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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Courtnie Erickson |Katie Lawrence |Jackie Sutherlin |Trent Jonas
I love Eastern Washington, and I feel like this side of the state often doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. Having lived near Spokane for several years, I’ve driven the roads in and out of the Lilac City countless times, looking for new places to explore and visit. The following are just seven easy day trips you can take from Spokane, including one of my favorite outdoor adventures. Many of these destinations are perfect for families or solo adventures.
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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Melanie Johnson |Courtnie Erickson |Katie Lawrence |Jackie Sutherlin
Mark your calendars, folks! National Park Week begins on April 19. All sites operated by the National Park Service are free for an entire week! Do you plan on adding any parks to your bucket list this year? Unfortunately, there are no designated national parks in Oklahoma, but there are national recreational and historical sites. However, not having an official national park will not stop us from exploring this great state.
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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Katie Lawrence |Jackie Sutherlin |Trent Jonas |Melissa Mahoney
From its stark desert expanses to its rugged coastline, lush forests, hidden waterfalls, and everything in between, there's no denying that Oregon boasts some of the most stunning landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Adventurers, travelers, and road-trippers exploring our state are all spoiled for choice when it comes to breathtaking sights and bucket-list vacation destinations. Still, along the way, there are also plenty of quintessential road trip stops.
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4 weeks 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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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Katie Lawrence |Jackie Sutherlin |Trent Jonas |Melissa Mahoney
Hiking in Colorado is a nature lover's dream. Our beautiful state has mountains, forests, canyons, and all the elevation change you could ever want. But you probably don't feel like climbing Pike's Peak every day, so it's nice to find easier trails that still offer amazing views. One of my favorites is the Redemption Trail just outside of Cañon City. It's only three miles long with an elevation gain of less than 500 feet, so it's a fun little adventure to embark on in between challenging hikes.
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4 weeks 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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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Melissa Mahoney |Jackie Sutherlin |Andrea Verschuyl |Courtnie Erickson
While Santa Fe is an excellent vacation destination on its own, a day trip away from the city may be in order if you live here or you're visiting for a while. So, what easy day trips can you take from Santa Fe? Well, there are many, but I handpicked five options, including my favorite. Are you ready to plan an adventurous day trip from Santa Fe? Here are my top picks that are only an hour or two away:Just 50 minutes north of Santa Fe is one of the most relaxing spots in the state.
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4 weeks 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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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jasmine Vieau |Raymond Goldfield |Melissa Mahoney |Jackie Sutherlin
For me, finding a really unique place to stay can transform a simple getaway into something much more memorable. In the scenic Berkshires region, there’s a property that fits the bill: a striking Glass Octagon in Massachusetts. Tucked away in Otis on seven private acres, this architectural gem puts you right in the heart of nature—surrounded by trees, sky, and total stillness. The first thing you’ll notice is the shape—a true octagon—and the walls, made almost entirely of floor-to-ceiling glass.
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4 weeks ago | 
onlyinyourstate.com | Jackie Sutherlin |Jasmine Vieau |Raymond Goldfield |Melissa Mahoney
It’s my favorite time of year, y’all! The days are getting longer, the temperatures are warming up, and soon, we’ll be spending our time splashing the day away at a nearby swimming spot. There are plenty of swimming holes in West Virginia that are ideal for a summer day, and many of them are in our beautiful state parks. Audra State Park is one spot where you can find a natural swimming hole, and it’s one of the best.
