Plate with six different protein bars and wrappers

Best Dairy-Free Protein Bars

Protein bars have been my adventure fuel of choice for yearssss. They're portable and filling, and some brands actually taste good, too! That last part is especially important. They MUST taste good. But years ago, I learned that dairy was wreaking havoc on my gut—and I was upset. How could I give up some of …

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Packing cubes in a suitcase

Best Luggage and Carry-On Essentials According to a Frequent Traveler

I finally did it. I bought new luggage. After years of using the same soft, spinner carry-on suitcase and personal item bag, my frugal self broke down and replaced them—both out of necessity and curiosity. First, necessity. The strap on my favorite bag to stuff under the airplane seat was starting to tear. And stuffed …

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Lake Superior Munising Pictured Rocks

Our Trip Itinerary for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

As a former Michigander, I visited the U.P. multiple times during my childhood and even as an adult. Yet, none of those trips took me further than Mackinac and Sault Ste Marie—the areas easiest to get to from the Lower Peninsula where I lived at the time. When I left Michigan, getting to the more …

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