Minnesota North Shore

The North Shore of Minnesota is a Stunning area along Lake Superior with great hiking and viewpoints!

North Shore Tips: 

• Expect solitude, beautiful views, mediocre food and coffee, and chill vibes.

• The further down the shore you get the more crowded everything is because it is more easily accessible. I loved the Grand Marais area as a jumping off point midway up the shore.

• Everywhere you go in this area is a scenic drive! Highway 61 is the main road running up from Duluth to the Canadian border and is a beautiful road to drive along.

• Although Duluth is a larger city, it is technically part of the North Shore as well. Scroll all the down for my recommendations and thoughts on Duluth.

• On a Minnesota road trip? Check out my Twin Cities guide here!

• Head over to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula while you’re in the area for more spectacular views, cute towns and great hikes. Check out my beer and travel guide for the U.P. here!

Adventures & Ales Top North Shore Recommendations: 

• Mount Josephine Lookout Tower Trail: This trail leads to stunning views of Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park, Canada, and the Minnesota shore. It is 2.8 miles long with 650ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour and a half to complete. The trail starts very flat and then it gets quite steep as you climb to the summit, but it is worth it for the views.

• Explore Grand Marais: This is a cute little town on the water with a nice downtown.

  • Voyageur Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a full kitchen downstairs and a rooftop deck with nice views. The beer exceeded my expectations but the food was a bit disappointing.

  • Artist’s Point: A little park with a rocky beach that is a great spot to catch the sunset. You can also walk out onto the point and explore that area.

  • World’s Best Donuts: I am not sure about world’s best, but these are some darn tasty donuts. Expect a lineup of folks but it moves quickly.

  • Java Moose: A cute coffee shop with pastries right across from the water.

• Canoe in the Boundary Waters! Most people choose to do an overnight canoe trip, but a day trip works too. You’ll need a permit that whoever you rent a canoe from can help you acquire. This is a must do while in Northern Minnesota.

  • I rented from Ely Outfitting Company in Ely, MN and canoed on Hegman Lake. I was the only person on the lake and it was a wonderful experience. If I were visiting again I would probably rent from an outfitter in Grand Marais and choose a lake off Gunflint Trail because it is closer to the North Shore.

• Middle Falls and High Falls Trail at Pigeon River Provincial Park: This trail is just across the border in Canada, so you will need to have proper identification and an ArriveCAN form completed to access it. The full trail is 5.3 miles long with 738ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours. The parking lot for the trailhead is the Ontario Visitor Center.

  • You’ll first come to High Falls and then walk through some buggy and muddy woods that are a bit overgrown to Middle Falls and then turn around and come back. I would recommend skipping Middle Falls and only doing High Falls and the Lookout Trail. Middle Falls is just a river view and the trail to get there was not great. Lookout Trail leads to a stunning viewpoint of Isle Royale National Park and the coast.

  • You can also see High Falls from the US side, but if you’re able to I’d recommend the Canadian view, especially for Lookout Trail.

• Oberg Mountain Loop via Superior Hiking Trail: A nice loop with lovely views of Lake Superior, the coast and Oberg Lake. The trail is 2.6 miles long with 500ft of elevation gain and took about an hour and 15 minutes to complete.

• Drive the Gunflint Trail: This scenic road heads west and leads to several trails and lakes. The Moose Viewing Trail is just shy of a mile long to an observation deck where you can frequently see moose.

• Cascade Falls: A quick 1 mile trail right off the main road with 6 waterfalls—the first you’ll come to is the largest. You can also add onto this trail and make a longer hike out of it. This is a nice and easy trail with great waterfall views.

• North Shore Winery: A winery and cidery under the same roof with a few different tasting options as well and cheese and crackers. The property is pretty and they frequently have live music as well. Tasty wine!

High Falls

Minnesota North Shore Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Devil’s Kettle Trail at Judge CR Magney State Park: This is a popular trail so be sure to get an early start to avoid the crowds. It is 2.2 miles long with 400ft of elevation gain, mostly in two large chunks of stairs right before you get to the Devil’s Kettle itself. This is a pretty unique sight to see and a definite must while you are in the area. It is $7 to park in the state park and the trail took 50 minutes to complete.

• Fifth Falls and Superior Hiking Loop at Gooseberry Falls State Park: Upper, Middle and Lower Falls can be reached with just a short walk from the parking area so this area is extremely popular. Once you venture beyond these there are very few people and you can get back to Fifth Falls following along the river with nice views. The overall trail is 3 miles long with 300ft of elevation gain, but you could also just do the first 3 waterfalls if you’d like.

• Palisade Head: A nice viewpoint overlooking the shoreline and Lake Superior. You can also see Shovel Point and Little Palisade from here.

• Brighton Beach: Rocky beach on Lake Superior just north of Duluth. Nice walking trail, picnic tables, benches.

Canoeing in the Boundary Waters

Other Minnesota North Shore Things To Do:​​​

• Pincushion Mountain Overlook Trail: This is a 4.2 mile long trail with 450ft of elevation gain. It is off the Gunflint Trail and takes about an hour and a half to complete. This was a pretty easy stroll through the woods and a bit boring of a trail. The views from the summit are nice but there are other trails with better views and more exciting trails.

• Castle Danger Brewery: A solid brewery in Two Harbors with a great patio space, frequent food trucks and a good variety of beers on tap.

• Stay at Cascade Lodge: Lutsen was a great base point for exploring the North Shore and I enjoyed renting a cabin here. It was well-priced, clean, and convenient. I would very much so NOT advise the restaurant here though.

• Split Rock Lighthouse: A popular destination with a $12 entrance fee to see the lighthouse.

• Hollow Rock: I am quite sure this is private property but there is a cool hollow rock in the water at a campground!

• Black Beach: A rocky beach that is not in fact black. It is a nice little beach but a bit overhyped.

Ursa Minor Brewing

Duluth Things To Do:

• Duluth was not my favorite. I’d recommend skipping it and driving further up the Minnesota North Shore or driving east to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Overall I found the city to have an unappealing mix of overly touristy and trashy. They also have a massive population of unhoused folks.

• There are lots of parks and seating along the waterfront which is nice. The Lakewalk is a paved trail that runs about 7 miles along the waterfront as well. Here you can see the lift bridge and lighthouse as well.

• Carry a rain jacket if you’re visiting in the summer months—there is a constant mix of rain-sun-rain-sun.

• Big Manitou Falls & Manitou Falls Trail at Pattinson State Park: The largest waterfall in Wisconsin! This state park was nearly empty when I visited and I enjoyed the 3.5 mile long trail with 209ft of elevation gain to Little Manitou Falls and Big Manitou Falls. You can also drive and walk just a short distance to either waterfall if that’s more your style. The park is 30 minutes from Duluth and there is an $11 entrance fee.

• Ursa Minor Brewing Company: The best brewery in Duluth, by far. They have great beers, delicious wood fired pizzas and a fantastic patio space.

• Bent Paddle Brewing Co: A solid brewery with a nice taproom and patio. They have a lovely fireplace, games and frequent food trucks.

• Earth Rider Brewery: A brewery in Superior with dive bar vibes. They have a small food menu and a large outdoor space.

• Enger Tower: A tower in a park with views of all of Duluth and Superior.

• Yellow Bike Coffee: A coffee shop with multiple locations in Duluth. The Fitgers location is on the river at the back of the large Fitgers complex. Heads up they do not have food although it is advertised that they do.

• Duluth Coffee Company: A small coffee shop in downtown Duluth with tasty beverages.

• Positively 3rd Street Bakery: A nice little organic bakery.

• Vikre Distillery: A cocktail bar crafting their own liquors.

• Blacklist Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery in the heart of Duluth with a nice, open taproom and a small tap list.

• Hoops Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery inside a hotel in downtown Duluth. They have a large open space with a huge tap list and a small seasonal biergarten in the back.

• Canal Park Brewing Company: A restaurant-style brewery with below average beers + food and terrible service. They have a nice outdoor patio.

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis is your classic Midwestern city with lots of space, old factories and chill vibes

Indy Tips:

• Overall Indy is pretty small—in a couple of days you can see a lot of the city and accomplish a lot.

• Be sure to sign up for the Indy Craft Pass, a mobile passport that will take you to the best breweries, distilleries, and craft beverage producers in the area. Get a free Indy Craft Pass t-shirt for checking in at eight of participating locations or check in at 35 locations and receive a handmade Indy Craft Pass beer stein.

Adventures & Ales Top Indianapolis Recommendations: 

• Guggman Haus Brewing Co.: The best beer in Indy! Guggman Haus has a cute spot with a cozy indoor taproom and spacious patio. The tap list is IPA heavy and the beers were fantastic. They also have an onsite kitchen, The Cabin Kitchen.

• 18th Street Brewery: A great brewery based in Hammond with a taproom in East Indy. They have a small food menu and cocktails as well. They are mainly focused on IPAs and Stouts.

• Sun King Brewery: A distribution-focused brewery near Fountain Square. Their beers are good overall and their biggest seller is their Cream Ale. Their industrial taproom also has food available via the La Margarita outpost.

• Centerpoint Brewing Company: A solid brewery in the Circle City Industrial Complex. There is also a distillery, bar, fowling, chocolate shop, and other small businesses here.

• Bovaconti Coffee: A cute coffeeshop in Fountain Square with pastries and great drinks.

18th Street Brewery

Indy Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Indy Cultural Trail: A fun greenway that runs throughout Indy! Walk past museums, memorials, the NCAA Hall of Champions, Monument Circle, and so much more! The Canal Walk at White River State Park is also part of this trail along the river. This is the perfect way to start your day.

• Wander the Fountain Square area—this area is really the heart of Indianapolis and full of shops, bars and restaurants.

• Milktooth: A super popular and delicious spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch! I’d recommend arriving before they open to get in line because it gets insanely busy. You can snag a coffee from the coffee bar while you wait.

Cultural Trail

Other Indianapolis Things To Do:​​​

• 450 North Brewing: A hype brewery in the middle of a corn field specializing in Fruited Sours. 450 North is about an hour south of Indy, but worth a visit while you’re in the area. They have a huge tap list and a cool farm set-up. They also have a full food menu and a winery.

• Daredevil Brewing Co.: A fun racing themed brewery in Speedway focused on IPAs and Lagers. They also have pizzas and a nice outdoor space.

• Scarlet Lane Brewing Gastropub: This brewery has four locations across the area. Their Bellefontaine Street is an interesting spot that is quiet. Their tap list is full of very unique beers that were surprisingly delicious.

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee is a small Midwestern city full of breweries and good vibes

MKE Tips: 

• Milwaukee has a ton of breweries so if you are visiting for a beer trip be sure to plan ahead so you’re not hopping back and forth between neighborhoods.

• Overall the city is pretty small so you could easily get by without a car.

• Summer is the ideal time to visit—the temperatures never get too high, there is relatively low humidity, there are pop-up beer gardens and events and the city is super bike friendly.

• A lot of places have weird hours or are closed during some weekdays, so be sure to triple check opening hours before visiting.

• Planning a Wisconsin road trip? Check out my Madison beer and travel guide here!

• Milwaukee is only 1.5 hours north of Chicago! Check out my Chicago beer and travel guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Milwaukee Recommendations: 

• Lakefront Brewery: A very popular brewery on the river with waterfront seating and a large taproom. They have a full food menu and the cheese curds are superb. Inside it is a German bier hall style set-up with long tables and high ceilings. They also offer tours.

• Eagle Park Brewing: A fantastic brewery just across the river from Lakefront Brewery. These were the best beers in all of Milwaukee. They have a nice taproom and a small patio space along with a kitchen and distillery.

• Amorphic Beer: A great brewery a bit off the beaten path on the north side of the city. Their beers are fantastic and they have fun flight boards made at the shop next door. The tap list is mostly focused on IPAs but there is a good variety overall.

• Café Benelux: A popular Belgian restaurant known for their Bloody Mary’s and fun rooftop space. They are located directly across from the Public Market and have great food and drinks.

• Kinn Guesthouse Bay View: A unique hotel that is structured as guest rooms with a communal kitchen and living space. The rooms are loft style and similar to individual apartments. It is a super cute space and right in the heart of the Bay View neighborhood.

  • Sorella: An Italian restaurant on the ground level of the hotel. They have a nice outdoor patio, a pretty bar, a solid beer selection along with wines and cocktails, and a full Italian food menu with pizza, pasta and appetizers.

• Colectivo Coffee: A local chain coffeeshop with great coffee and food. The Bay View location is huge and has an adorable outdoor space.

Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Milwaukee Art Museum: A cool art museum in a gorgeous building downtown on the water. It is pretty large with a variety of exhibits so I’d recommend setting aside at least a couple of hours to explore. You have to pay for admission and for parking which I thought was quite silly to charge for both. You can park near Discovery World on the street for free and walk over instead.

• Milwaukee Public Market: Your classic public market with restaurants, shops and bars. Go hungry and eat your way through the different stalls.

• Explore the RiverWalk, a trail meandering alongside the river throughout different neighborhoods of the city.

• Bublr Bikes: The best way to get around town! These rentable shared bikes are docked everywhere throughout the city. Overall they are super easy to use and Milwaukee is very bike friendly.

• Explore the Oak Leaf Trail: This 135 mile trail runs throughout the city and is very nice. In the summer there are pop-up beer gardens along the route.

• South Shore Park: A nice area on Lake Michigan with a beach, marina, terrace, playground and more!

Café Benelux

Other Milwaukee Things To Do:​​​

• Central Waters Brewing Co.: This Amherst, WI based brewery also has a Milwaukee taproom in the old Pabst factory. Dairyland has a kitchen here with delicious burgers, fries and more.

• Third Space Brewing: This brewery has a large taproom and a large outdoor space with a massive tap list. They focus on Hazy IPAs but still have a variety of beers overall. Triciclo Peru is their onsite food truck with empanadas.

• Good City Brewing: A brewery with 4 locations in Wisconsin. They have a full food menu, a wide variety of beers and a rooftop.

• The Explorium Brewpub: A restaurant-style brewery that is downtown just across the river from the Public Market. They have a full food menu and solid beers.

• Anodyne Coffee: A cute little neighborhood spot with coffee in the morning and then pizza and cocktails in the evening.

• City Lights Brewing Co.: A brewery in the old city powerhouse with a small tap list, a unique atmosphere and a large patio.

• MobCraft Beer: A brewery that creates crowdsourced beers in the Walker’s Point neighborhood. They also have a kitchen and specials each weekday.

• Vennture Brew Co: A coffee shop and brewery on the west side of the city. It is a nice open air space that is more coffee focused than beer but a good stop overall.

• Broken Bat Brewery: A baseball themed brewery with games and an indoor wiffleball field. They have a pretty large tap list with average beers.

Madison, WI

Madison is a fun college town with a cute downtown and some superb breweries!

Mad City Tips: 

• Hang out on the water! Madison has several lakes in the city so be sure to spend some time enjoying them.

• Madison is definitely a college town, so prepare for Badger everything! As a Michigan State grad it wasn’t my favorite part of the city, but it is fun to see the culture.

• Madison is quite small, you can accomplish a lot in just a day or two!

• Madison is only 1.5 hours west of Milwaukee, another fun city to explore! Check out my Milwaukee beer and travel guide here.

Adventures & Ales Top Madison Recommendations: 

• New Glarus Brewing: New Glarus is 50 minutes south of Madison but 1000% worth going out of your way to visit. This Wisconsin-only brewery is located on a huge, gorgeous property with a beer garden and views of the surrounding farms. There are only a few beers on tap but it is set up where you either pay for 3 tasters or for a pint, and you keep the glass. Spotted Cow is their most popular beer and a must-try. There is a large gift shop with swag and local cheese/snacks for sale to accompany your beers. The Beer Depot downstairs has to-go beer offerings with a large variety of beers and single bottle options as well. They also offer tours to learn more about their giant facility.

• Memorial Union Terrace: A super cute outdoor restaurant, bar and lounge space on the water on UW’s campus. Grab a local beer and hang out on the water! This is also a popular spot to watch the sunset.

• Young Blood Beer Company: A fantastic brewery downtown near the Capitol building. They have chill vibes, a patio space, a kitchen and delicious beers.

• Stay at Mansion Hill Inn! Madison is full of old mansions that have been converted to bed and breakfast spots and Mansion Hill Inn is fantastic. It is a beautiful old space with modern amenities and attentive staff. Your stay also includes a Madison BCycle pass and there is a docking station at the Inn.

• Working Draft Beer Company: A great brewery in the Marquette neighborhood with an IPA-heavy tap list and a nice taproom. They have a small patio space and fantastic beers.

New Glarus Brewing

Madison Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• The Old Fashioned: A famous restaurant in the heart of downtown with extremely delicious cheese curds that have been rated the best in the state. The bar selection is huge and they have a solid draft list as well.

• Ride around town with a Madison BCycle pass! Madison is super bike friendly and there are BCycle docking stations all over to make things easy!

• Explore State Street: This is the heart of downtown and is a cute, walkable area full of restaurants, shops and bars.

• Explore the Arboretum: A large outdoor space with trails, gardens and events.

Colectivo Coffee

Other Madison Things To Do:​​​

• Colectivo Coffee: A local coffee chain with great coffee and food. They have a few locations in town and have nice outdoor seating options.

• If you are visiting in the summer months be sure to check out Concerts on the Square on Wednesday evenings at the Capitol. This is an incredible event that brings together the city with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, BYOB drinks and food and drink vendors throughout.

• Bascom Hill: A nice viewpoint at the heart of UW’s campus.

• Hop Haus Brewing: A brewery in Fitchburg on the way to Madison from New Glarus. They have a full kitchen and average beers.

Decorah, IA

Decorah, Iowa Is exactly what you picture when you think of small town america—cute + bustling downtown, the nicest people & quirky charm

Decorah Tips: 

• Visit! Decorah is a small town but it has so many great reasons to visit—lots of outdoorsy activities, a great beer scene and a rich culture.

• Decorah has Norwegian roots so you will see fun connections all throughout town!

• Decorah is close to several cities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and more! Add it as a stop to your Midwest road trip.

Adventures & Ales Top Decorah Recommendations: 

• Pulpit Rock Brewing Company: A phenomenal brewery in the heart of downtown Decorah! Pulpit Rock is known for their Sours but every style of beer they make is delicious. They have a small taproom, a nice patio and The Landing Market is a food hall next door owned by the same folks so you can bring your beer over there or your food back to the brewery.

• Toppling Goliath Brewing Company: TG is one of the most highly rated breweries in the country and they are located just 7 minutes from downtown Decorah. They have a restaurant-style set-up with a full food menu and a nice indoor and outdoor space. Their facility is absolutely massive and you can look in on production from large windows in the tap room.

• Magpie Café and Coffeehouse: A super cute spot for breakfast, lunch and coffee on the main strip of downtown. The food and coffee is delicious and the team is incredibly nice. They also have lots of different vegan and vegetarian options.

• Dixie’s Biergarten: Dixie’s is a fun beer bar in the original Toppling Goliath space. They have 31 taps with a great selection of local and non-local craft beers. They also have a fantastic outdoor space with hops and string lights.

• Convergence Cider Works: A fun cidery downtown with their own ciders on tap, a few guest beers and a kitchen. They also have a small back patio and the owners are incredibly nice.

  • The owners also have an Airbnb upstairs that is 2 bedrooms and very cute. This is a great spot to stay while visiting Decorah!

Pulpit Rock Brewing

Decorah Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Trout Run Trail: An 11-mile loop that goes around the city and crosses trout stream 5 times throughout. The trail ranges from easy to challenging thanks to steep switchbacks in certain areas.

  • Rent a bike from Decorah Bicycles to explore all 11 miles! They also have e-bikes to make things a bit easier if you’d like.

  • Check out Dunnings Springs Waterfall right off the trail to see the 200ft waterfall

  • Palisdes Park is in the same area with trails and scenic overlooks

• Chimney Rock Campground & Canoe Rental: Rent a kayak, canoe or tube and float the Upper Iowa River! You can choose your length of float and they will drive you to a launch and you will end at the campground. They are about 25 minutes northwest of Decorah and it is absolutely gorgeous out on the river!

Dunnings Springs Waterfall

Other Decorah Things To Do:​​​

• Luna Valley Farm: On weekends in the summer and fall they host pizza nights on the farm, make a reservation in advance!

• La Rana: A cute bistro that the locals love. They have a solid beer selection, wine, cocktails, and delicious food.

• PIVO Brewery: PIVO is in neighboring Calmar and has a whopping 39 beers on tap. Their tap list spans all varieties of beer. They also have a food menu and a patio space.

• Decorah hosts an annual Nordic Fest and various Nordic dancing events throughout the year that are truly astonishing to witness—if you are lucky enough to be in town during one be sure to check it out!

Columbus, OH

Columbus is a fun city in the center of Ohio—a sentence I never thought I would say!

Cbus Tips: 

• Remember every time you are planning a trip to the Midwest—you will enjoy your time more if you go from May-October. Winter can be brutal!

• There is a thriving beer scene here! Be sure to plan ahead because you’ll want to target your ideal breweries, it would be nearly impossible to hit them all in one trip!

• Snag a Columbus Ale Trail booklet from pretty much any brewery to get stamps for your purchases and earn free swag!

• Ohio State University is located here so be conscious of football/graduation seasons when planning your trip! [Also be sure to yell Go Green for me if you’re there when they play Michigan State!]

• Columbus definitely has some rough areas so be aware and be safe.

Exploring Ohio? Check out my guides to Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland!

Adventures & Ales Top Columbus Recommendations: ​

• Hoof Hearted Brewing: A hype brewery mainly known for their IPAs which are super tasty, but everything they make is generally great. They have two locations in the Columbus area:

  • Marengo, Ohio: Their original location is about 30 minutes northeast of Columbus. They have Oak Hill BBQ onsite, an arcade, front and back patios, and overall chill vibes. This is basically in the middle of nowhere but it is a cool spot to check out.

  • Italian Village Neighborhood: Their downtown spot has fun vibes and even a pool that you can pay $10 to hang out at if you’re not a member of the gym it’s connected to.

• Land Grant Brewing Company: Yummy beers, a massive outdoor beer garden space, and tons of TVs. They also have frequent live music and outdoor movies during the summer months! Rayrays Hog Pit lives onsite for your BBQ needs.

• Gemut Biergarten: A great German biergarten with traditional German food (read: great pretzel) and solid beers.

• Lineage Brewing: A very chill spot with a full food menu without exuding ‘restaurant’ vibes. They’ve also got wine and cocktails for your non-beer friends and frequently host events.

• Emmett’s Café: A fantastic neighborhood café in the Brewery District of Columbus. They have fantastic breakfast/brunch/lunch and coffees and a great outdoor patio in the back. Highly recommend!

• North High Brewing: Super delicious beers at this brewery located in the Short North Arts District. You can also brew your own beer here which is a super fun concept! It can get quite loud and crazy on the weekends as a forewarning.

• Henmick Farm & Brewery: A farm-style brewery in Deleware, Ohio just north of Columbus. They have an extremely nice set up both indoors and out and great beers. There is usually a food truck or you can also bring your own food.

• Wolf’s Ridge Brewing: There are two different entrances to Wolf’s Ridge, one for the taproom and one for the restaurant, so decide what kind of mood you are in and go in the correct door! The taproom side has a smaller food menu and you can get beer from both sides of course!

• 2 Tones Brewing: Delicious beers and a super friendly staff. Worth adventuring out of central Columbus for!

• Somewhere in Particular Brewing: A funky brewery with a nice outdoor space and average beers. They’ve also got a full food menu if you’re hungry!

• Zaftig Brewing: This brewery also has two locations—the original is just north of the city and the newer spot is downtown. During my first visit to the original spot the beers were super impressive and the staff was incredibly friendly. During my visit to the downtown location the beers were not good and the service was terrible. Take that as you will!

Pretentious Barrel House

Columbus Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• The Book Loft: A giant bookstore with 32 rooms and a cute garden out front!

  • Stauf’s Coffee Roasters is located right next door with delicious coffees and pastries!

  • These are located in the German Village neighborhood which is cute and has several German bars and restaurants

• Scioto Mile: Several parks along the river downtown. It makes for a lovely walk/run/bike ride!

  • Bicentennial Park: If it is summertime and you’ve got kids with you on your trip this is the perfect park to hang out in with water features for them to play in

• North Market: Classic food hall/farmer’s market combo in the heart of the city

  • Jeni’s Ice Cream is located here and will forever be one of my favorite ice cream spots!

  • Barrel and Bottle is a beer shop—you can get a beer on tap and “sip and stroll” the market with it if you want!

• Short North Arts District: A fun neighborhood downtown with all kinds of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and stores to wander!

• Take a day trip or weekend trip to Hocking Hills! This gorgeous state park is just an hour southeast of Columbus. Check out my recommendations here!

Hoof Hearted Brewing

Other Things To Do in Columbus:​​

• Mission Coffee Co: Cute industrial coffee shop in the Short North Arts District neighborhood

• Endeavor Brewing: I loved the adventure theme at Endeavor but their beers were just average. They had a bunch of board games and they host soccer viewing parties too!

• Seventh Son Brewing: Located just up the street from Hoof Hearted’s downtown location, this brewery has a rooftop bar and frequent food trucks.

• Platform Beer Co: Solid beers, rooftop space, and a little off the beaten path. They’ve got darts and several board games for entertainment. Heads up you have to pay for metered parking here. Unfortunately they sold out to big beer, so support small and local first.

• BrewDog: A Scottish brewery with several outposts in the Columbus area. This brewery has faced a lot of issues with sexism and discrimination, so please support somewhere else first. Prior to all of these issues were surfaced I visited the Franklinton location which is right across the street from Land Grant Brewing. At this location the downstairs had more of a restaurant vibe with a full food menu and upstairs was a rooftop bar. The Doghouse, BrewDog’s craft beer hotel is also located in Columbus.

• There are a TON of other breweries in the area if you have a longer trip—over 45! Check out the map here.

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland gets a bad rap because well…it’s Cleveland. They have a ton of breweries and an overall fun vibe, check it out!

Forest City Tips: 

• Fun fact, Cleveland’s nickname is The Forest City! There is a bunch of nature surrounding the city, so be sure to venture out into it!

• Per all of my Midwest USA tips—I would recommend visiting May-October for the most joyful experience because winter is real and not fun when you’re walking around a new city!

• You can see Cleveland in a weekend, you don’t need to plan for much longer of a trip.

• Snag a Cleveland Brewery Passport and mail it in for prizes!

Adventures & Ales Top Cleveland Recommendations: ​

• Masthead Brewing Co: The best beer I had in Cleveland! The atmosphere is fun, they’ve got a pizza kitchen, long tables to share, friendly staff, and fantastic brews!

• Butcher and the Brewer: Located on the super cute 4th Street that is full of bars and restaurants, this brewery and restaurant combo has a fire Albino Stout that is worth a try and a fun outdoor patio to hang out on.

• Town Hall: A craft beer bar and restaurant combo with fantastic brunch and cheap Happy Hour specials. Located in the heart of the Ohio City neighborhood. Check out their back patio if the weather is nice!

• Bookhouse Brewing: Actually like a house full of books! This place is super cute and has fantastic beers. They’ve got a small snack food list, frequent food trucks, and lots of board games if you’d rather play something than read a book!

• Terrestrial Brewing: Located across the highway from Edgewater Park with a view of Lake Erie. Delicious beers and the most dogs I’ve ever seen at a brewery (insert heart eyes emoji here!)

• Noble Beast Brewing Co: Their taproom is combined with the brewing space which I love! Really good beers and fun vibes

• Collision Bend Brewing: Located right on the river, this brewery has a full food menu, a killer Happy Hour, and lots of outdoor seating

Butcher and the Brewer

Cleveland Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Brewnuts: This ever-popular donut and beer bar combo is worth the hype. Delicious donuts? Check. Fantastic tap list? Check. Do it up!

• West Side Market: Cleveland’s large city market with food stalls in a historic building

  • Market Square Park is directly across the street and home to open air markets and frequent events

• Great Lakes Brewing: Also right across from the West Side Market, this big name brewery lets you choose between outdoor seating, indoor-upstairs restaurant-style seating, or the indoor-downstairs pub-style atmosphere. Check out the mural on the back wall for a solid photo opp!

• Edgewater Park: A great place to hang out on the lake or catch a sunset!

• Rocky River Reservation: A nature park with trails and picnic areas. Heads up I’ve read some sketchy things about this park so be cautious.

• Fat Head’s Brewing: The local’s favorite! Fat Head’s has won a plethora of awards for their beers. They have two locations in Cleveland that each have different beers on tap. The newer location in Middlebury Heights is conveniently located near the airport if you’re flying in/out of the city and has fun beer garden vibes inside, along with a full food menu.

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park: This National Park is located 30 minutes south of Cleveland.

  • Brandywine Falls: This is the main attraction of the park. There is a short .3 mile/10 minute long boardwalk trail to see the falls or a 1.4 mile/35 minute loop trail along the creek. Parking is limited, but since it is so quick you can normally get a spot.

  • Ledges Trail: This is an easy 2.3 mile long trail with 203ft of elevation gain that takes about an hour to complete. There are some neat rock formations and slot canyons, but otherwise it is a bit boring.

Market Garden Brewery

Other Cleveland Things To Do:​​

• Saucy Brew Works: Restaurant style brewery with delicious pizzas and skee ball!

• Market Garden Brewery: Located directly next to West End Market, this brewery has a full food menu and cute outdoor patio with a fire pit.

• Forest City Brewing: A vintage-style brewery with a large outdoor space, games, and a snack menu.

• Wander the Flats East Bank area: A very walkable area on the river with lots of bars and restaurants, though a bit touristy

  • Thirsty Dog Brewing is here. They have indoor and outdoor seating and cute dog bone flights, though the beers weren’t super impressive

• Moe’s Tavern Brewing: A very interesting little space with tasty bar food and pub vibes

• Platform Beer Co.: They sold out to Anheuser-Busch which was quite disappointing, but when I visited their were still independently owned and had solid beers

On an Ohio kick? Check out my Columbus recs here!

Dayton, OH

Dayton is your classic Small Midwestern City with a few good spots to explore!

Dayton Tips: 

• Dayton is pretty small so I would recommend just a day or two to explore.

• I would recommend trying to stay closer to the university area or downtown! The outskirts of Dayton are not always super safe, so the closer to downtown the better.

• On a road trip through Ohio? Check out my guides to Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Hocking Hills!

Adventures & Ales Top Dayton Recommendations:

• The Barrel House: A fantastic beer bar with a killer tap list and phenomenal selection of cans and bottles for on-site consumption or to-go. If you can only go to one place in Dayton this is the number one spot! Highly recommend.

• Branch and Bone Artisanal Ales: A nice little spot with tasty beers and friendly staff members. They have a small dog-friendly patio as well.

• Nowhere in Particular Cabinet of Curiosities: A very funky brewery with some delicious beers and some average beers. Overall I would recommend checking it out. They are dog-friendly inside and out!

The Barrel House

Other things to do in Dayton:

• Warped Wing Brewing Company: A solid brewery in a converted warehouse with a massive tap list. They have a kitchen as well with tasty food! There is no outdoor seating option here so dogs are not welcome.

• Toxic Brew Company: A solid brewery right downtown with a wide range of brews.

• Ghostlight Coffee: A great coffee shop with two locations in town.

St. Louis, MO

ST. LOuis Is a Gritty Midwestern City with unique neighborhoods and a plethora of breweries!

STL Tips: 

• The area is spread out into very different neighborhoods, so be sure to plan ahead as the main attractions can be quite spaced out.

• St. Louis is SUCH a Lager town. Their breweries have not bought into the “hype beers” as a lot of the country is—don’t expect Juicy IPAs, Pastry Stouts, and Fruited Sours at each spot, expect more of your classic styles.

• Overall St. Louis is full of Midwestern vibes—it is gritty and full of old factories. I personally love that type of place as I am from Michigan which is much of the same, but don’t expect a Southern Belle city.

Adventures & Ales Top St. Louis Recommendations: ​​​

• Check out my blog with The Best Breweries in St. Louis!

• Narrow Gauge Brewing Company: Phenomenal beers of all styles—IPAs, Stouts, Foeder-Aged, the list goes on. They’ve also got some of the nicest staff around! This is an absolute must visit.

  • They are located a bit off the beaten path in Florissant, Missouri. It’s only 12 minutes from the airport so if you are flying in/out definitely hit them up while you are on your way to/from the airport. If you are not flying it is still worth the drive out to visit them!

  • They have an interesting set up with Cugino’s, an Italian restaurant, where they essentially share the space. I would not recommend the pizza, but the other food seems to be popular!

• Side Project Brewing: One of the top breweries in the entire country! When I visited they were unfortunately still doing to-go only because of COVID, but even my short experience picking up my to-go bottles was great! Their staff is super nice and the beers are absolutely incredible.

  • Their tasting room is just down the street from the brewery, The Side Project Cellar. They are also working on an expansion across the street from their original brewery that is rumored to bring more seats, pizza, and more parking.

• Perennial Artisan Ales: Another must visit that is highly regarded in the craft beer scene! Perennial is located in an old warehouse and is honestly a bit smaller than I expected for how much they distribute. Their beers are delicious, specifically their Sours and Stouts—Abraxas is my top recommendation!

• Bluewood Brewing: Really good beers, a unique patio space, and chill atmosphere. Mac’s Local Eats is located inside Bluewood and has some of the top burgers in the city so definitely grab a burger with your beers!

Urban Chestnut Midtown

• Wellspent Brewing Company: A small but fantastic brewery in the Midtown area of STL. Their taproom has classy style and they’ve got a cute little outdoor space as well. Great beers, although the tap list was a little short. Highly recommend the Stouts in particular!

• Urban Chestnut’s Midtown Biergarten: The Midtown location of UCBC is a cute little biergarten with a classic German style. The Pilsner was my top beer and the pretzels were also quite tasty! Urban Chestnut has two other locations in St. Louis and one in Germany—

  • Urban Chestnut’s Grove Bierhall: The vibes here are definitely classic German bierhall with a small outdoor space. It is a large indoor space and quite popular, so be aware that you may have to wait for a table. They have a slightly different tap list and food menu from their Midtown location.

  • The U.R.B.: The Urban Research Brewery was closed when I visited due to COVID but the idea is this this is where they try out their small batch beers and pizzas. It is located directly across the street from their Grove Bierhall.

• Gezellig Beer Bar: A great beer bar with a variety of local, regional, national, and international beers on tap and to-go. They share a space with Pie Guy Pizza that has delicious pizza available by the pie or slice! I highly recommend getting some ‘za with your beers!

• Rockwell Beer Co.: A super popular brewery with a fantastic patio to hang out on. They’ve got a small food menu and quite a few beers to choose from.

• Heavy Riff Brewing: Delicious beers, a full food menu with mostly BBQ, a large converted patio space, and chill vibes! They are located in the Dogtown neighborhood of STL.

• 2nd Shift Brewing: A large tap list with really good beers! They’ve got a little garden area up front and a spacious taproom to enjoy your beers in. 2nd Shift is located in a pretty industrial area so I would not necessarily recommend walking here like I did.

• Schlafly Brewing is the OG of St. Louis beer so you’ve got to check them out while you’re in town! They’ve got two locations in STL:

  • Schlafly Bottleworks is their large production facility. They are a brewpub with a full food menu. They’ve got a nice outdoor patio as well and are located in Maplewood, right up the road from Side Project.

  • Schlafly Tap Room is their original taproom from when they opened in 1991! They still do some brewing here as well and now have two bars and a full food menu. This location is between downtown and Midtown, right down the road from Wellspent.

Hartford Coffee Company

St. Louis Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Gateway Arch National Park: You of course have to visit the arch on your St. Louis visit! It is housed in a large National Park right on the Mississippi River. You can also go to the top via a tram for a fee.

  • The Old Courthouse is another sight to see in the park and is where the Dred Scott case was held. The Old Cathedral is also located here which is as it sounds, an old church.

• Missouri History Museum: This is a free museum located in Forest Park that has informative and interesting exhibits!

• Tower Grove Park: A nice park with a variety of gazebos to relax under.

  • Hartford Coffee Company: A neighborhood coffee shop near the park with fantastic breakfast options.

  • Tower Grove Creamery: A nice ice cream shop right at the entrance to the park so you can take your scoops and enjoy them in nature.

• Meander through The Grove neighborhood: This is a super cute area mostly along Manchester Avenue that is full of bars, restaurants, and shops.

  • UCBC’s Bierhall, The U.R.B., Pie Guy Pizza, Gezellig Beer Bar, and Rockwell Brewing are all located in this area from my top recommendations list above!

• Soulard Farmer’s Market: A solid farmer’s market with quite a few stalls of goodies to shop from.

  • The Soulard neighborhood in general is a fun spot to hop around. It is an old and gritty area with a plethora of bars and restaurants. I enjoyed Soulard Coffee Garden, a cute little coffeeshop and restaurant with a relaxing garden space.

• Forest Park: A massive park with trails, a boat house, a golf course, a couple of museums, and overall relaxing environment.

• Citygarden: A nice little area in downtown to relax with statues and nature.

• Explore the greenways! STL has a large greenway network that is nicely maintained.

Schlafly Bottleworks

Other St. Louis Things To Do:​​

• 4 Hands Brewing Co.: 4 Hands was continually recommended to me as “the best beer in St. Louis” and a “must visit",” but unfortunately I was very underwhelmed by their beers. I found the selection to be relatively large, but the flavors were not there for me. They have an upstairs in the taproom with games and they have a nice outdoor space across the street from the taproom. They have frequent food pop-ups as well.

• Alpha Brewing: A brewery in southern St. Louis with average beers and a small rotating food menu. They have frequent live music and a plethora of picnic tables to enjoy your patio brews on.

• Earthbound Brewing: Earthbound has a nice patio space, average beers, and is located right up the road from Bluewood Brewing on the bustling Cherokee Street.

• 21st St. Brewers Bar: A basement beer bar with a wide selection of craft beer that is mostly local. They have a nice patio upstairs and are located right next to Charleville Brewing Company!

• Charleville Brewing Company: Another brewery with average beers and a solid patio space. They also have games to play while you sip your brews! On Sundays they host Smash Burger Sundays and Tuesday-Saturday they partner with Hamilton’s next door for food.

• Park Avenue Coffee: A solid coffeeshop in downtown STL with innovative flavors and gooey butter cake!

• City Museum: One of the weirdest places I have ever been. This is essentially a giant playground, so if you have kids it would be a great way to entertain them for hours. It is indoors and outdoors, involves climbing, slides, and exploring. If you don’t have kids some people were enjoying themselves but it just not my type of thing to do. Tickets are $16 for entry.

• Center Ice Brewery: A hockey themed brewery that is a huge St. Louis Blues bar. They have a very small tap list and average beers.

• Rooster: A popular brunch restaurant with a downtown location and a Tower Grove location. Overall I was not too impressed with my food or my Bloody Mary, but others seemed to love it. They did have a few ways to make meals vegetarian or vegan if you have anyone in your group with a specific diet.

• Square One Brewery & Distillery: A restaurant-style brewery with a cute patio, large food menu, and average beers. I found the staff here to be incredibly rude as a heads up.

Seattle, WA

Seattle is a large port city surrounded by nature that is super fun to explore!

Seattle Tips:

• Pack a rain coat! Even on days with a tiny percent chance of rain you will probably see some sprinkles, even in the dry months.

• Avoid driving if you can. Seattle is not a very car friendly city, so if you can ditch your ride I would definitely recommend it.

• It is extremely uncommon for breweries in the area to have kitchens, so plan ahead to ensure you’re not brewery hopping on an empty stomach. Most taprooms will have food trucks later in the day and/or on the weekends, but I’d recommend looking at each spot’s website or Instagram to see what they have planned.

Planning a Washington Road Trip? Check out my recommendations here! I visited Seattle, Bellingham, North Cascades National Park, Chelan, Leavenworth, Yakima, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and more!

Adventures & Ales Top Seattle Recommendations: ​

• Fair Isle Brewing: An amazing brewery focused on Saisons and Farmhouse Ales. Their taproom is cute, their staff is really nice, and their beer is absolutely incredible. By far my favorite stop in Seattle. 49th Street Beast is their onsite food truck.

• Great Notion Brewing: This fantastic Portland based brewery has two locations in Seattle, one in the Ballard neighborhood and one in the Georgetown neighborhood. In Ballard the taproom has nice indoor and outdoor seating with Burb’s Burgers inside for eats. They are particularly great at Sours and Stouts.

• The Masonry: A stellar beer bar and pizza restaurant in Lower Queen Anne. They have a solid draft list and a good list of beer bottles, wines and cocktails. Their pizzas are fantastic and the menu also includes salads and small plates.

• Fast Fashion: This is a great brewery with two locations in Seattle: Lower Queen Anne (connected to The Masonry) and in the SoDo neighborhood. They are known for their tasty IPAs but still have a robust tap list.

• Kerry Park: A tiny and touristy park with fantastic views of the skyline and the water. Don’t expect to really hang out here, it’s really just a viewpoint, but I definitely recommend checking it out!

• Fresh Flours Bakery & Cafe: A delicious bakery with great breakfast options. Be prepared for it to be busy and for things to sell out quickly.

• RidgeWood Bottle & Tap: A great beer bar and bottle shop in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. They have a huge tap list with a great selection. The vibes are chill and there are some water views from the front patio space.

• Fulcrum Café: A cute coffee shop in Belltown with a small food menu. Their coffee is great!

• The Fat Hen: A cute spot for brunch just north of the Ballard neighborhood. They have a coffee bar, full food menu and a few cocktails. Everything I had was delicious and it is a great little neighborhood spot.

• Fremont Brewing: The most widely-known Seattle brewery is probably Fremont. They have a large distribution footprint and a large taproom to match it. Their beer garden is a fantastic spot to hang out. Their beers are solid, but flights can be pretty pricey as a heads up.

• Dirty Couch Brewing: A brewery focused on Sours and Wild Ales with a nice patio.

• Holy Mountain Brewing: Holy Mountain has two locations in town—their OG taproom and the newer Phinney Ridge taproom. Phinney Ridge is a nice, sleek space with a smaller tap list. There are a few places nearby to snag eats. The original taproom has frequent food trucks and a large open space.

Fair Isle Brewing

• Brewery hop in the Ballard neighborhood! This area is packed full of breweries so I would make a plan ahead of time or you’ll never hit all the ones you want to because there are so many to choose from!

  • Fair Isle and Great Notion from above are both located here!

  • Stoup Brewing: A great brewery with a large tap list, delicious IPAs, a nice patio, and frequent food trucks.

  • Urban Family Brewing: Urban Family is directly across the street from Stoup and has great Sours and Hazy IPAs. They have a nice patio and beers to-go as well.

  • Lucky Envelope Brewing: Another brewery in the Ballard neighborhood. I found the tap list to be less than ideal and their beers they had when I visited to be mediocre, but perhaps with different selections on tap they would shine more.

  • Rueben’s Brews: A popular brewery with a nice patio and delicious beers, particularly their Hazy IPAs.

Pike Place Market

Seattle Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Chihuly Garden and Glass: A very cool glass museum with an indoor gallery, outdoor gallery, glass blowing demonstrations and onsite restaurant. Tickets are $35 which I was shook by but I would say it is worth it! Located in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle.

• Pike Place Market: The ever-popular market that is a Seattle icon is a must visit. Try a variety of foods, see flying fish, and be surrounded by hoards of tourists.

  • I highly recommend visiting the Beecher’s Cheese storefront.

  • Parking can be a nightmare, so I would recommend walking/Lyfting but if you do drive the street parking is way cheaper than the parking lots/garages.

  • This is where the ridiculously popular Starbucks is that basically always has a line. I’d recommend local Anchorhead Coffee instead if you need some java.

  • Cloudburst Brewing’s smaller original location is located here too.

• Discovery Park: A popular park with multiple trails along the beach. I did this trail on AllTrails which ended up taking about an hour and 45 minutes and was 4.8 miles and 28 flights up. The beach itself is pretty rocky and a bit dirty, but it was still nice to be on the water. On a clear day you can see the surrounding mountains as well. One thing to note if you do the full loop trail you will walk near a waste treatment plant which is a bit smelly, but it is just for a short period of time.

• You can also hike at Mount Rainer, which is a bit further out from Seattle but absolutely worth it! Be sure to check road closures and weather advisories before making the drive. Mount Rainier recommendations are here!

• Rattlesnake Ledge Trail: A popular trail about an hour from Seattle only a few miles off the highway. I did this trail on AllTrails which ended up taking about 2.5 hours and was 6 miles and 131 flights up. You are quite literally climbing directly up the mountain and it takes about an hour to get to the first view point. There are two other ledges for views from slightly higher up that are less crowded.

• Alki Beach: A cute little sleepy town with a rocky beach and views of the Space Needle and surrounding mountains

  • Ampersand Cafe: Average coffee shop right across from the beach

  • West Seattle Brewing: They have a taproom at Alki Beach but it was closed during my visit. Google and their website + social media said they were open, so I’d recommend trying to call ahead to confirm their hours if you plan to visit.

• Gas Works Park: An old industrial park with great views of the city and the water. Ideal spot for a picnic or just to hang out in the grass.

• Lake 22 Trail: This trail is 6.4 miles long with 1,450ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. It is a rocky trail out to Lake 22 which is pretty and overall it’s not too tough. The trailhead is 1 hour north of Seattle in Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. It takes just over 2.5 hours to complete.

• Biscuit Bitch: A popular and touristy spot with delicious biscuits. They have 2 locations and you can order online to avoid any potential lines.

• Seattle Center: Wander this area that is home to the Space Needle, multiple event spaces and a large outdoor park.

Chiluly Gardens and Glass

Other Seattle Things To Do:​​

• Cloudburst Brewing: Cloudburst has two taprooms—one on Shishole and one near Pike Place Market. I visited their Shishole location that has a food truck onsite, a nice patio, and solid beers. They tend to focus on IPAs.

• Ballard Coffee Works: A cute coffee shop in the heart of the Ballard neighborhood with a few food options as well.

• The Pine Box: A craft beer dive bar with a food menu in an old chapel. The vibes are fun and their selection is solid. The Pine Box is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, parking in this area can be tough.

• The Beer Junction: A beer bar and bottle shop in West Seattle with a few taps and a large can/bottle selection.

• Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery: A popular taproom with a large variety of beers on tap.

• Narrows Brewing: This brewery is not in Seattle, but if you venture down to Tacoma, be sure to check it out! They are located right on the marina with a small patio. They have great views and delicious beers.

• Georgetown Brewing: Named after the small industrial neighborhood they are based in, Georgetown has a huge operation and widely distributes. They have a small beer garden and taproom and are definitely more focused on distribution.

• TeKu Tavern: This beer bar and bottle shop has a great can and bottle selection alongside some solid taps.

• Ravenna Brewing Company: An average brewery in the northeast Suburbs with frequent food trucks.

• Best of Hands Barrelhouse: A brewery in West Seattle focused on Farmhouse and Sour Ales. When I visited that did not seem to be the case with just one Saison and one Sour on tap. The beers I did have were average. It is a nice little taproom, so if you’re in the area check it out, but I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit.

• The Good Society Brewery and Public House: A brewery in West Seattle with a small food menu and nice patio. The beers were mediocre at best in my opinion.

Fremont Brewing

Check Out BELLEVUE:

• Bellevue is right across the water from Seattle and has a cute downtown and over 100 parks.

• Bellevue Brewing Company: Located in The Spring District, a planned community, they have a great patio, a large variety of beers, cocktails, wine and a full food menu.

• Get on the water: Rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard from the REI Boathouse on Meydenbauer Bay. The bay leads out to Lake Washington with pretty views. They also offer tours.

• Take a Circuit to get around: Bellevue offers Bellhop for free electric transport in town.

Have more time in the Pacific Northwest?

• Drive a bit further north to Vancouver, BC! Vancouver is about 2.5 hours north of Seattle and a cool city. Check out my full beer and travel guide here!

• Drive down to Portland! This beer mecca is about 3 hours south of Seattle and full of fantastic spots to check out! Here is my full beer and travel guide for Portland!

• Take a trip to the beautiful Oregon Coast! Check out my one day Oregon Coast itinerary and recommendations here!

Utah

Utah is home to 5 national parks and beautiful landscapes everywhere you look!

Utah Tips: 

• Check out my Utah road trip itinerary blog here to plan a fantastic adventure across the state!

• Be very mindful of the time of year you plan to visit—summers can be excruciatingly hot in the desert and winters mean lots of snow. May and September are great times to visit.

• Be mindful of the elevation—Salt Lake City sits at 4,265ft and Bryce Canyon averages 8000ft for example. Give your body time to adjust if you’re traveling from somewhere closer to sea level.

• When visiting the 5 National Parks you’ll need a national park pass or pay to enter. If you don’t have a pass paying $35 one time will grant you park entries for a week.

• Be sure to check park alerts. Things change rapidly with weather, erosion and more. Each park’s website will list closures and other issues that may arise.

• Look up at night! Utah is home to very dark skies that allow for fantastic stargazing throughout the state, especially near the parks.

• Utah has a wild amount of beer laws that seem pretty bizarre compared to the rest of the country. They can’t sell draft beer above 5% ABV, but they can sell canned beer with higher ABV. You’re not allowed to bring in any empty vessels to taprooms, so leave your refillable water bottles in the car. There are separate spaces for bars and restaurants that are required to have separate entrances, so choose your vibe ahead of time.

• Download offline maps ahead of your trip to ensure you can get directions from point a to point b since a lot of Utah is pretty remote with spotty phone service.

Doing a road trip? Check out my Grand Canyon, Sedona and Las Vegas guides!

Moab: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point STate Park

Arches National Park

Arches is an iconic park full of—you guessed it—arches! You also have nice views of the surrounding La Sal Mountains. It’s a small park that you can drive from one end to the other in 30 minutes without stopping. Everything in Arches is quiet exposed so be sure to wear sunscreen, bring plenty of water, and try to avoid hiking during the hottest times of the day.

You’ll need a timed entry pass to enter the park between 7am and 4pm April 1st to October 31st. This helps to reduce crowds and traffic. If you are unable to get a pass you can enter without it before 7am or after 4pm.

Recommendations:

• Delicate Arch Trail: This trail is 3.5 miles long with 630ft of elevation gain and takes about 1.5 hours. It is rated moderate and has a relatively steep climb up slickrock in one section. It is a popular trail, but it’s the most iconic arch there is so it’s worth it! Highly recommend climbing up to the little peek through window right before you round the corner to the arch. There are also petroglyphs near the trailhead.

• Devil’s Garden Trail: This trail is 8 miles long with 1,086ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours. The trailhead housed at the end of the park, about 30 minutes from the entrance. It is rated hard and is the longest and most difficult trail in the park—but don’t let that deter you it’s really just walking through thick sand that is hard and there is one section of scrambling. You can also just do shorter segments of this trail if that is more of a fit; most folks just go to Landscape Arch and turn around, making the primitive trail incredibly quiet.

  • Going counter clockwise you will hit Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch and then transition to the primitative trail with thick sand. From here you’ll come to Private Arch, Double O Arch, Black Arch Overlook, Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and then back to Landscape Arch on your way back to the trailhead. You can also add on Black Angel.

• See Balanced Rock: This is a quick, neat stop off the main road with a massive rock balancing.

• Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail: This trail is 1 mile long with 154ft of elevation gain and takes about 30 minutes to complete. It is rated easy and tends to be crowded because it’s accessible with large arches. You’ll see North Window, South Window and Turret Arch, which are all quite cool. You can also make this a longer loop with a primitive trail.

• Panorama Point: A beautiful viewpoint with sweeping views of the area.

• Explore the Fiery Furnace: There is no set trail in the fiery furnace and you have to have a permit to enter or go via a ranger-led tour. I opted for the ranger-led experience to get to learn more about the area and see things I might not find on my own (since there is no trail). We hiked about 3 miles with 500ft of elevation gain on this ranger route. It is a pretty awesome experience with some tight slot canyons, Twin Arch, Surprise Arch and some technical maneuvering. They keep these groups very small and release tickets 1 week in advance.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is divided into different districts by the rivers and each section is quite far apart. Island in the Sky is the area closest to Moab and where most folks go, but it is still incredibly quiet in this entire park. The Needles is further south and a lot emptier. To the east is The Maze and then there are the rivers themselves.

Island in the Sky

This section is 45 minutes west of Moab and has similar vibes to the Grand Canyon. It can get quite windy here being in a canyon so watch your hats and wear layers. You could easily hit everything you’d like to do here in half of a day.

• Green River Overlook: A scenic spot where the Colorado River and Green River meet.

• White Rim Overlook Trail: This trail is 1.8 miles long with 160ft of elevation gain and takes about 45 minutes to complete. It takes you out to a nice viewpoint of the rim with the La Sal Mountains in the background.

• Grand View Point Trail: The Grand View Trail and Viewpoint is at the end of the park. There is a 1 mile each way flat trail along the rim or you can just soak in the viewpoint.

• Mesa Arch Trail: This trail is .9 miles long with 88ft of elevation gain and takes about 20 minutes to complete. It is rated easy and is a popular spot to see sunrise. This is a little arch overlooking the canyon.

• The Neck: A cool viewpoint especially in the afternoon with the way the sun hits. You’ll see a sign for this on the main road.

The Needles District

This area is 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Moab with vastly different scenery. You’ll pass Wilson Arch about 30 minutes south of Moab which is a nice large arch right off the road. Newspaper Rock is right before the park with petroglyphs. Keep your eyes peeled for cows on the road once you get close to the park!

• Chesler Park Viewpoint Trail: This trail is 6.6 miles long with 1,151ft of elevation gain and takes just under 3 hours to complete. It is an interesting hike with changing views throughout. It is rated as moderate and you can also double the length by doing the loop trail instead of just the viewpoint trail. The last chunk of the road leading to the trailhead is unpaved and quite curvy but you don’t need four wheel drive to get through it.

Dead Horse Point State Park

This state park is 13 miles from the Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands on the same road. It’s a great tack-on after Canyonlands. It is a tiny little park—it’s only 3 miles from the entrance to the end. Dead Horse Point is a popular spot for sunset which is absolutely gorgeous! There are also yurts here, a few short hiking trails as well as mountain biking trails. The entrance fee is $20 if you don’t have a Utah parks pass.

Moab Recommendations:

An outdoorsy town that’s the gateway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. It is very conveniently located and full of restaurants, bars and hotels.

• Moab Garage Co.: A very cute spot for breakfast, lunch, coffee and ice cream.

• Proper Brewing & Burger Company: A solid brewery with fantastic burgers. They have a nice back patio and cocktails as well.

• Fisher Towers Trail: This trail is 5.5 miles long with 1469ft of elevation gain. It is rated hard and takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. The trailhead is 40 minutes from Moab up near Castle Valley and the drive out is gorgeous alongside the Colorado River and then out to the red rocks. This is a very quiet trail with absolutely amazing views—I highly recommend it!

• Moab Brewery: An average brewery with a full food menu. They also have a distillery next door. It is a popular spot and a nice place for a post-hike beer.

• Horsethief Coffee: A cute coffeeshop with a nice outdoor seating area right outside of Arches. They open earlier than everyone else in town which is nice if you’re heading into the park in the morning. They have coffee, tea, breakfast and to-go lunch options.

• Spanish Valley Vineyard and Winery: A nice winery just south of downtown. They offer tastings with 6 pours for $20, glasses or bottles. Be sure to check out the back patio for nicer views.

• Corona and Bow Tie Arch Trail: This trail is 3 miles long with 500ft of elevation gain. It is rated as moderate and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. The trailhead is 20 minutes from downtown Moab alongside the Colorado River. It is a quiet trail that is very open and exposed leading to a very large arch. You can also add on Pinto Arch for a longer hike.

• Canyon Pizza Co.: A delicious spot for pizza!

• DoughBird: A popular spot for doughnuts, chicken sandwiches and coffee. The doughnuts are “fancy” and absolutely fantastic!

• Big Horn Lodge: A nice spot to stay that feels very “national park” style. They have a pool, it’s very clean, and it’s a 5 minute walk to Moab Brewery.

• Spitfire Smokehouse + Taps: A BBQ restaurant and bar. The tap list here is solid and their cocktails are popular. The food is just average.

• Red Rocky Bakery & Cafe: A solid spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch. They move pretty slowly so this isn’t the spot if you’re in a rush, but the food is great.

• Moab Food Truck Park: A park with numerous food trucks. They tend to all be open for lunch but only some are open for dinner.

Scout Lookout at Zion

Zion National Park

Zion has a dramatic landscape and is different from the neighboring parks because it is much more green! Don’t let the trees fool you though, you’re still in the desert so be sure to hydrate. The park is small with not too many different trails. The Kolob Canyons section of the park has a separate entrance to the west and sees far fewer visitors.

• There is a park shuttle that is required for use up the main road of the park during most of the year. It takes 40 minutes to get from the Visitor’s Center to the end of the park, shuttle stop 9. The shuttle comes frequently and is easy to use, just don’t miss the last one at the end of the day.

• The Narrows and Angel’s Landing are the two most talked about hikes here and the two most difficult to actually be able to complete:

  • The Narrows is a hike in the river that is closed each year for a varying amount of time due to snowmelt and the river moving too quickly. You can see the historic opening and closing dates on the park website. If The Narrows is “a must” for you, plan your trip in late summer or fall.

  • Angel’s Landing requires a permit which you can only get via a lottery. There are seasonal lotteries and day before lotteries you can enter—the more entries the higher your chance of winning. If you don’t get a permit you can still hike 4/5ths of the same trail via Scout Lookout (below).

Recommendations:

• Zion Canyon Overlook Trail: This trail is 1.5 miles long with 187ft of elevation gain and takes about 30 minutes to complete. It is rated as moderate but is really quite easy. This is a popular trail because it’s short but the stunning views make it a must do in the park! The trailhead is 10 minutes from the east entrance of the park, just don’t miss the parking options otherwise you’ll have to drive all the way through the tunnel, turn around and come back.

• Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail: This trail is 4.5 miles long with 1,115ft of elevation gain and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. It is rated as hard due to the steep climb up and Walter’s Wiggles, a series of 21 steep switchbacks near the summit. There are sweeping views from the top. It is a very exposed trail so be sure to bring sun protection and lots of water. Although this is rated as hard it is mostly paved along the way and there are plenty of spots to take breaks from the climb. There is a bathroom both at the trailhead and just past the Wiggles. The trailhead is shuttle stop 6. This is a great alternative if you’re unable to attain a permit for Angel’s Landing, since it shares 4/5ths of the exact same trail.

• Camp Outpost: A great spot for lunch or dinner with a view. They also have great cocktails and a solid beer list. The food menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches and rotisserie. I enjoyed this spot so much I visited twice!

• Zion Canyon Brew Pub: Walk across the pedestrian bridge from the Visitor’s Center towards Zion Village and bam you’re at a brewery! They have a great patio and solid beers. The Brown Ale should not be missed. The food here is average, but the beers and views were worth it.

• Deep Creek Coffee Company: A nice spot for breakfast, lunch, coffee and smoothies. They have a great upper deck as well. You can order online ahead of time to skip the potential line!

• The Watchman Trail: This trail is 3.5 miles long with 636ft of elevation gain and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. It is rated as moderate and has really nice views. Early morning is the ideal time for this hike because the sun on the surrounding mountains is gorgeous and the trail is still quiet. The trailhead is at the Visitor’s Center making it super convenient!

• Emerald Pools Trail: This trail is 3.4 miles long with 700ft of elevation gain and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. It is rated as moderate and is extraordinarily popular. There was a bridge out when I visited so the trail was not a loop and was slightly longer than what it would have been and this also led to more crowds with everything being out and back. It starts out with a nice walk above the Virgin River and then you’ll head to each of the pools. The Upper Emerald Pool is the best with a large waterfall, the Lower is also cool with a smaller waterfall you can walk under, and the Middle is very lame. Overall I was not super impressed with this trail but it was nice to sit at the waterfall.

• Perks! Coffee, Espresso and Smoothies: This is also located in Zion Village right across the pedestrian bridge from the Visitor’s Center. They have a small breakfast and lunch menu, coffee, ice cream and smoothies.

• The Zion Narrows Riverside Walk: If The Narrows are closed during your visit you can still hike the riverside trail. This is rated easy and is at the end of the park, shuttle stop 9. The trail is 2 miles long with 200ft of elevation gain and takes about 40 minutes. It is a very popular trail but quite boring overall.

• I stayed at this fantastic Airbnb in La Verkin which was about 25 minutes from the park entrance. It was only $77 a night and was full of great amenities and the nicest hosts! Highly recommend if you don’t want to pay the Springdale prices.

  • River Rock Roasting Company: A solid coffee drive-thru right across the street from the Airbnb. They also have a larger location about a mile away that’s open all day with pizzas and views.

Sand Hollow State Park

This state park is 45 minutes southwest of Zion. It is a large water reservoir surrounded by red rocks and with a view of the Pine Valley Mountains. The water is super clear (though chilly!) and very nice. The park is most visited for hanging out at the beach, camping and riding ATVs. It is $20 to enter without a Utah parks pass if you’re not a Utah resident.

Queens Garden at Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is a magical park full of colorful hoodos. This is definitely a park for layers—the elevation is much higher so it can be very hot one minute and super chilly and windy the next. It is a small park and just 18 miles from the park entrance to the end of the road. There is a park shuttle to alleviate parking issues during the busy season, but I did not find it necessary. Keep your eyes peeled for prairie dogs in the road if you’re driving! This is probably the most isolated park with not too much around, but there is shockingly great phone service here.

Recommendations:

• Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop to Peekaboo Loop (Figure 8): This trail is 7.5 miles long with 1500ft of elevation gain. It is rated as moderate but is pretty strenuous with constant ups and downs throughout. It takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the Figure 8, but you can also break it up and just do a smaller loop. The trailhead is at Sunset Point which has a beautiful view of the entire area. Next the trail heads straight down into Queens Garden amongst the hoodoos before getting to the valley floor. Peekaboo Loop is much quieter than Queens Garden since most people don’t do the full Figure 8 Loop and there is a bathroom at the midway point of Peekaboo. After this is The Wall of Windows which is quite neat. The trail ends with a series of pretty steep switchbacks alongside Thor’s Hammer.

• Fairyland Loop Trail: This trail is 8.7 miles long with 1,545ft of elevation gain and takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete. It is rated moderate and is very quiet. It truly does look like a fairytale along this trail—there are views all around and the hoodoos are beautiful. Although this is technically a bit longer and steeper than the Figure 8 it was much easier since it’s not constantly up and down. The parking lot at the trailhead is just before the park gates and is tiny, but you can also park near the general store and hop on the trail which has far more parking. There is no bathroom at the trailhead and it is recommended to take the trail clockwise.

• Drive the Southern Scenic Drive: The only road heading south takes you 15 miles to the end of the park from Inspiration Point. There are numerous viewpoints and pull offs along the way, be sure not to miss Natural Bridge. The road ends at Rainbow and Yovimpa Viewpoints which is much higher elevation and has beautiful views.

• Mossy Cave, Turret Arch and Little Windows Trail: This trail is 1.4 miles long with 121ft of elevation gain. It is rated as easy and takes about 40 minutes to complete. It is outside of the park gate on the main road nearby, but still technically part of the park. It is a popular trail because it is short and easy, but there is plenty of overflow parking and it’s worth checking out. The walk along the river is nice and then at the fork to the left is Mossy Cave which is underwhelming and to the right is the top of the waterfall and a view of Little Windows and Turret Arch in the hoodoos. You can also go down close to the falls and under them.

• Lower, Mid and Upper Inspiration Points Trail: This trail is .8 miles long with 134ft of elevation gain. It takes 15 minutes to complete and is rated easy. Each viewpoint has a nice lookout above Figure 8 trail. This is on the Rim Trail which connects to everything else so you could add this on to another hike if you’d like.

• Watch the sunset at Sunset Point or the sunrise at Sunrise Point: This is definitely more of a park for sunrise than sunset. Sunset was a bit disappointing with not quite the glow that was expected.

• Valhalla Pizzeria: A pizza joint at the lodge with counter service. They also have salad and some snacks on the menu. The pizza is average but with not much around it gets the job done!

• The General Store: A nice stop for anything you might need—sandwiches, coffee, beer, groceries, souvenirs and more!

• Bryce Country Cabins: This is a nice spot to stay 13 miles from the park entrance in Tropic. The cabins are clean and relatively new. The area just outside the park is very touristy so this is a nice reprieve, but there is not much in the area.

• Bryce Canyon Coffee Company: The only coffee shop in town but skip it. They have a small food menu that is all premade and does not look great. The iced latte was truly awful.

Red Canyon (Dixie National Forest)

This is part of Dixie National Forest and is 20 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park. It is directly on the way if you’re traveling from Zion to Bryce. There is no entrance fee to access this area. It is incredibly quiet here with next to no people.

• Pink Ledges, Bird’s Eye and Photo Trail Loop: This trail is 2.4 miles long with 338ft of elevation gain and takes about 1 hour to complete. It is rated moderate and you could also just do smaller segments of the trail if that’s your preference. Pink Ledges is an awesome section of somewhat pink red rock with unique texture.

• Red Canyon Arch: You’ll pass through two arches in the road from Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon—they are quite a sight!

Spooky Slot Canyon

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument 

This is a large, beautiful area of protected land that sits between Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. There is zero phone service in this area so be sure to be prepared.

Recommendations:

• Dry Fork Narrows, Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons Trail: This trail is 5.5 miles long with 650ft of elevation gain and takes just under 3 hours to complete. It is rated as moderate, which the hiking part is, but the slot canyons themselves are very difficult. Dry Fork Narrows is the easiest, it’s a relatively wide and flat canyon. It is the coolest “hike” I’ve ever done and would highly recommend! Peekaboo is the most difficult and is basically rock climbing at points—you’ll need to be able to pull your body up over rock ledges. Spooky is very, very narrow—there is a sign at the trailhead that says if you can’t fit through this gap you won’t make it, take that seriously. This is not a trail for kids, dogs, anyone not in shape, or anyone even mildly claustrophobic.

  • The road out to the trailhead is pretty horrible. It’s a washboard and would be impassable after/during rain. It would be much easier to navigate in a high clearance car, but you can make it in a sedan. I’d recommend parking at the upper parking lot instead of the lower like AllTrails says because it is less driving on the road and it is closer to the canyons. Keep your eyes peeled for rattlesnakes in the slot canyons!

• Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail: This trail is 6.8 miles long with 531ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours to complete. It is rated as moderate and is a very exposed trail, so try to avoid the peak afternoon heat. The waterfall at the end is very nice and there is a little pool you can swim in/enter, but beware that it is very cold water!

  • You’ll need a National Park Pass or pay $5 to park at the trailhead. This is a pretty popular area for camping and hiking, so expect to see many other people.

Cassidy Arch at Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef is a small park that is not quite as exciting as the others in the state but still worth a visit. There isn’t a park gate here and the road through the park is a main traveling road which is a bit odd. Capitol Reef is an interesting combination of elements found in other parks—arches, natural bridges and canyons.

Recommendations:

• Grand Wash Trail via Northeast Trailhead combined with Cassidy Arch Trail: Together this trail was 7.5 miles long with 1007ft of elevation gain. It is moderate overall and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. The Grand Wash section is an easy stroll through the wash with tall canyon walls. The Cassidy Arch section starts off steep and then mostly levels off and leads to a huge arch. Be sure to go out on top of the arch and to also walk just past the arch for a nice sweeping view. Overall there is a lot of sun exposure on this trail so go early and bring lots of water.

  • The Grand Wash Trail itself is 5 miles long with 341ft of elevation gain and is rated easy. This trail is very quiet. The Cassidy Arch Trail itself is 3.1 miles long with 666ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. This trail is more popular but not crowded. There is no bathroom at the northeast trailhead for Grand Wash but there is a bathroom at the Cassidy Arch trailhead.

• Hickman Bridge Trail: This trail is 2.1 miles long with 416ft of elevation gain. It sakes about 50 minutes to complete and is rated moderate. It is essentially a short uphill walk to a large natural bridge. It is a popular trail but not crowded by any means. There are also nice views of Capitol Dome.

• Panorama Point: A nice viewpoint of the surrounding area. It is not “epic” but it is worth a stop.

• Goosenecks Overlook: This viewpoint is at the end of the same road that Panorama Point sits on. The goosenecks are tight curves in the river that you can see from above. The surrounding views are also nice.

• Stay in Torrey:

  • Red Sands Hotel and Spa: A nice and well-priced hotel with a pool, fire pit, nice views and thoughtful amenities. It is 10 miles from the National Park.

  • Chak Balam Mexican Restaurant: A delicious spot for Mexican eats, highly recommend for dinner!

  • Dark Sky Coffee: A drive-thru or walk-up coffee shop with a small food menu. The coffee is great, food is a bit bland.

Grid City Beer Works

Salt Lake City Recommendations:

• Templin Family Brewing: A stellar brewery with a wide variety of beers but superb Lagers. This is a popular spot with frequent food trucks, a small snack menu and cocktails. They have a nice back patio space as well.

• Epic Brewing Company: Epic is most known for their big Stouts and have been in the beer game for ages. Their SLC taproom does not have any taps because of Utah’s wild beer laws, but they have a huge menu of bottles and cans you can get pours from.

• Grid City Beer Works: A great brewery with a Pilsner focus. They have a delicious food menu and lots of vegan options as well. The vibes here are a fun mix between classic brewery and restaurant, plus they have a rooftop deck.

• Bonneville Salt Flats: The salt flats are pretty neat—they are the remnants of Lake Bonneville and it’s, well, salty and flat. They do car racing here occasionally, but otherwise you can just walk around and take in the sights and uniqueness. The best spot to access the salt flats is by just making a quick stop at the west bound rest area on I-80 West, about 1.5 hours from the SLC airport.

• Bjorn’s Brew: A dog themed coffee shop in South Salt Lake. They have delicious coffee, a great breakfast menu, and they help save dogs.

• Great Salt Lake State Park: This is a nice spot for sunset and to see the Great Salt Lake. There is not a quite a beach but you can access the water if you’d like, just keep in mind it is indeed very salty. There are also a ton of spiders in the area because of the salt, meaning the observation deck and surrounding rocks are covered in webs and eight legged critters. There is an entrance fee of $10 per car.

• SaltFire Brewing Company: An average brewery with a small tap list and large can selection. They have frequent food trucks and events as well as a nice patio. Not a huge fan of breweries serving a canned IPA that is 4 months old personally.

• Beer Zombies also has a location in Salt Lake City but the taproom has really terrible reviews.

Horseshoe Bend

Natural Bridges, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell

This is an add-on that ventures into northern Arizona and tribal land, but there are tons of great places to check-out in this section between Canyonlands and Zion.

Natural Bridges National Monument

This is an interesting area with several natural bridges along a short loop drive. You will need a national park pass or pay $20 to enter. You can do several short trails or one long hike along the Mesa Trail. Overall This is cool but not epic, so don’t go too far out of your way to check it out.

• Sipapu Bridge Trail: This trail is 1 mile long with 260ft of elevation gain and takes about 25 minutes to complete. You can also hike all the way down under the bridge as well. This is a very large natural bridge and quite cool to see!

• Kachina Bridge Trail: There are two options to view Kachina Bridge—the short paved trail to the overlook or the 1.5 mile/400ft of elevation gain trail to under the bridge. There is a bathroom at this trailhead.

• Owachomo Bridge Trail: This is the easiest bridge to get down under with a .7 mile trail with 216ft of elevation gain. It is also a very large bridge and the trail takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

This tribal park is a scenic drive that takes about 1 hour to complete. It is a 17 mile loop on a slow, unpaved road. The entrance fee is $9 and you can reserve this online ahead of time. There are also guided tours of the area. There are also a couple of short hiking trails here. Overall I wasn’t super impressed and preferred the view from the road driving in of the park more than the park itself.

Page, Arizona Recommendations

Page is a great home base to explore Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell. It is just across the border from Utah.

• Antelope Canyon: This is a must do while in northern Arizona! Choose either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon and book a tour in advance. Tours are the only way to explore the canyons because they are on tribal land and there is flash flood danger. There are many different tour companies to choose from and they are all right around the same price. It is a skinny slot canyon that is incredibly colorful and sun beams come through like magic. This is a touristy activity but worth it.

• Horseshoe Bend: This is a quick 1.6 mile mostly flat trail roundtrip that leads to the beautiful Horseshoe Bend. Be sure to go past the viewing platform for even better views. This is an extremely popular spot for sunset but sunrise is also very nice and I was the only person there. The entrance fee is $10 and although it is part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area they do not accept national park passes. Look out for giant swarms of gnats.

• Kayak Lake Powell: This is a pretty area to rent a kayak—there are a few different companies and I would recommend Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. The water is clear and beautiful and you can see some pretty large fish. There are a couple of beaches and Ice Cream Cone Slot Canyon is a cool spot to check out.

  • Water levels will determine where you can launch from. The Wahweap Marina boat launch is 15 minutes from downtown Page. Rentals are for all day from 8am to 6pm but you can go for as short or long as you’d like. They also offer kayak tours. Lake Powell is part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area so you’ll need a national park pass or pay to enter. There is a restroom and water station at the top of the boat ramp.

• Stay at this great Airbnb: The location is fantastic right near Horseshoe Bend, there are thoughtful amenities throughout, and it is only $87 a night!

• State 48 Tavern: A nice spot for dinner and drinks. They have a solid front patio, all local craft beers on tap, and tasty food.

• Grand Canyon Brewing & Distilling: An average brewery with a huge space and full food menu. They have a nice front patio, pool tables and shuffleboard. The service here needs some improvement but overall it’s a fine spot.

• Lake Powell Espresso: A cute spot for coffee, breakfast, lunch and a bar at night.

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix is a great beer city in the desert with a cute downtown and fun vibes

PHX Tips: 

• Downtown is the heart of the city with lots of great businesses to check out and it is very walkable.

  • If you’re lucky enough to be in town on the first Friday of the month downtown has a fun First Friday arts walk.

• Be mindful of when you’re visiting, it gets extraordinarily hot in the summer months but has a lovely climate the rest of the year.

• Be sure to check out Scottsdale while you’re in the area as well—recommendations below!

• Doing a Southwest road trip? Check out my Tucson guide here, Sedona guide here, Las Vegas guide here, and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Phoenix Recommendations:

• Wren House Brewing Company: The best brewery in the Phoenix area! Their beers are delicious and they have a cute little taproom with a back patio. They also have a taproom in Prescott, AZ.

• Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company: A fantastic brewery with a location in downtown Phoenix and in Gilbert, AZ. The beers are delicious and the vibes are even better. They have a superb patio space, frequent live music, cocktails, wine and a full kitchen including brunch. They are very focused on local ingredients and Earth-friendly practices. It is a popular spot, but worth the crowds.

• The Wandering Tortoise: A fantastic beer bar with 21 taps and a wide selection of cans and bottles as well. They have frequent tap takeovers and great vibes all around.

• The Theodore: A great beer bar downtown offering 5, 10 or 16oz pours which I love. This is a super cute spot with an outside area as well. They have 24 taps and a great can and bottle selection.

• Deseo—A Coffee Shack: A very cute Mexican inspired coffee shop. They have unique drinks and delicious pastries.

• The Shop Beer Co.: A good brewery in Tempe with a really nice patio. They have 15 taps with a nice variety of beers to choose from.

• Greenwood Brewing: A great woman-owned brewery with a small, cute taproom and nice outdoor patio. The beers here are solid and they do a lot of distribution as well. You can get local food delivered if you’re hungry!

• Wayward Tap House: A nice little beer bar with a good selection of local and non-local brews. They have a patio space as well and chill vibes.

  • Testal Mexican Kitchen: A nice spot for Mexican eats including vegan options and delicious burritos is right across the street. Grand Avenue has several shops and restaurants to pop around.

• Pedal Haus Brewery: A solid restaurant-style brewery with great vibes. They have a downtown Phoenix taproom and their main brewery is in Tempe. In Phoenix they have an awesome rooftop and fun space overall. Be sure to check out their happy hour! They’ve got a full food menu, cocktails and wine alongside their house beers.

Piestewa Peak Summit Trail

Phoenix Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Piestewa Peak Summit Trail: This trail is rated hard and is 3.65 miles long with 1148ft of elevation gain. From the summit you have a great view of all of the Phoenix area and Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Despite its steepness it is still a very popular trail due to its proximity to downtown. Be aware during the hot months of the year the trail is closed from 11am-5pm.

• Hole in the Rock Trail: A very short walk up to a hole in a rock that you can climb into and look out over Phoenix. This is a very popular “trail” that is .2 miles long with 32ft of elevation gain. Located in Papago Park.

• The Churchill: An open air food court with several small businesses to eat, drink and shop at. Check out Stoop Kid for bagels, coffee and burgers.

• ‘A’ Mountain Hayden Butte Trail: A short .9 mile trail with 279ft of elevation gain in Tempe on ASU’s campus. This is a very “classic Phoenix” hike with solid views. Unfortunately only paid parking is nearby the trailhead.

• Desert Botanical Gardens: A unique botanical garden with loop trails featuring different plants. Tickets are $29.95 each and it is located in Papago Park.

Hole in the Rock

Other Phoenix Things To Do:

• Tombstone Brewing: This is an interesting spot. The beers were good but the vibes were a bit off for me. Their Phoenix location is in a strip mall with somewhat trashy vibes and not great service. They have a food menu as well and the pretzel is tasty. The main taproom is in Tombstone, AZ.

• Stay at the Hampton Inn: This is a nice and new hotel right downtown. You can walk all over from here, but the only downside is they do not have onsite parking. 

• O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery: Outrageous Homebrewers Social Outpost has 4 locations across the greater Phoenix area. The Arcadia taproom has a full food menu including happy hour and brunch. It is a very large space with a front patio, back patio and a huge indoor space as well. They are a brewery and distillery and next door they have a market with a slightly different menu.

• Huss Brewing Company: An average brewery with a full food menu and full bar. They have a large taproom and spacious patio and are housed at the convention center.

• Press Coffee: A nice spot for coffee in central downtown. They have a small food menu as well and ample seating.

• Angel’s Trumpet Ale House: A 60’s style beer bar with a full food menu. They have a nice beer garden space and an average selection of beers.

• Skip: DoubleTree near the airport. I would highly recommend not staying at this hotel. The AC and WiFi are both spotty at best, it’s loud, and did not feel super clean.

Wine Girl

Scottsdale Recommendations:

• The Canal Club: An adorable spot for brunch. It is a bit boujee but the food is delicious so it’s worth it!

• Wine Girl: An adorable wine bar with a small food menu and Instagram-y vibes.

• Trevor’s: A great beer bar, bottle shop and liquor store. They have 24 taps and a cocktail list with a massive selection of cans, bottles, and liquors. Trevor’s has a nice patio space and frequent food trucks.

• Goldwater Brewing Co.: A good brewery with chill vibes and a beer garden out back. They brew many different styles of beer, but their IPAs are what they do best.

• Hotel Adeline: A nice hotel with a killer pool. They host pool parties in the hotter months and have a full bar, cabanas, DJs, and more.

• Merkin Vineyards: A cool spot for wine with tastings, glasses and bottles alongside a food menu.

• LDV Winery: Another Old Town winery option directly across the street from Merkin. They have a nice patio and tasty wines.

• Farm to Craft: A cute restaurant for brunch, lunch and dinner with great cocktails.

• Breakfast Club: A brunch spot with an extensive fresh made juice selection.

• Julio’s Too: A delicious restaurant for authentic Mexican food.

Sedona, AZ

Sedona is a Stunning city in northern arizona with a plethora of beautiful hikes!

Sedona Tips: 

• Sedona is a touristy little town full of souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants, but it is absolutely worth the downsides of town itself for the surrounding beautiful nature. Don’t expect to have super great eats or drinks, aside from a few spots.

• What you’d think of as “downtown” is called “Uptown” here.

• A lot of trail parking lots are closed Thursday-Sunday and you’ll need to take the shuttle. Be sure to research ahead of time if you are visiting during a weekend.

• March-May is the most popular time to visit Sedona because they do get snow in the winter being in the mountains but it also gets extraordinarily hot June-September.

• Taking a Southwest road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Tucson guide here, Vegas guide here and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Sedona Recommendations:

• Boynton Canyon Trail with detours to Boynton Vista & Boynton Subway: First you’ll come to Boynton Vista which has some views of the surrounding area. Next oddly enough the trail runs by an RV park but then you dig deeper into the wilderness. The Boynton Sunway is next which some folks call a secret but it is clearly marked on Google Maps, AllTrails and with sticks on the ground so it’s hard to miss. This is an absolute must visit! Be sure to wander around the entire section of the subway after you climb up—there are great views from the subway itself but also from the surrounding rim. After the Subway you’ll continue onto the Canyon, which is cool but a bit of a let down after the amazing Subway so if you’re short on time or energy you could skip it.

  • This trail is 8.5 miles long with 1200ft of elevation gain and takes about 4 hours with the detours. You will need a National Park Pass or Red Rocks Pass to park at the trailhead which has limited parking so be sure to start early. Additionally by starting early you will avoid the crowds.

• Devil’s Bridge Trail: A popular trail out to a floating bridge with beautiful views. This trail is 5.1 miles long with 521ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours. You can either take a 4x4 dirt road out or add a little extra mileage and take the Mescal Trail. This trail is very exposed and gets very hot on the 4x4 road so be sure to start early. Also be prepared that at times there can be a lot of folks trying to get photos on the bridge, but I did not run into this issue.

• Stay at Orchards Inn: A fantastic hotel in the heart of Uptown Sedona. The views from the balconies are absolutely stunning. The room itself also had a lot of amenities such as a fire place, huge TV, beautiful art and more. It is walkable to everything in town. Highly recommend!

• Sedona Beer Company: A solid brewery with a wide variety of beers alongside wine and kombucha as well. They have a front patio, back patio, and spacious indoor taproom. There is a full food menu and overall good vibes.

• Seven Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa Loop: This was a very cool trail with a variety of things to see along the way—Devil’s Kitchen, Seven Sacred Pools, Brins Mesa and stunning mountain views. This trail is 5.6 miles long with 846ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours. Start clockwise so you get a bit more shade, but either way the second half of the trail is quite exposed.

  • As a heads up the parking lot here is tiny, but there is additional parking on the opposite side of the trail at Brins Mesa. The gate to the parking area is closed until 8am and it is completely closed Thursday-Sunday and you’ll need to park 1.2 miles down the road and shuttle or walk to the trailhead. There is no restroom at this trailhead.

• Firecreek Coffee: A great little spot for coffee and pastries!

• 89Agave Cantina: A delicious restaurant for Mexican eats in Uptown Sedona. They have both front and back patios and a spacious indoor seating area. Highly recommend!

• The Art of Wine: A wine bar with curated flights, glasses and bottles. They’ve also got a small food menu and a selection of craft beers. They are housed in a shopping center with mainly indoor seating options.

Boynton Subway

Sedona Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Airport Mesa Trail also known as the Sedona View Trail: A nice and easy trail with a few different panoramic viewpoints. This is 1.5 miles long with 223ft of elevation gain and takes about 40 minutes. You can also drive between the viewpoints if you’d prefer—parking at the top with the airport is $3.

• Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole: An awesome swimming hole that I’d highly recommend. It is a 5 minute walk from the parking area down to Oak Creek. The water is nice and clear, though the bottom is rocky so you may want to wear shoes in the creek. You can also jump off the cliffs here into the water. This is the perfect post-hiking activity! There are several different swimming holes in the area, be sure to check them out! Parking here is $9 if you don’t have a Red Rocks Pass.

• Explore the Verde Valley Wine Trail:

  • Take a wine tour or visit wineries on your own! These two wineries were delightful and just 20 minutes from Uptown Sedona:

  • Page Springs Cellars: This winery has a beautiful property with seating options on the river deck, picnic space, back deck, and inside. They offer flights ($15), glasses, or bottles and a selection of food. The winery is solar powered which is pretty awesome!

  • Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery: 1 minute down the road from Page Spring. They have a nice patio with misters and indoor seating options as well. Oak Creek offers their wine via flights ($12), glasses, or bottles and they also have a small food menu. They have the smallest vineyard in the area but the most varieties of wine.  

  • Winery 1912: A winery in the heart of Uptown Sedona with flights, glasses and bottles. All seating is indoors, but there are nice views. The staff is very friendly and they also have a small food menu.

Devil’s Bridge

Other Sedona Things To Do:

• The View Coffee Cafe: A Starbucks spin-off with a small breakfast menu. The name is accurate—they have a fantastic view!

• Oak Creek Brewery & Grill: An average brewery on the second level of a shopping center. They also have a full food menu and are more restaurant focused.

• Oak Creek Espresso: A nice spot with coffee and a small food menu.

• The Secret Garden: A cute little spot for lunch and coffee in the same shopping center as Oak Creek Brewery and Grill.

• Oak Creek Brewing Co.: A small brewery with average beers, a large patio and a small food menu.

• JesseLee’s Craft Beer Market: A small craft beer store but they have a solid selection of cans and bottles to choose from.

• Bell Rock Inn: A nice hotel stay in the Oak Creek area that is now owned by Hilton. They have two nice pools and clean rooms.

• Skip Pago’s Pizza and Italian Cuisine: The staff here was super rude and the food was average.

Tucson, AZ

Tucson is a small southwestern city home to Saguaro National Park!

Tucson Tips: 

• It’s hot! Crazy insight here, I know. I visited in September and it was over 100 degrees every day, so just be mindful of when you’re planning to visit.

  • June to September is monsoon season, so just be aware that things can get a bit wonky with wind and water during those months.

• The beer scene in Tucson is not super impressive—there is a good number of breweries but they tend to be just average at best.

• Parking in downtown Tucson can be an absolute nightmare. If you’re heading downtown in the evening/on the weekend I’d recommend a rideshare or walking as much as possible.

• Planning a Southwest road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Las Vegas guide here, and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Tucson Recommendations:

• Explore Saguaro National Park: This park is full of giant Saguaro cacti. It is split into East and West sections on each side of Tucson which are about 45 minutes apart.

  • Gould Mine Trail: This trail is 2.4 miles long with 400ft of elevation gain and took 1 hour. There are nice views of the Saguaros and you also have a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Keep your eyes peeled for desert tortoises too!

  • Valley View Overlook Trail: This is a quick and easy hike with a nice overlook of the valley. Overall it was 1 mile long, mostly flat and took about 20 minutes. There are also nice signs along the way with information about the plants.

  • Bajada Loop Drive: This is a scenic drive on a dirt road with nice views throughout. The road can be a bit sketchy if you’re visiting during the rainy season due to washout, but it is a quick and pretty trip.

  • If you venture to the East side of the park Bridal Wreath Falls is supposed to be great, I chose to skip it because there would not have been water on the falls during the time of year for my visit and there was extreme heat.

• Crooked Tooth Brewing Co.: A nice brewery with a solid beers that tend to be Sour focused. They have a cute taproom and a back patio. They also have a small snack menu or you can order from neighboring Anello, a pizza restaurant.

• Ermanos Bar: This is a cute bar with a wide selection of craft beer, cocktails, wine and a full food menu. They also have a back patio for outdoor dining. The beer selection is pretty great and the cheese board was delicious.

• Pueblo Vida Brewing Company: A small brewery in the heart of downtown with average beers and a nice team.

• Stay at Hotel McCoy: A super cute hotel with vintage vibes and modern amenities. They have a fantastic pool and outdoor area with ping pong, foosball, and more. They are located 6 minutes from downtown. Overall the hotel is definitely geared towards younger folks with DJs and events, but it is still a family friendly spot and quiet in the evenings.

Sabino Canyon

Tucson Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Explore the Sabino Canyon: This is a gorgeous area that I highly recommend visiting.

  • Take the Sabino Canyon Crawler into the canyon. This is an hourly shuttle through the canyon with various stops. You can hop off at different stops as you please or it is a 1-hour roundtrip journey if you stay on for the duration of the canyon. The crawler departs every hour and is $15 to ride. Book your seat in advance as it does fill up. The ticket price also includes a guided narration via headphones of the canyon which was quite informative.

  • Parking in the lot is $8 daily or free with a National Park Pass.

  • Bear Canyon is also nearby and another option to explore!

• Linda Vista Loop Trail: This is a 2.7 mile long trail with 426ft of elevation gain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. There are beautiful cacti, red rocks, mountain views and city views throughout the trail. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.

• Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway: This a scenic drive through Coronado National Forest and the South Catalina Mountains. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to the summit which is at 9171ft of elevation. There are lookouts along the way with nice panoramic views of the area. There are many hiking trails, camping areas, a few restaurants, and ski areas (seasonally) at the top of the mountain.

Hotel McCoy

Other Tucson Things To Do:

• Borderlands Brewing: A brewery with a nice outdoor patio full of misters for the Arizona heat. They also have a small food menu and chill vibes. I found the beer here to be average and pricey, but I would still recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

• Harbottle Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery in South Tucson. Unfortunately when I visited there was one staff member working for both the bar and kitchen and the spot was overrun with 20+ children and just a few adults. The beer was average at best and the food looked not great.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a beautiful National Park that everyone should see!

Grand Canyon Tips: 

• Depending on your location and your goals, choose which rim you’d like to visit. This guide focuses solely on the South Rim.

• You’ll need a National Park Pass or pay to enter the park.

• Keep your eyes peeled for elk! I saw several throughout my visit.

• Dress in layers—it can be super windy and cold one minute and super hot just a little bit later.

• Taking a road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Tucson guide here, and Las Vegas guide here.

Grand Canyon Recommendations:

• Desert View Drive: This is a beautiful scenic drive that is 25 miles long and heads east along the rim. This is a great drive to do in the late afternoon/evening because the colors are vibrant. There are scenic vistas throughout. Choose a vista and watch the sunset here!

• Watch the Sunrise at Mather Point: The sunrise is beautiful here! It is definitely a popular spot so be sure to arrive early to get a nice spot. I’d recommend at least 50 minutes before sunrise to see the magic start.

• South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 1102ft of elevation gain and takes about 1.5 hours. The trailhead is only accessible via the orange eastbound shuttle which departs from the visitor’s center every 15 minutes from 6:30 to sunset or every 30 minutes earlier. It starts with very steep switchbacks but progressively just heads down into the canyon. You can go as far as you’d like, just keep in mind you’ll need to climb back up! The views throughout are fantastic.

• Bike the 21 miles west along the rim! Take Hermit Road out to the last stop of the South Rim, Hermit’s Rest. You can rent a bike from Bright Angels Bicycles right near the visitor’s center. You could also shuttle between the stops or walk if you prefer, or there are shorter biking routes if you prefer. It took just under 2 hours to get to the last stop, Hermit’s Rest, with stops at every viewpoint along the way. In total I biked for about 3 hours and 40 minutes. It’s harder than you might think—you’re biking at 7,000ft elevation and the route out is essentially all up hill.

• Yavapi Lodge: A nice place to stay inside in the park that is convenient!

• Yavapi Tavern: A restaurant inside the park with counter service. They have several draft beers, a full food menu with shareables, burgers and more. There is also a coffee shop in the building and dining hall.

Surrounding Area recommendations:

• Flagstaff is a nice spot to stop on the way to the Grand Canyon. It is 1 hour north of Sedona and 1.5 hours south of the Grand Canyon. There are a lot of stop lights in the city and a lot of traffic, so keep that in mind if you choose to visit. Parking tends to be pay to park only unfortunately.

  • Dark Sky Brewing Company: A solid brewery with an IPA heavy tap list downtown. Pizzicletta is housed here with wood fired pizzas. They also have a beer garden next door with different food options and a large patio.

  • Mother Road Brewing Company: Another brewery option downtown with solid beers. They have a nice patio and super friendly team. Roadside Stove is an onsite food truck with a Cajun menu.

• Kingman is a decent stop between the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. Route 66 runs through here and the area is surrounded by beautiful mountains.

  • Rickety Cricket Brewing: They have 3 locations and the Kingman spot is their restaurant. They have a large tap list, a pizza focused food menu and a large space. They are in the heart of downtown.

  • The Home2Suites in Kingman is very nice. It is new hotel, there is free breakfast, the rooms are large and super clean, there is a nice pool and various seating options. They’re also dog-friendly!

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas: The land that never sleeeps and is full of Casinos, but also surprisingly great opportunities to get into nature!

Sin City Tips: 

• Look, I am going to preface this entire blog post with the simple fact that I am just not a Vegas girl. It’s not my scene. I don’t gamble. I don’t like hoards of tourists. I don’t like overpriced things. It’s just not my ideal spot to visit. I spent a lot of time exploring the other areas around Vegas far more than the Strip area. If you are in Vegas for any reason I’d recommend exploring the Arts District and surrounding parks.

• Traffic on the strip can be ridiculous, so just keep that in mind when planning your outings.

• Be mindful of the extreme heat from June-September if you plan to do any hiking/outdoor activities during your visit!

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Tucson guide here, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree guide here, Los Angeles guide here and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Las Vegas Recommendations:

• SerVehZah: A great beer bar that also has some wines and liquors available. I was impressed with the tap list and can selection. Located in the Arts District.

  • CraftHaus Brewery has a taproom right here as well. This is their smaller satellite space while their main brewery is in Henderson (below).

• Beer Zombies: Easily the best beer spot in the Vegas area with 3 taprooms across the city. The Dean Martin space is quite small with just a few bar stools but the tap list and can selection here is still fantastic. They make their own beers which are great and they also have guest taps and cans.

• Neon Desert Brewing: A great brewery near the Arts District with tasty beers. The tap list tends to focus on IPAs and Lagers and they also have wine and canned cocktails.

• Valley of Fire State Park: A beautiful state park that is about 45 minutes east of Vegas. The entrance fee is $15. Be prepared that some trails are closed June 1 to September 30 due to extreme heat. With visiting during early September I missed out on some of the popular trails such as The Fire Wave because it was closed, but it was also a nearly completely empty park at this time which was very nice. It is not called Valley of Fire for no reason, it is extraordinarily hot here. Things to see at the park:

  • The Seven Sisters: I would actually recommend stopping at the viewpoint along the road of the Seven Sisters for a nicer view and photo versus the Seven Sisters picnic area itself.

  • Atlatl Rock: Take the stairs up to a viewpoint that has petroglyphs 

  • Arch Rock: Right around the corner from Atlatl rock is a large arch carved out of rock.

  • Beehives: Unique sandstone formations

  • Hike the Rainbow Vista Trail: This is 1 mile long out to an overlook that is mostly flat and takes about 25 minutes. The trail is all sand so it’s more difficult than it sounds!

  • Hike the White Domes Trail: This is a 1 mile long loop trail at the end of the road in the park. There is a cool canyon and a large colorful rock. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

• The Silver Stamp: A dive bar with fun retro vibes serving up a surprisingly fantastic beer selection alongside your other classic dive bar staples. They’ve also got a small food menu with hot dogs, pickles and chips. Located in the Arts District.

• Able Baker Brewing: A nice brewery with ample indoor and outdoor seating in the Arts District. Arts District Kitchen is housed inside for eats. They’ve got a pretty large tap list with a variety of beers to choose from.

• Explore the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: This is a popular area to visit since it is just 30 minutes west of Vegas. To enter between October 1st to May 31st you will need a reservation. You will also need a National Park Pass or will need to pay $15 to enter. This area is focused on conservation not recreation so that is why it is not considered a park, but a conservation area.

  • The scenic drive here is incredibly pretty showcasing the striped mountains and pretty canyons. There are turnouts for views throughout the loop drive. It would take about 35 minutes to drive with no stops.

  • Calico Tanks Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 406ft of elevation gain and took about 1.5 hours. There are a couple of scrambles making it a little challenging but overall it is a moderate trail. There are views of the Vegas skyline and entire Red Rock Canyon which are quite beautiful. The parking lot is labeled Sandstone Quarry.  

Valley of Fire State Park

Las Vegas Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

• Neon Museum: Home to the old neon signs from throughout the Strip and a super unique museum. Be sure to visit at night when things are aglow and book tickets in advance.

• Welcome to Las Vegas sign: This feels like a must do but it’s even more touristy than you’d expect. The line for a picture in front of the sign is ridiculous so personally I snapped one of just the sign from the side and left. There is conveniently a parking lot in the middle of the road for this though.

• Kayak Willow Beach to Emerald Cove: This is a pretty area to kayak or SUP with mountains along the way and very clear water. This is also a popular area for boat launches, fishing and camping.

  • You can take a tour or rent a kayak or stand up paddle board from Willow Beach Marina and go on your own. The rentals are by the hour and in total it took me 1.5 hours to go to Emerald Cove and back to the marina at an average pace.

  • Keep in mind it is a $300 fine if you take off your life jacket. You will need a National Park Pass to get into Lake Mead Recreation Area or to pay $25 to enter.

• Stay at or explore Caesar’s Palace: This is a nice place to stay on the Strip with a great pool area. The hotel itself is insanely massive with numerous restaurants and bars inside alongside the sprawling casino.

  • Skip Carmine's Italian Restaurant that is housed at Caeser’s. The food was pretty meh for the prices. If you are trying to eat at one of the “nicer” hotel restaurants be sure to make reservations far in advance.

• Explore the Fremont Street Experience: A large open air space with a variety of bars, restaurants, and touristy activities. The only brewery here has since closed but the queso at Nacho Daddy is legit.

• See the Hoover Dam: Overhyped in my opinion but proceed as you will. To enter the dam area you’ll need to go through security first and then pay $10 to park in one of the designated lots or you can park for free at the Bridge View area. From that parking area you can take the stairs or ramp up to the bridge to see the Dam. There is also a Lake View area and Visitor’s Center.

Kayaking Lake Mead

Henderson THings to do & Tips:

• Explore Henderson’s “Booze District”, an industrial area that is home to 3 breweries, 1 winery and 1 meadery:

  • CraftHaus Brewery: A solid brewery with a small food menu focused on pretzels and sausages. The team here is pretty rude.

  • Bad Beat Brewing: Great beers and chill vibes!

  • Astronomy Aleworks: A quiet brewery with a unique tap list.

• Mojave Brewing Company: A popular brewery in downtown Henderson. They have a front and side patio for outdoor seating and solid beers. They also share a building with Biscuits and Bourbon.

• Lovelady Brewing: This brewery has 2 locations in Henderson, the downtown spot is a 4 minute walk from Mojave. They are housed in a cool building and have a front patio. The beers here are pretty average.

• Skip the Skyline Hotel in Henderson: The staff here was quite rude, the room was musty and overall I regretted not just booking a Hilton.

Red Rock National Conservation Area

Other Vegas Area Ideas:

• White Owl Canyon via 33 Hole: This is a pretty hike in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. You will need a National Park Pass or to pay $25 to enter the area. On the route to the trailhead there are a couple of nice overlooks and beaches. The canyon is quite cool with how twisty and colorful it is and there are nice views of the mountains. The trail is 4 miles long with 300ft of elevation gain, but it feels a bit more difficult due to the loose rock that is difficult to traverse. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for seashells along the trail as well!

• North 5th Brewing Co: A brewery in North Las Vegas with a wide variety of beers that are solid. The folks here are very nice and they also have a few picnic tables for outdoor seating.

• HUDL Brewing Company: An average brewery on Main Street in the Arts District. The tend to do dark beers best! You can get BBQ from the spot next door SoulBelly BBQ.

• 595 Craft & Kitchen: A craft beer bar and full restaurant with a solid beer list. The eats were tasty and bartender was friendly!

• Oyo Hotel and Casino: A nice spot to stay just off the strip. The rooms are average hotel rooms with views of the strip and the pool area is quite nice. Inside there are several restaurants, bars and the casino, but in comparison to Caeser’s Palace it is much smaller.

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs is a cute little desert town and conveniently just an hour from joshua tree national park!

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree Tips: 

• Palm Springs is all very midcentury modern and trendy. The town itself is quiet small and can easily be explored on foot and in a short time period.

• The area is very pretty since it is surrounded by mountains. It does get very hot with being in the desert and is quite windy as well.

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Los Angeles guide here, San Diego guide here, and Las Vegas guide here!

PALM SPRINGS RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Las Palmas Brewing: A cute brewery downtown with a back beer garden space. They are focused on Farmhouse style beers and do a good job with them. They also have natural wine and usually a guest tap or two.

• Boozehounds: A super cute spot with indoor, atrium and outdoor seating. They have happy hour, brunch and a full food menu. They are dog-focused and super dog-friendly. The food and drinks I had here were superb.

• Townie Bagels: A cute spot for delicious bagels and coffee.

• Stay at Movie Colony Hotel: This is a nice midcentury modern hotel with a lovely pool and a great price tag. The location is conveniently walkable to everything downtown. It is also pet-friendly if you’re traveling with a pup! There are lots of cute and cheap hotels in town, but I did enjoy my experience here!

• La Quinta Brewing: This brewery has 3 locations—the brewery in Palm Desert, the taproom and grill in Old Town La Quinta and a quaint taproom in Palm Springs. In downtown Palm Springs they have a nice patio with misters perfect for people watching and gazing at the sunset. They have 10 taps, guest taps, and average beers.

• Hop on the Aerial Tramway: Unfortunately this was closed during my visit, but I have heard great things!

Boozehounds

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK Things To Do:

• Joshua Tree National Park is not a very exciting national park. Expect lots of the namesake Joshua Trees and piles of rocks.

• The park is one hour east of Palm Springs and can easily be explored in a half of a day. You will need a National Park Pass or to pay to enter.

• The west side of the park (closest to Palm Springs) is much cooler with a lot of Joshua Trees whereas the east side is more much classic desert.

• Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park:

  • Hidden Valley Trail: This is a mostly flat loop trail that is 1 mile long and takes about 25 minutes. The views here are decent but nothing too crazy.

  • Keys View: A nice viewpoint of the surrounding mountains.

  • Cholla Cactus Garden: A cool area to go for a stroll and explore the various types of plants.

  • Arch Rock Trail: This is a mostly flat 1.1 mile out and back trail to Arch Rock. It takes about 30 minutes and you essentially walk through the desert to one rock and back.

  • See Skull Rock: A rock that does indeed look like a skull

  • Barker Dam Trail: This is a mostly flat loop trail that is 1.4 miles long and takes about 30 minutes. It is not super scenic and there are some petroglyphs but they’ve mostly been painted over.

Bend, OR

Bend is an awesome adventure town on the Deschutes River in Central Oregon!

Bend Tips: 

• Bend is a pretty small city, but I would recommend visiting with a car to allow you to get into the nearby forest, lakes, and volcanoes. I would say 3 days is the ideal amount of time to visit since it is pretty small, but you could also spend plenty of time exploring the plethora of nature-filled activities in the area.

• The climate of the city itself is pretty dry and desert-like, which I personally was not expecting. It can be hot, dry, and dusty.

• The Bend Ale Trail is a super fun way to explore the brew scene in town. Download the app or pick up a paper passport to log your stops and receive all kinds of fun prizes! It also includes wineries, cideries, and distilleries if you want to explore more than just the beer scene!

• Overall Bend is pretty sleepy, during the week most things close at 9pm.

Adventures & Ales Top Bend Recommendations: ​

• The Ale Apothecary: A fantastic brewery that has all spontaneously fermented and barrel aged beers! The beers are absolutely delicious and this is a must visit. Ale Apothecary has a small taproom and patio with limited hours so make sure to plan ahead for your visit!

  • GoodLife Brewing is also right next door!

• Canoe & Brew! I partnered with Wanderlust Tours to take a canoe trip out on the Cascade Lakes. The drive out to the lakes is about 40 minutes and it is a gorgeous ride through the forest. We canoed on Hosmer Lake and then stopped in the marsh to enjoy some beers from Cascade Lakes Brewing.

• Bevel Craft Brewing: A nice brewery with a great outdoor space and food trucks onsite! Fun fact—the owners are professional disc golfers with seven professional world championship titles between the two of them!

• Waypoint Hotel: I loved my stay at The Waypoint Hotel! Some of my favorite parts were that you can walk into town, they have a nice hot tub/pool, they a food truck onsite, they have local beers on tap, they have a nice little outside seating area with a fire pit, and the rooms are beautiful! I definitely recommend staying at The Waypoint Hotel for your Bend visit!

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Check them out here and get $250 off your stay with my link!

The Ale Apothecary

• Wild Roots Coffee House: A cute little coffee shop on the edge of town with delicious Sparrow Bakery pastries

• Boss Rambler Beer Club: A great brewery in a snazzy space! Their Hazy IPAs are particularly delicious and they also have slushees. Their outdoor space is super cute and very welcoming. Boss Rambler is directly next to Sunriver Brewing and also has Megaphone Coffee inside.

• Crosscut Warming Hut No. 5: A great beer bar with food trucks out back, a nice patio, a fire pit, and a plethora of local beers to choose from.

• Crux Fermentation Project: A popular brewery with a large outdoor space and food trucks onsite. The infamous El Sancho taco truck is housed here so be sure to go hungry.

Canoe & Brew

Bend Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Hike Tumalo Falls & Double Falls: Tumalo Falls is definitely one of the most popular sites in the Bend area because you don’t have to hike to see this huge waterfall and it is super close to town. It is very busy and parking can be difficult. Be sure to grab the $5 parking pass on your way in, there is a machine as you get close to the trailhead. Tumalo Falls you can see from the parking area or from another viewpoint higher up. From there the trail to Double Falls is much less crowded. I did this trail on AllTrails which ended up taking an hour and was 2.5 miles long and 28 flights up. The trail also continues further to more waterfalls if you have more time/energy to explore! Overall this was an easy and beautiful hike.

• Hike the Matthieu Lakes Trail: This trailhead is about 45 minutes from town and says the Lava Camp Trail. The first portion of the trail was quite buggy (highly recommend bug spray) and boring in my opinion, but once you get to through that to the lakes it is much nicer. From South Matthieu Lake you can see the North Sister Volcano and then on your way down you’ll walk along a ridge with nice views of the entire Three Sisters Wilderness. I did this trail from AllTrails that ended up being about 2 hours and 20 minutes, 6.2 miles, and 62 flights up. As a heads up you are supposed to have the $5 day pass to park at the trailhead.

• Float the Deschutes River! This is a super popular activity and perfect for the hot summer months. Here is more information on how to float!

Double Falls

Other Bend Things To Do:​​

• Sunriver Brewing Co.: A restaurant-style brewery with average beers located in the heart of the Galveston neighborhood. Sunriver has a full food menu and a small back patio.

• Backporch Coffee Roasters: Another cute coffee shop with Sparrow Bakery goods

• Immersion Brewing: A brewery with average beers and a full food menu. Located directly across the street from the beer bar Crosscut.

• Bend Brewing: A touristy brewery with a full food menu and average beers. They have a nice seating area along the river that is beer-only.

• Monkless Belgian Ales: A Belgian-style brewery with food and views of the river. Personally I had a terrible experience at Monkless and I would not recommend visiting. The beers were not good, the food was not good, and the service was terrible.

Have more time in the Pacific Northwest?

• Drive up to Portland! This beer mecca is about 3 hours north of Bend and full of fantastic spots to check out! Here is my full beer and travel guide for Portland!

• Explore the Columbia River Gorge! This gorgeous area is about 2.5 hours from Bend and has some fantastic hikes and breweries. Here are all of my recommendations for the Columbia River Gorge!

• Take a trip to the beautiful Oregon Coast! Check out my one day Oregon Coast itinerary and recommendations here!

• Drive up to Seattle, Washington! Full beer & travel guide coming soon!

• Drive a bit further north to Vancouver, BC! Vancouver is one of my favorite cities I’ve visited, check out my full beer and travel guide here!

Portland, OR

Portland is a Mecca for craft beer lovers & A super fun city to explore!

PDX Tips: 

• There are so many breweries. Unless you live in the area or are staying for quite some time it is impossible to hit them all, so be sure to plan ahead so that you can visit the best of the best!

• You don’t really need a car in Portland. Once you get to specific neighborhoods you can walk to many places and it’s not too big of a city. I personally preferred having a car so that I could do day trips, but would’ve otherwise been fine without one. Be prepared to do a lot of parallel parking if you decide to visit with a car

• The weather in Portland can be very finicky—even with a 0% chance of rain it sprinkled and the sun really doesn’t like to come out until midday, so I would just recommend always having layers, one of which being a raincoat

• You can’t pump your own (very expensive) gas in Oregon, just pull up to the pump and someone will come out to do it for you

• Visiting Portland with your pup? Check out Pup Passport, a digital passport that lets dog owners have fun by exploring breweries and cideries with their dogs and get exclusive discounts at the same time!

Adventures & Ales Top Portland Recommendations: ​

• Great Notion Brewing: Arguably one of the best breweries in the country, Great Notion is at the top of the list for places to visit in Portland! They have three taprooms in the area and each location has a slightly different tap list:

  • Alberta Brewpub: Their original location and a must visit! They also have a nice outdoor space and a small sandwich menu

  • NW Brewpub: Another great spot with somewhat more restaurant-vibes than the OG. They have fantastic murals and a large bar you can sit at

  • Beaverton Taproom: Their suburb location a bit further out of town

• Wayfinder Beer: Yummy beers, a massive patio, and a full food menu—highly recommend!

• Cascade Brewing: The House of Sour! Cascade is an absolute must-visit in Portland. They specialize in Sour Ales and absolutely crush it. Their taproom has a small food menu, a great shaded patio space, and super nice staff members

• Migration Brewing: A great brewery with four locations in town, but I would highly recommend the Rooftop at Canvas spot! It is right across from the soccer stadium and has amazing views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. The tap list at this location is small but the views make up for it.

• Take a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge! Check out my full one day itinerary here with waterfall hiking and brewery hopping in Hood River!

• Ruse Brewing: A fantastic brewery in South Portland making delicious beers in a chill environment

Great Notion Brewing

• Bentley’s Bagels: Super delicious New York-style bagels!

• Baerlic Brewing: A cute spot with good beers, patio seating, and Ranch Pizza onsite

• Upright Brewing: Good beers made with lots of passion from their team. They have a shared space, so food is available from PBS Cafe. It is somewhat of an odd intersection, so Google Maps can be a little confused as you are trying to get there as a forewarning

• Belmont Station: A great bottle shop and beer bar!

• Crema Coffee & Bakery: A great coffeeshop with fantastic baked goods!

• Ex Novo Brewing Co.: Detroit-style pizza + solid beers, what more do you need? Ex Novo is a cool spot that can be quite popular. They have two locations in the Portland area, one in north/central PDX on Flint Street and one in the suburb of Beaverton. Their menu was heavy on IPAs which I enjoyed!

Mt. Hood

Portland Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Hike in Forest Park: The park itself is massive and can be quite popular. I followed this AllTrails out and back trail up to Pittock Mansion for an incredible view of Portland and Mount Hood. The trail was 6 miles, 70 flights up, and took about two hours and fifteen minutes.

• Pine State Biscuits: Touristy but delicious biscuit spot! They have multiple locations throughout Portland and you can order online ahead of time if you’d like

• Mount Hood National Forest: Mount Hood is only an hour from Portland and is a super easy drive. I recommend hiking Mirror Lake, it is conveniently right off the highway and has some incredible views of Mount Hood. I followed this AllTrails loop trail, which ended up being 4.3 miles, 40 flights up, and took about an hour and a half. It is not too strenuous of a trail and the reflections in the lake are awesome. You do need a $5 day pass to park which you can purchase in advance or on your phone day of.

• Salt & Straw: Fantastic (but touristy) ice cream spot with multiple locations throughout Portland

• Eat at a food cart! I have never seen so many food trucks/carts in my life as in Portland. There are so many options it is absolutely insane, so be sure to have that experience while you’re in the city.

Pine State Biscuits

Other Portland Things To Do:​​

• Breakside Brewing: Breakside has two locations in Portland: Dekum and NW Slabtown. They have a full food menu and large beer menu

• Culmination Brewing: A small brewery with solid IPAs. Miami Nice is the food truck onsite

• Ecliptic Brewing: An average brewery with a nice outdoor space and full food menu

• Life of Pie Pizza: Yummy pizza spot with daily happy hour from 11-6 with $7 Margherita pizzas and $5 House Beer and Wine

• StormBreaker Brewing: An average brewery with a great outdoor space and full food menu

• Hammer and Stitch Brewing Company: Newer brewery near Forest Park with a full food menu and large patio with standard beers

• Albina Press: A cute little coffee shop on Hawthorne

• Level Beer: Located right near the airport making it the perfect stop on your way in or out of the city. They have food carts onsite, a cute greenhouse-style outdoor space, and average beers

Have more time in the Pacific Northwest?

• Take a trip to the beautiful Oregon Coast! Check out my one day Oregon Coast itinerary and recommendations here!

• Head down to Bend, Oregon for small town vibes with a fantastic outdoorsy & beer scene. Full beer & travel guide here.

• Drive up to Seattle, Washington! Seattle is about 2.5 hours north of PDX and a fun city to explore. Full beer & travel guide here.

• Drive a bit further north to Vancouver, BC! Vancouver is one of my favorite cities I’ve visited, check out my full beer and travel guide here!

Austin, TX

Austin has become one of the trendiest cities in the US and for good reason! Tacos, nature, & plenty of breweries--what more do you need? 

ATX Tips: 

• Be sure to plan your day(s) out ahead of time so you don't spend too much time hopping from one part of town to another, it's a relatively large city

• If you’re flying into Austin and taking a rideshare keep in mind you’ll need to walk out to the parking garage to get to the pickup area. It’s only a few minutes, but don’t call your ride until you’re walking or you might be late!

• This may be obvious for some of you, but just in case: breakfast tacos. Duh. When you think about all of the tacos in Austin you might automatically think lunch/dinner, but don't sleep on breakfast tacos (see what I did there?)

Adventures & Ales Top Austin Recommendations: ​

• Live Oak Brewing: A traditional German brewery with your standard Hefeweizen, Kolsch, and so on. The vibes are casual with disc golf and lots of picnic tables and live oaks (if the name didn’t give that away for you). The German food truck onsite, The Black Forest, is amazing. This is right near the airport, so go on your way in or out of town!

• St Elmo Brewing: Industrial vibes with a large outdoor space, and tasty beers. Spicy Boys Fried Chicken food truck lives onsite for eats.

  • This is located inside The Yard, a fun development space with a winery, distillery, cocktail bar, sake, seltzery, restaurants. and a coffee shop.

• Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden: Highly recommend particularly for brunch. Get there early or expect to wait, but the 'manmosa' with a  full bottle of champagne in it is well worth the wait! They also have live music and a great outdoor space. Touristy but fun!

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your booking!

• Wine country: If you have access to a car the wineries west of the city are awesome! Fredericksburg is the most popular of the Texas Wine Trail. Vinovium is a more casual wine stop that has cute outdoor seating and super friendly staff!

• Better Half Coffee and Cocktails: A fun spot any time of day—their menu rotates for the morning and evening with great options. They have a nice patio space and the interior is very cute.

  • Holdout Brewing: Located directly next door to Better Half! They have a nice patio space and good beers.

• Vacancy Brewing: A great brewery right across from The Yard. They are small but putting out tasty beers. They’ve also got a food truck onsite with a contemporary Tao menu.

• Southern Heights Brewing Company: A solid brewery in East Austin with chill warehouse vibes. The team here is super nice and they have a large tap list with a wide variety of beers.

• Torchy's Tacos: They’ve got several locations across town—their queso is SO good!

• Zilker Brewing Co: Beers are good, atmosphere is fun, and they have a food truck that lives out front.

• Walton's Fancy and Staple: Great spot for breakfast, lunch and flowers.

• Meanwhile Brewing: A nice brewery with a massive outdoor space. There are tons of picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, a field, a playground and a stage. They also have 5 food trucks onsite with something for every palate. In addition to their beers they have cocktails, wine and coffee.

Torchy’s

Austin Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Rainey Street: The street has changed a lot in the last few years but it is definitely still worth spending time on. The street is full of cute old houses converted into bars and restaurants.

• Voodoo Donuts: SO good. This Portland donut shop has extreme donuts that are truly fantastic.

• Dirty 6th: The tourist part of 6th Street is basically a less cool version of Beale Street in Memphis or Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I definitely recommend getting on the jackalope (you’ll see) if you find yourself here.

• Lady Bird Lake: The "lake" is really just the section of the Colorado River that runs through downtown, but there are great trails around it, as well as kayaking, paddle boarding, and more!

• The Broken Spoke: Get your Texas Two Step on at this classic dance bar.

• UT Austin: The University of Texas, Austin is a pretty campus to wander through on your adventures downtown!

St. Elmo

Other Austin Things To Do:​​

• Jester King Brewery: It's a solid drive outside of the city, but their sours are stellar so it may be worth adding to your itinerary, as it is definitely the most famous Austin brewery.

• Vista Brewing: 30 minutes from Austin in the countryside, Vista has gorgeous grounds, delicious food, and a great beer selection. They specialize in barrel aged farmhouse ales, but everything was good here. Snag a cheese plate and some beer fried donuts if you know what’s good for you!

• Lazarus Brewing: A little pricey, but the beers were good, the food was tasty, and the atmosphere was fun. Live music and a mixed indoor/outdoor style

• Oskar Blues Brewing: The Austin location of the popular Colorado brewery. Live music stage, outdoor seating, and all the yummy beers this brewery is known for.

• Irene's: cute little restaurant with delicious frosé.

• 4th Tap Brewing: A co-op brewery where the employees are part owner. It's pretty far north, but if you're in the area it's a cool spot with good beers!

  • Also in North Austin is North by Northwest Brewing that has great food, it’s definitely more restaurant-focused than brewery-focused though as a forewarning

• Mount Bonnell: A fun "hike" with great views of the city and the river. Very easy and quite short.

• Pinthouse Pizza and Brewery: Great IPAs, great pizza. Two locations in Austin for your convenience.

• Texas State History Museum: Learn about the The Lone Star State at this thorough museum right near UT Austin.

• Oddwood Brewing: A solid brewery in East Austin with their own food menu and a BBQ food truck onsite. They have a nice patio space.

• Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches: A mediocre brewery with a great patio, a large selection of kolaches, and frequent food trucks.

Skip: ​

• Graffiti Park/Hope Outdoor Gallery: overrun with tourists with their own spray paint, this used to be an awesome outdoor exhibit but sadly it's no longer worth your time