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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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National Parks

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October 5, 2021

One Day At Acadia National Park With Dogs

Acadia National Park on the rocky and gorgeous coast of Maine is one of the most dog friendly National Parks in the United States. There are so many amazing places to explore and trails to hike with your pups…

September 28, 2021

The Stanley Hotel: Spirited Night Tour

While the Stanley Hotel in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado may be famous for its old world charm, it is also known as Stephen King’s inspiration for The Shining. King and his wife stayed the night in room 217 and The Stanley became the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in the book…

September 14, 2021

Vermont Fall Bucket List

Vermont is nothing short of spectacular during the fall season. It’s one of those states that makes you want to come back time and time again. Incredibly clean, stunningly beautiful, and friendly, there really isn’t anything about Vermont that isn’t amazing…

September 7, 2021

10 Fun Fall Festivals In Pennsylvania

The different trees in PA make it one of the best places to view foliage on the east coast (outside of New England).  But how do you choose from the massive list of festivals happening in September and October?…

August 31, 2021

The Best Dog Friendly Fall Hikes in New Hampshire

Heading to New England this fall? Is there anything better than fall in New England? Nope! The crisp air, the crunchy leaves, and all those gorgeous reds, oranges, and yellows. There is absolutely nothing better than being in the mountains in the fall…

August 24, 2021

10 Things To Do At Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in South Dakota may be one of the coolest places in the United States. Honestly, the name is a tribute to the people that lived in the Badlands before it was even a national park…

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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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