On Day 14 of our Lake Superior Bike Tour we crossed the Soo Locks on the Sault International Bridge and reentered the US after spending nine days cycling through Canada. In this blog post, we discuss what it’s like to go through customs on a bike, our favorite spots in the Hiawatha National Forest, a great sandy swimming spot on Lake Superior, and a free campsite along the North Country Trail.
Read MoreMost people who visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park stay above the canyon walls, but for the intrepid and hiker, hiking into the inner canyon is a wonderful and intimate way to experience the canyon. We opted to take the short but very steep Gunnison Route down to the Gunnison River. Here’s our guide to hiking into the Black Canyon.
Read MoreThe Outer Banks are one of the biggest travel destinations in North Carolina. White sandy beaches stretch into the distance. Colorful houses stand on skinny legs ready for flooding. And blissful buttery seafood abounds. That said, there are some places that are just not conducive to traveling in a camper van. The Outer Banks in winter just might be one of those places.
Read MoreWhen most people think of places known for art, they probably do not think of Raleigh, North Carolina. We were really surprised when on a cloudy day in February, we were able to spend a day totally immersed in art in Raleigh. The best part about it was that all of the art was free to visit.
Read MoreWe ended our Oregon Coast Highway 101 vanlife road trip on a high note on the southern border of Oregon. With rugged cliffs, natural arches offshore at Samuel Boardman Scenic Cooridor, 19th-century lighthouses at Cape Arago, and strange formal flower gardens that once belonged to a lumber baron at Shore Acres State Park, there are lots of great spots to discover in the southwestern corner of the state.
Read MoreIan and I have been traveling for almost a year now, and we have hiked thousands of miles of trails across the country. The Oregon Coast was one of the most unexpected places that we have discovered during our travels. The biggest surprise of all was the John Dellenback Dunes Trail, which is one of our favorite day hikes we have ever done.
Read MoreWe love western Oregon and the Oregon Coast. Heceta Head Lighthouse and the Siltcoos Lake Trail in the Siuslaw National Forest are great destinations on the coast. There’s a lot to love inland too! Take the Umpqua River Highway inland to spot some elk in the Dean Creek Elk Viewing area. Then get your bike out for a ride on the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway.
Read MoreWhile Tilamook might be most famous for its cheese, Cape Meares is also well worth a visit while in the area. Cape Meares like many Oregon Coast state parks has a beautifully preserved historic lighthouse, and just a short walk from the lighthouse is a very oddly shaped tree called the Octopus Tree. Before we left we even saw a pod of gray whales that were feeding and breaching fairly close to shore!
Read MoreIf you're planning a road trip through the Redwood Forest in Northern California, there are many stops and special trees along the way that you won't want to miss. Here are our favorite things to do in the Redwood National and State Parks. Plus find our recommendations for free campsites for vanlife near the Redwood Forest.
Read MoreHere are 8 stops we visited that any first time visitor wouldn’t want to miss on a visit to America’s first protected park land! As always at the end of this post, you’ll find free camping suggestions near Yosemite.
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