VIA Staff's blog

National Parks get a lot of attention. They are the divas and pop stars of the country’s parks. But often just as amazing and precious are our state parks, some of which may be almost literally at your back door.

Here’s a sampling of farms to get you out and pickin'. Call ahead to the individual farms to find out what juicy produce has come in.

While researching and writing VIA's story about historic hotels, I wasn't surprised to find that four of the five featured properties boasted great watering holes.

From early May to mid-June, visitors can see the park at its best with wildflowers, T-shirt weather, active wildlife, and mostly quiet roads.

A blogger eats his way through Granville Island, near downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.

The springtime pleasures of Phoenix, Ariz., lured writer Kristen Haney. Feted by the local visitors bureau, she embarked on a travel spree that included hiking, touring an olive mill, taste-testing beer, and playing strange musical instruments.

When I first walked into Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum, the plucking of discordant strings and the resonating thumps of a gong beckoned to me from a door down the hall.

Outdoor activities abound in Phoenix, but none capture the accessibility of nature quite like a springtime hike on one of the city’s many mountains.

The dry heat of the Sonoran desert makes Queen Creek, Ariz., a town neighboring Phoenix, seem like an unlikely place to find a flourishing olive farm. My misconceptions were dashed after a leisurely afternoon at Queen Creek Olive Mill.

When I think of foodie destinations, Arizona doesn’t typically leap to mind. But the southwestern dining scene is experiencing a shift in its culinary landscape.