Wanderlust Welcome
About The Well Worn Shoes
Three years on the road. As many National Parks as possible. Three dogs. One writer who actually goes.
Meet vanessa
Hi, I’m Vanessa, Writer, Traveler, and Dog Mom
Welcome to The Well Worn Shoes. I’m genuinely glad you’re here. I’ve spent the last three years living on the road full-time with my partner Brian and our three dogs, two huskies and a supermutt, who have very strong opinions about which trails are worth their time. In that time, we’ve crossed as many national parks as possible, put tens of thousands of miles on the odometer, and figured out the hard way which “pet-friendly” hotels actually mean it. The Well Worn Shoes is where I write all of it down: dog-friendly travel, national park guides, road trips, and the honest, unglamorous, occasionally muddy reality of life on the road.
If you’re here looking for dog-friendly travel tips, national park guides written by someone who’s actually hiked the trail, road trip itineraries with real driving times, or you just want to follow along as we figure out this whole nomad thing, you’re in the right place.
It’s nice to meet you. I hope you’ll stick around to see where these well-worn shoes are headed next. (See what I did there? I’ve been making that joke since 2019, and I’m not stopping now.)
THE HONEST PART
No content farm. No AI writing the guides. No team of ghostwriters churning out “10 Best” lists about places nobody visited. Every single post on this site is researched, traveled, photographed, and written by me, usually from a camp chair, often with a husky leaning on my laptop.
When I tell you the best sunrise spot at the Grand Canyon, it’s because I got up at 4 a.m. and froze for it. When I rank dog-friendly trails, it’s because Loki, Freya, and Caly tested them, paws on the ground. The guides take real time because the travel takes real time. I’d rather publish one post I actually lived than ten I Googled.
(We did plan for Brian to write some posts. Reader, it did not happen. He’s an excellent kayak guide and a deeply mediocre blogger, and we’ve all made peace with it.)
THE REAL STARS
Meet the Pack
Loki
Husky. Senior statesman of the pack. Believes every hike is improved by vocalizing his opinions about it. Has never once walked quietly past another dog and isn’t going to start now.
Freya
Husky. Six years old and full of sass, side-eye, and the most enthusiastic awooos every single morning. National park dog, beach dog, mountain dog, and ‘lay belly-up in the dirt’ dog, sometimes all in the same week.
Caly
Supermutt, adopted in El Paso, about to turn two, and absolutely certain she invented every trail she’s ever walked. The baby of the pack and the unofficial trail boss. Do not tell her she’s the smallest. She does not know.
THE OTHER HALF
Meet Brian
Salutations! I’m Brian, writing my mandatory bio.
I was born and raised in Colorado, living the #granolalife, summiting all the 14ers, and shredding the gnar on the regular. Joined the Army after high school and put in 21 years. I love being outside and have spent most of my life dutifully building my skills to become a mediocre survivalist and outdoorsman. I view everything through the lens of how I could fish that water or hunt that land.
Now that I’m retired, I spend most of my income living like a homeless person…and I love it.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Where the Shoes Are Right Now
Three years in, we’re still at it, still in the RV, still three dogs deep, still chasing golden hour and good trout water. Right now, we’re in Central Arkansas, wrapping up Brian’s welding school experience. Caly’s about to turn two. Freya just turned six. Loki is aging like a fine, loud wine.
OUR SISTER SITE
Want the RV Side of the Story? Meet Well Worn Wheels.
The Well Worn Shoes is where I write about the places, the parks, the trails, the towns, the dogs. But people kept asking about the how: the trailer, the gear, where we park, what we got wrong, what we’d buy again. That’s a whole different kind of content, so it got its own home.
Well Worn Wheels is our RV site, full-time RV living, gear and setup, where we’ve stayed, and the honest lessons three years on the road will teach you. Same writer, same dogs, different toolset. Less house, more life.
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Come Along for the Ride
Trail-tested travel tips, new guides, the occasional cute dog photo, and a note about where we are now. No spam, I hate it as much as you do.
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The Well Worn Shoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, which means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) when you book or buy through links on this site. I only ever recommend gear and places I’ve actually used. See my full affiliate disclaimer for the details.
