The secret's been out for a long time now—Asheville is one of the coolest towns in the country. And if you're only including towns east of the Mississippi, it's probably the coolest town. Which also means this small slice of heaven nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains is...
Read More
My love for local bookstores was solidified during college when I worked at Adams Bookstore in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Mr. Adams was like a mentor to me during that time. I wrote about his influence during those crucial years in another post. In 2016, I learned of...
Read More
Today is the day for dads. Every year, your family celebrates with Dad in the same way. He's happy, you're happy, everyone is happy. But listen. We know old habits die hard. Family traditions are sacred. However, times have changed and new rules have been set...
Read More
If you enjoy cycling, you are aware of the safety measures you must take to be safe on the road. Cycling in and around traffic can be a challenge, so you need to make sure you do everything you can to be visible. But, when...
Read More
Minnesota. A state that can be so harsh, yet so endearing. Long, cold winters give way to breathtakingly beautiful summers with ideal weather and ample opportunities to get outside and explore. The state does have 10,000 lakes, after all. Spend this summer exploring the trails of...
Read More
June 2nd (next week!) is American Hiking Society's National Trails Day. For the past 25 years, National Trails Day has been an opportunity to encourage people to get out onto the trails in any way they want—hiking, biking, running, dancing. This year, being the 50th anniversary of...
Read More
If you believe everything you see on Instagram, camping is the most relaxing, picturesque activity ever. What can possibly go wrong when you’re sleeping under the stars, far away from deadlines and dirty dishes and traffic and the world’s problems? Uh, everything! For such a seemingly...
Read More
It's about to be summertime. There will be an exodus from our homes to typically two locations—the beach, or camping at a state or national park. Which means your relaxing, long-awaited family vacation will be shared with millions of other families. This year, you should buck...
Read More
Bob and I walked the first 160 miles of the Ouachita (Wash’-i-taw) Trail before and after Christmas, so only the last 63 miles stood between us and completing our thru-hike. Several things occurred to keep us from getting back out there, but May 2-6 was...
Read More
The Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 had an enormous impact on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. We all watched in horror as some of Oregon's most well-known and picturesque trails burned, and still wonder if we will ever see them again as...
Read More