• I’ve traveled alone to all 63 US national parks and have picked up lots of tips along the way.
• Travelers should secure reservations ahead of time and visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds.
• I encourage solo travelers to take lots of pictures during their trip.

I spent my 30s traveling solo on a quest to visit all 63 major US national parks.

A decade later, I’ve accomplished this goal — and to say I’ve learned a lot would be an understatement. 

I’m frequently asked for tips for new visitors who want to make the most of their time in the parks. Of course, there is no one right way to travel, but several considerations will make a first-time trip much smoother.

Here are my 10 best tips for first-time visitors.

Don’t be afraid to go alone.

When I entered my 30s, I wanted to visit the Grand Canyon but had no one to go with. Instead of waiting for company, I went for it alone. 

That was just eight years ago, and now I’ve visited hundreds of NPS sites and all 50 states on my own. None of that would have happened if I hadn’t taken that first step solo. 

Research and secure reservations and permits ahead of time.

Like it or not, many of the most popular parks have implemented some form of reservation or timed-entry system in the past few years. 

Although it’s necessary to combat the overuse and degradation of pristine landscapes, some of the systems can be confusing. That’s why it’s vital to research the reservation process ahead of time and follow it closely. 

Visitors can — and will — be turned away at entrance stations without a reservation.

Arrive early (or late) for smaller crowds.

Visitation at some of the most iconic national parks has exploded, leading to frustrating crowds and congestion. 

To mitigate this, I always recommend entering a park early in the morning. If you’re not an early riser, later in the afternoon, when other visitors leave, is also a good time to explore.

Invest in an America the Beautiful Pass.

At just $80 for US residents, an America the Beautiful Pass grants you (and those in your vehicle) entry into all of the 63 major national parks.

It also covers the entry fees at lands managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers. 

With some parks charging entrance fees of $35 alone, just a few visits each year will recoup your investment.

Ask a park ranger for tips — and then ask a local what they’d do on their day off.

Park rangers are an incredible resource for planning your day. 

After I talk with them, I love to go into a gift shop or nearby restaurant and ask a local what they do in the park on their day off. Often, their recommendations lead me to places that are less crowded and more peaceful.

Respect and preserve the land.

It should go unsaid, but when visiting any park, you must always respect the land. Be considerate of others, of wildlife, and of the land itself. 

Becoming familiar with the seven Leave No Trace Principles is a fantastic way to minimize the impact on future generations.

Keep your itinerary fluid.

I’ve visited Glacier National Park four separate times, but due to wildlife and weather closures, I was only able to complete a hike I’ve had on my list during my last visit. 

Although national parks can seem like a natural Disneyland, it’s important to remember that you can’t control nature. Have some hikes and stops in mind, but also have backup plans in place.

Use social media as a resource for planning.

Although social media can be a bit of smoke and mirrors, it’s still one of my favorite resources for planning a national park trip. 

I love to search hashtags or location tags for the places I visit to find trails, overlooks, hotels, nearby shops, and restaurants. I typically save the posts to a folder or screenshot them for reference.

Don’t be shy with photos — your trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

When I started traveling solo to the parks, I was embarrassed to take photos of myself. 

I didn’t want to seem narcissistic, be seen setting up my tripod, or draw attention to the fact I was alone by asking others to snap a picture for me. I now regret not taking more photos and would love to be able to reflect on those special memories.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to check all the boxes — just enjoy the beauty.

Traveling can become stressful quickly, even when surrounded by nature’s beauty. In my experience, trying to fit too much into one trip or experience is a recipe for disaster.

Instead, my goal is to just enjoy the beauty. And if I do that, it’s all been worthwhile.

This story was originally published on September 24, 2023, and most recently updated on July 15, 2026.

• Lucid filed paperwork forcefully denying rumors of its bankruptcy.
• The company still finds itself in the EV “valley of death” — but says it has enough cash.
• Lucid is about to start production of its all-important, mass-market SUV.

Lucid Motors wants everyone to know it’s not going bankrupt.

On Tuesday, the luxury EV maker filed paperwork with the SEC, forcefully denying two articles from EVs.com that — citing anonymous sources — reported the company was considering bankruptcy or going private. The automaker also sent the publication a cease-and-desist letter demanding that it retract the reports.

Cláudio Afonso, the founder of EVs.com’s parent company, CARBA, told Business Insider that the company had responded to Lucid’s letter but declined to comment further.

“Lucid is not considering bankruptcy or a transaction to take the company private,” Silvio Napoli, the company’s recently-appointed CEO, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday. “Those reports are false. The Board did not explore either scenario. Period.”

Nick Twork, Lucid’s communications chief, also pushed back in a series of posts on X.

The reports have sent Saudi-backed Lucid’s shares on a wild ride this week. The stock price dropped from an opening of $5.53 on Tuesday to a midday low of around $2.40 following the articles. By Wednesday, the stock had largely recovered, rising more than 18%.

Lucid confirmed that it was working with AlixPartners, an advisory firm known for corporate turnarounds, but said the firm was helping improve its operations and execution — not preparing it for bankruptcy.

“My priority is clear: turn this company around,” Napoli wrote.

This moment is consequential for Lucid Motors. The company is still climbing through the so-called “valley of death,” where startup automakers burn through vast amounts of cash while trying to reach mass-market profitability. Last quarter, Lucid lost more than $1 billion.

During its May earnings call, an investor asked management about concerns that Lucid could eventually face bankruptcy. The company declined to address “market rumors or hypothetical strategic alternatives.”

Lucid said it ended the quarter with $3.2 billion in total liquidity and said subsequent financing would have raised that figure to about $4.7 billion on a pro forma basis — enough, the company now says, to fund operations well into 2027.

Lucid has gone through two major layoff events this year, including a 12% staffing cut in February and an 18% workforce reduction in June.

Napoli, who took over as CEO on June 1, has overseen major C-suite changes, too: The company eliminated the chief operating officer position held by Marc Winterhoff, the recent interim CEO. Chief financial officer Taoufiq Boussaid also left in July.

Lucid has struggled to build sales momentum for its current lineup. Lucid reported 3,953 deliveries, below an analyst estimate of about 5,000. It’s now offering massive incentives on its 2026 Gravity SUVs, including 0% financing for up to six years.

The biggest test is still coming

Right now, both of Lucid’s cars — the Air sedan and Gravity SUV — carry luxury prices.

The long-awaited Cosmos is supposed to change that. The midsize SUV is expected to enter production by the end of 2026 on a new platform that Lucid says will support vehicles starting below $50,000.

That would put Lucid into the heart of the American auto market — and one of its most competitive segments.

Rivian began delivering its R2 in June, while Tesla has continued expanding the Model Y lineup. The Cosmos will also compete against established electric SUVs, including the Toyota bZ, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Its gas-powered competition may be even tougher. The Honda CR-V was the country’s best-selling SUV during the first half of the year, while Toyota has been ramping production of its redesigned RAV4 amid tight supplies and strong demand.

Lucid plans to follow the Cosmos with a more rugged SUV called the Earth and has previewed a purpose-built robotaxi called the Lunar.

• Boston Dynamics is testing Spot, its robot dog, for delivering packages to your doorstep.
• Spot can take packages from delivery vans to houses, the company said Tuesday.
• It could bring automation to the “final frontier” of delivery, Boston Dynamics said.

Getting deliveries from a truck to your front door might soon involve a robot dog.

Robotics company Boston Dynamics is testing Spot, its canine-shaped robot, as a delivery worker that can ride along in trucks and hop out to leave packages at customers’ doorsteps.

The delivery-focused version of Spot includes a conveyor belt. A video posted by the company on Tuesday shows a human worker placing packages on the conveyor belt, followed by Spot walking up to houses and rotating the belt to set them down.

Robots are already carrying some deliveries most of the way to their destinations. Spot, though, is meant to tackle the last few feet of those deliveries — the “porch gap,” as Boston Dynamics calls it.

“So much of logistics is already automated, but we believe that the final frontier of logistics automation is that last 50 feet,” Marco da Silva, vice president and general manager for Spot at Boston Dynamics, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Boston Dynamics said it’s in talks with major logistics companies to test Spot for making deliveries. The robot has previously been used for other applications, from security to site inspections, Boston Dynamics said.

Loading deliveries into autonomous delivery vehicles and getting them from curbs to doorsteps are challenging, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said last year. It’s one aspect of the delivery that human workers can navigate more easily than robots can, Xu said.

DoorDash has been using Dot, its autonomous delivery robot, for some deliveries in Arizona. The stroller-sized robot is small enough to fit through doorframes and travel on surfaces where full-sized cars can’t — an advantage for picking up and delivering items directly to customers’ doors, DoorDash has said.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.

AI is redefining the work of software engineers, and fueling growth in a new crop of companies. The CEO of vibe-coding startup Emergent joins Business Insider’s Dan DeFrancesco for a live Q&A to discuss his company’s exponential growth. Mukund Jha also shares what he looks for when hiring software engineers, and how vibe coding is changing his industry.

• US forces are conducting strikes on Iran day and night following the collapse of the ceasefire.
• The attacks will continue to intensify in the coming days, Trump said.
• Iran has attacked commercial vessels and US allies in the Middle East in response.

The US military has been striking Iran for days now, and while most of the strikes have come at night, it executed the latest round of strikes in the middle of the day.

US forces have resumed combat operations against Iran after the collapse of a shaky ceasefire following repeated setbacks and impasses in negotiations, triggered by Iranian aggression and US retaliatory strikes.

US operations are targeting military installations and capabilities, particularly those that threaten civilian shipping and key waterways, namely the strategic Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said earlier this week that strikes would continue to intensify in the coming days.

On Wednesday, US Central Command, the combatant command overseeing the Middle East, said its forces had completed a round of strikes against Iran that began at 6 am ET, roughly 1:30 pm local time. It wrapped up in an hour and a half.

“CENTCOM launched precision munitions against coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during the 90-minute wave. The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said.

Greater Tunb Island is located in the Persian Gulf just west of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran seized it in 1971 from what would later become the United Arab Emirates.

A video published by CENTCOM showed one of Wednesday’s strikes against Iran. The command did not identify the specific target or the munition employed.

Trump declared the ceasefire over last Wednesday, effectively ending a fragile agreement that had failed to fully halt exchanges of fire between the US and Iran. That night, the US struck targets in Iran in what it said was an effort to degrade Tehran’s ability to threaten civilian shipping.

Attacks that followed from Saturday through Tuesday were carried out late or in the middle of the night in Iran. Now, the US is also striking during daylight hours.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight,” Trump told Fox News on Tuesday. “We’re gonna hit them really hard the night after.” The president has said that the strikes will continue until he determines it’s “enough.” He also warned that future targets could include power plants and bridges.

The US has said its new attacks on Iran are in response to Tehran’s attacks on vessels passing through the strait. In addition to strikes, US forces have also resumed the blockade of the strait.

While many strikes have been conventional, some others have been experimental. Earlier this week, CENTCOM announced it had used naval drones in combat for the first time, launching them against what appeared to be an unguarded submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. The Corsair uncrewed surface vessels hit the port, causing a massive explosion.

Iran has also been firing missiles and drones at US allies across the Middle East, including Bahrain and Kuwait.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement that “over the past seven days, Iran has intentionally targeted civilians across the region by attacking seven commercial ships, resulting in nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing, or injured.” He added that “Iranian forces have also launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries.”

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East over the blockade on Wednesday, and Tehran has vowed to continue its response to US strikes.

• Old Ebbitt Grill claims to be the capital’s oldest restaurant, with a history dating back to 1856.
• Located steps from the White House, the restaurant has reportedly hosted politicians and presidents.
• Its best-known offering is the oysters, which the Old Ebbitt Grill claims are “the safest in town.”

With America celebrating its 250th anniversary this summer, it was only fitting to visit one of the capital’s most historic establishments.

Old Ebbitt Grill, which traces its history to 1856, claims to be Washington, DC’s oldest restaurant and has reportedly hosted a variety of high-profile guests over the decades, including US presidents and lawmakers.

Although Old Ebbitt has occupied several addresses over its history, it has operated at its current location just steps from the White House since 1983.

The restaurant and its history are intertwined with the nation’s, and scenes from the capital city’s past can be found throughout the restaurant and its walls.

Take a look inside the oldest restaurant in Washington, DC.

Old Ebbitt Grill started out as a boarding-house saloon that attracted prominent figures.

According to the restaurant’s history, in 1856, innkeeper William E. Ebbitt purchased a boarding house in Washington, DC, that welcomed high-profile politicians and future presidents. William McKinley is believed to have resided there while in Congress.

The boarding house’s saloon bar was said to be a popular gathering destination for the capital’s elites — US presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding are believed to have visited the establishment.

The boarding house closed in 1925, and throughout the 20th century, the saloon relocated a few times to buildings on streets neighboring the White House and the Treasury Building. It moved to its current location in a Beaux-Arts building on 15th Street NW in 1983.

Today, the restaurant hosts a mix of lawmakers and Capitol Hill staffers, journalists, and tourists.

When I visited on a summer holiday weekend, the tourist presence was strong, overshadowing any mystique that the restaurant’s clientele may hold on weekdays.

While table reservations can be competitive, I was able to casually walk in and sit at the bar as a solo diner.

Inside, the restaurant is dark, and the ambiance is intimate.

The restaurant’s dimly lit interior with dark wood paneling is broken up by large oil paintings depicting classic Victorian scenes. The booths are lined with plush green velvet and surrounded by greenery, making each table feel intimate and providing diners, including high-profile patrons, with a sense of privacy.

The restaurant has four separate public bars and a private dining room downstairs.

The main bar is adjacent to the main dining room, separated by hand-carved glass panels depicting iconic government institutions: its neighboring White House, the Capitol, and the Treasury.

Tucked around the corner from the bustling main bar is the Oyster Bar, where patrons can watch the master shuckers work up close — this is where I opted to dine.

The third and most intimate bar is located to the left of the restaurant foyer, up marble steps, and a fourth bar is hidden in the back of the main dining room, providing a quieter experience than the front of the house.

The Cabinet Room, the restaurant’s private dining room where the most high-profile figures may opt to dine during their visits, is tucked away downstairs.

Toward the back, the restaurant’s oyster bar sits in a corner, adjacent to a full bar.

The Oyster Bar had the most empty seats during my early-dinnertime Saturday visit.

While I didn’t choose it with the oyster aspect in mind, I found it an exciting spot. Watching the shuckers work made oysters feel like the obvious choice for my meal.

I got started with the menu’s most popular drink and a side of fries.

When I asked the bartender what the most popular or signature drink was, he pointed to the Strawberry Fields ($16.99), which features vodka, prosecco, strawberry basil, soda, and lemon.

The drink was a rather basic, sweet, citrusy spritz cocktail that reminded me of strawberry lemonade in the summer.

I also got a side of fries ($5.99), which were thick and crunchy, and were the most filling part of my meal.

Instead of a traditional entrée, I opted to try some of the restaurant’s most notable offerings.

Beyond its history, there’s another thing Old Ebbitt is known for: its oysters.

The restaurant claims that every oyster hits the table within five minutes of shucking to ensure freshness, and that it sources from the “finest growers on both coasts.”

The menu also claims that these are “the safest oysters in town” and notes that the restaurant conducts lab tests on oysters from each of its suppliers’ farms at least every two months to ensure they meet the in-house safety standards, which it claims “are significantly higher than the FDA’s.”

A half-dozen oysters, which I ordered, costs $23.99 regularly, but drops to $15.99 during the restaurant’s daily happy hours between 3 and 5 p.m. and again after 11 p.m.

I ordered one of each of the six oyster types on the menu.

Shortly after I ordered them, the oysters came out, shucked and chilled, on a metal plate.

They were served with crackers, lemons, mignonette, and a cocktail sauce topped with horseradish.

The six varieties I got included the Smokey Bay from British Columbia, the Point Prim from Canada’s Malpeque Bay, and four Massachusetts varieties: the Duxbury Select and Standish Shore from Duxbury Bay, the Fiddler’s Cove from Falmouth, and the Wellfleet from Wellfleet Harbor.

The oysters were the best I’ve ever had.

As an oyster non-connoisseur and very casual enjoyer, these blew any others I’d previously had out of the water.

They were incredibly fresh, briny, and flavorful, with an interesting variety of flavors I wouldn’t have noticed unless comparing them to one another.

The bartender guided me through each oyster’s flavor profile, pointing out the West Coast oyster as the most distinctive, thanks in part to its smoky, sweeter profile.

For dessert, I went for the Key-lime pie at the bartender’s suggestion.

When the bartender heard me mention I’m from Florida to a woman sitting next to me, he suggested that I try the restaurant’s Key-lime pie ($11.99).

Other dessert options included peach cobbler, brownie with ice cream, carrot cake, peanut butter pie, chocolate chip bread pudding, truffle cake, crème brûlée, and ice cream.

A little overwhelmed with the number of options, I went with the bartender’s recommendation. I also felt the citrusy dessert would pair well with the oysters and the drink.

The pie was well-balanced, but I wished for a thicker crust.

The pie filling was well-balanced between tartness and sweetness, and the whipped cream added a fluffier counterpart to the rich custard.

I also found that the lime zest added a depth of flavor to the classic dessert.

I only wish I could’ve tasted more of the nutty crust, which was a little thinner than I had hoped.

Still, the dessert was a sweet ending to a long travel day.

As I ate, I enjoyed looking at the art on the walls.

Throughout the restaurant, paintings depicting unique images of the city’s history are showcased against dark wooden panels.

The art, dark wood furnishings, ornate chandeliers, floral decorations, and illuminated bottle displays give the restaurant a moody, intimate feel.

I ended up talking a lot to the woman sitting next to me. We were far from exchanging state secrets, but I could only imagine how many history-defining conversations must’ve taken place across Old Ebbitt’s various locations throughout the years.

While oysters are the restaurant’s crown jewel, its expansive menu is fit for long nights of conversation.

The full menu — which covers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert — includes local Mid-Atlantic seafood staples, American classics, and Mexican-, Italian-, and French-inspired dishes.

Some of the other menu highlights, many of which revolve around fresh New England seafood, include the jumbo lump crab cakes, the roasted trout, and the bacon-horseradish-glazed meatloaf.

From traditional entrées to burgers and tinned fish conservas to pair with drinks, the menu seems to cover every bite one might desire over many hours of conversation.

The kitchen stays open until 1 a.m. every day, a late-night feat that few restaurants can match.

After visiting, I understand why the Old Ebbitt Grill has remained a DC staple for decades.

From its central location and its expansive menu to its consistent late-night schedule, I understood how the Old Ebbitt Grill has endured.

Beyond its mystique and legend, the restaurant offers something far more important than an interesting history on the wall: It delivers a solid experience, whether you’re a Capitol Hill regular or a tourist on your first visit.

After tax and tip, my meal came to $79.13. While my dinner was on the lighter side, I felt the price was justified by the freshness and quality of the seafood and the level of care the staff showed.

It wasn’t the most luxurious fine-dining experience, but it felt elevated yet remained approachable for visitors like me who might be ready to decompress after a long day of walking around the capital.