The Well Worn Shoes

Wanderlust Welcome

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Disclaimer
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Destinations
    • Canada
    • United States
      • Mountain States
      • North East
      • South
      • Southwest
  • National Parks
    • National Park Guides
    • Is This National Park Dog Friendly?
  • Adventures
    • One Day In
    • Bucketlist Travel
    • Dog Friendly
    • Roadtrips
    • Travel Guides
    • Hiking
  • Digital Nomad Lifestyle
    • Camper Life
    • Honest Reviews: Campgrounds
    • Digital Nomads
  • Shop

Adventures


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!

Join the List

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

Connect

Recent Posts

  • 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
  • One Day At Zion National Park
  • Zion National Park Guide

Categories

  • Destinations
  • Tips & Tricks
  • History
  • Adventure
  • National Park Love

Reader Favorites

14 Fun Things To Do In Deadwood, SD

Is Rocky Mountain National Park Dog Friendly?

Epic Sunrise and Sunset Grand Canyon South Rim

Epic Sunrise and Sunset Spots On The Grand Canyon South Rim

On the Blog

  • Destinations
  • Tips & Tricks
  • History
  • Adventure
  • National Park Love

Join the List

The Well Worn Shoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Connect

Salem, Massachusetts – where spooky meets nostal Salem, Massachusetts – where spooky meets nostalgic ✨

If you grew up watching Hocus Pocus, you already know the Sanderson Sisters have a chokehold on Halloween vibes. But did you know most of the movie wasn’t even filmed in Salem? 😱

I’ve been obsessed with Hocus Pocus since 1993 (when 7-year-old me was crushing on Max Dennison), so naturally I had to hunt down every filming location in real life. 

From Max & Dani’s house to the Town Hall where Winnie belts “I Put a Spell on You,” this self-guided tour is the ultimate witchy walk down memory lane.

🧹 Want the map + checklist? Head to link in stories for your FREE guide and get ready to run amuck (amuck, amuck, amuck!) through Salem this Halloween.
It’s hard to put into words just how special thi It’s hard to put into words just how special this Maine summer was. From foggy paddles along rocky shores to fiery sunsets over Bar Harbor, this place has a way of slowing you down and pulling you in.

We chased lighthouses, watched puffins and seals pop up from the waves, devoured more lobster rolls than we’re willing to admit, and even found secret hidden spots in the middle of one of the busiest national parks in the country.

And the best part? We got to do it all with the dogs by our side, because Acadia and Bar Harbor are as dog-friendly as they are beautiful. 🐾🌊

We may be packing up for the next adventure, but something tells me Maine isn’t done with us yet. 💙

👉 Save this for your future summer plans -
because trust me, Maine is worth every second.
Where the day ends and the light lingers - Schoodi Where the day ends and the light lingers - Schoodic style 🫶

There’s something quietly spectacular about sunset on the Schoodic Peninsula - less crowds, no rush, just the sound of waves and the sky catching fire as the sun dips below the horizon. The rocks glow gold, the water softens into glass, and time seems to slow to the pace of the tide.

This side of Acadia often gets overlooked, but that’s exactly why it’s so special. It’s wilder, quieter, and the perfect place to end a Maine day with salty hair and a happy heart.

✨ Pro tip: Bring a picnic and stay past sunset - the twilight colors linger longer than you think, and they’re pure magic.
🍂 5 Can’t Miss Things To Do in Shenandoah Nat 🍂 5 Can’t Miss Things To Do in Shenandoah National Park This Fall (even after peak foliage)

There’s a moment in Shenandoah when the light hits the ridges just right…and time stands still. Shenandoah National Park is where the Blue Ridge Mountains put on their most dramatic show - fiery ridgelines, golden valleys, and trails that look like they were designed for leaf-peeping strolls. 

Here’s how to make the most of your visit:

🌄 1. Catch a sunrise on Skyline Drive
There’s nothing like watching the first light spill across a blaze of fall color. Try Tunnel Parking, Buck Hollow, Hazel Mountain, or Thorofare Mountain overlooks for that golden-hour magic.

🚗 2. Drive all 105 miles of Skyline Drive
This iconic road is the park. It runs the length of Shenandoah, serving up sweeping overlooks, picnic spots, and 72 chances to pull over and say “wow.”

🥾 3. Hit the trails
From short waterfall walks to summit climbs, Shenandoah is a hiker’s dream. Go classic with Dark Hollow Falls or Old Rag, or keep it dog-friendly with Hawksbill Summit, Lewis Falls, or Saddleback Mountain.

🐻 4. Watch for wildlife
Black bears and deer are most active at dawn and dusk this time of year - just keep a respectful distance (150 ft for bears, 75 ft for most other animals).

📸 5. Stop at as many overlooks as possible
With 72 overlooks along Skyline Drive, each one feels like its own postcard. Loft Mountain, Big Meadows, and Stony Man are standouts, and you will end up pulling over way more than you planned.

✨ Pro tip: Enter through a southern entrance (Swift Run or Rockfish Gap) to skip the worst of the traffic, and bring a picnic to enjoy at one of the many scenic pull-offs.

👉 Save this for your fall road trip plans and tell me in the comments: which one would you do first?
Sunrise feels a little sweeter when you know you’re running out of them in a certain place 🌅

One of our last mornings here, and Maine showed off. The sky turned to molten gold, the water stilled, and a flock of ducks drifted across the horizon - the kind of quiet, fleeting moment that makes you stop and breathe it all in.

There’s something special about catching a sunrise near the end of a season. It’s a reminder to slow down, to savor every last light-soaked minute before it’s time to pack up and move on.

👉 Save this for your someday- Maine trip - because, I promise, mornings like this are worth waking up early for!
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 The Well Worn Shoes · Theme by 17th Avenue