Jon MattrischExplorer

Lakeshore State Park is kind of considered a hidden gem. While yes, it's right along the Milwaukee lakefront, people don't realize just how nice and beautiful it is! This urban state park features two loops (the Hank Aaron and Oak Leaf) that total 1.7 miles. To access the park, you can either park downtown near the Discovery World Museum or take Harbor Drive south past the Summerfest grounds to...

Mission Point Lighthouse is situated between the East and West Grand Traverse Bays, about 20 minutes north of downtown Traverse City. This historic lighthouse offers stunning views of Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. There is a parking lot located a few hundred feet away where visitors can park their cars. The lighthouse includes exhibits and a museum among other things for visitors to exp...

Placed along the Lake Michigan lakeshore in Grant Park about 10 minutes south of Downtown Milwaukee, Seven Bridges Trail offers beautiful scenery that seems like something out of a fairy tail. The trail begins at the the Covered Bridge Entrance which you can access by entering off of Grant Park Drive and Lake Drive. You'll find a parking lot about 1/8th of a mile down the road. Once you cross t...

If you're looking to backpack outside of the highly publicized areas of Colorado (aka the Rockies), head out to Western CO for some amazing experiences. Located 4 hours west of Denver along I-70 is the McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA). Overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), McInnis Canyon is home to over 120,000 acres of natural wilderness. Within this sprawling land is...

This park is known for its sand dunes, which rise above the blue waters of Lake Michigan. In addition to the well-known dunes, the park features many forested areas with towering pines that makes for absolutely beautiful and fantastical scenery. There are 7 trails ranging from 0.25 miles up to 2.5 miles.You will need an admission ticket ($5) that last for the entire day. The park office takes c...

Located along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this lookout towers over Lake Michigan and provides sweeping vistas of the lake and the surrounding lakeshore and peninsula. After parking in the lot, head along the paved path to the overlook. Once the path ends, the sand of the dunes takes over and leads you up a slight incline to the overlook. From...

Head 30 minutes west from Milwaukee along I-94 and you'll find yourself in the quaint town of Delafield, WI. Head south down Genesee St. for a half mile and you'll see the entrance to Lapham Peak, part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Once there, you can head up the winding road to the parking lot located just down the hill from the observation tower. Climb up the 45ft observation tower and ...

Looking for a good photo opportunity while on Oahu? Mokoli‘i is one of the best you can find. Not only is it a scenic and unique view, but you can also have some fun with perspective. Located only 20 miles from Honolulu, hop on H1 W for about 2 miles before turning onto HI-63 N for 7 miles. Then, merge onto to HI-83 W for about 10 miles before coming to Kualoa Regional Park. Parking is plenty...

Make a reservation (fees here) to secure a campsite. Find your campsite by entering GPS coordinates 46° 47' 18" N, 90° 40' 25" W or by using this map. Take advantage of the beautiful setting you are in! Take a dip in Lake Superior or go for a trek through beautiful Wisconsin nature. 

Urban explorers, meet your new favorite spot. Located right outside of downtown Milwaukee, Jones' Island is home to a water reclamation facility, road salt storage, milorganite, the Port of Milwaukee and more. But us explorers view it as a desolate haven ready to become our canvas. Train tracks are everywhere with unused rail cars sitting on top. Mounds of salt beg to be climbed. Rusting, aband...

Straits State Park is located on the upper peninsula of Michigan and is minutes from the Mackinac Bridge. Named after the straits that pass through the two peninsulas, this state park offers gorgeous views of the bridge at night. From the campground, head just a few feet towards the beach on the shores of the straits and you will see the Mackinac Bridge in the distance. Grab your tripod and ge...

Located near the northern tip of the Big Island, Waipi'o Valley is one of the most beautiful views that you can experience in all of Hawaii. Waipi'o Valley is an hour and 30 minute drive from Kona and an hour and 10 minutes from Hilo. To access the lookout, take HI-19 west to HI-240. Make sure to drive slow and cautiously as the road narrows the closer you get to the lookout. Waipi'o Valley is ...

Whether your looking to relax or are going for a run, Wilson Park is a perfect place for whatever recreation you desire. The lagoon is one of the best in the city and offers some beautiful scenery during the evening hours. After taking in the lagoon, head through the trails around the park to experience the rest that Wilson Park has to offer. If you go during Spring, Summer or Fall, you're boun...

Lion's Den Gorge is a gorgeous nature preserve featuring a variety of unique nature scenes. The park includes massive bluffs, sand dunes, forests, creeks and bridges, hiking trails and stunning vistas of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The preserve is 72 acres and is located in the town of Grafton, just north of Milwaukee. You won't need a vehicle pass or any paid admission to visit the preserve.

Log Slide Overlook on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's upper peninsula stands over 500ft above the water and provides stunning views of Lake Superior. Pictured Rocks is home to many beautiful waterfalls, hikes, cliffs and vistas, including Log Slide Overlook. This location is an old log chute used by loggers back in the 18-1900s. They would bring fresh cut timbers to the top of ...

If you're looking to take your first backpacking adventure, but want something that is manageable yet thrilling, this is what you're looking for. Located along the Gunnison River in Western Colorado, the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation area is easy to access yet full of adventure and beauty. From Grand Junction, take a drive south down Highway 50 for about 30 miles, until you come to ...

Horicon Marsh is located about an hour north of Milwaukee. The wildlife refuge features several trails ranging from a quarter mile up to nearly 3 miles long. Terrain can vary slightly, but most of the land, especially around the wetlands, is flat. The marsh features an abundance of wildlife. Hundreds of species of birds visit the marsh throughout the year, offering many opportunities for bird w...

To access the complex, head south from downtown Milwaukee along 1st St. Once you reach Greenfield Ave., turn left heading East. You'll pass under a concrete train bridge before seeing an open field on your right. Park your car along the street and head south past the crumbled brick of another former Solvay building. Follow along the train tracks to the West, through shrubbery, weeds and more. J...

Sheridan Park is home to one of the most beautiful, stunning and scenic sunrises in Wisconsin. Located about 10 minutes south of downtown Milwaukee, this location is accessible by hiking about 10 minutes from your parking location. Follow the winding path down to the beach and you'll find abandoned concrete piers that stretch out nearly 100 ft into Lake Michigan. Bring a blanket and coffee with...

Located at the tip of Wisconsin on Madeline Island, Big Bay State Park is a must see for any Wisconsinite. To get to Madeline Island, you'll need to purchase a round trip ferry ride in Bayfield. The ferry is a quick 20 minute trip across Lake Superior. Once you get onto Madeline Island, head out to Big Bay State Park which is about 10 minutes away. When you enter the park, head toward the campi...

To get to Arnarstapi, you'll most likely be heading north and then west from Reykjavik along Route 1 and then Route 54. You won't need an intense vehicle for this as it's highway the entire way. Take Route 1 and head towards Borgarnes. Here, you'll transfer onto Route 54 for the next 99km. As you get closer, you'll merge onto Útnesvegur in Vesturland. Take Útnesvegur for 16km before coming to A...

Everyone knows that Hawaii was formed from a series of volcanoes over millions of years. But did you know that you can experience one of them up close? Well, as close as you can while staying safe, obviously. The Halema'uma'u Crater has been active since 2008 when the vent first erupted. Since then, lava levels have varied in size below the crater floor. Getting to the overlook is very easy a...

Devil's Lake is one of Wisconsin's most visited and most beautiful state parks, offering many trails, activities, gorgeous scenery and more. There are various trails to explore in the park, including the East Bluff Trail and the Potholes & CCC Trail Loop, as well as camping that's offered. The Balanced Rock Trail, however, is exhilarating, breathtaking, strenuous and a bit nerve-wracking w...

Put simply, Rattlesnake Arches is home to some of the most beautiful views you'll ever experience in the United States. This portion of the Rattlesnake Arches Trail follows along the upper rim of the canyon and allows you to experience 9 total arches within about 2 miles of hiking once you reach the upper loop. Starting at the lower parking area, hike along the road approximately two miles (on...