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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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January 11, 2022

14 Fun Things To Do In Asheville, North Carolina

One of the coolest small cities on the East Coast, Asheville has a relaxed boho vibe that I love! It’s weird and that’s just the way locals want to keep it. The city has a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and an insane number of craft breweries. Asheville is a refreshingly unique combination of hipster meets outdoor enthusiasts…

January 4, 2022

Top 10 Dog Friendly Destinations In The U.S. 2022

This list is perfect if you are new to traveling with dogs or a seasoned pro. One thing is for sure, you will remember a trip with your dogs forever! Check out these top 10 dog friendly destinations in the U.S. as you start making your travel plans for 2022…

December 28, 2021

Top 15 U.S. Destinations For 2022

The new year is coming fast! It’s an exciting time for new beginnings and a time to make good on that promise that you made yourself, you know the one, to travel more next year! Welcome 2022 with open arms, it’s time to start planning those epic 2022 trips…

December 14, 2021

Top 15 Holiday Things To Do In NYC

The holiday season is officially in full swing (with Queen Mariah’s Christmas blessing, of course). This post may be a little late but if you are looking for a last-minute trip to New York City to fully experience the holiday season, I’ve got you…

December 7, 2021

One Day At Christkindlmarkt In Bethlehem, PA

Is it a wonder that Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a hot spot during the Christmas season? This charming small town in the Lehigh Valley of PA is the home of both Lehigh College and Moravian University. Not just a college town this is known as “Christmas City” for good reason.

December 2, 2021

15 Books For Female Travelers

Looking for the perfect gifts for the female traveler in your life? Whether it’s for Christmas, birthday, or anniversary these books will be sure to spark her wanderlust and keep her dreaming of her next trip…

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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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