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TRAVEL BLOG | RECENT POSTS

How to Plan an Adventure Elopement For Under 10k

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 25, 2020

How to Plan an Epic Adventure Elopement For Under 10k October 24, 2020 Surprise! We’re married! After traveling around the world together for over six years, Josh and I eloped surrounded by our family in Glacier National Park on September 28, 2020. Photo by Elsa Eileen Photography   VENDORS  Photography: Elsa Eileen Photography Hair/Make-up: Bridal Bliss Hair…

The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan

By Shalee Wanders | Aug 4, 2020

The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan Updated: March 21, 2023 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan I’ve watched Michigan sunsets in nearly every corner of the state. I’ve also watched sunsets from many different corners of the world. Sure, orange and pink wisps over glacial lagoons and moody deep red…

What to Wear Hiking? The Best Affordable Hiking Gear for Every Season

By Shalee Wanders | Jun 25, 2020

What to Wear Hiking: The Best Affordable Hiking Gear for Every Season June 25, 2020 I’m very straightforward when it comes to outdoor gear. I don’t spend hundreds of dollars on brand name equipment from expensive apparel companies. I buy items because they work, they last, and they are efficient. Over the years, I’ve finally…

Longs Peak Hike: What to Expect When Climbing Colorado’s “Deadliest” Mountain

By Shalee Wanders | Jun 15, 2020

Longs Peak Hike: What to Expect When Climbing Colorado’s “Deadliest” Mountain June 15, 2020  In terms of statistics, Longs Peak is only 14th on the list of hardest 14ers to climb in Colorado. There is no class 5 climbing and the trail is well-marked and easy to follow. However, it’s an isolated and difficult 14er…

The Most Overrated Places in The United States (And Where to Go Instead)

By Shalee Wanders | May 21, 2020

The Most Overrated Places in The United States (And Where to Go Instead) May 21, 2020 1. Gatlinburg, Tennessee  Although beautifully situated in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is everything a mountain vacation shouldn’t be. There, I said it. What visitors expect is a quiet cabin in the woods. However, often they get what looks more…

The Six Most Instagrammable Places in Michigan

By Shalee Wanders | Mar 4, 2020

The Six Most Instagrammable Places in Michigan March 4, 2020 1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore It’s not hard to see that Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore tops the list as Michigan’s most instagrammable place. From the towering cliffs, natural arches, crystal-clear waters, waterfalls, and endless adventures, it’s the epitome of an Instagram hot-spot.  During temperate summer…

Travel Blogger Q&A – Answering Reader Questions

By Shalee Wanders | Feb 21, 2020

Shalee Wanders Q&A – Answering Reader Questions February 21, 2020 Last week I asked my Facebook followers to submit any questions they had about travel. Here are my answers: If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give yourself about traveling? PACK LIGHT. And don’t overplan. Seriously, that’s it. I can’t stress…

Three Things to Know Before Hiking Old Man of Storr

By Shalee Wanders | Jan 25, 2020

Three Things to Know Before Hiking Old Man of Storr January 25, 2020 The buzzing of my 4:00am alarm still rang in my head as we loaded the car and began the three-hour journey from Fort William to Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands. We immaturely allotted one day to explore Isle of Skye,…

Minimalist Packing: How to Pack Everything Into a Carry-On

By Shalee Wanders | Jan 12, 2020

Minimalist Packing: How to Pack Everything Into a Carry-On January 12, 2020 It doesn’t matter how long I’m traveling for or what kind of weather I’m flying into: I pack only in a carry-on. Always. I was once an obsessive over-packer. The type of over packing where I’m sitting on my bag, attempting to fit…

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ADVENTURE TRAVEL BLOG

August 8th, 2024

It’s taken years of long trips, short trips, overnight trips, and day trips to perfect my packing. And trust me, I’ve made almost every mistake along the way.

January 14, 2024

Acatengango is 13,045ft tall located about an hour's drive from Antigua. There are numerous trails to the summit, the most popular being 8.5 miles round trip and requiring 5,269 feet of elevation gain.

May 25th, 2024

Granite Peak is situated in the remote wilderness of the Beartooth Mountain Range. At 12,808, it towers above the majority of other peaks in Montana.

May 8th, 2024

The Disappointment Cleaver (or ‘DC’) route is the easiest route to the summit of Mount Rainier. It is the standard route used by all three mountaineering guides to the summit.

An Adventure Travel Blog & Female Travel Blog

MEET 

SHALEE |

Somehow, being completely lost, unapologetically stubborn, and barely resourceful has landed me in this weird twilight zone of becoming a female travel blogger.

My story starts on the shores of Lake Michigan, where I'd spend my days sleeping in my car and eating ice cream for meals. I'm from a rough small town in Michigan, where travel is a foreign concept. When I started traveling, most of the people I knew had never left the state of Michigan. Eventually, my Facebook friends started asking how I could afford to travel, and I started a travel blog to write guides & hacks for traveling on a budget.

Eleven years later, I'm in awe of this little website and all the big things it's done for me. All I wanted was to help one person travel, and now I get to live a dream every day, seeing the world as my full-time job.

Thank you for being here.

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TRAVELING WITH CATS

December 2, 2021

Whether you need to move with your cat cross country or are looking to train your furry sidekick as an adventure companion, there are some important steps to take to get them acquainted for the road.

December 6, 2020

Whether you need to travel cross country with your cat or are aiming to train your new kitten as a hiking companion, here’s everything you’ll need to get them ready for the open road.

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JOIN THE ADVENTURE

female travel blogger

Shalee Wanders is a female travel blog focusing on adventure travel. Midwest born and raised, she began exploring by camping in Michigan as a young adult. In 2014, she met her love and travel partner, Josh. Since their first "date" jumping off cliffs in Canada, they have lived the vanlife in America, toured Europe on $20 a day, and explored over thirty countries.

Shalee is considered an expert in the travel industry for outdoor & adventure travel destinations. Her writing and photography have been featured in numerous notable publications and online outlets, such as Forbes, USA Today, and The Huffington Post.