Category: Travel

If you’re looking to plan a summer road trip, look no further! If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I love a good adventure! Traveling has always been something that I have enjoyed, and exploring new places is so exciting. Tristan and I have traveled to 16 National Parks and each park has something special to offer. Of all of our National Park trips, I think our first trip out west was one of my favorites! In this post, I’ll explain where and what we did on our adventure starting in Salt Lake City and ending in Seattle and will give some guidance on what I believe you cannot miss when you visit these parks!

Day 1: Salt Lake City

We arrived in Salt Lake City from Pittsburgh, PA on the first day of our 7 day trip. Soon after landed, we headed straight to pick up our camper van. We rented our van from Escape Camper Vans. The company is known for having fun and bright painted vans to travel and sleep in. They offer a few different van sizes and we went with the Maverick which was perfect for the two of us and our things. After we got our ride for the week, we went to Walmart to buy our necessities for the weekend. Tristan and I like to pack light and purchase a few things for the week when we arrive at our destination, and then donate the items we purchased before we go back home! On our list was a cooler, some picnic foods, s’more ingredients, and cheap camping chairs.
Our plan was to spend the day in Salt Lake before heading to our next stop. We got a recommendation to check out the Salt Flats – so we hoped in our colorful van and headed towards our first adventure! The salt flats were a little over an hour away from the city and were one of the coolest things I had ever seen! We explored the flats for a while and had a lot of fun taking photos before heading back to the city for some pizza and an early night.

Day 2: Wyoming Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons National Park

Day 2 started early for us – we didn’t want to waste any time! We grabbed Starbucks and headed towards Wyoming. The drive from SLC to Jackson was about 4.5 hours. We stopped along the way and enjoyed the mountain views. Our drive took us through Idaho which was a big win for me since I’m trying to visit all 50 states! We grabbed some sandwiches for lunch and pulled over along Snake River for the most breath taking views.

When we got to Jackson, we checked into our hotel and walked around town. This town was too cute with so many fun shops to check out! In the afternoon, we headed towards Grand Teton National Park and went to Jenny Lake. Be prepared to walk to the visitor center in the summer time, there were a lot of cars! We took the boat shuttle service across to Inspiration Point, a one mile hike, and then hiked an additional 3 miles back to the visitors center. This was my first time ever out west and I was truly in awe of the beautiful views. After our hike, we headed back to the hotel and found a local BBQ joint for a fun outdoor eating experience.

Day 3 & 4: Yellowstone National Park

Something that surprised me were how close Grand Tetons and Yellowstone are to one another! We woke up early this morning to be on our way and saw elk and bison on the drive! We took a small detour to check out Jackson Lake and I promise you, it will not dissapoint! Some of my favorite moments on this trip were when we just pulled over and took in the scenes around us.

As we got into Yellowstone, I will not lie to you, I was a little nervous! We lost service and the roads were super windy. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t been so nervous so that I could take in everything amazing around me! Yellowstone was like nothing we had ever seen before! We started with Ole Faithful and the geysers and then made our way to the Grand Prismatic hike. This hike was amazing for seeing the colors and learning about geysers. We continued on to the Fairy Falls hike, about 1.2 miles. I highly recommend this hike to the waterfall, but bring some water and snacks with you because it was longer and hotter than we expected!

We spent one night and 2 days in Yellowstone National Park. On the second day, we drove through a huge part of the park starting on the southern part and ending on north west side. Yellowstone Lake and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone were a must see spot during your visit! After leaving the park, we drove north a few hours and happened upon a campsite right on the Missouri River and had the entire place to ourselves. This night ended up being one of my favorites from the trip because it was such a lucky find and we were able to watch the sunset over the mountains.

Day 4: West Glacier

We woke up in our camper van and made some coffee and breakfast before starting our next piece of the road trip. We headed towards Kalispell which was a 4 hour drive. There were stores here including a Costco for us to regroup and buy any additional needs. We had planned to sleep at Flathead lake, which was beautiful, but at the last minute decided to make the rest of the drive to Glacier National Park to get a head start on the morning. We went to local restaurant for a nice dinner and stayed at the KOA in West Glacier.

Day 5 & 6: Glacier National Park

I was still sleeping in the back of the van when I heard Tristan start it at 4am! We wanted to get to the park early this day to make the most of it. After getting into the park, we pulled over at a small lake and make coffee out of the back of the van. We grabbed our folding camping chairs and brought them down to the water and watched the sun rise over the mountains. This was such a beautiful view

Next, we headed over to the Lake McDonald Lodge which was an amazing hotel. We talked to some local people who gave us some recommendations for the day. From here, we headed to Going to the Sun Road. Going to the Sun Road is not something I feel I can do justice to through this article! The views, the road, the elevation… it is incredible! GTSR takes you from West Glacier to East Glacier.

Our trip took place in the first week of July and it had just opened for the season, so be sure to keep that in mind when you’re planning your trip! We traveled to the summit of the road where Logan Pass Visitors Center is. We parked here and did hiked about 3 miles out on the Highline Trail. This trails length is 32 Miles if you are looking for a longer adventure! The views on this hike we gorgeous and we even had a snowball fight in July!

After getting back to the van at the visitors center, we continued east on Going to the Sun Road. We stopped at several overlooks and found a quiet place to eat lunch and take a swim! After probably 12 hours in the park, we headed back to our campsite for dinner and an early evening.

Day 6: Half Day at Glacier National Park

On the next day, we only did Glacier until about noon. The perfect hike for our time limitations what the Trail of the Cedar hike. This hike was about 2 miles in length, and the lake it leads to called Avalanche Lake is incredible. My best tip for this hike is to do it early if you do not want to slow down for others.

Day 6 & 7: Seattle Washington

At noon on day 6 we started our journey towards Seattle, Washington. While you may think this part of the trip seems random, let me tell you why we did it, and why it’s worth it! First, on my quest to hit all 50 states, I needed Washington! Seattle has always been a city that we have wanted to explore. Secondly, the Escape Camper Vans had a drop off location in Seattle. Instead of us treking it back to Salt Lake, we decided to drop it off at another location. Day 6 was mainly driving. We played the license plate game to stay busy and just enjoyed looking out the window. We arrived in Seattle fairly late that evening so we didn’t get a whole lot, but planned for all of Day 7 to check out the city.

The next morning we woke up and of course… we’re in Seattle so we had to get Starbucks! We went to the Pike Place where the original Starbucks is and had an awesome time walking through the markets. This was my first time on the Pacific Northwest and it was a really need experience. It wasn’t raining in Seattle while we were there and there was also great visibility. We bought ferry tickets to Bainbridge for lunch and walked around the cute town there. This was a fun way to see the city from the water. In the evening, we found a fun sports bar for dinner and did the needle. I was super nervous about the needle but wow, what an awesome way to see all of Seattle!

Day 8: Seattle to Pittsburgh

Day 8 was the last day of our National Park trip and it was time to head back home to Pittsburgh. We cleaned out the van we’d been living in for the past week and dropped it off. From there, we took an Uber to the airport and did a direct flight back to Pittsburgh. This was a great time for us to reflect back on our amazing week and look through all of our photos.

if you’re looking for more travel tips and places to go, be sure to check out my other travel blogs!

There is nothing I enjoy more than packing the car, putting Sammy and Gibson in the trunk and going glamping! When we  got the opportunity to glamp at Airydale Retreat in Mill Creek Pennsylvania, I was beyond excited. If you don’t know what glamping is, it is glamorous camping. I describe glamping as the perfect mix of “roughing it” and comfort. While you can start a fire and star gaze, you also have a bed to sleep in and a bathroom. I highly recommend glamping for anyone who loves the outdoors but may not want to sleep in a tent. Airydale Retreat is the perfect place for couples, families, and friends to hang out, hike, and explore! 

The Drive to Airydale Retreat

The drive from Pittsburgh to Mill Creek is about 2.5 hours, making it the perfect weekend getaway location. We had our car packed and ready to go and left on Friday around 3pm towards Airydale Retreat. The best part about glamping at Airydale Retreat is that they have everything you need from cookware to firewood to bedding. Because the glampsite offers so many amenities, we were able to pack pretty light! The drive out was beautiful! As we drove east we saw beautiful mountains and farms which got us even more excited to escape and relax. During the drive, I used Airydale Retreat’s helpful resources to plan hikes and food, and also took advantage of their Interactive Guide. They also offer a guide to breweries and wineries.

When we first got to our glampsite around 5:30pm at Airydale Retreat, it was obvious that we were going to have a beautiful and relaxing weekend. As we drove towards our hideaway at the glamping hut called “Cardinal 1”, we saw multiple unique glamping units from adorable huts to impressive domes. All of the properties have their own driveways and are far enough apart that each space has plenty of privacy.

Arriving at Airydale Retreat

When we first saw Cardinal 1, the first thing I noticed was that there was a slide from the top deck to the ground! I may be approaching 30, but this made me so excited. We let Sammy and Gibson out of the car and began to unpack our overnight bags and coolers. The glamping hut was absolutely perfect! It was so light and airy on the inside with its wood floors and canvas sides. It was clear every detail of this luxury glamping hut was thoroughly thought out. This glampsite is an Instagrammer’s dream! 

It was a chilly evening in the Fall, making the first item on our agenda to start a fire and get cozy. If you know my dogs, you know they were loving this cold weather, but I needed my jacket and a blanket! While we were beginning to make our fire, Airydale’s owner Matt stopped by to greet us. Matt gave us a local delicacy as a welcome gift: moon pies! Matt’s big welcome and delicious dessert was so kind. It was clear he is incredibly passionate about glamping and wants every guest to have the perfect experience. Matt was full of recommendations for us with ideas for places to eat at and trails to explore.

Dinner and Bedtime at Airydale Retreat

Tristan and I love getting creative with camping meals and decided that we wanted to make campfire tacos. This is such a fun meal, and Airydale Retreat made cooking simple with our personal sink, skillet, and propane stove. Our tacos were delicious and we may or may not have snuck a few bites to Sam and Gib, too.

After dinner, we enjoyed the fire and the stars while we made s’mores and ate our moon pies.. The wildlife we heard was like nothing we have experienced before. We eventually made it back into our huts and got ready to sleep. We got cozy under the electric blanket while Sammy and Gibson sprawled out on the cold floor (their favorite thing!)

Morning at Airdydale Retreat

When we woke up, the first thing we did was open up our glamping hut to see the sun come up over the trees. It was the best quiet and peaceful morning. A detail I have not mentioned yet was how amazing the Cardinal 1 bathroom was. I was totally surprised by the running water and design of the bathroom. I think this is the first time I have ever been outdoorsy and cute at the same time because I had the space and hot water to get myself ready!

We only stayed one night at Cardinal 1 and I was so sad to say goodbye, but I know that I will be going back again soon! We packed our things, left a note in the guest book, and said so-long to the most adorable place we have ever stayed in. Just because we were leaving our hut did not mean our Airydale Retreat stay was over. We still had to explore all of Matt’s recommendations! 

We started our morning with donuts at Allentown Donuts. This is an Amish establishment that sells donuts a few days a week and closes when they sell out. I truly mean this when I say I have never had a better donut in my life. We we a dozen to try different flavors and bring some home!

Hiking Near Airydale Retreat

Next, we set out for our first hike of the day to the Stone Mountain Overlook. This hike was just over a mile and was a ton of fun for us and the dogs. A majority of the hike was stepping across huge rocks. The view at the top was breathtaking. We pulled out our waters and donuts and enjoyed the view!

Next, we made our way to Raystown Lake. This day was beautiful with blue skies and sun and the lake could not have been prettier. I know that Sammy was dying to jump in! We went to Hawns Overlook for a stunning view of the water and trees below. The birds flying by added even more beauty to the picturesque scene.

After Raystown Lake, we made our way back to Pittsburgh. Although we were only gone for a short time, Airydale Retreat and the surrounding area truly made us feel as though we were able to getaway and relax. I cannot thank Airydale Retreat enough for the amazing hospitality and fun recommendations of things to do and see. Airydale Retreat is the perfect place for couples, families, or a girls weekend! 

Hey Darling,

Sammy hit 10k followers on tiktok this week! Don’t worry, I got him a giant dog treat to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who has shown us some love!

Sammy is only 10 months old so this is his first Fall season and he LOVES the leaves. He was rolling around and jumping in them for a good half hour. This dog loves the cold weather so I can only imagine what it will be like when he sees snow for the first time (I’ll report back!)

We traveled to New York this past weekend to see the Fall foliage and it did not disappoint. The leaves and fall colors were absolutely beautiful! If you’re looking for a quick getaway from Pittsburgh, we only drove about 2.5 hours north!

My hat is under $20 and my sweatshirt is under $40! Linking my whole outfit for you here!

What are you favorite fall activities? Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more travel and fashion inspo!

 

 

This summer has been full of adventures!  Tristan and I have been getting into camping and it is so much fun.  Okay fine… Glamping… also known as glamorous camping, which is a little more my style. You can get all of the outdoorsy-ness without having to sleep on the hard ground. This was a weekend getaway to huts in Maryland and I was definitely one Happy Glamper 🙂

Packing for a camping trip can be tricky: you can over pack, or even worse, not bring enough.  And let’s be honest, even if you are glamping, there is nowhere to do a load of laundry. I packed a bunch of layers with the thought that I can always take my sweatshirt off if I am hot, but if I get cold I am out of luck.

At my sister’s wedding, we put several polaroid cameras out on the tables so that guests could take pictures and hang them on a picture wall.  The idea was so cute, and I ended up with this awesome camera. Tip: Target will actually match Amazon prices!  I realized last minute that I didn’t have film but was able to get a great deal on some from Target. I didn’t take a picture of my S’well bottle, but they are a MUST for any camping trip.  Mine fit an entire bottle of wine and it stayed cold the entire weekend!  Who knows… maybe I will do a giveaway for one in the future!

I stole this hat from Tristan a few years ago and I wear it all of the time! Navy is one of my favorite colors and we can’t all have good hair days while camping, so this hat was a camping must.  Gray t-shirt, jean shorts, and… DONE.  That was easy 🙂

Monogram necklaces are my absolute favorite, I wear mine all of the time.  You are going to see a lot of monograms from me… stay tuned!

Where is your favorite place to go camping?  I love recommendations and am always looking to try new places!

Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe 🙂

Safe travels!

 

 

Washington D.C. is such a fun city to visit! I was just there celebrating my friend Emily’s bachelorette weekend. It was SO much fun. Eating, drinking, shopping, and spending time with great friends from college, what more can a girl ask for?  (answer: more wine!)

The trip started off a little rocky Friday with a delayed flight due to weather, ugh! Luckily for us the weather turned itself around so we could start celebrating.

For a day of exploring, I paired this denim overall dress from Forever 21 with a white off the shoulder top and my favorite pink high tops. It was such a cute and comfortable look for a hot summer day.

Before a night out celebrating the beautiful bride to be, I went to brunch with my friend Ashley at J. Paul’s in Georgetown.  They had the most incredible cornbread muffins! After brunch, or course, we went shopping. I can’t wait to show you what I bought! I absolutely love Zara, but we don’t have one in Pittsburgh, so getting to shop in the store was a treat.

After brunching and shopping with Ashley, I met up with my lovely friend Sara (thanks for the pics, Sara!!) When I was last in a D.C., I went to Sweet Green for lunch and had been craving it ever since. Have you ever been?! They have the best salads! Afterward, we stumbled upon an awesome juice bar called South Block, and oh my gosh was it good! I ordered an acai smoothie bowl with fruit and granola on top (YUM!) it was the perfect snack for a hot day.

If you can even believe that I had any more room to eat…  we went to Barcelona Wine Bar on 14th street for dinner. The restaurant is wine centric with a really neat atmosphere. The menu had a list of over 40 tapas and phenomenal desserts. If you are an adventerous eater with a love for wine, I recommend this restaurant!

Where are your favorite weekend getaways?!

What fun finds do you recommend going to in D.C.?!

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Tristan and I are always up for an adventure! So on our way to Maryland, we  took a last minute detour to Ohiopyle and I am so glad we did! Sometimes the best plans are completely unplanned.

Ohiopyle is about an hour south of Pittsburgh, and is definitely worth the drive!  There are natural waterslides, hiking trails, and awesome views.  If you love to bike, hike, or whitewater raft, this is the place for you. The views were incredible! We off-roaded a little bit to find these scenic overlooks, but it is nothing the Jeep can’t handle.

At the Cucumber Falls waterfall, two men climbed down to the bottom of the waterfall and went behind it… crazy! Because it’s been raining so much, the water wasn’t extremely clear like we were told it normally is.  The water also is moving SO fast because of all of the rain. Kind of a bummer since we were both really hoping to try out the natural waterslide.

I am not a pro hiker by any means, so if you are anything like me, A Woman Afoot is an awesome blog that I definitely recommend checking out for hiking tips and tricks! The blogger also has a post about traveling Iceland, which is somewhere that I am dying to go to! Has anyone been?!

My sister bought me my monogrammed LL Bean Raincoat a few winters ago and it really came in handy on this trip.  It has definitely seen it’s rainstorms but has held up like a champ.  It was pretty rainy,  but we made the most out of it. This was a super cool find and I definitely recommend making the trip, even if it’s only for the day!

Fun fact: Cucumber Falls is one the most photographed waterfalls in Pennsylvania!

Where are your favorite places to hike?

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Safe travels!