A Bit About Me
Your friendly travel guide and expert in all things West USA!
Hey there, I’m Cat!
For my first 18 years, I had only been on the USA’s East Coast (aside from layovers). I’ve come a long way since 2019, with 38 states, 28 National Parks, and countless cities and towns under my belt.
My journey across the U.S. has been nothing short of epic. I’ve slept in ghost towns in Texas, stuck gum on the Seattle wall, hot-springed nude in California, and hiked, climbed, and photographed so many national parks. And now, I want to share those experiences with you.
Day Trip Nomad is all About Being your ultimate resource for planning the perfect day trip in America!
Although I’m now a full-time traveler and founder of Day Trip Nomad, things weren’t always this way. Once upon a time, I had a corporate job in Los Angeles, limited to exploring the world only on weekends and precious PTO days.
Having just relocated to the West Coast, I realized how many places there were to see here, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Grand Canyon. The challenge? Squeezing everything into day trips or short overnight visits.
With 8+ years of solo travel experience across 65 countries, I decided to apply my backpacking skills to planning day trip itineraries. I dove headfirst into research, determined not to miss out on any hidden gems (FOMO is real, my friends!)
Here at Day Trip Nomad, you won’t find lengthy itineraries or slow-paced, budget travel guides. Instead, I’ll show you how to make the most of your day trips in the Western USA. You’re going to find which places are worth visiting and how to hit the highlights without missing a beat.
Why I Started This Blog
“Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.”
Where I’ve Been
My journey has led me to explore all corners of our beautiful USA, through 36 states and 28 national parks, from skiing in Lake Tahoe to posing with the Saguaro Cacti.
I’ve toured a nuclear missile in Tucson, surfed the waves in Malibu, and even learned a line dance or two in Austin, Texas. I’ve hiked the winter trails in Colorado, marveled at the architectural wonders of House on a Rock, and my stomach exploded in New Orleans.
But the best is just being out in the middle of nowhere desert in Utah, where I might not see a would the whole weekend.
📍California: Los Angeles & Orange County, Hollywood, San Francisco & Bay Area, San Diego, Big Sur, Napa, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Irvine, Bakersfield, Barstow, Oceanside, Lake Tahoe, Alcatraz, National Parks (Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic)
📍Arizona: Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Page, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley, National Parks (Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro)
📍Utah: Salt Lake City, Provo, St. George, Park City, Moab, Springdale, Kanab, Dead Horse Point State Park, National Parks (Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands)
📍New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, National Parks (Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands)
📍Washington: Seattle, Spokane, Leavenworth, Palouse State Park, National Parks (Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades)
📍Oregon: Portland, Bend, Eugene, Medford, Cannon Beach, Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, National Parks (Crater Lake)
📍Nevada: Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire State Park, Red Rock Canyon Park
📍Colorado: Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Aspen, Estes Park, Durango, Garden of the Gods, National Parks (Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
📍Wyoming: Jackson, Cody, National Parks (Yellowstone, Grand Teton)
📍Idaho: Boise, Idaho Falls, Lake Coeur d’Alene
📍Hawaii: Oahu (Honolulu, Waikiki, North Shore, Pearl Harbor), Big Island (Hilo, Kailua-Kona), Maui, National Parks (Hawaii Volcanoes)
📍Texas: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Galveston, New Braunfels, Painted Churches, Amarillo, El Paso, National Parks (Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains)
Full List Of Other States I’ve Lived or Traveled To
Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Vermont · Virginia · Wisconsin · USVI
So, if you’re ready to discover the cool things you can do on a day trip in the USA, you’re in the right place.
Fastest Timeline of My Life
By the time I hit 19, I had already lived in New Jersey, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Missouri.
But I still decided to ditch the straight and narrow, packed way too much luggage, and went on a gap year to “find myself” by exploring the world.
I’m not exactly sure how much I found, but the life lessons and the travel bug would alter the course of my life.
After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, I landed a job in Los Angeles. My passion for travel stayed strong even with the typical 9 to 5. In 2020, I had just snagged a van for weekend getaways, when BAM! Global shutdowns hit. Suddenly, I went from a weekend warrior to a full-time remote worker van lifer for a solid two years!
I made the decision to quit my corporate consulting gig and sold everything in 2022, including my beloved van home, to fully commit to chasing my travel dreams.
What I’m Up to Now
Nowadays, I divide my time between my home bases in Los Angeles and Southeast Asia, with six months dedicated to traveling each year.
Some Future Plans:
- Traverse across Mongolia on horseback
- Hitchhike across Central Asia
- Walk across Iceland
- Learn ice climb in Nepal
- Whitewater kayak a “small” waterfall
- Be a pupil again at a KungFu temple for 6 months
- Make a sustainable travel blog!
Get more inspiration!
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