wonderwanderrepeat365

Cumberland Falls: Niagara of the South

There is a hikers’ dreamland tucked into the adventurous state of Kentucky. Between the trees and in the middle of the Cumberland River, there lies a 125-foot waterfall that has been compared time and time again to the famous Niagara Falls that roars along the Canadian/US Border. With similar height, volume and ferocity, this southern gem, infamously called “Niagara of the South,” is a sight that you don’t want to miss. It’s no surprise that Cumberland Falls State Park draws in over a million visitors each year. With its roaring waterfalls, quiet hiking trails, campground, fishing hotspots, gem mining, horseback riding, and rafting, this state park has no shortage of activities that will surely fill up your day or weekend!

What’s In My Hiking Bag

Day hiking requires less essentials than overnight backpacking, but the list of necessities for day hiking isn’t short by any means. With overnight backpacking comes the added need for shelter, additional food, cooking supplies, etcetera; but for this post I am going to focus on day hiking and what items are in my hiking bag when I set foot on the trail.

Conquering Rock Scrambles

Rock scrambles are a fun way to hike, incorporating a unique perspective to the trail. It’s not exactly rock climbing, but it’s definitely not walking either. I describe rock scrambling as climbing jagged, uneven rocks, often with treacherous gaps or unclear paths, at a steep incline with moderate to strenuous required exertion. Some of my very favorite trails that we’ve hiked have featured these intense beasts. For now, I’m going to focus on our most recent rock scrambling adventure.

Somewhere on a Lake

Ever since I was a small child, lake adventures have been a huge part of my life. If I wasn’t at school, you’d most likely find me somewhere on a lake with my family. Almost every week of the summer was spent on the lake with our Bayliner. If the weather was nice, we’d be on the water, soaking up that wonderful Vitamin D. My dad would hitch the boat onto the truck, and we’d drive north to Lake James to fish, tube, and swim. Eventually, we reserved a spot on the lake for our boat because we spent so much time there; it was easier than hauling the boat to and from the lake every week. Those lake days spent tossing fishing poles, tubing wildly across the water, and bobbing around in the sandbars inspired our annual summer vacations.

Wandering Through the Shenandoah Valley

Whether or not you’re an avid hiker, you’ve most likely heard of the infamous Appalachian Trail. Though it would make for a wild adventure to thru-hike the entire 2,200 mile trail that stretches across the Eastern region of the country, hiking small chunks of the trail is more realistic. Part of the Appalachian Trail snakes through the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Virginia. One-of-a-kind vista views, grand waterfalls, and adventurous rock scrambles dot this trail and carry across the entire Shenandoah National Park.

Between the Pines: Part Three

Stranger on the Trail

I am a huge fan of true crime podcasts and fictional crime/thriller novels. Ever since I began reading murder mysteries and especially since I started listening to Crime Junkie, a certain hyperawareness swirled around me at all times. Paranoia and an all-around untrustworthiness of those around me became the norm. This is both a positive and negative attribute. On one hand, it can make me unsettled and anxious more than I need to be, and not everyone I pass on the trails is a serial killer who plans to kill me and dispose of my body in the middle of the woods; on the other hand, it’s made me more aware of my surroundings and caused me to be more protective of my life and be on guard at all times to the risks that may be looming beyond the path.

Between the Pines: Part Two

Turk Mountain Mystery

Most people that we encounter on the trails are nice, friendly, and overall very pleasant. The longer, more strenuous trails attract avid hikers like us, and the friendly stereotype that swirls around mountaineers is, in fact, not a rumor at all. Most hikers that are willing to trek such long distances love nature, love hiking, and love trails. The shorter, more popular trails tend to attract tourists, and therefore, the people that you cross paths with are of an eclectic variety. We’ve seen everything from girls in mini skirts and six-inch high heels attempting to climb down a steep, rocky trail to a large group of tourists extending their selfie sticks and loudly FaceTiming family members as they filed into a dark cavern. I even witnessed an exotic lingerie photoshoot atop a mountain in Sedona.

Along the Thornapple River

Michigan is one of those states that, when mentioned, doesn’t spark a lot of “oohs” and “ahhs” from most people. Only Midwest natives truly seem to be aware of the hidden gems that dot the state. But even further, only a handful have probably set foot in each of these spots. From the coastal sand dunes scaling one of America’s Great Lakes to the mountainous, island-speckled Upper Peninsula, Michigan is home to some of the most beautiful places in America. I will dedicate a post later this summer to my favorite spots in the Great Lakes State, but for now, I’m going to tell you a little bit about a lesser-known, unlikely-placed spot that has quickly become one of my favorite summer places to recommend to Midwesterners.

Between the Pines: Part One

Social media has caused us to display a sugar-coated lifestyle. We scroll through hundreds of photos per day, entranced with what seem like the perfect lives of everyone you follow or befriend. However, what you’re seeing is only part of the picture, literally and figuratively. Let me explain. When you take a photo, you don’t just post it online without a glance. You review the photo, polish imperfections, essentially make sure it looks pristine, maybe even staged. I’d love to see more candid, behind-the-scene photos on my timeline and newsfeeds. Imperfections and mistakes are human nature, but it unfortunately isn’t what people want to see, so these don’t get posted. What if Instagram influencers or celebrities posted the unfiltered, raw realities that surely swirl their everyday lives? Well, I’m not a celebrity and don’t consider myself an influencer, but I’m here to show you what happens on the trails. Reaching the finish line of any trail requires perseverance, persistence and determination. Sweat is shed, blisters are bubbled, curveballs are thrown and dehydration is a very real, very serious thing. Let me be the first to tell you that I wouldn’t trade these imperfections for anything because hiking means everything to me, and both the journey and finish line are equally important.

Nelson Ledges: A Well-Kept Secret

Nelson Kennedy Ledges is one of Ohio’s best-kept secrets. With its steep, mossy ledges and cascading waterfalls, this park is a hikers’ dream playground. Don’t let the small size underestimate its wealth. The ledges are a bite-sized paradise that every avid hiker needs to explore!