bugsy running on lone rock beach with the airstream and f-150 in the background

Tag: national parks

  • Big Bend National Park (visit #3)–Big Trip #2

    Big Bend National Park (visit #3)–Big Trip #2

    We visited Big Bend in December 2018 during Big Trip #2. Read about our other visits here: 2021, early 2018, and 2016. Early December must be one of the best times to visit Big Bend National Park. The campground and trails were quiet and sparsely populated, the weather was pleasant, and look at that color in the

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  • Two nights in Alpine, TX (visit #2)–Big Trip #2

    Two nights in Alpine, TX (visit #2)–Big Trip #2

    We visited Alpine in December 2018 as part of Big Trip #2. Read about our first visit earlier in 2018 here, and our third visit in 2021 here. Alpine is just the quirkiest little town waaaaaay out in the desert of West Texas, a 30-minute drive from also-quirky Marfa, and 100 miles from Big Bend

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  • Four days in Tucson, AZ (visit #1)–Big Trip #2

    Four days in Tucson, AZ (visit #1)–Big Trip #2

    We were in Tucson at the very end of November 2018, as part of Big Trip #2. Read about our second visit in 2021 here, our third in 2022 here, and our fourth (and fifth?) in 2023/4 here. And I finally wrote a Tucson Favorites post! J and I have a past relationship with Tucson:

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  • Saguaro National Park

    Saguaro National Park

    We visited Saguaro National Park in November 2018 while staying in Tucson during Big Trip #2. Close your eyes and picture a cactus standing in the desert. I’m going to guess your imaginary cactus friend is a saguaro! Am I right? Saguaro (pronounced “sah-WAR-oh”) cacti, standing tall with cartoon arms, are all over pop culture,

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  • Joshua Tree National Park

    Joshua Tree National Park

    We visited Joshua Tree in November 2018, during Big Trip #2. We finally got to California in the Airstream! Bugsy got a new state! (She’s up to 36 now!) For some reason–ignorance, I guess–we weren’t sure if Joshua Tree was worth rearranging our schedule and driving many extra hours to visit. The answer is yes.

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  • Grand Canyon National Park – South Rim

    Grand Canyon National Park – South Rim

    [FOR GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM, SEE HERE!] [This is the original GCNP post from Big Trip #1 in 2016, updated with details from our 2018 visit on Big Trip #2.] If you’re planning a visit to the Grand Canyon, GET THERE EARLY! Even in late March and mid-November, outside tourist season, the park got crowded quickly.

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  • Three days in Moab (visit #2, or 3?)–Big Trip #2

    Three days in Moab (visit #2, or 3?)–Big Trip #2

    We visited Moab in November 2018 as part of Big Trip #2. Read about our previous visits during Big Trip #1 in 2016 here and here. Moab is a fun town! If you are a hiker or mountain biker with an appreciation for stunning red sandstone vistas, you’ll be happy here. Despite our favorite quesadilla

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  • Four days in Escalante, Utah (visit #2)–Big Trip #2

    Four days in Escalante, Utah (visit #2)–Big Trip #2

    We visited Escalante in November 2018 as part of Big Trip #2. Read about our first visit in 2016 here, during Big Trip #1. Escalante was one of our favorite little hiking towns on our first Big Trip. This time we were farther into the off-season, so many stores and restaurants were closed, but we

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  • Five days in Virgin, UT–Big Trip #2

    Five days in Virgin, UT–Big Trip #2

    We visited Virgin in November 2018 as part of Big Trip #2. We visited Zion for only a half day on our first Big Trip two years ago and didn’t really get why people are obsessed with this National Park. This trip, we wanted to really understand Zion’s appeal, so we stayed close by for

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  • Zion National Park

    Zion National Park

    We visited Zion NP in November 2018 as part of Big Trip #2. We did a quickie visit to Zion on our first Big Trip in 2016. On our second Big Trip, we had more time to explore and really get to know Zion. It’s a magical place, and because of that, it’s crowded. Just

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