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Trekking on Top of the World

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:10:15 +0000

To catch some of you up, I’ve spent the last 2 weeks in Nepal. During that time, I trekked the Annapurna Circuit for 11 days, which is said to be one of the top treks in the world.

Done. Dusted. Complete!

Ryan-1, Annapurna Circuit, Nepal-0.

I’ve climbed to the highest I’ve ever been in my life (18,000ft, 5416m), saw some of the most incredible views imaginable, and conquered one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced.

It's tough, but it's worth it!

And now I sit in front of a computer in Germany telling you about it. It’s almost like a weird dream to be connected back to the outside world after going off the map for the last few weeks.

It’s even weirder when I consider I now have hot water at my disposal, internet, heating, and a bed that’s not literally rock hard. That said, I wouldn’t trade my experience in Nepal for anything. It was nothing short of AMAZING!

My buddy, Cailan, and I both agree that trekking through the Himalaya is a MUST for everyone at least once in their lifetime.

That said, the Annapurna Circuit is no walk in the park. It’s a strenuous (10 day minimum to however long you want) trek up to probably the highest trekking pass you will ever get to without crampons.

Suspension bridge over rivers mark the beginning of the trek

It traverses terraced rice fields to river gorges to high alpine valleys to finally mountain passes.

And it does so at a fairly rapid ascent and descent, which keeps you constantly on your toes. You never know if you may be scaling the side of a cliff around the next bend.

And in my opinion, January or February (the offseason) are the very best times to visit the Himalaya. My buddy and I were literally the only native English speakers we saw on the trail for an entire 10 days.

Hell, we only ran into 5 other tourists the entire time!

And that’s what we really wanted out of it. A sense of adventure, even if the trail is well worn during certain times of the year.

For entire days we would only see locals, which gave us a sense that we were out in the middle of nowhere. I suppose it wasn’t too far from the truth.

The beauty of the offseason is that we had entire teahouses to ourselves. Sometimes, we were the only foreigners in the entire town!

For those of you unfamiliar with teahouse treks, we walked from town to town during the day and stayed the night in teahouses that offer shelter, food, and a bed for weary trekkers along the trail.

It was exactly what we were looking for. Because let’s face it, even if it’s a popular trekking route, who wants to be trekking alongside and behind hundreds of other tourists? It just wouldn’t feel right to me.

And prices are cheap. And by cheap, I mean 30 cents a night for a bed type of cheap! For the entire 2 weeks, I didn’t spend more than $400. That’s what I call a bargain.

How many people can say they went on vacation and was money ahead?!

Another reason to go trekking in the Himalaya now is because they are building roads to get massive amounts of tourists to these moutains with as little effort as possible. To me, that just sorta seems like cheating. And who wants to be hiking next to crazed Nepali drivers who refuse to lay off their horn while deisel exhaust pours out the back of buses built in the 1960’s?

It just seems like that would defeat the whole purpose of going trekking in the mountains. Luckily for us, they still have a long way to go to build these roads. I’m told they are supposed to be completed in 3-4 years, however I don’t really see how that’s possible given the fact that they have the biggest mountains in the world to blast through in order to build such a road.

My hope is that they just forget this whole road business. However, I think it’s just a pipe dream.

One downside to going in the offseason is that it’s cold! And by cold, I mean -10 to -15 cold. It’s the kind of cold you feel in your bones and makes your nostrils burn every breath you take. Luckily, the more you move, the warmer you get and as you near the altitude where it gets this type of cold, you’re moving quite a bit. Usually in the uphill direction.

The final days are marked by uphill climbs, usually quite cold

Also, services tend to stop during the offseason like buses. At the end of our trek, we hoped to catch a bus down the valley. However, there was no bus service so we were forced to hoof it for 5 hours. Not what we planned, but the view was nice, it was downhill, and we weren’t time crunched.

However, if you were on a time schedule, this could be a HUGE problem.

Now about the trek in general.

I truly mean it when I say this was the best trekking of my life. The Himalaya literally shoot straight up out of the ground. There aren’t really any slopes to these mountains. They’re just vertical sheer faces of rock that rise higher than any other place on Earth.

If there’s a place to find religion, it would probably be here.

Unbelievable views!

The views are to die for, but the Nepali people equally enhanced the trip. I can say with confidence that I’ve never met a more friendly, welcoming, and helpful nationality as the Nepali’s in all my travels (at least those outside of the big cities).

We were constantly amazed at how hospitable the Nepali people are even with what little they have. Given the fact that we were the only ones in town, we really got to see the people for who they are. To say the least, I was impressed.

Now to the food.

DELICIOUS! People always told me that I would definitely get sick off the food in Nepal. However, I never had one problem and I ate what the locals ate. Either the Nepali’s have cleaned up their act or it’s just a bad rumor, but I never got sick once off their food.

And I’ve officially been converted to curry. Mmmmm….

I truly feel blessed to have spent the last 2 weeks in Nepal. It was an absolutely incredible experience marked with great food, incredible people, and amazing views.

And I’ll say it one more time: The Himalaya is a place everybody should experience at least once in their lifetime. I guarantee it’s something you won’t ever forget.

Who wouldn't want views like this?

Ryan’s Travel in 2012 (Thus Far)

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:36:18 +0000

As I’m sitting here in my folks nice comfortable living room with a cup of coffee, fast wifi, my dog, and a fully stocked refrigerator, I realize that it will be the last time I’m going to live this comfortably for a while.

Travel is rough isn’t it?

Tomorrow I embark on a journey to the highest mountains in the world, the Himalayas of Nepal!

For 2 weeks, I’m going to attempt to trek the Annapurna Circuit (weather cooperating) with a one of my best friends that I’ve known since kindergarten.

When I tell most people I’m hiking through the Himalayas, they give me a puzzled look and ask, “Have you trained for that?”

My answer is yes, but I reality I’ve just been to the gym everyday for the last 2 weeks, drank marginally less than what is normal for the holidays, and hope that my relatively young age will work to my advantage.

That said, the Annapurna Circuit is a well traveled, not overly difficult trek with mountain views that are said to be some of the best in the world. I’m stoked.

My buddy, Cailan, and I have a vague idea of what the plan and route is once we arrive to Kathmandu, but have left things a bit undefined so that there’s a little more adventure in the trip. And the fact that the entire thing depends on weather and we won’t know what that will be until we arrive.

Armed with a new digital camera, a guidebook, and backpacks weighing less than 25 pounds each, we are hitting the trail and not looking back.

We will be staying in tea houses along the way, which dot the trail every few hours. The tea houses provide food, shelter, and water to trekkers. So nobody should worry about us while we are away (that’s more directed at my worrying family). It definitely should be an experience worth writing about when I return.

The last time I did something like this was on the Na Pali coast in Kauai. 1 summer sausage, 1 hammock, and an ultraviolet light water purifier. I survived!

At the end of January, I return to Germany just after having been there in December. I’ll spend 3 weeks in Germany and celebrate Carnival in Cologne which is said to have one of the biggest and best Carnival celebrations in the world (I’ve already been to Rio for the biggest).

During that time, I’ll be returning to Siena, Italy where I once lived and studied for 3 months in 2007. I’m very excited to return to the place that has had so much influence on who I am today.

Italy was where I think the “travel bug” really took hold and is when I decided that travel wasn’t just for leisure for me, but was a part of who I am.

And I can’t wait to indulge in the euro bottles of Chianti. Life is good indeed!

After Germany and Italy, I’m flying to Rio de Janeiro to do a short 2 month stint of traveling through South America. I’ll be reunited (for the 3rd time) with friends that I met on my first euro trip in 2007 and will primarily stick to Brazil, Argentina and then move northwards if time allows.

By that time, it should be around April and I’ll be starting my tour guiding season in North America. If you’re interested at all in seeing America, check out TrekAmerica.com, which is the tour company I work for. We do 50+ tours through all the best locations in North America and it’s an incredible time. Who knows, maybe I could be your guide!

As it may be a while before I return to FME, may you all have a fantastic New Year and I’ll be in touch once I return from the mountains of Nepal.

And remember, life’s too short not to enjoy. If traveling is what you love, get out there and do it. Nobody is stopping you!

5 Reasons Why You Should Book Your Next Ski Holiday In The Alps

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:54:42 +0000

This last December, I was lucky enough to have a holiday in the Austrian Alps. Specifically, I was in Solden, Austria.

Quite frankly, it was best skiing of my life, hands down!

I’ve done a bit of skiing in my day (by no means am I a pro) and I knew places like Solden existed. I just didn’t realize how incredible it is to actually SKI in the Alps.

There are mountains as far as the eye can see, wide slopes, and towns that literally revolve around the ski/snowboard holiday.

Here are 5 reasons I think everyone should enjoy at least 1 ski holiday in the Alps in their lifetime.

1. The Views Are To Die For

I’ve been on top of mountains and seen some great views, but nothing like the Alps. Literally, in every direction you look there are mountains as far as the eye can see. And the great thing is, is that you maintain this view the entire time you’re skiing down the slopes.

The view is obviously pleasant to the eyes and nourishing for the soul. Maybe that’s because I love being on mountains, but if that can’t put you in a good mood, I don’t know what will.

2. The Alps (For Now) Still Have Glaciers

At least in Solden, Austria (And I’m sure many other ski resort areas in the Alps), glaciers ensure skiing early to very late in the season, if not all year round.

These glaciers are rapidly shrinking, but for now skiers can get there ski on as early as October.

With early seasons means less crowds. December is still early in the ski season and it meant short lines and wide open slopes on my holiday. Perfect for getting your ski legs under you if its been a while since you’ve rocketed down a mountain.

3. The Slopes Are Huge

In Solden, it took us 1 full hour on the ski-lift to get to the last reachable slope. Even with large crowds, I don’t see how you could feel crowded. There’s just too much space!

Again, this is perfect if you’re just learning or getting back into the swing of things.

In 3 full days of skiing, we only repeated the same slopes a few times. And if we really wanted, we could’ve been on a different slope all day every day if our skill level was up to par.

And even if you’re a beginner, there are plenty of slopes to keep you entertained for a minimum of 3 days.

4. They Speak English

It definitely helps if you have a German girlfriend who can communicate with the locals (German is the most widely spoken language in the Alps region). I just let her do the talking and followed like a lost puppy dog.

However it’s not a necessity. I would’ve been just fine only speaking English. Although German is the first language spoken, almost everyone speaks English fluently or at least knows somebody who does.

Most restaurants have English menus and most hotels accommodate to English speakers. So don’t let language hold you back.

5. It’s Not As Expensive As You Think

The view from our hotel

I thought 4 days in the Alps would destroy my travel budget.

Although it’s not the cheapest thing to do in the world, it’s not insanely expensive.

For a 3 day ski pass and ski rental for 3 days, I paid a total of $300 U.S.

And a hotel that was literally 150 yards from the ski lifts and in the middle of town was only $250 for 4 nights. Not bad at all if you ask me.

And to think for 4 days including food and transportation, I spent less than $900, I’d say that’s pretty affordable.

Hell, ski passes alone in the United States can run over $100 a day at the most premiere locations. And that’s not including food, transportation, accommodation, drinking, and entertainment.

The relatively affordable costs combined with some of the best skiing in the world and memories that last a lifetime make this $900 expenditure a no-brainer for me.

So the next time you’ve got some money burning a hole in your pocket during the winter season, think the Alps. It’s worth every penny!

Latvia: Where You Can Bobsled Like the Jamaicans!

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:51:07 +0000

I received a lot of blank stares when I told people I was visiting Latvia. It’s one of those places that few people have heard about and even fewer have visited.

That said, it won’t be that way for much longer.

And for good reason!

Riga, it’s capital, is in the midst of taking off as a heralded party city as well as a cultural highlight in Eastern Europe.

To add to Latvia’s growing prosperity is that Riga is serviced by Ryanair. That means cheap, cheap, cheap flights.

I flew across the entire of Europe with Ryanair for $40 U.S. dollars. In England, $40 bought me a 2 hour bus journey. Go figure!

Riga looks to offer a huge array of party themed options. That, combined with cheap flights getting there, and it’s a winning combination of getting tourists from all over the world to flock to your city.

However, I was in Latvia in December.

Things were fairly quiet and the party themed activities were all mostly shut down for the season. But there were still 2 activities worth mentioning: firing large fully automatic weapons and bobsledding.

Now, I’m all for having fun shooting guns, but I was brought up with them. I take my passengers to shoot a wide array of guns every time I’m in Vegas. It doesn’t have the same appeal to me as it does to a Brit or Aussie who has never laid eyes upon such a thing. Needless to say, I passed.

However, I couldn’t pass up getting a chance to ride in a bobsled just like the Jamaicans in “Cool Runnings.”

Apparently, Riga is 1 of 4 places in the world where the public is allowed to ride in a bobsled.

There are a total of 16 tracks throughout the world, but only 4 allow the public due to insurance and safety reasons. Sounds like my cup of tea!

And the chances of me getting this opportunity again were minimal.

You only live life once, right?

So after signing my life away, a brilliant idea came through my head.

In preparation for the freezing temperatures of Europe in December (which never happened) I packed full spandex as a base layer for those cold temperatures. And what do professional bobsledders wear? You guessed it, spandex!

So I rocked full spandex on my way to bobsledding with complete strangers. I was told I was the first person to do such a thing. The important thing was that I looked the part and like somebody who was serious about bobsledding. Screw it if the guy next to me was wearing jeans and flannel!

Just like the Jamaicans!

Another great thing about bobsledding in Latvia is that the Latvians won Olympic Gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That made me feel a little bit better about our odds of turning into a tangled mess of metal and dismembered body parts.

How it worked was that the Olympic Gold Medalist was your driver, and then he took 3 eager tourists with him down the track making it a four person squad.

You really got to know your neighbor quick as you got into the metal bullet with ice skates. With your legs fully forward, arms at your knees, and face in the back of the person in front of you, it was close quarters.

An Australian and myself were the last to go in our group of 8 and I felt sorry for the poor English lady who showed up with her group, but was quickly ushered into our bobsled. She didn’t even have a chance to think as she arrived, was given a helmet immediately, told to sit in front of me, and off we went down the track. I don’t think she even got a chance to say goodbye to her friends that she arrived with.

The only thing that was going through my head was quotes from Cool Runnings like “Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time! COOL RUNNINGS!”

At that moment, I’ve never felt more Jamaican in all my life. And again, I looked the part too.

Seconds before racing down the track

We cheated a bit as we didn’t have a running start and all hop in the bobsled one at a time like in the movies. Rather, a lady gave us a push start and we slowly started our descent down the track. I don’t think we broke any speed records.

However, we quickly gained speed and as we wormed our way down the track, we hit top speeds of 120 mph and 3-4 G’s. They say it’s the closest thing you can get to flying a fighter jet on land.

And 48.39 seconds later, we reached the finish line in one piece!

I don’t think the English woman in front of me appreciated it as I screamed like I was on a roller coaster at every turn. She giggled nervously and I think was hoping for the ride to be over.

Personally, I thought the bobsled was an incredible thrill. I didn’t think it was too scary. No more thrilling than some of the roller coaster rides in American Theme Parks. Granted, the bobsled jostled your neck and back a bit, but that’s why you do these things when your young!

I felt sorry for the 50+ year old guy who came after us. After getting out of the bobsled, all he could do was grimace and squeeze his lower back. Probably not the best candidate for a ride in a bobsled if you have back problems.

The one downside is that it’s not cheap to ride in a bobsled. About a 100 US dollars for a 45 second thrill. But again, where else are you going to have the opportunity to do such a thing?

So if you ever find yourself in Europe, hop on a cheap Ryanair flight, get to Riga, Latvia, and speed down an ice track in a death box on skates! It’s something you won’t soon forget.

How Travel Changes You

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:46:48 +0000

If you haven’t noticed around here at FME, I’m a HUGE advocate for travel.

Traveling has literally transformed my life into what it is today. It’s opened my eyes up to new cultures, new ideas, a new way of life, and ultimately has helped me grow as a person.

With all that said, here’s a few ways in which travel has changed me or how I’ve seen it change other people.

I could write a novel about this, but I’ll stick to the main ways in which travel makes the biggest changes in peoples’ lives.

Socially

When you travel (or at least when I do) you’re forced to put yourself out there more often then at home.

Especially traveling alone. Most people can only hack being alone for a few days, TOPS.

Unless you want to sit around staring at a wall, you’re going to have to become outgoing. By introducing yourself to the stranger next to you, you open yourself up to new opportunities, new people, and a far more interesting conversation then that with a wall. It enhances any trip tenfold, trust me.

I can’t tell you how many long lasting friendships I’ve made by introducing myself to a fellow backpacker in the hostel lobby or bar. I try this same maneuver at home and it doesn’t work as well. However, most travelers are incredibly welcoming and looking to meet new people just like you. It’s the perfect storm for meeting friends from across the globe.

Are you shy? Traveling totally helps you overcome that fear or whatever it is that’s causing shyness.

Its happened to me and many, many other travelers just like me. You start off a little nervous, maybe a bit scared to make that first introduction. But before you know it, you’re surrounded by almost complete strangers, yet somehow they’ve become your closest friends over the last 20 minutes. Crazy how that happens when you travel.

And that overcoming of shyness then transitions to your life back home. Traveling literally kicks down that wall of shyness because quite simply, there’s no room for it. There’s too much fun to be had and too many cool people to meet.

Along with becoming more outgoing, travel teaches you to do things you would never consider before.

It puts you outside your comfort zone and ultimately allows you to grow as a person. This can include new experiences, new food, interacting with new types of people, etc.

In my opinion, the #1 best way to intensify your travel experiences as well as come way with memories that last a lifetime is get out of your comfort zone.

Try something new and wacky.

Be spontaneous.

In the end, more often then not, it will be something you’re glad you did.

Ever ate a beating snake heart? Before Vietnam, I would’ve said no.

What about ride a walrus in Cape Town? Check.

How about white water raft down a raging river full of Africa’s deadliest animal, the hippopotamus, and crocodiles? Been there, done that, was flipped out of the raft, and survived to tell the tale.

Seriously, the list goes on and on the more you travel. And for me, the opportunities get more and more ridiculous.

That’s the very essence of travel, isn’t it? Because if you just wanted to sit around and do the same old thing, you’d do that on your couch at home.

Traveling also helps you overcome financial limits.

Financially, travel first teaches you how to save those pennies and dimes to get out and jet-set in the first place.

I traveled around the world all of 2010. And I cherished that year much more because I knew I spent the last 2 years saving up to be traveling. Although it would’ve been nice to be given a huge chunk of change, I think it’s much more gratifying when you’ve earned and saved the money yourself.

And then once there, you’re forced to budget and monitor your expenses (unless you’re one of those lucky trust fund babies). You’re literally on your own and there’s nobody looking out for you except you, so I suppose it’s time to take some responsibility.

I witnessed so many people on my travels seriously strapped for cash. I wondered to myself, how can they be that skint? Didn’t they know they were running out of money before they actually got there? Sometimes (not all the time) I think it comes down to people not taking responsibility for themselves and expecting to be bailed out by some unfortunate soul.

Verifiably

Travel isn’t always easy. And it’s not always fun and games (although it’s more often than not). You’re sleeping at odd hours, always on the move, and constantly being bombarded by sensory overload.In reality, it’s quite tough on the body.

Personally, I’ve learned to go with the flow and not stress too much. My 26 hour bus ride with chickens running down the center isle has just turned into 32 hours? No problem, just take another Tylenol P.M. and sleep blissfully away.

To be honest, I’ve found most stress to be unwarranted. Many problems are out of your control anyways, especially when traveling.

You’ve got two choices: Fix/overcome the issue or stress. I prefer the former.

This has transitioned into my overall lifestyle. It’s much better than being on edge all the time.

Travel can also be the perfect reason or motivation to start working on your health, or the perfect kick-start to a health regime.

That bus seat feeling a bit tight? I couldn’t think of a better time to start burning some calories and transforming yourself into that lean, mean, traveling machine.
On the flip side, there’s the mental aspect to traveling. To put it bluntly, travel is a total mind trip!

Although I’ve become accustomed to it, it’s very hard to say goodbye to travel friends. You’re constantly with these people and by the end, you feel closer to travel amigos than your best friends. It’s crazy how a bond can grow so tightly over such a small period of time, but it does.

Travel has taught me to cherish the times I’ve had and look forward to the future. Rather than dwell on what was, I look forward to what will be.

And that’s the whole point isn’t it?

The list is limitless to the amount of fabulous places, incredible people, and amazing things to do out in this big world of ours. The future looks ever more promising as traveling is becoming easier for all of us. So get out there and do it! Nobody is stopping you.

Where In The World Is Ryan?

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:43:41 +0000

Life is probably going to look something a bit like this for the next month

If you know me at all, you’d know that I don’t stay in one place for too long.

That’s really the thing with living the lifestyle I live. Constantly being on the move, meeting new people, and seeing new sights becomes addictive.

Traveling quite literally has become a drug for me.

With all this said, this winter will be no different than the last one and I’m headin’ out on a jet plane this Wednesday.

My destinations will include England, Latvia, Sweden, Germany, and Austria. It’s going to be butt cold, but I’m looking forward to visiting friends, Christmas Markets, the Alps, and seeing Europe in the off-season.

A few people have asked me for an itinerary so I’ll just post it for all to see.

And if you’re in one of these places the same time as I, send me an email and let’s meet up for drinks!

November 17th-London, England

November 18th-Northampton, England

November 19th-22nd-Bath, Bristol, Stonehenge, and the Cotswolds

November 23rd-24th-Still up in the air

November 25th-York, England

November 26th-Manchester, England

November 27th-28th-Manchester/Sheffield/Liverpool. Not sure yet?

November 29th-Liverpool, England

November 30th-December 3rd-Riga, Latvia

December 3rd-7th-Stockholm, Sweden

December 7th-12th-Solden, Austria-Skiing in the Alps!

December 13th-14th-Koblenz, Germany

December 15th-Stuttgart, Germany

December 16th-18th-Somewhere in Europe?

December 19th-London, England

December 20th-Fly back to Portland. Oregon for the holidays

Hopefully I'll be doing some serious skiing in Europe!

It’s a bit weird for me to be so structured, but that’s just how this 3rd trip to Europe has worked out.

Usually I arrive someplace without a plan and go with the flow. I like it better that way. Places are much more a surprise and I like the feeling of not knowing where I’ll be next.

But with all the friends I’m planning to see and new places I want to check out, that’s an impossibility.

So that’s where in the world I’ll be.

As usual, I’ll do my best to check in once in a while, but no promises!

And again, if you find yourself in any of those places the same time as I, let’s meet up!

8 Must See National Parks of the American Southwest

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:41:40 +0000

Grand Canyon National Park

Not a bad view

It’s all in the name, trust me.

The biggest and baddest canyon of them all is so big that it can even be seen from space. Amazing!

And in my opinion, THE ONLY way to get a grasp on how big the Grand Canyon really is, is to take an exhilarating helicopter ride over it. It’s a bit expensive, but I’ve never had a passenger come back saying they wished they hadn’t spent the money.

Once you get a grasp on the vastness of the Canyon, there are trails ranging from a flat paved rim trail that meanders on the edge of the canyon all the way to a trail that takes you to the Colorado River at the bottom.

There’s something for everyone and the sheer size and scope of the Grand Canyon is sure to mesmerize you for hours.

Zion National Park

Although Zion gets much less visitors (about 2 million less) than the Grand Canyon, it’s unique and incredible in it’s own respect.

Zion offers guests a look at some of the tallest sandstone cliffs in the world.

It also offers one of the coolest hikes in the southwest where you can trudge up a river (during the right time of year) as the canyon walls get narrower and narrower. Thus the “narrows” hike was born.

Again, hikes for all skill levels are available from a leisurely stroll on the canyon floor to an ascent to Angel’s Landing for a heavenly view of the canyon below. For more information on Zion hikes, click here.

Zion’s lush vegetation on the valley floor contrasted against the surrounding red and golden cliffs soothes the soul. This place truly is a sanctuary for whoever visit.

Canyonlands National Park

The Colorado Plateau

Canyonlands is huge! It’s actually separated into 3 districts. The “Island in the Sky” district is best for incredible panoramic views of the power of water erosion. You get a first hand glimpse of how rivers carve their way through the Colorado Plateau sandstone and follow the path of least resistance. Sunset is a must at “Island in the Sky.”

The “Needles” district offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with the crazy rock formations created by this erosion. Although it may be a bit long (11 miles), the Chesler Loop hike in the “Needles” district is one of the best in the southwest, if not the world. It’s as if you’re walking on a different planet. And that’s not just from me, that’s what passengers have told me themselves!

Bryce Canyon National Park

Hundreds and hundreds of hoodoos

Although it’s quite a small National Park, it’s equally as impressive as larger ones.

The incredible hoodoos appear to take the form of faces and animals, if given enough imagination. No wonder the Native Americans were afraid of this place!

Now, people wonder in amongst these giant products of erosion in awe of their interesting shapes and sizes.

The hikes are very doable in a day and the elevation gain of 500 feet isn’t too strenuous.

If you’re ever at Bryce Canyon during full moon, DO the full moon hike. The moon’s glow lights the path as you follow the canyon edge. The air is still, it’s completely silent, and it’s one of the most incredible hikes if ever done.

Monument Valley

Sleeping under the amazing stars

Although not a National Park, the best and most fun way to experience Navajo culture is by visiting Monument Valley.

This place may be most well known for it’s association with western movies, but it’s also a fantastic way to experience a culture that is like no other in the world.

The Navajos are descendants of the Anasazi who were the original inhabitants of the area. Their respect for the land and unique cultural practices open up your mind to what life was like here thousands of years before the white man arrived.

Something surely not to be missed.

And the stars are to die for if you get a chance to stay out in the valley overnight!

How these huge rocks literally shoot out of ground like gigantic trees is mind boggling. A jeep tour in amongst these rock monoliths is a must and an overnight stay is highly encouraged if you want the full experience of Monument Valley.

Arches National Park

Delicate Arch

There are over 2,000 Arches within Arches National Park. And the iconic Delicate Arch is an absolute must to see.

Although the hike may be a bit steep for few, the view at the top, with Delicate Arch at what seems to be on top of the world, is to die for. Especially at sunset!

If you’re not up for a hike, don’t worry. There’s a lower viewing area t0 see Delicate Arch from below that’s only a few hundred yard walk.

Landscape Arch is another short hike worth doing. It’s not difficult, and although this arch is doomed to fall, it’s unreal how it currently hangs in the balance.

And the best part is, is that it’s only a short drive from the cool town of Moab where you can enjoy a burger and brew after a full day of sightseeing.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde offers another glimpse into the lives of the original inhabitants of the southwest.

The Pueblo Indians built their homes and towns into the side of cliffs, while they cultivated the land above. Incredible, thinking this was done hundreds, if not thousands of years ago.

Not only were the cliffs good because of an already built in shelter, but they were also good for defenses and preservation for us today.

These insights into what life was like for those in the past is fascinating and puzzling all at the same time.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

If you’re afraid of bats (or the dark), you probably shouldn’t come here.

Carlsbad Caverns is home to a large bat population that expels the caverns every evening in their hunt for food.

During the day, guests get the opportunity to explore a massive complex of caves and caverns that leaves your jaw dropped.

As you walk further and further down, the light fades and an underground world emerges. Stalactites hang from the cavern ceiling as stalagmites slowly grow until they finally converge into a column.

The walk down is fairly easy and a convenient elevator takes you back to the top so don’t fret too much. This unique opportunity to explore an underground world is something not to be missed.

The American southwest is one of my favorite regions in the world. In very few other places, do you have the opportunity to see so many cool and unique landscapes in such close proximity.

So get out there and explore, nobodies stopping you!