I woke up in our cozy seaside cottage to a brilliant morning in Bernard, Maine. Tucked on Mount Desert Island, right on the edge of Acadia National Park, Bernard is often called the “quiet side” of the island—away from busy Southwest Harbor yet close to incredible restaurants, charming shops, and stunning hiking trails. We’ve visited…
An iconic American landmark is gone. A fast-moving wildfire—sparked by a July 4th lightning strike—has ravaged the nearly 100-year-old Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim. Also lost in the flames: all 80 cabins, the campground, general store, gas station, and the saloon. An entire resort reduced to ash in just a few hours. As…
Photo From Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion: Boardwalk condition post-explosion. NPS / Jacob W. Frank Yellowstone constantly vents steam like an overbearing boss blowing off stress. However, this doesn’t mean we should fear it. In fact, millions of visitors gather every year to watch Yellowstone’s iconic geyser, Old Faithful, erupt approximately every 92 minutes. My family and…
After two long, frustrating years of waiting, we finally made the trip to our dream destination: the Dry Tortugas, a nearly two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride south of Key West, Florida. This place is so popular you need to book a year in advance. We did just that in 2022 for an October 2023 trip. Everything was…
(Mellow Wanderer-Grand Canyon, AZ) To truly embed yourself in the American West, stay at the Bright Angel Lodge for a unique experience on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Bright Angel is a Registered National Historic Landmark. Originally built in the late 1800s and expanded in the 1930s by renowned architect Mary Elizabeth Jane…
