• hiking in germany
    Europe,  Family Travel,  Germany

    A Roundup of the Best Day Trips from Grafenwoehr, Germany

    Travel to other countries took a halt when our first child was born and a pandemic broke out across Europe. We weren’t able to travel very far from our home, so we stuck to doing things outdoors and within a few hours’ drive. Learning about the beauty that surrounded us in Bavaria was one of the perks that came out of the lockdown during a global pandemic. In this post, you’ll find a roundup of my favorite day trips from Grafenwoehr, Germany. There will be a variety of places in this blog post – from hiking and castle ruins to zoos and lakes. My hope is that there is something…

  • swimming pool at tropic shores resort in daytona beach
    Family Travel,  Florida,  North America,  United States

    Two Weeks in Daytona Beach, Florida: The Best Things To Do

    My Dad proposed to my Mom in the sand on Daytona Beach, the same beach that I would crawl around on a year later, and the same one that my daughter crawled around on 28 years later. Some of my favorite moments growing up were spent on the sunny, warm, Florida beach. In February, I spent two full weeks at the beach with my family and my daughter, Lillie Belle. It was the most fun-filled vacation I’ve had in over a year. Signs of the pandemic were minimal and there were plenty of family-friendly things to do during our stay that I’m excited to share with you here! Why Visit…

  • Fussen, Germany
    Europe,  Germany

    Füssen, Germany: Suspension Bridges and Fairytale Castles

    As soon as I found out that one of Stephen’s friends was in Fussen, Germany, I was sold on a weekend trip. It was a win-win situation – a new country for my list and a chance for him and his buddy to reunite! When I think of Germany, I think of delicious German food, hiking, and towns with unique German architecture.  And, it’s safe to say that all of my expectations were met for this weekend trip! Visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty has been on my bucket list for months now, thanks to the numerous Instagram posts in my feed. This fairytale-like castle…

  • Europe,  Family Travel,  Germany

    Best Things To Do in Regensburg, Germany

    After being in the states for over 3 months visiting my friends and family, I was starting to miss schnitzel, bratwurst, and my favorite German cities. I couldn’t wait to end quarantine and start exploring again. We decided our first day trip would be to visit Regensburg, a city I fell in love with a few months after Lillie was born last summer (2020). Located on the banks of the Danube River in southeast Germany is the medieval town of Regensburg. It’s the perfect day trip from almost anywhere in Bavaria, especially Grafenwoehr. Taste the famous bratwurst sandwich at one of the most historical restaurants on the river. Then, stroll…

  • home in germany, kaltenbrunn military community grafenwoehr
    Germany,  Military Life,  Personal

    We’ve Moved! A Tour of Our New Home in Germany

    (March 2021 update: whew, I read back over this post and realize I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. I’m not going to delete things out of this post, because I think it’s important for me to remember what I liked about Kaltenbrunn at first. But, this place was terrible. The dog park backyard turned into nothing but piles of poop, the small playground was nothing but a spot for dogs to pee on, and the small rooms developed mold quickly. There was drama, baby mama drama, and even more drama! We were fortunate enough to move to a bigger government house in the neighborhood called Netzaberg,…

  • Asia,  Personal,  Travel Tips

    Next Adventure: Asia

    In 2017, we were planning our honeymoon to Phuket, Thailand. Flights, hotels, dinner reservations – everything was booked. We were headed to a swanky resort beachside and were going to explore Phuket for multiple days during our first month of marital bliss. It didn’t happen. The marital bliss part, yes, the going to Thailand part, no. A few days before I was set to leave, Stephen got a notice that he wouldn’t be able to enter the country because his passport expired in less than 6 months. No ifs and or buts. Trip canceled. All I wanted was to see elephants. I was distraught and knew we lost a ton…

  • Uncategorized

    2019 Hiking Challenge – Calling All Hikers! (+ FREE Download)

    This year, 2019, I challenge you to get outdoors more. To head to the woods or the mountains and just HIKE! Wherever you feel comfortable – the hills in your neighborhood or town, that big mountain that you’ve had your eye on, or longer trails such as the Appalachian, PNW, or maybe internationally like the Dolomites in Italy! Welcome to Outside This Small Town’s 2019 Hiking Challenge… Record your trails and distance and let’s see how many people can make it to 100 miles (160 km) hiked by the end of 2019! Track your distance with whatever app or device you like best. My preference is OutdoorActive (click here to…

  • Guest Posts,  New Zealand

    5 Hidden Gems to Explore in New Zealand {Guest Post by Sarah McGee}

    Perfect beaches, limitless culture, friendly locals, and amazing food: New Zealand truly does have it all. It’s the ideal location for families looking to make some amazing holiday memories together, teenagers on a backpacking adventure, or young couples looking for a romantic setting for their getaway. The popular tourist destination has so much to offer, which is why it attracts more and more tourists each year. More than 300,000 people visited New Zealand in 2018, most of whom were young people between the age of 25-34. However, 38% of this age bracket traveled without insurance in 2017 which was an increase of 7% on the year before. Without insurance, the…

  • Europe,  Romania

    Winter Travel in Transylvania, Romania

    While Romania, and especially the region of Transylvania, is castle heavy and famous for inspiring the movie Dracula from Vlad the Impaler, it has so much more to offer. Some moments driving through the country were like taking a step back in time – like when we would pass horses and carriages carrying loads of wood for their fires, or when we would pass people moving furniture on small hand carts instead of in a car. From fortified churches to the architecture of castles and homes, winter travel in Transylvania, Romania is one of a kind and definitely worth a trip. Stephen and I barely scratched the surface of this…

  • moving back to america, colorado springs
    Military Life,  North America,  Personal,  United States

    America, Here We Come

    3 years ago we made the decision to stay in Europe and move from Italy to Germany. I never could have imagined that just a few years later we would be itching to leave and return to the U.S. Between a rough pregnancy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and some health issues with our daughter — it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows this past year. Thanks to the determination and sacrifices of my husband, Stephen, we are heading to Ft. Carson, Colorado in just a few months. We’re finally moving back to America, y’all! A Recap of Our Time in Germany Our time in Germany started off a little rocky. The…