Category
- Art 3
- Bike Rides 11
- Boondocking 3
- Capitals 4
- Food on the Road 2
- Hikes & Trails 4
- Historic Sites 1
- History & Architecture 3
- History & Culture 15
- Kayaking 1
- Museum 3
- National Park 5
- Natural History 1
- Nature & Outdoors 30
- Photography 8
- Sculptures 1
- Shorelines & Water 1
- Travel Journal 42
- Van Life 63
- capitals 11
- hike 1
- historic sites 6
- parks 3
- photography 3
- trails 2
Exploring Lake of the Ozarks: From Bagnell Dam to Ha Ha Tonka’s Castle Ruins
I woke to a quiet morning at Lake of the Ozarks State Park and met a professional cyclist riding 8,000 miles across North America. The day led me through dam history, conservation trails, and the haunting castle ruins of Ha Ha Tonka State Park—each stop revealing a new side of Missouri’s landscape and resilience.
Cowboy Trail / Smith Falls
Cycling a short stretch of the Cowboy Trail from Valentine offered prairie views and a dramatic railroad bridge over the Niobrara River. Later, a stop at Smith Falls State Park brought Nebraska’s tallest waterfall, quiet trails, and a glimpse into the Krzyzanowski family’s history of preserving this landmark.
Carhenge, Courthouse & Jail Rocks
From Bayard’s free camping and historic Courthouse & Jail Rocks to the oddball wonder of Carhenge and the ghostly ruins of Antioch, this stretch of western Nebraska packs history, humor, and unexpected roadside stops into one memorable drive.
Fort Robinson & Toadstool Geologic Park
I started the day with a deep clean of the van before heading to Fort Robinson in Crawford, Nebraska. The museum and film walked me through the fort’s long history—from Crazy Horse’s death to Buffalo Soldiers, cavalry horses, and even German POWs in World War II. Later, I drove north to Toadstool Geologic Park, where a rough road and a hike on the Bison Trail led me through Nebraska’s strange badlands and geologic puzzles.
Mammoth Dig, Hot Springs SD
I spent the day in Hot Springs, SD, starting with the Mammoth Site’s incredible dig, then partially walked the Freedom Trail, tried farm-to-table ice cream and a burger at Two Cows Creamery, and drove into a stormy night on my way south.
Crazy Horse Monument and Buffalo
A morning at the Crazy Horse Memorial offered history, art, and the powerful story of Crazy Horse and the Ziolkowski family. In the afternoon, I drove Custer State Park’s Wildlife Loop, where I found myself in the middle of a massive bison herd, surrounded by cars and animals moving as they pleased across the plains.
Sturgis to Mt. Rushmore on 9-11
What I thought would be a two-hour visit to Mount Rushmore turned into an all-day adventure—coffee in Sturgis, history lessons, a stormy evening light show, and an overnight at Crazy Horse.
Fort Meade
Fort Meade is where the daily playing of The Star-Spangled Banner first began, a custom that spread across the Army and helped establish our national anthem. I spent time exploring the fort, photographing Bear Butte at sunset, and walking through Black Hills National Cemetery in golden light — three places that carry the weight of history and memory in the Black Hills.
Journey to the Northwest Angle
A quirk of history and a cartographer’s mistake led me to the Northwest Angle—the furthest point north in the contiguous United States. Reaching it meant crossing the border twice, mailing a card from the northernmost post office in the lower 48, and stopping at Jim’s Corner to check in with U.S. Border Control. Quiet bays, endless trees, and a haze hanging in the air gave the whole place a muted, dreamlike quality—like stepping into the forgotten margins of the map.
From a 1938 Airfield to Voyageurs National Park
A stormy night at a former 1938 airfield-turned-Harvest Hosts stay set the tone for a day steeped in history and nature. Once home to Anderson Airport (MY49), the property still bears traces of its grass runways and rusting landing lights. From there, the journey continued to Voyageurs National Park, a water-rich wilderness straddling the U.S.–Canada border where travel happens mostly by boat.
Ironworld Discovery Center
A day on Minnesota’s Iron Range moves from the history-packed trolley ride at the Minnesota Discovery Center to the towering 85-foot Iron Man statue, a tribute to the miners who built America’s steel backbone. Visitors can wander a rare northern bog in Orr, where carnivorous plants and stunted spruce thrive in soil too poor for most life, before ending the day at a Harvest Hosts stay on a 1938 airfield. Hosts Pat and Dave welcome guests with cookies, a spaghetti squash, and stories before a heavy storm rolls in—lightning flashing so often it turns the fan vent into a strobe light.
Gooseberry Falls & Split Rock Lighthouse
A smoky sunrise over Lake Superior kicked off a slow Sunday along Minnesota’s North Shore. From a quiet riverside overnight near French River to scenic hikes at Gooseberry Falls and golden-hour photography at Split Rock Lighthouse, the day unfolded with good food, helpful park rangers, and a perfectly quiet night beside an old steam engine in Two Harbors.
Drive To Twin Falls
A routine laundry stop in Chippewa Falls turned into an unexpected history lesson from a mustachioed local who could recite Wisconsin’s past like an open book. From there, the back roads led through small-town diners, cappuccino breaks in Chetek, and a chance meeting with a globe-trotting park ranger at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. By nightfall, the day wrapped up with dinner by the river and planning for tomorrow kayak trip.
Chippawa Falls and Leinenkugel Brewery
An afternoon walk through Chippewa Falls turned into a full day of small-town charm. From a tour of the historic Leinenkugel Brewery to a scoop of Dulce de Leche at Olson’s Ice Cream, the day was filled with unexpected moments. A stroll past century-old architecture led to reflections on the past, a fascinating historical plaque, and dinner to close out the day in classic Wisconsin style.
Elroy-Sparta Trail, WI
A long ride on the Elroy-Sparta Trail — the first rail-to-trail conversion in the U.S. — turned into a full-day adventure of tunnels, wildflowers, butterflies, and a minor crash. Along the way, travelers from around the world crossed paths, the Wisconsin landscape rolled by, and a few questions came up about the only state in the country that charges to ride its bike paths.
Wisconsin State Capitol-Madison
the Wisconsin State Capitol led to a stroll through the Monona Terrace, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and a stop at the iconic Babcock Hall Dairy Store for a scoop of ice cream. Along the way, a conversation with a psychology student moonlighting as a wedding DJ, a hidden plaque honoring a local disability rights advocate, and a Liberty Bell replica added unexpected depth. One five-year-old summed it up best: the ultimate goal is to visit every ice cream shop in the world. Honestly, a goal worth chasing.
A Day at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is a week-long celebration of aviation, featuring everything from military flyovers and vintage aircraft to hands-on workshops, tech talks, and flight demonstrations. With thousands of planes on display and countless events happening across the grounds, it's a must-see for aviation enthusiasts—even a single day offers a glimpse into the scale and energy of the world’s largest airshow.
Cherry Pie, Starlink Apocalypse and Devil’s Lake
What started as a quiet morning with a shower and coffee turned into a series of small detours — from cherry pie confusion to a Starlink outage, changing weather, and a campground that was harder to find than expected. Not the day I planned, but memorable in its own way.
Pictured Rocks Kayaking Adventure
I spent the day paddling right up against the towering cliffs of Pictured Rocks, slipping into hidden caves, watching cormorants lift off in flocks, and feeling just how alive and ever-changing these ancient sandstone walls really are. There’s no better way to experience Lake Superior’s wild shoreline than from the seat of a kayak.