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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!

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…

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

14 Fun Things To Do In Cades Cove

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…

May 11, 2021

Roaring Forks: 11 Reasons To Visit

There are so many reasons to visit Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail on your next trip to the Smokies…

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…

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

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Summer in Acadia felt like a dream 🌊☀️✨ Six month Summer in Acadia felt like a dream 🌊☀️✨

Six months of salt air and spruce trees. Tide pools that made us feel small in the best way. Puffins just…existing out there like tiny well-dressed locals. Moss growing on everything.

We chased golden hour from rocky shorelines. Found wild roses blooming where the forest meets the sea. Hiked trails with the dogs until our legs gave out and theirs didn’t (as usual).

Maine didn’t just give us a summer. It gave us a pace of life we’re still trying to hold onto.

Missing this place a little extra today.

📍Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor, Maine
8 years of chaos, howls, and heart-stealing looks. 8 years of chaos, howls, and heart-stealing looks. Happy Birthday to the original menace, my little wolfie, my favorite clown - Loki turns 8 today and honestly, I don’t think any of us were prepared for a lifetime of this much personality. 🐾🎂

Here’s to more trails, more trouble, and more years of keeping us on our toes. We love you, my wild boy. 🖤

Also this and Killing In The Name Of are Loki’s theme songs and you’ll never convince me otherwise 😆😆
I know a place that doesn’t look or feel real 🤍 W I know a place that doesn’t look or feel real 🤍

White Sands is one of those places that doesn’t feel real until you’re standing in it. Miles of bright white gypsum dunes stretching in every direction -  no footprints, no crowds, just you and the most surreal landscape in the country.

If it’s not on your list yet, it should be. And it’s dog friendly!! 

📍 White Sands National Park, New Mexico 

Save this for later & drop a 🤍 if White Sands is on your bucket list!

👋 Hi, I’m Vanessa @thewellwornshoes - a full-time RVer chasing National Parks, dog-friendly trails, and golden hour from the road! I share the hidden gems and real side of life so you can skip the guesswork and get straight to the adventure!
Happy 114th Birthday To Arizona 🌵🏜️ 114 years ago Happy 114th Birthday To Arizona 🌵🏜️

114 years ago today, Arizona became the 48th state, and
I’ve spent time exploring three of its most iconic spots and honestly? No amount of photos will ever do this state justice.

☀️ Phoenix - where the desert feels like another planet (especially wandering through the Desert Botanical Garden)

🧡 Sedona - red rocks that make you forget whatever you were stressed about

🏜️ Grand Canyon - the kind of view that makes you sit down and just…breathe

Arizona was the last of the lower 48 to join the union, and it was worth the wait. From the cactus blooms to the sunsets that look fake but are very much real, this state doesn’t need a filter.

Happy 114, AZ. You’re the valentine we didn’t know we needed.

Save this for your Arizona trip planning 📌
We’ve been seeing bald eagles everywhere lately an We’ve been seeing bald eagles everywhere lately and I looked up what it means…🦅

Eagles symbolize strength, freedom, and new beginnings, a reminder to rise above and trust the path you’re on. A perched eagle is said to be an invitation to get quiet and check in with yourself before taking your next step. If that’s not a message for anyone out here building a life that looks different from the “plan,” I don’t know what is.

We found these two perched above the marshes at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, one of the oldest refuges in the country and one of the most peaceful places we’ve visited. No crowds, no chaos. Just salt air, Spanish moss, and eagles watching from the treetops.

📍 St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, FL

✨ Save this and add St. Marks to your Florida list, you won’t regret it!
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