Spring is always a long awaited celebration in Michigan as the days are longer, the sun starts to shine more, flowers begin to bloom, and people are emerging from a long, winter hibernation. Spring is also a wonderful time to visit Southwest Michigan to enjoy some of the most popular restaurants, hikes, and wineries or breweries before the summer crowds arrive. Keep reading to discover my top picks for exploring the Stevensville/Bridgman area during an overnight escape. 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Southwest Michigan Tourist Council. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I recently turned 30 and when we were in search of someplace warm and sunny to celebrate - Key West was calling our names! Key West is part of the Florida Keys archipelago and is also Florida's southernmost point located roughly 90 miles north of Cuba which means lots of sunshine (it was in the 80s when we went in March). We flew direct from Chicago to Key West but many people also access the island from the mainland via the Overseas Highway. We didn't rent a car during our stay and found everything to be very walkable (aside from our Uber to and from the airport). Scooters, golf carts, and bike rentals can also be found on nearly every street corner. Keep reading to find out how we spent five days in the Conch Republic! 

Disclaimer: We were hosted for our stay at Best Western and on several of our activity tours. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is truly nothing like the magic of Northern Michigan. While many people flock up north in the summer, there is so much to see and explore in the snowy season (and without the crowds!) Whether you're looking to hit the slopes, have a drink in a tent or igloo, or simply snuggle up in a cozy Airbnb for the weekend, you'll find it in Beulah, Michigan. 

If you've ever been to Hawaii you know how amazing the food scene is. If you haven't, you may have a hard time resisting the urge to Google flights by the end of this post. This was our third time visiting Maui and each time we visit we always like to try a variety of new places and also seek out the food and drinks we've been dreaming about ever since we left. Click here to read my other Maui posts.

The best part about being on an island is a majority of the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. I have to admit I am not cut out to be a food blogger -- mainly because by the time the food comes I'm so excited to eat it that I forget to document it. But I did my best to capture some of our favorites from our trip. Let's dig in! 

When doing any research while planning a trip to Maui, it's guaranteed that the Road to Hana will be top on the list of must-sees. The 64.4 mile stretch of highway consists of 620 curves and 59 bridges and leads you through lush rainforest terrain, waterfalls, and deep valleys. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience and, as cliche as it sounds, is more about the journey than the destination. In my opinion, the drive itself isn't worth it (and honestly quite stressful) unless you plan to make frequent stops and get out of the car to enjoy the beauty along the way. 

No matter how you decide to conquer the Road to Hana, or what route you take, you'll need to dedicate a full day to this activity and plan on an early wake up call. The itinerary I outline below took around 11 hours and we left Lahaina around 6:15 a.m. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Looking for more? Click here to access all of my Hawaii blog posts.

There is truly so much to love about fall in Michigan: Bright leaves, cooler weather, harvest time in the vineyards, cider and donuts, and fall cocktails along the Makers Trail. While the wineries, breweries, and distilleries in Southwest Michigan are worth a visit all year long, I love when the new fall cocktail menus roll out. But with so many stops to choose from where should you start? Don't worry - I've rounded up my top four favorite fall cocktails for you to try out (all in the name of research of course!) Don't forget to pick up a Maker's Trail passport on your adventures to get stamps and earn great prizes for each stop you make. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Southwest Michigan Tourist Council. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  

While the town of Bar Harbor is full of shopping, restaurants, and charm all on its own, you can't visit this area without venturing into Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island. Acadia's landscape is marked with woodland, rocky beaches, and glacier-scoured granite peaks including many unique rock formations. We spent two full days exploring the National Park which seemed like a good amount of time to cover a lot of ground and check several hikes off our bucket list. 

There is a shuttle that runs through the park and allows you to hop on and off. However, we rented a car and drove into the park both days to give ourselves a bit more freedom and we and didn't run into any issues with parking or traffic. Park Loop Road is actually very parking friendly and if you can't find a spot in one of the main lots, the road is one way with two-lanes and cars are allowed to park along the right side of the road. The only lot that filled up quick was Jordan Pond House so I recommend getting there early if you can. You'll also need to purchase a recreational pass for Acadia ($30 and good for seven days) and have it displayed on your dash at all times to avoid being ticketed. All the trails we hiked were marked well with signage and blue markers on rocks which was super helpful in keeping us on the right trails. I also had enough cell service on most trails (with T Mobile) to access the All Trails app. So lace up your hiking boots and keep reading to discover my top picks for trails in Acadia National Park. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

A trip to the east coast has been on my bucket list for so long. The rocky coastline, harbor views, and all the seafood you can eat seemed like the perfect adventure. Add in fall colors (we were a bit early at the end of September) and I'm sold. We planned to spend the majority of our trip in Bar Harbor, Maine but had some time to explore in Portland before and after our flight and you can bet we made the most of our time. If you only have a day or two in Portland I highly suggest checking these stops off your list. 

Disclaimer: We were hosted by Best Western for one night of our stay. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own

Wrigley and I took our first trip to Traverse City when he was just eight months old. Two years later we were excited to return and visit some of our favorite spots and check out a few new dog-friendly beaches, hikes, restaurants, and wineries. There truly is so much to explore here with your furry friend and below I'm sharing our full weekend itinerary. Interested in more Traverse City content? Click here. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Traverse City Tourism. The itinerary was created by me based on personal research and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

​Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

When visiting Pictured Rocks in Munising, Michigan there are several ways to enjoy the beauty of this area. You can view the famous rock formations from the water while on a boat tour or get up close while paddling in a kayak. Many waterfalls and overlooks are easily accessible from a short walk to an overlook, or even right along the roadside in some cases. But, if you're in search of the best way to experience Pictured Rocks (in my opinion) you'll want to conquer the 10-mile Chapel Basin Loop trail.

I will admit that initially I wasn't sure I wanted to do the entire hike because I had never completed a trail that long before, but I am SO glad we decided to just go for it. You can make the hike shorter by going out and back to Chapel Rock/Beach which is just over 6 miles, but some of the best views are past this point and I would have been very disappointed if we didn't do the entire hike. And don't let the distance scare you, the trail is well marked with minimal elevation gain so it really wasn't that strenuous. I've completed much harder hikes that were far fewer miles. 

Keep reading for everything you need to know if you plan to hike this breathtaking trail! 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase which allows me to keep sharing my adventures with you! ​