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May 29, 2024

The 15 Best Hikes In Utah

Between the canyons swirled in orange, buttes, and otherworldly hoodoos, it’s a nature lovers’ paradise. Utah is home to 5 National Parks, including Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonland, Zion, and Capitol Reef…

March 26, 2024

One Day At Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a Utah gem, and there are so many beautiful sights and things to do that it can be overwhelming to figure out the best sights for a 1-day trip to the park.  As one of the most unique and popular parks in the United States, Zion offers something for everyone…

February 27, 2024

Zion National Park Guide

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is one of the most visited parks in the Southwest, and it’s easy to see why! Although it’s on the smaller side in terms of Utah National Parks, at just 229 square miles, its awe-inspiring scenery makes it one of the most beloved National Parks in the United States.

August 30, 2022

Epic Sunrise and Sunset Spots On The Grand Canyons South Rim

Epic Sunrise and Sunset Grand Canyon South Rim

There’s a moment, right before the sun crests the horizon at the Grand Canyon, when it feels like everyone is holding their breath. The canyon walls shift from deep purple to burnt orange to brilliant gold, and you realize why 6 million people make the trip here every year.

July 5, 2022

5 Things Not To Miss On Your First Visit To The Grand Canyon

The First Timers Guide To Grand Canyon National Park

Iconic. Amazing. Breathtaking. All of these words describe the Grand Canyon perfectly. It’s one of those places where you can’t fathom how vast it is until you are standing in front of it, and even then you’ll find yourself saying, “wow!” every 5 seconds…

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…

November 9, 2021

3 Days On The Upper Peninsula

Honestly, the Upper Peninsula has something for everyone and you could spend weeks there without experiencing all that this amazing place has to offer…

November 2, 2021

The Eerie Ghost Town In The Smokies

In the lush valley, where Jake’s Creek and the Little River meet, you can find the magical Daisy Town…

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…

August 24, 2021

10 Best Things to Do at Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park might be one of the coolest, strangest, most underrated places in the entire country. The name says it all, for hundreds of years the Oglala Lakota called this harsh, otherworldly landscape mako sica, “bad land,” and the French fur trappers who came through agreed, dubbing it les mauvaises terres à traverser, “bad lands to traverse.” Standing out there, you get it instantly: no water, no shade, nothing but jagged spires for miles.

July 27, 2021

11 Must See Waterfalls In The Smokies

Looking for a waterfall hike in the Smokies? Check out these 11 Must See Waterfalls In Great Smoky Mountains…

July 20, 2021

Cades Cove: The Ultimate Guide to the Smokies’ Most Popular Valley

14 Fun Thing To Do In Cades Cove! Including to where to stay, where to eat, and what to do on your visit to Cades Cove…

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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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Everyone does Mount Desert Island - -> Want to esc Everyone does Mount Desert Island - -> Want to escape the crowds at Acadia? Go here instead…

Almost nobody drives the hour out to the Schoodic, the only part of Acadia on the mainland, and it got under 10% of the park’s 4 million-plus visits last year. Their loss.

Same pink granite, same crashing surf, a fraction of the people. And here’s the part that got me: from Schoodic Point you watch the sun set behind Cadillac Mountain, so you’re seeing Acadia from the outside. 

Ya know what else that means? No Cadillac reservation, no parking war, your park pass gets you in, and it’s entirely dog-friendly since the no-dogs trails are all back on the island.

✨Save this for your Acadia trip. What’s the most underrated corner of a park you’ve found?
Come for a sunset drive at T.R. with me 🌅 Theodore Come for a sunset drive at T.R. with me 🌅 Theodore Roosevelt at golden hour is wild horses in the road, bison under a rising moon, and badlands going pink, and somehow almost nobody’s here to see it.

It’s the most overlooked national park in the country, and after 3 years on the road it might be our favorite. Their loss.

The first photo might be one of my favorites I’ve ever taken. Watching this bison herd just do its thing as the final flicker of light left the park was something I’ll never forget. Even though the smoke swallowed the sunset, it was still a beautiful one! 

Save this for your someday trip, trust me, you don’t want to miss this one! 🦬🐎☀️🌙
kinda chic, if you ask me. Leaving a place better kinda chic, if you ask me.

Leaving a place better than you found it.

Keeping your distance from the wildlife.

Getting up before the sun and complaining about it like you didn’t set the alarm yourself.

Packing the long lens because getting closer is, in fact, not the move.

And somehow still thinking a dusty road, and a questionable gas station coffee counts as a pretty good day.

A little wild.
A little dusty.
Kinda chic.
Kinda feral.

And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🦬
6 months on Mount Desert Island taught me this: Ac 6 months on Mount Desert Island taught me this: Acadia is a completely different park depending on the time of year and the time of day 🦞✨ 

Steal my one perfect day at Acadia. 

But to be honest, in my opinion, Acadia deserves 4 or 5, and after six months here, I wrote down the rest for you! 

Comment Guide and I’ll send you a direct link or Comment lobster for the free Bar Harbor/Acadia Cheat Sheet 

If you’ve been to Acadia, what’s the one place you’d tell people not to miss?
Life lately, from the road 🛻 2,500-ish miles. Pen Life lately, from the road 🛻

2,500-ish miles. Pennsylvania in the rearview. Idaho finally under the tires. One truck that had several thoughts about the arrangement, not starting, but 🤷🏻‍♀️ what are ya gonna do? 

Somewhere in Theodore Roosevelt National Park we pulled over because we thought fog was rolling across the prairie. It wasn’t. It was one of the biggest bison herds we’ve ever seen.

We accidentally found the best burger of the trip because that’s how road food works. The ones with the lake view are just showing off.

Targhee and Bridger-Teton quietly reminded us that some of the best places never make the bucket lists.

And then there were the Tetons. We drove all that way and spent most of our visit admiring what can only be described as the concept of mountains through wildfire smoke. We’ll be back when they’re visible.

✅ Another place to call home for a little while.
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