Born in the Mountains Journal

Aerial view of city buildings during daytime at Long Beach, CA, the most nature deprived city in the US

The Nature Deficit Index: How American Cities Are Losing Access to the Outdoors

In her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs challenged the prevailing view that a city’s success should be measured solely by its skylines, transit systems, and economic density. Decades later, a new analysis offers a new perspective on one aspect of her broader critique...

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By Ivan Slovic · 5 min read
Best and Worst States for July 4th: Data Reveals Big Surprises - it's not Florida

New Data Reveals the Best (and Worst) States for an Outdoor Independence Day

Every July 4th, the American republic executes a singular, cross-state ritual: we move the kitchen outside to spend time with those who we care about the most. An exercise in optimism that spans generations, uniting millions under a single banner; an alliance of lighter fluid, pyrotechnics, and...

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By Ivan Slovic · 6 min read
The image shows the iconic Earth Goddess (sometimes called "Mother Earth" or "Gaia"), a massive 25-foot-tall living plant sculpture in the Cascades Garden.

Best Botanical Gardens in the U.S.

In the shadow of celebrated giants like the New York Botanical Garden and Chicago Botanic Garden, a quiet sanctuary in Elkhart, Indiana, has emerged as America’s most beloved botanical garden. A sweeping new analysis of visitor reviews from 407 public gardens across the country exposes this gap...

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By Ivan Slovic · 11 min read
Crested Butte, United States

The Most Adventure-Friendly States in America

For years, outdoor culture in the U.S. has revolved around one assumption: if you want the best access to nature, you go to Colorado. Big mountains. Endless public land. Iconic hikes. Intuitively, it made sense. But we’ve been confusing scenery with actual usability. A new analysis of outdoor...

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By Ivan Slovic · 7 min read
A large body of water surrounded by mountains - Glacier National Park

America’s Best National Parks for Introverts

The moment when we reached the viewing plateau at the base of Bridalveil Fall felt like stepping through a screen into one of Yosemite’s most photographed waterfalls. That midday was comfortably cold, as expected from early spring. Patches of snow still clinging to the rocky edges. We hiked among...

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By Ivan Slovic · 10 min read
Death Valley National Park is the most disappointing National Park and causes Paris Syndrome according to reviews

National Parks "Paris Syndrome" Report 2026

Scrolling through social media feeds, we often land on breathtaking videos of adventurers exploring America’s national parks: unfiltered, raw wilderness perfectly framed to immerse us and spark daydreams about our next big escape. One photo of a mountain overlooking a pine forest at dawn, taken from...

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By Ivan Slovic · 10 min read
which-states-want-to-ski-the-most-and-where Vermont Skiing

Which States Want to Ski the Most and Where

The first snowfall of 2025 already powdered the Winter Park Resort in Colorado on September 10th, prompting millions of Americans to begin preparing their next high-altitude adventure. Resorts are tuning their groomers, boots are coming out of closets, and lift-ticket searches are quietly spiking...

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By Ivan Slovic · 7 min read

The Best Trail in Every State for That Halloween Atmosphere

Every fall, around the time when the leaves start yellowing the sides of the driveway and pumpkin spice lattes return to the menus of their local coffee shop habitats, many folks turn windward in search of the perfect October trail to kickstart the sweater-weather season. But October has a darker...

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By Ivan Slovic · 12 min read
The Best US States for Hiking according to data

The Best U.S. States for Hiking, Based on Trails, Climate, and Safety

Hiking has become one of the most popular ways Americans connect with the outdoors and the interest is only growing. In 2022, 59.6 million people in the United States went hiking, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. What do you think, which U.S. state is the best for hiking? Stick around...

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By Ivan Slovic · 12 min read

Graphene - A New Frontier in Outdoor Apparel

Graphene, discovered in 2003 at the University of Manchester, is a groundbreaking material that’s reshaping multiple industries, most recently, outdoor apparel. This single layer of carbon atoms is 200 times stronger than steel, flexible, nearly transparent, and an excellent conductor of heat and...

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By Ivan Slovic · 6 min read
MEadow Lark Farms - Farm to Table Bella the Catering Bus

Meadow Lark Farms - Farm to Table

Lena Miller is the owner and operator of Meadow Lark Farm Dinners, a farm to table business specializing in connecting local communities with their farmers in Boulder, Colorado via shared meals. Lena and her team host weekly dinners for up to forty people on the farms that provide the produce. This...

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By Sam Brown · 5 min read
Raw creative - design and fabrication studio

Raw Creative - Design and Fabrication Studio

Raw Creative is a design and fabrication studio based in Denver, Colorado. Owners Mike and Breton blend a craftsman aesthetic with state-of-the-art digital tooling and automation to bring their complex wood, concrete and steel creations to life.  Raw Creative In a modern age where almost everyone...

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By Sam Brown · 3 min read
To the mountains and back - a ski-maker in KUHL Clothing

Igneous Skis: To the Mountains and Back

How does someone testing robots in Antarctica to locate meteorites start making custom skis in Wyoming? It began on the ski hill.

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By Sam Brown · 6 min read
Claudio and Carlin in their four mud-stained four wheeler out in the backcountry

Food, Fire, Freedom

Carlin is a dietician and passionate cook. Her husband, Claudio, is a talented photographer. Together they form a dynamic duo nourished by the freedom of the outdoors — surfing rivers, chasing powder and riding trails in their Canadian playground. Carlin’s food and Claudio’s photos both capture the...

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By Sam Brown · 4 min read
Christy The Hat Maker

An Ethic That's Earned

Meet Christy Sing Robertson the owner of Sing Hat Company, a custom hat company based in Jackson, Wyoming.

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By Sam Brown · 5 min read
Best Hikes in Pinnacles National Park 9

U.S. National Parks Safety Index (2024)

Dear outdoor enthusiasts, last year we conducted an in-depth safety analysis of our beloved national parks to identify the safest and the “most dangerous” ones. Now, with 2024 coming to a close and new data now available, it’s time to see if the rankings have changed. The goal of our research is to...

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By Ivan Slovic · 18 min read

The Power of Wax

WAXED COATED PERFORMANCE Whether an outdoor enthusiast or city commuter, experience a whole new level of comfort with the natural performance of waxed apparel. This timeless technology sheds wind and water with ease, increases overall durability, and echoes every experience from the first wear to...

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By Emily Leikam · 4 min read
Homemade Electrolyte Drink fi

Homemade Electrolyte Drink - KÜHL’s Guide to DIY Beverage

Homemade electrolyte drinks are the unsung hero of today's fitness-conscious and health-centric society. These DIY drinks can deliver much-needed minerals and hydration right when your body needs them the most. Be it an intense workout session, a strenuous hike or just a way to beat the summer heat...

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By Emily Leikam · 13 min read

RECENT POSTS

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Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier, an active volcano in Washington State, looks deceptively simple on a map. One mountain, one name, one park boundary. Then you start...

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Aerial view of city buildings during daytime at Long Beach, CA, the most nature deprived city in the US

The Nature Deficit Index: How American Cities Are Losing Access to the Outdoors

In her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs challenged the prevailing view that a city’s success should be measured solely by...

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Best Things to Do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

If you're looking for the best things to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota, this place delivers something most parks don...

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How to Wash Merino Wool Without Ruining Your Gear

You just got back from the trail. Your merino base layer is caked with dried mud along the cuffs, salt-ringed at the collar, and it smells like a full...

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Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park looks simple at first glance, but planning a trip here gets overwhelming fast. Nearly every viewpoint sits along the same...

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Best Things to Do in Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park is one of America's most remote natural treasures. Planning a trip to a high-altitude desert environment can feel...

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Best and Worst States for July 4th: Data Reveals Big Surprises - it's not Florida

New Data Reveals the Best (and Worst) States for an Outdoor Independence Day

Every July 4th, the American republic executes a singular, cross-state ritual: we move the kitchen outside to spend time with those who we care about...

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Best Things to Do in Congaree National Park

Most people think of national parks and picture jagged peaks or desert canyons. Congaree National Park flips that script entirely. Located in South...

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How to Use a Compass – The Modern Adventurer’s Guide

We’ve seen an unsettling trend lately whereby people get themselves lost at a remote trailhead, nervously watching as their smartphone battery quickly...

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Best Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park

Standing at the edge of the canyon and looking down into the 800-year-old Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings changes how you view history. The stone...

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Sargassum, Beach Clubs, Cenotes, and What to Expect Tulum still gets packaged as a clean, predictable beach trip. White sand, turquoise water, jungle...

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Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park

North America's tallest dunes sitting directly beneath the jagged, snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains create a landscape that almost feels surreal...

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Travel

Adventures in Asia: 3 Weeks, 5 Countries

by Ryan Rivera and Maggie Chan.

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LOCATION GUIDES

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Glacier National Park FI

Top Glacier National Park Camping Spots

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Rock Creek Trail Guide FI

Rock Creek Trail Guide

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Explore the Wonders of Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park FI

Nature's Steaming Wonder: Yellowstone's Hot Springs

Yellowstone National Park, a natural treasure spanning over 3,500 square miles and spreading across the states of Wyoming, Montana...

Location Guides

Mountain Culture®

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Wellness

How To Grow Herbs Indoors at Home: Easy Tips for Basil, Mint and More

Learning how to grow herbs indoors is one of the easiest ways to keep fresh, well, herbs, at arms reach. An indoor herb garden not only saves you money at the grocery store but also ensures you always have healthy, and (hopefully) chemical-free ingredients on hand. The classic indoor staple herbs...

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How To Grow Herbs Indoors at Home: Easy Tips for Basil, Mint and More fi

LODGING & CAMPING

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Experience the Northern Lights in Alaska: An Insider’s Guide

It’s a cold, black night with a brisk wind tickling your face. The ground is delicately kissed by new snowfall. The moon is resting beyond the clouds...

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Trees and Treehouse Lodging Cabins in USA

Zzz's in the Trees - 4 Epic Treehouse Lodgings

Forget what you think you know about treehouses. These aren't the rickety playhouses of your childhood; they're upscale, up in the trees, and out of...

AdventureTravelLodging & Camping