Alli Talley

June 18, 2019

Looking For an Adventure? Check Out The Smokies Summer Giveaway!

Alli Talley

June 18, 2019

What are your summer plans? Y'all know how we love a good road trip. The only thing that would elevate the trips we've been taking in our little Toyota Rav4 would be if we could hop in an RV. How much would Sally love that?!?

With that in mind, we recently learned that RVshare is doing an incredible giveaway, with a four-day, three-night trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. You can enter the giveaway here!

We drove through he Great Smoky Mountains last month, and were obsessed with the endless forests and panoramic views. The Great Smoky Mountains encompass over 187,000 acres of forest spread across 2 states. What you probably didn't know is that it is the most popular national park in the USA, ahead of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. Have you been? Hopefully you're starting to realize that you're missing out.

For the giveaway, the grand prize winner will receive a free RV rental, a free campground stay, and a $1000 cash prize. To enter, you must live in the US, you must be over the age of 25, and you should probably love the RV lifestyle. The winner will be selected at random, and you can increase your entries by doing the following:

refer friend to enter by sharing the link with them
follow RVshare on social media
retweet the giveaway on Twitter
answer RVshare's bucket list question
and more!

You can enter to win the Smokies Summer Giveaway anytime between June 3rd, 2019 and July 1st, 2019, which gives you only two weeks to get as many bonus entries as you can – so act fast! We can’t wait to find out who wins and to share the thrill that RVing gives millions of families every year. Thanks for playing and good luck!

Nothing better than exploring National Parks!

Alli Talley

June 11, 2019

USA, Iowa, Weekenders

Road Tripping This Summer? Stop in Dubuque!

Alli Talley

June 11, 2019

USA, Iowa, Weekenders

One of our favorite parts about roadtripping is the quaint small towns we stumble upon. Towns that take us by surprise, towns that have character and charm, towns that easily fall under the radar... We get almost giddy when we discover a new “hidden gem” of a spot - because we get to share it with you! That’s what we love about this big, beautiful country that we live in… there is still so much to discover.

Most recently we happened upon one of those places, Dubuque, Iowa.

Don’t let the fact that it’s Iowa’s oldest city sway you into thinking Dubuque is outdated - it’s an epic fusion of old and new, with plenty of activities, award-winning restaurants, breathtaking sites, and a revitalizing downtown. If you’re planning a roadtrip this summer (or any time of the year), make sure you spend at least a few days in Dubuque. Here’s why:

IT’S WHERE IOWA STARTED

Like we said, Dubuque is Iowa’s oldest city, and dates back to 1833 - 13 years before the state of Iowa even existed! French-Canadian fur trader Julien Dubuque first settled in the area and befriended the Mesquakie Tribe, and the rest is (literally) history!

Known as the “Gateway to the West”, Dubuque sits along the Mississippi River, and borders Illinois and Wisconsin. We think it’s pretty rad that when you’re standing in Dubuque, you can actually see all three states!

IT’S AN OUTDOOR LOVERS DREAM

From picking apples in the fall, to hitting the slopes in the winter, to hiking to the Mines of Spain in the springtime, Dubuque is an outdoor lovers dream, no matter the time of year.

Summertime however, is an exceptional time to pass through, as you’ll find locals and visitors alike soaking in the sunshine - whether they’re on a pontoon in the Mississippi River or enjoying a glass of wine by the waterfront! If you’re a hiker, Dubuque has numerous picturesque trails to explore, and if you’re an adventure-seeker, their zipline is a must! There’s also kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, road biking, camping, and so much more.

IT’S A FOODIE CITY

It may sound weird, but we’d roadtrip back to Dubuque just for the restaurants! This bustling city is home to some of the best restaurants in the Midwest, each one with a unique and distinctly ‘Dubuque’ style.

Brazen Open Kitchen serves farm fresh food that is literally from local farms, and their ever-changing menu is always fresh and always a crowd-pleaser.

For an elevated and authentic Thai food experience, Pete’s Thai Kitchen dishes up family recipes that were passed down from generation to generation, in a playful and contemporary setting. Don’t miss the Pad Thai!

Located in the Historic Millworks District, 7 Hills Brewing is a modern brewpub that specializes in craft beer, craft cocktails, and mouth-watering comfort food. Their happy hour is one of the best in town!

Stone Cliff Winery sits along the Mississippi River, and is the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch on a warm, summer day. This family owned and operated winery is not only known for their award-winning wine, but for their extensive (and delicious) lunch menu, too!

Catch the sunset at Smokestack Dubuque, a rooftop venue with unparalleled views of the Dubuque skyline! Pull up a chair, make some friends, and you’re bound to fall more in love with this lively and captivating city.

Brazen Kitchen had amazing cocktails too!

Pete’s Thai made us feel like we were in Southeast Asia!

Stone Cliff Winery is located in the old Dubuque Star Brewery building

Drinks and snacks at Stone Cliff Winery. Sally is thinking the snacks are for her…

IT’S ICONIC

One of Dubuque’s most well-known attractions is the famous Fenelon Place Elevator. Not only are the views extraordinary, but the historic elevator is the shortest and steepest scenic railway in the world! You’ll see panoramic views of the Historic Downtown, the Mississippi River, and three states! (Do you remember which three?) Plus, the elevator is dog friendly!! Which leads us to our last point...

About to head up the Fenelon Place Elevator

IT’S DOG FRIENDLY

Our Bernedoodle Sally loved exploring Dubuque, and the city really is set up well for pets. We stayed at the brand new ? that was walking distance to just about everything, even the Fenelon Place Elevator! We took Sally to the adorable River Lights Bookstore, where they not only welcome dogs inside - but they give them treats, too!

We had a blast walking along the Mississippi River Walk with Sally, and she was permitted to join us while we enjoyed a light lunch at the nearby Stone Cliff Winery.

Our last night in Dubuque we went for an early evening hike with Sally around The Mines of Spain, which ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. (If Sally could talk, she would agree!) And pizza at Magoo’s is a must - and their outdoor patio allows pets!

While we’re only beginning to scratch the surface on all that Dubuque has to offer, we hope this sparks the desire to add it to your summer roadtrip! Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful, but it’s packed with adventure - and tasty treats. ;) If you do head to Dubuque, make sure you let us know where you went and what you did! See you on the road!

Alli Talley

June 10, 2019

Hawaii, Travel Essentials, USA

5 Reasons Everyone Should Love Boingo

Alli Talley

June 10, 2019

Hawaii, Travel Essentials, USA

Boingo.

Chances are you’ve seen that name before, most likely when you’re hunting for free Wi-Fi. But do you know what it is? Throughout our travels we’ve seen Boingo Wireless pop up almost everywhere, from international terminals to neighborhood coffee shops, but we’d never understood exactly what Boingo was - or how to use it - until now!

As we were planning our most recent trip to Kauai, we realized that finding fast, dependable Wi-Fi on the island was going to be a challenge. As we began researching our Wi-Fi options, we once again came across Boingo and were amazed at what we discovered. Boingo helps the world stay connected to the people and things they love, no matter where they are. But it’s so much more.

Here’s our 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Know [And Love!] Boingo:

1. IT’S FREE IN AIRPORTS

That’s right. There’s no hidden costs, no “sign up now, pay later” gimmicks, no confusing referral codes. Boingo is FREE in the airports it services. Whether at JFK, LAX, Kauai, or Dubai, Boingo has your connectivity needs covered.

Jumping for joy because of the super fast (and free) Wi-Fi at John Wayne Airport!

Boingo Wi-Fi while waiting for our bags? Yes please!

2. IT’S EASY

There’s a reason why Boingo has won “Best Wi-Fi Service” in Global Traveler magazine’s GT Tested reader survey awards NINE times… it’s SO easy to use! Boingo keeps travelers connected with its amazing, next-gen Passpoint hotspots - a technology that automatically connects travelers to Wi-Fi with no login or passwords required. Let us say it again. IT AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS YOU TO WI-FI WITH NO LOGIN OR PASSWORDS REQUIRED. Can you even?!? It’s genius!!

One of the biggest issues/frustrations/headaches we get when we’re flying is figuring out airport Wi-Fi logins, passwords, etc. Oftentimes the connection is fickle and the process to connect can be lengthy - those of you that travel frequently know what a hassle this can be! We flew out of our local airport (John Wayne, or SNA) to Lihue (LIH) and with Boingo Passpoint we were automatically connected to Wi-Fi the moment we walked inside.

We can’t stress how amazing and life changing this is! Bravo, Boingo!

So sad to leave Hawaii. But so happy about the blazing fast Wi-Fi at Lihue Airport!

3. IT’S EVERYWHERE

There are more than 1 million Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots around the world. From airports, to stadiums, convention centers, multifamily communities, military bases, commercial properties, and beyond… Boingo is everywhere! You’ll find Boingo’s award-winning Wi-Fi across six continents, and chances are the airports, hotels, restaurants, and cafes you frequent have a Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot. The Boingo Wi-Finder app makes it easy to locate the hotspots through an interactive map, and even select flights offer the service!

While we were in Kauai, we were thrilled by how many Boingo hotspots we found throughout the island. Whether we were grabbing coffee or poke bowls, or checking out the nearby five-star resort, we found multiple hotspots nearly everywhere we went. We couldn’t believe how easy it was to stay connected - even in such a lush, tropical location!

We stayed connected all over Kauai thanks to Boingo!

Wi-Fi while having shave ice? Yes please!

Staying connected gave us flexibility to work in the morning and hike off all the Hawaiian pancakes we ate in the afternoon

4. IT’S FAST (AND SECURE)

With connection speeds of up to 100 Mbps, Boingo is blazing-fast. The company has made significant investments in its Wi-Fi networks to ensure a consistent user experience that not only delivers speed and ease of use, but security as well. Whether you’re using Boingo for work or for streaming your favorite show, Boingo helps keep your information safe.

Speaking of streaming, you know a Wi-Fi service is fast when it can download your favorite Netflix shows in about a minute, and the Boingo hotspot at John Wayne Airport passed the test with flying colors! We had multiple episodes of Parks & Rec cued up for our flight with time to spare!

5. IT’S GROWING!

As the leading provider of airport Wi-Fi, Boingo can be found in many airports around the world, and their reach continues to expand. Delivering first class amenities like free, unlimited Wi-Fi is part of Boingo’s commitment to bring more convenience to travelers and make their travel time more enjoyable.

From John Wayne Airport, to the several Boingo hotspots in Kauai, to flying out of Lihue Airport, we were connected nearly our entire trip, without a single hitch. Boingo has officially changed how we travel, and we know it will for you too.

Learn more about Boingo’s global Wi-Fi access passes and sign up here!

Staying connected while on vacation mode is the BEST

Thank you to Boingo for sponsoring this post!

Alli Talley

June 3, 2019

Hilton Head Island... Another Side of Paradise

Alli Talley

June 3, 2019

We’re a couple of California kids. Having both grown up near the beach (Bobby’s from Dana Point and Alli’s from San Diego), we like to assume that we know exactly what we’re getting when we head to the coast. We know how to beat the traffic, where to park, what to bring, and how to (attempt) to avoid the crowds. You could say we’re experts when it comes to Southern California beaches, because that’s all we’ve ever known… until now! While on our cross-country roadtrip we visited Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina, and it was unlike any stretch of coastline we’ve visited before. It’s been named the “Top Island in the United States” by Conde Nast Traveler, and “#2 Island in the World” by Travel+Leisure Magazine, and we have to agree.

Hilton Head Island is one of America’s best kept secrets.

THE BEACHES

With over 12 miles of breathtaking coastline, Hilton Head Island is world-renowned for their white sandy beaches, crystal clear warm water, and easy accessibility. Their wide, flat beaches are perfectly walkable (many even ride their bikes!), and ideal for visitors of all ages. Not to mention they’re also extremely dog-friendly, with varying “off-leash hours” (you can find those here) throughout the year. Sally had the time of her life during our stay in Hilton Head, and we loved the ease of walking from our room to the beach, in a matter of minutes. Which brings us to...

THE RESORTS

Hilton Head Island knows what vacation-goers want, and they deliver. There are numerous stunning hotels, inns and resorts on the island, including six AAA four diamond award winners! Whether you’re looking to be pampered poolside, or for a more stripped back, cost-effective option, Hilton Head Island has something for everyone.

We stayed at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, nestled right along the pristine Hilton Head Island coastline, on eleven lush and beautifully landscaped acres. We didn’t want to leave. We swam in the lagoon-style swimming pool, took naps in their covered cabanas, spent our mornings and evenings on the beach playing with Sally, drank wine on our balcony…. It was perfect.

*We’ve started compiling a list of places that we would return to one day when we have a family, and this resort is now on the list. If you have children, they have a “Just Us Kids” children’s club that families were raving about!

Looking down over the lobby in the Sonesta Resort

Incredible tennis center near Sonesta Resort

THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

If there’s one thing Hilton Head Island knows how to do, it’s how to have fun. There’s world-famous golf courses, every kind of water sport, over 50 miles of paths for walking and biking, and so much more. It’s one of those destinations where you can pack your itinerary full of adventures and excursions, or you can plan to do nothing but relax in the sun. We opted for a little bit of both!

One day we went kayaking with Outside Hilton Head, where we got an up-close look at the islands rivers and marshes and the many oyster beds nestled along the water. We opted for an hourly kayak rental, but they also offer daily tours that are led by a local nature guide.

Another day we went ziplining with ZipLine Hilton Head, on a thrilling two-hour eco-adventure zipline tour! Not only did we have a blast zipping through Hilton Head’s massive live oak trees, but our friendly guides also taught us a lot about the wildlife on the island - and the views were absolutely incredible!

THE RESTAURANTS

There are over 250 restaurants on Hilton Head Island, and we tried all of them. KIDDING! (But that might be a goal…) We did eat out quite a bit, and we were really impressed with the culinary scene. From candle-lit fine dining with an stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean at Ocean Lounge, to live music and catfish by the water at Skull Creek Boathouse, to our morning coffee and fresh-baked croissants at Hilton Head Social Bakery… we can definitely say we ate our way through the island. And there wasn’t one meal we didn’t love!

Amazing music and views at Skull Creek Boathouse

The Blackened Carolina Catfish was literally the BEST food I had during our entire 40 day road trip.

DOG FRIENDLY

Even beyond the dog friendly beaches, Hilton Head Island has so much to offer when it comes to traveling with your pup. The many walking trails, parks, and dog friendly patios made our time there with Sally incredibly easy - and the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island couldn’t have been more accommodating to Sally! We took her almost everywhere with us, and judging by her snores at night, she was truly living her best life on Hilton Head Island. (See a helpful list of dog friendly options here.)

Sally made friends with the turtles at the Sonesta Resort

While we’ll always be California kids at heart, we’re learning that there’s something really exceptional and unique about the coastal towns along the East Coast. Hilton Head Island is a perfect mix of laid-back coastal vibes, mixed with Southern hospitality and island flair. We loved every second of our time on the island, and hope we convinced you to give it a visit yourself (with your pup, of course)!

Beautiful coastline on Hilton Head Island

Alli Talley

May 29, 2019

USA, Tennessee

We See You, Knoxville

Alli Talley

May 29, 2019

USA, Tennessee

We’ve gotten a lot of questions this road trip, everything from “Why did you bring your dog along?” to “Do you two fight ALL the time?” but two of the most frequent questions we’ve gotten are “What’s your favorite stop so far?” and “Has anywhere surprised you?”

While it’s too hard to pick a favorite (every city has been SO different, you really can’t compare), we without a doubt can answer which city surprised us.

Knoxville, Tennessee.

Now, we could say the typical “It’s really up and coming!” and “It’s such a foodie city!” (which is all true), but Knoxville deserves more than that. It’s special. It has the charm and approachability that we would assume Nashville had before it really commercialized. It’s a small town, yet modern, and the people are all so incredibly kind and proud of their city. (And after having spent a couple of days there, we felt proud of Knoxville too!)

Instead of trying to convince you on just how epic Knoxville is, we figure we’ll let our experience (and the pictures) do the talking. Here’s what we did:

ATE OUR WAY THROUGH KNOXVILLE

If we’re being honest, we’re probably still full from Knoxville. This city has more restaurants and cafes than it knows what to do with - and they’re good, too! From modern taco shops like Chivo Taqueria and Good Golly Tamale, to artisan pizzarias like A Dopo Sourdough Pizza, to mouthwatering bakeries like Wild Love Bakehouse and Paysan Bread, the Knoxville foodie scene has a little of everything. And if you don’t end the day with a dipped cone at Cruze Farm Ice Cream, you’re doing it wrong!

Morning bagel deliciousness at Paysan Bread (and Remedy Coffee right next door)

Good Golly Tamale has some golly good tamales

Sally wanted the tacos at Chivo Taqueria

Yassin’s Falafel House is a great quick dinner

Can you see the SPARKLES?!?!?! Cruze Farm is AMAZING!

DRANK OUR WAY THROUGH KNOXVILLE

If you love beer, you will have a serious love affair with Knoxville. There are 15 local craft breweries in town, and every brewery has a story and a theme. Schulz Brau Brewing Company serves German style beers in a castle, Pretentious Beer Co serves their ales in hand-blown glasses that are made on site, and Last Days of Autumn has the best taco tuesday in town! (Paired with a habanero IPA, of course!)

How do we know so much about these breweries, you ask? We took the famous Knox Brew Tour - and we highly recommend it! This 3-hour tour took us through four craft breweries, where we not only learned more about the beer-making process, but we enjoyed twelve tastings, and made some new friends along the way. (No joke - we all went out to dinner together after!) We can’t say enough about how fun the tour is, and how great the people are that run them. The next time we’re back in Knoxville, you better believe we’ll be doing another Knox Brew Tour.

And while beer was definitely a highlight, we would be remiss to leave out our daily fuel - coffee. Of course there are amazing coffee shops in Knoxville. Some of our favorites are Honeybee Coffee, Remedy Coffee, Wild Love Bakehouse, and Awaken Coffee (and there were more that we wanted to visit - next time!).

Hand blown glass can be found all over Pretenious Beer Co, and you can buy some amazing glasses!

Our guide Zack, aka Taco, is a beer guru that makes the tour so much fun!

We left with more knowledge of beer, but also some new pals!

Wild Love Bakehouse for coffee and treats!

Honeybee is bright, spacious, and has some yummy coffee

SWUNG, ZIPPED, & WALKED OUR WAY THROUGH KNOXVILLE

Thanks to the folks at Navitat Canopy Adventures, we were able to see Knoxville in a whole new way… from the trees! We spent an afternoon conquering their tree-based zipline and aerial course, and it was quite the thrill! USA Today has called their zipline course “One of the best in the nation”, and it definitely lives up to the hype. Adventure seekers, this is reason enough to put Knoxville on your radar!

Prefer walking on solid ground over balancing on ropes? You’re in luck too! Knoxville’s downtown is incredibly walkable. We rarely used our car while we were there, which we loved! We stayed at the Hilton Downtown, which was just a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Market Square, where there were plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops to explore. Oh, and we can’t forget about Strong Alley (just parallel to Market Square)! This colorful artist-designated alley has dozens of unique and expressive murals - our favorite was the painting of the iconic Dolly Parton!

Before we embarked on our adventure at Navitat Canopy Adventures

Bobby flying through one of the more challenging courses!

Beautiful night to explore Market Square

Dolly Parton is one of the first to greet you as you stroll into Strong Alley

SALLY PAWED HER WAY THROUGH KNOXVILLE

Knoxville is just about as dog friendly as they come. Not only do most restaurants have dog friendly patios, but many downtown shops allow dogs inside! We had the best time shopping with Sally in Mast General Store, where she got ample attention from friendly shoppers, and we were able to stock up on some needed roadtripping essentials.

Popular pet brand Pet Safe has their headquarters in Knoxville, and has outfitted the city with spacious dog parks and even a pet resort and spa! We frequented the Pet Safe Downtown Dog Park, where Sally was able to get her wiggles out and make some new friends.

Most breweries are dog friendly, including Alliance Brewing Company, Balter Beerworks, and Elkmont Exchange (see a full list here). Many of which will bring water bowls to your table and have puppy treats on hand, that’s true Southern hospitality right there!

Sally getting her wiggles out at the Pet Safe Downtown Dog Park

Mast General Store has treasures everywhere

So many great spots for Sally to get her photo taken!

Moral of the story? Knoxville is really cool. It surprised us, and we think it will surprise you too. We can’t wait to go back.