Travel Destinations & Guides
Ready to figure out where to go next?
You’re in the right place. This is where you’ll find travel guides, road trip ideas, national park adventures, RV destinations, weekend getaways and plenty of inspiration for that trip you haven’t even started planning yet.
My husband and I love hitting the road and exploring new places, so many of the adventures you’ll find here come straight from our own travels. You’ll also find destination guides and travel inspiration for places worth adding to your ever-growing bucket list.
Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway, planning an epic road trip, loading up the RV or finally booking that bucket-list vacation, start exploring below.
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Explore the United States
You definitely don’t have to hop on a 10-hour flight to find an amazing adventure. Some of my favorite trips have been right here in the United States, where you can go from beaches and mountain towns to national parks, quirky roadside stops and cities that are perfect for a long weekend.
Honestly, half the fun is realizing just how much there is to see without ever pulling out your passport.
So, if you’re wondering where to go next, here are a few places to get you started.
Florida
Give me sunshine, palm trees and warm weather, and I’m a pretty happy traveler.
Florida is one of those states where you can plan completely different vacations every time you visit. Spend a few days on the beach, head to the theme parks, explore a new city or keep driving south until you hit Key West. Personally, I’m always a fan of that last option.
Alaska
If Alaska isn’t already on your bucket list, you might want to make some room.
The scenery alone is worth the trip, but then you add wildlife, mountains and those moments when you find yourself staring out the window thinking, “Is this place even real?”
Whether you’re planning your first Alaska adventure or just dreaming about one for now, I’ve got plenty of ideas to help get you started.
Tennessee
Tennessee has a little bit of everything I love about traveling: mountains, music, good food and places where you can have a whole lot of fun without trying too hard.
Spend some time exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, find some live music, grab something delicious to eat and don’t be surprised if you start planning your next Tennessee trip before the first one is over.
Minnesota
Minnesota is home, so you KNOW I have opinions about where you should go.
Yes, our winters can be brutal. However, Minnesota is also filled with beautiful lakes, small towns, scenic drives and some seriously underrated places to explore.
The North Shore alone can keep you busy for days. Plus, summer in Minnesota is pretty hard to beat — although I may be a little biased.
California
California is basically several vacations rolled into one state.
You can spend one trip on the beach, another exploring national parks and another hopping between cities. Then, of course, there are those scenic drives where you’re constantly tempted to pull over for “just one more picture.”
There’s a lot to see here, so don’t expect to knock California off your list in one visit.
Utah
If dramatic scenery makes you happy, Utah is going to keep you VERY happy.
This is serious road-trip country. Around one corner you’ll find red rocks, around another there’s a canyon, and before long you’re wondering how many national parks you can realistically squeeze into one vacation.
My suggestion? Don’t rush it. Utah deserves some time.
Arizona
Arizona is especially tempting when winter back home has gone on about three months longer than I’d like.
Besides the warmer weather, you’ll find desert landscapes, scenic drives, quirky towns and plenty of places that make you want to stay awhile.
It’s also a fantastic state for a road trip because the scenery can change dramatically depending on where you’re headed.
Colorado
Colorado is one of those places where the drive can be just as good as the destination.
Mountain towns, winding roads, outdoor adventures and ridiculous views seem to be everywhere. In fact, you may want to leave extra time in your itinerary because you’re probably going to pull over more than once just to look around.
And really, isn’t that what a good road trip is all about?
Nevada
Let’s get this out of the way: Nevada is NOT just Las Vegas.
Sure, Vegas is fun and absolutely deserves a visit. However, once you get away from the Strip, you’ll find desert scenery, road-trip stops and plenty of other reasons to explore the state.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with ending your Nevada adventure with dinner, a show and a little Vegas people-watching.
More USA Travel
Those are just a few places to get you started.
You’ll also find adventures throughout New York, Massachusetts, Montana, Hawaii, Wisconsin and plenty of other corners of the country. So, whether you’re planning a big vacation or simply trying to figure out where you can escape for a few days, keep digging.
You may find a place you hadn’t even considered.
Explore All United States Travel Guides →
Popular U.S. Destinations
Sometimes you know exactly which state you want to visit. Other times, you just want someone to point you toward a really fun place and say, “GO HERE.”
Well…here are a few.
Key West, Florida
Key West has colorful sunsets, warm weather, great food, quirky characters and an island attitude that makes you forget what day it is.
That’s probably part of the reason I love it.
You can visit more than once and still find something new to eat, see or do. Plus, sometimes doing absolutely nothing with a cold drink and a sunset counts as an activity.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Vegas isn’t just casinos and late nights.
There are incredible shows, restaurants, attractions and some pretty great day trips once you’re ready to escape the Strip for a while. Plus, the people-watching alone could probably qualify as free entertainment.
Whether you’re going for a wild weekend or a completely different kind of Vegas vacation, there’s more to explore than you might think.
Salem, Massachusetts
If you love history, witches, Halloween or anything slightly spooky, Salem should probably be on your list.
Of course, fall gets most of the attention. Still, there’s plenty of fascinating history here beyond Halloween.
And if spooky season IS your thing? Well, you’re definitely going to have fun.
Explore America’s National Parks
I have a hard time being anywhere near a national park without figuring out how to work it into the trip.
“Well, we’re already this close…”
You know how that goes.
Thankfully, America’s national parks are home to some of the most incredible scenery in the country. They’re also perfect for road trips, RV adventures and those bucket-list vacations you talk about taking “someday.”
From famous parks you’ve seen a thousand times in pictures to places you may not know much about yet, there’s always another one worth exploring.
Explore More of North America
Ready to venture beyond the United States? You don’t necessarily have to go very far.
There are some incredible adventures waiting throughout North America, and each destination brings something completely different to the table.
Canada
Canada is one of those places where you can plan a city vacation, an outdoor adventure or one heck of a road trip.
There’s beautiful scenery, interesting cities, great food and more territory than most of us could ever cover in one trip. Therefore, I’d suggest not even trying.
Pick a place, enjoy it and save the rest for another adventure.
Mexico
Sometimes you just need sunshine, good food and a completely different view.
Mexico delivers all three.
Whether you’re dreaming about beaches, exploring local culture or planning a warm-weather escape, Mexico can feel worlds away without requiring you to travel halfway around the globe.
Puerto Rico
Beautiful beaches? Check.
Colorful towns, history, incredible food and tropical scenery? Check, check and check.
Puerto Rico packs a lot into one destination. Plus, it’s one of those places where you can mix relaxing beach days with sightseeing and exploring instead of having to choose between the two.
Explore South America
If South America has been sitting somewhere on your bucket list, consider this your reminder to move it up a few spots.
The continent is filled with incredible food, fascinating cultures, beautiful cities and scenery that doesn’t look real until you’re standing in front of it.
Better yet, every country offers something completely different.
Brazil
Brazil has an energy that’s hard to explain until you experience it.
Rio de Janeiro may get much of the attention, but there’s so much more to see beyond the city. Beaches, islands, food and unforgettable experiences make Brazil the kind of destination where one trip simply isn’t enough.
Peru
Yes, Machu Picchu is incredible. However, Peru is SO much more than one famous destination.
Cusco and Lima each offer completely different experiences, while the country’s history, culture, food and scenery give you plenty of reasons to stick around and explore.
Basically, don’t fly all that way just to check one thing off your bucket list.
Chile
Chile is another destination that deserves a little more attention.
Between its cities and dramatic landscapes, there’s plenty here for travelers who like mixing sightseeing with outdoor adventure.
If you’re planning a bigger South America trip, don’t overlook it.
Not sure where to start? Browse everything I’ve collected from this part of the world.
Explore All South America Travel Guides →
Explore Europe
Europe has a funny way of making your travel bucket list longer instead of shorter.
You visit one country and suddenly you’ve added five more.
Maybe it’s the historic cities, cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture. Or perhaps it’s the food. Let’s be fair — the food has a LOT to do with it.
From France and Iceland to Italy, Portugal, Spain and beyond, there’s always another city, small town or hidden corner tempting you to book another flight.
Explore Asia
Asia can feel like stepping into an entirely different world, which is exactly why it’s such an exciting place to travel.
One day you can be surrounded by the energy of a huge city. A few days later, you might be relaxing on a tropical island, wandering through an ancient temple or eating something amazing from a tiny local restaurant.
From Thailand and Vietnam to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, Southeast Asia alone could keep your travel calendar full for years.
Hit the Road With Me
Sometimes the destination isn’t even the best part of the trip.
For me, that’s the beauty of a road trip.
You can stop at the weird roadside attraction, take the scenic route just because it looks interesting or discover some tiny town you never intended to visit. Better yet, nobody is telling you that boarding ends in 15 minutes.
See something interesting? Pull over.
Change your mind about where you’re going? Go somewhere else.
Whether you’re planning a quick weekend escape or a multi-state adventure, sometimes having a loose plan and a full tank of gas is all you really need.
Explore by RV
Have RV, will travel!
One of my favorite things about RV travel is the freedom it gives us. We can spend more time outside, discover smaller destinations, stay near national parks and, most importantly, bring the dogs along for the adventure.
Of course, RV travel comes with its own set of adventures — and occasionally a few “well, THAT wasn’t supposed to happen” moments.
That’s part of the fun.
Here you’ll find RV destinations, campground ideas, road-trip inspiration, travel tips and plenty of things we’ve learned along the way.
Where Will You Go Next?
Here’s the problem with traveling: every trip seems to add three more places to the bucket list.
It’s a vicious cycle.
A warm beach sounds good until you see pictures of an incredible national park. Then someone mentions a road trip. Suddenly you’re looking at RV parks, airfare and hotels when you were supposed to be doing something completely unrelated.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Whether you’re dreaming about a warm-weather escape, planning a national park road trip, looking for your next RV destination or finally taking that big international vacation, I hope something here inspires you to start planning.
After all, the hardest part may simply be deciding where to go first.
So…where are you going next?
Destination Inspiration
Still looking for ideas? Come hang out with me on Instagram, where I share more travel adventures, destination inspiration, behind-the-scenes fun and whatever else happens along the way.
Just don’t blame me when your travel bucket list gets even longer.