Pandemics make you feel like you're cooped up. So what is a safe activity to do? Be outside. Hike. So everyone had the same idea - let's go to the Smokies for a fall color tour! 

DAY 1: Clingmans Dome, Morton Overlook 10 /15

• ​We rented a car and drove from Grand Rapids, MI to Townsend, TN.
  • Grocery shopped for food before the trip for hiking snacks/meals
• Driving from Townsend into the action of the park is about 40 minutes.
  • You get into the park quickly, but there are no trails for a while.
  • Gatlinburg is closer to the main attractions in the park
• Clingman’s Dome Observation Tower Trail - 1.2mi, moderate.
  • It was partly cloudy that day, and we were in a cloud when we got to the top, not much for views on a cloudy day. Paved trail all uphill, with resting benches.
• Morton Overlook at Sunset
  • a view of the gap: stayed here for a while to watch the sun set.
  • Beautiful & highly recommend

Ate food we packed for dinner: PB&J / Ramen.

It's a pandemic! We flew on a plane! Travel shaming is real. Anxiety is real. I bought 3-ply masks with a filter insert for this trip. We are camping most of the time, which makes me *feel* safer. Delta thankfully keeps the middle seat empty, when other airlines don't. 

This tripped was planned when my friends were at high percentage beer tasting. Within 30 minutes, we all bought tickets. Little did we know we would be going before everyone was in panic about the looming pandemic.

Iceland is amazing. There is nothing like the scenery there + the chance to view the northern lights.

My mom turned 70 this year, and my aunt & I planned her first trip to Europe. Bucket list trip!
​We signed up for the Expat Explore tour - Best of Western Europe tour.

We spent 14 days in Europe, traveling to 8 countries.
London / France / Luxembourg / Germany / Austria / Liechtenstein / Switzerland / Italy

I live in Grand Rapids, MI. Not a huge airline hub. Frontier flies nonstop to Denver from GR - wow! - and for cheap.
I'm on a mission to visit as many national parks as possible, so holiday weekend, let's go!

A long weekend near Portland, in April.  Does it rain in Portland? Always. Does it snow? On Mt. Hood, heck yes.

3 more national parks off the bucket list!

​I booked a trip to the Canadian Rockies on a whim. Impulse buy based on top of my bucket list wants.