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  • The Best Things To Do In Camden, Maine

    Charming, Coastal, Calming - Camden 2026 Guide There's a reason Camden is called the "Jewel of the Maine Coast." This picturesque harbor town feels like stepping into a postcard, complete with ...

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    The Best Things To Do In Camden, Maine
  • 6 Best Dog-Friendly National Parks to Visit This Winter

    (Where Your Dog Can Actually Hike the Trails!) Okay, let's talk about something that drives me absolutely crazy as a dog mom who loves National Parks. You know those "dog-friendly National ...

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    6 Best Dog-Friendly National Parks to Visit This Winter
  • Wildlife Watching in Cades Cove: Your Complete Animal Guide

    There's something absolutely magical about rounding a bend in Cades Cove and spotting a black bear ambling through the meadow or a family of deer grazing peacefully in the early morning mist. I've ...

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    Wildlife Watching in Cades Cove: Your Complete Animal Guide
  • Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains

    Updated May 2025 Planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains with your pup in tow? National Parks can be notoriously tricky when it comes to pet policies, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park ...

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    Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains

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December 26, 2025

The Best Things To Do In Camden, Maine

Camden, Maine is known as the ‘Jewel of the Maine Coast’ and for good reason! It is a picturesque town by the sea with a gorgeous harbor that you can imagine yourself enjoying on a daily basis.

December 23, 2025

6 Best Dog-Friendly National Parks to Visit This Winter

Okay, let’s talk about something that drives me absolutely crazy as a dog mom who loves National Parks…

August 8, 2025

Wildlife Watching in Cades Cove: Your Complete Animal Guide

There’s something absolutely magical about rounding a bend in Cades Cove and spotting a black bear ambling through the meadow or a family of deer grazing peacefully in the early morning mist. I’ve spent countless hours exploring this 11-mile loop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park…

May 19, 2025

Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains

Planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park with your furry friend? While many trails restrict dogs, the Smokies still offer several dog-friendly hikes and scenic drives perfect for adventurous pups and their humans. From easy riverside walks on the Oconaluftee River Trail to scenic drives like Cades Cove Loop Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, this guide covers the best pet-friendly trails and outdoor experiences to help you explore the Smokies together. Discover insider tips, local spots, and must-visit places to make your Smoky Mountains dog adventure unforgettable!

May 29, 2024

The 15 Best Hikes In Utah

Between the canyons swirled in orange, buttes, and otherworldly hoodoos, it’s a nature lovers’ paradise. Utah is home to 5 National Parks, including Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonland, Zion, and Capitol Reef…

March 26, 2024

One Day At Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a Utah gem, and there are so many beautiful sights and things to do that it can be overwhelming to figure out the best sights for a 1-day trip to the park.  As one of the most unique and popular parks in the United States, Zion offers something for everyone…

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Hi! I'm Vanessa, a 30 something, sunset chasing traveler. I'm here to inspire you to travel wherever, whenever, and with whoever you can. My Huskies, Loki and Freya are usually along for the ride. I have a soul that likes to wander, a desire to experience the unknown, and a curiousity to discover things off the beaten path. I hope you'll stick around for awhile!

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Recent Posts

  • The Best Things To Do In Camden, Maine
  • 6 Best Dog-Friendly National Parks to Visit This Winter
  • Wildlife Watching in Cades Cove: Your Complete Animal Guide
  • Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains
  • The 15 Best Hikes In Utah

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Big national park fee changes just went into effec Big national park fee changes just went into effect in 2026 🏞️

If you’re a U.S. resident, not much changes for you, America The Beautiful annual passes stay at $80 and entry fees remain the same.

🌎But if you’re traveling from outside the U.S. or have international friends/family visiting, here’s the deal: 
💰there’s now a $100 per-person surcharge (for ages 16+) at 11 of the most popular parks, and annual passes jumped to $250.

✨✨✨One tip: if your international visitors already have a 2025 pass, it’s still valid until it expires.

Do you think this is a fair move for protecting our parks? 👇
New Mexico wasn’t on my radar. I’ll be honest, I d New Mexico wasn’t on my radar. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from the Land of Enchantment. Happy 114th Birthday to the state of New Meixco 🧡

And then it completely stole my heart.

⛰️Cloudcroft? A tiny mountain town tucked in the pines where we said “I do.” 
🌅And Ruidoso surprised us with its laid-back charm and mountain air that makes you want to stay forever.
✨White Sands feels like stepping onto another planet. 

These aren’t the places people talk about when they talk about the Southwest. But maybe that’s exactly why they hit different.

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you almost skip.

📍 White Sands National Park, Cloudcroft & Ruidoso, New Mexico
Winter at Mesa Verde: beautiful…but read this firs Winter at Mesa Verde: beautiful…but read this first 🥶

Fewer crowds. Snow-dusted ruins. And yes, you can bring your dogs (kind of).

Here’s the honest truth about a winter visit:
🐾 Dogs are allowed on a few trails but most of the park is off-limits to pups
🚗 Roads into the park close in winter & chains may be required on icy days (we learned this one the hard way)
🏛️ No ranger-led tours down to the cliff dwellings — but the overlooks are still stunning

Is it the most dog-friendly national park? No.
Was it still worth the visit? Absolutely.

If you’re chasing solitude and don’t mind a little extra planning, winter is magic here.

Save this for your off-season Mesa Verde trip 📌

*Huskies are on 6 ft leads
This is Pretty Marsh, and it’s about to become you This is Pretty Marsh, and it’s about to become your new favorite spot in Acadia 🌲🌊

While everyone’s freaking out to get a reservation for a Cadillac Mountain sunset, this quiet little shoreline is out here delivering sunsets that genuinely made us stop talking mid-sentence. 

We stumbled on this place during our summer in Maine! The loons call across the water, the light goes golden, and for a minute you forget anyone else exists.

Go early enough to claim a spot on the rocks. Stay late enough to watch the stars come out.

📍 Save this for your Acadia itinerary 🌲🌊✨
Everyone fights for a spot on Cadillac Mountain. M Everyone fights for a spot on Cadillac Mountain. Meanwhile, we had this entire shoreline to ourselves. 🌅

Pretty Marsh is one of those places that doesn’t make the Acadia highlight reels, and honestly, that’s part of the magic. 

No crowds. No reservations systems. 

Just you, the rocks, and a sky that puts on a show every single night. And the loons - don’t even get my started on the loons 😍

Pro tip: Get there about 45 minutes before sunset. Bring a blanket, maybe some snacks, and just…stay awhile.

✨ Save this for your Maine or Acadia trip 📍
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