The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited U.S. National Park. Being from Kentucky (near Cincinnati), it’s only a 4.5 hour drive, so I’ve traveled here on many different occasions over the years. This was the first time I visited with my young son though! We stayed at Yourcation Awaits cabin in Pigeon Forge, and had such a fun family vacation! With a toddler in our crew, our goal was to seek out…
If you love natural beauty and active adventures, then Kanab, Utah is it! Less visited than nearby Zion and Arches, Kanab has just as much to offer but without the huge crowds. I traveled here spring 2021 with my husband, and 9 month old baby. Our itinerary was a bit aggressive, but we did and saw so much! We flew round-trip out of Las Vegas, and also stopped at Death Valley and Zion. After one…
Puerto Rico: A tropical paradise with delicious food and an intriguing history! Visiting here from the mainland US is easy, and it’s a great spot for active or relaxing vacations. Here is my recommended Puerto Rico one week itinerary: As a US territory, visitors from the states have it easy. No passport is needed to travel. At this time, no Covid test is needed to fly home either! Flights are fairly priced, and for a…
I spent several weeks in Costa Rica during my study abroad experience, and have since been back to visit multiple times. Over the years, these are the places that stood out to me the most. These are my suggestions for the best beach towns in Costa Rica: In no particular order... Montezuma: The town of Montezuma has a great Caribbean vibe. It’s a free-spirited kind of place that some ticos refer to as “Montefuma”, if…
Lexington, Kentucky is one of my favorite places. I’ve traveled all over the world, and as cheesy as it sounds, this city genuinely always feels like home. When I was a student at the University of Kentucky (go big blue!!), I had the privilege of living in this great town for five years. Even though I now live closer to Cincinnati, I still make it back to Lex frequently. So, what are my top suggestions…
Charleston has that pure “southern charm”. It’s one of the most picturesque cities in the American south, and its rows of colorful streets lined with palm trees have a memorable appeal. It is truly beautiful- even if insanely humid! One day in Charleston Itinerary! I came here with my family to visit Folly Beach, and we were able to spend a few days in the city too. It instantly reminded me of Savannah, although each…
Rome, the eternal city, has so much to offer- Insanely delicious food, fascinating history, and monuments older than we can comprehend. I hesitated to make this post, because in a way I hate billing a historic and complex city as merely a backdrop for photo opportunities. However, I know that visitors to Rome still want to capture their memories, and have quality photos to look back on. Keeping this in mind, here are my tips…
The area around La Fortuna, Costa Rica is a "must see" for any visitor to the country. Home to beautiful jungle, active volcanoes, waterfalls, and hundreds of sloths, it is literally a tropical paradise! Plus, it's named "fortune" but sits at the base of an active volcano- you have to love that optimism! Whether you want to go hiking, rafting, and kayaking, or just relax in a natural volcanic hot spring, you will definitely find…
Living just a few hours away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I’ve visited Gatlinburg, Tennessee at least twenty times. Thinking back on all these ventures, I’ve compiled my personal recommendations on the top things to do! These activities may all fit into one Gatlinburg trip, or you can spread them out over separate visits. I’ve gone down there for Bachelorette parties, with my family growing up, on my honeymoon, and for a college…
I’ve traveled a lot in my lifetime, but some places have had a bigger meaning or impact on my life than others. Singer Island, Florida is one of these locations that will always have a part of my heart! Growing up, my grandparents had a condo on this gorgeous island near West Palm Beach. Every summer we’d spend about two weeks there. Until I was 25, it was host to some of the absolute best…
