My Latest Adventures
A Look Back at 2020: 250+ Phrases That Describe This Year
Early on in the year 2020 when the pandemic began silently taking its toll on the world, I started making a list of things that we lost either temporarily or permanently. Even though we all hoped and expected that things would get back to normal much more quickly, it was still clear by spring that […]
100 Ways to Enjoy the Grand Canyon
2019 marked the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Canyon becoming a National Park. Now that we’re into the next 100 years of this amazing place here are 100 ways to enjoy the Grand Canyon in the months and years to come. Be sure to visit the Grand Canyon National Park website here for the latest […]
10 Unique Slow Travel Experiences Around the World
What is slow travel? Slow travel is the experience of immersing yourself in the local culture to learn something new at your chosen destination. It emphasizes connecting with the locals to learn about who they are and what makes them unique in the world. Sometimes our lives are simply too busy and slow travel encourages […]
Ikea Hack Map Table DIY
The weather is starting to cool down and I was feeling creative, so I finally completed this Ikea Hack – Map Table DIY that I’ve been thinking about for months. It was either too hot, humid, or rainy to get the initial spray painting done outside during the summer. This map-covered tabletop is a great […]
Missouri’s Best Foods, Parks & Road Trip Fun
On Day 3 of my crazy cross-country road trip, I drove from Cahokia, Illinois to Manhattan, Kansas. It was a pretty short driving day at about 5 1/2 hours. The majority of my day was spent driving across the state of Missouri. Here are some fun things that I found along the way, as well […]
Best Sources For Free Paper Maps for Travel & Crafts
Paper maps are slowly being replaced by maps online, but you can still find a good supply if you know where to look. Do you prefer to have something of quality that you can hold in your hands? You might be wondering where you can find these paper maps. I thought I’d share a few […]
My Crazy Cross-Country Road Trip Songs and Artists
If you’ve never been on a solo cross-country road trip you may wonder how you can fill your time in the hours and hours of driving without getting too distracted from the road. The good news is that there are many options, including exploring fun road trip songs, podcasts, news, comedy, sports, audiobooks and so […]
Day 2 – My Crazy Cross-Country Road Trip – Kentucky State Parks
On the 2nd day of the trip, I drove about 500 miles from Charleston, West Virginia to Cahokia, Illinois. I went through the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois and landed just across the river from St. Louis, Missouri. It was about an 8-hour drive with a couple of short detours. I made […]
Day 1 – Charleston WV on My Crazy Cross-Country Road Trip
Hi there! If you haven’t read about why I went on this crazy road trip, you can find the beginning of the story here. The first day of the journey ended in Charleston, (WV) West Virginia and this post is about Day 1. While I was on the road I didn’t have much time to […]
My Crazy Cross-Country Road Trip Apps and Tools
Hey there! How’s life where you are? While I’m getting ready for my big trip I thought I’d share a little about my favorite road trip apps, helpful planning tips, and tools. Have you had a chance to read about my crazy summer road trip of 2020? If not, learn about it here, and come […]
My Crazy Cross-Country Road Trip – Planning
Who is crazy/stupid/reckless/irresponsible enough to plan a cross-country road trip in the middle of a pandemic? Well, while I don’t consider myself to be any of those things, the answer is a bit complicated…so here goes. I live in Virginia and I have a family member that lives in Arizona. For a variety of reasons, […]
20 Cool Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
We recently spent a week relaxing and exploring in Northwestern Virginia (USA) – in and around Shenandoah National Park. We stayed in the Shenandoah Valley just west of the park, not far from the border of West Virginia. If you’re planning a trip to this gorgeous corner of Virginia here are just a few of […]
Travel Bloggers’ Picks for Budget-Friendly Restaurants With a View
Do you remember my recent post about restaurants with a view in Podstrana, Croatia? Great weather always makes me long to be outside and today I’m sharing budget-friendly recommendations for amazing restaurants with a view along with relaxing outdoor dining. What could be more perfect for enjoying the summer? Some of my travel blogger friends […]
It’s Never Too Late to Do the Right Thing
The older I get and the more I learn, the more thankful I am that it’s never too late to do the right thing. Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing that we’re too old to change. That it’s ok to be set in our ways. That is absolutely never true. We only stop learning, growing, […]
5 Life Lesson Quotes You Can’t Live Without
Many times I find myself going through the motions of life, not really finding much momentum toward goals, interests, projects or even purpose…as if my setting is neutral. Not the good kind of neutral, that’s not biased in a negative way. The “neutral” like the one on the gearshift of your car. That gear that […]
Volunteer Photography Travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Do you realize that you have unique skills and talents that can be used to help others? Have you thought about helping your favorite non-profit organization through volunteer photography travel? Do you have a charity that serves others in a location other than your own town? If so, you may be able to find ways […]
Helping Others by Packing For a Purpose
I’m always on the lookout for new ideas for ways of helping others and “Traveling with Purpose”. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised by where I find new material. Recently I was reading a copy of the Costco Connection member magazine and discovered an awesome non-profit organization. “Pack for a Purpose” focuses on helping others by matching […]
Find the Best Airfare Deals Anytime, Anywhere (2020)
Have you seen Kayak.com‘s amazing airfare “Explore” Tool? It’s the easiest way I’ve found to discover the best airfare deals, especially when you’re not sure where or when you want to go. This tool, for the true adventurer, allows you to enter minimal information and come up with relevant and helpful results. Do you want […]
5 Important Tips for Travelers at Any Stage
Have you dreamed of traveling the world, but were too intimidated or afraid to take the first step? Are you a beginner traveler that’s overwhelmed by the logistics involved in planning a trip? Here are 5 important tips for travelers whether you’re a beginner or a more seasoned wanderer. I recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime […]
Giving Back to the Planet With Wilderness Volunteers
Did you know that last year nearly 327 MILLION people from all corners of the globe visited America’s National Parks? I believe that’s because the United States (via the National Parks System) has set aside some of the most spectacular natural and historical locations on the planet and they’re right in your backyard. With recent budget […]
