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It’s hard to believe another year of adventures has come and gone. 2025 has felt like a series of crossroads and mile markers—moments that made us pause, look ahead, and wonder how the path will unfold and what the horizon still has in store.

Something about this year has made us painfully aware of just how fast time is moving. Our daughter is in that tender in-between space of childhood wonder and teenage angst, leaving us to find our footing alongside her each day. This season feels like a wild, rushing current—and there we are on the shore, reaching out, trying to hold on to whatever pieces of time we can. It has made every trip, every milestone, and every quiet moment feel all the more precious.

But it has also been a joyful year of watching her grow into the person she is becoming. She started Irish step dancing last year and has fallen completely in love with it, dancing wherever she goes. She’s also joined both the soccer and basketball teams at her school, throwing herself into each new challenge. Brad decided to step in as the assistant basketball coach this year, which made the season even more special. She’s navigating this stage of growth with far more grace than we ever did at her age, and it’s been incredible to witness.

Layered into that has been a season of questions about our professional lives. After what feels like ages in toxic work environments, we are tired—stretched thin—and quietly wondering if our time in Tennessee may be nearing its end. We don’t have plans to move right now, but with both of our jobs draining us, we’re more open than ever to a change of scene if the right one appears. We don’t know what the new year will bring, but we both know we can’t keep going the way we are.

And yet, in the middle of all that uncertainty, we’ve still chased down every adventure we could. We’ve traveled, explored, wandered, and tucked away memories whenever possible. Some places surprised us. Some challenged us. Others felt like pure magic. And, there were moments that made us laugh and embrace the random detours.

Looking back, 2025 has been a wild mix of holding uncertainty in one hand and making the most of our time together with the other.

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By The Numbers:

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Highlights & Favorites:

Every destination we have visited or experience we have enjoyed have gone into making the year. But there are definitely some favorites in there that stand out among the whole. These moments went deeper and meant more…

California Central Coast

On a quick weekend visit to California, we got to reconnect with some dear friends. It has been a few years since we saw them and getting to spend that time was really special. We enjoyed state parks along the coast. We watched beaches of seals bask in the sand. And most importantly, caught up on years worth of hugs.

{read the post: Elephant Seals, Moonstones & Tide Pools on the Central Coast}

Exploring Innsbruck Austria

A few days around Innsbruck quickly proved to be our favorite part of our European vacation over the summer. The glorious mountain views, interesting museums, and walks along the colorful streets filled our souls to bursting. Austria is our favorite country we have visited so far, and Innsbruck is our new favorite city.

{read the post: Exploring Innsbruck }

Nashville Ghost Tour

Doing a ghost tour in Nashville’s downtown was an unexpected and wonderful opportunity. This was my first sponsored experience, courtesy of US Ghost Adventures. I absolutely loved getting to see a different side of Nashville than I had ever seen. It was interesting, a little spooky, and an experience I’ll always remember.

{read the post: Ghosts, Gadgets & Goosebumps- A Review of Nashville Ghosts Tour}

Autumn in Acadia

We spent a few days wandering around the rugged coastline of Maine. It was magical being surrounded by salty breeze, colorful leaves, and and lobster if you please. Between driving through Acadia National Park and exploring the charming small towns around the island, we couldn’t have asked for a better place to be in the fall.

{read the post: Exploring Mount Desert Island & Acadia National Park}

Christmas in Prague

We ended the year with another venture to see the Christmas markets in Europe- this time going to Italy and Czech Republic. The Christmas markets of Prague are just as magical as everyone always said. We loved exploring the different markets, seeing the lights across the city, and eating as much ‘chimney cake’ as we possibly could.

{read the post: Christmas in Prague}

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Misadventures & Lessons Learned:

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Reader Favorites:

It is always interesting to me to see which posts over the years are the most read. Some of the reader favorites are surprising to me. While others I nod with agreement, I see why it is a favorite, it was for me too. The reader favorites for this year are…

Atriums of Gaylord Opryland Resort

Walking through the atriums of the Gaylord Opryland Resort is always a beautiful experience. This is especially true at Christmas when the beautiful spaces are adorned with lights and decorations. This makes for a perfect free and festive thing to do in Nashville during the holidays.

{read the post: The Atriums of Gaylord Opryland Resort}

A Day in Mittenwald, Germany

Mittenwald is a delightful small town to explore. It is full of beautiful painted buildings, a rich heritage of violin carving, and stunning mountain scenes. Nestled right on the border between Germany and Austria, Mittenwald makes for a perfect escape from the bigger cities. We loved our day exploring around Mittenwald.

{read the post: Painted Houses, Mountain Views, Violins, & Masks- A Day in Mittenwald}

New Orleans French Quarter & Riverwalk

Early morning walks through the French Quarter allow for unobstructed views of the beautiful buildings. There is also no line at Cafe Du Monde for hot beignets. It was the perfect time to explore this iconic area of the city. Followed up by a walk along the river to see some of the lesser known parts of New Orleans.

{read the post: French Quarter & Riverwalk- New Orleans}

St. George Utah

On a weekend visit to Utah we spent a couple days exploring the red rocks of St. George. We found some lesser known parks, interesting meditative walks, and natural wonders there in the desert. To cap it off, we got to make our own taffy which is always a good addition to any weekend.

{read the post: From Lights of Las Vegas to Red Rocks of St. George}

Ruby Falls Cave Tour in Tennessee

Of all the things we have done in Chattanooga, the cave tour at Ruby Falls was definitely a favorite. Walking through tight tunnels, buried deep in the mountain, was a real thrill. We loved the different formations and hidden pools of water. But the real highlight of the tour was the massive waterfall seemingly gushing out of the rock.

{read the post: Cave Tour at Ruby Falls}

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Looking Ahead to 2026:

Looking ahead to 2026, we don’t have anything firmly set yet, but we definitely have a few ideas floating around.

In the spring, we’ll head back to the Utah slopes—and maybe this will finally be the year I try skiing myself. Now that both my husband and daughter are officially skiers, it might be time for me to join the bandwagon.

With the World Cup coming to the U.S. and games being hosted in eleven cities, we’re hoping we can somehow snag tickets and experience at least one match in person.

And with the country celebrating its 250th anniversary, we’re considering diving deeper into Revolutionary history—possibly with a trip to Philadelphia to take part in the anniversary festivities.

And, more than likely, the holiday season will find us back in Europe wandering through more Christmas markets. There are still so many we hope to see.

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As this year comes to an end, I’m filled with gratitude for where the road has led us and for all the miles, memories, and lessons along the way. I’m so thankful to be part of this little corner of the internet—grateful for the people I’ve met, the stories we’ve shared, and the adventures we’ve experienced together. Thank you for your time, your comments, and for following along with our grand misadventures.

Wishing you and yours a beautiful new year—one filled with laughter, love, good food, big dreams, and new travels. Thank you, 2025… and hello, 2026.