Go somewhere worth the drive.

Practical trip planning, destination guides and packing lists for people who would rather be on vacation than researching one. Real places, with the practical part worked out before you go: what it costs, how long the drive actually takes, and the honest version of what to expect when you get there.

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Sun rising beside the Newport Pell Bridge, golden light on Narragansett Bay, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island

Where to next

Brickell skyline at dusk from Biscayne Bay, towers lit against a cloudy skyFlorida & the KeysCorona del Mar State Beach, California: the rock jetty, palm trees and a sailboat offshore under wispy cloudsPacific CoastNewport Pell Bridge at sunrise over Narragansett Bay, seen from Naval Station Newport, Rhode IslandNortheastA gravel lane lined with yellow maples and spruce trees in fall, IllinoisMidwestLifeguard stand under coconut palms on the beach at Crandon Park, Key BiscayneBeach VacationsSunset over a harvested Illinois cornfield with a red barn and farmhouse silhouettedRoad TripsCape Florida Lighthouse under grey clouds with palms and beach, Key BiscayneNational ParksThe Rickenbacker Causeway bridge with the Miami skyline behindTrip PlanningTravel gearTravel GearSwimmers in the clear blue headspring swimming area at Rainbow Springs State Park, FloridaFlorida SpringsThe Current River flowing past wooded banks near Pulltite in the Missouri OzarksMissouri OzarksRounded pink granite boulders stacked into a formation at Elephant Rocks State Park, MissouriState Parks

Latest guides

  • Ski Trip Packing List

    What to rent and what to bring, how to dress a first-time skier and kids, and what TSA and Delta say about ski gear on…

  • Lake Louise

    How to get to Lake Louise now that parking is limited, what to do on the shore, the three classic hikes, and the winter version,…

  • Channel Islands National Park

    A planning guide to Southern California’s boat-only national park: the five islands, how the boats work, what the crossing is like and what to pack.

  • Puerto Rico Itinerary

    A seven-day Puerto Rico plan with two bases: Old San Juan, El Yunque, Culebra, Vieques and a bioluminescent bay, plus Ponce and the west coast…

  • Playa del Carmen Things to Do

    A walkable guide to Playa del Carmen: the beach, Quinta Avenida, the Cozumel ferry, cenote and Tulum day trips, plus sargassum, safety and entry rules.

  • Maui Snorkeling

    A planning guide to Maui snorkeling by beach and by boat: beginner-friendly spots, what a Molokini trip is and costs, winter surf, whale distances and…

  • Best Time to Visit Hawaii

    A month-by-month Hawaii planner covering rain, whale and surf seasons, hurricane dates and what Hawaii hotels averaged each month in 2025.

  • Smoky Mountains in Winter

    Which Smokies roads close in winter, how much colder the ridge is than the valley, what stays open, the holiday lights and what to pack.

  • Las Vegas Weekend Itinerary

    A three-day Las Vegas weekend: Red Rock Canyon in the cool morning, the Strip south to north with one show, and Fremont Street downtown, with…

  • Minneapolis Weekend Itinerary

    A three-day Minneapolis weekend built around the river, the Chain of Lakes and free museums, with a St. Paul half-day and a winter version.

  • Portland Weekend Itinerary

    A three-day Portland, Oregon weekend built on MAX light rail, the streetcar and walking, with an optional Columbia River Gorge half-day and a rain plan.

  • Capitol Reef National Park

    A planning guide to Capitol Reef National Park: one-day and two-day plans, the Fruita orchards, hikes, the Scenic Drive, flash floods and Cathedral Valley.

How we write these

Straight answers, not brochure copy

Guides say what a place actually costs, how long the drive really takes and what is worth skipping — including when the honest answer is that somewhere else is a better use of your weekend.

Checked on a date

Park hours, fares, rates and rules come from the park service, tourism board, airline or booking site, checked on the date shown at the top of each guide.

Pack lists that fit in a bag

Every packing list is built for the trip it belongs to and the bag you will actually carry, not a catalog of everything that could conceivably be useful.