where are you going?

My favorite kind of adventure stories don’t feature daring escapes from wild animals or treks into distant jungles. I am more drawn to ordinary people who take risks to follow their dreams, and if those dreams involve a few lovable dogs, all the better. Shirley Harman lives with a pack of seven dogs, and in 2016, at the age of 58, she embarked on a remarkable journey with Tina, a nine-year-old mixed-breed terrier, and Lyssa, an 85-pound German Shepherd. First, they drove 3,500 miles from California to the Canadian/Vermont border. Then, they trekked 275 miles on the Vermont Long Trail from the northern border to Massachusetts. The Long Trail is America’s oldest long-distance hiking path and was completed in 1930.  Shirley began her trek on September 2, 2016, and spent three weeks putting one foot in front of the other, through quintessential New England mud, torrential rain, and glorious autumn sunshine, and then spent the next two years writing about her adventure. He...

Vermont is getting ready for its annual gala event, and of course, you’re invited! The landscape is so stunning, so vibrant, that I have to make a point to watch the road and only the road when I’m out and about. It just seems impossible to go about daily life when the natural world is putting on a display that just begs to be photographed. The solution to this beautiful distraction? A little southern Vermont weekend getaway, fall-foliage style! If you have two or three days to explore this fall, why not head up to southern Vermont? It’s just a few hours from Boston and New York City – a perfect long-weekend retreat for families, couples, and canines. This southern Vermont getaway will give you the perfect opportunity to drive beautiful back roads, explore quaint New England villages, and even do a little camping. Here are the highlights of a three-day trip through the mountains and villages of southern Vermont. Planning to explore beyond Southern Vermont? Chec...

Grand Canyon National Park turns 101 this year, and what better way to celebrate this iconic landscape than to embark on a Grand Canyon camping trip? Last year, we spent our spring break exploring the Grand Canyon from Desert View Campground, and we loved every minute of our adventure. We’d love to share our experience with you, as well as a few tips for visiting the south rim of the Grand Canyon with your family. It’s a must-visit destination, as I’m sure you’ve heard, but the grand views are only part of the adventure. Here are some of the coolest things about camping in the Grand Canyon, and why, despite its popularity, you still need to visit. Camping is the Best Way to Get to Know Grand Canyon National Park Sunrise at Moran Point Those specks are my kiddos taking in the view just beyond the Desert View Watchtower  Grand Canyon National Park is consistently rated as one of the best national parks in the US  and is one of those places that ...