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Things to Do in Yellowstone Without Hiking: Easy Walks, Geysers, and Wildlife
Most lists of Yellowstone things to do include hikes, and this is usually our go-to. However, this time, we had to adjust our itinerary around boardwalks, overlooks, and short walks, as we were traveling with family.
This guide covers what we did and how hard each stop is, based on our two visits (one camping years ago, and another one in September 2026). For a day-to-day plan, see our Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary for Non-Hikers.
Grand Teton Hotels: Where to Stay in Wyoming and Idaho by Area (+ Cabins & Lodges)
The best Grand Teton hotels depend on which end of the park you want to wake up in. Grand Teton (USA), is a narrow park with a long road through it, and the gate towns are at very different spots along that road. Jackson is at the south end. Moran and Jackson Lake are at the north end. And on the far side of the mountains, in Idaho, Driggs and Victor sit a mountain pass away. Where you sleep decides how much of your trip you spend driving.
We visited Grand Teton as one full day on a highlights trip with Jake's parents, from a home exchange in North Driggs, Idaho.
This guide to hotels near the Grand Tetons in Wyoming goes around the park area by area, starting with a short note on lodging inside it. If you haven't planned your route yet, our Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary for Non-Hikers shows how we fit both parks into a week.
Hotels By Yellowstone Park: Where to Stay by Entrance (+ Cabins & Lodges)
The first thing to know about hotels by Yellowstone Park, USA, is that the park has no center, and is massive. It has five entrances, gateway towns in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and a Grand Loop Road of about 142 miles. So, where you sleep decides how much of your trip you spend in the car.
We visited Yellowstone twice: on a camping trip, and as a highlights itinerary with Jake's parents, staying off the beaten path in Ennis, Montana.
This guide goes around the park entrance by entrance, starting with a short note on lodging inside it. If you haven’t planned your route yet, our Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary for Non-Hikers shows how we linked both parks in a week.
Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary for Non-Hikers: 7 Easy Days by Car
We are big hikers and love to go off the beaten path… which is exactly why this itinerary has almost no hiking in it, and stays very much on the beaten track!
We spent a week between Yellowstone and Grand Teton, USA, traveling with Jake's parents, so our usual plan changed: no long trails, no climbing, nothing that needed boots. So we went for a route built from boardwalks, drive-up overlooks, and a couple of walks short and flat enough for almost anyone. It works for small children, older travelers, and most mobility needs, and where it doesn't, we say so.
Many Yellowstone and Grand Teton itineraries assume you will spend your days on trails (and I did go camping in Yellowstone many years ago). This one is based on car access and comfort. Here’s the full week, flying in and out of Bozeman, with two bases for the parks.
Where to Stay on Vancouver Island: Best Areas, Towns & Beaches
Vancouver Island, Canada, is bigger than it looks on a map, and the wrong base means hours of driving you didn't plan for. That being said, all of it is pretty spectacular. This is a town-by-town breakdown of where to stay on Vancouver Island, built around what each area offers: storm watching and surfing in Tofino, family beaches in Parksville, salmon fishing in Campbell River, history and harbor views in Victoria.
Best Hotels & Cabins on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island, Canada, has two different kinds of great stay. There's the hotel or lodge that does everything for you, and there's the cabin or cottage where you cook your own dinner, light your own fire, and fall asleep to the sound of the waves instead of a hallway. This is our selection of the best hotels and cabins on Vancouver Island.
Tours in Nuuk, Greenland: Fjord Boat Trips, City Walks & More
Nuuk offers more tours than most visitors expect. The fjord system surrounding the capital — Nuup Kangerlua, the second-largest in the world — is the main event, and getting out on the water is what most people remember longest (in our opinion, it’s also spectacular from the top of nearby mountains). Add guided city walks that give the colonial quarter and the Greenland National Museum genuine depth, northern lights excursions in winter, and a solid selection available on the major booking platforms, and Nuuk turns out to be one of the more tour-rich destinations in Greenland. This guide covers everything bookable, how to do it, and what to expect in one of our favorite Arctic cities.
Tours in Ilulissat, Greenland: Icefjord Boat Trips & More
Ilulissat has a small but focused tour offering — which suits the destination. The town is compact, the Icefjord is the main event, and the best experiences here are the ones that get you on the water or into the landscape rather than in a bus. Most of what's worth doing is booked directly with local operators rather than through the big international platforms, and this guide covers exactly what exists, how to book it, and what to expect based on our own experience.
Best Hotels in Ilulissat, Greenland: Where to Stay by the Icefjord (We Stayed at Cabin Jomsborg)
Ilulissat has roughly a dozen hotels, guesthouses, and self-catering cabins for a town of 4,500 people. We've stayed here ourselves — at Cabin Jomsborg, a self-catering cabin sitting ten meters from the water, which turned out to be one of the best accommodation decisions we've made anywhere.
Every property in this guide has icefjord or Disko Bay views in some form. In a town built above a UNESCO World Heritage glacier, there is no such thing as a bad location — only different ways to experience it.
Best Time to Visit Greenland (Month-by-Month Guide)
Greenland isn’t a “summer vs winter” destination. It’s:
• Ice vs open water
• Midnight sun vs polar night
• Hiking season vs sea ice season
• Ferry running vs ferry closed
We’ve experienced Greenland in spring — ferry between Nuuk and Ilulissat, iceberg-filled waters, long Arctic evenings — and the timing shaped every single part of the trip. And we’ve experienced every season in the Arctic. Here’s how to choose yours.
Nuuk vs Ilulissat — Where to Stay, What to Book & How to Choose
If you’re planning a trip to Greenland, one of the first real decisions you’ll face is this:
Do you base yourself in Nuuk, or Ilulissat?
They’re both spectacular.
They’re both pretty expensive.
They feel completely different.
And your choice will shape the entire rhythm of your trip.
Spoiler alert: the best answer is usually to combine both.
But let’s break it down properly.
10 Magical Alternatives to Rovaniemi (Without the Crowds)
Rovaniemi is lovely.
It’s iconic.
It’s Santa’s “official” hometown.
It’s also… completely flooded from November to early January.
Families, buses, long lines, sold-out activities, €450 reindeer rides, and prices that make reindeer reconsider their life choices.
If you're dreaming of Christmas magic without the stampede, Scandinavia is full of places that feel just as magical — sometimes more.
We’ve spent winters all over the Arctic — Kiruna, Abisko, Luleå, Alta, Tromsø, Svalbard, and Finnish Lapland (outside Rovaniemi) — and there are SO many places where the Christmas vibes are strong, the Northern Lights are bright, and the prices are (slightly) less terrifying.
And if your kids are begging for Santa, we’ve included a bonus a bit further away… but definitely off the beaten path!
Here are the best Rovaniemi alternatives, and what makes each special.
Thanksgiving Abroad: Bringing North American Flavor to Our Celebration in Spain
Thanksgiving is a cherished day of tradition, gratitude, and favorite recipes.
For Eli and me (Jake), celebrating in Spain means getting creative to bring this American holiday to life, sharing North American flavors, and introducing our friends to its unique spirit.
Join the festivities and discover our best recipes and tips!
Best Hotels in Nuuk, Greenland: Where to Stay in Greenland's Arctic Capital
Nuuk is overlooked by many visitors, who go straight on a ferry or a plane to Ilulissat. And that’s a shame, because we absolutely fell in love with it — read our Nuuk Travel Guide!
Nuuk is a one-of-a-kind capital where snow-capped mountains meet the sea and the rhythm of everyday, modern life blends seamlessly with the raw, untamed beauty of Greenland.
Greenland’s tiny but mighty capital isn’t just a gateway to glaciers and fjords, it's a vibrant, growing city full of character. The vibe there is just… cool, in every sense of the word!
From intimate guesthouses and self-catering apartments to upscale hotels, Nuuk’s accommodations reflect the city’s unique charm and mix of modernity with traditional Greenlandic influences. Whether you're looking for luxury or simplicity, there’s a place for everyone to rest their head after a day of Arctic adventure.
Visiting Nuuk, Greenland: Things to Do, Our Favorite Hotels & How to Plan Your Trip
So why Nuuk, Greenland? Because it’s not trying to impress you. Nuuk doesn’t show off. It just is. It’s a capital without the stress, and without the tourist groups of Ilulissat. A city that feels like a village — if that village had sushi, mummies, arctic fjords, and some of the most grounded, generous people you’ll ever meet.
We had seen Nuuk in Conan O’Brien Must Go, we knew about the new airport, and we landed here with a few vague expectations about “Arctic vibes.” What we got was something else entirely: a crash course in Greenlandic calm, a boatload of icebergs, and an accidental royal sighting (more on that later). And honestly, we were very surprised on many levels.
Nuuk is not just a place. It’s a reset button. And we can’t shut up about it.
Best Places to See the Northern Lights in the World
If you’re searching for the best places to see northern lights, here’s the short answer: northern Norway, Iceland, Finnish Lapland, Sweden’s Abisko region, Greenland, Alaska, and parts of northern Canada consistently offer the highest visibility rates. The best months run from September to March in the northern hemisphere.
The northern lights don’t understand borders (and sometimes, neither do we).
If you’ve already dreamed your way through Iceland or Norway (see our Europe guide), here’s the global bucket list: the best places in the world to chase the aurora borealis — and even its southern twin, the aurora australis.
Miami to the Florida Keys: A Scenic Road Trip to Key West
Some road trips are just… fine. You drive, you snack, you wonder if the destination will be worth it. The Miami to Florida Keys drive? Whole different story. It's sunshine on the dashboard, water on both sides, and has that slow, sweet shift from city buzz to island time.
On this trip, we started in Miami's art splashes and salsa-beat sidewalks, rolled past gator country in the Big Cypress National Preserve, and wound our way over the Overseas Highway — each mile taking us closer to turquoise water, conch fritters, and those sunsets Key West locals swear by.
You'll cross 42 bridges, possibly spot manatees from your car window, and end up watching the sun melt into the Gulf of Mexico — maybe with a mojito in hand! Here's everything you need to know: the route, the stops, the hidden gems, and why this might just become your new favorite escape.
The Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide 2026: How to Explore, Survive, and Avoid Becoming a Polar Bear’s Lunch
If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know we’re in love with Arctic regions. And a lot of people turn to us for advice, and even want us to go with them on an Arctic trip!.
We’ve been there. We’ve hiked across frozen tundras, stood under the shimmering Northern Lights in absolute silence, and yes, once questioned our life choices while knee-deep in snow, miles from civilization.
The Arctic isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling, a test of resilience, and a reward for those who seek the extraordinary. So, this guide is for you, adventurous penguins, and all of our friends and relatives who keep asking us stuff (we love you)!
The Ultimate Vancouver Island Guide: Road Trips, Surf Towns & Secret Spots
If mainland British Columbia is nature turned up to 10, Vancouver Island is nature turned up to… 100. A place where the forests are thicker, the ocean spray is stronger, the coffee shops are cooler, and the goats… live on roofs.
We’ve road-tripped the island from top to tail and back again, chasing waterfalls, seafoam, and the perfect seafood truck. It’s where the moss drips like candlewax, the air smells like cedar smoke, and the ocean always feels a little too cold and a little too right.
Whether you’ve got a weekend or two full weeks, here’s what to see, where to go, and why it’s one of the most heavenly places we’ve ever been to.
5 Magical Trips from Vancouver You’ll Never Forget (Tofino, Whistler, Seattle & More)
Vancouver isn’t just an awesome city — it’s a launchpad. There’s a reason why people flock to live there — at least the ones who can afford it — and why it’s our favorite city in the whole world. If you’ve ever been to the Pacific Northwest, you understand what we’re talking about. In every direction, you’ll find moody forests, glacier lakes, indie cities, and coastal villages where life runs on West Coast time. These aren’t your average “day trips or excursions.” Some are close. Some are wild. All are absolutely worth it.
We’ve personally visited each of these places (except one — it’s high on our list), and if you visit Vancouver, venture out. You won’t regret it.