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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!

October 19, 2021

The Most Dog Friendly National Parks

If you’ve traveled to many National Parks with your pups, then you know that in general, they are not very dog-friendly…

October 12, 2021

One Day Of Chasing Waterfalls On The Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a wild and wonderful escape, but if I’m being totally honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t anticipating anything extraordinary, but the UP absolutely blew me away.  There are more than 300 waterfalls scattered across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and it is home to all of the waterfalls in the Great Lakes State except for one…

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…

July 15, 2021

16 Tips For Traveling With Dogs

Traveling with your dog(s) can be a great experience (for both of you) with just a little extra planning. If you know me, then you know that I take my Huskies, Loki & Freya with me all the time. I started training both of them early to be ok with travel and to be adaptable to changing environments, and I’m glad I did…

May 29, 2021

11 Dog Friendly Adventures At Shenandoah

With over 200,000 acres, Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and fields of wildflowers.There’s so much to explore and it seems like the perfect place to explore with your dog(s), doesn’t it? But let’s find out, Is Shenandoah National Park Dog Friendly?…

May 25, 2021

10 Can’t Miss Dog Friendly Hikes at Acadia

5 hikes that you really don’t want to miss the next time you take your pups to Acadia National Park…

May 5, 2021

Dog Friendly Yellowstone National Park – Bringing Your Dog To Yellowstone

There is something special about Yellowstone, after all, this part of the Rockies is 75 million years old! There is so much to do and so many things to see that you may feel overwhelmed, and of course, you want to bring your furry best friend with you to experience all that the park has to offer! But the question remains, Is Yellowstone National Park Dog Friendly?…

April 6, 2021

Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park Dog Friendly?

Find out if Great Smoky Mountains is dog friendly and 12 fun things to do with your pups near the park…

April 1, 2021

Camping At Acadia: The Complete Guide

Everything you ever wanted to know about camping at Acadia National Park with dogs…

March 16, 2021

Is Rocky Mountain National Park Dog Friendly?

Rocky Mountain National Park is a really special place and it would be awesome if you could share it with your pups! But is Rocky Mountain National Park Dog Friendly?

February 20, 2021

Is Acadia National Park Dog Friendly?

Is Acadia National Park Dog Friendly? Find out here along with 12 fun things to do with pups at Acadia…

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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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  • Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains
  • The 15 Best Hikes In Utah
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If hoodoos had a VIP lounge, welcome to the one at If hoodoos had a VIP lounge, welcome to the one at Bryce Canyon National Park’s Wall Street! 

There’s something about Bryce Canyon that doesn’t feel real, it’s like Mother Nature had an extra cup of coffee and decided to show off. Hoodoos stacked like coral castles, light spilling through red rock cathedrals, and that one chipmunk who’s clearly the mayor of the trail. Bryce is hands down my favorite Utah National Park. 

I started down the Navajo Loop just after sunrise and somehow had the canyon almost to myself - the quiet only broken by the crunch of boots and the occasional “is this even real life?” moment. 

By the time I connected to the Queens Garden Trail, the world had gone from golden glow to full technicolor, and I was convinced this place might not be real. 

Save this for your Bryce Canyon bucket list, and if you’ve hiked Wall Street, tell me: were you team “stop every five feet for photos” or “pretend you’re in an Indiana Jones movie and power through”?

*These photos were taken in 2022
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?
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