Outdoor Adventure
Dog-friendly Adventure in the State Parks: Oconee State Park
Oconee State Park in South Carolina has reasonably priced dog-friendly cabins with options for folks who want to bring their pets. But the biggest selling point of this park is the location. It’s a perfect jumping-off point for outdoor recreation in the mountains of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. This is the first post in a series about dog-friendly State Parks. Finding Your Dog-Friendly Cabin The great part about booking a cabin at a South Carolina State Park is how easy they make it to search for dog-friendly options. This can be hidden a bit more in other state systems, but South Carolina must see/appreciate the demand from…
Dog-Friendly Adventure in the State Parks: The Prologue
We don’t have a ton of National Parks here in the Southeast, but we have beautiful dog-friendly State Parks in spades! I’m going to share some of our recent adventures, in multiple states, over several posts. Why State Parks? I’m not doing a direct comparison here between State Parks and National Parks. I really don’t see the point of that. I love the National Parks and want to visit them all (or most, anyway) someday. But these two things needn’t be mutually exclusive, and sometimes State Parks fit a need that just can’t be satisfied by the National Parks These are a few of many great reasons to stay in…
Finding Solitude in Banff National Park: The Skoki Valley
We planned a trip to see the Canadian Rockies. I’d never been to Banff, but it’s a popular spot. My first objective while planning this vacation was to find some time away from the maddening crowd. Objective achieved. Canadian National Parks How are Canadian parks different from US National Parks? In many ways they’re similar. Huge areas preserved primarily for nature-based recreation. A variety of campgrounds, lakes, and trails provided for people to get back to nature. But in Alberta parks, at least, there are entire towns within the Parks. Entire towns. Like Jasper. Banff. Waterton. Just sitting there providing all sorts of services, with pricetags ranging from not-cheap to…
2021 Vaccinated Vacation Adventures
It turns out that 2021 was, indeed, better than 2020 in many ways. Granted, the endless working from home and refrigerator access probably hasn’t helped the fit of my wardrobe. Bummer. But in terms of travel, the outlook has become markedly more positive. For those of us lucky to have it, access to the vaccine has definitely opened up more vacation options! The year started with the certainty of… well, uncertainty. But a willingness to be adaptable led to a couple opportunities I wouldn’t have predicted in January. — Sadly, I’ve written exactly zero blog posts in recent months, which means I’ve written nothing about the international trips I was…
U.S. National Parks: A Lifetime of Domestic Bliss
A recent post about a more thoughtful, intentional approach to travel left out a massive United States-sized hole in my personal bucket list. But of course I don’t think this country lacks for spectacular, noteworthy destinations! There are many amazing places here that I still hope to visit, and most of them are public lands. Despite there being some great cities in the U.S., those urban centers are no match for the grandeur of our greatest National Parks. What’s in a Name? Okay, let’s be really clear about something. Because titles might confuse people. There are 63 “National Parks” in the National Park System. But there are hundreds of properties…
The Inexperienced Hiker’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
What is a long day hike into the Grand Canyon really like? How should someone prepare for the rim to river hike? What should my fitness level be? These are legitimate questions that should be considered if someone is about to attempt an arduous hike into the Grand Canyon. If you’re an experienced hiker with plenty of challenging hikes under your belt, I might not have much insight to offer you. But if you’re new to the desert southwest and/or long, grueling day hikes? I’m your girl! I have already made the ill-advised missteps, and I’m happy to share them with you. Whether this is “for your information” or just…
