Finding new destinations can be hard in today’s digital world where everyone is trying to sell you on something “new”. So, here at UnBound, we have created this space to highlight the best destinations we have explored. These destinations can be far fetched locations that we have fallen in love with, or, backyard hot spots that we just want to share with everyone.
Regardless of the location, these destinations are all places we have personally visited and think you should consider when planning your next trip.
Without further adieu, we give you the top destinations we are drooling over this week:
Our standards for testing and reviewing at UnBound:
UnBound requires first person experience to review and recommend any product, destination, experience, etc. In other words, you’ll never read about a place or product that we have not touched, used, or experienced personally.
In the case a recommendation is sponsored, it will be clearly marked. With that said, sponsored reviews remain honest and true to editorial review. Meaning we share both, the good and the bad.
If you have any questions, or comments, about the product reviews, you can write me at:
dalton@dalton-johnson.com
Trailborn Rocky Mountain - Hotel Review
Rock climbing with KMAC guides at the Fins. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Adventure and hotel don’t belong in the same sentence, so why am I calling Trailborn Rocky Mountain the basecamp for adventurers? The answer I’m crazy. Just kidding. This adventure-forward hotel fosters a sense of community and encourages adventure. A steep task they have taken on, if I say so myself, but here’s how they do it.
First, their lobby feels more like a mountain cafe that you want to sit back and enjoy a book. Speaking of books, they have several picture books (ahem, they are called coffee table books) lining the walls inviting you to grab one and start dreaming. Some of the books are local adventures and others are far flung idea generators from around the world.
We had a rainy day and spent a lot of time in the lobby, drinking lattes, reading books, and enjoying the fireplace.
Second, s’mores. Every night, Trailborn Rocky Mountain cranks the heat on the outdoor fire pit and supplies the s’mores essentials. For Kristin and I, this was a great place to unwind while sharing a beverage and chatting. One of the nights, the fire pit was “crowded” and we struck up some great conversations with other travelers who shared beta for great hikes in the area.
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Rancho Santana Nicaragua - Surf Escape
The main break just steps from our room. Photo by Dalton Johnson
The Perfect Week In Paradise (At Least In My Opinion)
My girlfriend and I had planned a week-long trip to Rancho Santana and, I might be bias as I share our adventure-packed trip itinerary, but, our trip was one for the record books! Rancho Santana is a paradise escape to a country not overrun by tourism. Promising a perfect blend of relaxation in the sun and adventure.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival, Ocean Time, and a Dinner to Remember
Day 2: Exploring the Beauty of Rancho Santana
Day 3: Surfing, Mountain Biking, and Sunset Views
Day 4: Mombacho, Lake Nicaragua, Granada, and Volcano Masaya
Day 5: Farm Tour and Sunset Horseback Ride
Day 6: Catamaran Adventure
Day 7: Departure – Until Next Time!
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Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Sunrise at Bear Lake, CO. Photo by Dalton Johnson
With the timed entry into Rocky Mountain National Park, access to Bear Lake at sunrise takes a little bit of planning. While there are day of permits available, they seem to be impossible to land. So, if you are making the trek out to Rocky Mountain National Park, I suggest you secure your entry permit months beforehand.
With that said, Kristin, my partner, was able to land an entry permit for the morning slot, the night before, during late-summer in the middle of the week. I think we were lucky, but who really knows?!
Now that your permit is secured, it’s time to set your alarm the night before and try to sleep, crossing your fingers you wake up to an early alarm, drive through the dark to the trailhead, and walk the .5 of a mile to Bear Lake.
Yup, the walk is very short, so no need to rush.
I suggest bringing a warm beverage to keep you warm, even if it is the summer as the lake sits at 9,449 feet. From there, set up your camera, enjoy the alpine glow on the cliffs, and push that shutter button.
You can walk around the lake to create different images, I liked the alpine glow in the morning from the eastern bank of the lake and the northern bank of the lake around mid-morning when most of the lake was in full sun.
The above image was snapped from the northern bank of the lake.
If you are a camera-lover, here’s some of the data about the image above:
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 16-30 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 30mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Shutter-Speed: 1/320 second
ISO: 250
Beachside Hot Springs in La Ventana, BCS
Photo by Dalton Johnson
Hot springs on the beach sound like a dream, but in La Ventana, they’re a reality. Just north of this kite-surfing addicted city of Baja Sur lies Playa Agua Caliente, a unique beach where you can soak in natural hot springs at low tide along the Sea of Cortez. These hidden treasures bubble right out of the sand, offering an unforgettable experience for those who make the trip north. The trifecta of secluded beach, desert landscape, and floating islands makes this spot dreamy, at least that is how I felt.
Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
Dancing on the diving board at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Dalton Johnson
There is an age old debate if Glacier Point is said to be better at sunrise or sunset. My personal preference as a photographer is sunrise, but I would rather you head to Glacier Point and find our for yourself.
On a deeper note, than an endless debate, is the fact that Glacier Point was one of the locations that John Muir brought President Roosevelt to wow the president into turning Yosemite into a National Park. There is an iconic photo of the two standing on the edge of Glacier Point with Yosemite Falls pouring in the background. When I stand in that exact location at Glacier Point, I like to think of this image and thank John Muir for his dedication to this land and conservation. Without him, who knows what Yosemite would be.
Soldier Pass Cave in Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has a city I have returned to several times. I am not sure what exactly draws me back to this town of red dirt, but I find myself here at least once a year. On a recent visit, I hiked the Seven Sacred Pools just after a rain and continued my hike onward to the Soldier Pass Cave. After clinging for dear life on the side of a muddy hill, I finally made it to this cave that everyone rants and raves about on social media and Reddit threads. While I am typically not one to seek out social media spots, Solider Pass Cave caught my eye.
Once I reached the base of this cave, I realized just how massive it really is. Two large opening, one is accessible to scale inside, the other one might require a rope. While I am a rock climber, I opted for the easy scramble inside of the cave. Since I forgot my tape measure, I’ll eyeball and say this cave was 40 to 50 feet tall and 200 feet long. Massive! The entrance crack runs right through the middle of it and there is a “window” you can sit in. This seemed to be the social media photo glamour spot, so I didn’t last long.
Avoiding the crowds, I wandered to the other side of the cave and found a way to scramble to the top. Nobody was up here. Quick note: If you are not a confident rock climber, please don’t scramble to the top, it was dangerous. Soaking in the view from the top and the sun that was breaking through the clouds, I sat and smiled.
This was worth the hike.
Luxor, Egypt
The Luxor Temple glowing at sunset and lit up with lights for a night time tour. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Luxor is a “small town” with ancient roots. When you think about ancient Egypt, you are thinking about the ancient sites of Luxor like the Valley of Kings, Valley of the Queens, the Luxor Temple, the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the Temple of Karnak, just to name a few. This ancient holy site has enough to see along the Nile river that you could easily spend five days exploring the sites and feel as though you have not scratched the surface.
We chose Luxor, Egypt this week for our top destination for that very reason. The history. Known as Thebes during the Roman and Greek reigns of Egypt, this vast area will leave your mind itching to return to fifth grade to relearn your Egyptian history.
While there is not much pure adventure to be found in Luxor, you can get your heart rate to spike as you make your way underground at the Valley of the Kings and Queens exploring the excavated tombs. When here, make sure to soak in the fact that the paint you are looking at could be as old as 3,500 years. Yet, it looks as though it was painted last week.
Our founding editor, Dalton Johnson, just got back from a 10-day river cruise along the Nile and here is what he had to say about the trip with Abercrombie and Kent, “It’s hard to comprehend the timeline and scale of Egypt. The temples tower over you and as you look at the hyrogylphics you realize the temple took 180-200 years to build. It’s mind bending. However, if I didn’t have Mohamed Rehim as my Egyptologist guide, explaining what I was looking at, I don’t think I would have appreciated the temples and tombs as much because I just would not understand.”
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