-
Continue reading →: carlsbad caverns national park, new mexico, usaDo you like dark, quiet places that make you question what you think you know about the planet? Come hang around with the bats and experience a universe that has never seen sunshine. Staring at the stalagmites and stalactites is just as fun as watching the clouds pass by in…
-
Continue reading →: channel islands national park, california, usaA solitude lover’s dream, Channel Islands National Park is a surf and turf wonderland full of breathtaking views and secluded beaches. Adventure seekers can float through the shallow waters on their kayaks around arches and into caves, and from many hiking trails, the doorways to many sea caves can be…
-
Continue reading →: grand canyon national park, arizona, usaWidely known and wildly popular, this place calls to people from all over the world who want to gaze down into the depths of the striking red canyon that was carved out here by the Colorado River over millions of years. Take a hike, ride a mule, or just simply…
-
Continue reading →: yellowstone national park, idaho, montana, and wyoming, usaSitting atop the caldera of a dormant supervolcano, Yellowstone introduces visitors to some of the inner workings of the Earth at the surface. Get face to face with a buffalo (from the safety of your vehicle!), watch a geyser burst over a hundred feet into the air, inhale the intoxicating…
-
Continue reading →: grand teton national park, wyoming, usaThese majestic mountain peaks will command your attention from miles away. Whether you want to trek one of the breathtaking hiking trails up the mountains, go searching for bears, buffalo, elk or moose in their natural habitat, or just want to gaze from a distance at a roadside viewpoint or…
-
Continue reading →: jackson, wyoming, usaI LOVE this town. Great for both family vacations or a weekend with friends. Animal safaris. Whitewater rafting in the summer. Snow sports in the winter. Many buildings have an old-western charm. Natural beauty all around. Bison burgers. A rodeo. It’s wild, yet, also somehow so tame. Tucked away at…
-
Continue reading →: capitol reef national park, utah, usaFrom natural bridges to red canyon views, centuries-old rock markings to otherworldly geologic wonders, apple picking to horseback rides, Capitol Reef National Park is nothing short of unique. It is comprised of the land surrounding the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic masterpiece where older rock layers are exposed at the surface,…
-
Continue reading →: bryce canyon national park, utah, usaAs you wander through the halls of the amphitheater, you will feel like you have stepped into a dream. Despite being a rather small national park in comparison to the others around the country (and Utah’s smallest of their Big 5), big things do come in small packages. This place…
-
Continue reading →: arches national park, utah, usaHome to more arches than you’ll be able to make time to see in a week, this national park is a museum of some of Mother Nature’s most artistic creations. Arches are nature’s doorways, so get ready to walk through a bunch of them into another dimension. Perhaps the most…
-
Continue reading →: canyonlands national park, utah, usaIf you’ve ever wanted to visit outer space, some places in this park will make you feel like you actually landed on another planet. Drive your car around the edges of the cliffs and gaze down into one of the most unique canyons you’ll ever see; its rusty red walls…
“travel isn’t always pretty. it isn’t always comfortable. sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. but that’s okay.
Anthony Bourdain
the journey changes you; it should change you. it leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body.
you take something with you. hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
Laura the explora: the blog
your unofficial travel agent and tour guide
menu ->
hey there!
i’m Laura
welcome to my little corner of the internet where i share my travel tips, stories, and photos of the places i visit. i’ve been fortunate enough to set foot in all fifty of the united states as well as nearly 20 different countries over the past decade. my goal is to make traveling affordable and accessible for everyone by giving you the tools you need to plan your own vacation for free. i hope these posts inspire you to get out into the world and see it for yourself! :)
[Note: I do not make any revenue from this website. If any of these posts helped you plan your trip and you’d like to support my work and website operating costs by tipping me as your unofficial tour guide, click the little black triangle to see my Venmo ID.] 😊
Venmo: @Laura-the-explora (#0324)
let’s connect!
want more?
not sure what you’ll get if you type your email here, but you’ll be added to a list!
Laura the explora: the blog 