Forgotten Grasslands of the American West

Submitted photo Sometimes a weekend just isn’t enough. From misty mountain peaks to quiet desert canyons, certain outdoor spots have a way of pulling you in — and keeping you there. These are the places where you pitch a tent, lace up your boots, and realize a single night isn’t nearly long enough. They’re not just destinations; they’re invitations to slow down, breathe, and let the outdoors set the pace. Take Yosemite National Park , where giant sequoias and granite cliffs m

Submitted photo Sometimes the best adventures are the ones nobody else knows about. Across the U.S., quiet trails, hidden lakes, and tucked-away towns are calling travelers to unplug, explore, and just breathe. Hit the winding paths of the C&O Canal Towpath , where historic lock houses peek out from the trees and the river hums along with your footsteps. Or grab a paddle and glide through the still waters of Boundary Waters Canoe Area , where loons call out and the world feel

I’ve always felt the most connected to the wilderness when I’m seeing it through a pair of ears. In 2025, I explored over 1,100 trail miles on horseback. From meandering down misty singletrack paths on the California coastline, to galloping through Nevada’s sagebrush sea and scrambling up slick rock in Utah, every moment on trail with my equine companions left me with a deeper sense of appreciation and understanding for the places we’ve been together. The logistics of traveli

Get ready to saddle up and kick up some dust—because the Coal Miner’s Gravel Ride is quickly becoming one of the Midwest’s most buzz-worthy cycling events, and it’s all happening on the open backroads of Southeast Kansas. Born from the ambitious spirit of Renato Pinto, founder of The Running Collective , this gravel ride rolls through the coal-mining heartland of Crawford County and dips briefly into Cherokee County to showcase Big Brutus— at 16-stories tall it's the world's

Ah. Red dirt, soft sand and summer tans! All the things you’d expect from a PEI beach day, only this is one of several dirt and gravel bike rides through the most rural parts of the province. If you thought gravel cycling here was exclusively the Confederation Trail, think again. PEI has the most roads per square kilometer of all the provinces, and with names like Thrill Hill, Sheepskin, Balaklava and Old Bob Laird, they are as memorable as the terrain. Since our dirt rides e

Conservationist and Photographer Christopher, recognized online as @landofthelonesome , spends extended days crossing the High Plains with a film camera and a field biologist’s discipline, documenting grassland ecosystems across the American West and High Plains often overlooked in mainstream coverage. The images he creates form part of an ongoing series he calls “Postcards From,” a project that has become central to how he studies and communicates the character of these

Photo credit: Ricardo Kaljouw Ricardo Kaljouw grew up in Zeeland , a province in the southwestern Netherlands where much of the land lies below sea level. There, risk is not theoretical. Dikes, storm barriers, and coastal defenses shape daily life, reinforcing the understanding that safety depends on preparation, vigilance, and respect for environmental forces. That early exposure to managed risk shaped Kaljouw’s approach to exploration. Growing up below sea level taught m

Volcán de Fuego is not a backdrop. It is an active, unpredictable system in constant motion, and working near it demands preparation, tolerance for failure and a willingness to return empty-handed. For photographer and explorer Anton Werner, that uncertainty is not a drawback. It is the reason he keeps coming back.

The Apostle Islands Ice Caves feel like one of those places you assume isn’t real until you’re standing inside it. Tucked along the shoreline of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, these winter-only formations turn the coast into something straight out of a fantasy movie—no CGI, no filters, just ice doing the absolute most. When conditions line up just right, Lake Superior freezes along the islands and mainland cliffs, locking waves in place mid-motion.

Photo credit: The Rugged Outdoorsmen A simple message from adventure writer and pilot Ney Grant set the stage for an unforgettable journey for John Belanger and his son Michael, known collectively as The Rugged Outdoorsmen.   The invitation was clear: meet in a remote corner of Arizona for an adventure few ever experience. Belanger, a military veteran with an extensive background in special operations, didn’t hesitate. Grant, a whitewater kayaker, mountaineer, rock climber a

When Kevin Leurquin boarded a plane bound for Nepal, he thought his adventure would be about mountains, mission work, and maybe a few cups of ginger tea. He didn’t know it would also lead to the wagging tail and boundless energy of a three-legged dog who would change his life forever. 

Tyler had been itching for a real escape. City life was loud, fast, and draining, and the Wind River Range in Wyoming had been calling his name for months. With rugged peaks, alpine lakes, and endless trails, it promised a mix of adventure and peace—exactly what he needed.