Shalee Wanders Travel Blog
How to Take Good Instagram Photos
How to Take Good Instagram Photos March 19, 2022 Let me start this article off by saying I am the furthest thing from an “Instagram model.” In fact, this is what I look like on 90% of my travels: But when it comes to how to take good Instagram photos, all you really need to…
Read More
I Got Robbed in San Antonio
WE GOT ROBBED IN SAN ANTONIO Operation #vanlife is proving difficult. Much more difficult than living out of a backpack for three months in Europe. Who would have thought? Here’s a recap of the first three weeks on the road: Day one: Discover our daytime lights continuously flash, so everyone on the road thinks we are constantly…
Read More
8 Alternative European Towns to Visit
8 ALTERNATIVE EUROPEAN TOWNS TO VISIT We all know about Paris and Rome. We’ve added Santorini and Cinque Terre to our list of “must-see” places. Twenty years ago these sights were busy, today they are a tourist hell. Sure, some of them are worth a stop, but thanks to social media constantly promoting their beauty…
Read More
Budget Van Renovation: How to Renovate a Van For Under $600
Budget Van Renovation: How to Renovate a Van For Under $600 January 25, 2020 I’ll always look back and remember that my first home was a van. Nearly two months after arriving back to Michigan from Europe, I am preparing to embark on yet another adventure that will hide me from a mortgage and…
Read More
Around Europe in 90 Days
AROUND EUROPE IN 90 DAYS (VIDEO)
Read More
Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass
Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass Updated: March 21, 2020 Gallivanting around Europe is nothing new to young explorers. For those taking the leap to travel Europe for an extended period of time, there is one key element that will make or break the trip. How will they see it all? The…
Read More
What Happens in Europe…
WHAT HAPPENS IN EUROPE… Three months in Europe comes with a lot of memories (and mishaps). When beginning a journey of such magnitude, you know that along the way you will create stories both good and bad, and come back with a few “pinch me” moments. Since returning home, many people want to know…
Read More
How to Travel Europe on a Budget (25 Countries for Under $3,500)
How to Travel Europe on a Budget (25 Countries on $3,500) Updated March 23, 2020 Here is a map of everywhere we stopped and traveled to during 90 days with $3,500 each while traveling Europe on a budget: I think “backpacking Europe” is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. I know it was…
Read More
Mount Olympus: A Trek up Greece’s Highest Mountain
MOUNT OLYMPUS: A TREK UP GREECE’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN And I peeked over the edge, only to realize that a thousand-foot cliff waited for me on the other side. I was roughly 400 vertical feet from the summit of Mount Olympus, the tallest mountain in Greece and the heart of Greek mythology. I had yet…
Read More
Traveling Europe on A Budget
Tips for Traveling Europe On a Budget January 25, 2020 You’ve journaled price estimates, added every quarter to your travel fund, and mapped out exactly where you want to go. You have dreams of a classic European backpacking adventure, but how do you ensure you can afford it? Sticking to a budget is tough.…
Read More
What I’ve Learned from My First Month Backpacking Europe
WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM MY FIRST MONTH BACKPACKING EUROPE When I said goodbye to the United States on June 1st with nothing but a backpack, a passport, and a boyfriend, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. We had nothing planned, no idea what we wanted to see, or what the next three…
Read More
The Island of Cies
THE ISLAND OF CIES Arriving in Europe on June 2nd with no plans, no itinerary, and a limited budget was probably one of the scarier things I’ve done while traveling. I’ll admit that although I’m not a planner (or a good one at that), I was more than intimidated arriving on an entirely new…
Read More
Red River Gorge Cabin Life: Treehouse Edition
Best Red River Gorge Treehouse + Cabins Updated: April 14, 2021 Last week I returned to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky for some climbing and exploring. On my first visit last October, I fell in love with the area and the atmosphere around Miguel’s Pizza. This time, I had the opportunity to go…
Read More
MILLION VIEW GIVEAWAY: A Traverse City Adventure
Want to win a trip to Traverse City? Here’s your chance! As many of you know, I am in love with northern Michigan. It’s the place that inspired me to start a blog and begin this crazy journey. A little over two years later, I’ve just celebrated my MILLIONTH view. MILLIONTH. 999,000 more than what…
Read More
An Alternative Graduation: Hot Air Ballooning
AN ALTERNATIVE GRADUATION: HOT AIR BALLOONING I’m a college graduate, guys. I’M A COLLEGE GRADUATE. Whew. What a weekend. Last week my pending graduation was finally beginning to hit me. My Facebook feed was filled with classmates taking pictures around campus in their green & white cap and gowns, each of us anxiously awaiting…
Read More
Travel Essential Packing List
TRAVEL ESSENTIAL PACKING LIST
Read More
An Audition to Be the Director of Toughness
AN AUDITION TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF TOUGHNESS A while back I auditioned for Columbia’s Director of Toughness and made it all the way to the final round. It was one of the most unique experiences, although it has taken me a while to finally write about it. Last August, Nedra from Adventure Mom…
Read MoreGrab your Friend—and Go Jump off a Cliff
I was introduced to Tobermory, Canada about two years ago, and my life hasn’t been quite the same since. Ontario isn’t known for its drastic landscapes, northern lights, or French accents like its relative territories of Quebec or Alberta. Ishpatina Ridge sits at the highest elevation inside its 415,000 square miles, a little hill slightly…
Read More
Behind the Blog: How to Start your Own
BEHIND THE BLOG: HOW TO START YOUR OWN It’s new and relatively unknown. Blogging is a concept many people are trying, but not many know what they’re doing. It’s evolved significantly in the past few years, and the future looks promising in the millennial world. This week I’m answering one of the main non-travel related…
Read More
Fathom Travel: A New Kind of Adventure
Recently I took a trip that included beaches and mountains, but not the kind you’d typically find me on. This was a new adventure, one that wasn’t your typical vacation. I’d never been on an impact trip. I had always been curious, but was always picky about what kind of trip I would take. I…
Read More
8 Tips for Tight Budget Travel
8 TIPS FOR TIGHT BUDGET TRAVEL Some of us are visual learners (myself included). This week I decided to take a different approach to share some of my tips while traveling on a budget. What is the twist? AN INFOGRAPHIC. Recently, I’ve had a bit of an obsession with infographics and I just created…
Read More
8 Small Town Michigan Overnight Getaways
8 SMALL TOWN MICHIGAN OVERNIGHT GETAWAYS 1. Mesick It’s in the middle of nowhere, it’s near the highest point in the Lower Peninsula, and it’s the mushroom capital of the world. If you love hunting for those Morel mushrooms come spring, this is the place for you! I spent countless weekends here as a…
Read More
Why I Chose Not to Study Abroad
WHY I CHOSE NOT TO STUDY ABROAD Yes, I am a college student travel blogger. And no, I haven’t studied abroad. It is one of the most frequent questions that I am asked. I respond “no” and wait for their reaction and follow-up statement that’s something along the polite version of “How the…
Read MoreFit-Geeks Guide to Michigan 2016
Lower body workouts: Climb sleeping bear dunes 3x in one day Three climbs equals about 2,000ft of elevation climbing on sand in under a mile. On the bright side, every time you run to the bottom you can dive into Lake Michigan. And yes, massive amounts of sand will end up in your hair, pants,…
Read More
How to Save for Your First Big Adventure
HOW TO SAVE FOR YOUR FIRST BIG ADVENTURE You’re dreaming of it, right? You want to lie on the beaches of Thailand, skydive over the mountains of New Zealand, picnic next to the waterfalls of Iceland, and camp under the stars of California. You see the photos on Instagram, you read the articles online,…
Read More
Over 550,000 views in 2015! THANK YOU.
OVER 550,000 VIEWS IN 2015! THANK YOU! I can’t believe 2015 is almost over and I can’t believe I have been blogging for almost two years. When did this happen? Where has time gone? My site stats for the year recently came in, and I am in awe once again. 550,000 of you in 173…
Read More
Caribbean Paradise: Budget Travel Meets All-Inclusive Luxury
CARIBBEAN PARADISE: BUDGET TRAVEL MEETS ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY I would be lying if I said I didn’t recently enjoy a week in paradise at an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. Weird, right? Not usually my thing. Being a lover of beaches, when the opportunity arose to spend some time on some of the…
Read MoreA Family Affair: International Adventure Travel
Guest post: Jake Oliver. There’s nothing I love more than family holidays; the chance to visit exotic regions and discover new cultures alongside my favourite people in the whole world! It turns out I’m not alone; according to the Family Holiday Association “49% of British people said their happiest memory is being on holiday with…
Read More
Six Best Lighthouses in Michigan
The Six Best Lighthouses in Michigan January 25, 2020 When I’m old, frail, and slightly senile, I want to be a lighthouse keeper. I want to have a cat named Indiana Jones, a beautiful view of a lake, and most importantly – an ice cream shop within 5 miles. I’ve spent my life around…
Read More
A Life Behind Miguel’s Pizza
A Life Behind Miguel’s Pizza Situated among the rolling mountains of Kentucky is a slice of heaven for rock climbers, food lovers, and camping fanatics. Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is known to have the best rock climbing in the eastern United States and is continuously swarmed with climbers looking for some adventure. Those who venture…
Read More
How to Conquer Iceland on a Budget
HOW TO MAKE ICELAND AFFORDABLE 1. Tent it How cold do you think Iceland is? The answer is not as cold as you may think. Tenting is completely doable in the summer months and will save a traveler hundreds of dollars. Sleeping in a camper van is one of the most common (and…
Read More
The Wanderlust Lifestyle of a Millennial
Over the years, I have met my fair share of young travelers. We have bonded, shared stories, and discussed how we were each able to travel so young. Out of all those I have met, I have yet to meet one who is wealthy enough to travel without care. I think this proves that there…
Read More
Travel Memoirs: Looking Back at Our Most Unforgettable Experiences
TRAVEL MEMOIRS: LOOKING BACK AT OUR MOST UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES Do you ever have to moments where you look back and think “I actually did that?!” Yeah, me too. I’m interested in hearing what some of your most breathtaking, thrilling, and stunning moments have been while traveling. Share your stories in the comments below! I’m so…
Read More
Iceland’s Ring Road: The Adventurers Dream
ICELAND’S RING ROAD: THE ADVENTURERS DREAM Iceland is like a nature IMAX film on steroids that is also the supermodel of life’s landscapes. It is simply stunning, almost to a point where I forgot I was actually living. It’s where that 200ft waterfall to your left is suddenly going unnoticed because it probably doesn’t even have…
Read MoreZip, Zip, Away! Notes and The Next Few Weeks
This summer I have managed to spend around 150 hours in the car on weekends alone. Gee wiz. I recently calculated that, and realized I am lucky car sickness doesn’t run in my family. Just last weekend I went and camped on South Manitou Island, which is located in the middle of Lake Michigan. It…
Read More