Check out my blog posts for a good laugh, trip inspirations, travel tips and more. The blogs feature active, outdoor adventure vacation destinations with a focus on mountain biking, hiking, and golfing. Start your outdoor and adventure vacation planning here.
Mountain bikers, have you heard of Ishpeming, Negaunee, Big Bay, or Harbor Springs? Even my fellow Michiganders might be scratching their helmet right now. These new Michigan trail towns are all at the top of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Pull out the...
The last time I was in Charleston, SC it was 1992. I was a graduate student and volleyball coach for Winthrop University, in town, to compete against the College of Charleston. Some 30 years later, I can vouch that the city has staying power. The low country and...
More women on bikes has always been my motto. I'm a dame in a MTB world full of dudes. Selfishly, I want more bike besties, and I'd love for more of them to be women. The sport leans heavily toward guys, and at last check, most sources show that only 15-30% are women...
I didn’t really consider Vegas an outdoor adventure hub until recently. We flew into Sin City in mid-February and promptly skipped the Strip and the gambling scene in favor of picking up our rental camper van for nine days of mountain biking and hiking. Las Vegas is...
So, what's a Howler? Legend says it's a mysterious creature that roams the Ozarks in the forested hills of Missouri. The Howler has a signature, high-pitched howl that has been heard many moons ago and apparently still today. We discovered that the legend lives no...
In late October, we hopped in the car and headed south. We found the Southeast's bike epicenter and plenty of inspired mountain biking in Knoxville. Aspire (Clinton, Tennessee) Dreams and aspirations do come true. We found a shining example of this in Clinton,...
I inspected two diverse piles of clothing before shoving them in my overnight bag for our fall weekend adventure at The Highlands in Harbor Springs. One stack included a skort, a collared shirt, and a ball cap. The second pile had a pair of outer shorts, a padded...
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is 1/3 of the state’s land area, but only 3% of the state’s population lives here. Being a troll (someone who lives below the Mackinaw Bridge), I crave the vastness and room to roam in the upper, and like most outdoorsy types, Josh and I...
Mountain bike trails don’t build themselves. Most destination trail systems have a backbone organization that organizes pedal people: riders, volunteers, trail builders, and donors. In Knoxville, Tennessee, AMBC (Appalachian Mountain Bike Club) has been Knox County’s...
It was 1:40 a.m. on May 26. My brain and body jolted at a giant crack of thunder. Splashes of strobe lightning illuminated every dark corner of the bedroom. Rain pelted the glass sliding doors overlooking the Berksdale Golf Course next to our Greens One condo in Bella...
Better to be late to the party than to miss the whole enchilada. The Whole Enchilada is a world-famous mountain bike trail in Moab that usually means a shuttle ride to an epic seasonal drop-off point. Be ready for 7,000 feet and 15+ miles of descent with...
Most avid mountain bikers that visit the Mitten roll into Marquette or Copper Harbor, both epic trail systems. Copper Harbor is an IMBA Silver-level ride center, and Marquette is just a little behind with a bronze designation. What does that mean? IMBA ranks...
A rocky mountain ski trip is winter magic: snow-capped views above 10,000 feet, delightful apres-ski toasts with ski buddies, ripping a top-to-bottom run on packed powder, and a soak in the slope-side condo's hot tub…. The winter magic will dazzle you; a few weeks...
I'd never been to New Orleans. This classic southern Cajun-vibe city perched on the gulf in a giant swath of wetlands where seawater meets the Mississippi River. I bet you've heard the nickname, The Big Easy, but like most, I didn't know the origin. Historically,...
If you're like me, you're already scheming and planning for 2024 travel. And, since the holiday season is upon us, let's skip more stuff and give the gift of travel instead. What's on our 2024 wish list? Montana, Park City, Quebec, and of course a return to NW...
Mountain biking is better…when you are actually in the mountains! The biking we do at home in Michigan, at sea level, on dirt trails with no rocks, on gently rolling hills, I pondered. Is that really mountain biking? Of course, the genre encompasses a wide range of...
It was the neighborly thing to do: pop one state over to Wisconsin's CAMBA mountain bike trail system. You may not be able to say the name (Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association), but I guarantee you'll want to return. I cheated and took the cross-lake ferry from...
Reflecting on a visit to Canada's heartland in the Manitoba province, I am struck by the diversity of experiences: bikes, bison, baseball, and beauty, to name a few. We found adventure in the wilderness and the city of Winnipeg. The vast outdoor spaces were inspiring...
Most mountain bikers are men, 70% according to current demographics. That means my fellow femme shredders make up the other 30% or less. I’d love to see this stat continue to change, and I hope more women will take up this unique and adventurous sport. Change is a few...
Bella Vista in the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks is an outdoor epicenter where golfing and mountain biking are intertwined – golf course fairways intersect with rolling ribbons of singletrack trails. Golfers in khakis and collared shirts traverse fairways in power carts...
February arrives in Michigan with the hope for Spring, but winter typically holds us in its clutches for longer than we would like…especially for biker types. Not in the mood to wait, Josh and I drove five hours south to Nashville, Indiana, in search of Spring...
With mountain bike trail names like these... any guesses where to find them? Back 40, Tunnel Vision, Tweety Bird, Blowing Springs, Little Sugar, Danger Will Robinson, Whiskey Tango, Shock & Awe, Lago Vista, Tavistock Canyon, Snack Attack, Stagger Wing, Ruth’s...
You like to ride your mountain bike. It's nearing year end so it's time to put a travel wish list together for 2023. Tis' the season for giving so I've compiled a 2022 recap to aid in your planning. Here's five destinations around the country and one right here in the...
The canopy was still showing off in late October; crisp and vibrant reds and oranges melded in with the evergreens for an outstanding Blue Ridge outdoor feature. Our drive from Michigan to western North Carolina and Etowah Valley Golf & Resort was a stunner. I...