Why we can’t wait to visit again: Being cooped
up with our housemates has left us feeling a bit prickly, so we’re
setting off for some much-needed desert downtime. After tackling
the easy-going Valley View Overlook Trail that’s littered with
blooming Saguaro cacti, we’re decamping to nearby Tucson. Arizona’s
oldest city is more of a small bohemian town than a thriving
metropolis, especially since it’s heavy on the kooky vibes – helped
by its cosmology-obsessed residents. Stop by the well-curated
boutique Bon before chowing down on tacos at America’s oldest
Mexican restaurant. El Charro Café has spent nearly 100 years
perfecting the guac-to-salsa ratio and we think it’s nailed it.

Where we’re staying:
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort

Before you go: Seek out a copy of Legends of
the American Desert by Alex Shoumatoff. Think of the author as an
ideal dinner party guest who likes to share fascinating anecdotes
about past and present desert dwellings.

Why we can’t wait to visit again: Sure,
Yosemite might be California’s adult answer to Disneyland, but with
4 million visitors a year we’re rain-checking the crowds queuing to
crawl up crevices and heading to its steamier sister, Lassen. Four
types of volcano, bubbling mud cauldrons and scorched ash trails
await if you climb Cinder Cone, while Kings Creek Falls takes you
along a pretty creek before leading you to a fern-trimmed waterfall
that looks like it starred in Jurassic Park. You’ll find us looping
back round the trail and making for Manzanita Lake at sunset, kayak
and ready-to-roast s’mores in tow.

Where we’re staying: Highlands Ranch Resort

Before you go: Download the back catalogue of
The Lavocast podcast. Hosted by park rangers
and featuring audio stories from the park, it provides good
listening material for the three-hour drive from Sacramento.

Why we can’t wait to visit again: To properly
flex our crampons. After being confined to the same four walls,
we’re planning on following the mountain goats and climbing up the
side of snow-capped peaks in a week-long escapade. Ticking all the
boxes – piercing glaciers, thick forests and resident deer grazing
on high meadows – North Cascades’ diverse terrain is more suited to
serious backcountry hikers than weekend RV rentals. Seeking a bit
of fresh air and a leisurely stroll? You’re better off visiting
Washington’s other two national parks: Olympic and Mount
Rainier.

Where we’re staying: In one of these floating cabins on Ross
Lake.

Before you go: Read The Dharma Bums. In his
(brief) stint as a Park Service fire spotter, beat poster-boy Jack
Kerouac holed himself up in a cabin on Desolation Peak and found
inspiration for two novels. Do the same – hallucinations,
optional.

Why we can’t wait to visit again: It’s exactly
what you want from the Alaskan wilderness: cloud-tickling
mountains, turquoise lakes and pines so perfect they wouldn’t look
out of place dangling from the rear-view mirror of a 4×4. This
place is a nature lover’s idea of porn. Unlike the rest of Alaska,
the park isn’t too hard to reach and is ideal for any first-time
forays into the area. Simply drive the few hundred miles from
Anchorage to Port Alsworth – known as the gateway to Lake Clark –
before hiking to Tanalian Mountain. A moderate-level hike (read:
less-exhausting than Barry’s Bootcamp) to be rewarded with
360-degree views of the lake.

Where we’re staying: We’re going full frontier
and staying in a tent on the shores of the lake. Unlike most
national parks, Lake Clark is trail free meaning you can pitch up
pretty much wherever you like.

Before you go: Try to get your hands on a copy
of Alone in the Wilderness. The 60s documentary follows naturalist
Dick Proenneke in his quest to build a cabin in the remote
surrounds.

Why we can’t wait to visit again: Because who
wouldn’t want to drive the Trail Ridge Road (aka the “Highway to
the Sky”) the moment we’ve allowed to leave our lockdown pads?
Nothing embodies the sense of freedom more than a good old American
road trip, so we’re reactivating our Turo account and shoving
boots, boards and bikinis – and the kitchen stove – into the back
of a family saloon. The Rockies aren’t exactly a hidden gem, but
there’s nothing wrong with answering the familiar call of the wild
sometimes.

Where we’re staying: The Hygge Chalet and Sauna

Before you go: Rewatch The Shining… but have
old South Park re-runs ready for when you finish and want something
less toe-curling to binge.