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June 1, 2021

Visiting Mount Rushmore in 2026: An Honest Guide

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

May 8, 2021

The 12 Best Lobster Rolls In Maine

Best Maine lobster rolls guide - McLoon's Lobster Shack in Spruce Head, Maine, with its iconic red waterfront building, hand-painted lobster sign, Adirondack chairs, and working lobster boats moored in the harbor. McLoon's Lobster Shack is one of the most scenic and beloved lobster pounds on the mid-coast Maine shore, offering fresh steamed lobster and lobster rolls with unbeatable waterfront views. A top destination for anyone exploring the Maine coast between Rockland and Bar Harbor.

You won’t find lobster shacks in short supply while visiting coastal Maine, but not all lobster rolls are created equally. After years of dedicated “research” (aka eating my weight in lobster), I consider myself a lobster roll connoisseur at this point. I’ve had A LOT of lobster rolls, from Portland to Bar Harbor, Kennebunkport to Acadia. Some forgettable, some life-changing.

April 17, 2021

13 Fun Things To Do In Livingston​, Montana

With the Absaroka mountains as a dramatic backdrop and the Yellowstone River running right through the town, Livingston is absolutely one of the most beautiful small towns in America…

March 20, 2021

One Day In Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is such an extraordinary place that you will want to see everything! This guide is for you if you only have one day in Yellowstone…

November 6, 2020

When Skyline Drive Is Closed At Shenandoah

Learn from my mistake! Here are a few ideas for things you can do if the Skyline Drive inside Shenandoah National Park is closed during your winter visit…

August 28, 2020

Easy Fall Hikes In Rocky Mountain National Park

If you are looking into hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park this fall…Look no further…

August 10, 2020

One Day in Cherokee, North Carolina

Don’t skip Cherokee, North Carolina on your next trip to Great Smoky Mountains 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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Let's be friends! I know e-mails can suck but mine won't and I promise cute pup photos too!

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Recent Posts

  • The Complete Guide To Getting Out On Frenchmans Bay
  • The Best Sunset Spots in Acadia National Park
  • One Day In Acadia With Dogs: A Local’s Itinerary
  • Where To Get The Best Lobster On Mount Desert Island
  • Dog Friendly Acadia National Park: The Ultimate 2026 Guide

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  • National Park Love

Reader Favorites

Schoodic Peninsula sunset in Acadia National Park Maine - wide panoramic view of orange and lavender sky over the Atlantic Ocean from pink granite ledges, with windswept spruce trees and the silhouette of Mount Desert Island on the horizon, capturing the stunning coastal scenery of the Schoodic District and why the Schoodic Peninsula is one of the most beautiful and least crowded areas of Acadia National Park

The Complete Guide to Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park

18 Best Things to Do in Bar Harbor, Maine - sunset over a tranquil harbor near Acadia National Park captures the magic of Maine's coast, from lobster boats at anchor to pink granite shores and golden skies

The 18 Best Things to Do in Bar Harbor, Maine

One Day in Badlands National Park: The Perfect Itinerary

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One day in Rocky Mountain isn’t enough. Here’s how One day in Rocky Mountain isn’t enough. Here’s how to make it count anyway

If you’ve only got 24 hours, here’s the play:

Book first. Bear Lake Road needs its own permit, they sell out, so grab them early on recreation.gov.

Then: start before the crowds and the afternoon storms, hit the overlooks along Trail Ridge Road, do Bear Lake + Alberta Falls (if you get a permit), and break for the smoked pheasant chowder at @birdandjim in Estes Park (genuinely one of the best things I’ve eaten on the road).

End at Sprague Lake when the light goes gold.

Save this now so you’re not Googling “easy hikes Rocky Mountain” from the trailhead with one bar of service.
turns out “doing nothing” in a national park is th turns out “doing nothing” in a national park is the most I’ve ever felt like myself. 🦌
old water, older trees, and a sky doing its best w old water, older trees, and a sky doing its best work right before dark. some places make you feel like a guest in something ancient. this is one. 🌅

📍 Wakulla Springs, FL
Lamar Valley is where Yellowstone stops being a po Lamar Valley is where Yellowstone stops being a postcard and starts being a nature docuseries. Bison traffic jams, wolves you have to squint for, elk drama at dawn. 🐺

🚫 Please make sure to keep your distance. All photos were taken with a zoom lens. 

📍✨Save this for your trip to Yellowstone so you can come back and brag about how many animals you got to see 😉
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 🔨💎✨
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