One of my favorite parts about living in Michigan is getting to experience all four seasons. Each brings their own unique beauty and variety of activities to the area. This winter I've made it a goal of mine to opt outside as much as possible so I was very excited for the opportunity to be a tourist in my town and create my own winter bucket list in Southwest Michigan.

Whether its snowboarding down a sand dune, sipping wine in an igloo, or attending a local festival, there is so much fun to be had in Southwest Michigan during the snowy season. Read on to discover the best ways to enjoy a winter weekend of your own.

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

Did you know Southwest Michigan is one of five American Viticulture Areas in Michigan? The sloping terrain along the lakeshore, mild temperatures and variety of soils make it the perfect location for growing grapes and other fruits that serve as the inspiration for a vast array of award winning wines. In fact, our growing season has been compared to noteworthy destinations such as Bordeaux, France and Piedmont, Italy. 

​With more than 22 wineries dotting the landscape along the Maker's Trail, you can easily enjoy an afternoon or an entire weekend with a glass in hand. In fact, the winter months offer an entirely new experience featuring more secluded tasting rooms, mulled wine options, and a variety of experiences that are unique to the snowy season. Read on to discover three of my favorite winter winery experiences. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Southwest Michigan Tourist Council. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 
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Hi, name is Jessica and I have a self-diagnosed case of flight anxiety. This may seem strange coming from a travel blogger whose passion in life is to travel as much as possible. But hear me out for a second. It's not the flying itself that is the source of my anxiety - in fact stepping foot on the plane is my favorite part. It's all the other aspects of flying that I worry about.

How on earth do I get to terminal XYZ? Am I at the right gate? Do I have my passport (after checking my bag 154 times)? What if my bag doesn't make it on the plane? Am I going to have enough time to make it through security? And the list goes on and on...

My hubby, bless his heart, is the flight master. When we travel together he handles all aspects of navigating the airport and I literally just follow him around and he always gets us to where we need to be. And while I SO appreciate his guidance in this area of our marriage, I do frequently travel without him and have to figure it all out on my own.

Over the years I've gotten much better at preparing myself in advance so I can eliminate as many variables as possible. Whether it's your first time flying, or you're just an over thinker like me, these 8 tips are designed to help you have a foolproof flight experience from start to finish.