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Kona is the best part of my life. We go on many adventures together and LOTS of walks! Most days, we roam around our neighborhood, but we love to jump in the car and visit other spots in the area for a change of pace. This list is a two-parter, you can check out the second list here. Hartung Park I discovered Hartung Park prior to adopting Kona. I used to run 5 miles each morning - to the park and back home. When I got Kona, it was the first place I brought her. It is along the Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa. There is a large hill in the park with several trails coming and going. There's a small man-made lake, a jungle gym, and a bike trail near the river. This trail is my favorite place to take her - we make the long walk at least once a month and she always knows when it's time to pose for a picture (see above). Oak Leaf Trail - Capitol to Silver Spring Another spot I love to walk Kona is not far from Hartung Park and it is still part of the Oak Leaf Trail. We take a segment that's about 3 miles long down and back near Silver Spring Drive in Milwaukee. This segment always has a lot of bicyclists and other foot traffic. It's right along the river and provides us with so much wildlife. Kona tries to befriend the deer whenever we have a run-in with them (they still have not agreed to hang out with her). County Grounds Park County Grounds is also located in Wauwatosa (I like to stay close, ok?). This park is absolutely beautiful. The gravel loop is a little over 3.5 miles and takes you over the river and through the (Sanctuary) Woods... quite literally. This park is usually fairly populated but not TOO terribly so. It's very close to Hoyt Park Landing but allows for some quiet time with nature on the other side. Mequon Nature Preserve Heading a bit north, Mequon Nature Preserve is on the border of Milwaukee and Ozaukee County. The park is over 500 acres of prairies, wetlands, and forests. There are so many trails within the preserve - Kona and I could spend hours exploring. There is also an observation tower and several small ponds throughout. It's a very beautiful preservation.

Disclaimer: I had a goal to visit all 50 states before I turned 30 years old (2020). I did it! I blogged about some of the experiences and want to bring them over to my new blog. This trip was in 2016 but all businesses mentioned are still open as of March 1, 2023. I’m finally sitting down to write my blog about our South Carolina trip. I went with my (ex) coworker and friend, Erin. We flew out of Chicago and into Greenville, SC. which is about 3 hours away from Charleston. We landed pretty late and decided to hit up the first bar we could find. Let me tell you… it was top 5 towniest townie bars I have ever seen. There was karaoke aaaand I’m pretty sure there were some hard drugs going on in the bathroom. (no, neither of us did drugs. thanks for checking). Somehow, though, we did manage to get pretty drunk ($3 fireball shots, that’s how) and Erin made friends with half the people in the bar. The 3 hour drive the next morning was not pleasant AND we had pre-purchased tickets for a brewery tour. To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to make it. I ate a hash brown from McDonalds because I was so hungover and I can’t tell you the last time I had one of those (I didn’t regret it, still don’t). We made our way to downtown Charleston and got on this brewery tour bus. We were with ALL men – a Bachelor party and then a few stragglers. We visited 4 different breweries – Holy City, Coast Brewing, Palmetto Brewing and one more that I don’t remember the name of. For obvious reasons, that’s the only thing we did that day. We went to a gas station, bought a bottle of wine, ordered some pizza and went to the hotel room to pass out. Sunday, we decided to go sight-seeing and be touristy for a bit. We went to Ft. Sumtner, the Charleston City Market, and just wandered around the shoreline and more of downtown. I loved the Charleston City Market – it was such a vibe. We checked out a lot of local bars as well and ate some seafood at Pearl’s Oyster Bar (including an oyster shot – which was essentially a shot of bloody mary with an oyster floating in it). Monday morning we had to get up reaaaal early to drive back to Greenville and catch our flight. All in all it was a good trip. We ate too much, drank too much and saw so much of Charleston. I’d definitely go back there some day.

Travel doesn’t always need to be some big, extravagant vacation. Sometimes it can simply mean leaving the city you live in and getting a change of scenery for a day. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite places to day trip from Milwaukee. If you’re looking for a quick escape to switch things up -check out the destinations below! Sheboygan Quite frankly, what I enjoy doing in Sheboygan doesn’t require a full day, but it deserves a spot on this list. I LOVE taking Kona to hike at Kohler-Andre State Park. It’s a beautiful area right on the shores of Lake Michigan. We typically head there right away in the morning – it’s about an hour drive from Milwaukee. After taking what ends up being about a 3-mile hike, we stop on the way home to grab some lunch. Not only does Cedar Valley Cheese Store have some of the best cheese in the state – they also cook up delicious daily specials. Stopping here on the way home is always a must for us. Madison Madison is an obvious choice, but I’ll give you a few of my favorite things to do. I LOVE the Dane County Farmer’s Market and try to make it at least once a year. The markets are held on Capitol Square on Saturday mornings. There are so many wonderful things to choose from including my favorite: Spicy Cheese Bread from Stella’s Bakery (I’d eat it every single day if I could). Madison also has some of the best food in Wisconsin. A few of my favorite lunch spots around the Capitol include Lucille, The Old Fashioned, and Vintage Brewing Company. Nearby in Middleton, you can take a tour of the National Mustard Museum. I went here in a whim once, and it’s a super fun adventure. Lots of local mustards, dips, and snacks to purchase along with a very interactive history lesson! Oshkosh I love Oshkosh. I went to UW-Oshkosh for undergrad and although I don’t think I would live there again, I love to visit. The best part about Oshkosh is the water. You can bring a boat or rent one and hang out on Lake Winnebago. Stop at TJ’s Harbor for lunch – they have some of the most delicious food. Polito’s Pizza is also located in Oshkosh and that place will forever hold a pizza my heart. On your way home (if taking hwy 41), stop at Held’s Meat Market. It’s right off the exit in Slinger. They have some of the freshest meat and cheeses, as well as locally made snacks. I stop almost every time I head north. Beloit I went to Beloit in fall of 2021 for the first time. It’s such a cute town! They hold a Saturday morning farmers market with tons of local and homegrown goodies. The CUTEST coffee shop, Blue Collar Coffee Co., is right around the corner of the market. Stop to get some caffeine! You can grab a famous bloody mary at Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar and do some shopping at the downtown stores. My favorite is Bushel and Peck’s. There is SO much to look at there. If you are visiting during the fall, the Apple Hut is a must-see. They make homemade cider donuts on a regular basis and they are extremely delicious. Not only can you pick your own apples, but they have a small market inside full of pies, juice, and other goodies. Manitowoc Manitowoc is a bit further of a drive from Milwaukee than the rest listed, but it is worth the trip. The downtown city is right on the water leaving you some of the prettiest views. They have a farmers market on Saturday mornings if you can get up there early. Stop by Beernsten’s Confectionary for ice cream, chocolate, and candy. They have been in town since 1932! The Warf is an awesome restaurant right on the water and they serve tons of good food and drinks. They have a huge outdoor seating area and live music some evenings. If you like craft beer, PetSkull Brewing is also an awesome place to visit. Seasonal beers and tons of appetizers. Pine River Dairy is also located in Manitowoc. I have not actually been to their store yet, but they make my favorite cheese spreads! Do you have a favorite city to visit outside of Milwaukee? Let me know where to head next!

It's almost Valentine's Day but more importantly, Galentine's Day! Looking for a fun weekend away with your gal pals? Whitewater is the perfect spot. Whitewater, Wisconsin is located about 1 hour southwest of Milwaukee and 1 hour southeast of Madison. There is something for everyone: adorable coffee shops, well-maintained hiking trails, delicious pizza, lake activities, local shopping, live entertainment, and much, much more! SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS My friends and I were lucky enough to stay at a wonderful cottage across from Whitewater Lake. Honestly, it was perfect. The cottage was about a 15 minute drive to downtown Whitewater, less than 10 minutes to the Ice Age Trail, and less than 10 minutes from Staller Estates Winery (very important detail). It's located right in the Kettle Moraine State Forest which allows for beautiful views and plenty of wildlife. The cottage is large enough for 8 guests and has 3 levels allowing for plenty of space. There is a recreation room in the basement stocked with a TV and board games for your entertainment. The kitchen has all of the supplies you need - including fresh and delicious coffee beans from Nordskov Coffee. There literally is not a better way to start the day. We spent Saturday night in the game room working on a 1,000 piece cheese puzzle, playing 'Sorry' and drinking a few glasses of wine. Sometimes girls night is best spent relaxing, and that's exactly what we got while staying at this cottage. THINGS TO DO Staller Estates Winery If you are a wine drinker, Staller Estates is the cutest. We visited on Friday night for a wine tasting: 4 wine pours of your choice. The winery is inside of a barn and it is absolutely gorgeous. Plenty of tables, bottles of wine for purchase, AND, most importantly, a cooler full of cheese. We ordered a glass of wine after our flight of wine because it was just that good. Barista Cats Cafe Barista Cats Cafe had it's opening weekend while we were in town - lucky us! You can hang out with cats while drinking coffee... what a dream. We had a reservation on Saturday morning and got our fill of kitten cuddles. The coffee was delicious and the cats were adorable. Tons of toys to entertain them with and lots of beds for the cats to rest. Whitewater Indoor Market On Saturday mornings, you can shop the Whitewater Indoor Market located inside of the library. It's a bit small, but worth the trip. There are local makers with baked goods, beautiful pottery, fresh eggs, handmade soap, and much more. It's a fun little stop to find some goodies. FOOD & DRINK 841 Brewhouse What's a better way to start the weekend than a good ole fish fry? 841 Brewhouse has one of the best! Their beer battered cod is deep fried to perfection. They brew their own beer - it's very good! They also have a list of fun cocktails to dabble in. Either way, you will not leave here hungry or unsatisfied. Everything we ate was delicious. Second Salem Brewing Unfortunately, 841 Brewhouse does not serve fried cheese curds during their fish fry BUT Second Salem Brewing is here to save the day. They serve Ellsworth curds with a side of ranch dressing. Stop here after dinner to enjoy fried curds with one of their craft beers. The perfect nightcap. Jessica's Diner When asking for recommendations in Whitewater, I received an overwhelming amount of responses for Jessica's. Jessica's is a family-owned diner serving huge portions and unlimited coffee. Seriously, we drank so much coffee. We tried some of their breakfast sandwiches as well as a skillet. The food came out fast, it was a reasonable price, and all of it was so tasty. This is definitely the perfect spot to start your morning in Whitewater. Sweet Spot Café The Sweet Spot Café is a fantastic place to grab a bite for lunch. They offer a wide variety of soup, salad, sandwiches, flatbread, and more. Most importantly: they have baked goods. We ordered salads, a sandwich, and soup, and it was all delectable. The portion sizes were quite large and the food was served very quickly. I tried their baked potato soup (my favorite) and YUM! I would love to visit Sweet Spot again the next time I am in Whitewater. Gus's Pizza We decided to take it easy on Saturday night and grabbed a pizza from Gus's Pizza Palace. Gus's is another spot in town that was highly recommended. We built our own za: pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, and spinach. We added a side of potato wedges for good measure. The pizza was ready when we arrived and piping hot. We opted for thin crust and it was crispy and crunchy - the way all thin crust should be. They are known for having some of the best pizza in Whitewater. SHOPPING The Fuzzy Pig The Fuzzy Pig is located a little outside of downtown but it is worth the drive. They have a Country Store with so much adorable stuff. They currently have an entire section of the store dedicated to Valentine's Day. I told my friends that I could spend 48 hours browsing and still not see everything. It's packed! We had a great time exploring and found some goodies to take home with us. Dale's Bootery Don't let the name fool you - they don't only sell boots! We were surprised by the wide variety of shoes at Dale's Bootery. If you're looking for a new pair of kicks for you or a friend - you will find them here. They have extremely friendly employees, too, which makes the shopping process that much easier. The Book Teller All us girls love to read, so when we found The Book Teller, we were thrilled. The Book Teller sells a variety of used books as well as unique crafts made by local artists. There is space to hang out and read - the perfect spot for relaxation! GET OUTSIDE We got lucky and the weather was nice enough for a hike! We checked out the Ice Age Trail and it was terrific. We hiked the Whitewater Lake segment and the Clover Valley segment. The Whitewater Lake segment was my favorite. It was easy to walk through the snow and provided us with some beautiful views of Whitewater Lake and Rice Lake. I hope to go back when the weather is warmer to kayak in Whitewater Lake and hike even more of the IAT.

La Crosse, WI is a beautiful city right on the edge of the Mississippi River. It is located about 3 hours northwest of Milwaukee and about 2.5 hours northwest of Madison. I personally went to La Crosse to attend their Between the Bluffs: Frothbite Beer & Bites festival at the La Crosse Center. In addition to the festival we had a chance to check out a few awesome bars and restaurants, beautiful nature, and cute local shopping. Oh, and Sunny the Sunfish. More on that later. THE FESTIVAL The main event of our trip was the festival and it was so much fun! We got to try a ton of craft beer that we have never had before, and even taste-tested vodka from La Crosse Distillery via a mini Bloody Mary. I mean come on, how cute! We also got to taste-test a bunch of fun things like mini cupcakes, beef sticks, and of course... CHEESE! I had some of the best steak of my life and could not stop "sampling" fudge from Pearl Ice Cream Parlor. There were plenty of activities to keep us busy as well - Anchor 1 band playing live music, Hammer-schalgen, axe throwing and a giant Connect-4 game. Side note: I played Connect-4 more than a handful of times and lost every. single. time. SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS There are lots of hotels right downtown La Crosse, but we had the pleasure of staying at the Radisson. It was extremely convenient as it was right next to the La Crosse Center. It is also a very short walk to a lot of the bars, restaurants, and local shops - so much to do! FOOD & DRINK Speaking of food and drink, Three Rivers Lodge is located right inside of the Radisson. They serve breakfast and dinner and have a full bar with lots of wonderful cocktail options. We tried their cheese curds served with zesty dill ranch dressing. We had breakfast on both Saturday & Sunday and each restaurant was delicious. The Breakfast Pub & Club had a major 80's vibe with the decor. The menu was extremely creative which made dining very fun. I ordered pancakes stuffed with yogurt and topped with fruit and granola. They also have $1 off Mimosas on Saturdays - WIN. On Sunday we had breakfast at Fayze's - a STAPLE in La Crosse. It gave major supper club vibes and the food did not disappoint. They double as a bakery and are famous for their Talame buns. I had one for breakfast and bought some to take home - that's how good they are. I would highly suggest checking out this spot during your visit. On the same "supper club" note, we had dinner at Diggers Sting. It's decor is based on the gangster era and you will most likely hear Frank Sinatra playing in the background. We tried both the char-grilled salmon and the deep fried cod. Both meals were exceptional and came with so much food! If you order one of their martinis, be careful! They taste so good you almost forget they have vodka in them. Another fantastic spot we checked out was Uno Venti Pizzeria. They make the pizza in a stone-fired over right in the middle of the restaurant. This is a popular spot and they do not take reservations, so there may be a wait. It's worth it, though, trust me. Pro tip: order the focaccia. One of the best Brandy Old Fashioneds I've ever had was at David Reay's. This is technically in Onalaska, but it's a quick 15 minute drive from downtown La Crosse. I ordered one of their "healthy bowls" although there were many things on the menu that I wanted to try. Their cheese curds are more like deep fried blocks of cheese, but the paprika aioli they were served with was fantastic. GET OUTSIDE Remember when I mentioned Sunny the Sunfish? Lucky for you, he is also located in Onalaska - the Sunfish Capitol of the World. Pay him a visit after your lunch at David Reay's! Unfortunately, the weekend we spent in La Crosse was a frigid weekend - a whopping 23 degrees. That being said, we didn't do much hiking. But we did head to the Grandad Bluff to check out the best view of the city. Some even refer to it as "the most scenic view of the state." When I visit La Crosse in the future, I am going to make sure that it's warm enough for me to hike these beautiful trails. Although we weren't able to hike, this time of year gave us the opportunity to visit Rotary Lights, which is located right behind the Radisson in Riverside Park. You can walk, drive, or take a carriage ride (ADORABLE) through the beautiful light display. They have additional events sometimes, so check out the website before you go!

Eagle River, Wisconsin is typically a summer vacation destination. There is a chain of 28 lakes within and near the city, which makes it perfect for Wisconsin water activities. It is approximately 4 hours north of Milwaukee and absolutely worth the drive. My friends and I decided to visit in November while it was a balmy 28 degrees outside. We still very much enjoyed our trip and absolutely made the most of the beautiful city. SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS We were lucky enough to be given a stay at Dollar Lake Retreat. This is a newly renovated lake house right on the shore of Dollar Lake. It holds 14 people in 5 bedrooms. There are 3 full bathrooms, a gorgeous modern kitchen, a game room, and a cozy living area facing the water. I have never stayed in a place as nice as this. On the first night of our stay, we wanted to spend some time at the house. The kitchen was stocked for everything necessary to cook a good meal, so we made steak, potatoes, asparagus, and garlic bread. Pair that with a glass of good red wine - I was living the dream. After dinner, we spent the evening playing games in the recreation room. The room was completely stocked with activities for all ages. We were entertained for hours on end. FOOD & DRINK Early afternoon we began exploring downtown and visited Roots Juice. They have so many different combinations of not only juices, but smoothies, coffees, and protein shakes. The inside of Roots is ideal for relaxing and enjoying some down time. Some of the girls had ginger shots, I stuck with a fruitier juice. The staff at Roots was so helpful answering our questions and giving us recommendations. I would love to visit again. For lunch, we stopped at Buckshot's Downtown, which has some of the best food in the area. We started with some garlic cheese curds (of course) and French onion soup. They have a full bar and plenty of TVs if you're looking to watch some sports. The service was fantastic and all of us enjoyed our meal. After lunch, we headed to Mary Kate's Wine Bar for some wine. They even have wine on tap! So many options to choose from, so we all got our own flight. The wine bar was decorated beautifully for the holiday season. There are spots to sit at the bar area, but also plenty of couches and smaller tables throughout the venue. It is attached to Arrow Gift Shop which I will touch on a bit more later. Next up was Tribute Brewing Company. This is a small brewery on the outskirts of town. They typically have between 10-15 beers on tap and the menu rotates through different seasons. They offer Sprecher soda if you are looking for a non-alcoholic option. There is a popcorn machine if you are looking for a snack! For dinner, we ventured to The Craftsman American Tavern. They have not been open very long but everything was fantastic. Their cheese curds were really good and they were served with homemade ranch and aioli. They are known for their smash burgers at Craftsman, so I treated myself to one. It lived up to the hype. We ended dinner with an espresso martini - yum! The entire restaurant gives an "up north vibe" which is perfect for the city of Eagle River. Before leaving Eagle River the next morning, we stopped at Friendship House Family Restaurant for breakfast. It has a small town diner feel with an extensive menu. Something for everyone! We tried a few different skillets, pancakes, and of course eggs benedict. Everyone working at Friendship was extremely nice and the food was brought to us very quickly. SHOPPING There are tons of small boutiques in downtown Eagle River; you may as well shop them all! I had a few favorites during our trip. We found some great Eagle River apparel at Arrow Gift Shop. It has been locally owned and operated for 40 years! I mentioned previously that they are connected to Mary Kate Wine Bar; have a glass of wine and then do some shopping! They have a lot of cute souvenir-type items here. We also stopped by Minocqua Popcorn and Puffs. They have so many creative flavors of popcorn available for purchase, and you can taste test some of them! They also make and sell "puffs" which are a little bit lighter but just as delicious. We purchased the Brandy Old Fashioned and Cheddar Cheese flavored popcorn - so good! Fredrick's Corner Shoppe was another great stop. It is also a locally owned family business. If you are looking for somewhere to do your holiday shopping, this should be your spot. Many unique items such as jewelry, games, home decorations, books and much, much more. GET OUTSIDE Although it was 28 degrees and snowing, we decided to take advantage of the lake anyway. When you visit Eagle River, make sure you take advantage of it, too. We kayaked on Dollar Lake! It was very chilly but the views of the lake while in the water were stunning. When I return to Eagle River, I will spend an entire day enjoying the beautiful scenery it has to offer.