Beyond the Overlook
Destination guides built from real trips.
We focus on what we actually did, what was worth it, and what we’d change next time.
Iceland
Ring Road freedom, huge hikes, geothermal rivers and the famous stops we would - and would not - prioritize.
Grand Canyon
South Kaibab below the rim, the Colorado River, shorter hike options and the quieter North Rim.
Glacier National Park
Grinnell Glacier, Highline, Dawson-Pitamakan, Avalanche Lake, Hidden Lake and more.
Canadian Rockies
Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Yoho, the Icefields Parkway, and the hikes worth building a trip around.
Big Island
Volcanoes, manta rays, coffee, snorkeling, black and green sand, and road trips worth slowing down for.
Kauaʻi
Kalalau, Waimea Canyon, wild coastal hiking, turtles and the lush interior from the air.
Maui
Haleakalā sunrise, crater hiking, Waiheʻe Ridge and a Road to Hāna trip worth slowing down for.
Channel Islands National Park
Ferry to Santa Cruz Island for sea-cave kayaking, coastal hiking and island foxes.
Sequoia + Kings Canyon
Giant sequoias, Moro Rock, Mist Falls and why Kings Canyon deserves a full day.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Crypt Lake, mountain scenery, and an easy addition to a Glacier National Park trip.
Oʻahu
Pearl Harbor, Makapuʻu, Lanikai, Kualoa and a North Shore beach-hop in one whirlwind day.
Dolomites
Seceda, Sassolungo, Lago di Sorapis, Tre Cime, Cadini and the hikes and stays we’d build a trip around.
Utah Mighty 5
Five individual park guides plus the road trip that connects them.
Grand Teton National Park
Jenny Lake, Cascade Canyon, Taggart Lake and mountains made for hiking.
Yellowstone National Park
Geysers, wildlife, waterfalls and why geography matters when planning the park.
Is the payoff worth the effort?
Every major hike gets the same practical verdict: effort, views, crowds, time commitment, who it’s best for, and whether we’d do it again.
Start with a place.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: What’s Actually Worth Doing
Kīlauea Iki, Chain of Craters, eruption timing and the stops we would prioritize.
Grinnell Glacier: Is It Worth the Hike?
Nonstop lake and mountain views, the waterfall crossing, the final climb, and our verdict on whether it is worth the effort.
5 Days in Glacier National Park
One west-side night, Logan Pass, Many Glacier, big-hike options, boating and realistic recovery time.
7 Days in the Canadian Rockies
Start in Banff or Canmore, then the lakes, Yoho, two real Icefields Parkway days and Jasper.
Best Stops on the Icefields Parkway
What actually earned our time, from Peyto Lake and Parker Ridge to the stops we would rank lower.
5 Days in the Dolomites
Two hiking bases: Val Gardena for the western hikes, then San Candido or Cortina for the eastern Dolomites, with spa-hotel evenings in between.
One Day on Oʻahu
Our self-planned day trip from the Big Island: an early flight, rental car and the Oʻahu highlights we could realistically fit into one day.
See It From Above, Then Hike Below the Rim
How we would combine the classic overlooks with South Kaibab and the North Rim.