Seward was one of our favorite towns during our Alaska road trip, and I could’ve stayed a week there for the hiking alone. There were a ton of great options, and the Tonsina Trail in Caines Head Recreation Area was a fantastic way to kick off the trip. While steep in places, this 4.5-mile round…
Beginner Race Guide: Desert RATS Trail Half Marathon
So. How’d my first half marathon go? Let me back up a little bit. The second half of my training had a lot of ups and downs. Three weeks before the half marathon, I was working toward “peak week” with my highest mileage run and feeling really strong. But then I found out I was…
Beginner’s Guide to Packing for Alaska
Visiting Alaska has been at the top of my bucket list for a long time, but as someone who gets cold easily and doesn’t *love* being wet, packing was giving me a little anxiety. If nothing else, the weather is consistent in the springtime (we visited at the end of May). Almost every day had…
Beginner’s Travel Guide: Three Days in Caye Caulker, Belize
If you look up “relaxing tropical island vacation” in the dictionary, it’s just a picture of Caye Caulker (Caye is pronounced “Key,” FYI). If you want to sip rum drinks, relax in a hammock, soak up the sun, or drift around in some teal blue water, look no further. Caye Caulker was so wonderful I…
Beginner’s Travel Guide: Three Days in San Pedro, Belize
San Pedro is the most popular destination for Americans in Belize (to the point that you can get a protein smoothie just about anywhere). It’s a short plane ride from the main airport in Belize City, full of delicious restaurants, and great for anyone who enjoys a little hustle and bustle while on vacation. The…
Beginner’s guide to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley Snorkeling
Snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley was one of the top five coolest things I’ve ever done. It put Florida to shame. I did chicken out of “truly” experiencing Shark Ray Alley (more on that later) but snorkeling around Hol Chan was like being in an episode of Planet Earth. It’s an…
How I trained for my first half marathon: The Halfway Report
For a long time, I’ve said that “one day” I might run a half marathon. This year, I decided that “one day” needed to get scheduled. I signed up for a half marathon on April 15, giving myself a full 20 weeks to train (most plans are between 10 and 16 weeks). I’m officially at…
Beginner’s guide to headlamps, lanterns, and campground lighting
Not to state the obvious, but it gets pretty freaking dark when you’re out in the woods. I’m a big advocate of using what you have, but if your phone’s flashlight is no longer cutting it for you, it could be time to get a headlamp or lantern. They’re way brighter and are a pretty…
Beginner’s guide to Grand Teton National Park
I remember seeing Grand Teton in a textbook as a kid, and the image of the insanely rugged but also beautiful snow-capped mountains stuck with me since. They seemed like they were on another planet that I’d probably never get to. I think eight-year-old me would be pretty excited to know that I finally got…
