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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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”

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”

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”

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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Two Weeks in Europe Itinerary

Amalfi Coast, Italy

My friend, Sara, and I decided to take our first real international trip after completing our first year teaching. We decided to spend two weeks in Europe and since it was our first time, we went on a guided tour with Globus. The itinerary was very much on-the-go. We visited 8 cities in 4 countries in 2 weeks. This sounds super stressful and I know if we went on our own we would not have been able to cover this much ground on our first international trip without there being chaos and stress involved. This was a plus side of going with the tour. It was completely stress free even though it was fast paced. We also met some really awesome people, which made the experience that much more enjoyable. Although going with a tour was the right choice for us at the time, If I were to go back, I would do it on my own. But that’s only because I’ve since gained experience traveling. Continue reading “Two Weeks in Europe Itinerary”

U.S. National Park Road Trips

Death Valley National Park

With limited time off, I make sure to plan my travels in a way that lets me experience as much as possible in a short amount of time. One of the best ways to do this is road trips! With our goal of seeing all 60 national parks, I often try to plan trips that will allow us to visit multiple national parks in one epic road trip. I love when you can experience such diverse cultures, landscapes, climates, and wildlife all in one trip. And, the drive itself is usually just as much of an adventure as each of the destinations. Continue reading “U.S. National Park Road Trips”

2 Days in Yosemite National Park

Tunnel View Overlook, Yosemite National Park

My very first visit to a national park was Yosemite and it was a 2-day stop on a road trip around northern California. I can remember planning for it and feeling overwhelmed at the amount of recommended things to do and see. I honestly had no idea that I was about to visit one of the most popular landmarks in the US. At the time, I really didn’t know much about national parks, but I was definitely left wanting more. Continue reading “2 Days in Yosemite National Park”

What to Pack for an African Safari

Getting ready for your first safari is an exciting, yet overwhelming experience.  Packing for a safari is not like packing for most other trips. There are surprisingly a lot of do’s and don’ts, and quite a few important details to keep in mind. That’s why I’ve put together a list of tips and packing essentials to help you get ready for your first (or next) safari! Continue reading “What to Pack for an African Safari”

6 Days in Las Vegas and Death Valley

Devil's Golf Course, Death Valley National Park

Covering 3.4 million acres of desert, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the US. The park is home to the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level and the darkest night sky in the United States. For this trip, we didn’t do our typical road trip. Instead, we based out of Las Vegas with a 2-day side trip to the park. When it comes to vacations, I prefer to be in nature, but one of the things I love about Las Vegas is that there’s something for everyone, including nature lovers! There’s plenty of adventure just a short drive away!

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