Travel Archives – The Olden Chapters

Student Life April 2, 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Studying abroad in college is one of the best decisions you can make. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the world, be productive, meet new people, beef up your resume, and so much more! But when it comes to exploring study abroad opportunities, it can be quite overwhelming. There are expenses, plane tickets, college credit transfers, housing and countless other tasks that need to be taken into consideration. That is where I come in. Let me first admit that I am no expert at studying abroad in college. I do not work for a study abroad company, I do not work in the travel industry, nor am I being sponsored by someone to sell you a specific program. What I have done, however, is studied abroad twice, lived as a college student for too…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Well, we did it! My husband and I visited each and every official stop at Arches National Park! That was my goal for our visit during our Southwest National Parks Road Trip but I honestly didn’t think we would be able to do it. So I can say, with confidence, that I have put together the ultimate Arches National Park guide! So, do you plan on visiting this gorgeous place anytime soon? Or maybe you’re just curious what this national park has to offer? Look no further! I totally have got you covered. The Basics Let’s start with the basics, of course! Arches National Park is a breathtaking geologic wonderland located just to the north of Moab, Utah. As a geologist myself, this truly is an amazing place to visit! Arches National Park contains over 2,000 natural stone…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. After days of exploring one of my favorite national parks to date, I can easily say I have seen the best hikes in Zion National Park. I stopped at Zion during my Southwest National Parks Road Trip. When I first arrived, I was completely overwhelmed by the countless hikes and activities to do in this wonderful place. There are gorgeous cliffs, streams, pools of water, and even a lodge to stay at! This place has an adventure for everyone! But after much exploration and talking with the park rangers, I became comfortable with the area and learned how to navigate each region. Now that I have done all the hard work, sit back and read the top destinations you should check out on your adventure! Know Before You Go: This is an incredibly popular park, be…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. It is incredibly rare for me to end up beginning my spring break with no plans. Usually, I have pages of task lists and about ten hikes already scheduled. This year was surprisingly different but incredibly refreshing! My husband and I decided the day before spring break to drive down to the Grand Canyon. So, with nearly 24 hours to prepare before our departure, I quickly looked up a few blog posts and maps and roughly decided on a southwest national parks road trip itinerary. Road Trip Facts: Total Time: 3 Nights, 4 Full Days Drive Time: 28 Hours National Parks Visited: Six States Visited: Four Total Cost: $198 Route: Google Map Let me first begin by saying that we were incredibly lucky. Our spring break ended up being much earlier than most so I was able…

In all honesty, it is incredibly difficult to narrow down my list of top ten things to do in New Zealand. Through all of my travels, New Zealand is by far my favorite destination to date. I have traveled there three separate occasions now and have even contemplated moving there! It is such a breathtaking location with an amazing culture and history! The greatest thing about New Zealand is that you can honestly just travel anywhere and be completely amazed by its beauty from every angle. It is so green and vibrant. Hiking trails can be found everywhere and the people are incredibly friendly! There is also a surprising amount of sheep. I’m serious, more sheep is packed into this country than I have seen in my entire life. Anyway… New Zealand is awesome. So let’s get right down to it, shall we? 1. Visit Hobbiton Of course, the first thing on…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. My husband and I lived in Australia for about four months. In that time, we traveled nearly every single weekend we had. We learned so much about history, culture, and traveling as well as experienced many once in a lifetime opportunities, which is what led me to create my top ten Australian destinations. Australia is an incredible place. It has many similarities and differences to America. The similarities are what truly made it so easy to live and travel. The differences are what made it so fantastic to explore. Each city is so jam-packed with amazing things to do, sites to see, and culture to take in. Our top tip for traveling Australia: Before I get into our top places to see, I would like to take a minute to give you some advice I wish…

Aspen is among one of the most popular skiing locations and is definitely a top Colorado winter destination. This cute, historic brick building filled mountain town is well known for celebrity appearances, hosting the X Games, and countless skiing and snowboarding routes. Jaegger and I decided to take Aspen on in one day. A feat I definitely do not recommend but was still a blast! It is a three and a half hour drive (took us about four and a half in the ice and snow) from Denver. The drive there alone is worth the trip. We passed quite a few major destinations including Dillon, Silverthorne, Vail, Glenwood Springs, and Glenwood Canyon. Once in Aspen, we found parking and hit the streets to explore. We checked out so many shops, cafes, restaurants, historic buildings, and even checked out the slopes for future trips! Afterwards, we drove around to explore the…

In honor of such an amazing city, I have compiled the ultimate list of things to do in Sydney. Sydney, Australia is among the top visited cities around the globe. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, this city truly has something for everyone to see. Among the most beneficial aspects of visiting Sydney is the ease of travel. Many of the top attractions are within walking distance of each other, and when they are not, their train system is incredible! In fact, most of Australia’s train systems are fantastic. I lived in Australia for nearly four months and can count on one hand how many times I needed to grab a cab. Sydney is a great destination any time of year. The summers are hot with sandy beaches to enjoy while the winters are cool, yet still marvelous! Each time I have been to Sydney has been in the winter…

Lifestyle February 2, 2018

Living in Denver is a huge change for us. My husband and I are used to a small town and rural living. Denver is definitely none of those things. But each day we are finding it more and more easy to live in a big city. The holidays are definitely one of those great things city folk get to enjoy! There are so many holiday activities in Denver, CO. From being able to go Christmas window shopping in countless malls to seeing Christmas lights around each corner, Denver definitely has an activity for everyone. Over November and December, we have definitely taken advantage of all of the fun and exciting holiday events, and below are our top ten with some added tips and stories! 1. The 9News Parade: The 9News Parade is an annual parade that occurs on the first weekend of December (Friday and Saturday evenings) and is one…