Photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park is iconically one of the best photo ops in the American Southwest. Here's what you need to know to capture that once-in-a-lifetime shot. This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite. Full disclosure: Before we arrived on the scene, I had no idea that photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was such a big deal. Our photog-daughter, who organized our trip, simply told us that we were going to a really cool … [Read more...]
How to Survive on the Delicate Arch Trail
The Delicate Arch Trail is challenging, and totally worth the effort! Go early, take your time, and bring twice as much water as you think you need. This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite. Iconic to Utah, Delicate Arch is the most famous – and most photographed – natural arch in the world. Mr B and I recently braved the three-mile desert hike to get up close and personal with Delicate Arch, and Wow! The payoff was totally worth the effort! FUN … [Read more...]
7 Stunning Reasons to Visit Arches National Park
Mother Nature is a master sculptor and in no place is that more evident than at Arches National Park. ― Stefanie Payne, A Year in the National Parks: The Greatest American Road Trip When I first set eyes on Arches National Park, it reminded me of what the "alien planet" sets on the original Star Trek series might have looked like if they had had a bigger budget. As we traveled through the park, I was fascinated by all of the artistic inspiration and rich color painted across the … [Read more...]
50 Miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway (Memphis Day Trip)
Explore the 50-mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway that connects Tupelo, Mississippi with US-72 W in Alabama. Along the way you'll discover Native American burial mounds, Civil War sites, lush trails, and sweeping vistas. This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite. [This is the second in our series of posts about our day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi from Memphis, Tennessee. To read about our adventures in Tupelo, please visit Part 1.] After … [Read more...]
Tupelo, Mississippi {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 1}
Looking for a great day trip from Memphis? Check out our real-life itinerary for our day trip from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi and back again (including our ridiculously Hobbit-like meal schedule). This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite. While on a recent trip to the Memphis area, Mr B and I found ourselves with an extra day on our hands, so we decided to broaden our horizons by taking a day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi, best known as the … [Read more...]
One Day in Ashland, Oregon
Ashland, Oregon: where culture runs deep, local cuisine is celebrated, creative inspiration is bountiful, and thespians are the coolest kids in town. Ashland, Oregon is more than just a touristy little town with a world-class repertory theater and a pretty park. It is a place where culture and memories run deep, creative inspiration is bountiful, local cuisine is celebrated, and Shakespeare reigns. I still remember the first play I ever attended in Ashland, many years ago in the Angus … [Read more...]
Applegate Valley Wine Trail (Southern Oregon)
Drive the Applegate Valley Wine Trail and experience the best of Southern Oregon wine country: stunning scenic beauty, small-town warmth, uncrowded tasting rooms, and artisan winemakers committed to their craft. Whether you are on a quest for the perfect bottle of Oregon wine or just want to take a beautiful drive through Southern Oregon back-country, you’ll find what you’re looking for on the Applegate Valley Wine Trail. Extending for 50 miles, from the California border to Grants Pass … [Read more...]
Beautiful Music: NW Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit
Every spring, you can find some of the most beautiful and unique instruments being made in the Pacific Northwest at the NW Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit. Music and music-making is a huge part of life in our home, and Mr B and I both have a great appreciation for fine instruments and the people who create them. Last week, we took the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful instruments currently being made in our little corner of the world - at the 43rd annual NW Handmade Musical … [Read more...]
One Day in Old San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Old San Juan is replete with amazing history, old world charm, and delectable food and drink - and welcoming tourists with open arms. This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite. In Spring 2018, Mr B and I celebrated our anniversary with a cruise in the eastern Caribbean (she says, casually flipping her hair back, like she takes a cruise every other week). Unlike Mr B, who took a few Caribbean cruises on his own (courtesy of the US Navy), I had never even been … [Read more...]
Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa: Your Perfect Oregon Coast Getaway
Head Out. Stay In. Whatever you choose, you'll discover your perfect Oregon coastal getaway at Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa in Pacific City. When I was a little girl, I lived on the Oregon coast for five glorious summers. One of my most enduring memories from that time is of standing on the edge of the world, looking out into the great vastness of the Pacific Ocean and wondering if somewhere out there, there was a little girl on the other side of the water looking out and wondering … [Read more...]
