Our recent van life trip took us to Wisconsin’s Perrot State Park, where the Trempealeau and Mississippi Rivers meet. The park is a beautiful blend of wooded bluffs, wildflower-covered meadows, and natural waterways, giving visitors broad choices on how to best experience it. We were there on our way to the Apostle Islands including Stockton…
Last October, we spent a couple of days at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas, a destination known for its natural beauty and folklore. It spans 3,471 acres on Petit Jean Mountain, with an interesting mix of forests, ravines, streams, and geological formations. The park is a outstanding venue for anyone who likes being outdoors….
At the heart of Custer State Park lies 14 miles of winding pavement called the Needles Highway. Built in the 1920s, the road is an engineering marvel that’s located within the South Dakota Black Hills. Known for its three narrow tunnels, steep climbs, and hairpin turns, the 2-lane road offers park visitors an unforgettable driving…
Nestled inside the stunning Custer State Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota, Sylvan Lake offers visitors an opportunity to experience nature at its best. The pristine lake is surrounded by towering granite cliffs and lush forests, creating a breathtaking backdrop for nature lovers. After a long hike to Black Elk Peak, a swim…
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is one of those places that surprises you — not because it’s hidden, but because it’s far bigger and more dramatic than you expect. Carved deep into the Texas Panhandle just outside Amarillo, this vast canyon stretches for miles with layered red rock walls, winding trails, and wide-open skies that…
Hiking the Black Elk Peak Trail is considered by many to be the best hike in Custer State Park. The 7.5-mile loop starts near Sylvan Lake and winds through the Black Forest Wilderness area. At the summit, hikers stand on a 7,242-foot granite peak—the highest point in South Dakota. Perched on top of the mountain…
Little Devil’s Tower was one of our favorite hiking destinations when we visited Custer State Park in South Dakota. On our second day in the park, we met a local couple who strongly suggested we climb the rock tower. They were very knowledgeable about the park generally and convinced us we should add the hike…
On a morning in September, the stone spires on the Cathedral Trail in Custer State Park stood tall and imposing. Contrasting the towering rock was a vivid blue-sky background draped with fluffy white cumulus clouds. We were on the trail at the break of day and the picturesque landscape in front of us was stunning….
Goblin Valley State Park in Utah is an area covered with soft sandstone “goblins” and numerous other interesting formations. Truly a surreal place to visit, the odd natural shapes are a result of years of erosion. Walking amongst the goblin formations, we instantly felt like we were in a family friendly playground of sorts. It…
In November, southern Missouri experienced unseasonably warm temperatures for a 5-day period. The weather pattern was the excuse we needed to escape to the rustic backwoods in our home state. We decided to point our van Alice towards a tiny mountain town called Eminence. As we pulled away from our house to drive south, we…
When in the planning stages of an upstate New York visit, our friends encouraged us to include the Finger Lake area in our travel plans. This was good advise. Of all the places to visit and discover in the area, the Buttermilk Falls State Park Gorge was one of our favorite destinations. Buttermilk Falls State…
Weston Bend State Park is located in northwest Missouri near the Kansas City metropolitan area. The park is beautifully located along the Missouri river and offers relaxing, camping and other recreational opportunities for park visitors. Gail and I are hunkered down in our home near Kansas City this time of year. We aren’t traveling right…
During a family trip to the Florida panhandle, we happened to pick a week when the weather was less than ideal for hanging out at the beach. For this reason, we began to seek out places to visit in the area with our grandkids where the rain would not hamper our fun. One day, we…
