Since moving away from the Midwest, the place I miss the most is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula or the UP, where the Yoopers live. The U.P. is a 6-8 hour drive from Chicago, which is why I lived in Chicago for years before my first Upper Peninsula travel. I mean, I can fly to Ireland in …
National Parks
Local’s Guide to Saguaro National Park
My first visit to Tucson just so happened to be a volunteer vacation in Saguaro National Park and I instantly fell in love with the Sonoran desert and the saguaro cactus. It only took eight years before I ended up moving to Tucson where I regularly went hiking in Saguaro National Park. It’s a unique …
Are Dogs Allowed at the Grand Canyon?
Traveling with dogs can be challenging, especially if you want to visit National Park Service sites around the United States. More national parks are implementing a BARK ranger program to encourage responsible dog ownership in the parks, however, the majority of national parks still limit dogs to paved areas and parking lots. That’s why I …


