Spearfish Canyon and Pactola Lake were two stops I had quietly been looking forward to all trip. Spearfish Canyon meant waterfalls, and waterfalls nearly always pull me in. I was also excited to try out my newer filter system and hoped for one of those days where the light, water, and scenery all came together.
Travel & Places
Explore nature-focused travel, historic places, and scenic backroads through thoughtful observations. This travel section highlights state parks, rural landscapes, historic buildings, barns, small towns, and lesser-known destinations worth slowing down for.
From quiet river trails and waterfall hikes to old structures and rural relics, these posts blend exploration with storytelling. You’ll find practical travel inspiration, regional insights, and a closer look at the architecture, landscapes, and natural spaces that shape each place.
Whether you’re planning a weekend road trip, searching for historic sites, or simply enjoying rural photography and field notes, this collection is designed to help you discover meaningful places and appreciate the stories they hold.
Many destinations featured here are located throughout Wisconsin and the surrounding regions, with occasional travels beyond.
Deadwood and Sturgis
Deadwood and Sturgis made for one of those travel days where the miles between stops were just as much a part of the experience as the destinations themselves. Between historic streets, rally-town energy, and a few unexpected detours, this stretch of our South Dakota trip offered a very different side of the Black Hills region. … Read more
Black Hills National Forest UTV Adventure
Exploring the Black Hills National Forest by UTV was one of the most memorable adventures of our South Dakota trip. Between winding forest trails, mountain views, wildlife sightings, and the scent of pine in the air, it offered a completely different way to experience the Black Hills beyond the main scenic roads.
If you enjoy backroad exploring, scenic overlooks, and a little adrenaline mixed with beautiful scenery, a UTV ride through the Black Hills can be a fun addition to your South Dakota itinerary.
Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road: Scenic Drives in the Black Hills
Two of the most scenic drives in the Black Hills of South Dakota are Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. Together, these routes wind through dramatic granite formations, forested hills, narrow tunnels, and sweeping overlooks that make the journey just as memorable as the destination.
Cottonwood South Dakota Ghost Town: Abandoned Prairie Church and Old Buildings
Sitting quietly on the open prairie of western South Dakota, the ghost town of Cottonwood, South Dakota is one of those places you might drive past without realizing the history sitting along the roadside.
A Foal is Born Mothers Day Weekend Shalom Wildlife
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bend, Wisconsin, is a large wildlife park with over 100 acres, a four-mile loop, and hundreds of animals to see along the way. It is one of those places where each visit feels a little different, whether you are feeding elk, watching wolves, or slowing down to enjoy the wooded setting.
Butler Rock
Butler Rock near Brazeau, Wisconsin is a quiet hiking stop in Oconto County with a rocky summit, wooded trail, and broad views over the surrounding landscape. While Wisconsin is not known for mountains, places like Butler Rock offer a nice way to get a little elevation, stretch your legs, and enjoy a scenic overlook in northeastern Wisconsin.
We found Butler Rock while out exploring by ATV and were glad we did. The trail is short enough for a simple outing, but the exposed rock, forest setting, and overlook make it feel like more of an adventure than you might expect.
Exploring Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin: A Perfect Blend of Adventure, History, and Flavor
Things to Do in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin blends shoreline scenery, maritime history, small-town shopping, and some of the best access points to Door County’s working waterfront. Whether you want to hike, photograph lighthouses, stroll historic streets, or settle in for a fish boil, Sturgeon Bay offers a mix of outdoor beauty and local character that makes it worth slowing down for.
Myakka State Park
Myakka River State Park, Florida
Myakka River State Park is located in Sarasota County, Florida and is one of the state’s oldest and largest parks. Covering more than 37,000 acres, the park protects wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and river ecosystems that support an incredible variety of wildlife.
During our drive through Florida we decided to make a short stop to explore the park. Even with limited time, it quickly became clear that Myakka River State Park is a place nature lovers could easily spend an entire day exploring.
Makers Mark One Stop on the Bourbon Trail
Maker’s Mark: One Stop on the Bourbon Trail
Each spring, our drive from Wisconsin to Florida includes a few stops along the way, and this time one of them was Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. For bourbon fans, it is one of the most recognizable stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For everyone else in the group, it turned out to be much more than just a tasting stop.
Even without being a bourbon drinker myself, I found the visit surprisingly enjoyable. The grounds, architecture, branding, and photography opportunities made it one of those places that offers something different depending on what draws you in.
Bairds Nature Preserve After Winter Storm: A Reflection on Winter’s Quiet Magic
There is something especially quiet about Baird Creek Nature Preserve after a winter storm. Fresh snow softens the trails, tree branches collect white along every edge, and even a familiar path feels different under a clean blanket of snow. If you are looking for a peaceful winter walk in Green Bay, this is one of those places that feels simple, scenic, and worth revisiting in every season.
Shrine of St Anthony of PADUA
Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua on Bay Settlement Road in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Tucked in the woods off Bay Settlement Road in Green Bay, the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua is one of those quiet places that feels easy to miss unless you know it is there. Reached by a short walk through the trees along the Niagara Escarpment, this small limestone chapel is a simple but memorable historic stop in Brown County.
Menominee Michigan Icy Shoreline
Menominee Lighthouse and Icy Lake Michigan Shoreline The first weekend of the new year brought the perfect excuse to get outside and explore the Lake Michigan shoreline. Winter along the Great Lakes can transform familiar places into dramatic frozen landscapes, and the waterfront in Menominee, Michigan was no exception. With waves frozen into layers of … Read more
Paulding Lights Upper Michigans Unexplainable Phenomenon
The Paulding Light is one of the best-known mysteries in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Found near Watersmeet, Michigan, this unusual light has drawn curious visitors for decades. Some come for the legend, some for the dark skies and atmosphere, and others simply because roadside mysteries are hard to resist.
What started as a fall color road trip turned into a stop to see one of the Upper Peninsula’s most talked-about unexplained attractions. Along the way there were autumn views, river reflections, and a late-night detour to a remote viewing area where people gather hoping to spot the light for themselves.
Munising Michigan Frozen Falls
Munising Michigan Frozen Falls
Munising, Michigan, is one of the best winter destinations in the Upper Peninsula for seeing frozen waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, and icy Lake Superior shoreline views. What began as a flexible winter road trip quickly turned into a stop worth slowing down for, with beautiful frozen falls, a quick side trip to Sand Point, and a first look toward Grand Island.
If you are visiting Munising in winter and want a mix of easy adventure and scenic stops, this is a great place to begin.
Cana Island Lighthouse
Cana Island Lighthouse – Baileys Harbor, Door County Cana Island Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable historic landmarks in Door County, Wisconsin. Located just north of Baileys Harbor, the lighthouse sits on a small island along the Lake Michigan shoreline and has guided ships through the waters of the peninsula since 1868. The lighthouse … Read more
Eben Ice Caves Eben Junction Michigan
Eben Ice Caves in Eben Junction, Michigan
The Eben Ice Caves near Eben Junction, Michigan, are one of the best-known winter destinations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Each winter, groundwater seeps through the sandstone cliff and freezes into towering curtains of white and blue ice, creating one of the most memorable cold-weather hikes in the region.
Often called the Rock River Canyon Ice Caves or simply the Eben Ice Caves, this winter stop combines a forest walk, snowy hills, and a dramatic frozen cliffside that draws visitors from across the Midwest.
Ridges Sanctuary Door County Nature Preserve
The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin
The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor is one of the most distinctive nature preserves in Door County. Known for its winding boardwalks, wetland trails, rare plants, and quiet woodland scenery, it is a place where you can slow down and explore a very different side of the peninsula.
Spread across roughly 1,600 acres, The Ridges protects a unique landscape of swales, ridges, wetlands, boreal forest, and shoreline habitat. For visitors who enjoy wildflowers, birding, photography, and peaceful nature walks, it is one of the most rewarding places to visit in Baileys Harbor.
Maple Syrup Tree Tapping
Maple Syrup Tree Tapping in Wisconsin
Maple syrup season is one of the quiet signs that winter is beginning to loosen its grip in Wisconsin. Even when snow still lingers on the ground, the shift between freezing nights and milder days starts the sap flowing, marking the beginning of one of the Midwest’s most familiar seasonal traditions.
Plum Island Lighthouse Door County
Plum Island Lighthouse sits in the waters of Lake Michigan off the tip of the Door County Peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin. Because it is offshore and cannot be reached by car, it remains one of the more adventurous lighthouse destinations in Door County.
For many visitors, Plum Island is more of a place to admire from the water than a quick roadside stop. Reaching it takes a little planning, but that extra effort is part of what makes it memorable. Between the lighthouse, historic Coast Guard buildings, shoreline habitat, and wildlife, Plum Island feels wilder and more remote than many of Door County’s better-known landmarks.