber’s dream – a beautiful eco-resort with adorable bungalows at the base of some of Laos’ stunning karst mountains.
Xe Bang Fai River Cave
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Venture into a rarely visited region of central Laos to explore a fabulous (and huge) river cave filled with extensive formations.
Tham Pha Nya In
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Rarely visited cave with interesting Buddha images and nice cave formations
Tham Pa Fa (Buddha Cave)
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Visit a small show cave with some nice cave formations and over 200 Buddha statues inside which are reportedly over 300 years old.
Ban Nakhang Xang Trekking and Caves ♦
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Explore the stunning karst landscape of the Khammouane Province by trekking through the jungle and exploring rarely visited caves.
Thakhek
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
This gateway to the beautiful Khammouane Province is a great base for adventures in the region.
Tham Nong Pa Seuam ♦
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Swim through a pristine cave filled with crystal clear aquamarine water and beautiful cave formations above and below the surface.
Phou Hin Boun
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Explore a beautiful national park with stunning karst scenery and opportunities for caving, trekking, and observing village life.
Kong Lor Cave
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Travel the length of a 7km river cave by high speed canoe through cathedral-like rooms with 100 meter ceilings. A well-lit section inside the cave highlights some nice formations.
Phou Khao Khouay
Location: Laos, Central, Vientiane Area
Home to orchids, butterflies, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, and numerous rivers, this park has a lot to offer, whether you choose to explore it by boat or on foot.
Tad Xay and Pha Xay
Location: Laos, Central, Vientiane Area
A pair of waterfalls within 2 km of each other: one beautiful multi-tiered waterfall that’s ideal for swimming, and one impressive (seasonal) waterfall that plunges precipitously over a 50 m cliff into a densely forested gorge.
Buddha Park
Location: Laos, Central, Vientiane
Sculpture park filled with fascinating depictions of gods, demons, and animals from both Hinduism and Buddhism. Enter through the demons mouth and ascend a multi-level sculpture depicting hell, earth, and heaven!
Muang Khoun
Location: Laos, Northern, Xiangkhoang Plateau
Although the town was almost completely destroyed by US bombing raids during the 1960’s and 70’s, remnants of Muang Khoun’s rich ancient history shine through the ruins alongside evidence of their more recent history and role in the Second Indochina War.
Mount Phousi
Location: Laos, North Central, Luang Prabang
Religious site in Luang Prabang with various Buddhist shrines and temples; the summit provides panoramic views of the area and is popular at sunset.
Plain of Jars
Location: Laos, Northern, Xiangkhoang Plateau
Experience one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries by visiting the huge Iron Age stone jars clustered on hilltops and valleys throughout the Xiangkhoang Plateau.
Alms Giving Ritual
Location: Laos, North Central, Luang Prabang
Observe a ritual that has been kept for over 600 years, as hundreds of monks from Luang Prabang’s numerous temples and monasteries walk the streets of town at sunrise, collecting alms.