If youβre planning a day trip packed with mountain views, cool forest air, and some of the easiest (and prettiest) pull-offs in Southern Arizona, this Mt. Lemmon Travel Guide covers everything you need β from the best scenic stops to the Cookie Cabin lunch you absolutely shouldnβt skip. The scenic drive up Mount Lemmon is one of the most iconic things to do near Tucson, and itβs an easy add-on if youβre already exploring the area.
You can also see my full review of the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain if you want a great place to stay nearby.
Mount Lemmon is the perfect mix of desert landscapes, pine forests, and viewpoints that look like theyβre straight out of a national park. Whether you stop at every pull-off or keep it simple with the highlights, hereβs exactly how to plan your day.
The Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway starts out with those classic Tucson desert views and slowly transforms into high-elevation forests. The drive itself is one of the most beautiful in Arizona, and itβs an easy half-day experience if you start early.
Summerhaven has a few options for food. The Cookie Cabin is the star β especially if you want a giant plate-sized cookie or a slice of pizza. They also serve sandwiches and ice cream. A nearby sandwich shop and a sit-down restaurant give you other choices if youβre not craving carbs the size of your face.
If youβre torn between the cookie sampler or the full cookie, go with the full cookie. Itβs softer, fresher, and honestly just more fun.
Past Summerhaven, thereβs a restaurant near the ski lift. In summer, the lift runs like a scenic ride up the mountain. Check the operating days because they are not open every day. At the top, walk up the road on the right for an even better overlook.
I did all of these stops in a half day by starting early, but if you want extra time for hiking or wandering, plan for a full day.
Many people stop here to buy their day pass if needed. The view is nice but more of a warm-up. If youβre short on time, you can skip it.
Some people recommend Thimble Peak Vista, but I prefer Seven Cataracts. The canyon drop-offs and sweeping views are better, and itβs a great quick photo stop.
A small viewpoint with rugged rock formations and a nice angle of the winding road. Worth a short stop.
This is the must-do stop on Mount Lemmon. Take the paved path near the buildings and climb onto the rocks for dramatic views of the valley below. Wear tennis shoes because youβll likely step up and down a few uneven rocks. This was my favorite stop of the entire day.
A cute mountaintop village with a general store, a few shops, and the Cookie Cabin. Stop here for lunch before heading to the ski lift.
Ride it in summer for panoramic views. Then walk up the road to the right at the top for an even better photo spot.
A quick informational stop with maps, restrooms, and rangers who can answer questions.
Loop back here after the ski lift. Bring $11 cash because they donβt take cards. Ask the ranger for directions to the trail β itβs slightly confusing the first time.
Once parked, head down the stairs by the bathrooms to find the lake trail. You can take the short lakeside path or the one-mile loop around the entire lake.
You can stay on Mount Lemmon for sunset, but I prefer ending the day at Gates Pass in West Saguaro National Park. Itβs one of the best sunset spots in Tucson. The parking lot fills up quickly, so arrive 30β60 minutes early. Many people go to the stone building on the right, but I like the trail that starts on the opposite side of the lot. Hike up the mountain for incredible views.
If youβre already exploring the west side, you can check out my guide to One Day in Saguaro National Park West and end with the sunset here.
Before you start winding up the mountain, it helps to know how the pass system works. The signs can look confusing if youβve never driven it before. The good news: many of the best overlooks are completely free.
These passes cover the standard day-use areas on Mount Lemmon. Just display it on your dashboard:
Annual Pass
Senior Pass
Military Pass
Access Pass
4th Grade Pass
Coronado Pass
Day or Week Coronado Pass
You can purchase a day pass for $8 or a week pass for $10 at the automated fee machines along the road. Display the pass on your dashboard after purchase.
These developed day-use areas and trailheads require a pass:
Molino Basin Trailhead
Middle Bear Picnic Area
Palisades Visitor Center
Box Elder Picnic Area
Marshall Gulch Trailhead
Lemmon Rock Day Use Area
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
Inspiration Rock Picnic Area
These spots have maintained facilities like bathrooms, picnic tables, and trash bins.
Many classic Mount Lemmon overlooks are completely free:
Babad Doβag Vista
Molino Canyon Vista
Windy Point Vista
Thimble Peak Vista
Seven Cataracts Vista
Geology Vista
Aspen Vista
Summerhaven
Incinerator Ridge Trailhead
Box Camp Trailhead
Butterfly Trailhead
Red Ridge Trailhead
If you donβt see a fee sign, youβre good to go.
Some campgrounds (like Rose Canyon and Whitetail) are reservable online, while others require payment on-site. Each one is clearly labeled at the entrance.
If youβre just doing the scenic drive, viewpoints, ski lift, and Rose Canyon Lake, half a day works β as long as you start early. But a full day gives you time to explore, hike, and wander without rushing.
If you're planning a longer Tucson itinerary, you can learn more in my post about A Weekend in Tucson, which includes Mount Lemmon along with other great options.
If you have multiple days in Tucson, you can come back to the area for popular hikes like Seven Falls or the trails in Sabino Canyon. These are great add-ons if you love longer, scenic hikes.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos donβt capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they donβt know theyβre in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But thatβs also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. π·
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. π·
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes Iβve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Hereβs what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
CafΓ© Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davieβs Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (itβs not ketchup, and itβs better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what Iβd skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
Thereβs a version of Gatlinburg thatβs all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then thereβs the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Hereβs everything worth doing downtown, in the order Iβd do it: ποΈ
β¨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
β¨ Walk the strip mid-morning when itβs still manageable
β¨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: donβt skip it)
β¨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
β¨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isnβt your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. Itβs more of a βhereβs what Iβd actually do if I had one solid dayβ kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. π
If someone told me Iβd spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. π
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and itβs one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it β longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
β¨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
β¨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
β¨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
β¨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. π
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