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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Trent Jonas |Melissa Mahoney |Jackie Sutherlin |Jacki Mick
Whenever I write about Yellowstone National Park, I struggle to resist spouting superlatives because, frankly, we've all heard them more than once—world's first, most geysers, all the animals, and so on. On the other hand, the urge to mention all the amazing things about Yellowstone all at once is, like Old Faithful, difficult to contain—especially when it comes to hiking in the park.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jackie Sutherlin |Trent Jonas |Melissa Mahoney |Jacki Mick
’Tis the season for wildflower hikes and beautiful blooms! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best national parks for wildflower hikes this season so you can hit the trails. Of course, Mother Nature follows her own schedule, and sometimes blooms happen early and/or later than expected. Timing is everything when it comes to wildflower viewing.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jacki Mick |Melissa Mahoney |Andrea Verschuyl |Jackie Sutherlin
Can you tell me any better feeling than losing yourself in the endless expanse of the sky? In Kansas, the sky doesn’t just stretch—it sprawls, unapologetically vast and intimate all at once. It feels closer here, more personal. Whether you're hiking through the rolling hills of the Flint Hills Nature Trail, watching the clouds roll by like a lazy afternoon parade, or sipping hot cocoa beneath a sky powdered with stars, the Kansas sky is a show-off... and you’re the VIP.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Melissa Mahoney |Jackie Sutherlin |Jacki Mick |Andrea Verschuyl
By April, Arizona typically heats up with temperatures in the 80s and 90s; before you know it, we hit triple digits. While some people thrive in the heat, others (like me) need an escape. Swimming pools are always an option to cool off but if you enjoy spending time in nature, a natural swimming hole may be more your speed. One of my favorite swimming places is Water Wheel Falls, an iconic swimming hole in Payson, Arizona.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jackie Sutherlin |Jacki Mick |Melissa Mahoney |Andrea Verschuyl
The days are getting longer, the wildflowers are beginning to bloom, the temperatures are rising…it’s my favorite time of the year! Before we know it, we’ll be spending our weekends enjoying all of the wonderful swimming holes in North Carolina. If you’re looking for a new swimming spot to add to your list, allow me to introduce you to Upper Creek Falls. Upper Creek Falls is a picturesque waterfall with multiple cascades tucked away in the Pisgah National Forest along NC Highway 181.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Courtnie Erickson |Andrea Verschuyl |Jacki Mick |Jasmine Vieau
Viewing the Northern Lights has been on my bucket list since I was young. I love to look at pictures and watch videos of the colors dancing across the sky. Here in Alaska, we are blessed with numerous opportunities to watch this breathtaking night show, and I’ve found just the place where you don’t have to travel far, can snuggle in bed, and observe this magical scene throughout the entire night.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jacki Mick |Jasmine Vieau |Raymond Goldfield |Megan Todaro
Do you know that you can see a “Big Tree” in Michigan? I’m not talking about a tall pine behind your neighbor’s garage or that maple that drops leaves like an impressionist painting in action. I mean a capital "B," capital "T" big tree, which usually requires a cross-country flight, a rental car, and at least two pairs of hiking socks. For me, that "Big Tree" has always meant Sequoia National Park: the land of giants.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jackie Sutherlin |Andrea Verschuyl |Jacki Mick |Courtnie Erickson
There are over 200 waterfalls in Michigan, and spring and summer are the best times of the year to view them. Of course, it would be impossible to fit all 200 waterfalls into one adventure, so we’ve curated a road trip to five of Michigan’s best waterfalls to enjoy. All of these waterfalls are located in the Upper Peninsula, and we’ve even included a place to stay so you can spread this trip out over a weekend.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jackie Sutherlin |Andrea Verschuyl |Jacki Mick
It's hard to get an exact number, but it's estimated that there are over 200 waterfalls in Indiana. Wowza! While these magnificent cascades are beautiful year-round, spring and summer are the best time to go chasing waterfalls in Indiana. We’ve developed a waterfall road trip that takes you to some of Indiana’s best waterfalls, so pack up the car, and let’s get going!This road trip begins at Thistlethwaite Falls and then travels counter-clockwise, stopping off at several waterfalls along the way.
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1 week ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jacki Mick |Courtnie Erickson |Andrea Verschuyl
What if I told you there was an incredible place to see the night sky just over an hour outside Chicago? I know, it sounds made up... like deep-dish that doesn’t require a fork. But it’s real. Just an hour and twenty minutes from the Windy City and about fifty minutes from Aurora, you’ll find yourself in Sheridan, Illinois. This tiny town is far enough from city lights that the Milky Way actually looks like, well, the Milky Way—not just a grayish smudge behind a Walgreens sign.
