The Flint Hills of Kansas Will Shatter Your Definition of Wide Open Spaces

For once in my life, I looked around, surrounded by unfamiliar territory, and though I had the greatest urge to spout that age-old movie reference — “we’re not in Kansas anymore” — the fact of the matter was that, yes, we very much were in Kansas. I mean, in the very heart of America, in that region known as the Great Plains, you have some idea of what you’ll come across, but reading about it or seeing a photo or video is truly not the same as being surrounded by rolling green hills as far as the eye can see.

No Stress in Key West: Soaking Up the Sun on Ernest Hemingway's Erstwhile Island Home

Key West wasn’t necessarily high on my travel bucket list, but it was on there (as is just about every other destination on planet Earth). Regardless, I figured it was better to visit sooner rather than later; that is, before the Florida Keys succumb in their entirety to the catastrophic effects of unchecked climate change and become the newest version of the Lost City of Atlantis.

North AmericaLogan T. HansenMarch 27, 2023travel, travel guide, travel advice, travel ideas, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel recommendations, travel reviews, travel tips, travel planning, travel bucket list, Florida, Florida Keys, Key West, Ernest Hemingway, Sloppy Joe's, Sunshine State, Cuba, Captain Tony, Duval Street, Gulf of Mexico, Mellow Cafe, Smoked on the Water BBQ, Garden of Eden, Whistle Bar, Luke Skywalker, Batman, Joker, Gotham, tourist trap, Lost City of Atlantis, Atlantis, Airbnb, Duval, Irish Kevin's, Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, live music, Key Western Fest, Little Texas, Ricochet, Kendall Marvel, Capt. Tony's Saloon, Hemingway, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Jimmy Buffet, Mike Leach, Papa Hemingway, John F. Kennedy, Rick's Bar, Rick's Entertainment Complex, Durty Harry's, The Durtbags, Red Garter Saloon, The Bull, South Beach, Smathers Beach, beach life, beach day, beach getaway, Higgs Beach, Simonton Beach, Key West International Airport, Sunset Watersports, Salute! On the Beach, Southernmost Point, Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S., Southernmost Beach Cafe, Southernmost Beach Resort, Lagerheads Beach Bar & Watersports, Blue Mojito Bar & Grill, Mother Nature, outdoors, the great outdoors, Sebago Watersports, Fury Key West, Ocean Vue Adventures, Sandbar & Kayak Eco Adventure, Miss Valyn, mangroves, mangrove islands, Florida Keys National Marine SanctuaryComment

The Unassailable Allure of the Great Ghost Trains of Maine

Hidden in the 17.5 million acres of forest spread across the state of Maine are a number of abandoned sites. These include vacant paper mills, deserted homes, old forts, and underground bunkers. But one of the most interesting things you’ll find in the woods of northern Maine are a pair of long-forgotten locomotive engines, rusting away in the middle of nowhere.

This is the Best Way to See All of Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory

It would be very easy to write something here about the island of Anguilla not necessarily being anyone’s first choice when it comes to planning a Caribbean vacation. It would be even easier to say that you might instead consider destinations such as the Bahamas, St. Thomas, or the Dominican. And it would be tempting to remark that you could hardly be blamed for choosing one of those other destinations. So let’s not do any of that.

CaribbeanLogan T. HansenJune 7, 2022travel, travel guide, travel advice, travelspiration, travel inspiration, Anguilla, British Caribbean, Airbnb, Blowing Point, Blowing Point Ferry Terminal, Caribbean, Caribbean Sea, mopeds, scooters, Unique Bar & Grill, British Overseas Territory, Hurricane Irma, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, St. Martin, Calypso Charters, D&D Rentals, Anguilla Arch, West End Bay, Island Harbour, Shoal Bay, Shoal Bay Beach, wildlife, wild goats, Madeariman, beach life, beaches, island life, Sandy Ground, The Valley, The Village Bakehouse, Village Bakehouse, Route 1, Shoal Bay West, West End Village, hurricane damage, Carib, Carib Lager, Carib Brewery, island adventure, island time, island hopping, island, summer travel, summer vacation, Dutch Caribbean, French Caribbean, French bakery, Mother Nature, the great outdoors, nature, natural beauty, natural attraction, scooter rental, moped rental, moped, scooter Comment

The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 1

Michigan is full of majesty, mystery, and might, each of which comes in many forms. This three-part series highlights just some of what the Mitten State has to offer, county by county. Welcome to Part One, which covers the first 29 counties alphabetically, from Alcona to Gratiot.

MichiganLogan T. HansenFebruary 8, 2022travel, travel guide, travel advice, Michigan, travelspiration, travel inspiration, travel recommendations, travel tips, travel ideas, travel planning, travel appreciation, travel guidance, travel junkie, travel bucket list, Great Lakes State, Great Lakes, Escanaba, Upper Peninsula, mitten state, Chippewa County, Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon River, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Mother Nature, the great outdoors, outdoors, outdoor adventure, Grand Traverse Bay, Grand Traverse County, Alcona County, Churchill Pointe Inn, Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, lighthouse, Lake Huron, Hubbard Lake, Lower Peninsula, Alger County, Pictured Rocks, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Lake Superior, kayaking, Allegan County, Oval Beach, Conde Nast, Conde Nast Traveler, Saugatuck, Lake Michigan, Alpena County, Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Lady Michigan, Shipwreck Alley, shipwrecks, Antrim County, up north, Torch Lake, Torch Lake Monster, Arenac County, Charity Island, Charity Island Lighthouse, Saginaw Bay, bird watching, Baraga County, Mt. Arvon, L'Anse, hiking, biking, jogging, cross-country skiing, cross country skiing, Huron Mountains, Barry County, Gilmore Car Museum, history, Bay County, Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, BaySail, Benzie County, Inspiration Point, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, Frankfort, Beulah, Crystal Lake, Platte Lake, Berrien County, Warren Dunes State Park, camping, Branch County, Capri Drive-In Theater, U.S.-12, Binder Park Zoo, Calhoun County, Wild Africa, Cass County, Dowagiac, Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary, Charlevoix, Charlevoix County, Charlevoix the Beautiful, Beaver Island, Beaver Island Hideaway Campground, Beaver Island Music Festival, Cheboygan County, Mackinaw City, Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, Black Mountain Recreation Area, off-roading, snowmobiling, cheboygantrailways.com, Sault Ste. Marie, Soo Locks, St. James Harbor, St. James, Cops & Doughnuts, Clare County, Clare City Bakery, Clinton County, Uncle John's Cider Mill, US-127, Mid Mitten Cider Fest, Fall Craft & Gift Show, Crawford County, Hanson Hills, Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, Grayling Winter Sports Park, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, winter travel, summer travel, disc golf, archery, mountain biking, Midwest, Delta County, Escanaba in da Moonlight, Jeff Daniels, Fayette Historic State Park, Northern Sun Winery & Vineyards, Ludington Park, Little Bay de Noc, Dickinson County, Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort, Pine Mountain, ski jump, Eaton County, Dimes Brewhouse, BrickHaven Brewing, Sanctuary Spirits, Dimondale, Grand Ledge, Emmet County, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Genesee County, Flint, Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, Stepping Stone Falls, Saginaw Street, TripAdvisor, architecture, Anthony Bourdain, art, murals, Gladwin County, Hard Luck, ghost town, Au Sable State Forest, nailhed, Gogebic County, Big Powderhorn Mountain, Big Snow Resort, Blackjack Mountain, Indianhead Mountain, Traverse City, Old Mission, Old Mission Peninsula, winery, vineyard, Gratiot County, Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, Alma, Greenville, Montcalm County, wildlife, nature, travel junkiesComment

Three States for the Price of One: This is the Place Where Michigan, Indiana, & Ohio Meet

You’ve no doubt heard of the Four Corners — the monument that marks the spot where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together, allowing you to stand in all four states at once — but there’s another convergence of state lines over in the Midwest that’s likely never crossed your mind. It’s so obscure, in fact, that it might as well just be marked by a rock on the side of a dirt road.

You're Running Out of Time to Climb Hawaii's 'Stairway to Heaven'

“Stairway to Heaven” may be the name of an absolute jam by Led Zeppelin, but it’s also the nickname for a series of steps found on the Hawaiian island of Oahu that may soon be removed for good. The Haiku Stairs, a 3,000-plus step, steel staircase leading up into the Ko’olau mountain range, are a travel bucket list item for many — but if you’re planning to check it off yours, you’ll need to do so in a hurry.

The Northernmost Point of the Continental U.S. ...Is Only Accessible Via Canada?

If you asked 100 random people on the street what the southernmost point of the continental U.S. is, perhaps 50 to 60 of them could correctly tell you that Key West, Florida, is the destination you’re after. What would happen, though, if you asked the same group to name the northernmost point? Would the number of correct responses be similar? Higher? Lower? If I were betting on it, I’d certainly take the under.

North AmericaLogan T. HansenAugust 31, 2021travel, travel guide, travel advice, travelspiration, travel recommendations, travel ideas, travel inspiration, travel planning, travel guidance, travel bucket list, Minnesota, Lake of the Woods, Lake of the Woods County, northernmost point, United States, Alaska, Utqiagvik, Barrow, Barrow Point, Angle Inlet, Northwest Angle, Canada, Manitoba, Arctic Circle, John Enger, MPR News, MinnPost, Key West, Florida, Lower 48, lower 48 states, Great Britain, Revolutionary War, Minnesota State University, Minnesota State University-Mankato, William E. Lass, history, history lesson, geography, Treaty of Paris, Mississippi River, The Angle, NW Angle, John Mitchell, Atlantic Ocean, Treaty of Paris (1783), U.S. independence, Lake Itasca, 49th parallel, Pacific Ocean, Jim's Corner, Young's Bay Resort, Carlson's Landing, Prothero's Post Resort, Angle Outpost Resort, Northwest Angle Country Club, fishing, hiking, outdoors, the great outdoors, Mother Nature, natural beauty, natural attraction, biking, angling, golf, snowmobiling, snowmobile, Provincial Road 525, Winter Road, US-Canadian border, U.S.-Canadian border, international travel, international border, adventure, adventure travel, adventure tourism, winter travelComment

How to Hit the Road & Stay Safe as the Pandemic Rages On

Time off has lost a little bit of that sense of escapism — the defining trait of proper rest and relaxation. Instead of a safe space, home is a reminder of what we’re missing out on. People isolate themselves for the sake of everyone’s physical health, but cabin fever looms. Irritation, loneliness, restlessness: the remedy is a change of scenery, which is asking for too much during a pandemic, right?

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