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  • About
    • Contact
    • Press & Writing
    • Work with Us
    • For Bloggers
  • Alaska
    • Glossary
  • Other West-inations
    • California
    • Great Basin
    • Hawaii
    • Mountain West
    • Pacific Northwest
    • Southwest
    • Escaping Cleveland
  • The V&V Shop
    • Cart
  • 3 Days in Houston Hero
    Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    3 Days in Houston: The Best Things to See & Do

    September 14, 2022 / 8 Comments

    Houston might be one of the most surprising destinations I’ve visited recently. It’s a huge city, home to over two million people… but it’s not a popular tourist destination in the same way as other big cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago are. I'm always surprised by this, because I personally have loved Houston each time I've visited...

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  • Huntington Beach Hero
    Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    How to Spend a Weekend in Huntington Beach: A Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

    September 7, 2022 / No Comments

    Looking for a beach getaway on the West Coast? Whether you fly from Seattle or San Francisco or drive from Los Angeles, Huntington Beach is a perfect city break destination. Known for its fantastic weather year-round, excellent surfing, and increasingly top-notch dining scene, Huntington Beach is quintessential Southern California along the PCH and has something for everyone...

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  • Portland Weekend Trip Hero
    Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    3 Days in Portland: The 14 Best Things to Do on a Weekend Trip

    August 23, 2022 / 8 Comments

    When it comes to exploring the Pacific Northwest, there's no base quite like Portland, Oregon. There's plenty of urban culture and delicious food to fuel you up for adventures beyond the city limits too: browsing bookshelves, window shopping, chasing waterfalls, hiking volcanoes, or exploring the Pacific Coast...

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  • Things to Do in Anacortes Hero
    Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    The 14 Best Things to Do in Anacortes for a Weekend Trip

    August 12, 2022 / 8 Comments

    I’ll be honest: the first time I visited Anacortes, I was totally stereotypical. I rolled into town, grabbed a bite to eat, and took a look around. Within a few hours was on a ferry to the San Juan Islands. This is what most people do. They use the small town of Anacortes on Fidalgo Island as a stopping-off point to refuel before heading over to the San Juan Islands...

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  • Joshua Tree One Day Itinerary
    Itineraries,  National Park Travel

    How to Make the Most of One Day in Joshua Tree National Park

    July 29, 2022 / 6 Comments

    Short on time but keen for adventure? Here's an itinerary for one day in Joshua Tree National Park, from sunrise to sunset and even after!

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  • 3 Days in Sedona - Hero
    Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    The 13 Best Things to Do in Sedona: Itinerary for a Perfect Weekend

    July 22, 2022 / 2 Comments

    As you drive into Sedona, the towering red rocks make a clear statement: this is somewhere special. Somewhere you can get in touch with nature, the earth, and perhaps even some greater powers. In addition to stunning natural scenery, Sedona has gained a reputation as a small, mystical enclave. It's one of the best places for hiking in the morning, and meditating with crystals at a vortex that afternoon – and your Sedona itinerary should certainly include both...

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  • Itineraries

    How to Make the Most of One Day in Skagway, Alaska

    July 19, 2022 / No Comments

    Since its not-so-humble beginnings as a Gold Rush boom town, Skagway, Alaska, has been a unique place to spend time – and remains so to this day. As I did during my most recent trip, most people visit Skagway as part of an Alaska cruise (over 90%). This means that the vast majority of people are short on time when they find themselves in this literal Alaskan backwater. Never fear though: you can do a lot during one day in Skagway...

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  • One Day in Ketchikan Hero
    Itineraries

    How to Make the Most of One Day in Ketchikan, Alaska’s “First City”

    June 28, 2022 / No Comments

    Alaska's First City. Salmon Capital of the World. Rain Capital of Alaska. Ketchikan has many names – and all are true in their own way. (Ketchikan was not the first city in Alaska by date, but instead, the first city that prospectors reached when heading to the Klondike gold fields.) As you might guess from the variety of monikers the city has earned, Ketchikan is a special place even by Alaska standards...

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  • Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    The 8 Best Things to Do in Bar Harbor: Gateway to Acadia

    June 24, 2022 / No Comments

    As is so often the case, I arrive at night. Coming down the hill into Bar Harbor, her lights cast a soft orange glow. The wind is gusting over Frenchman Bay and the water I know is just out of sight is disproportionately quiet despite its size. This is Bar Harbor, Maine, and I'm here for a few days to see what it's all about and discover things to do in Bar Harbor...

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Hi! I’m Valerie! 👋🏻


 
I travel with my trusty valise and my husband, Mr. V.

I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. I’m also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! ✌🏻
 
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Acknowledgement of Land

Through my site I promote travel to lands, including Alaska, Canada, and the Western U.S., which are the traditional lands of Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgement, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands.

To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

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