Vacationing on Alabama’s Gulf Coast this year? I’m all in on long days spent reading and sunning on the sugar-white sand with the occasional dip in the warm waters of the gulf. But, if you’d like to venture off the beach, consider experiencing the area differently by hiking, pedaling, or paddling – activities that offer […]
Hike Pedal Paddle
Buffalo River – Floating America’s First National River
Established in 1972, the Buffalo National River in Northwest Arkansas flows freely for 135 miles and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. Unlike rivers that are fed by perennial springs, the Buffalo is largely rainfall-dependent. Seventy percent of visitors float on thirty percent of the Buffalo River […]
Lisbon, Portugal: Life in the Slow Lane
Saudade is a Portuguese word that loosely translates to a deep yearning nostalgia for something gone forever. There is no equivalent word in English. Yet, while it’s hard to explain, this Portuguese emotion is easy to feel as you immerse yourself in the tumbledown yet trendy city of Lisbon. Funky and fun, Portugal’s capital, and one […]
McKittrick Canyon – Fall Foliage In West Texas
When you think of fabulous fall foliage displays, West Texas is probably the last place that comes to mind. Well, it’s time to think again and add McKittrick Canyon to your fall bucket list. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of the least visited parks in the national park system. Its remote location, 100 miles […]
Hitting the Black Creek Trail – Mountain Bike Edition
North Alabama has miles of incredible trails for mountain biking, and the Greater Gadsden area’s Black Creek Trail system is one of them! Black Creek Trail currently consists of over 12 miles of trails of multi-use and singletrack trails adjacent to Noccalula Park & Campground! A novice cyclist, I set out to give it […]
Women Who Wander Outdoor Retreat – Texas
How much longer? I wonder to myself as I check the GPS for the umpteenth time. I’m headed to the inaugural Women Who Wander Outdoor Retreat in south Texas to spend the weekend with 600 of my new best friends. Let me explain. I love to hike, pedal, and paddle. Hands down my favorite modes […]
San Antonio River Walk: Pedal, Paddle, Hike
The best way to experience a destination is on foot. I like to hike, pedal, or paddle whenever I visit a new destination. In San Antonio, you can do all three right inside the city limits. When you think of the San Antonio River Walk, the heavily trafficked historic section located downtown may come to […]
Five Life Lessons Learned Hiking the Grand Canyon
The benefits of hiking are many. Physically, it’s excellent exercise, offering both cardiovascular benefits and muscle strengthening. Mentally, venturing outside and immersing oneself in nature is a proven stress buster. And no one can take in a panoramic view, listen to churning water as it tumbles over rocks, or gaze upon a field full of […]
Mind, Body & Nature: Reconnecting On the Trail
It’s February. The shock of transitioning from December’s freshly baked cookies and feelings of warmth to January’s cold offerings of kale and guilt is fading. Resolve for resolutions and goals set on January 1 may be fading too. So, what were those resolutions? Improve fitness? Reduce stress? Spend more time meditating or in prayer? What if I told […]
Enchanted Rock – Hiking In Texas Hill Country
Today I was scared. After spending an incredible weekend with 600 like-minded women at the inaugural Women Who Wander Outdoor Retreat, I can’t resist an overnight stay in Fredericksburg, Texas, on the way home to see the spectacular wildflower display. They say it’s the best in ten years. They’re not lying. The Willow City Loop offers jaw-dropping displays […]
