Footprints & Freeways

a travel journal

Welcome to Footprints & Freeways!

Hi there! I’m Denise, and this is my digital scrapbook of adventures—the big trips, the weekend escapes, and everything in between.
This blog started as a way to share travel stories with my family. Over time, it grew into something more: a place where I can look back at all the amazing places I’ve been, the cool things I’ve done, and yes, even the mistakes along the way.

I’m not a travel expert, a budget guru, or a digital nomad. I work full-time, just like you probably do. Currently, my partner Justin and I squeeze our travels into weekends, vacation days, and the occasional road trip whenever we can get away. Plenty of people travel better, smarter, and cheaper than us—and that’s totally fine. This isn’t about being the best at travel; it’s about enjoying the journey.

What you’ll find here are honest recaps of where I’ve been, what worked (and what didn’t), and the stories that made each trip memorable. I love national parks and learning, Justin’s along for the ride and the breweries. I call it Footprints & Freeways because every little step and every long drive is part of the story.

If you’re looking for someone to tell you the “10 Best Budget Hacks” or “How to Travel Like a Pro,” this probably isn’t your spot. But if you want real stories from real trips—complete with the occasional rainy day pivot and definitely too many brewery stops—then welcome. Grab a seat, and let’s swap travel tales.

Your next favorite memory might be just one road trip away.

READ OUR LATEST STORIES

Around Vernal UT
Beyond the Monument: Rock Art, Trackways, and Small-Town Treasures Around Vernal, UT
When you plan a trip to Dinosaur National Monument, it’s easy to focus entirely on what’s inside the official park boundary lines. But using Vernal, Utah...
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Gates of Lodore
Exploring the North Side of Dinosaur National Monument: Gates of Lodore & Ancient River Canyons Worth the Long Drive
While the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument gets all the hype for its world-famous fossil wall, the far northern district offers something entirely...
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Colorado Side of Dinosaur National Monument
2 Hours Driving the Colorado Side of Dinosaur National Monument: Harpers Corner Scenic Drive & River Canyons
By day four, Justin and I had a system. Three of our four days on this trip had already put us over five hours in the car — and that was before we added...
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Utah Side of Dinosaur National Monument
5 Delightful Hours Exploring the Utah Side of Dinosaur National Monument: Fossils, Rock Art, and Canyon Hikes
When most people think of Dinosaur National Monument, they picture either sweeping canyon vistas or a quick stop at a visitor center. But devoting a full...
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4-Day Dinosaur National Monument Road Trip
4-Day Dinosaur National Monument Road Trip Itinerary
When people think of National Parks in Utah and Colorado, iconic spots like Arches or Rocky Mountain usually steal the spotlight. But tucked away in the...
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Florissant Fossil Quarry
Crossing "Find a Fossil" Off the Bucket List: 1 Hour at the Florissant Fossil Quarry
My birthday was coming up, and instead of the usual dinner-and-cake routine, I started thinking: is there something different we could do? Something that’s...
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Leadville UTV Tour
Our 2 hour Leadville UTV Tour, A High Adventure to the Top of Mosquito Pass
We had fun (but a little scary) UTV tour in Arizona a while back, but it was an experience that stayed on my mind. When I saw there was a Leadville UTV...
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Tennessee Pass Cookhouse
Dinner in a Yurt: Our Honest Review of the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse
Some experiences you book because they’re objectively fine-dining perfection. Others you book because they’re unique, atmospheric, and you’re willing to...
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long weekend in Leadville CO
A 3-Day Fun Packed Long Weekend in Leadville, Colorado: The Complete Itinerary
We had our sights set on a full week away. Savannah, Georgia. Nova Scotia. The Oregon Coast. We batted around all three before the flight and hotel prices...
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Van Gogh Immersive Experience
Van Gogh Immersive Experience Denver: An Honest Review of our 2 hours
If you’ve scrolled past the ads for one of these “immersive art experiences” and wondered whether they’re actually worth your money,...
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Afternoon in Colorado Springs & Manitou Springs
A Fun Summer Afternoon in Colorado Springs & Manitou Springs
My sister was in the middle of a big road trip and made sure to stop in Denver to see me before heading home. We signed up for a class together, caught...
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West Point Cannon
Ten Years Later: What a Visit to West Point Taught Me About History and Second Chances
There are places you visit as a child and write off entirely — dismissed somewhere between a long car ride and the desperate boredom of being twelve. For...
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Alpaca Hike at Clover Brooke Farm
Our Alpaca Hike at Clover Brooke Farm: A Walk That Might Talk You Into Buying Land
I was so excited when my sister told me about a Llama and Alpaca hike at Clover Brooke Farm in Pawling that she wanted to get tickets for. This is the...
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Secret Caverns
Secret Caverns: The Cave with a Waterfall
Every trip has one stop that splits the group right down the middle. On our 3 day adventure up in Duchess and the greater Albany area, that stop was Secret...
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Titanic Immersive Experience
90 Minutes at the Titanic Immersive Experience
Not every stop on a road trip needs to be lighthearted. Titanic: An Immersive Voyage in Albany was a planned stop on a two-day road trip my sister, niece,...
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Adirondack Animal Land
Adirondack Animal Land: Feeding an Emu Through a Car Window
Opus 40 has been on my list for about a decade now. It’s a massive outdoor sculpture park near Saugerties, and every single time I’m in the...
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Sleep in a Castle Amsterdam Castle
Amsterdam Castle: Crossing "Sleep in a Castle" Off My Bucket List (Sort Of)
I have to give my sister credit here — she remembered a bucket list item I mentioned ages ago, I wanted to sleep in a castle, and quietly built our whole...
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Schuyler Mansion
Schuyler Mansion: A Founding Father's House That Won Over a 12-Year-Old
If you’d told me a decade ago that a Revolutionary War-era house museum would hold a 12-year-old’s attention for a full hour, I’m not...
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Top Six: Most Popular Posts this Month

Western Kansas Road Trip Itinerary
Ultimate 3-Day Western Kansas Road Trip Itinerary
When most people think of a road trip through Kansas, they picture endless miles of flat...
Overseas Highway Video Title
Scenic Drive - Overseas Highway: A Journey Across the Florida Keys
There’s something almost magical about driving from Key Largo to Key West along...
ContactSolution_TravelSize
How much contact solution do I need?
For those of us who wear contact lenses, packing for a trip always comes with a unique...
Glacier National Park sign
Our Glacier National Park Adventure
In June 2017, Justin and I embarked on a three-week Montana adventure that included visits...
Burlington Roadside Attractions
Quirky Burlington Roadside Attractions
We love breaking up serious sightseeing with a healthy dose of the delightfully absurd,...
Haleakala National Park
Visiting Haleakala National Park: Above the Clouds in Maui
When you think of Hawaii, you probably picture pristine beaches, swaying palm trees, and...

In Case You Missed it

About Us

We’re Denise and Justin, a couple who first crossed paths in September 2015 and have been on an incredible journey of discovery together ever since. From spontaneous road trips to venturing further afield, exploring the world has become a shared passion that fuels our adventures. Curious about what makes our travel style tick? Read on to delve a little deeper into our individual quirks, our mutual loves, and what truly drives us to leave our footprints on new paths and cruise down countless freeways.

Explore With Us

Weekend Escapes
Day Trips & Long Weekends

Scenic Drives
We love taking the back way

Bucket List Adventures
Denise’s most epic/unique experiences

National Parks
Enjoying the diverse landscape and history of our country

Don't just read, watch!

A serene image of an empty highway stretching through a peaceful countryside under a cloudy sky.

Watch The Journey
A variety of drives or rides
(long/short, highway/scenic, land/water)
plus a some others