Roughing it. (kind of....sort of)

Some of my favorite childhood memories consist of campgrounds, s'mores, and a pop-up camper that smelled of mothballs. Although the family pop-up has since been retired, and I prefer sleeping in a tent or outside (depending on where I am in the country), summer still is not complete without at least one camping trip.

Madeline Island, just outside of Bayfield WI, is the most southern island of the Apostle Islands, in Lake Superior. Although it's a mere 15 minute ferry ride from Bayfield, once you're standing on the sugar sand beach of Big Bay State Park, it's actually hard to imagine that there is civilization within hundreds of miles. Madeline Island is like the Midwest equivalent to the island of St John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Well... minus the turquoise water, crazy safari taxi rides, and Bob Marley always playing in the background. The stretch of sugar sand and crystal clear water (albeit ice cold!) with nothing but a few sailboats on the horizon, can send your imagination far beyond the border of Wisconsin! A more affordable alternative ;)

The key to this kind of trip is to leave the watches, cell phones, and alarm clocks behind. You really have no choice but to be on the sun's schedule, unless you sleep like a log. Starting the day out with a dip in the lake at sunrise, is better than the sound of any alarm clock out there. We spent the day kayaking, lounging on the beach, and even built up a tolerance for the ice cold water :) It's so easy to drift off into a different world and literally forget about reality.
After a layer of sand built up on our sun-soaked bodies, it was time to rinse off, venture into town, and get what seemed to be the two most consumed items on the island. Ice Cream and drinks! Upon arrival on the island, it is impossible to miss the structure that looks like a carnival tent on a deck...with a ton of junk around it. Tom's Burned Down Cafe it is. If you prefer to wear stiletto's and drink martini's, you don't belong here. On that note, you probably wouldn't even be on the island in the first place so it's a moot point. Regardless, check it out. You'll walk away with a plethora of life motto's and quotes in your head, and probably a stumble in your step.

Finally, no camping trip is complete without a surprise or two! We were well aware that rain was coming but at some point decided that just kind of throwing on the rain tarp would suffice. The steady rain, all night long, was very cozy...made me feel like a wuss when I sleep under a real roof during storms! Alas, we woke up to puddles in the tent which meant it was time to call an end to the Madeline Island camping trip of 2010. It's great to know that even a few days, a short little break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, can bring me back to the basics. The simple, meaningful things in life.

The Land of Bikes, IPA's, and Voodoo Doughnuts

To anyone that lives in a big city, full of traffic headaches, smog, and a starbucks on every corner, and is looking for a refreshing (but not lazy and boring) break from it all, I have one word for you--OREGON. Talk about an under-estimated state that has so much beauty and adventures to offer! I've always been interested in visiting Portland, specifically, as people who have visted the city have told me they thought I'd love it. Indeed. What I loved even more is all of the exploring there is to do, within hours of the city....not to mention the beautiful coast!

The trip started out with the MAX Light Rail stalling for about 30 min getting into downtown from the airport. After an already long day of traveling, with maps in hand, Shawn and I decided to hop out and walk to our hotel. Very easy downtown to navigate...just like a grid! Reminded us of Minneapolis, so we didn't feel too out of place.


Staying downtown over the weekend, much less the weekend of the 4th of July, didn't portray a very accurate picture of what a typical day downtown would look like...I presume. However, from walking along the Willamette River dodging bicyclists, to wandering through the Portland Saturday Market checking out local artists' goods, to diving into the wide world of breweries and food carts, we had enough on our plate! We couldn't figure out if the Portland Saturday Market was a good way to get a feel for what the locals do on a Saturday in the summer, or if we fell into a typical tourist trap. Regardless....get there when it starts if you want to leave with a sane mind! Grabbing some grub at the Rogue Brewery is a must, if you're looking for a laid-back, chill atmosphere with decent bar food and a bible of Rogue beers. If you're not on a schedule, and are feeling patient, swing by the Voodoo Doughnut as early as possible and be prepared to wait! Even if you don't dig doughnuts...it's worth the experience to try some crazy creations!

The Pearl District was definitely the area we felt the vibe in...full of breweries, restaurants, and shops, this was the only part of downtown that didn't feel like a ghost town at night. Finally, if you're looking for an adorable family-owned Italian restaurant with large portions of homemade Italian dishes, go to Bella Gioia in the Pearl District. On the otherhand, if you're closing down the bar and looking for some decent, cheap food to get you home...hit up one of the many food carts! Minneapolis is definitely behind on that one!

The last few days were filled with a couple of amazing hikes, exploring several coastal towns, and taking in some beautiful scenery and the freshest air you can imagine! For those who aren't as motivated for the hike, as they are for the scenery, do yourself a favor and at least commit to the 1.2 mile hike to the top of Multnomah Falls -- an absolutely breathtaking 620 ft waterfall about 25 minutes east of Portland.


After pausing to take in the unbelievable natural beauty of this waterfall, the more seasoned hiker would feel warmed up and ready to take on the next challenge: Saddle Mountain! Seasoned hikers, we were not, but of course that didn't stop us from conquering the 2.5 mile hike, reaching an elevation of 3,283 ft, to the summit. Heavy panting was the norm for at least the last mile of it, but the views along the way left me speechless! Unfortunately, we didn't pick a clear day to dominate this mountain, leaving us high in the clouds with no evidence of just how high we were!

As my future posts will show, my favorite trips are filled with lot's of activity, inevitably followed by amazing meals....play hard...eat hard. Isn't that how it goes?! Well after our hikes and exploring the coastal towns of Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria, we owed it to ourselves to eat well. From lunch on the coast at Maggies on the Prom in adorable Seaside, to delicious homemade breakfasts and bottomless coffee mugs at our B&B Clementines in Astoria, to Shawn's massive 2x4 burger at The Lumberjack Grill in Cannon Beach, we most definitely were not deprived of incredible food along the way!

Where it all begins....

Spring of 2003. This, I believe, is where it all began. I took (what felt like) a huge leap out of the tiny little world I knew and lived in, and set out to study abroad in Alnwick, England for a semester. To sum it up, Alnwick is TINY. Cute, quaint, charming, however you'd like to label it....I labeled it suffocating. Don't get me wrong, it was all of the above, I just don't fair well in small towns. Needless to say, within the first 2 weeks of arriving in Alnwick, I was starting to plan escapes. Adventures. ANYWHERE! Since returning to the States, after backpacking all over Western Europe, I have had an ongoing 'Traveling Bucket List' that never seems to shrink.

I wish I would've started this earlier, because I have been so privileged to have already been on so many adventures, and would love to share them all. Alas, the list has NOT gotten shorter, it only continues to expand...so I am confident that I will have plenty to share!