1. Alaska: The Last Frontier

If you want to experience nature at its most wild and majestic, Alaska is the place to go. The largest and most sparsely populated state in the U.S. offers endless opportunities for hiking, from glaciers and fjords to mountains and forests. One of the most popular places to hike in Alaska is Kenai Fjords National Park, where you can see icebergs, whales, and seals along the coast, or explore the Harding Icefield Trail, a 8.2-mile round-trip hike that takes you to the edge of a massive ice sheet. Another must-see destination is Denali National Park, home to the highest peak in North America, Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). You can hike along the park road or venture into the backcountry for a more challenging and rewarding experience.

2. Arkansas: The Natural State

Arkansas may not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of hiking, but it has some hidden gems that will surprise you. The state is known for its diverse landscapes, from the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains to the Mississippi River Delta and the Hot Springs National Park. One of the best places to hike in Arkansas is the Buffalo National River, where you can enjoy scenic views of bluffs, waterfalls, and caves along the 36-mile Buffalo River Trail. Another highlight is the Whitaker Point Trail, a 3-mile round-trip hike that leads you to a stunning rock formation known as Hawksbill Crag, which offers panoramic views of the valley below.

3. Hawaii: The Aloha State

Hawaii is a paradise for hikers who love tropical scenery and exotic flora and fauna. The state consists of eight main islands, each with its own unique attractions and challenges. One of the most popular places to hike in Hawaii is Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, where you can witness the power and beauty of active volcanoes and lava flows. You can hike along the Halema'uma'u Trail, a 1-mile hike that descends 425 feet at the southern edge of Kīlauea Caldera and takes you through a rain forest. Another option is the Kīlauea Iki Trail, a 4-mile loop that crosses the floor of a solidified lava lake. If you're looking for more adventure, you can also hike to the summit of Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in the world when measured from its base on the ocean floor.

4. Utah: The Beehive State

Utah is a hiker's dream come true, with five national parks that showcase some of the most spectacular rock formations and landscapes in the world. You can hike among towering sandstone arches in Arches National Park, explore narrow slot canyons in Zion National Park, marvel at colorful hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park, traverse slickrock domes and fins in Canyonlands National Park, or climb to lofty viewpoints in Capitol Reef National Park. One of the most iconic hikes in Utah is Angels Landing in Zion National Park, a 5-mile round-trip hike that involves steep switchbacks and exposed ridges with chains for support. The reward is a breathtaking view of Zion Canyon from 1,488 feet above.

5. California: The Golden State

California has it all when it comes to hiking: mountains, deserts, beaches, forests, lakes, waterfalls, and more. You can hike among giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park, ascend to Mount Whitney (the highest peak in the contiguous U.S.), trek along the Pacific Crest Trail (a 2,650-mile trail that spans from Mexico to Canada), or explore the diverse ecosystems of Joshua Tree National Park. One of the most famous hikes in California is Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, a 14- to 16-mile round-trip hike that requires a permit and involves climbing up cables on a sheer granite face. The view from the top is worth every step.

These are just some of the best places to go hiking in the United States, but there are many more to discover and enjoy. So what are you waiting for?

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Owning a home is an exhilarating experience. Finally, you have something you can call your own. 

However, it isn’t without its challenges. Owning a home comes with monstrous pitfalls that can consume you wholesale if you make the wrong decisions. 

In other words, it’s high pressure. 

Fortunately, there are numerous steps you can take to prevent your home from wrecking your life. Here’s how to take the zen approach to being a property owner. 

Know Your Budget And Stick To It

Many homeowners feel stressed because of the financial pressures of owning a home. Therefore, before you buy a home, make sure you have a realistic budget that includes not only the mortgage payments, but also the taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and other expenses. Don't stretch yourself too thin by buying more houses than you can afford or taking on too much debt. Make sure you have money in the kitty for things like emergencies and unexpected repairs. 

Choose A Home That Suits Your Lifestyle

The next step is to choose a home that complements how you enjoy spending time. When you are looking for a home, think about what features are important to you and your family. Ask if you want to live in a quiet neighborhood, or somewhere closer to the middle of town. Consider if you want a modern home or one with a classic style. It really is up to you. 

Maintain Your Home Regularly

The next step to preventing stress (and unmitigated disasters) is to maintain your home regularly. A well-maintained home is not only more attractive and valuable but also more functional and safe.

Good routine maintenance checks include things like: 

• Cleaning

• Painting

• Fixing leaks

• Dealing with mold

• Replacing filters

Sorting out these problems now will prevent bigger problems from arising in the future and save time and money in the long run. 

Hire professionals for jobs you can’t do yourself. For instance, choose tile installers for new roofing or electricians to do the wiring. If you try to do it yourself, you might botch it, which will make your stress-related home issues even worse. 

Decorate With Care

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Remember that your home is your personal space where you can express yourself and create memories with your loved ones. Therefore, take your time to consider how you want your interiors to appear. Decorating your home can be a rewarding way to make it more cozy and inviting. It can also help you match your interiors to your mood. 

You don't have to spend a lot of money or follow trends to decorate your rooms. Just use your imagination and take cues from environments you enjoyed spending time in before. 

If you want, use Feng Shui principles. These are ideal for making you feel relaxed and happy in your environment. 

Make Your Home A Place You Enjoy

Lastly, focus on enjoying your home as much as possible. The ultimate goal of homeownership is to derive pleasure from your surroundings, not to make money or even provide shelter (as strange as that may sound).

When the temperature drops however, you might be especially vulnerable, just as much as when the temperature warms up. Companies such as Second Opinion Plumbing are there to help when a broken water pipe is the biggest problem you have that day, but you need to ensure that you can do everything possible before you call in the experts yourself. Knowing what to do can help you to reduce the damage to your home, which should be your biggest focus given that nobody wants to have to make an insurance claim. To avoid any of that disruption, here are some of the things that you could do when the pipe bursts.

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• Turn off the water. When you notice a pipe has burst you need to go to the main water valve in the home and shut it off immediately. Turn the valve clockwise or you can use the meter key. It really does help to know where the water valve is, so check your home handbook. You might also find it either in the basement, a crawlspace, in a utility cupboard, or under the kitchen sink. Some water valves are located on the street near the curb or sidewalk.

• Turn off the electricity. Once you've turned off the water valve, make sure you flip the switch on your electricity systems. Before you start cleaning up any water you need to make sure you're not going to give yourself a very big shock in a very bad way. Electrical panels are again usually in the basement, garage or a closet, and if water is blocking your path that leads to the breaker box you need to make sure that you call an electrician. You don't want to be responsible for potentially burning down your house!

• Drain out the remaining water from the system. Just because a pipe has burst somewhere in your house doesn't mean that all of the pipes are now empty. By turning on a faucet at any of the things in your home, you'll relieve the pressure and will drain out that remaining water so you'll prevent further damage or leaks happening.

• Call in the plumber. We've already mentioned an excellent company above, but this is where you would call the plumber. You want to do this before you need them for an emergency service, and not just because emergency services can have extra fees. They are the pros and they know exactly what to do in the event of a burst pipe and they know how to fix it. You can get the problem halfway there by using all of the tips we've already mentioned, but the plumber is the one who's going to finish the job.

• Clean up the water. After the plumber has done their bit, cleaning up the water could be the best thing that you do next. Toxic mold can be much worse to deal with than property damage, and you may never really get rid of it. Rent some industrial sized blowers and dehumidifiers and make sure that you call out a  professional company to get rid of the excess water.

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