-
11-Day Family Camping Trip Through Colorado, Wyoming & Utah
During the summer of 2022, we embarked on an 11-day family camping trip through Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Over 2,000 miles traveling and sleeping in a 34-square-foot camper with our 2 small children was amazing. Back in April we purchased a Forest River NoBo 10.5 and have been planning this trip ever since. While our original thought was to head to Utah, we decided to travel north to cooler temperatures in July. We spent 11 days traveling to Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park) and back down through Utah (Flaming Gorge) before ending back up in Colorado. The memories we made with our children (2 years old and 4 months at the…
-
Our First Trip as Family of Four to Boulder, Colorado
The first time traveling with a newborn is always nerve-wracking, but traveling with 2 under 2 was even more overwhelming. We wholeheartedly believe that exposing children to things when they’re young pays off in the long run! So we decided to take a short weekend trip to Boulder, Colorado, just 2 hours from our home in Colorado Springs. A weekend of hiking, dining out, and exploring downtown was just what we needed after not traveling for months during my third trimester. Where to Stay for a Weekend in Boulder, Colorado I searched for somewhere close enough to downtown that we didn’t have to drive very far, but also close enough…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
The Best Itinerary for a Weekend Hiking in the Heart of the Dolomites
For July 4th, we celebrated our freedom and American independence by traveling to our favorite place in Italy – the Dolomites. On our very last weekend living in Italy, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot. It’s all thanks to connections made through a Facebook group that I’m an admin/moderator of – Hike the Dolomites – that I learned about Rocca Bruna Dolomiti Bed & Breakfast. If only we had found this location earlier, we would have enjoyed many more weekends here! After a fantastic weekend, I couldn’t wait to share all the details from our days at Rocca Bruna and in the Italian Dolomites. Below you will find the…
-
Road Trip Through the Balkans: Snorkeling, Camping & Sunsets in Croatia
2 weeks. 14 days. 13 nights. 13 different hotels/campgrounds. 3,342 miles (or 5,380 km). 11 countries. 6 different currencies. 2 rental cars. Stephen, myself, and the pup. That’s our road trip in a nutshell. I’m a numbers-loving person so those are the facts, but there was so much more to this road trip, so much to write about I hardly know where to start! Well actually, let’s back up a second and talk about how we chose this trip. When Stephen found out the dates for his 2 weeks of holiday leave, we talked about it a bit and decided that we didn’t really want to fly anywhere because we…
-
6 Breathtaking Hiking Trails in the Dolomites
Living within viewing distance of the Dolomites has undoubtedly left a permanent mark on my heart. I wake up every morning and drive my husband to work hoping that the sky is clear enough to get even a glimpse of them as the sun is rising and hitting the peaks, giving them a pink hue. Every mountain range we visit compares in no way shape or form to the Dolomites. They are unique, breathtaking, and will always provide unlimited adventures. Hiking in the Dolomites has become my peaceful outlet, where I seek mental clearness, and where I feel comfortable. I have been left speechless by its beauty and at the…
-
5 Outdoor Activities You Should Try This Winter
During the cold winter season, most people want to curl up on the couch by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa and watch Netflix. I get it – winter and lots of snow can seem long and daunting. While I love my days snuggling with the pups and reading, it’s great to have balance, and getting outdoors will do you loads of good mentally and physically. I never really liked winter sports before this season, because either I wasn’t sure what all there was to do, where to go to rent things, or it was just too dang cold. (I’m from North Carolina and anything below 32 to…
-
Hiking and Climbing in the Dolomites: Via Ferrata in Val di Fassa
This October we completed our fifth via ferrata of the year and the summit viewpoint was incredible. It was by far the longest of any hike/climb we had completed yet. 11 miles, 9 hours, and 3400 feet of hiking and climbing in Val di Fassa. It was exhausting – mentally and physically – but the feeling afterward of accomplishing that feat is something I’ll never tire of. I wanted to see the leaves changing and we hadn’t climbed in many months, so we headed to our favorite mountain range in all of Italy – the Dolomites. I did a little research and found a valley and area that we hadn’t…
