Hungry for Adventurez

  A few weeks ago I went campaigning at Elk Rock State Park in central Iowa. This beautiful park is located on Red Rock Lake near Pella and Knoxville, Iowa. Let's break down what camping here is like, and who would have the most fun camping here.  What are the campsites like at Elk Rock State Park? How do I get a campsite?  These campsites are very different depending on what loop you pick! All campsites have a firepit and picnic table. There are electric and non-electric sites. If your site does not come with water, each loop also has a drinking water pump. We took a spot in the furthest loop into the campground (non-electric), which happened to have a lake view, but was further away from the bathrooms. There is also an equestrian section, where riders can camp with their horses. Our camping area didn't have a lot of tree cover, so I could see it getting quite hot during late summer. We found the campground to be very peaceful and quiet. That being said, our loop w...

  So you want to start camping! Great! Camping is a great way to get outside and explore your home state. One of the first things you need to get started is choose where you want to camp. The location you choose will affect what equipment you need as a first time camper. Furthermore different types of camping locations might be better for one party, and less appropriate for another group. Here are three types of camping locations I recommend for first time campers. Camping for the First Time in Your Backyard If you are camping with people who might be hesitant, if weather is going to be unpredictable, or if you will be camping with children who have never slept outside, this is a great option. If you don’t have a yard, or live in an apartment, you might have a friend or family member who would be willing to help. Camping in a yard means there will always be an opportunity to bail if things go sour, and bathrooms will be private and predictable. You will also be prepared for the loc...

I went to Debuque this weekend, and it was lovely! Despite it being February! If you need to get out of the house due to some winter cabin fever, use a sunny day to drive to Dubuque and enjoy Iowa's favorite port city. As a fan of budget travel, I have made sure to note what everything costs as of February 2023. Most entries are also family friendly. Free things to do: Sculpture on the Dubuque River Walk  Walk the River Walk This is pretty well known, but it’s known for a reason. The Marina area has beautiful views of bridges and bluffs over the Mississippi, as well as public art displays. It’s also very close to many other paid activities, and there is access to free parking. (note: Dubuque charges for parking in most downtown areas. Bring quarters, unless you research free parking ahead of time.)  Mines of Spain Recreation Area Another free favorite in Dubuque, Iowa. This park offers great hiking and lookout points over the river. Keep in mind that when we visited, the road...

  I’m not going to lie, this year winter hit me like a truck. For the time being, I live in Iowa, which experiences all four seasons. I drive a Prius, which doesn’t handle snow well due to its size and front wheel drive. I’m not historically a winter sports enthusiast, and I don’t like being cold. I also work full time, which means that during November through January when days are shorter, I spend almost all of daylight hours working in an office. I chose all of those aspects of my life, because right now, there are a lot of benefits. However, this year I really learned that for my mental health, I need to make sure I get out and adventure during the winter the best I can. Here are 5 strategies I use to hold over my hunger for adventure during the cold, dark, winter.  1. Use lunch breaks wisely during the winter If the best sunshine and warmest hours happen while you are at work, take advantage of your lunch break to get some vitamin D. I like to eat my lunch while working, ...

I wouldn’t call myself a travel expert; I’m too young, and don’t have a lot of experience with long distance travel as an adult. That being said, I am pretty good at getting a good time out of almost no money. I get my cheap thrills as a weekend warrior, getting all my cabin fever out with short trips while still saving the same amount of money and PTO for the occasional big trip. Here are my biggest tips for getting more adventure without increasing your travel budget.  Travel Regionally Travel doesn’t have to mean coast to coast flights. In fact it doesn’t have to include flights at all! Take a look at areas that you can drive to in a few hours. Chances are, there is a city, national park, or state park you haven’t explored yet. Every time you get that wanderlust, look up activities in these new places. When I do this, I limit my transportation expenses to a tank of gas or two. With my Prius that’s just $30 per tank, the equivalent of two movie tickets and a snack at the theater....