![A Lazy Summer Weekend at the Lake Shore Resort ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1681690979322-4KZ5HHLZYCD56QAYPWW9/DD-lake-shore-resort-sundecks.jpg)
A Lazy Summer Weekend at the Lake Shore Resort
“It’s kind of like…the Mediterranean of Michigan.” That’s what I said to Dan after checking into our room at the Lake Shore Resort while we made our way down to the picturesque sundeck overlooking Lake Michigan.
![Things I’ve Learned About Traveling with a Baby](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1674749210598-M1DK1QMNT8ZZ1TP66RXJ/2022-family-vacation-selfie.jpg)
Things I’ve Learned About Traveling with a Baby
Things I’ve learned about traveling with a baby:
1. It’s annoying.
2. Don’t bother.
I’m kidding, I’m kidding, but for real though…
![2021 Year in Review](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1674782493082-1RCNQXDPF4CCOQRYPWC9/22-DSC_2228.jpg)
2021 Year in Review
As another pandemic year comes to a close, I could lament all the things I didn’t get to do because of COVID (again), but I thought I’d take a minute to look back on the year and remind myself what I actually did do, because all was not lost! Things happened! Less things than a “normal” year, and definitely less fun things, but things nonetheless!
![A Look Back at a Cross-Country Adventure Through Distorted Film Photos & Old Journal Entries](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1674874645765-UQTLCDWK8SND4SUMAUGN/DD-South+Dakota-5.jpg)
A Look Back at a Cross-Country Adventure Through Distorted Film Photos & Old Journal Entries
Within a one month time span during the summer when I was 25, I got laid off from my first “real” job out of college, decided it was time to end the eight-year relationship I had been in since I was a teenager, and proceeded to reply an enthusiastic “Yep!” when a long-lost friend posted to Facebook, “Anyone have a few weeks to drive cross-country with me?”
Michigan Travel Guide
I might not be a Michigan native, but I’ve explored the mitten enough over the years to have built up a solid list of some of the good stuff this state has to offer. If you’re looking for a Michigan Travel Guide, this is my tried and true list of Pure Michigan favs.
![Places: Lo-Fi Photography from Another Time](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1675131715604-IV53W0CP14PJ1P6EL0AX/DD-california-1.jpeg)
Places: Lo-Fi Photography from Another Time
“Remember places?” That’s what my friend Kim texted back after I excitedly sent her a bunch of film photos I had just gotten back from getting processed the other day.
![Tulum Travel Guide](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1675478181038-08JREBGWIJ1ON99EA6Q4/DD-tulum-travel-guide-4.jpeg)
Tulum Travel Guide
With a wedding anniversary in March, we always have a fun occasion to look forward to during a not-fun time of year—and an excuse to take a trip someplace warm. This year, that place was Tulum, Mexico and spoiler alert: I absolutely LOVED it.
![A Complete Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1676162038757-HT5OQM1G1D0II4AY4JYO/DD-bourbon-trail-21.jpg)
A Complete Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Bourbon. I’m not going to lie, I haven’t always been a big brown liquor fan, but after heading down to the motherland and making my way through The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, I’ve got a special place in my heart for the stuff.
![Amsterdam & Copenhagen Travel Guide](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1677097295436-ZK07YVYL0MQS2LVX0TSM/DD-amsterdam-architecture.jpeg)
Amsterdam & Copenhagen Travel Guide
A couple of years ago, my friend Kim and I realized that while we both love traveling—and in particular, traveling to Europe, we had somehow never been together. Almost immediately we began scheming up a trip and decided that visiting Holland in the springtime was the way to go.
![Asheville, North Carolina Travel Guide](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1676992478537-FDZIXCF9LO0UN459A5SB/dzenawagis-190310-0288.jpg)
Asheville, North Carolina Travel Guide
Asheville, North Carolina has been on my radar for a long time now, and when we were looking for a place to celebrate our wedding anniversary this past March, we decided to switch it up and head to the southeast instead of the southwest like we had the previous 2 years.
![Pacific Northwest Travel Guide](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1677097186194-WZ35ZC1SS3ARQWPZ5HHQ/DD-danne-ruby-beach.jpg)
Pacific Northwest Travel Guide
While I’m a Northeast girl through and through, I’ve got a major soft spot for the Pacific Northwest. The nature is incredible and easily accessible, the climate is mild with a winter that isn’t bone-chillingly cold, and let’s be real, hipster food, drink, and activity abounds.
![The Best Wineries in Northern Michigan](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1677174669888-UHIHQ0QRZDQ6MG1OKF76/DD-mawby-rose-snacks.jpg)
The Best Wineries in Northern Michigan
Call me basic, but I love wine tasting. And I especially love wine tasting with my girlfriends—double basic. Much to my surprise, when I moved to Michigan I discovered that there’s actually a pretty decent wine region “up north” (as they call it here).
![Death Valley National Park Travel Guide](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1677265006909-MGUKESJ9877XLILOAD0T/DD-death-valley-sunset.jpeg)
Death Valley National Park Travel Guide
As someone who loves to travel, I'm fortunate that I get to travel for work from time to time for trade shows. While the typical trade show hot spots like Orlando and Las Vegas aren't necessarily my #1 choice of destination, I'm pretty good at doing a little research to see what's within a few hours of driving distance so I can extend my trip to visit someplace I actually do want to spend time.
![Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park Travel Guide](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1677533033450-RG67PP6MGGUNX6FV528P/DD-dead-horse-point-state-park-view.jpeg)
Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park Travel Guide
After we eloped in Las Vegas last year, we took what I called a "minimoon" to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in Utah. March was a little early beach-weather-wise to do our full-fledged honeymoon to Croatia, but I wanted to do something after the "wedding" itself before heading back to the dreary Michigan weather we had left behind.
![A Honeymoon Road Trip Through Croatia & Slovenia](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cff9b4d180a16febb28750/1677975854128-SC4ZDCUKX1WERPHHXVI5/DD-dubrovnik-walls.jpeg)
A Honeymoon Road Trip Through Croatia & Slovenia
In the early 2000s, I subscribed to a magazine called Budget Travel. While I'm sure that I dog-eared at least a dozen pages in every issue, two countries that I read about quickly made their way to my travel short list—and to the top of my list for future honeymoon destinations: Croatia and Slovenia.