Thinking & Driving

Albuquerque, New Mexico
In 1972, 13 hot air balloons took flight from Albuquerque, New Mexico. What began as a bid for increased publicity around a local radio station’s

Bend, Oregon
Somewhere between Oregon’s Cascade Mountains and the high desert lies Bend. Once upon a time, it was called Farewell Bend, because here the pioneers on

Big Bend National Park
Among the national parks, Big Bend is something special. Located in west Texas and named for a large bend in the Rio Grande, the park

Boise, Idaho
In 1862, Thomas and Frank Davis traveled West to the Idaho Territory. They were two of many drawn to the Boise area by rumors of

Branson, Missouri
Branson’s transformation into a tourist destination began around the time that Marble Cave got a new name. The cave had attracted enough attention to move

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Through a curious mixture of spontaneity and careful planning, Carmel-by-the-Sea became – and remains – something that is increasingly hard to come by in a

Chicago, Illinois
Like many an American city, Chicago began as a settlement on the far reaches of the frontier. Unlike most other American cities, Chicago’s explosive growth

Cody, Wyoming
If you are looking for a celebration of the American West, Cody, Wyoming is the place you’ll want to visit. Founded by Buffalo Bill himself,

Crater Lake National Park
Of all the national parks, it’s pretty safe to say that Crater Lake has the coolest origin story. Some several thousands of years ago, the

Dry Tortugas National Park
The vast majority of the area constituting Dry Tortugas National Park is open water. Facilities and amenities are next to nonexistent. The only way to

Duluth, Minnesota
For a city like Duluth, Minnesota, a title like “The Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas” doesn’t seem too lofty. Part of what makes Duluth

Everglades National Park
The southern tip of Florida sustains a truly astonishing array of flora and fauna. A unique set of conditions supports both freshwater and marine life

Joshua Tree National Park
In 1930, a wealthy society woman turned preservation activist founded the International Desert Conservation League. Minerva Hamilton Hoyt’s goal in founding the League was the

Juneau, Alaska
In 1867, American secretary of state William Henry Seward struck a deal with the Russian Empire in which the United States would acquire Alaska for

Liberty Island, New York
By the end of the year 1865, much that had been foggy for America had become crystal clear. More than 600,000 Americans had fallen in

Mammoth Cave National Park
Caves and cave systems hold a unique fascination for humans, most of whom have spent their entire lives on the earth’s sunny surface. Beneath it,

Mel’s Toffee
Mel’s Toffee is a family-owned business based in Michigan. “Mel” is an acronym for Michelle, Erin, and Lauren, the three ladies behind the business. Michelle’s

Moab, Utah
In Moab, Utah, you can explore sites straight out of a Martian landscape. And Moab boasts a variety of ways to explore this red planet