Image of the Great Smoky Mountains

12 Reasons to Visit Asheville, North Carolina

Over Memorial Day weekend this year, we visited Asheville, North Carolina. We’d heard good things about its natural areas and outdoor activities, proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (not to mention the Blue Ridge Parkway!), the Biltmore Estate, and its breweries and restaurants. It also happened to be over our eighth wedding anniversary, so we had fun celebrating that on this trip as well! … Continue reading 12 Reasons to Visit Asheville, North Carolina

Florida Road Trip

Florida Road Trip: 10 Days in Tampa, Miami, the Everglades & the Keys

This month we took an excellent trip to Florida. We flew to Tampa and drove all around southern Florida, hanging out at beaches, looking for wildlife, eating great food, watching sunsets, and taking a nice warm break from the harsh Minnesota winter! I wanted to share our itinerary so you can plan your own trip to Florida, so here’s a brief look at what we … Continue reading Florida Road Trip: 10 Days in Tampa, Miami, the Everglades & the Keys

Title image of couple and dog camping for Minnesota North Shore Autumn camping trip article

Autumn Camping Trip on Minnesota’s North Shore

Since international travel wasn’t safe or possible during most of this year, we decided to explore an area of our home state, Minnesota, a little more in-depth this September with a one-week camping trip along the North Shore along Lake Superior. We’d explored this area before, especially around the Duluth area, but hadn’t done a camping trip before. The third week of September was a … Continue reading Autumn Camping Trip on Minnesota’s North Shore

Tips for Attending Bonneville Speed Week

Last year was my second year attending Bonneville Speed Week as a spectator, and I wanted to write up this quick post on my top tips for those who are attending this year. I think you’ll find it especially helpful if you haven’t been before! 1. Get some info when you get your button or pass Everything that goes on at Speed Week can make … Continue reading Tips for Attending Bonneville Speed Week

Bonneville Speed Week 2016

Bonneville Speed Week Travel Guide

When I was researching for our trip out to Bonneville Speed Week, there weren’t many resources to help with planning, and I’ve since learned that some of the information was outdated or incorrect. Therefore I wanted to try my hand at an updated guide for those wishing to attend Bonneville Speed Week as spectators! What is Bonneville Speed Week? Speed Week is an event that … Continue reading Bonneville Speed Week Travel Guide

5 Fantastic Puerto Rico Day Trips

Fantastic Day Trips from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is known as the “Isle of Enchantment” (a nickname I completely support) but if you have more than a few days on the island and you don’t make it out of San Juan, you may miss out on some of its gems. The island is relatively small; no city is further than about a 2 hour drive from San Juan, and a lot … Continue reading Fantastic Day Trips from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Bonneville Speed Week 2016 Travel Video

Bonneville Speed Week Travel Video

Well, we made it back home from Bonneville Speed Week late Tuesday night, in one piece and remarkably unsunburnt. We had a great time, though to call it a “vacation” would be a stretch, and to call it relaxing or any word close to it would be an outright lie. There were, however, fast cars (some over 400mph!), not-as-fast-but-still-cool hot rods and vintage cars, lots … Continue reading Bonneville Speed Week Travel Video

12 Scenic Drives in the American West

After driving 4500 miles around the American West last August, I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite parts of the drive. We saw some really gorgeous parts of the country during those 10 days, and we’ve compiled a list of some of our very favorite drives–winding roads with gorgeous scenery, inspiring outlooks, and opportunities for viewing wildlife. A few of … Continue reading 12 Scenic Drives in the American West

Travel Video: Epic American Road Trip

Travel Video: Epic American Road Trip

10 days, 4500 miles, 9 states & 6 national parks A video I’ve compiled from clips taken during our “Epic American Road Trip” last year… includes some gorgeous drives through places like Zion National Park and the Bonneville Salt Flats, wildlife like bighorn sheep at Mt. Evans or bison at Yellowstone National Park, waterfalls like Shoshone Falls in Idaho or some of Yellowstone’s finest, and … Continue reading Travel Video: Epic American Road Trip

American West Road Trip Itinerary: 10 days, 9 states & 6 national parks

American West Road Trip: 10 Days, 9 States & 6 National Parks

In August 2015, Ryan and set off on a 4500-mile road trip through some of America’s greatest national parks and the American West’s most beautiful natural areas. We affectionately called it our “Epic American Road Trip”. We traversed nine states and visited six national parks over the ten days of our trip. I wanted to share a brief itinerary of what we saw and did … Continue reading American West Road Trip: 10 Days, 9 States & 6 National Parks