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One Day in Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

If I’m being honest, Saguaro National Park was not high on my list. But, when we took a family trip to Phoenix over the holidays, I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to check it out. This happened to be our first trip with a baby and Riley was only 3.5 months old at the time. We also went with the whole extended family, so I knew right off the bat this was not going to be one of our more adventurous visits to a national park. It turned out Saguaro made for the perfect day trip on this vacation and was definitely a trip highlight for me.

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How Travel Heals

 
sunrise at Haleakala summit

Coping with the loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult and stressful challenges that many of us will face. There are not only mental implications of dealing with so many emotions, but physical implications as well. Loss of sleep, headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, and the list goes on. When I lost my mom at the end of 2018, I thought I would never be okay again. I was so physically and mentally broken down and exhausted. Fast forward a bit, and while there are days I feel okay, these days are (still) sometimes followed by nights filled with horrible nightmares and extreme anxiety. Continue reading “How Travel Heals”

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How to See the Northern Lights

Northern Lights in Iceland

Seeing the northern lights was by far one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. It was one of those moments that gave me that choked up, stomach in my throat feeling. I may or may not have teared up a bit. We had to work for it, but that just made the experience that much better. If you’re heading out to catch this natural phenomenon, here are some tips to help increase your chances.

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Packing for Havasupai

Beaver Falls from above

Gathering gear and packing is by far the most overwhelming part of a backpacking trip for a beginner. Havasupai was our first real backpacking trip and so we are beginners ourselves! We did do a ton of research in preparing for this trip as we wanted to make sure we were comfortable and not miserable while trying to enjoy our time in this beautiful place. In this post I’ll provide our final packing list for Havasupai, including what we couldn’t have lived without and what we didn’t need or use.  Continue reading “Packing for Havasupai”

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Hiking Angel’s Landing

Hiking Angel's Landing, Zion National Park

My first visit to Zion National Park was 2 days of a 7-day road trip through Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion. When choosing hikes, the famous Angel’s Landing was, of course, one of our top options. But after reading all the warnings, we decided to opt for the slightly less terrifying, Observation Point. I knew I’d be back to Zion and figured I could always try hiking Angel’s Landing next time. Continue reading “Hiking Angel’s Landing”

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How to Visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ

Lately, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend have been growing in popularity and for good reason. I stopped in Page, AZ on two different trips: my road trip through Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion, and my trip to Havasu Falls. On my first trip here, this was my unexpected highlight of the trip! In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend as well as some other things you can do while in Page, AZ. Continue reading “How to Visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend”

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Planning a Trip to Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls has been gaining quite a bit of attention on social media lately! It is arguably the most beautiful waterfall in the United States.  Havasu Falls, along with Navajo Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls are all located within Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Indian Reservation just outside of Grand Canyon National Park. Getting to these falls is not easy but is definitely worth it. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing how I finally checked Havasupai off my bucket list! I’ll also include tons of information and tips to help you in planning a trip to Havasu Falls including how to get permits, a sample itinerary, and much more!   Continue reading “Planning a Trip to Havasu Falls”

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Grand Teton and Yellowstone Packing List

Grand Teton and Yellowstone Packing List

I thought I had done a good job preparing for our Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip, but apparently I dropped the ball when it came to packing. I had heard that I should pack layers because mornings can be cool, but I underestimated just how cool it would be. Not only did I fail to bring enough warm layers, I also packed too many shorts, yet didn’t wear a single pair. In this post, I’m hoping to help you learn from my mistakes and make sure you have everything you need for your Yellowstone/Grand Teton vacation! Continue reading “Grand Teton and Yellowstone Packing List”

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The Ultimate Guide to Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is up there as one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. The picturesque backdrop of the Teton range behind the still waters of glacial lakes simply can’t be beat. And with its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton offers the perfect stop on an epic Wyoming road trip. In this post, I’ll share the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park, plus how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and much more!  Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Grand Teton National Park”

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The Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Bison in front of Old Faithful Lodge, Yellowstone National Park
It took me a lot of time to plan my trip to Yellowstone. The area is huge, there’s so much to see and so much ground to cover. You could spend a week in Yellowstone and barely scratch the surface. That’s why I put together this comprehensive guide to Yellowstone National Park that includes, when to go, where to stay, what to eat, what to do, and sample itineraries to help you get the most out of your Yellowstone vacation.

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