Tag: USA
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Summer Beauty & Hiking Trails of Shenandoah National Park {Virginia}
With a long weekend ahead, we were looking for a quick getaway—somewhere to spend a couple of days outdoors. Logically, we probably should have stayed home to prepare for our big trip to Europe in a few weeks. But the call of a weekend escape was too strong to resist. We finally settled on Shenandoah…
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Hiking at Lost Creek Falls- Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park {Tennessee}
Summer has arrived in Tennessee, and the state parks are calling. Recently, Tennessee State Parks announced the designation of several new parks, bringing the total number to an impressive sixty. We’re still working toward our goal of visiting them all, so we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore one of the newest additions. Scott’s…
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The Tennessee Renaissance Festival at Castle Gwynn
Every week as we drive along Highway 840, we catch sight of castle towers rising above the trees. It’s startling — even a little surreal — to see the silhouette of a medieval castle set against the rolling hills of Tennessee. The sight immediately sparks questions. Why is there a castle there? What does it…
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Cowboys & Cattle Drives at the Fort Worth Stockyards {Texas}
For the longest time, the two places our daughter has wanted to see are Alaska and Texas. So when we told her that on our way home we would be landing in Texas, her excitement was immediate. As we flew into the Dallas–Fort Worth airport, she pressed her face to the window and asked, “Are…
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A Winter Day Wandering Jackson Hole & Grand Teton {Wyoming}
After a few days at home and carving turns on the slopes of Brighton, we packed up and pointed the car north toward Wyoming. While most people are done with winter by this time of year—chasing sunshine and warmer temperatures—we were heading straight back into the snow. We wanted mountains dusted in white. We wanted…
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A Kid’s Guide to Skiing at Brighton Resort {Utah}
There’s a long-running joke in our house that Brad moved to Utah for the skiing… and then married someone who doesn’t ski. Ever since we got married, he’s talked about taking a family ski trip like the ones he grew up with — cold mornings, bundled kids, chairlift rides, and hot chocolate breaks. This year,…
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Hiking Greeter Loop Trail- Savage Gulf State Park {Tennessee}
With the weather finally beginning to thaw after the frozen temperatures of winter, it felt like the perfect time to get outside and go hiking in Savage Gulf State Park. And of course, for us there is no better place to welcome the coming of spring than at a Tennessee state park. When we first…
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Historic Sites Around the Shoals {Alabama}
When we planned a last-minute trip to northern Alabama, our original goal was simple: visit Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller. But as soon as we started exploring, we realized the Shoals—this collection of towns along the Tennessee River—was full of surprises. From historic landmarks and quirky local sites to musical milestones, there’s so…
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Visiting Ivy Green- Helen Keller’s Childhood Home {Alabama}
The quiet grounds of Ivy Green in Tuscumbia, Alabama feel almost peaceful in a way that invites reflection. Oak trees shade the modest white house where Helen Keller was born, and it’s hard to imagine that such an extraordinary life story began in such a simple place. Visiting the birthplace of Helen Keller is both…
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Elephant Seals, Moonstones, & Tide Pools on the Central Coast {California}
It had been four years since my last trip to California. Some of my lifelong friends had moved to the Central Coast, settling in the quiet coastal town of Los Osos. Over the years they’ve become more like family, and being so far away from them had been harder than I expected. For months I…