Dog Friendly State Parks really should be the definition of state parks. Great Outdoors. Hikes/Walks. All the smells… Luckily this is true about Minnesota’s State Parks: that they are all dog-friendly. As long as you keep your dog on a short leash and pick up after them they are more than welcome to hike, camp, and enjoy the natural park wonders with you! This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a percentage if you buy something using them at no cost to you. I only recommend places and products that I know and trust which I believe you will love and enjoy as well. Top 5 Dog ..read more

Macy’s department store in Chicago may be the place to head for your family Christmas holiday destination. It has it all- history, decorations, restaurants, walking, window displays with a story, Christmas tree, shopping, and SANTA! Everything about it brought home the reality of Christmas in Chicago. Note: I was hosted in Chicago by Enjoy Illinois and received an amazing tour of the Macy’s Store as part of this hosted stay. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may make a tiny percentage if you buy something using them. I only r ..read more

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is made for stand up paddle boarding. The MN state parks are the perfect place for enjoying any type of paddle boarding imaginable, from lakes to rivers to rapids to smooth-as-glass waters. These top 5 state parks in Minnesota for stand up paddle boarding (or commonly referred to as SUP) are in the smooth-as-glass, peaceful setting, and beautiful location category more than in the intense water sport category. *Note: I have partnered with C4 Waterman this summer as part of my MN State Park adventure and they have provided me with the XXL Inflatable 10’8″ SUP and ..read more

Minnesota: Land of 4 very distinct seasons, 10,000 lakes, and more to do and see than you could possibly imagine. Included in this Minnesota bucket list is just a small sample of all the wonderful and exotic things you can do in Minnesota. This is meant to get you started on some of those key experiences everyone should try at least once. Share your Minnesota Bucket List with me in the comments! Note: This post contains affiliate links which cost you nothing, but if you use the link to purchase something I will make a smaller percentage which helps me continue to provide you with quality info ..read more

A comfortable, luxury hotel that is both kid and pet friendly is one of my favorite things and the Magnolia Omaha Hotel has it all! It’s so important to have a relaxing place to call home when traveling with a toddler and dog. The rooms are beautiful, family-friendly and with plenty of fun spots to explore you can easily alternate between nap time to exploring. Our stay at the Magnolia Hotel Omaha was part of a hosted trip from the amazing people at Visit Omaha. All opinions expressed are mine and my family’s. Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of those ..read more

The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Minnesota. With its criss-crossing metal beams and picturesque location it’s no wonder that it’s photographed as often as it is! Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 the lift bridge is located at the heart of Canal Park, near downtown Duluth and is visible from nearly everywhere in the city as the landscape slopes upwards from there and the harbor. 5 ways to Experience the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge: 1. The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge in Action. It’s a beauty to behold, especially when in action- lift ..read more

A lot of hard work goes into a harvest. Getting in that combine during harvest signifies so many things. The end of a season, a year of hard work, accomplishment and probably even some loss (especially considering the weather as of late). Combining to bring in the harvest during the tiny window of time that is late fall means late hours, long days, waiting and plenty of dirt for those who make farming their living, but it’s all worth it in the end. And while some of these things you can’t know without living it, there are windows into that world every once in awhile and sitting in the jumper ..read more

Marietta, Ohio’s new slogan is “Ohio’s First Adventure” and it couldn’t be more on point. Marietta was the absolute first settlement in the Northwest Territories (which had to have been an incredible adventure!) and sitting at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers it is a hub of outdoor adventure nowadays too. You will have an incredible experience in outdoor adventure in Marietta, Ohio which will leave you with a desire to return again and again. NOTE: This post contains affiliate links to places and products I think you would enjoy. I was hosted by the Marietta, Ohio CVB duri ..read more

Milwaukee is an incredible city with so much green space, phenomenal architecture and history that I was blown away. It’s visually appealing which makes for a great trip for sharing on instagram. Here are the 8 best instagram spots in Milwaukee. The caveat is that there are so many things that I didn’t get to see and do while I was there that I will definitely go back again (and am always open to suggestions and ideas)! Note: I was in Milwaukee for the Women In Travel Summit and was therefore provided with free entrance to a few of the locations na ..read more

If you’ve ever wanted to plummet a 1/2 mile into the earth in three minutes than than Soudan Underground Mine state park mine tour is for you! Fascinating and a bit frightening it’s an hour tour that you’ll remember forever. Soudan Underground Mine tour The Soudan Underground Mine is the oldest and deepest mine in the state of Minnesota. Over the life of the mine they removed over 15.5 million tons of ore out of Soudan Underground Mine and the tour is full of fun facts and fascinating pieces of northern MN history. Larissa (aka Larry- “because everyone in the mine gets a nickna ..read more