Hungry for Adventurez

Devil's Lake in Wisconsin has great winter hiking  Do you miss camping and getting outside during the winter? This may be the year you need to try winter camping! There are a few extra things you will have to prepare for, like how to stay warm and deal with early darkness. However, winter camping can come with many rewards, such as reducing cabin fever and cheaper camping sites. Plus, you wouldn't want to miss out on great winter vistas like the one above, taken at Devils Lake in Wisconsin.  Finding Campgrounds for Winter Camping If you don't want to camp at a dispersed camping site, you will need to research which campgrounds you can stay at in the winter. In my state of Iowa, state-run campgrounds are ideal for winter camping, because they stay open all year and have a reduced winter cost. (Some Iowa state parks have winter prices as low as $6!)  Also, research what amenities are available in the winter. If you live in an area that freezes in the winter, your campgroun...

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, ...