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Devil’s Tower on the Road Trip
When we left the Badlands, we thought we’d go to Yellowstone. One of the benefits of not being on a fixed schedule is that you can change and add to your agenda. That’s what happened on the way out of the Badlands. Adding to our stops, we looked at going to Devil’s Tower. Devil’ Tower…
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Things To Do In Columbus Ohio
Columbus Ohio might not be the first place you think of to take a vacation, but we found, with all its charm and locally owned businesses, it is an excellent weekend trip! We were able to discover THE school, delicious food and great shops. If you are looking for things to do in Columbus Ohio,…
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Destination College Town?
Visiting college campuses may seem like an odd travel destination, but we found them to be great, yet simple destinations. Obviously, your experience will depend on which campus you visit, but generally speaking, we have found that trips to college towns have some commonality that we enjoy. First, most college towns tend to have a…
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What do star ratings mean for hotels?
Logan and I are traveling to national parks and staying at various campgrounds and hotels along the way. It got me thinking about why I was picking certain hotels. I use to travel a lot for business, and got into the habit of going to familiar hotel chains. It was good because I had a…
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Badlands South Dakota
After a long drive from Illinois to South Dakota, we booked a room in Rapid City. It was too late to get a spot at the campground for the night. But, we did manage to get a spot for the next night. Our morning started with the realization that I underestimated the distance from Rapid…
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Upcoming Road Trip to National Parks
South Dakota, Wyoming (just barely), Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California… then who knows? Logan just graduated college and he wants to take a long road trip, focusing on National Parks. Its something I’ve been thinking about as well, so now seems to be the time. The Badlands in South Dakota will be first on the…
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Tamarack Marketplace in West Virginia off I64
Sometimes when you are traveling, you need just to take a chance on some sign you see on the side of the road. In our case, this winter, it was Tamarack Marketplace in West Virginia. We were heading to North Carolina and saw the Tamarack Marketplace sign, one of those location information signs on the…
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Visiting The American Tobacco Campus
Once a force in the tobacco, Durham, NC faced a major challenge when the industry shrank. The end of tobacco in Durham presented a challenge and an opportunity—an opportunity the people of Durham did not squander. The tobacco company occupied large swaths of prime real estate, and the location was transformed into the American Tobacco…
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Overlooks Places: Duke University
Visiting universities is usually something people only think about when their kids are planning to go. But, some colleges and universities have beautiful campuses with wonderful buildings and gardens. So, if you’re looking for a quick place to visit, don’t overlook universities. This time, we made our way to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.…
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Holland MI Tulip Festival!
The Holland Tulip Festival (taking place in early May) may be well known to the folks in eastern Michigan. But, I came by it purely accidentally as I was returning home in IL after dropping my daughter off at Michigan State. I decided to take some surface roads rather than the highway, and I’m grateful…
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Taking dogs to the Chicago Wells Street Art Festival
When you travel with dogs, either across the country or to a neighborhood in the city, you always wonder how “dog friendly” it will be. No matter how much you love your four-footed friend or how well-behaved they may be, people in some places simply don’t see dogs the way you do. So, it is…
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Taking the dogs along the Lake Erie Cost at Presque Isle State Park
If you didn’t know it was there, you’d not easily come across Presque Isle State Park in Erie PA. As part of our road trip in May of 2022, we decided to take a detour from our route to Niagara Falls. It’s a short trip off Interstate 90 just before Erie PA. Since we were…
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Traveling to Niagara Falls with Dogs
You can bring your dog to Niagara Falls! This Mid-May road trip took us through Niagara Falls as the temperatures were just about perfect in the 70s, and the weather a mix of clouds and sun. While the park and the Falls are open 24/7 365 days a year, there is a busy season starting…
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Visit Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings & Mesa Top
There are many reasons to visit Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. From the grand views to excavations of the fascinating ancient Pueblo homes, there is something to pique any traveler’s interest. If you choose to stay at Far View Lodge or camp in the park, you will be treated to breathtaking nighttime views and,…
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Ultimate Guide for a Trip to Yosemite National Park
National parks are becoming America’s great travel resource. 327 million people visited a national park in 2019, including millions of international tourists. Yosemite National Park is one of the crown jewels of the national park system. Yet it can be a little overwhelming, especially for people less familiar with it. How should you prepare for a…
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Colorado National Monument
Located in western Colorado just south of Grand Junction, the Colorado National Monument is like a mini-Grand Canyon. Along with great vistas, hiking the trails gets great views and rock formations are amazing. Desert hike There are several trails through the national park. Hikers are encouraged to stay on the trails. There are some really…
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9 Great Zipline Adventures for Your Family
Ziplines are exciting, fun, and perhaps a little scary. Zipline vacations will leave you with great memories. The unique experience of ziplines has added to the attraction of beautiful, scenic areas around the world. You can even get a thrilling perspective zipping over metro areas. If you’re looking for a great adventure, try one of…