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,...
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...
Michigan's Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam Once complete, this ambitious project will feature 47 miles of professionally-built single-track trail around Hardy Dam Lake designed for mountain biking, hiking, or running experiences. Current status, 24 miles and rolling, that’s...
It was the first time in five years that we did not get rained or stormed on, huddled in a tent or hammock! This annual learning-journey tradition continues to churn out memorable moments. Josh and I (Uncle Josh and Aunt Laura) guide our nieces and nephews (ages 7 to...
What’s better than a guys’ golf weekend? A girls’ golf weekend, in Gaylord, at Otsego Resort. Sometimes, I put away my bike and padded shorts in favor of a collared shirt and matching skort, armed with a bag full of irons, wedges, and woods. You’ll need...
Dunmaglas is a Scottish phrase, the battle cry of a clan, in fact. The golf course in Charlevoix, Michigan, is aptly named and gives some indication of expectations. Pro Tip: Don't head into battle unless you are prepared for it. The naturally undulating and forested...
Why is Flagstaff a must-visit Arizona destination? At 7,000 feet above sea level, the desert terrain and cactus spikes change to towering 200’ Ponderosa pines, the trademark foliage of the towering San Francisco mountain peaks. Fittingly, Flagstaff’s name is derived...
Georgia is a peach, but there are a couple of other reasons to PICK Ellijay, the northern corner of the state. It's prime apple orchard country and Georgia's mountain bike capital. Here, the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains extend into the Chattahoochee National...
Bella Vista, translated from Spanish to English, is simply a beautiful view. There is plenty of beauty, and it’s a beautiful thing to pedal right from your yard into a world-class mountain bike trail system. Drive less, ride more in this mid-south mountain bike mecca....