At least two dozen tiny nymph ticks clung tenaciously to my ankles and legs by the time I checked halfway through my hike. That was two and half weeks ago. Now I’m suffering the effects of tick-borne illness including a miserable rash extending from my ankles to my thighs. When I found the ticks, they were so small that there …
Pathfinder Outdoor Survival Guide Set Giveaway
A few weeks ago, I reviews a set of Pathfinder Outdoor Survival Guides. To read all about them, click here: What’s in my pack: Pathfinder Outdoor Survival Guides. I’m excited that the publisher has offered a full set for me to give away so a lucky winner! Use the Rafflecopter app below to enter. Don’t forget, by completing all …
London wine and dine: The best restaurants and bars in Shoreditch
Enjoy this appetizing guest post highlighting the best restaurants and bars in Shoreditch, London. When you think of a night out in London, you may think of Leicester Square, Covent Garden or the West End. Perhaps Camden comes to mind, or the alternative streets of Tottenham Court Road? It’s surprising how fabulous the bars and restaurants are if you move …
Fuel for adventure: Dining in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking in the Lake Tahoe area this summer certainly worked up my appetite and being a bit of a foodie, I set out to find where the locals eat in South Lake Tahoe. Of course, I couldn’t hit them all in one trip, so I progressively visited places over the course of three weeks, usually before or after hikes with …
Photo of the day: Classic Florida wetlands
The Florida landscape includes more than sandy beaches. I spend a fair bit of time hiking in Central Florida, and some of my favorite landscapes are Florida wetlands. This photo was taken in the Orlando Wetlands Park this February, and I feel it epitomizes beauty of my favorite Florida scene. On this hike/walk we saw dozens of alligators, birds and …
Winter travel to Paris, France: Exploring French culture and food
I love escaping crowds whenever possible. After reading this guest post, I’m ready to finally visit Paris – in the winter! ~ Enjoy While the City of Lights is a sight to behold in the summer months, Paris sparkles even more in the winter. The dazzling lights shining through a light blanket of snow, the festive holiday atmosphere and …
Caving TAG: Years of tradition and a few changes
Sometimes life forces us to “reset” and start over. How we deal with these events is an important key to happiness. Refuse to adapt, and you limit yourself. Last month I made my annual caving pilgrimage to the 35th TAG Fall Cave-In. The event derives its name from the region where Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia converge in the southeastern United …
What’s in my pack: Pathfinder Outdoor Survival Guides
Could you save your own life? I spend a lot of time alone in the wilderness and I’ll admit sometimes I worry about what I would do if I were injured or lost for a few days before help arrived. The reality is I’d be stupid if I didn’t think about what could go wrong and have a plan. Accidents …
Five reasons to hike Utah’s Lake Blanche Trail
At over 8,800 feet, my lungs were objecting to the continued uphill trek toward Lake Blanche in Utah’s Wasatch Range. Okay, I’ll tell it like it was – I was huffing and puffing like a 3-pack-a-day-smoker. I’d been working out, and did some extensive hiking at altitude over the summer, but none of that helped. Feeling a bit humbled, I …
Solo Backpacking the Hoover & Yosemite Wilderness
This funny and inspiring post written by my adventurous sister is about her first solo backpacking trip through the Hoover and Yosemite wilderness. I loved reading it because I experienced many of the same things on my first solo trip, which you can read about here. Enjoy! Day 1: Heading Out…Solo It’s the perfect time for a backpacking …