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  • 2026 National Parks Guide: New Fees, Reservation Systems & Timed Entry Explained

    The 2026 national parks season brings the most significant policy changes in decades. International visitors now face a $250 annual pass fee (up from $80) plus $100 per-person surcharges at 11 major ...

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    2026 National Parks Guide: New Fees, Reservation Systems & Timed Entry Explained
  • 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

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National Parks

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January 27, 2026

2026 National Parks Guide: New Fees, Reservation Systems & Timed Entry Explained

Acadia National Park

The 2026 national parks season brings the most significant policy changes in decades. International visitors now face a $250 annual pass fee (up from $80) plus $100 per-person surcharges at 11 major parks—effective January 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Glacier National Park…

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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…

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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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Let's be friends! I know e-mails can suck but mine won't and I promise cute pup photos too!

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Recent Posts

  • 2026 National Parks Guide: New Fees, Reservation Systems & Timed Entry Explained
  • 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

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Windows down, volume up, angst out. Cheaper than t Windows down, volume up, angst out. Cheaper than therapy and way more scenic.
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#rvlife #fulltimerv #90srock #roadtrip #millennialnostalgia nomadlife altgirlaesthetic liveontheroad
There are GIANT trolls hiding in the mountains of There are GIANT trolls hiding in the mountains of North Carolina 🌲🍄🪾✨

According to legend, trolls only reveal themselves to those who wander off the beaten path🌲 We stumbled upon something magical at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville ✨

Trolls: A Field Study is 12 giant troll sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, all made from reclaimed wood like fallen branches and pallets.

Six trolls are tucked into the gardens (wheelchair accessible!) and six more are hidden along the trails. Each one has its own personality and they’re all here to “study” humans 🫶

📍 The North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville NC
⏰ Only here until February 17 
🎟️ Included with regular parking fee (no tickets needed!) $20 
🐕 Dog-friendly!

✨❄️Save this if you’re planning a Blue Ridge trip this winter 👇
This might be my favorite sunset spot in @acadianp This might be my favorite sunset spot in @acadianps…☀️
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

Pretty Marsh is (IMO) the best sunset spot in all of Acadia. Hands down. 

No crowds. No parking drama. Just barnacle-studded rocks, gentle waves, and a sky that puts on a show. And loons calling in the dazzling golden hour. 

While everyone else fights for space at Bass Harbor Lighthouse or freaks out about getting a Cadillac reservation, this quiet western shore beach does its thing in near-solitude. The kind of place where you can actually hear the water lap against the stones.

And after an entire summer of trying? This is where I finally heard the loons. That haunting, echoey call drifting across the water as the sun dipped below the tree line. Worth every failed attempt.

Six months of Maine sunsets and this one still stops me in my tracks every time 👏👏👏

📍 Pretty Marsh, Acadia National Park

✨Save this for your Acadia trip, and trust me, you’ll want to skip the crowds and come here instead!
Hit shuffle and let 2005 take the wheel. Just cha Hit shuffle and let 2005 take the wheel.  Just chaos and bangers. The way it was meant to be.
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#rvlife #fulltimerv #ipodshuffle #2000smusic #millennialnostalgia roadtrip throwback nomadlife
3 dog-friendly hikes at Acadia that we come back t 3 dog-friendly hikes at Acadia that we come back to every time 🐾 Acadia is one of the most dog-friendly National Parks out there, and we got to spend 6 months exploring the park! 

These are our go-to’s when we’re hiking with Loki, Freya & Caly:
🥾 Flying Mountain - Short but stunning. You get rewarded with views of Somes Sound at the top without a ton of elevation gain. Perfect for dogs who want adventure without an all-day trek.

🥾 Ship Harbor Trail - Easy, flat, and absolutely gorgeous. This one loops along the rocky coastline and through the woods. Great for older dogs or if you just want a chill day.

🥾 Great Head Trail - One of our favorite views on the island, hands down. BUT, get there early. This trail gets packed with people and dogs. If you have a reactive pup, skip this one and come back solo.

✨ Bonus trails we love: Wonderland (another easy coastal walk) and Lower Hadlock Pond (peaceful and underrated).

Next week we’re sharing one of our absolute favorite Acadia hikes, and the views are unreal. Stay tuned 👀

Headed to Acadia this summer? Save this for your Acadia trip planning 📌
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