living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
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
Why We Chose St. Lucia ICYMI, John and I visited St. Lucia back in July 2021. And, for those of you who didn't miss all my social media posts during our trip—yes, I'm three months behind on blogging about it. This is where that "better late than never" cliché comes in handy. Okay, but get …
Continue reading St. Lucia Travel: All-Inclusive Resort + Gros Piton Hike + Castries Tour
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
I’ll admit. I’m one of those people who can’t travel without buying souvenirs. Still, I tend to avoid the kitschy, tourist shop tchotchkes. Okayyyyy, so I’ll also admit that I do sometimes wind up with a cheap ol’ trinket that means nothing other than to prove I was there. That’s the exception to the rule, …
I love Brussels. The sprouts and the city. Brussels sprouts can be a polarizing topic, though, so I’m gonna stick with Belgium’s capital. Whenever I visit a new city, I’m curious to find an underlying element that sets it apart from any other place I’ve experienced. What struck me about Brussels is its juxtaposition of …
Since my previous travel bloopers were so well-received, I thought, Why not compile a list of top bloopers from some of my previous trips? So, I did. I think we all can relate to things not going as planned in life—and especially in travel because it puts us out of our comfort zones and daily …
A while back, I wrote a blog post on pre-travel anticipation. (Go read that first, if you haven’t already.) And now, I want to add to it. The other day while reading this John Piper devotional, it hit me that the even greater key to living for today and not living for future travels is …
If you’ve ever thought: Gee, I’d like to visit several countries in a week! ...this post is for you. One thing I’ve learned from my solo travels is how much I can see in just one day. All it takes is an eagerness to explore and the stamina to stay in GO mode. Multiply that …
Continue reading One Week in Europe? How to Create an Itinerary for Four Countries
It may not be Christmas when you're reading this, but it's never a bad time to talk European Christmas markets. When a $434 roundtrip flight to Brussels popped up in my inbox (thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights) I could not pass it up. Initially, (to save up more moolah) I wanted to book the latest …
Continue reading Best Things About European Christmas Markets
adventure and the girl 