I just finished watching Mystic Pizza for the first time. I avoided it all these years because I had somehow gotten it mixed up with the plot of Mystic River… which I’ve heard is also good, but I tend to avoid dark movies. Life is challenging enough. When I sit down to relax, I want something light and fun. Mystic Pizza is a coming-of-age story released in 1988, starring Julia Roberts as one of three young women figuring out life and love in a small New England town while slinging pizzas at the local pie shop. Much like the spices in the secret sauce recipe, the girls haven’t quite …
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Ricketts Glen State Park Hiking Trails: Our Waterfall-Filled Stop in Pennsylvania
After spending the night in a Walmart parking lot, we thanked management by stocking up on supplies before heading about an hour northeast for a day of Ricketts Glen State Park hiking, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful surprises of my summer road trip. I had no idea this corner of Pennsylvania held a place like this, tucked into the hills with waterfalls, steep forest trails, and enough rock and rushing water to make you forget the highway altogether. My husband had visited Ricketts Glen State Park years earlier and wanted to go back to photograph the falls, so day two became …
Leaving Richmond + A Day Trip to Shenandoah National Park
Day Trip to Shenandoah National Park: Skyline Drive as the Scenic Start When I first moved to the Richmond, Virginia area, I was thrilled. Within a couple of hours, you can turn almost any weekend into an easy adventure—whether it’s a day trip to Shenandoah National Park, a quick escape to Virginia Beach, a history fix in Williamsburg and Jamestown, a loop through Busch Gardens, a visit to Monticello, or the granddaddy of them all… Washington, DC. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time is that “top-tier tourism” also means top-tier traffic—especially anywhere near DC. I’ve been stuck …
New England Road Trip Itinerary: Route Map + Best Stops
When I was towing my 33-foot fifth wheel, I intentionally avoided New England. I remembered it as congested, busy, and… honestly, a little stressful from a quick visit decades ago. But once I downsized to a truck camper, the Northeast felt possible again — and that opened the door to a trip I’d been saving for: Acadia National Park. I’ve been a national park fan forever. When I first went on the road in my original RV, my goal was simple: travel the USA and see as many parks as time (and the route) would allow. And part of the reason I wanted an RV in the first place was so I could stay …
Hidden Gem in Cancún: Santuario María Desatadora de Nudos
Hidden Gems in Cancún: A Jungle Sanctuary that appeals to your dreams Cancún has a way of turning the volume up. Especially in the Hotel Zone! Behind your great time, there’s a constant hum — music, traffic, tour buses, the steady swirl of people moving from one curated experience to the next. It’s fun… and it can be a lot. Now that my youngest married into a family from Cancún, we have family there. While visiting, my son’s mother-in-law suggested a day trip. I wasn’t expecting one of the most memorable parts of my recent month-long trip to be a hidden gem tucked away …
