• The Painted Hills part of the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument in Oregon.
    Hiking Guides,  National Parks,  Oregon,  Travel

    Experience the Beautiful John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

    If you have never visited the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, you’re in for a real treat. In this post I’m sharing what to expect you visit the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon. For starters, the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument is a part of the National Parks System and features three distinct units: The Painted Hills Unit, The Sheep Rock Unit and the Clarno Unit. We visited the Painted Hills and Sheep Rock Units and hope to explore the Clarno Unit soon. Unlike most National Parks and Monuments, admission is free year round at the John Day NM! Our trip fell during the early part of…

  • 10 Essentials for your outdoor adventures
    Guides,  Hiking Adventures,  Hiking Guides,  Oregon,  Travel

    10 Essentials for Hiking and Adventuring

    What are the 10 Essentials for Hiking and Adventuring? The 10 Essentials is a list of items for outdoor adventurers to keep on hand in case of an outdoor emergency. This list originated in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based adventure group. It contained specific supplies to bring in your pack to increase your odds of survival should an emergency arise. The list included a map, compass, sunglasses and sunscreen, extra clothing, headlamp/flashlight, first-aid supplies, fire starter, matches, knife and extra food. The original list has evolved over the years but the basic systems needed for survival remain an important part of outdoor emergency preparedness. Options for outdoor gear…

  • Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
    Colorado,  National Parks

    One Day in Rocky Mountain National Park

    If you only have one day to visit Rocky Mountain National Park it might be hard to pin down which places to see. Whenever we are crunched for time at a national park we make the best of our stay and think of it like a sampler. We know it’s impossible to see it all in a short amount of time, therefore picking a few highlights lets us experience the park without stressing too much or feeling pressed for time. The first thing we do once we enter a national park is drive to the nearest visitor center to talk with a ranger. You will receive a map when you…

  • f you are planning a trip to Waco, Texas you are in for a real treat!
    Texas,  Travel

    More Great Places to Visit on your trip to Waco, Texas

    Out and about in Waco, Texas If you are planning a trip to Waco, Texas you are in for a real treat! Let’s assume you are already planning to visit Magnolia Market at the Silos. There is no shortage of information out there about Magnolia Market, but what else is there to do? This beautiful mural is just a block away from Magnolia Market on the side of Savage Finds antique shop. Waco is a relatively small town, so everything is in close proximity. Most of the places I’m about to mention are within 10-15 minutes of each other so you can fit several of them in without any trouble…

  • Vacation Planning in the Digital Age
    Travel,  Travel Prep

    Vacation Planning in the Digital Age

    Summer is just around the corner and like many of you, we are excited to see some new sites. There are so many great online resources available for planning a vacation and admittedly I am totally obsessed with anything that helps me with my trip planning.  I think about it All. The. Time. I like to think of trip planning like a little mini vacation where I can day-dream about all the fun we’re going to have. Some people call this “procrastination” or “a coping mechanism,” but whatever! Once we’ve decided on a location…like just seconds after, I go into research mode and scour the interwebs for all there is…