I love calling Southwest Michigan home for so many reasons. In addition to being located along the gorgeous shores of Lake Michigan, it's also  one of five American Viticulture Areas in Michigan. The sloping terrain, 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.
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With more than 20 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, I've lived here for over six years and still have yet to make it to all of our wineries. But fear not, I have done my fair share of sipping (all in the name of research of course) and am sharing my top picks for planning a tour along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail.

Disclaimer: 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! 

Over the years I've had friends move all across the country and aside from missing them dearly, the one upside is that each time I have to say goodbye I get to add another new city to my bucket list. My friend Ellie recently moved to Cleveland, Tennessee which is just outside Chattanooga and I recently boarded a plane for a girl's weekend reunion. Although my visit happened to be during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time I'm sure no traveler will ever forget, we still had a few days to get out and enjoy the city. Read on to discover my list of Chattanooga highlights, perfect for a one or two day visit. 

I hopped off the plane at LAX. Look to the right and I see the Hollywood Sign.

Okay, okay enough with the Miley Cyrus references, but in all honestly it has always been a dream of mine to visit California. The celebrities, the west coast vibe, and of course the gorgeous coastline - it was all calling my name. So when my sister and I were deciding where we should go for our third annual sister trip (#1 Waco and #2 Nashville) it seemed like a great choice.

We visited in mid-February and the weather most days was mid 60s which was a welcome change from the Michigan winter we were used to and actually felt a lot warmer with the sun out. Most of the areas we went to weren't as busy as I was expecting them to be and this time of year definitely seemed like an off season. In addition to exploring West Hollywood, we also spent time in Santa Monica and Malibu. 

Disclosure: 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 most people think of a trip to L.A., a bustling city with lots of traffic is likely to come to mind. And while that may be the case for downtown Los Angeles, just west of the city is the not so hidden gem of Malibu.

​Home to 21 miles of coastline and nearly three dozen beaches it's no wonder countless celebrities call this city home. While on our recent sister trip to California, we made sure to dedicate one whole day to exploring this coastline paradise. Since we were staying in Santa Monica it was only a quick 20 minute drive with lots to see and do. In addition to the activities listed below, you can opt for a more adventurous afternoon with trails that weave through canyons, waterfalls and grasslands in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Disclosure: 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.

In the words of Taylor Swift, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake (and stir..). Okay, I may have revised that a bit after attending Round Barn's new Shake and Stir Workshop, but c'mon can you blame me? Round Barn has long been one of my favorite stops along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail offering lively entertainment and delicious wine, beer and spirits on the Estate grounds which is also home to the iconic 1912 Amish Round Barn. In addition to traditional wine tasting, Round Barn has recently added a new hands on experience for visitors. During their Shake and Stir Workshop you'll have the opportunity to shake and stir three different craft cocktails made with Round Barn Spirits and take home some delicious recipes so you can make your own cocktails at home.

​Try something new for date night or belly up to the bar with a group of up to 16 people for this 60-minute masterclass. The class is held on Saturdays and Sundays and can be booked online. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Round Barn. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nashville is quickly taking over as the bachelorette capital of the US with multiple groups of girls in matching tees flocking to Music City every weekend. I recently had the chance to attend a Nash Bash and I can completely understand why the city has gained so much popularity so quickly. Aside from its central location and major airport nearby, the city offers the perfect scene for both laid back girl's time and wild nights on Broadway.

Read on to find out how exactly how we spent an amazing long weekend in Nashville celebrating our bride to be!

Charleston has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time. Any city with this amount of historic charm, beach access, and total foodie goals can't be missed. That's why I was so excited when it was added to our list of girl's trip destinations. In fact, two of my college roomies call the Holy City home which made our decision even easier. Because they were "locals" this was also the first trip that I didn't have to do my own extensive research before hand. I had a few must-sees on my list, but for the most part we let them give us authentic Charleston experience and they had so much fun showing us around the city they are lucky enough to call home.

Read on to find out exactly how we spent a long Memorial Day weekend in this ultimate girl's trip guide. 

Disclosure: 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.

Ohh Charleston..you truly are the definition of southern Charm! I recently traveled to this historic city to meet up with some of my girlfriends from college. We had an amazing weekend packed full of food, fun, and adventure. But we all agreed the activity we enjoyed the most was our pedal boat cruise through the Charleston Harbor with Saltwater Cycle. The only boat of its kind in the Holy City, Saltwater Cycle is so much more than a boat ride..it's an experience! 

Similar to the pedal bike taverns that are famous on the streets of cities throughout the U.S., the 30 foot pontoon-style boat holds up to 16 passengers with 10 cycle seats, which power a large paddle-wheel at the back of the boat (don't worry there's a back up motor if needed). If you're not pedaling, the boat also features benched seating at the front of the boat where you can soak up the sun and there is plenty of room for walking around and of course dancing.

Disclaimer: My friends and I were hosted by Saltwater Cycle for our tour. 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.

Finding great street art is one of my favorite things about traveling and a great way to discover more about the culture in a new destination. It's also a fun way to explore a city without having to spend a dime! And trust me Nashville has no shortage of murals. You're likely to find a new insta-worthy destination around every corner. In fact, depending on how long you're visiting, you'll likely need to choose a few must sees to ensure you make the most of your time.

​There isn't just one location for street art and instead they're spread out throughout the entire city. This can make for a fun adventure if you have a car and lots of time. If not, I recommend visiting a few more popular areas such as 12 South or the Gulch which offer multiple murals within walking distance so you can get the most bang for your buck. There are also guided tours available which will take you around to different stops and share more background about the artists themselves. However, this doesn't give you a chance to explore some of the neighborhoods while you're visiting which I highly recommend. 

Below I share some of my favorite stops on our recent weekend getaway as well as a few others which we didn't have a chance to see but will definitely be on my list for next time:

Nashville. Nashvegas. Music City USA. Whatever you call it - this city is guaranteed to provide you with a good time (it does help if you're a country music fan). When my sister and I were deciding where to head for our second annual sister trip we wanted something within driving distance of Michigan (it's only about 7 hours from my house) and a city we could easily conquer over a long weekend. So we landed on Nashville!

After deciding where you're going the next step is usually figuring out where you're going to stay once you get there. There are a lot of great hotels located in the heart of downtown Nashville but they can get quite pricey - especially during the summer months. And to be honest you don't really have to stay downtown to enjoy all that it has to offer. We Ubered to Broadway two nights of our trip and each ride was no more than $10 - and totally worth not having to deal with parking. With that in mind we ended up booking the cutest Airbnb in the perfect location with easy access to 12 South and the Gulch as well as downtown. (Get $40 off your Airbnb stay here)

Nashville is one of those cities that can easily be explored within a couple days which makes it great for a long weekend trip. It's also centrally located within the U.S. which makes it an ideal location to meet up with friends who may be scattered throughout the country. We ended up jumping in the car after work on Thursday evening and hit the road. My brother lives in Indianapolis so we were able to stop halfway and drive the rest of the way on Friday morning but you could easily make the drive in one day. I'm so excited to share exactly how we spent the next three days of our trip.