Parksmaxxing: The Ultimate Guide to America’s Parks
Category: Other Public Land
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There’s a certain type of American who has been to Disney World 3 times and Yellowstone zero. There’s another kind who drove to the Grand Canyon, took a picture of the South Rim, and left. And then there’s the parksmaxxer – someone who shows up at a unit of the National Park System, that nobody’s…
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Florida has more first-magnitude springs than anywhere else on Earth, yet most Floridians only visit one or two their entire lives. Springsmaxxing is our solution. Springsmaxxing (noun): The practice of systematically exploring Florida’s freshwater springs by visiting new springs throughout the year while developing a deeper appreciation for the state’s unique aquifer, wildlife, and waterways.…
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From the Pacific Coast to the Tallest Trees on Earth Southern California surprised us. On this 5-day trip we visited two national parks, a national monument, two national forests, two caves, went whitewater rafting, and went to a grocery store that charged $15 for orange juice. Here’s how we did it in July 2025, along…
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Lincoln, Caves, and a Concrete Wigwam We planned a weekend trip visiting family and extended it to 7 days, granting time to both catch up and see the local NPS sites and Mammoth Cave National Park. Here’s how we balanced family time and national park visits, along with options for similar itineraries based on our…
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Lyonia Preserve in Deltona, Florida is one of the best places in the state to see the threatened Florida Scrub-Jay. This free preserve combines sandy hills with the rare scrub habitat and an impressive Environmental Center. Here’s everything you need to know before you visit. Is Lyonia Preserve Worth Visiting? Absolutely – especially if you’re…
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One of the roughest, wildest, most challenging paddles in Florida — not for the faint of heart. Quick Facts Safety Warning This is not a beginner or intermediate route. This stretch of the Waccasassa River is regarded as one of the most technically demanding paddle routes in Florida. You will encounter log jams, overhanging branches,…
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Quick Facts Location: Wekiva River just north of Orlando Route: Kings Landing -> Emerald Cut -> Wild Upper Wekiva River -> Wekiva Island Distance: 10.5 miles of paddling Time Required: 6 hours Transportation: Paid shuttle available from Wekiva Island back to Kings Landing Hours: 8:30am-3:30pm (Latest shuttle from Wekiva Island) Activities: Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Canoeing, Swimming,…
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Packed with bison, views, and prairie dogs, the Black Hills, and Badlands, South Dakota is a great place for your next family vacation. In this post, I will share my experiences on a 5-day western South Dakota vacation, along with tips, tricks, and sample itineraries to help you make the most out of your trip.…
