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 tour available, I knew off-roading/backroads deserved a second chance. The Leadville route was billed as family-friendly, so I was confident it would be […]
Our 2 hour Leadville UTV Tour, A High Adventure to the Top of Mosquito Pass Read More »
Some experiences you book because they’re objectively fine-dining perfection. Others you book because they’re unique, atmospheric, and you’re willing to pay a premium for the memory. The Tennessee Pass Cookhouse, just outside Leadville, Colorado, falls firmly into the second category for us — and that distinction is the most important thing to know if you’re
Dinner in a Yurt: Our Honest Review of the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse Read More »
If you’ve scrolled past the ads for one of these “immersive art experiences” and wondered whether they’re actually worth your money, you’re not alone. I’ve now done two — the Titanic immersive exhibit in New York earlier this year, and most recently, the Van Gogh Immersive Experience at the Exhibition Hub Art Center in Denver.
Van Gogh Immersive Experience Denver: An Honest Review of our 2 hours Read More »
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 me, West Point was one of those places. My parents loaded my sister and me into the car, drove us up the Hudson Valley, and walked us
Ten Years Later: What a Visit to West Point Taught Me About History and Second Chances Read More »
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 only activity I knew about in advance. Truth be, that she was hoping to do the Baby Goat hike, but this is the one
Our Alpaca Hike at Clover Brooke Farm: A Walk That Might Talk You Into Buying Land Read More »
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, and I took together — and it turned out to be one of the more memorable, if heavier, parts of the trip. The Basics We pulled
90 Minutes at the Titanic Immersive Experience Read More »
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 area, I mean to finally go — and every single time, something gets in the way. This trip, the something was 100-degree heat and a whole lot of
Adirondack Animal Land: Feeding an Emu Through a Car Window Read More »
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 overnight stop around it. As we came off the highway exit, I pointed and said, “oh look, there’s a little castle, we should drive
Amsterdam Castle: Crossing “Sleep in a Castle” Off My Bucket List (Sort Of) Read More »
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 sure I would’ve believed you. But that’s exactly what happened at the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany, NY — and I’d put money on the reason having a first
Schuyler Mansion: A Founding Father’s House That Won Over a 12-Year-Old Read More »
If your mental image of Kansas is entirely flat, golden wheat fields, the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway will completely shatter that stereotype. Spanning 42 miles along U.S. Highway 160 between Medicine Lodge and Coldwater, this route drops you into an otherworldly landscape of vibrant crimson soil, deep canyons, and ancient, flat-topped mesas. We recently took
Cruising the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway: A Look at Kansas’s Red Earth Read More »
If there is one town in the Midwest that completely embodies the lawless, gun-slinging heritage of the American Old West, it’s Dodge City, Kansas. Known in the late 1800s as the “Beautiful, Bibulous Babylon of the Frontier,” it was a bustling hub for buffalo hunters, railroad workers, and legendary lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Bat
6 Things to do in Dodge City, KS Read More »
A Manhattan Walk from Inwood’s fields to the harbor’s edge — one perfect Friday, two pairs of tired feet We were in New York for a wedding and had an extra three days. We knew we wanted to venture into the City, but wasn’t sure what to do. Then Justin remembered an episode of Broad City
The Ultimate Manhattan Walk: Tip to Tip. 14 Miles, 36,704 Steps Read More »
It had been on my Colorado bucket list since it opened in September 2021, but somehow I kept forgetting about it. When my sister came to visit, we finally made it happen—a Sunday morning trip to Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver. I’ll be honest: I had no idea what to expect. People seem to
Meow Wolf Denver: A Surreal Sunday Morning Adventure Read More »
When Justin and I decided to extend our San Francisco work trip by a day, there was one destination that immediately came to mind: Alcatraz. I’d visited the infamous island prison back when I was about 20, but Justin had never been, so we booked tickets through City Experiences, the official ferry provider for the
Some of our earliest adventures together truly set the stage for our shared love of exploration. One of those memorable firsts was a long weekend trip in May 2016, venturing south into the unique landscapes of Colorado and New Mexico. Our itinerary was wonderfully eclectic: the hot springs of Pagosa Springs, the artistic charm of
Great Sand Dunes and the UFO Watchtower Read More »
On our recent Florida escape, I dropped Justin off for a couple of hours of seaside bliss at the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course while I ran off for a lunch date with a friend. What started as a simple plan to squeeze in some golf turned into one of the most memorable stops
Justin Plays the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course Read More »
There’s something almost magical about driving from Key Largo to Key West along the famous Overseas Highway. In December 2025, we experienced this iconic 113-mile stretch of U.S. Route 1, and it lived up to every bit of its reputation as one of America’s most scenic drives. A Road Built on Dreams and Determination The
Scenic Drive – Overseas Highway: A Journey Across the Florida Keys Read More »
In late January 2025, I stumbled upon The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Challenge, and on a whim, I decided to give it a try. Some years I devour books by the dozen; other years, life gets in the way and my reading habit dwindles to nearly nothing. But this year was different. After recently
My 2025 Reading Challenge: 63 Books and a Journey Beyond My Comfort Zone Read More »
Holiday time is all around us, but when traveling to a warmer region, I find it harder to get into the holiday spirit when I’m wearing shorts and looking at palm trees. Sometimes, the best travel moments are found serendipitously. This particular adventure started not with a detailed itinerary, but simply by driving past a
Jungle Lights at McKee Botanical Garden: A Candid Look Behind the Sparkle Read More »
There is something truly inspiring about the diversity of our National Parks, Monuments, and Lands. From towering mountains to deep canyons, our country offers an incredible array of landscapes. Our recent trip to Key West gave us a chance to check one of the most remote and unique parks off the list: Dry Tortugas National
Day Trip to Dry Tortugas: Visiting the Mighty Ocean Fortress of Fort Jefferson Read More »