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June 1, 2021

Is Mount Rushmore Worth The Trip?

Is Mount Rushmore worth the trip? Is it a National Treasure and should you visit? Find out here…

National Parks

EXPLORE THE PARKS National Park Guides Real itineraries from the parks I’ve actually visited, hiked, and explored, built for travelers who actually go. Start with the 2026 Fees & Reservations Guide The National Park Guides I Wish I’d Had I’ve…

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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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  • One Day In Acadia With Dogs: A Local’s Itinerary
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  • Dog Friendly Acadia National Park: The Ultimate 2026 Guide

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Utah has a mountain where you’re allowed to just…d Utah has a mountain where you’re allowed to just…dig for your own topaz. And somehow nobody talks about it.

Topaz Mountain is exactly what it sounds like, a stretch of high desert where you show up, pick a spot in the rhyolite, and crack rock until little crystals fall out. No guide, no fee, no gift shop. Just you, a hammer, and the slowly dawning realization that you’ve become a person who collects rocks on purpose.

Came home dusty, sunburned, and weirdly thrilled about a handful of crystals. 

10/10, would dilly-dally through the desert again.

📍 Save this for your Utah list 🔨💎✨
Bryce Canyon is the rare national park you can gen Bryce Canyon is the rare national park you can genuinely do a lot in one day! I only had 1 day at Bryce and here’s what I did…

Sunrise at Sunrise Point, the Queen’s Garden → Navajo loop down into the hoodoos, the overlooks at midday, and Silent City glowing at golden hour. That’s the whole day, no wasted miles.

📍 Save it for your trip to Utah 🏜️
(Fair warning: it’s the kind of place that ruins you a little for regular scenery 😉)
spent a summer on the Maine coast and now every ot spent a summer on the Maine coast and now every other place has to file a complaint 🌊🌲🦞⛵️
Everyone shows up to Airport Mesa with a tripod an Everyone shows up to Airport Mesa with a tripod and a plan. I showed up late as usual, sprinting to beat the sun ☀️ 

Went the wrong way on the trail, realized the sun was not going to wait for me, and full-on trail-ran the last stretch to catch it.

Made it with purple cheeks and maybe four minutes to spare. Sat down, tried to look like I hadn’t just hauled it up a mesa, watched the rocks go orange.

10/10. Would panic-jog again.

Save this for your Sedona list 📍 and send it to whoever you’d absolutely make run for a sunset
Arkansas, you got me. 🌲 Arkansas, you got me. 🌲
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