Shalee Wanders Travel Blog
8 Things Backpacking Teaches Us About Life
8 THINGS BACKPACKING TEACHES US ABOUT LIFE 1) Rewards don’t come easily We hike miles for hours, days, and weeks to summit high points, discover new places, and reach destinations. We choose not to experience the world from the scenic car pull offs, and that is why we remember these moments. A reward…
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Eat Nothing and Climb Everything: Budgeting in America’s Southwest
EAT NOTHING AND CLIMB EVERYTHING: BUDGETING IN AMERICA’S SOUTHWEST Yes, it’s true…America’s southwest is full of tour buses, selfie sticks, crowded parking lots and heat strokes. Why would anyone want to visit such a place? Because it’s really freaking beautiful, duh. And just like any other destination around the world, tourists can be…
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20 Tips to Stay Under Budget While Traveling
I am completely aware that attempting to stay under budget on vacation is a real pain. However, over the years I’ve learned that it is a lot easier than expected. Finding out the most convenient and efficient ways to save money on the road will allow for more future travels and less current vacation regrets.…
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5 Adventures in Every Midwest State
5 ADVENTURES IN EVERY MIDWEST STATE 12 states officially claim the Midwest as home. Although we may not have towering mountains or vast oceans, we are spoiled with lush forests, freshwater and unpopulated blissful hikes. So set the remotes down and challenge yourself to try something new, celebrate the outdoors and rediscover the kick-ass…
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A Day Guide to Acadia National Park
A DAY GUIDE TO ACADIA NATIONAL PARK If you follow me on social media, you’ve seen how much I absolutely loved Acadia National Park (and Maine in general). There are a lot of states I visit and love, yet don’t consider living there. Maine, however, is definitely NOT one of those places. I actually…
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I Climbed a Mountain to Reach a Parking Lot (and Loved it)
I CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN TO REACH A PARKING LOT For the past four hours, I’ve been sweating, swearing and falling my way up Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. I see the summit and just as I’m about to make it over the crest I hear voices—lots of them. I have to say…
Read More22 Goals For My 22nd Year
I’m getting old. Okay, maybe 22 isn’t that bad. My birthday came up extremely quick this year and I think I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off. What are 22 year olds supposed to do in society? Start a big girl job? Buy an apartment? Get a cat?
Read MoreA Toronto Travel Guide
(Insert Canadian National Anthem here) First of all, just got my grades back and I made the Dean’s list…WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. Especially because there was one class I thought I was going to epically fail halfway through the semester. Then I stopped going to class and did better on all the exams once I…
Read MoreThe Summer Adventure Challenge
April showers bring May flowers and May flowers usually brings finals which makes me want to drop out of school and become a street performer. But…I survived. Summer is here! I may or may not have walked out of my last exam with my fist in the air singing I am the Champion while my…
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My Most Embarrassing Moments: Travel Edition
MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS: TRAVEL EDITION Ahhh, traveling….an adventure filled with excitement, smiles and accidentally falling in an airplane bathroom. You know, it happens to the best of us. You’ve all seen where I go and what I do but usually I try to post pictures that are the best from my trip. Ones that…
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5 Weekend Adventures Outside Michigan
Michigan is great. We’ve established it. But sometimes it’s needed to get out and go exploring beyond the boundaries. We all know how busy life can be, and the thought of a reality-escaping adventure can seem far from possible. Well, let’s say you only have a weekend available. No problem…no problem at all. There are…
Read MoreFlying High on a Trapeze in Paradise
Okay, if you’re a trapeze artist…I give major props. It’s been over two weeks since I tried and my arms can still feel it. While having some fun-in-the-sun down near Venice Beach, Florida, I got the opportunity to try the trapeze. Now it wasn’t just a trapeze, it was one that some of the best circus and…
Read MoreWhy Travel Shouldn't Be a Competition
Society constantly pushes us to prove we are better than the competition. We don’t know any better. Today’s post is going to be a semi-rant. Mostly because lately I’ve been coming into contact with a lot of people where travel is the subject and all they do is try and boast about how the places…
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A Date Luging in Muskegon!
A DATE IN MUSKEGON: LUGING! You’ll be seeing me in the next Olympics. (not really…) Buttttttt….my boyfriend Josh and I recently got to experience what it’s like to luge! You know, that sport they race down an icy track on a sled going so fast it kind of makes you sick to watch. Yup!…
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What To Do in Sandusky Ohio: Winter Edition
What To Do In Sandusky Ohio? Winter Edition Updated January 25, 2021 So, you’re wondering what to do in Sandusky, Ohio in the winter? Here’s a secret: it’s pretty rad and filled with hidden adventures. The indoor/outdoor exploration options are perfect and prove that although Cedar Point is amazing, it’s not the only thing…
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How Fear Made Me Live
HOW FEAR MADE ME LIVE Fear. It’s the one thing that everyone observes and avoids, though they secretly want to overpower it. It’s been over a year now that I have been writing to you and I feel that although you know who I am, I’ve failed to explain who I really am and…
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How to Capture Travel Moments: 11 Tips
11 TIPS FOR CAPTURING TRAVEL MOMENTS Every time someone tells me they think I take amazing photos I just want to hug them. It’s probably one of the best compliments I get just because it’s something I love to do and it’s the best way I capture travel memories. Pictures are usually worth more…
Read More"Shalee Wanders" 1st Birthday! A Thank You To My Readers:
It’s been one insane year. All thanks to you.
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10,000 Feet and 17 Miles: Grand Canyon
10,000 FEET AND 17 MILES: HIKING THE GRAND CANYON It was Christmas Eve. We made it to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in an impressive time. It was just after 9:00 a.m., but we had already conquered the South Kaibab trail to the floor of the most famous canyon in the world. Too bad we weren’t…
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Winter Activities in Michigan: 9 Great Weekend Adventures
Winter Activities in Michigan: 9 Great Weekend Adventures January 25, 2020 Top Winter Activities in Michigan If I had a dollar for every complaint I’ve heard about Michigan winter… When it comes down to it, we only enjoy the season as much as we allow ourselves to. Truth be told, I used to be…
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Vortexes and Visions: Bell Rock’s Hidden Story
“I believe I exist within a holographic reality program, an intelligently designed futuristic entertainment simulation, for which I directly programmed certain experiences, relationships, lessons and issues before I was born. Looking back over my life – I’ll be 73 in March – I see nothing that would convince me otherwise, quite the opposite.” -Peter Gersten…
Read MoreWhere Should 2015 Take me?
It’s a new year! Hey-ooooo. I was extremely sad to see 2014 leave. What a big year it was for me and it’s all because of you guys. Thank you! What’s in store for 2015, you ask? I have no clue…but that’s not a real shocker. I have a few surprises up my sleeve for…
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Solo Female Travel Hawaii
Solo Female Travel Hawaii In October, a fellow blogger asked me if I had ever been to Hawaii. My response: “No, and I’m not sure if I ever will. It’s just so expensive to fly to such a small island.” Fast forward two weeks and I was clicking submit on skyscanner.com for a three week…
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14 Things You Learn When Traveling With Your Best Friends
Traveling with your best friends will cause some of the most memorable moments of your life. These travels don’t mean ocean jumping or plane hopping, it can simply be a weekend on the road discovering new places. Not only will the experience be down right amaze-balls, but it will also help you all discover yourselves…
Read MoreLet's look at the rest of 2014…
As the end of 2014 quickly approaches, I think it’s important to connect with you and share where I will be for the remainder of the year and what website plans I have for the rest of this month.
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The 7 Best Sites for Budget Travelers
THE SEVEN BEST SITES FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS I often get questions from readers (and friends) asking what sites I use to find the best deals for budget travel. I have many favorites and it’s hard to narrow down to just 7. These are the sites that have been my life and money savor when…
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Budget Weekend Getaway: Michigan’s Thumb
BUDGET WEEKEND GETAWAY: MICHIGAN’S THUMB I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life. How many times do you think I’ve been to Michigan’s thumb before September? If you guessed none you’re correct and I’m ashamed. I’m not sure why I had never made my way there. Maybe because every time I thought of getting away…
Read MoreHow to Spend New Years in NYC for No More than $550
For those of you who have been here since the very beginning, this will be a repeat post. For everyone else, this is the first piece I ever wrote on an account I had on a blogging site last year. Since New Years will be here before we know it, I decided it would be…
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The Michigan Bucket List
The Michigan Bucket List November 15, 2014 THE ORIGINAL MICHIGAN BUCKET LIST | AS Shared Over 200,000 Times on Facebook Thank you for supporting! Michigan is perhaps the most underrated state in the United States. For those that live here, we know how special it is. I’m just going to get straight to the…
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How To Travel to Italy on A Budget ($1000 or Less!)
How to Travel to Italy on A Budget ($1000 or Less!) February 02, 2021 It surprises a lot of people when I say Italy is one of the most budget-friendly countries I have been to. With that being said, I’ve also met people who have spent $10,000+ dollars in a single week traveling Italy. I’m…
Read MoreThe College Student Travel Bible
Sweet baby Jesus. Traveling as a college student is not a fairy tale. Holy poop on a stick. You know what? I love that we live in a society where everyone has hammered the idea into the brains of young adults that traveling is for the rich, the famous and the retired. BLARGH. I hate…
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10 Essential Items for a Road Trip
10 ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR A ROAD TRIP Road-tripping is one of the best feelings. It doesn’t matter where you are going, or how long you plan on staying, the journey to your destination is part of the adventure. When taking off for a road trip I never leave without these essentials in my car (some…
Read MoreThe Thrills of Roller-Coasters and Zombies
So this one time I was on a trip where I dropped my phone flat on cement, shattered my screen and laughed about it. I think it was because I was at Cedar Point and it’s impossible to be mad in such a happy place. Even though summer is over and the Midwest seems too…
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An Hour of Darkness
AN HOUR OF DARKNESS I am lucky enough to see the world. All of us are not that lucky. This time, I don’t mean see the world through travel. I mean really see. I get to see the mountain which towers above me and visualize the deep blue ocean I was once at. Sometimes I…
Read MoreThe Truth About Language Barriers
When traveling, it is common to find yourself in a situation where you have no idea what anyone around you is talking about. Not because they are crazy, but because the words they are speaking have no meaning to you. Have you ever tried communicating with someone who couldn’t understand you or you were unable to…
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