Road Tripping Across Arizona, from Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon & Beyond

I had never been to Arizona — now the 35th state I have checked off my race to all 50 — so you can imagine my excitement as I first laid eyes on the sign that read: “The Grand Canyon State Welcomes You”. My main objective was to visit that gargantuan hole in the earth that has entranced visitors for centuries. So, after finally making a stop at the damn dam and a nearby overlook of Lake Mead, I instructed the Google Maps machine to take me to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

North AmericaLogan T. HansenSeptember 12, 2024travel, travel diary, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel ideas, travel recommendations, travel guide, travel blog, Arizona, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Chevy Chase, Vegas Vacation, National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation, National Lampoon, Nevada, Lake Mead, Phoenix, Glendale, Flagstaff, Picture Canyon, South Rim, Grand Canyon South Rim, petroglyphs, Northern Sinagua, Galaxy Diner, Route 66, Historic Route 66, road trip, road trips, road tripping, Dodge Challenger, rental car, Las Vegas, Sin City, summertime, summer vacation, summer travel, South Rim Trail, Grand Canyon State, U.S. Route 66, Stephen King, Night Shift, Clark Griswold, Colorado River, human remains, Village Historic District, Grand Canyon Village, Hopi House, architecture, historic architecture, Native American, Sinagua, Trail of Time, hiking, the great outdoors, outdoors, outdoor recreation, outdoor adventure, US 180, Black Canyon City, Sunset Point, Sunset Point Rest, travel photography, travel blogging, Arizona State Land Department, rock carvings, National Register of Historic Places, I-17Comment

The Flint Hills of Kansas Will Shatter Your Definition of Wide Open Spaces

For once in my life, I looked around, surrounded by unfamiliar territory, and though I had the greatest urge to spout that age-old movie reference — “we’re not in Kansas anymore” — the fact of the matter was that, yes, we very much were in Kansas. I mean, in the very heart of America, in that region known as the Great Plains, you have some idea of what you’ll come across, but reading about it or seeing a photo or video is truly not the same as being surrounded by rolling green hills as far as the eye can see.

The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 3

Michigan is full of majesty, mystery, and might, each of which comes in many forms. This three-part series highlights just some of what the Mitten State has to offer, county by county. Welcome to Part Three, which covers the final 22 counties alphabetically, from Newaygo to Wexford.

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The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 2

Michigan is full of majesty, mystery, and might, each of which comes in many forms. This three-part series highlights just some of what the Mitten State has to offer, county by county. Welcome to Part Two, which covers 32 counties alphabetically, from Hillsdale to Muskegon.

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Three States for the Price of One: This is the Place Where Michigan, Indiana, & Ohio Meet

You’ve no doubt heard of the Four Corners — the monument that marks the spot where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together, allowing you to stand in all four states at once — but there’s another convergence of state lines over in the Midwest that’s likely never crossed your mind. It’s so obscure, in fact, that it might as well just be marked by a rock on the side of a dirt road.

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