Sam Patterson

Located about two and a half hours from Havana, Viñales is accessible via taxi or the public bus system. We took a taxi directly from the Havana airport and paid about $80 US for the ride. Once in Viñales, there are countless 'Casa Particulares' (Bed & Breakfasts) to stay at. You can book ahead of time (we booked on AirBnB) or find a vacant room when you arrive. It's a very intimate communi...

While it is only accessible by boat or plane, Isle Royale National Park is well worth the added travel arrangements. We took the Ranger III Ferry out of Houghton, MI, but there are a few other options depending on where you depart from (www.nps.gov). Upon arrival at Rock Harbor, the first day is a fairly flat 7 miles following the Rock Harbor Trail, which heads West along the southern coast of ...

There are a couple different ways to tackle this hike through the stunning Central Cascade region. I recommend checking out this handy resource for more detailed info. Bottom line: this is an absolutely amazing hike for people willing to take a little bit of an ass kicking. Aasgard Pass rises 1,900 feet in less than a mile, but aside from that, it's a fairly manageable hike. Either way, power ...

Our trip started on Thursday evening, spending the night at the Bowman Lake campground. You can park your car here and it's where the hike will start and end. I recommend staying here the night before because day 1 is a doozy, so you'll want an early start. Day 1 is the hardest day of the hike, both in terms of elevation gain and mileage. Starting at the Bowman Lake trailhead, you'll hike 16 m...