Tioga Road
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows
Series of stops along the road between Yosemite Valley and Tuolomne Meadows
Cathedral Lakes
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows Area
Nice hike through pretty scenery to two lakes, both with views of Cathedral Peak
Mist Trail (to Vernal Fall)
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short hike to the impressive Vernal Fall; spray from the falls creates impressive rainbows in morning sunlight
Sentinel Meadow ♦
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy hike providing several of the classic postcard Yosemite views
Mirror Lake
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Seasonal lake offering reflections of the surrounding cliffs when it’s not being used as a swimming hole; in the off season, it’s a meadow/sandy field with mountain views
Bridalveil Falls
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short and easy hike to a year-round waterfall in Yosemite Valley
Lower Yosemite Falls
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy stroll providing views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls ♦
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Historic trail to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, providing outstanding views of some of Yosemite’s most iconic landmarks
Mono Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Lake with fascinating mineral towers (called tufa) exposed due to decreasing lake levels
Lake Sabrina
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Some of the nicest fall foliage displays California has to offer, set amidst lakes, streams, and country roads.
North Fork of Big Pine Creek ♦
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Big Pine
Great trail through mountain scenery to a series of lakes providing views of the Palisades and Palisade Glacier.
Bishop Pass Trail to Long Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Extremely rewarding hike to an expansive lake surrounded by rugged mountains
June Lake Loop
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Pretty lakeside resort area with lovely scenery and nice fall colors in the autumn
Limekiln Trails
Location: California, Central Big Sur
Nice hike through forests to historic limekiln ruins and a waterfall
McWay Waterfall Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Iconic view of the idyllic beach, waterfall, and bay with turquoise water
Ewoldsen Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Nice trail through redwood forests to rolling hills and sweeping coastal views
Partington Cove Trail
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Tunnel and nice walkways lead to a picturesque hidden cove
Tanbark Trail and Tin House ♦
Location: California, Big Sur, Northern
Great hike through redwood forests with a waterfall and great views, ending at the ruins of an old tin house
Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Easy hike featuring a valley viewpoint and waterfall
Bixby Bridge
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Iconic, oft-photographed bridge on the Big Sur coast
Mrauk U ♦
Location: Myanmar, Western, Rakhine State
Former capital of the ancient Arakine Kingdom, Mrauk U is a remote area with a fascinating history and excellent Indiana Jones-esque temples
Yangon
Location: Myanmar, Southern
Largest city in Myanmar, featuring a mix of modern architecture, British colonial buildings, and historic temples and pagodas including the famous Shwedagon Pagoda.
Sunrise Balloon Ride over Bagan ♦
Location: Myanmar, Western Mandalay Region
Balloon ride providing outstanding views of the temples of Old Bagan and the Irrawaddy River.
Bagan
Location: Myanmar, Western Mandalay State
Ancient city and former capital of Myanmar, famous for its historic and picturesque temples and pagodas
Taunggyi Balloon Festival ♦
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Huge festival with giant hot air balloons rigged with pyrotechnics.
Sagar
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Rarely visited ruined royal capital south of Inle Lake, famous for its sunken stupas
Inle Lake
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Beautiful lake with bordering villages famous for its fishermen, temples, and monasteries
Lava Trees State Monument
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Volcanoes National Park Area
Short hike through an area with numerous lava trees
Volcanoes National Park
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Volcanoes National Park
National Park based around the highly active Kilauea volcano; features views of the caldera and crater and the dramatic, scarred volcanic landscape via roads and hikes
Umauma Falls Ziplining
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, North of Hilo
Excellent zip lining course with great coastal and waterfall views
‘Akaka Falls
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, North of Hilo
Very tall and impressive waterfall accessed via a scenic 1 mile jungle hike
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, North of Hilo
Nice botanical garden with a waterfall and bay views
Rainbow Falls
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Hilo
Beautiful waterfall with very easy access; under the right conditions, the spray from the falls makes rainbows
Kealakekua Bay ♦
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Kailua-Kona Area
Fantastic spot for snorkeling that generally sees a lower volume of tourists due to more difficult access
Neang Khmao
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Picturesque distinctly colored temple with blue-black walls
Kepler Track Day Walk
Location: New Zealand, Southland, Te Anau area
Short, scenic section of one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, featuring a great swing bridge and lake views
Queenstown to Milford Helicopter
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Queenstown area
Helicopter flight to iconic Milford Sound offering outstanding views throughout the flight
Queenstown
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Queenstown
Popular travel destination featuring various tourist activities including bungee jumping and jet boating.
Lake Tekapo
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Lake Tekapo area
Lake with beautiful turquoise water set amidst lovely scenery and a cute lakeside town.
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Aoraki/Mt. Cook area
New Zealand’s highest peak; various hikes provide views of the peak and surrounding scenery
Doubtful Sound ♦
Location: New Zealand, Southland, West Coast
Outstanding remote fiord with beautiful scenery, wildlife, and opportunities for fishing.
Milford Sound
Location: New Zealand, Southland, West Coast
Fiord with iconic views accessed via a stunning drive through outstanding scenery
Clifden Cave ♦
Location: New Zealand, Southland, Southern tip
Fun and easy cave with glowworms
Larnach Castle
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Dunedin area
Large historic home with beautiful gardens and coastal views
Lost Gypsy Art Gallery
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Cool art gallery featuring pieces made from recycling materials and specializing in self-wound automata.
Nugget Point
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Scenic lighthouse location with a penguin colony
Lake Wilkie
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Easy scenic walk featuring a boardwalk, plant life, and lake views.
Jack’s Blowhole
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Very pretty, short hike to a surging sea cave
Purakaunui Falls
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Cascading waterfall with a very short but pretty approach hike
Matai and Horseshoe Falls
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Pair of waterfalls accessed via a very short approach hike.
Cathedral Caves ♦
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Fabulous sea caves
McLean Falls
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Pretty waterfall with a short approach hike
Curio Bay ♦
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Petrified forest tidal shelf and home to an easy-to-view colony of penguins.
Waipapa Point Lighthouse
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Southern-most lighthouse on the South Island set amidst classic wind-swept trees.
Fox Glacier ♦
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Fox Glacier area
Scenic glacier with blue ice and nice ice climbing opportunities
Moeraki Boulders
Location: New Zealand, Otago, East Coast
Picturesque ancient rock spheres on a beach
Haast Pass
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, north of Queenstown
Scenic drive across New Zealand’s Southern Alps with stops for waterfalls and beautiful views
Jackson Bay
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, south of Haast
Remote scenic fishing village with a nice fish and chips caravan.
Oamaru
Location: New Zealand, Otago, East Coast
Nice historic town with Victorian-era buildings and a blue penguin colony.
Northern Katmai National Park
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
National park with great scenery, hiking, and fly fishing options
King Salmon
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
Little town with excellent nearby salmon fishing and a great fishing lodge
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes ♦
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
Dramatic and beautiful active volcanic valley – home of the Katmai Crater.
Becharof Lake
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
Great spot with multiple nearby fishing locations and nice hiking
Geographic Harbor ♦
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
Beautiful harbor with wildlife and nice fishing
Golden Gate Bridge
Location: California, San Francisco
Options for viewing the Golden Gate Bridge, including some iconic viewpoints.
Sutro Bath Ruins
Location: California, San Francisco
Explore the ruins of a late 19th century swimming pool complex
Marin Headlands ♦
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Explore a beautiful historic military area including old batteries and bunkers.
Goat Canyon Trestle ♦
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Off trail hike to the famous and historic Goat Canyon wooden trestle
Distance: 6 miles round trip, 3000 feet of elevation gain
Muir Woods
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Hiking amidst beautiful old growth redwood trees
Distance: 0.5 – 10 miles, 0 – 1240 feet of elevation gain
Napa Cycling
Location: California, Napa Valley
Basic information on cycling in Napa (with inspirational scenery pics)
Napa Wineries
Location: California, Napa Valley
Wineries in Napa that are a fun experience aside from the wine (which is also nice, of course).
Calcite Mine & Slot Canyons
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Old calcite mining area with multiple options for non-technical slot canyons
Distance: 4.2 miles round trip, 800 feet of elevation gain
“The Slot”
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Very short non-technical slot canyon with easy access
Distance: 0.8 miles round trip, 100 feet of elevation gain
Wind Caves
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Short hike to cool sandstone formations with pockets, tunnels, and shallow caves.
Distance: 1.25 miles round trip, 250 feet of elevation gain