A Vanlife Guide to Sedona, AZ

If you’re a person who lives on wheels, or even just a person who hates winter, it’s no secret that Arizona is the place to be in January. Nearly every person living that vanlife on the west coast (and some from the east!) comes to Arizona at the end of January every year. After the annual gatherings in Quartzite, me and my new Van Fam (follow them at emma.goes and theotherground) headed out to Sedona, a place I’d been dreaming of visiting for about two years now.

Sedona is one of the most powerful spiritual centers in the country, and is home to tons of red rocks and beautiful hikes. Prior to coming out here, I had no idea how easy it would be to be an overlander in Sedona, but the truth is, Sedona is one of the most vanlife friendly cities I’ve ever visited.

Me and Emma at Cathedral Rock. Photographer: Brien @theotherground

Where is Sedona?

Sedona is located in north-eastern Arizona, making it one of the colder areas of Arizona. It is about 7 hours from the California coast, 5 hours from Joshua Tree, and 3.5 hours from Quartzite, AZ.

Where should I park?

As I said, Sedona is incredibly van friendly, but that means it’s incredibly camp friendly too. This isn’t the type of city where vanlifers are lining the streets, it’s a city surrounded by National Forest land. The best spots to park are along Forest Road 525. You’ll be sure to meet plenty of other van dwellers, and if you drive far enough, you’ll reach the Palatki Native American Ruins. You obviously can’t park at the ruins, but there are spots nearby where you’ll have vast views of the red rocks.

At camp, somewhere on FR525. Photographer: Emma @emma.goes

What are the best restaurants?

We frequented two amazing vegan/vegetarian restaurants while we were in Sedona: ChocolaTree and Local Juicery. A few of our friends actually work at Local Juicery, so definitely go say hi and support your fellow vanlifers (plus, their avocado toast is the best I’ve ever had). ChocolaTree is more of a spiritually minded spot. It has more of a sit-down restaurant feeling to it, so it’s worth going if you’re craving a hot dinner.

Where can I get water?

Living off the gird means certain things aren’t as easy as they could be in a house. One of those things is water. Luckily, ChocolaTree has a spigot with fresh spring water outside their restaurant that they allowed us to fill our 6 gallon tanks with.

Me at Devils Bridge—the most famous hike in Sedona! Photographer: Emma @emma.goes

Where can I go to get in a work day?

There’s always Starbucks, but if you’re looking to get in a work day and catch some views, head to Creekside Coffee. Here, you’ll have views of Snoopy Rock, and can snag some WiFi, even outside.

If you’re interested in learning more about making money on the road, check out Wired Creatives HERE!

Cathedral Rock from below

What are the best hikes to do?

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that hiking is a huge reason I go to certain places. Sedona is a huge hiking hub, so we made it a point to hit a few of the Coconino National Forest trails while we were out there.

Devils Bridge: Devils Bridge is easily the most popular hike to do in Sedona. It features a vast, natural bridge photo op and the entire hike is about 4 miles long. Expect crowded parking, but if you have 4WD, you can make it to the real trailhead and skip walking along the dirt road. If there’s no parking, no worries, you can park on the main road too, but it’ll add about a half mile of walking. Prepare for crowds at the top too. We got lucky with a gloomy day, and only had to wait behind about 6 people each, but normally, it’s a crowd of about 150 people at the top.

Boynton Canyon Vortex: This was one of the most powerful vortexes I experienced in Sedona. It’s not a long hike, but it features red rocks and two spires that are said to represent the divine masculine and divine feminine. If you’re a spiritually minded person, you’ll love this spot, and if you get there early enough in the day, you might just catch the flute player who goes up there daily to hand out heart shaped rocks to people.

Cathedral Rock: This was my absolute favorite spot we went during our time in Sedona. It’s a hike basically made of rock scrambles, which made is extremely fun, and had some amazing photo opportunities at the top. Keep an eye out for the vortex trees—trees that appear to have been swirled (this phenomenon happens due to the high amounts of spiritual energy in the area).

Me and Emma at Cathedral Rock. Photographer: Brien @theotherground

Sedona is an absolutely magical spot. Whether you’re a spiritual person or not, Sedona will change the way you see the desert. The hikes here are breathtaking, the camping is quiet and peaceful, and it’s a great place to feel like you have a sense of community on the road.

Three Must-Visit Spots in Laos

I recently returned from Southeast Asia, where I volunteered for a month in Thailand and Laos with GIVE Volunteers. It’s no question that, of the two countries, Laos made the bigger impact on me as a person, a traveler, and a global citizen. Laos is an incredibly special country, and the truth is, two years ago, like many of you, I had no idea it even existed.

Laos is a small, landlocked country just north of Thailand. It borders four other countries as well: China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia. It’s known for its mountains, Buddhist culture, and waterfalls.

During our time in Laos, we visited three major spots (IE: one city, one backpacking village, and one remote village). This is the best journey through this beautiful country that will show you the best of Laos, from Luang Prabang to Sop Chem.

View from the Nam Ou River

Luang Prabang City

Not to be confused with Luang Prabang Province, Luang Prabang City is the first part of Laos I got to experience. It’s a clean city with plenty of hostels (we stayed at Mao Pha Sohk Guesthouse), vans available as public transport, markets, and culture.

Luang Prabang is gorgeous, even for a city, and is home to a fantastic array of restaurants (Coconut Restaurant is a crowd favorite), as well as a huge night market that happens daily, starting at 5pm (Laos time). Our first day started with participating in the Alms ceremony, where we gave rice to monks as they made their way to temple. This is definitely something to experience, even though it starts at 5 am daily.

Another must-see in Luang Prabang is Tat Kuang Si National Park. This National Park is home to Kuang Si Falls, the famous waterfalls that are known as being one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the Free the Bears Moon Bear Sanctuary (who accept donations HERE). Both spots are incredibly important to witness for that perfect balance of cultural understanding and natural beauty.

The last must-see in Luang Prabang is the UXO museum. The UXO museum stands for the fact that Laos is the most bombed country and the most affected by the Vietnam War. Still, there is unexploded ordinance scattered throughout the country. True responsible tourism is understanding the culture, and there is no such thing as understanding Lao culture without talking about UXO.

View from Mao Pha Sohk Guesthouse at sunrise

Ban Sop Chem

Sop Chem is easily one of my favorite places on Earth. Sop Chem is a remote weaving village located directly on the Nam Ou River, and the best way to access it is by boat.

Sop Chem thrives on tourism. Most tourists just come for a day trip from Nong Kiaw, but there is a hostel in Sop Chem if you’d like to stay the night and experience this remote village for the night.

Here, we volunteered at the local school and permaculture plot, but also participated in plenty of cultural activities that tourists would also be able to experience, such as shopping for hand-woven fabrics, hiking to the Power China dam site, and exploring Tam Lom, a cave where the villagers of Sop Chem hid during the war (but please don’t go without a guide).

The people of Sop Chem are some of the most welcoming I’ve ever met, so stay a while if you can, pet the dogs, and play cards with the local kids—this is an experience like no other.

Ban Sop Chem

Nong Kiaw

Nong Kiaw was the backpacker village we stayed in on our way back to Luang Prabang from Sop Chem where we stayed in the Sunrise Hostel, and spent my birthday adventuring. There is so much nature to experience in Laos, and a lot of those beautiful places are right in Nong Kiaw.

Two of the most notable are the Pha Thok Cave and Pha Deang Peak hike. The Pha Thok Cave is another combination of nature and culture, as it gives you another perspective into the history of the country during wartime. Pha Deang Peak is a strenuous, approximately 6 mile hike that gains 3,000 feet in elevation from bottom to top. This is a genuine mountain summit hike, but it comes bearing some of the best views in the country.

View from Pha Deang Peak, Nong Kiaw

Laos is truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It’s known for village communities, mountains, and rivers, and the culture is like no other. I hear a lot of talk about visiting Southeast Asia, and Laos should be on everyone’s list, if not for the beauty, then for the culture.

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Laos (other than Sop Chem, which is a good break from being on the grid) is incredibly backpacker and digital nomad friendly. Learn how to work and make money online with Wired Creatives HERE!

The Truth About Elephant Tourism

Elephant tourism is a hot topic in travel writing right now: what’s considered ethical, what’s not, and the distancing from elephant rides as a tourist attraction. But the problem is, a lot of what you’ll read about elephant tourism comes from the west, and it comes from people who haven’t experienced the truth behind the signs claiming that a sanctuary is ethical.

During my time in Thailand, I got the chance to speak with Eddie, a Mahout who’s worked with elephants his entire life in the remote jungles of Southeast Asia, and amongst all the funny questions the group had about what elephants eat or how often they poop, we got down to the nitty gritty about elephant tourism.

The truth is, even the remote jungles that Eddie works in with his elephant, are close to villages. The jungle sits adjacent to the village of Ba Kao Lam, where there is a school, and small farms that are attached to people’s homes. There isn’t really enough space for elephants left, because, let’s face it, elephants are enormous animals.

Me and Mai Boon Si in Ba Kao Lam, Thailand

When people think about going to see elephants in Southeast Asia, their main requirement is that the sanctuary uses no chains. So many sanctuaries claim this, and keep their elephants out of chains to attract tourists, but the truth is, we don’t know what happens behind closed doors. We don’t know that these elephants are free roaming, and we have no way of knowing whether the elephants are chained up or kept in cages at night.

So, one of the first things I learned about how the Mahouts care for their elephants surprised me: they use chains for the safety of their elephants. Because their elephants are completely free roaming, they have the ability to walk an easy ten miles to the nearest village while the Mahouts are sleeping. Elephants are huge creatures, and this means they never, ever stop eating. When they reach a village, they have the tendency to decimate farms, eat a family’s supply of food, and destroy property. This puts them in more danger than they’re in in the wild—farmers can get angry and kill or injure the elephant before the Mahouts can track them to bring them back to safety in the jungles.

Feeding bananas to elephants in Ba Kao Lam, Thailand

The chains these elephants wear are not tied to anything—they’re able to go wherever they want. But the chains do slow them down. This means that they likely won’t make it to the villages in a single night, which keeps them safe from people trying to protect their farms. The chains also help the Mahouts to track their elephants because they’re able to recognize the pattern the chain makes on the ground, which helps them to find the elephants quickly for health checks and feeding (elephants love bananas).

We had the chance to go trekking with the Mahouts for their elephants, and while it can normally take up to 3 hours to track them, we found them in 8 minutes, just across the stream. They seemed happy to see their Mahouts, as they each have a special bond with their animal, and were even more happy to see us because these 2 elephants—Mai Boon Yen and Mai Boon Si, two sisters and best friends—know that tour groups mean bananas.

We then trekked with the elephants down to the nearby river to give them a bath and feed them their favorite food, where the Mahouts did take off the chains, and I felt, even though I wasn’t sure about the chains at first, that this was truly the best way to make sure that they’re safe, and still kept wild.

Walking the elephants to the river for banana time

So, the moral of the story is, you don’t know that what people tell you is ethical or the truth, and it’s truly best to learn from an expert before forming your own opinion. Give is not the only group that is able to trek with the Mahouts, so definitely look into finding a group to take you on a trek if you’re planning a trip to Thailand. It’s the only way to know for sure that the elephants are taken care of properly.

My 2020 Travel Resolutions

It’s that time of year again, and I’ve always been a sucker for New Year’s Resolutions. There’s something about the end of the year, the closing of a new chapter, even though of course, it’s just an arbitrary line time that doesn’t actually mean anything at all. But that doesn’t stop us from making a list of goals for the new year, every year.

2020 is going to be a huge travel year for me, and not just because I’ll be officially starting my full time vanlife journey.

I start my year in Thailand, and almost immediately fly to my first new country of 2020: Laos, all part of a huge volunteer excursion. Now, I think travel is the perfect way to start my year, as a jump start toward all of the other travel goals I have for the year. I’m a person of lists and goals because once I make a goal for myself, I have to figure out a way to make it happen.

These are all of the travel goals I have for 2020 (so far).

One of my favorite California National Parks, Yosemite. Here’s to crossing off those last 3!

1: Finish crossing off the rest of the California National Parks

California is my home state, and it’s also the state in the country that has the most national parks. It has nine, and I’ve been to 6 so far. The three I have left have felt a little inaccessible to me for a few reasons, but I think with the van it’ll definitely be possible to finally make the trips.

The ones I have left are Channel Islands, Death Valley, and Lassen Volcanic.

Now, with Lassen Volcanic, I have no excuses. I chose to skip this one on my summer road trip because I was homesick and being back in California made me want to head south, not east. I will 100% find my way here in 2020.

Death Valley is a little intimidating to me because it’s the largest national park in the continental 48. This means I’ll definitely have to carry extra gas, oil, and other fluids my old van might need, as well as jumper cables. Death Valley seems like a magical desert to me, and I’m super drawn to the salt flats, so I think I have to finally make my way there, especially because it’s only 3 hours from my home city. It would take a lot of stress off if I could caravan with someone so that if one vehicle has issues, the other can make the drive to get help.

Channel Islands is a tricky one because you can’t drive there. I’m a plan-as-I-go type of traveler, and you have to reserve ferry tickets ahead of time. The ferries also aren’t run by the NPS, so my annual pass won’t really help me out when it comes to admission here. But I also have no excuse because the harbor is less than an hour from my home base.

More California beauty! Can’t wait to get back to NorCal to explore Lassen…

2: Visit three places that are completely new to me

This one goes a bit bigger than the national parks, for this little category, I’d like to cross off three big places that are new to me, meaning countries or states. Now, I only have one more state to cross off, and that’s Alaska. I’m desperately trying to figure out a way to make it up there in my van, but it honestly scares me to the point where I know I definitely want a travel or caravan buddy for this one.

Other places that are in the works for 2020 are Laos (100% happening, I will be flying there from Thailand in early January), and potentially Canada and Israel.

3: Cross off five national parks that are not in California

I’ve visited 33 US national parks so far, but surprisingly, this is only a little more than half of the ones out there. I’d love to visit at least five new national parks in states other than my own. I’m thinking the Southwest seems promising (think, Saguaro, Petrified Forest, Zion, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches…), but this could definitely fit in with goal #2 if I make it to Alaska, since I will be visiting the three you can drive to up there, if I make it (Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Wrangell St. Elias).

Me, last time I was in Utah. The Southwest is definitely calling my name…

4: Pick a destination completely at random

Since I travel full time, I thought it might be cool to figure out a new way to pick a place rather than planning. I’m such a planner when it comes to the destinations I want to visit along a big trip, so I’d love to see what magic could come my way from selecting a spot at random to explore. I want to bring more spontaneity into my larger trips but because I love the planning stage so much, there’s usually little room for this. I think this might be a cool way to attract it into my life and travels.

5: Experience something completely out of my comfort zone

I’m not quite sure what this means yet, because as with anyone, it takes a bit of soul-searching to figure out what exactly that comfort zone is. This could 100% fall into the category of one of these other travel goals, or it could be something as huge like taking that leap and going to Alaska or something super small trying a strange and new food I’ve never heard of (vegan, of course).

It’s all about seeing where the journey takes me.

Special bonus goal number 6: Travel full time and have Halle’s Wandering Soul fuel my adventures

This one is entirely based on you guys. I do work online, and this is one of my many hustles, but I’d absolutely love for it to be a little more than just a hustle. I plan on putting out some insane content this year, on here, on Youtube, on Instagram, on all of my platforms. But this all depends on you guys, so share my posts, click through, watch the Youtube videos, tell your friends about this crazy solo female vanlife journey I’m on, and get people excited about changing their lives through travel. My goal is to inspire you, and making that difference in more people’s lives is a huge goal of mine.

(If you’re also interested in learning to make money online and change your life in 2020, click HERE!)

Acadia National Park was a place that pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone. It was where I first let vanlife into my life and started camping for free at night, and the place I first tried bouldering.

This upcoming year, I think we’ve all got a lot to look forward to. And the thing is, it’s all about manifesting them into existence rather than just waiting for them to happen on their own. If you want something, or want to visit somewhere, or want to actually get traveling, tell yourself it’s going to happen, and then make it happen!

I’d love to hear your 2020 travel goals. Leave them in the post comments, or, if you share this post, add your goals to your share and tag me @halleswanderingsoul (on Instagram and Facebook, and @hallewanders on Twitter, in an actual post, not your story because I’m currently out of the country and won’t see your post for a little bit!).

To help inspire your 2020, head over to the shop to find some pre-made trip itineraries just ready to inspire you! Use them to plan your next little trip, or your first huge trip! Go with a partner, go with a pet, or go solo. It doesn’t matter, as long as you go where your heart is leading you. Happy New Year, everyone, safe travels.

-HWS

My Top 5 Favorite Campgrounds

Even though I do a lot of free camping in my vehicle, there’s something I absolutely love about staying in a campground. From the amenities to safety to that good campground getaway vibe, there’s nothing I don’t love about getting to stay in the middle of a beautiful place like a National or State Park.

I’ve stayed in so many campgrounds, I couldn’t even count them if I tried, but these are the five that have made the biggest impression on me. They put you right in the middle of some of the prettiest landscapes in the US, and they’re all incredibly unique. Of course, a lot of them are in more touristy places, but that doesn’t mean they’re not the best way to experience those places for yourself. So, pack a warm sleeping bag, tent, and some firewood, and let’s hit the road.

(To shop my favorite camping gear, head on over to MADERA OUTDOOR and get 20% your order)

Many Glacier, Glacier National Park, MT

5: Atl Atl Campground in Valley of Fire State Park, NV

It was so hard to put this one at number five, and the only reason I did is because if you visit in the summer like me, the potable water in the campground is too hot to drink. Atl Atl Campground is located right in the middle of Valley of Fire’s beautiful red rocks. It costs $20 for a site, and includes drinking water, showers, and after park hours access. The state park actually closes at sundown, and the campers are the only ones allowed to stay later than that. Each site comes with a parking spot, tent pad, and shaded picnic table (which is super necessary if you visit in June!). This campground will give you awesome views of the Nevada desert, and one of the prettiest sunrises you’ll ever see, if you can wake up for it.

To learn more about Valley of Fire State Park, head over to the Halle’s Wandering Soul YouTube channel to watch me explore the park.

Sunrise from Atl Atl Campground, Valley of Fire State Park, NV

4: Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park, WY

This is one of the most accessible campgrounds I’ve ever stayed in. There were nice and clean bathrooms and a dish washing station right across from my site, and I got a bear box, picnic table, and fire ring. The campground came with 2 free showers per night, laundry access, and it was nearby a café with WiFi access and a gas station. It felt like a little outdoor town in the middle of the Wyoming wilderness. The only downside was the price. I had to book ahead of time (like 6 months ahead of time), and it cost $35, which isn’t ideal if you’re on a budget, or if you’re a spontaneous traveler like myself. If price isn’t an issue, though, Canyon is located in North East Yellowstone, not too far from the Lamar Valley. You’ll pass Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on your way there from the Southern section of the park, as well as plenty of other sites like Yellowstone Lake and the Mud Volcano.

Canyon Campground, Yellowstone National Park, WY

3: Mather Campground in the Grand Canyon, AZ

While this campground doesn’t have the canyon views you might be dreaming of for your trip to Grand Canyon National Park, the wildlife is what helped this campground make this list. Within twenty minutes of checking in, a herd of about 20 elk came through the campground snacking on the trees. They would hang out there every day, and weren’t very afraid to be in the vicinity of people.

It’s super important though, that I drop a Leave No Trace warning here: please stay at least 25 yards from all wildlife. They are wild animals, and can react like so if provoked, which can put you and the animal in danger.

From Mather, there is a super convenient shuttle system that can take you around the park so that you don’t have to worry about finding parking at trailheads or the visitor center, so definitely make sure you take advantage of that! This was also my first solo camping trip, and I felt 100% safe in Mather.

Mather costs $18 to camp in.

For more information about Mather Campground and the Grand Canyon, head to the Halle’s Wandering Soul YouTube channel.

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (unfortunately, not the view from Mather Campground, but the view from Mather Point instead)

2: Camp 4 in Yosemite National Park, CA

It was so hard not to put this at number one. This is one of the first campgrounds I stayed in that wasn’t part of a family camping trip, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. This is the famous climbers campground of Yosemite, and you might recognize it from documentaries like Valley Uprising. It’s walk-up only, meaning tents only, and you actually share a site with other campers. Each registered camper ($6 per person per night) will receive a bear box, but you’ll share your fire ring with the other campers in your site. This makes for an incredible environment of bonding with your neighbors, and has allowed me to make friends I still talk to. Camp 4 is accessible by shuttle, and is home to one of the toughest bouldering spots in the state.

View of Yosemite Falls from Near Camp 4, Yosemite National Park, CA

1: Rising Sun in Glacier National Park, MT

Glacier National Park is number one on pretty much every list of mine, but Rising Sun Campground was actually incredible. It was “hard side only” when I was there, which meant it was closed to tent campers, so make sure you check with a ranger before camping in any part of Glacier National Park. I loved Rising Sun because it was located in East Glacier, the side of Glacier with the best views. The other campground here, St. Mary’s, requires reservations, and the other campgrounds are located in either West Glacier or Many Glacier, which are a bit out of the way of the true Glacier experience (although you need to stop in Many Glacier during your trip here—it’s incredible). Rising Sun has its own shuttle stop, restaurant, gift shop, and shower access, and costs $20. The site came with access to flush toilets and some of the best tasting campground water I’ve ever had.

Sunrise view from Rising Sun Campground, Glacier National Park, MT

Camping is the best way to truly experience the outdoors. From the red deserts of Nevada to the towering mountains of Yosemite, there are beautiful campgrounds all over the country. While these are my absolute favorites, some honorable mentions include: Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree, Wooden Frog State Forest Campground in Minnesota, and Belle Fourche Campground in Devils Tower. So, grab your gear, hit the road, and get ready to spend a night under the stars.

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I am currently writing an ebook covering everywhere I traveled during my first summer on the road, due to launch in the shop on December 1, 2019. For more information about most of the places on this list, subscribe to my weekly newsletter so you can be the first to know when the book is available.

Top 5 Fee Free National Parks

This post may include affiliate links

If you’re a National Park freak like I am, you probably already own an America the Beautiful pass, or one of the related interagency passes that allow you to get into National Parks for free (or at least cheaper). However, if you’re new to the National Park system, those entrance fees might be slowly blowing that travel budget as you realize how many of your public lands you still have to visit. Luckily, there are a select few National Parks that don’t have an entrance fee attached.

As I traveled the country, these parks all surprised me in different ways. Their landscapes were some that I’d never expect to all be connected somehow by interstate highways, and although a lot of them are smaller parks, there’s a reason they’re protected by the National Park Service. At first, I was disappointed to find out that not all National Parks were like Yosemite, with its entrance gate that suddenly leads you to what feels like a different world, but the truth is, in a country with landscapes as diverse as the United States, it’s important to recognize that beautiful nature comes in all shapes and forms, and sometimes, you need to surrender to the fact that a National Park might include the town built around it, or serve as a highway between two states. When you do this, the result is a certain kind of magic.

These are my top five fee free National Parks:

Lake Kabetogama, Voyageurs National Park, MN

#5: Congaree National Park, SC

Honestly, I really like all of these places, so putting this only at #5 was super hard. Congaree is an incredibly unique Park known for its swamp. The famous boardwalk loop will take you through all of its unique landscapes, and it’s a great park for seeing bugs, spiders, and other, larger wildlife, such as armadillos, owls, and snakes. This is also a great park to take kids to, as the boardwalk is easy to walk, and is stroller and wheelchair accessible. There are of course other trails in the park as well, but as this is a swamp, it’s important to hike at your own risk. Congaree does offer a great campground as well, so you can spend as much time soaking in this unique environment as you want.

Tip: It’s still super important to support our parks while we visit because, although they’re federally protected, they don’t get very much funding. If you can, think about purchasing something from the National Park gift shops located inside visitor centers, and if you can’t, simply make sure you Leave No Trace, so that it’s just as beautiful for the next person who comes along.

Congaree National Park, SC

#4: Mammoth Cave National Park, KY

Mammoth Cave is the largest cave in the world, stretching over 600 miles long under the ground. The park doesn’t charge admission due to it being the location for over one hundred historic cemeteries, but they do charge a small fee to get into the cave. For only $6 you can explore the cave on a self guided tour of their lit area, and for only a bit more you can go on a ranger guided tour, and experience even more of the cave itself. If you really don’t want to pay anything, though, there are plenty of nearby hiking trails for you to explore, and you can definitely view the natural entrance to the cave for free (although, at that point, you might as well pay the $6 to go in). The cave itself is a crisp 52 degrees Fahrenheit, so bring a sweatshirt! The park does also offer an awesome campground, so be sure to get there early if you need a spot to stay!

Mammoth Cave National Park, KY

#3: North Cascades National Park, WA

North Cascades National Park is a fantastic mountainous park that’s free because it’s so interspersed with National Forest land. The Park itself is home to quite a few campgrounds, but they’re all spread out along the highway, so do some research about what part of the Park you’d like to call home before you get up there. While there is no cell service or internet in most of the area, I did get some service at the Newhalem Visitor Center, so for a solo traveler, that’s the campground I’d recommend. North Cascades has tons of great trails, and is dog friendly.

North Cascades National Park, WA

#2: Voyageurs National Park, MN

While Voyageurs doesn’t really have its own campground, it’s surrounded by State and National Forests, which provide plenty of spots in the woods for people who need to stop for the night. Voyageurs doesn’t have a ton of hiking trails (all of them can basically be done in one day), but the landscape is absolutely gorgeous. Right across the lake lies Canada, and the views are to die for. You’ll be surrounded by forest your entire trip here, and needless to say, there’s plenty of wildlife to be found. There’s also cell service throughout the whole park, and plenty of access to nearby lakes for boats, kayaks, and paddle boards.

Voyageurs National Park, MN

#1: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Bet you didn’t know that the Smokies were free to visit! It’s no question that Great Smoky Mountains National Park would end up in my #1 slot for this category. The National Park with the most annual visitors in the country, the road that goes through the park itself actually serves as a road that people use to commute, and spans from North Carolina to Tennessee. The Smokies are an incredibly biodiverse landscape that’s home to black bears, a huge selection of plants, and of course, the fog that give the Smokies their name. The drive through the Smokies is one of the most magical out of all the National Parks I’ve been to, and the hiking offers fantastic views like the one pictured below. As one of the big and famous National Parks, the Great Smoky Mountains should absolutely be near the top of your list. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see one of the most incredible landscapes in the country for free?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN and NC

While National Parks tend to cost between $20 and $35 just for admission, these are great for the new National Park explorer. Here, you’ll be able to get out, and enjoy the outdoors for practically nothing, making it so you can enjoy your time in the parks just a little more.

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How to Visit Salem, MA and Pay For Nothing But Parking

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It’s October, and I know a lot of people are heading out to New England and specifically Salem, MA to celebrate the changing weather and recently dubbed “Spooky Season.” Salem is a fantastic destination any time of year, but with the changing autumn leaves of October, and the general spooky vibes the place gives off, there’s no better month to go.

I had the fortune of visiting Salem during the summer and the spooky feelings were already there. As a heavy budget solo traveler, I was determined to pay for nothing but parking and food, and if you bring your own lunch, you can take a day trip to this famous town for only $6 all day parking (and gas).

Salem, Massachusetts was made famous by the Salem Witch Trials, an event that occurred in 1692 which resulted in the deaths of 20 people accused of witchcraft.

Today, the whole town is themed around the idea of witches and Halloween and is home to tons of museums such as the Salem Witch Museum and Halloween Museum. These attractions aren’t free, though, so if you’re a budget traveler like me, these aren’t really an option. The good news is, there are plenty of free things to do in Salem to experience the town.

Statue near the Salem Common

The Salem Witch Trials Memorial

The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built in 1992 to commemorate the 20 people who were killed during the Salem Witch Trials 300 years prior. The memorial is free to visit and consists of 20 benches, one for each of the people whose lives were taken and surrounded by black locust trees. This is a somber place, but one that should absolutely be experienced if you are planning a day trip to this little New England City.

The Old Burying Point Cemetery

Directly next to the memorial is the Old Burying Point Cemetery, which is where one of the Witch Trial judges is buried. Also a somber experience, it’s important to visit these places out of respect for the place’s history if you’re also going to experience the Halloween festivities (or in general, they’re interesting and important stops any time of year).

Walk Downtown Salem

Even if you don’t plan on buying any souvenirs, walking through downtown Salem is a cool experience in itself. With witch-themed shops, cobblestone streets, and a beautiful fountain statue, Downtown Salem is a cool place to hang out if you need some downtime during your day in Salem.

Downtown Salem

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Venturing away from the spooky stuff, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site features a cool little walk down to the lighthouse that’s beautiful any time of year. Run by the National Park Service, this National Historic Site is a good break from the hustle and bustle of the touristy parts of the city, and not to mention, it’s interesting to see this site that was so crucial to the building of the US in a place that was so destructive to human lives. This site is also attached to the free visitor center just outside of Downtown Salem, where you can get information about the entire city.

Lighthouse at the end of the walkway in the Salem Maritime National Historic Site

The Hocus Pocus House

While I personally didn’t visit the Hocus Pocus House because I didn’t want to move my car and lose my paid-for spot ($6 for 4 hours, which was more than enough time to see all of these things and eat lunch), it is free to visit. If you’re a fan of the Disney original Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus, this is a must-see for you! While they do have paid tours that will take you to all of the filming locations in the city, visiting the house won’t cost you anything (although you probably won’t be allowed inside).

Follow the Red Line

If you’re out of ideas, look to the ground! Likely, wherever in the city you are, you’ll find a red line painted on the floor somewhere nearby. This red line will take you to all of the important historic spots in the city, so if you’re worried you might’ve missed something, this is a great thing to do to make sure you don’t drive away while there’s still more to see.

While it has a grim history, Salem, MA has its hidden beauty

Salem, Massachusetts is an important part of American history, not just a spooky spot to visit during October. But since it is such a hotspot for all things Halloween, tons of tourists flock there this time of year. Luckily, in this touristy town, you won’t be required to spend money at all if you don’t want to. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy this city’s history without even opening your wallet.

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