by Melanie McManus | Sep 23, 2024 | Blog
Periodically, companies ask me to test their new fitness or hiking/backpacking products. As you might expect, some are fine, but nothing special; some are total duds and a handful are real gems. Here are some items I’ve recently tried on my hiking and camping trips...
by Melanie McManus | Jan 17, 2025 | Alabama, Exploring and Experiencing, Stories, United States
Read This Article, Published in the Star Tribune A few years ago, I was hiking the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail with a friend, Amy Eckert. Amy had been posting about our hike on social media, and one day received a message from a friend. The friend said we were...
by Melanie McManus | Jan 18, 2024 | Exploring and Experiencing, Stories, United States, Wisconsin
Read This Article, Published in the Star Tribune For decades, Wisconsin Dells was pretty much a summer-only destination. This was the era before indoor waterparks became a phenomenon, attracting winter tourists in droves. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links...
by Melanie McManus | Mar 17, 2023 | Exploring and Experiencing, Stories, Wisconsin
Read This Article, Published in the Star Tribune When I started dating my husband, he said, “Never ask me to take you to The House on the Rock.” I hadn’t heard of the attraction, which he said was more than a home built atop a rock. It included...
by Melanie McManus | Jul 29, 2022 | Continental Divide 2022 - ?, Trail Journals
I can’t believe I’m getting ready to start a section-hike of the CDT, or Continental Divide Trail. It’s one of the Triple Crown trails within the 11 National Scenic Trails, along with the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s also...
