Over 4th of July weekend 2025, we crossed off two big milestones together—our 26th U.S. state (Virginia) and our 26th National Park. It was a bit of a trek to fit in for a weekend, but absolutely worth it for another East Coast adventure filled with mountain views, waterfalls, and easy, rewarding hikes. CAMPING On our 6 hour drive from South Carolina to Virginia, we decided to car camp at a Cracker Barrel in Harrisonburg, VA. This was only a couple minutes off the direct rout

With jagged cliffs rising sharply from the river below, Black Canyon of the Gunnison forms a truly dramatic landscape. With its stark beauty, rich geology, and overwhelming silence, this off-the-beaten-path destination is the perfect way to experience rugged Colorado. We visited for a weekend in late August 2024. Driving from Pueblo to Montrose was quite the road trip, and construction on the US 50 bridge didn't help (hopefully by the time you're reading this, construction ef