Shalee Wanders Travel Blog
7 Things to Do Near Jaco, Costa Rica
7 Things to Do Near Jaco, Costa Rica March 10, 2021 I was 6 or 7 years old when I got a postcard from my aunt in the mail from Costa Rica. She always sent me postcards on her exotic travels. I would run the quarter-mile up the dusty dirt road to the mailbox every…
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The Best Winter Getaway in Montana
The Best Winter Getaway in Montana February 8th, 2021 There’s a lot I take into account when traveling. I love to remember the feeling a place gives me. When you leave somewhere new, you’ll feel a particular type of way. That’s how you know how much it meant to you. On certain days, long after…
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Four Unique Things to Do in Wyoming
Four Unique Things to Do in Wyoming January 14, 2021 I first visited Wyoming when I was eight on a family road trip out west. It’s a familiar story for those from the Midwest, especially in the late 90s and early 2000s. Where I was from, it was considered the trip. Pack your bags, drive westward for…
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The Best Gear For Hiking and Traveling With Cats
The Best Gear For Hiking & Traveling With Cats Published: December 6, 2020 Updated: May 1, 2022 We’ve been traveling with our two cats for nearly three years and have learned some pretty important lessons along the way. Recently we visited South Dakota, their 20th state. One of the biggest questions I receive about traveling/hiking…
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Granite Peak: Everything to Know About Climbing Montana’s Tallest Mountain
Granite Peak: Everything to Know About Climbing Montana’s Tallest Mountain November 23, 2020 Distance: 28 Miles Elevation: 12,808 Feet / 4,500ft Elevation Gain Route: Southwest Ramp/Couloir The pinkish-orange sunrise lit the valley and lakes below as we hobbled over steep rockfall toward the summit of Granite Peak. The clear skies and warm sun hid the…
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How to Plan an Adventure Elopement For Under 10k
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…
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The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan
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…
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What to Wear Hiking? The Best Affordable Hiking Gear for Every Season
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…
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Longs Peak Hike: What to Expect When Climbing Colorado’s “Deadliest” Mountain
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…
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The Most Overrated Places in The United States (And Where to Go Instead)
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…
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The Six Most Instagrammable Places in Michigan
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…
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Travel Blogger Q&A – Answering Reader Questions
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…
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Three Things to Know Before Hiking Old Man of Storr
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,…
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Minimalist Packing: How to Pack Everything Into a Carry-On
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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The Best (And Worst) Countries for Backpacking in Europe December 15, 2019 Best: Norway Although expensive, Norway’s flexible camping laws quickly offset higher costs for goods and services. More so, backpacking in Norway is completed with ease thanks to its robust train system that allows travelers to go travel from the southern coast up…
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The Four Best Road Trips to Take in 2020
The Four Best Road Trips to Take in 2020 November 8, 2019 Utah’s Grand National Park Tour Distance: 432 miles Driving Time: 8 hours, 30 minutes Trip Length: 5 Days Highlights: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Utah makes it…
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This Small Midwest Community Hides Some Of The Country’s Best Hidden Adventures
This Small Midwest Community Holds Some Of The Country’s Best Hidden Adventures October 21, 2019 There’s something about a place that feels like home the moment you arrive. Less than four hours after landing in Ironwood, Michigan, I’m standing in the middle of a black and red plaid street, surrounded by over three-hundred individuals (and…
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I’m 26 and I’ve Traveled the World. Here’s How I Afford It.
I’m 26 and I’ve Traveled the World. Here’s How I Afford it. September 17, 2019 I’ve been to more countries than years I’ve been alive, which often ignites an interesting conversation that revolves around how I afford to travel at such a young age. Recently while back in my hometown, I ran into an old…
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How Iceland Has Changed, And Why You Still Need to Go
How Iceland Has Changed, And Why You Still Need to Go August 28, 2019 The initial draw of Iceland was its remote, wild landscapes that tested the adventurer in all of us. Road tripping Iceland is much different now than it was a decade ago, even with the recent decline in tourists after WOW…
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What to Expect When Hiking Mt. Whitney’s Mountaineers Route
What to Expect When Hiking Mt Whitney’s Mountaineers Route July 20, 2019 Mountaineers Route July 2019 – photo by Josh Super What to Expect When Hiking Mt Whitney’s Mountaineers Route It was 2:30 am on July 13th, 2019, when I poured boiling water over the overly priced backpacking meal of scrambled eggs and bacon. I…
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Six Underrated Places to Visit in the United States
Six Underrated Places to Visit in The United States June 26, 2019 1. Savannah, Georgia What popular cities like Miami, Los Angeles, and New York lack in charm, Savannah brilliantly flourishes in. Blush & blue colored Victorian-era mansions line old squares, covered in vines and displaying wick-burning lanterns to welcome visitors. Skyscrapers are nonexistent while…
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Best Scotland Road Trip: Top Things to See in The Scottish Highlands
Best Scotland Road Trip: Top Things to See in The Scottish Highlands January 22, 2022 Scotland Road Trip Notes I can’t pinpoint the exact moment Scotland piqued my interest. Maybe it was a picture of a highland cow on Instagram, or a tip from a fellow traveler on the natural beauty tucked away in…
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Four Road Trip Routes in Michigan You Need to Take This Summer
Four Road Trips You Need to Take in Michigan This Summer The entire population of Michigan is emerging from their winter habitats, eyes squinting beneath a forgotten sun. Unlike the newly released season of Game of Thrones, winter is not here. Or at least they hope. With the final snowbanks fading, the crumpled bucket lists…
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Seven Rad Things to Do Around Melbourne, Australia
Seven Rad Things to Do Around Melbourne, Australia Melbourne is one of the few places I’ve visited twice. In a world of new adventures, I often opt to visit new places instead of returning to old destinations. However, thanks to an Aussie best friend who quickly showed me local routes and Australian culture, I fell…
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Nine Incredible & Unique Places to Stay in the United States
Nine Incredible and Unique Places to Stay in The United States Walhalla Treehouse, South Carolina If there is a place in the United States that perfectly combines adventure, romance, and luxury, it’s the Walhalla Treehouse. If there is anything in the world that can be described as perfect, this incredible treehouse tucked into the rolling…
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A Solo Hike Up New Zealand’s Gertrude Saddle
A Solo Hike Up New Zealand’s Gertrude Saddle Updated: March 31, 2020 Around dawn, I peeked my head out from the thin blanket I had spread across myself in the backseat of my compact rental car. The night had lingered in the mid-40s, but my many layers kept me warm through the late summer…
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Four Romantic Getaways in Michigan for Every Kind of Couple
Four Romantic Getaways in Michigan For Every Kind of Couple From sipping wine on the shores of Lake Michigan to candlelit dinners overlooking the Detroit skyline, there is an abundance of romantic getaway options right here in Michigan. You can forget about jetting off to Paris, they don’t have white-sand beaches anyway. Whether looking to…
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You Can Come With Me to PERU! YOU can join me on an EPIC adventure to PERU! I’ve partnered up with EF Ultimate Break to bring you an incredible opportunity to visit Peru and hike Machu Picchu with me in October 2021. Up the altitude and dive into jungles, cities and ancient ruins on this…
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Want to Climb a Mountain? Six Easy Peaks to Climb in North America
Travel With Me! Discover trips to Iceland, Patagonia, and Thailand in 2024 & 2025. Explore here Want to Climb a Mountain? Six Easy Mountains to Climb in The United States Updated: May 1, 2022 There are thousands of mountains around North America (and the world) that offer the sweet reward of a mountain summit without…
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Where Can I Camp For Free in The United States?
Where Can I Camp For Free in The United States? 2022 Edition WHERE TO CAMP FOR FREE IN THE UNITED STATES 2022 Free camping is a major win for many reasons. First, it’s free. Second, most of the time you are dispersed and separated from other campers. Sometimes you can be the only one for…
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Lost in Translation: Why We Thought We Were Being Robbed in Colombia
LOST IN TRANSLATION: WHY WE THOUGHT WE WERE BEING ROBBED IN COLOMBIA As I packed up the last of my belongings at our Colombian mansion I couldn’t help but think how smoothly the trip had gone despite the many unknown factors we had leading into the adventure. We began by flying into the heart…
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12 Gifts Every Adventurer Will Love
12 GIFTS EVERY ADVENTURER WILL LOVE 1. Airbnb Gift Card ($50-$100) Travelers like to stay in unique places. Something more thrilling than the local Hampton Inn. What better gift than a gift of experience? Airbnb is a home-rental site that allows travelers to stay in unique accommodation around the world. From treehouses to igloos…
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Best Things to Do in Traverse City in The Fall
Best Things to Do in Traverse City in The Fall The first thing I noticed when I was deboarding the plane was the smell. A mid-October scent of cool crisp air and pumpkin patches. It smelled like home. I was eager for fall color. Let me rephrase. I NEEDED fall color. I half expected…
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The Four Weirdest Places We’ve Slept While Traveling
The Four Weirdest Places We’ve Slept While Traveling I’m sorry if this is your first time here. We’re about ready to get to know each other real quick. Josh and I travel on a tight budget, which often times means a lack of plush pillows and oversized king beds. This also means a hefty…
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The Six Best States To Visit In The Fall
THE SIX BEST STATES TO VISIT IN THE FALL I’m currently in South Carolina. It was 86 today and I attempted to wear a fuzzy sweater. I’ve unapologetically ordered a PSL from Starbucks. It still wasn’t worth $5, but I’ve come to accept the defeat because the spirit of fall has me feelin’ some…
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Six Hidden Michigan Secrets
Six Hidden Michigan Secrets Michigan is consistently and vastly underrated, but we like it that way. There are rarely crowds which ruin beauty, and there are still dozens of unexplored and relatively unknown places hidden throughout the Upper and Lower Peninsula. Out of all the things to do in Michigan, sometimes the best…
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