Varied Lands - Travel Inspiration, Guides, News & Tips

Scenery at one of the best East Coast national parks

The Best National Parks On The East Coast (2026 Guide)

January 4, 2026

You’ve likely heard about the world-renowned parks in the western parts of the country, but what about the equally stunning national parks scattered along the East Coast? From rugged mountains to pristine beaches, historical sites to diverse ecosystems, these eastern

A view of the Vatican and the River Tiber at sunset during a three day trip to Rome

Italy·Europe·Travel & Trip Ideas

3 Days In Rome: An Itinerary From A Frequent Visitor

April 4, 2024

Rome is absolutely magical! I am going to start off by telling you that Rome is one of my favorite European cities and that I get super excited when I get a chance to talk about it. This post details

One of the most beautiful places in Colorado

The 40 Most Beautiful Places In Colorado: Visitor Guide

Colorado is a state bursting with an unbelievable amount of stunning natural beauty. From the

What you can see on a Seattle to San Francisco road trip

Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip: Best Drive Itinerary

If you want to take in all of the beauty of the west coast, a

Travel & Trip Ideas

The downtown Houston skyline lit up at dusk

United States·Texas

The 17 Best Things to Do in Houston

July 24, 2026

From Space Center Houston to the Museum District, parks, and Gulf day trips, here are the 17 best things to do in Houston.

Aerial view of Stiniva cove and its narrow opening to the sea on Vis, Croatia

Europe·Croatia

The Croatian Island Everyone Skips (And Why You Shouldn’t)

July 24, 2026

Vis is the Croatian island almost everyone skips. Here's why this remote Adriatic gem, with its hidden coves and old fishing towns, is worth

Golden evening light over the domes, spires, and red rooftops of Graz, Austria

Europe·Austria

Forget Vienna, This Underrated Austrian City Is Even Prettier

July 21, 2026

Graz has a UNESCO old town, red tile rooftops, and the best city view in Austria, with a fraction of the crowds you get

Edinburgh Castle above the Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens

Europe·Scotland

3 Days in Edinburgh: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Timers

July 17, 2026

A first-timer's 3 day Edinburgh itinerary, from the castle and the Royal Mile to Arthur's Seat, Dean Village, whisky, and the coast.

The Hungarian Parliament Building lit by golden evening light across the Danube in Budapest

Europe·Hungary

The Perfect Budapest Itinerary: 2 Days In The City

July 14, 2026

A day by day 2 day Budapest itinerary that splits the city into Buda and Pest, with castle views, thermal baths, and ruin bars.

Camping

A luxury RV resort in South Carolina at night

Camping·South Carolina·United States

15 Luxury RV Resorts In South Carolina (2026 Guide)

January 4, 2026

There are a number of luxury RV resorts in South Carolina that provide the ultimate experience away from home. With stunning locations and all the amenities you could ask for, you’ll never want to leave! This list shares our favorites, so you can quickly plan your next RV trip in this beautiful state. 1. Sun Outdoors Myrtle Beach Boasting an

Camping·Michigan·United States

The 23 Best Places To Camp In Northern Michigan (2026)

January 3, 2026

Northern Michigan is home to many of the best places to camp

A place to go camping on the beach in Michigan

Michigan·Camping

The 19 Best Places To Go Beach Camping In Michigan (2026)

January 1, 2026

Michigan, also known as the Great Lakes State, boasts an impressive 3,288

Camping

11 Best States For Boondocking And Free Camping

June 28, 2025

Planning your next camping adventure without breaking the bank? There are a

Some of the best van life hacks in action

Camping·RV Tips

19 Amazing Van Life Hacks To Master Life On Wheels

May 28, 2025

Van life is awesome, but living in a small space on wheels

A passenger gazing out the car window at open golden plains on a road trip

Road Trips·Travel Tips

21 Road Trip Games to Beat Backseat Boredom

July 24, 2026

From no-setup word games to window-spotting classics, here are 21 road trip games to keep kids

Best stops on Pacific Coast Highway road trip

Road Trips

The 11 Best Stops On A Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

May 19, 2026

The Pacific Coast Highway is one of those drives that lives up to the hype. Cliffs

Travel Tips·Road Trips

How To Plan A Road Trip: Everything You Need To Know

July 16, 2025

Road trips are having a major moment. Nearly half of all families are choosing to hit

Road Trips

27 Best Road Trips In The USA To Take Before You Die

May 27, 2025

There’s something magical about hitting the open road in America. From coast to coast, our country

A family benefiting from good family road trip tips

Road Trips·Travel Tips

15 Tips For Family Road Trips Every Parent Should Know

May 15, 2025

Road trips with kids can be amazing family adventures or total chaos! After gathering advice from

Latest

Road Trips·Travel Tips

21 Road Trip Games to Beat Backseat Boredom

July 24, 2026

From no-setup word games to window-spotting classics, here are 21 road trip games to keep kids and adults happy on any long drive.

United States·Texas

The 17 Best Things to Do in Houston

July 24, 2026

From Space Center Houston to the Museum District, parks, and Gulf day trips, here are the 17 best things to do in Houston.

Europe·Croatia

The Croatian Island Everyone Skips (And Why You Shouldn’t)

July 24, 2026

Vis is the Croatian island almost everyone skips. Here's why this remote Adriatic gem, with its hidden coves and old fishing towns, is worth the extra effort.

Europe·Austria

Forget Vienna, This Underrated Austrian City Is Even Prettier

July 21, 2026

Graz has a UNESCO old town, red tile rooftops, and the best city view in Austria, with a fraction of the crowds you get in Vienna.

Europe·Scotland

3 Days in Edinburgh: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Timers

July 17, 2026

A first-timer's 3 day Edinburgh itinerary, from the castle and the Royal Mile to Arthur's Seat, Dean Village, whisky, and the coast.

Pastel houses of Positano stacked up the cliffs on the Amalfi Coast

Italy

The Perfect 4 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary (Without the Crowds)

July 17, 2026

A relaxed 4 day Amalfi Coast itinerary built to skip the crowds, with a quiet base in Praiano and the best of Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and the Path of the Gods.

Europe·Hungary

The Perfect Budapest Itinerary: 2 Days In The City

July 14, 2026

A day by day 2 day Budapest itinerary that splits the city into Buda and Pest, with castle views, thermal baths, and ruin bars.

Lower Manhattan skyline seen across the harbor under dramatic clouds

United States·New York

The Perfect 5-Day New York Itinerary

July 12, 2026

A day-by-day plan for 5 perfect days in New York, grouped by neighborhood so first-timers hit the icons without the crisscross.

Chicago skyline and the Chicago River at golden hour

United States·Illinois

17 Best Things To Do In Chicago (First-Timer’s Guide)

July 5, 2026

A first-timer's guide to the 17 best things to do in Chicago, from Millennium Park and the Riverwalk to deep dish, world-class museums, and the lakefront.

New Orleans skyline along the Mississippi River

Louisiana·United States

17 Unforgettable Things to Do in New Orleans

July 2, 2026

From the French Quarter and live jazz to swamp tours and beignets, here are 17 of the best things to do in New Orleans.

San Diego skyline and waterfront at sunset

California

17 Best Things to Do in San Diego (Beaches, Food & More)

June 28, 2026

From La Jolla sea lions to Coronado beach and a mountain apple town, here are 17 things to do in San Diego that are worth doing again and again.

Travel & Trip Ideas·Europe·Italy

21 Hidden Gems In Rome You Won’t Find In The Guidebooks

June 13, 2026

Rome is packed with famous sights, but the magic of this city often lives in the quiet corners. Past the long lines and the selfie crowds, there’s a whole other Rome waiting. These are the spots where locals hang out, where history

Campers & RVs·RV Tips

10 RV Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands

June 4, 2026

RVing sells you a dream of open roads and freedom. What it doesn’t tell you is how fast that dream can get expensive. There’s an old joke floating around campgrounds that “BOAT” really stands for “Bust Out Another Thousand.” The sad truth

RV bathroom storage and organization ideas

RV Tips

10 Genius RV Bathroom Storage & Organization Ideas

May 27, 2026

Let’s be honest. RV bathrooms are tiny. Even the fancy rigs with the so called “luxury” bathrooms leave you fighting for shelf space, and the moment you hit a bumpy stretch of road, everything you own seems to go flying. Shampoo bottles

Hawaii·Travel & Trip Ideas·United States

11 Travel Tips For Your First Time In Hawaii

May 22, 2026

There’s a reason Hawaii sits at the top of so many bucket lists. The water really is that blue, the air really does smell like plumeria, and yes, the sunsets really are worth all the hype. But here’s the thing nobody tells

Road Trips

The 11 Best Stops On A Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

May 19, 2026

The Pacific Coast Highway is one of those drives that lives up to the hype. Cliffs drop straight into the ocean on one side, hills roll away on the other, and every few miles there’s a pullout that makes you want to

Greece·Europe·Travel & Trip Ideas

The 15 Best Things To Do In Zakynthos: A Complete Guide

April 29, 2026

Zakynthos (also called Zante) is one of those Greek islands that feels almost too good to be true. It’s the southernmost of the Ionian Islands and the third largest island in Greece, and the Venetians who once ruled it were so charmed

Travel & Trip Ideas·Central America·Costa Rica

The 15 Best Places To Visit In Costa Rica (2026)

April 25, 2026

Costa Rica packs an incredible amount of variety into a pretty small country. You’ve got steamy volcanoes, misty cloud forests, wildlife packed jungles, and some of the prettiest beaches on the planet, all within a few hours of each other. Figuring out

Things you shouldn't do when traveling in Japan

Asia·Japan·Travel & Trip Ideas

7 Things You Shouldn’t Do On Your Trip To Japan

April 19, 2026

Japan is one of the most exciting places you can visit, but it comes with a set of unwritten rules that can trip up even well-meaning travelers. The good news? Japanese people tend to be kind and patient with tourists, so nobody

United States

The Best National Parks On The East Coast (2026 Guide)

January 4, 2026

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