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Abigail Bliss is a travel, outdoor, and food writer based in Denver, Colorado. An avid skier and hiker, she shares a unique perspective of the American West, highlighting destinations less traveled. When she isn’t exploring the outdoors with her husband and two pups, she’s likely drinking beer in RiNo or watching indie horror movies, no matter how bad the effects.
🌟 Favorite Destinations: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho
✔️ Fun Facts: Summited 14 Colorado fourteeners. Moguls and gladed runs are my jam. Always up for tacos and margs.
I can’t say I have a singular favorite travel experience. But all my best memories involve the outdoors, away from crowds, and those closest to me.
These include rappelling into my first canyon with Skycie, and shaking through an unroped 20-foot downclimb into a “birthing canal.” Hiking with Cathy at Joshua Tree National Park in 105-degree temps was unforgettable. Also, seeing my brother, Rick, light up as he summited his first Colorado 14er.
My husband, Philip, and I share too many travel memories to count. Spotting mountain goats on the top of Quandary Peak, then skiing down our first-ever backcountry route. There’s swimming with our pups in remote New Mexico hot springs, and enjoying their reactions to the ocean when in California.
There are our road trips, each special in their own way. Seeing clouds hang over the Sawtooth Range in Idaho, cacti dot the landscape in Arizona, a moose charge past us in Aspen. The American West will never cease to amaze me.
Don’t let money hold you back from traveling. When my husband and I moved to Denver, we were very young and strapped for cash. But our days of dirtbagging make for some of the best stories.
In the early days of our outdoor adventures, we slept in a Wal-Mart tent — and sometimes, in a Wal-Mart parking lot, sheltered by my 2000 Toyota Camry. We ate lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and spent a lot of time hiking because it’s free.
Of course, this isn’t everyone’s preferred version of traveling. But in my opinion, adventure travel is soul-enriching. There’s a sense of awe in outdoor places, and a sense of peace in feeling small, immersed in mountains, forests, or canyons that seem to never end.
So, get outside if you want to travel on the cheap. And, explore destinations within an eight-hour drive from your home. You’ll probably be surprised by how many spots you can reach in a weekend.
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How to Choose a Backpacking Pack (2023 Size & Fit Guide)
23 Boulder Hikes (Best Nearby Trails for All Levels in 2023)
25 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (By a Local)
150 Best Things to Do in the USA This Summer (2023)
8 Best Backpacking Backpacks (Tested & Compared in 2023)
REI Co-Op Flash 55 Backpack Review (I Tested the 2023 Model)
Gregory Maven 55 Review (I Tested it in the Wild in 2023)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 SW Backpack Review (2023)
Osprey Eja Backpack Review, Tested in 2023 (Updated Model)
Osprey Aura AG LT Review (I Tested this Backpack in 2023)
Mountainsmith Apex Backpack Review (Testing New 2023 Model)
Teton Sports Scout Backpack Review (I Tested it in 2023)
31 Best Hikes Near Denver in 2023 (By a Local)
Tortuga Travel Backpack Review – Is it Worth the Hype?
Where to Stay in Steamboat Springs (Best Places & Areas)
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25 Best Places to Visit in New Mexico (in 2023)
Outdoorsy Review 2023 (My Honest Experience Renting an RV)
Breckenridge Ski Resort (Ultimate 2023 Travel Guide)
Keystone Ski Resort (Ultimate Travel Guide)
Copper Mountain Ski Resort (Guide + Key Info, By a Local)
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Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (Your Ultimate A-Basin Guide)
27 Things to Do in Telluride, CO (in 2023)
18 Best Breweries in Denver in 2023 (By a Local)
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Food in Denver (A Locals’ Guide to 33 Best Dishes to Try)
Hiking Essentials Checklist (26 Things to Pack on a Hike)
22 Best Things to Do in Estes Park (in 2023)
Where to Stay in Estes Park (Best Places & Areas in 2023)
Nomatic Navigator Backpack (My Honest Hands-On Bag Review)
9 Best Hot Springs Near Boulder (in 2023)
13 Denver Travel Tips & Things to Know (By a Local)
8 Best Train Rides in Colorado for 2023 (By a Local)
9 Best Hot Springs Near Denver (By a Local)
11 Best 14ers in Colorado (Picked by a Local)
15 Best Things to Do in Idaho Springs (in 2023)
10 Day Colorado Road Trip Itinerary (Planned by a Local)
13 Best Small Towns in Colorado (By a CO Local)
9 Best Colorado Road Trips in 2023 (By a Local)
21 Best Mountain Towns in Colorado (By a Local)
Colorado Packing List (22 Things You Might Forget to Bring)
15 Best Hikes in Colorado for 2023 (By a Local)
21 Best Things to Do in Steamboat Springs (in 2023)
Getting Around Denver (How to Do it With or Without a Car)
25 Best Things to Do in Silverton, CO (in 2023)
The Best Time to Visit Denver in 2023 (By a Local)
Where to Stay in Silverton, CO (Best Areas & Places)