Logistics of a Six-Day Utah Road Trip
I spent six days doing a Utah Road Trip in October 2022 with my friend Ashley. We had an awesome time and saw so much!! Utah is one of my favorite states after this trip. It’s so diverse and there
Exploring the Great Salt Lake in Utah
At the end of our Utah road trip, we explored the Great Salt Lake area. This lake (originally known as Lake Bonneville) once covered almost a quarter of the state of Utah. Several thousand years ago, the lake was almost
How to Spend One Day in the Capitol Reef Area
The fourth day of our Utah trip was mostly spent around the Capitol Reef area. We started our morning in Monument Valley and left shortly after sunrise to begin the four hour drive to Capitol Reef National Park. If you
24 Hours Around Monument Valley
Monument Valley had been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located on the Navajo Nation Reservation. When I think of the wild west, this is what it looks like. When
48 Hours in the Moab Area
On our recent Utah road trip in October 2022, my friend Ashley and I spent two action-packed days in the Moab area. We camped in Dead Horse Point State Park, visited two national parks, and more! ThursdayAfter flying into Salt Lake
My Favorite Hiking Gear
I've been hiking for many years and I have learned over time that quality gear pays for itself. If you are just getting into hiking, it may sound intimidating to spend thousands of dollars on nice gear. I recommend starting
30 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Hawaii
After nine days on three different islands of Hawaii, I'm already dreaming about visiting again one day. We spent three days in Oahu, two days in Kauai, and three days on the Big Island. Here are 30 of my favorite
Logistics of a 9-Day Trip to Hawaii
I had wished to visit Hawaii for as long as I can remember. However, I’d always put it on the backburner, as there were more international destinations I had ranked higher on my priority list. In early 2022, with Covid-19
Highlights from the Big Island of Hawaii
Our last stop on our Hawaii trip was the Big Island. The flight from Kauai ended up being delayed a bit, so we didn’t arrive until 7pm. We were very hungry and tired, so instead of going out to eat
How to Spend Two Days in Kauai
Our trip to Hawaii started with three awesome days in Oahu. Our next stop was Kauai! Kauai is nicknamed “the Garden Isle” due to its lush tropical rainforests. This is Hawaii’s oldest island and the least populated out of the
Three Day Itinerary for Oahu, Hawaii
I just got back from the most magical nine-day trip to Hawaii with my boyfriend Mike! This was my first trip to the Aloha State, and it did not disappoint. Since I had never been before, I wanted to see
Girls’ Getaway to Palm Springs
Palm Springs is the perfect location for a girls’ getaway. Located in the desert of southern California, it’s an amazing oasis to escape to. I traveled here with my friend Kelsey for my 30th birthday in December. We flew into
How to Spend One Day in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree is a popular national park in southern California, near Palm Springs. It is known for and named after its Joshua trees that look like they’re straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. However, I had no idea of
Hiking the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is one of my favorite national parks. Pictures just can't capture how epic the mountain is. I love how you can see it from so far away because of how massive it is. This trip would allow us to
Two Days in Seattle
Seattle is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and bodies of water. What’s not to love? My boyfriend Mike and I spent about five days in Washington at the end of September, with two of those days in Seattle. This
Five-Day Wyoming Hiking Trip Logistics
I traveled to Wyoming in August with one of my best friends to visit Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. I thought this was the perfect amount of time here to see a good amount of sights!ItineraryThursday 8/12:
How to Spend a Day in Jackson, WY
On our Tetons road trip, we spent about a day in the town of Jackson. This was a great place to fly in and out of, because of its close proximity to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. These
Three Days in Grand Teton National Park
I recently spent several days in the Teton mountain range and three of those days were in Grand Teton National Park. I thought this was the perfect amount of time to see everything we wanted. Our first full day was
Hiking to Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park
Delta Lake is a beautiful bright-blue alpine lake that sits at about 9000 feet in elevation in Grand Teton National Park. The hike to Delta Lake is about 8.3 miles round trip. Hikers will make a moderate to strenuous
One Day in Yellowstone National Park
My friend Ashley and I recently spent five days in the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming. One of those days was spent in Yellowstone National Park, the oldest national park (designated as such in 1872!). We flew into Jackson Hole on
Scenic Drive from Crater Lake to Portland
The drive from Crater Lake to Portland takes about 4.5 hours. On our way to Crater Lake, we drove on the less scenic route, going through Eugene. On our way back to Portland, we decided to take the route east
How to See Crater Lake National Park in 24 Hours
The main goal of my trip to Oregon with my dad was to visit Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake is about 4.5 hours south of Portland. It is located in the middle of nowhere. I’ve never felt so isolated
One Day in Portland
My dad and I just got back from a long weekend in Oregon. While we were there, we spent about a day in Portland. This is what we did!Pine State BiscuitsWe started our morning with breakfast at Pine State Biscuits.
Backpacking Grassy Ridge Bald
Carvers GapThe Grassy Ridge Bald hike starts from Carvers Gap, a popular trailhead along the Appalachian Trail. Carvers Gap is near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, about 1.5 hours north of Asheville. There is a fairly large parking
Favorite Hikes in North Georgia
I am so excited to share this post from my extensive research over the many years I've lived in Georgia. I've completed just about every popular trail in the Georgia mountains and these 11 are my absolute favorite hikes in
Weekend Trip to Hunting Island & Beaufort
I recently went on a weekend trip with one of my best friends, Anna, to South Carolina’s low country. We took her Airstream camper and set up camp at Hunting Island State Park, which is about 30 minutes east of
Day Trip From Sedona to Horseshoe Bend
In November, I spent three days in Arizona with two of my friends, Ashley and Kelsey. While we were in the Sedona area, Kelsey really wanted to check out Horseshoe Bend. It is located on the east rim of the
Highlights from Sedona
On my recent trip to Arizona, we based ourselves in Sedona for two nights. While we spent one of our days in Flagstaff and Horseshoe Bend, I would say we collectively spent about a day and a half in Sedona.
Hiking in Sedona
While we were in Sedona, we did two hikes. Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock are two of the most popular hikes in the area, and for good reason! Both were really cool, but I felt like Devil’s Bridge was a
How to Spend One Day in Scottsdale, Arizona
I recently got back from a short three-day trip to Arizona. On this trip, two of my girlfriends and I flew into Phoenix, and then made our way to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Scottsdale is a suburb of Phoenix
Itinerary & Logistics for Eight-Day Trip to South Central Alaska
Alaska is one of my favorite states I have been to. It was always on my bucket list, but with the pandemic restricting us from leaving the country and finding cheap flights, we thought this was the perfect time to
One Day in Denali National Park
Denali is unlike any other national park I’ve been to. The park encompasses 6 million acres of land in central Alaska and holds the tallest mountain in North America. This is the second biggest national park in America, second to
The Road to Denali
The drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park takes about four hours if you are driving straight through. While we did drive straight there on the way to Denali, we left ourselves a day to explore the area on the
The Kenai Peninsula
We spent the majority of our eight-day trip to Alaska in the Kenai Peninsula. This area is very easy to get to by car from Anchorage. I’ve included everything we did in the peninsula, including activities and restaurants we ate
Backpacking Harding Icefield
This was an amazing hike to the largest icefield entirely within the US! Harding Icefield is composed of 40 glaciers and spans over 1100 square miles. While you can see Exit Glacier from the drive in and other easier trails
One Full Day in Anchorage
I spent eight days in Alaska with my boyfriend Sam over the first week in September. We were originally planning on going to Italy this fall but with the pandemic, we had to change our plans. When I found extremely
Five-Day Washington State Trip Logistics
The logistics are the most important part of planning a trip in my eyes. How much money will you need? Where will you go exactly? How much time will you spend in each place? How will you get there?
One Day in Olympic National Park
The last park on our Washington trip was Olympic National Park. We camped in Enumclaw, WA Saturday night, and drove to Olympic Sunday morning. Our first stop was in Port Angeles, about a 2.5 hour’s drive from Enumclaw. We stopped
Hiking Mount Fremont Lookout in Mount Rainier National Park
The third day of our Washington trip was a long one! We left North Cascades National Park first thing in the morning and stopped in Seattle for lunch and to visit a few friends. From there, we drove south a
Two Days in North Cascades National Park
It’s been six months since I’ve traveled due to the pandemic, but I got a sweet reminder of what it feels like to be exploring new places last week. I traveled to Washington state with three friends. We flew into
Backpacking Black Balsam Knob
I recently completed a 9-mile backpacking trip in southwestern North Carolina with three friends. This is one of the prettiest and most scenic hikes I’ve done, and I was so happy we were backpacking overnight and not day hiking. My
The Best Hikes Near Atlanta
Atlanta is about a 1.5-2 hour’s drive to the Appalachian Mountains. While that’s an easy day or weekend trip to get to some of the best hikes in the Southeast, sometimes it’s necessary to stay closer to the city. While
How to Spend Two Days in Houston, Texas
I recently spent a weekend in Houston with my best friend from childhood, Emily. We got in late Friday night and hung out at our Airbnb and caught up. We stayed in the Montrose neighborhood and loved it! It’s a
Sequoia National Park Trip Logistics
I spent three days in California the third weekend of July with six friends. We spent the majority of that time in Sequoia National Park. This was my first time in the park and I was blown away!ItineraryFriday 7/19: Fly
An Afternoon in Santa Monica
We left Sequoia National Park around 11:30 am on Sunday. We had a 4.5 hour drive back to LA, with nothing planned for the day. Our flight wasn’t until 10:30 pm, so we had about half a day to spare.
Hiking The Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park
The Lakes Trail is a strenuous, long hike in Sequoia National Park. It is located near the Lodgepole Campground, which is where we were staying. The trail goes to one scenic overlook and three alpine lakes. The entire trail to
Easy Must-See Trails in Sequoia National Park
I just got back from spending two full days in Sequoia National Park with six friends. Sequoia is about 5 hours northeast of Los Angeles. Once in the park, we set up our tents and campsite at Lodgepole Campground. Then
18 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit the USA
In honor of our Independence Day, I've put together my favorite pictures around the United States that I've taken. Our country really is so diverse! For my American friends, enjoy our holiday!Zion National Park, UtahMinneapolis, MinnesotaAppalachian Trail, GeorgiaAustin, TexasBlue Ridge
One Day Itinerary for Minneapolis
I was in Minneapolis last month for a conference and I had one free day to explore the city. Read further to see what I did!Shop on Nicollet MallNicollet Mall is in the center of downtown. It’s a mile-long street
Cute Colorado Towns Near Denver
During my week in Colorado this spring, we didn’t actually spend much time in Denver. Instead, we spent our time hiking and exploring a few little towns west of Denver. Our home base was in Evergreen.EvergreenEvergreen is about 40
Exploring Red Rocks Amphitheater & Park
The Red Rocks Amphitheater is located in Morrison, Colorado, in the suburbs of Denver. The amphitheater is the only naturally perfectly acoustic amphitheater in the world. Anyone can go in and check out the amphitheater, and they have several trails
Hiking Denver’s Foothills
I recently spent a week in the suburbs of Denver. The first half of the week was in Evergreen. Evergreen is about 30 miles west of Denver, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. On our first day there, we
Weekend Itinerary for San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is a charming city with a good number of things to do. While your weekend will be filled with activities, it's easy to hit the highlights in just a couple days.Friday NightDinner at Boudro's Texas BistroBoudro’s is
How to Spend One Day in Asheville
My friends and I recently spent a weekend in a cabin near Asheville, NC. Our Friday night and Sunday morning were spent hanging out at the cabin, but on Saturday we had a full day of activities.Hike Bearwallow MountainBearwallow Mountain
How I Plan My Trips
Over the years, planning future trips has become one of my favorite hobbies. I wanted to share my planning process, as I frequently get questions like “where do I even start?” or “how do you not get overwhelmed?”My Ongoing Travel
Avalanche Lake and Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park
It was our last full day in Glacier National Park, and my feet were sore and blistered. I was ready to see more of the park though! We left our campsite in St. Mary’s Campground around 8:30 am and headed
Two Medicine in Glacier National Park
On our third day in Glacier, we had planned on hiking the Grinnell Glacier trail back in Many Glacier (where we were the previous day). However, there was still a major snow hazard about halfway through the trail. The group
Hiking Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
Cracker Lake was one of the coolest hikes I’ve ever done. But don’t underestimate it! If you hike all the way to the end of the lake, it is about 15 miles round trip. I loved this trail because the
Glacier National Park Trip Logistics
I just got back from a six-day trip to Glacier National Park in Montana! We flew into Kalispell and camped all week at St. Mary Campground.Getting ThereOur group of 7 was coming in from all over the country. The four
My Wintery Photo Tour of Central Maine
I spent a week in Maine for work in mid-March. I knew it would be cold, but I didn't know there would be a blizzard while I was there! We got over 20 inches of snow in two days. It
Bachelorette Weekend in Asheville
My friend Rachel is getting married, so to celebrate her bachelorette party, we went to Asheville, North Carolina! There were 15 of us, so we rented a large cabin in Montreat, about 20 minutes outside of Asheville.FridayThe first group
The Best Restaurants in Atlanta
I’ve lived in Atlanta for 7 years and have gone to a lot of restaurants over that time. Here are my all-time classic Atlanta faves!JCT Kitchen Location: West Midtown Type of food: Southern Restaurant atmosphere: The restaurant is a little hard to find
How to See New York City in a Weekend
My friend Joncel and I decided to have a sightseeing and shopping weekend in New York. I hadn’t been there in several years, so I wanted to see a lot that I either hadn’t seen before, or had forgotten about.
The Perfect Weekend Itinerary for Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas is such a fun and interesting city. This was my first trip and definitely won’t be my last! My friend Rasha lives here and is in grad school at UT. I was so glad I had her to
Day Trip Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
I recently visited my parents at their home in Charlotte for a weekend. As much as I love Charlotte, we really wanted to get out of town and experience some nature. This was a very spontaneous trip and we planned
Nevada, Arizona, and Utah Trip Logistics
I spent four days in Arizona, Utah and Nevada over Memorial Day Weekend with three friends and we had an amazing time! The goal of this post is to tell you all of the logistics and things I learned in
What Happens in Vegas…
Las Vegas was our starting and ending point for our southwestern adventure. We spent two evenings here, and of course had plenty to do. These are the five things we did with our time!Walk through the casinos We stayed in the
The Narrows in Zion
It was the last day of our southwestern adventure, and while I was bummed to go back home that evening, I was also ready for a decent night’s sleep in my own bed. We had been running on very little
Hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park
I woke up this morning so excited to get to Zion National Park and hike Angels Landing. I’d heard so many amazing things and was eager to get going. (If you missed my previous posts, you can read about Day
One Day in Page, Arizona
In case you missed my previous post, I recently traveled to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, and Zion with my friends Rachel, Ashley, and Jessie over Memorial Day Weekend. The previous day, we visited the Grand Canyon. On
Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon
In order to get through my massive USA bucket list, I try to go on at least one domestic trip per year. This year, my trip was eventful (and exhausting), getting through 3 national parks and 3 states in only
Weekend Trip to Utah for Sundance Film Festival
My friends Kaitlyn and Brian were living in Salt Lake City last January, so I made the trip to visit them. We coordinated it so I was there while the Sundance Film Festival was going on in Park City.Sundance Film
Colorado Road Trip Part II: Mesa Verde, Million Dollar Highway, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Zapata Falls On the second morning of our road trip in Colorado, my cousin Sydney and I left the Great Sand Dunes campgrounds and headed to Zapata Falls. This waterfall hike is really close to the sand dunes. You can
Colorado Road Trip Part I: Garden of the Gods and Great Sand Dunes National Park
I graduated college in May 2015 and decided to travel for the next month. My cousin Sydney lives in Denver, CO and we had talked about doing a road trip around Colorado for months. We decided now was the time.
Yosemite & San Francisco in 3 Days – Day 3
We left the house around 6am and headed straight for Yosemite. Rachel and I had a 1pm train to catch, and there were still a few things we wanted to see! The weather today was much more cooperative, luckily. We
Yosemite & San Francisco in 3 Days – Day 2
We were thankful we weren’t camping in Yosemite this morning, as it was pouring and thunder storming when we got up. I was really bummed. We had planned a long hike on the Four Mile + Panorama trail, since this
Yosemite & San Francisco in 3 Days – Day 1
Everyone told us that a three-day Yosemite trip was crazy. And they were right. But I live for crazy!San Francisco Rachel and I flew to San Francisco from Atlanta Friday night and stayed at the Hotel Fusion, near Union Square.