Balabanova All Over
#TakeYourTimeOff
Top Posts
Archives
Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve… Those are probably the top destinations most people think of when it comes to Portugal. But lately, the island of Madeira has been growing in popularity. It’s nicknamed “the Hawaii of Europe”, and for good reason. It’s a volcanic island just like the Hawaiian islands and it has a very similar climate and scenery. If you are a hiker who wants to check out the island but also… Read More
[Glenallen, AK, Jul 29, 2025] We were sad to leave our cute B&B in Seward, but we had a 5.5-hour drive to Glennallen without stops. We were headed to Wrangell-St Elias National Park, my 54th! The towns of Glennallen, Copper Valley and Chitina are the gateways to the park. Copper valley is home to the visitor center, which we were hoping to make it to before it closed at 5 pm. Chitina,… Read More
[Wind Cave National Park / Custer State Park, SD, Jun 18, 2025] Today was the longest day on the trip so far but also my favorite! We started out day in Wind Cave National Park. Our cave tour was at 10:40 a.m., but we entered early so we can squeeze in a hike. We stopped for a pic at the sign and saw a lone pronghorn crossing the field behind us. We… Read More
[TRNP, Jun 16, 2025] We managed to get out the door about an hour earlier than yesterday. However, that hour was eaten up by the fact that we had to drive that long to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. For some strange reason, the North Unit is on Central Time, not Mountain Time. So don’t freak out if your phone says it’s an hour later than it actually is…. Read More
[TRNP, Jun 15, 2025] Our long travel day yesterday and the late night with the Medora Musical meant that we had to sleep in this morning. But once we got breakfasted and caffeinated, it was time to explore the south unit of TRNP. The entrance station was literally a quarter mile from our hotel in Medora. Only 3 or 4 cars were in front of us, and the line went quickly. You… Read More
