Erin Gifford

I am a Washington, DC-based travel & outdoor writer. My writing has appeared in USA Today's GoEscape, Chicago Tribune, AFAR.com, CNN.com, The Washington Post, LonelyPlanet.com, Parents, Family Circle, HGTV.com, TravelChannel.com, AAA Traveler Worldwise, Northern Virginia Magazine, Brides.com and AAA World. I also write about hiking in Virginia at GoHikeVirginia.com and have written three hiking guidebooks for Falcon Guides. When not seeking out new adventures, I'm crossing off the next state in my quest to run a half-marathon in all 50 states (so far, I've run in 34 states).

The Most Expensive Neighborhood in Every State in the USA

Got your sights set on a piece of pricey property? Even if you just want to window shop, we’ve got you covered. CashNetUSA recently scoured publicly available data on real estate website Zillow, then did a few calculations on their own, to identify the most upscale town, suburb or community in every single US state. Not only are we sharing these ritzy real estate towns with you, but we’ve got what you need to know about each community, including what there is to do, population data and other per

A Complete Guide to Visiting Shenandoah National Park

Covering 197,439 acres, Shenandoah National Park is a long stretch of land within Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains—as wide as 13 miles at points and narrower than one mile at others. Throughout all of it, lush rolling hills, breathtaking hollows, high peaks, and cascading waterfalls welcome visitors as they have since 1935 when the park was established (Shenandoah was one of the first parks created east of the Mississippi).

20 Ways to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

In 1992 the month of May was designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by then-President George H. W. Bush. The month has since evolved to become the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month). The month of May was chosen since it marks two key events, including the arrival of the first-known immigrants from Japan in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1969, which was built primarily by Chinese immigrants.

10 Pit Stops to Make on a Road Trip Along I-10 from Arizona to New Mexico

A road trip across Arizona may instantly conjure up images of Route 66, which cuts across the northern section of the state from east to west, but there’s another major thoroughfare that shouldn’t be overlooked—Interstate 10. This highway runs the length of the U.S., but a particular stretch between Tucson, Arizona, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, offers a pleasing mix of historic sites, state and national parks, and kitschy, gram-worthy stops.

The Rise of Trendy Food Halls

Nary a week goes by without a new food hall opening its doors, much to the delight of hungry diners eager for a tummy-pleasing meal but also keen on more than a slice of pizza or a basket of chicken tenders. So, what exactly is a food hall? Unlike at a food court, you won’t see a franchisee-run Sbarro or Taco Bell at a food hall. Instead, you’ll discover hyperlocal chef-driven eateries that offer a mash-up of the quick service of food courts and the innovative cuisine of buzzy restaurants.

20 Best Cities for Walking Your Dog

There are some cities that are just paws down better than others when you want to get your dog out for a mid-day stroll. They have more and better-rated hiking trails and walking paths, as well as more dog walkers. You know, when you can’t get your pup out on your own. LawnStarter gathered data for National Walk Your Dog Month (January), including accessibility to dog-friendly trails, quality of trails and dog parks, access to dog walkers and safety to come up with a ranking of the best US cit
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