Everyone should drive the San Juan Skyway at least once in their life, especially the portion known as the Million Dollar Highway. The views are majestic, varied, and breathtaking, sometimes quite literally as the road twists and turns, climbs and falls. In some portions there is no guardrail as you hug the curves of the mountains. This scenic drive is absolutely exhilarating, and I would recommend not only stopping at every overlook / pullover, but also stopping in the little towns in the valleys because they are charming as hell.
Seems to be a bit of a hidden gem, we had the entire preserve to ourselves except for a couple jogging locals when we visited in 2018. Parking is extremely limited, luckily a local allowed us to park in his driveway near the entrance gate to the preserve. Cambria is a very small town, so otherwise we would've had to find parking at a restaurant or shop and walked to the preserve. It is breathtakingly beautiful, with wildflowers and memorial benches carved out of what looks to be driftwood. There were seals on the coast when we visited in May. We could have easily spent half a day walking around the preserve and the charming streets of Cambria. We will definitely return.
We loved this small, neat campground! We were tent camping, but still comfortable and the amenities were basic but very clean. The person working in the office was very knowledgeable about the area and the office also sold various items, like batteries, charcoal, and assorted snacks. Very close to the dunes and beach--but keep in mind the proximity of the seagulls if you cook and / or eat outside! They were very persistent. We would definitely stay here again!
Visited in 2018. It's a true taste of Denmark right off the 101, and I would recommend a stop, even just for a couple hours as we did. We walked around and took photos (it's very walkable and you can find free parking), as well as sampling some delicious pastries at Olsen's Bakery and Café.
We stopped here in May 2018 for a picnic lunch. We had the beach almost to ourselves, and it was a lovely spot to walk on the beach. When we were there, a lone seal pup caused quite a clamor among the tourists. He sat on the rocks on the southern side of the beach for the entire hour we were there! It's a very picturesque beach, with the railroad trestle overhead and a bright blue lifeguard tower. Plenty of parking and the fee for day use is small, $5 I believe. Very worth it for a short break, and had the weather been warmer we could've stayed longer, half a day or more.
We loved this stop! My best friend and boyfriend had the best time with the alien photo ops, and they had some really quality souvenirs. The jerky was delicious as well!
This place has a lovely international collection of cacti to wander through, with themed walks and informational plaques! A nice nature escape from typical Las Vegas attractions. Definitely a morning activity, however, if you go in the summer. When you're done touring the gardens, take a spin through the chocolate factory on-site, where you can see the chocolate being made and get a free sample. Very quick run through, but you'll definitely enjoy the AC and the chocolate is divine!
I visited in 2016 and 2018, both times I went to the Grand Canyon, and supremely enjoyed it both times! The gift shop is expansive and inexpensive, and $5 is not a lot to pay for an interesting tour of a pseudo-abandoned, nostalgic roadside attraction. In my opinion, the run-down appearance only adds to the charm, and there are never so many people that you have to wait for photo ops. Both times I visited, I spent at least an hour here, wandering around the house sets, playing with the cutouts, sliding down the dinosaur slide... It's just good fun. The friends I took there had a great time as well.
Just like everyone is saying, the views at Horseshoe Bend are incredible and not to be missed. Sunrise and sunset are optimal times to visit as the light makes the view even more spectacular. Just be prepared for the steep little hike prefacing the site, as we definitely were not. And I would wear hiking shoes or boots, as the steep incline and decline are composed of loose sand / rocks. Also, be prepared for a lot of people. This is an extremely popular place, and you'll likely have to wait to take a picture in the exact spot you want. Despite these things, if you have the chance, go!!
Stayed here in March of 2018, the campground is very expansive, although the sites are pretty close to one another. It's worth it, though, for the view of Lake Powell and the surrounding area. It is so, so beautiful, especially at sunrise and sunset. We even saw a roadrunner darting down the paved campground road! The Lake Powell marina has plenty of water sports available, from kayaking to stand-up paddle boarding, and guided tours of the area as well. It's a great base for exploring nearby Page, including Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. We are returning to this campground later this year!