My Top Travel Moments from 2020
While 2020 was certainly chaotic and nothing like we planned, I still found so much to be thankful for this year and I hope you did too!
I traded group outings for solo camping and big festival trips for road trips with my sister. The year may have been flipped on its head but here are a few of my favorite travel moments that made me extra thankful for the year 2020!
Campervan Road Trip Up The North Shore
This trip was incredibly special. It marked the first time I got to travel with my big sister Amy since we were kids!
Voyager Campervans allow you the “rent the van life” and there is no better place for a campervan road trip than Minnesota’s gorgeous North Shore!
Read: 3 DAY MINNESOTA NORTH SHORE ITINERARY WITH VOYAGER CAMPERVANS
Read: THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES ALONG THE MINNESOTA NORTH SHORE
Guiding A Month Long Group Road Trip Across The USA
Before the pandemic broke out, I was guiding month long road trips across the USA!
Fortunately I got do to one last EPIC trip in January which took us line dancing in Texas, spotting alligators in the Florida Everglades, boat rides in Miami, helicopters over the Grand Canyon, a jeep in Monument Valley and so much more!
Read: EXPLORING MONUMENT VALLEY WITH SIMPSON’S TRAILHANDLER TOURS
Van Life in Australia
I firmly believe there is no better way to see Australia than to hop in a camper van and road trip around the country! We had no set plans but every day was an adventure. It was such a freeing way to travel!
For one glorious month before the pandemic broke out, we lived carefree in Australia.
Read: VAN LIFE IN AUSTRALIA: DON’T FORGET TO PACK THESE 8 THINGS!
Read: 8 PLACES IN AUSTRALIA THAT LEFT ME SPEECHLESS
Exploring Honolulu, Hawaii
My best friend Morgan and I spent a glorious week in Hawaii. We attempted surfing. (I was terrible!) We made new friends when we hitchhiked across the island and couchsurfed with an awesome local. And we attended our first luau!
Read: 12 TIPS TO TRAVEL HONOLULU ON A BUDGET
Barcelona in the Springtime
I was fortunate enough to live in Barcelona with my friends for a bit just before the pandemic broke out. We would have stayed longer but with the situation spiraling out of control and borders beginning to close, Morgan and I chose to fly back to America for the duration of lockdown.
But before we flew back, we had so many great adventures around Spain from watching the sunrise over Park Güell to taking the train to Sitges and Montserrat.
Read: CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: TRAVELING HOME FROM SPAIN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC
Read: BARCELONA: THE BEST SPOTS FOR SUNRISE & SUNSET (AND HOW TO GET THERE)
The White Sand Dunes In New Mexico
The White Sand Dunes of New Mexico had been at the very top of my bucket list for several years so I’m sure you can imagine my joy when we finally made it there this summer.
Best of all, I got to share it with a best friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in many months.
Read: WHITE SAND DUNES OF NEW MEXICO: THE NEWEST NATIONAL PARK THAT NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST
Solo Camping Around Minnesota
I wish I had kept track of how many nights I spent in a tent during this pandemic because I spent the summer camping all over Minnesota, my home state!
I hiked solo, bought my own tent and tackled my fear of sleeping alone in the woods. It. Was. Awesome.
Read: THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CAMPING SOLO IN MINNESOTA
Top Travel Moments from 2020
Read: THE BEST EASY BUT SCENIC HIKES IN MINNESOTA
Read: CAMPING SOLO AT BLUE MOUNDS STATE PARK
My First Backpacking Trip
I had always wanted to go on a multi-day backpacking trip but it wasn’t until the pandemic cleared my schedule that I found time to get out and spend 3 days thru-hiking the Superior Hiking Trail.
I learned so much… how to do a bear hang, how to properly fit and pack a backpack, how to filter & purify water from a stream…
This trip was life changingly amazing and sparked a new passion of backpacking. More trekking trips will be coming in 2021!
Read: SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL: 3 DAY ITINERARY
Top Travel Moments from 2020
Read: SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL BACKPACKING CHECKLIST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR 3 DAYS ON THE TRAIL
Read: 8 AMAZING REASONS TO TRY BACKPACKING IN MINNESOTA
Glamping in the Great Smoky Mountains
If you read my blog or follow me on Instagram, you probably already know how much I love glamping and the national parks! Well Under Canvas combines these two for an amazing, unique experience.
I was very fortunate to stay here with a best friend and her daughter during the summer.
Read: GLAMPING AT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK WITH UNDER CANVAS
Read: GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Exploring My Beautiful Home State
I would have never spent so much time back in Minnesota if it weren’t for the pandemic and truthfully, I am so thankful I had this opportunity.
Finding hidden gems all over Minnesota was truly a highlight of 2020. It gave me the chance to spend more time with family as well!
Read: THE BEST MINNESOTA TRIPS YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THIS SUMMER
If you were part of my 2020, THANK YOU!
I can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store for us and mostly, I can’t wait to start traveling with you guys on my group trips!!
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to make sure you’re included in any group trip announcements!
I just loved looking through all these photos again Emmy!! It was such a weird year but I’m so glad I got to spend so much time with you. Can’t wait to join you on another adventure !!!!
Thank you so much Emilee!! It was such a treat to get to have our bed and breakfast trip to Stillwater this summer!! Looking forward to many more trips together 🙂