living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know I traveled a LOT in 2017, 2018, and 2019 when I was single. Back then, more of my blog posts centered on those travels. Even today, I have travel posts peppered in whenever my husband and I take a trip—so travel will always be part …
Continue reading Best Places to Travel by Category: My Travel Superlatives
When John asked me if I wanted to tag along on his work trip to Savannah, GA, it was an easy YES. Granted, it's easier for me to say yes because I have a remote job; however, I would've made it work regardless because Savannah holds a special place in my heart. It was the …
Continue reading A Long Weekend in Savannah, GA: Our Itinerary
"...throw off everything that hinders..." (Hebrews 12:1) This was the lesson I learned after hiking Angels Landing in the rain. My experience hiking Angels Landing trail It was March 2020—early March, right before the world shut down. My friend Kara and I took a trip to Zion National Park with the goal of hiking Angels …
Continue reading Angels Landing Hike in the Rain—And What It Taught Me
Those of you who know me are no doubt thinking... wait, what? Didn't you and John get married in 2020? Yes. Yes we did. That's also when our Colorado honeymoon took place. July 2020. However, I realized recently that I never wrote a recap of our Colorado trip. Blame it on being a newlywed at …
Our 2021 Christmas Beach Vacation For the second year in a row, John and I took a Christmas trip to a beachy destination that I'd never been before. In 2020, it was coastal Georgia—St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island to be exact. It's a beautiful area with stunning beaches; however, being on the Atlantic Ocean, …
Continue reading Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama & the Florida Panhandle
Is it possible or even practical to visit both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park in just two days? Yes. Absolutely it is. But let me amend that by saying I would only recommend attempting both parks in two days during off season months, like April, September, or October. Why? Far less traffic and people …
Continue reading Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary: Two National Parks in Two Days
Grotto Falls is pretty popular. First, it’s the only waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you can walk behind. Bam. Instant appeal. Second, it’s a short hike. Only 1.4 miles from the Trillium Gap trailhead to the falls. Minimal effort for maximum beauty. Ironically, Grotto Falls’ popularity and the short trek to …
Continue reading Grotto Falls Tennessee Hike to Brushy Mountain
Hiking to Ramsey Cascades helped me realize that I love 8 mile hikes. They're sort of my sweet spot in terms of distance. Don’t get me wrong. I love me a shorter hike. But y'all, I also love a challenge and feel like I’m stretching myself around that 8-mile mark. When I learned that the …
Continue reading Ramsey Cascades Trail: Smoky Mountain Waterfall Hike
It started with a field trip in elementary school. Don’t remember which grade. Can’t say for certain what we visited. (Most likely that big ol’ Museum of Science and Industry.) What I do know? We took a bus to downtown Chicago and little girl me was IN AWE. Now, I’d been to Chicago as a …
Once again, Sarasota's Siesta Beach claims top billing as the #1 beach in America – so say Dr. Beach and TripAdvisor users via the Travelers' Choice Awards. Having lived just 14 miles from Siesta, I feel justified in giving my honest and humble opinion of this ranking. Is Siesta my favorite beach? Truthfully, no—but not because I don’t …
adventure and the girl 