OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

Pretzels, wine, and the river view—Hermann is my happy place. Anyone ever camped at the city park?

Worked at the lumber yard outside town back in 09. Paid in cash, splinters for days. Miss the fish tacos from that green food truck near the marina. And that’s the best coffee I ever had. Missin home.

Bring a jacket, even in July—seriously, it’s colder than my ex’s voicemail down there. The bats at sunset are wild, but the parking lot fills up fast. I got boxed in by an RV.

Drove the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway on a whim—absolutely gorgeous, and barely any crowds. Best burger of my life at a tiny diner in Hot Springs (still dreaming about it). Anyone camped at Sylvan Lake? Thinking about it for next summer.

T or C is my go-to recharge spot on I-25! I've soaked at every bathhouse in town, but Riverbend is hands-down the best—once saw a wild burro wade into the river there. Pro tip: hit up Passion Pie Cafe for dessert (get the baklava, trust me) and avoid the fudge shop if you're on a diet.

And yeah ...

Wallace is legendary! My grandpa worked in the mines—swore the ghosts there were real. We did the mine tour last summer, and the guide let us chip a piece of silver ore as a souvenir (don’t tell the feds). Oasis Bordello stories are worth the trip alone—ask about the “secret tunnel” if you get the ...

It rained sideways during the Svensk Hyllningsfest. Parade kept going, kids kept dancing. I hid under a giant Dala horse. Worth it.