One of the YouTube channels I’ve been hooked on the past few months is Adventures of A + K – travel vloggers living the van life. They did a video about their “top” everything in 2021 back in December. They inspired me to create my own list of my best and most favorite adventures. I thought it would be cool to make it my first blog post!
First of all, let me just go ahead and say picking anything as my favorite is hard. I have never gone on a trip or hike I didn’t enjoy. Just because I don’t mention something doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. It’s extra hard when a lot of what I did was in Hawaii – the greatest adventure of a lifetime. Let’s get into it!
The Best Hikes of 2021
I went on 44 hikes in 2021, and most of them were on the Appalachian Trail or in a National Park, but not all. Some of the best hiking I’ve ever done was in Hawaii, but the Appalachian Trail is where I feel the most at home.
No. 3: White Oak Canyon / Cedar Run Loop in Shenandoah National Park
I did this hike on an absolutely perfect Saturday in June. It was 90 degrees, full sun. I got an AirBnB about 20 minutes from the boundary trailhead and headed out early to beat the crowds.
The White Oak Canyon Loop has 9 major waterfalls along the way and dozens more that are much smaller. The way I did the hike, I went all uphill the first half, and all downhill the second half. About a mile from the end there was a natural rock water-slide that I stopped and spent about 30 minutes at. It was one of the most memorable hikes inside one of my favorite National Parks.
No. 2: Ka’au Crater in Oahu, Hawaii
Hawaii seems to be the most sought after destination, and I hope everyone gets to go at least once in their lifetime. It is truly magical.
Ka’au Crater has absolutely everything. It has waterfalls and steep rope sections to climb. It has fresh berries you can pick and eat along the way. The first two miles or so include a huge water pipe, which makes it a fun obstacle course, and at the top there is a hidden crater.
It was hard to choose this over another great Hawaiian hike – Mt. Olympus, but Ka’au really has it all.
No. 1: Kīlauea Iki in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island
Hands down, my favorite hike of 2021, and one of my favorite parts of my 16 days in Hawaii. I loved that it was inside a National Park, and in Hawaii nonetheless.
The first part of the hike felt like you were walking down into a jungle. Then, you reach the bottom and you are inside a real life crater. The second half of the trail takes you the across the entire floor of the Kīlauea Iki crater. There were steam vents and the most unique vegetation I’ve ever seen. Lastly, you climb up and out of the crater. Once you make your way back around to your car, there is an overlook of the crater you just walked through. It was the most incredible and unique experience of my life.
My Favorite Destinations of 2021
A good many of the places I traveled to were repeat destinations, or to a new place in a familiar area. It didn’t have to be a new destination to make my list, but these three happened to be new.
No. 3: Chickahominy Riverfront Park
My Dad wanted to camp and fish for Father’s Day. His one requirement was that it be along the river. I found this campground by zooming in on Google Maps, and I’m so glad I did! The park is right up against the Chickahominy River and the fishing is phenomenal. State Parks tend to be heavily monitored when it comes to rules and what you can do at your campsite, but this park is run by the county so it was very low key. They have cheap kayak rentals and other amenities like horseshoe rings and a pool. BONUS: its proximity to Williamsburg.
No. 2: St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine was absolutely beautiful, full of history, and most importantly – contained 2 National Park sites. We had an AirBnB on a beach just a few miles south of St. Augustine and we never once had more than a dozen people near us. I don’t long to go to the beach, but I often find myself thinking about St. Augustine.
No. 1: Hawaii
In full transparency, I never really cared about going to Hawaii. In my mind it was just an island full of expensive resorts, expensive adventure packages that were nothing more than tourist traps, and beaches full of people. To be fair, parts of Hawaii are exactly like that. However, since one of my college best friends is currently stationed there in the Navy Band, and knows Oahu inside and out, that was not my experience.
I got to experience the hikes nobody knows about, where you literally pull off the highway and hop in the jungle. I got to try delicious foods from little buildings that you would never consider buying food from. The beaches I went to were the places locals favored. The views I got of Honolulu on top of the ridge lines were unmatched.
I think about Hawaii all the time, and hope to return soon.
The Best National Parks of 2021
I visited 13 National Park sites in 2021. I only got to 1 major park, which was Hawai’i Volcanoes. The rest were National Monuments or National Historic Parks.
No. 3: Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau NHP on the Big Island, Hawaii
I LOVED this park. Not only did it have so much history to it, but there were also a few unique features, hiking trails, and even public beaches. It is rare to have all of that in one park. I will never forget it’s beauty.
No. 2: Governor’s Island NM, New York City
It’s hard to rate this over Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau, on my master list that isn’t the case. However, my whole experience on Governor’s Island was amazing. It was during peak fall foliage which made it even more special and I left with some amazing pictures. The 90 minute walking tour really added to my experience as I got to learn about parts of the park I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to learn about. I got lunch and a beer at Korean food truck that was delicious.
No. 1: Hawai’i Volcanoes NP
I almost didn’t put this as my number one because it was too obvious of a choice. But I can’t ignore how much I loved Volcanoes. Everything about it was so much more unique than any other park I’ve been to. Experiencing it with my best travel friends, Chris and Martin, made it so much more special.
The Best Food of 2021
When I first started solo traveling, I did not put much stock into the food I ate. Most National Parks do not have food inside the park, and if they do, I can’t get to it in the middle of a 10 mile hike. It wasn’t until my Utah trip in 2020 that I started trying to get to food and coffee joints that all the YouTubers and bloggers loved. I’m sure the food in Hawaii is amazing, but we mostly cooked at home! So just a warning…for 2021…it’s all from NYC!
No. 3: Ramen in NYC
No. 2: Kimchi Fries on Governor’s Island, NYC
No. 3: Lox bagels in NYC
Final Thoughts
In 2021 I hiked 44 trails, went to 13 new National Parks, and visited 1 new state. I am so excited for all of my travels I have planned in 2022. Travel season does not kick off until April, though I have already started hiking season! Two of my trips are to places I’ve already been, but I’m excited to dig a little bit deeper. My big trip to Florida, which is not a new state, but I have never been to South Florida and I am so, SO excited to camp on Dry Tortugas.
Let me know of anything you’d like me to cover in a blog post!
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