Traveling at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, the bullet train is the only way to travel quickly between sightseeing cities in the massive country of China. Signage is flashing every which way & very intimidating amongst the thousands of locals all bustling about seamlessly.

Thankfully most are equipped with spacious seats & very clean. As we settled in for a 7 hour journey from Xi’an to Suzhou, I was stocked up with drinks & dinner of leftover pizza plus chips which I had stuffed into the back pocket of my seat. But in the blink of an eye, the train attendants had run thru the cabin & trashed all the miscellaneous stashes. OMG!

After realizing my misfortune, I took off in pursuit without much luck. So I resorted to ordering a bento box onboard, which actually turned out to be rather tasty. And also was surprised with a smorgasbord of items for the very apologetic staff.

The rest of the ride was fairly uneventful, as I indulged in a few shows & movies that I had downloaded prior along with a couple of naps. Then it was off to explore another new city!

While it takes a lot to impress me, I find pure joy in reminiscing post trip. It is my way of locking in all the memories and endcapping another experience exploring this amazing world.

I rarely come back without a smile on my face and have some sure fire tell signs that indicate a successful journey:

• Boots are soiled – usually I’m happiest when finding a trail and/or a waterfall to hike to, so getting lost in the wilderness is an easy win
• Hair is a hot mess – I used to pull my hair up in a uniform half pony but over the past few years I just let it flow with the wind as I ease into my “everything doesn’t have to be perfect” years
• Camera is full – I absolutely love capturing pics from numerous different angles and playing with lighting. I’m nowhere close to being a pro but so thankful for the digital era so I can just have fun shooting
• Sunburn – I’m definitely an outdoor girl and will always opt for sunshine and not afraid of enhancing my darker skin tone
• Sore all over – while I’m not in my best shape currently, I still don’t shy away from a hard trek and usually end up paying for it most of the week after
• Dreading packing up – I abhor even the thought of merging back into every day life and put it off to the very last second

Never regret investing in yourself and taking the trip. Any escape is worth the extra effort.

To say I was looking forward to this scenic roadtrip is an understatement. And despite the recent wildfires devastating areas around Jasper NP, I enjoyed the quieter September shoulder season cruising this infamous highway and stopping at every roadside body of water just to take it all in. What a blessing!

I opted to drive to the end of the parkway & make my way backwards to all the stops, in hopes of avoiding most of the crowds that were still prevalent despite being in the mid September sweet spot. My goal was to hit lots of mini hikes & couldn’t have been happier putzing around. The ice tipped peaks in the background were instantly inspiring & calming…. exactly what I needed!

The piercing blue waters were unlike any that I had ever seen & all my anxieties disappeared effortlessly. My favorite waterfall was at Mistaya Canyon, where I could have sat all day watching the rushing waters pound & carve out the landscape.

I drove until the boundary of the wildfires recent footprint & was heartbroken to see the devastation in Jasper. But nature is resilient & has already begun the regrowth process for future generations to enjoy.

Peyto Lake was crowded but a must see, where you could literally imagine the glaciers melting & receding at a rapid pace.

My final stop was at the popular Bow Lake, adjacent to the parkway, while slivers of the sunset started lighting up the sky in cool pastel colors. I thought for a quick second about taking a polar plunge, but these glaciers waters were downright frigid to the touch. So I threw pebbles into the calm lake & just started to dream…..

It was a big year……

2024 marked the big 50th year around the sun of our college group of friends and an easy excuse for a celebratory get together.

My girls flew into Orlando and despite weather delays, we made it back to my house just in time for a special 1am rocket launch viewing directly across the Indian River.

After sleeping in a bit, we took off for some H2O & FL sunshine therapy at Cocoa Beach. We may or may not have found some Jell-O shots and went back for round #2 before hitting the road for a 2 hr trek down to the middle of nowhere & the FL version of a dude ranch. The Westgate Resort team really went above and beyond to make our weekend special. First up, our accommodations got upgraded from the ultra cool teepee to each having our own bougee old fashioned wagon.

I surprised everyone with an elegant dinner to close out day 1, as we all toasted to long lasting friendship and endless happy memories. We enjoyed some good old fashioned pool time, a cruise on a classic airboat through the swamps, actually missed our monster dune buggy ride prior to enjoying the longest running weekly rodeo in the US via our special viewing area. The icing on top was an eerily, perfect sunset popping out after a monsoon and roasting s’mores at the bonfire (even while walking through knee deep, murky water to get to the fire pit).

Breakfast boxes were placed on our porch each morning stacked with country favorites of cinnamon rolls, egg and cheese biscuits, fruit, yogurt, juices and coffee….. enough to feed an army! We enjoyed tooling around the vast property on our golf cart and even managed to learn how to trap shoot together.

We begrudgingly raced back to the airport with numerous flight delays and cancellations looming due to a massive weather system encompassing the entire state. But all the girls finally got out with some very creative airport swapping and a little luck between storms. Where there is a will, the LRU crew will find a way to power through!

The weekend was truly a whirlwind and a much needed reprieve (each in our own way) through all the ups and downs of life. I’ll be forever grateful for this amazing group of ladies, the unwavering support and everyone putting a priority on our yearly getaways. What a gift!

London baby!!!!

And my 59th country comes off the ticker board!

It’s seems like an easy jump from the US and really no reason that I hadn’t touched down here yet, but I always figured it would happen eventually. And nowadays it is the cheapest entry hub into Europe, so let’s go!

With 8 hours to explore & change airports, I’m an adventure girl on a mission. Over 32k steps were expended in this glorious city marveling over the history & grandeur around every corner. Despite unexpected & sporadic closures of “the tube” on my day, I wasn’t deterred in the least nor was I bothered by the light rain that settled in mid afternoon. On the contrary, it calmed & soothed my tired soul…. the best, natural therapy ever!

I was infatuated with seeing Big Ben for the first time peering off to the right of the infamous London Eye. The House of Parliament & Westminster Abbey were larger than life with fascinating architectural carvings on every spire, while I wasn’t prepared for the ornate beauty adorning the gates outside Buckingham Palace. Every street just oozed of stories bellowing out of every little coffee shop & pub, varied street performers and bustling weekend markets. And the fish & chips that I had been dreaming about for years was on point! Definitely sensory overload, but very freeing in the same breath.

The plentiful green spaces were packed with local runners & eager tourists alike, all co-existing in the organized chaos of life. What a glorious day to just be present & sink into the local British culture. I’ll definitely be back England!

A mid-August annual road trip is always a sweet blessing to officially end summer. And for the first time in 5 years and since the COVID chaos, we are headed back to the Fl Keys.

Let’s gooooo….

The only rule is that there are no rules:

• You want ice cream every day – go for it 🍦
• Need some H2O therapy – take off into the big blue 🌊
• Don’t want to be around people – grill out from our Oceanside haven 🚐
• Escape the sauna that is named August – float with a buddy 🛟
• Need a foot massage – plunge your toes into a natural fish pond 🐠
• Not tired – read under a sea of stars ✨
• Need inspiration – never miss a sunset 🌅
• Explore hidden treasures – dive into a ship wreck 🤿

This crew is such a blessing in this crazy life and I wouldn’t want to go through all the waves without them riding along with me.

What do you have to lose? How many times have you thought about just going for it and backed out at the last minute?

Well I actually don’t have that issue.

Never.

I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum actually, as I’m always game for a last minute road trip and ready on a whim for a crazy adventure. While I am a meticulous planner with numerous notes of bucket list locations and hikes just waiting to be completed, I thrive on the thrill of touching down in a new town and jumping out into the unknown.

This learned habit wasn’t always ingrained, as I have had to harness this need for extreme adventure after years of being so introverted and uncomfortable in my own skin. Now I see this as one of my biggest strengths and superpowers.

What’s the point of having big dreams but no intent to go after them? Be bold. Be brave. Fight for what you want and what you deserve. I hate when people comment “oh you are always so lucky”…. Really?! While I’ll take any four leaf clover when I see one, if you put in the work, I truly believe good things are bound to happen.

While I’m very critical of myself and always nitpicking every detail, I also live life with no regrets. What an empowering way to wake up every day!

Open every door that comes in your path and you will naturally have a wealth of experiences that will propel you forward into a beautiful and meaningful life. Make it count!

Everyone naturally has a different answer…. but have you really ever thought about it?

Occasionally on a long hike, I let my thoughts wander and this is a common topic I ponder. Over the years it fluctuates slightly; however, I am usually fairly consistent and in tune with my deepest desires.

LOCATION: A 3-5 mile hike is a must, preferably ending in a blow your mind cliff side overlook or cascading waterfall. Then I would take off on my jetski full throttle into a deep orange sunset!

HOBBIES: I am notorious for having a very healthy amount activities that I am passionate about. From racquetball, mountain biking, sunset seeking, National Parks, climbing via ferratas, baking, roadtrips, cruising, Duke basketball junkie, massages, movies, volunteering, writing adventure blogs, reading crime novels and (believe it or not) a guitar hero junkie!

FOOD: in no particular order, I would indulge in a Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate, 2 Bojangles biscuits (egg & cheese + Boberry) and an Island Green from Tropical Smoothie. For dinner, it has to be Pizza Hit stuffed crust cheese pizza. Dessert would be either Publix chocolate quarry frozen yogurt with Reese’s magic shell or Oreo pudding. OMG!

PEOPLE: any day getting to play with my 5 beautiful nieces & nephews brings an immediate joy to my soul. I’m fortunate to have my parents close by too. And my close group of best friends is such a comfort in this crazy world & I wouldn’t want to do this life without their undying support.

However you choose to spend your time, I hope you carve out for whatever is important to you and just go for it. YOLO!

Any excuse to jet off to the Sin City? Yes please!

While airline prices skyrocket for the craziness of Super Bowl, I sneak in on a $100 RT flight Wed-Sun just prior for a girls weekend. We crash at our mentor’s beautiful pad just 10 mins from the infamous strip and have a built in local tour guide.

These ladies have a contagious energy that feeds my relentless pursuit of more. And we are off…..

We dive right in to the widespread festivities at the exclusive NFL House to smooze with a wide range of industry professionals and soak in ideas from all the sponsor activations. It was so exciting to meet up with other powerful women in our cohort in their element, making things happen!

Then we jet off to a local favorite show of the Bronx Wanderers and even woke early the next day to squeeze in an inspiring adventure to one of my favorite day trips just 45 mins away at Valley of Fire State Park (which never disappoints).

We switch gears to join the grand opening of a new pizza joint adjacent to the Wynn and then crash the Minnesota Vikings VIP shindig.

Squeezing every last ounce of the next day, we troll the strip checking out all the sponsor activations, stop in each specialty merchandise pop-up location, take lots of selfies at each hotel’s unique backdrop, skip the ridiculous lines at the NFL Fan Fest and the list goes on and on.

We even skipped out to Red Rock Canyon to climb some more cliffsides (brutal windchills) and drive the scenic loop just a mere 20 mins from the strip. Then the endcap….. I snagged a last minute ticket to the awe-inspiring new Sphere venue to a see the one and only U2. What an amazing experience!

No regrets. Ever.

When I was craving a last minute adventure getaway for the extended Memorial Day holiday weekend, it was an unexpected delight to find this hidden gem. For weeks my feed was filled with beautiful hikes and natural arches in a virtually unknown area in eastern Kentucky.

So when a $50 RT flight popped up to Lexington, I took the plunge and started researching local must do hikes. And then my best friend Tessa decided to tag along for a girls weekend too.

We found the perfect tiny, log home to base out of at the local campground and dug in for exploration. Within close proximity were endless arches and natural bridges to our hearts’ delight, as we found numerous short trails to enjoy.

Even the local hippie pizza joint was tasty; otherwise we hit up the grocery story to enjoy some quiet nights hanging out at our own quiet pond view. Of course we found a summer ice cream social and frequented this joint a couple more times to get our sweet fix.

My highlight was the high energy via ferrata climbing excursion, while Tessa loved the unique endcap kayaking in the underground mine.

Don’t miss this underrated spot as we barely scratched the surface of all the trails available nearby and the scenic drives were just as impressive. And an added bonus…. we didn’t have to fend off the big crowds usually attracted to the national parks.