Flint, Michigan is famous.  And it's not always for the greatest of things.  Built on the back of the car industry, the city itself has a storied history with an indusrial feel.  Located in the lower peninsula of Michigan, it lacks the landscapes of the north.  It's not necessarily the number one tourist city in the mitten state.

Yet here, in the seemingly mundane part of Michigan, you'll find one of the most unique and beautiful structures created.  The beautiful Stepping Stones Falls is a build of beauty where you'd least expect it.

Stepping Stones Falls is a manmade dam that hold back the Flint River to create a recreation area with C S Mott lake.  The concreate has been designed in a stepping stone pattern with pillars at various points to direct water into various patterns as it cascades to the river below.

The falls are a wonderful place to walk and take in the beauty.  In a world that is always on the move, talking a walk through the park and sitting at the bast of the falls allows viewers to take in beauty that has been built into the world.  As you take in this moment, the falls begin to shape into a way to look at life.  Life, like the water, is always moving.  What you do with it matters.

Sometimes life can be mundane and industrial.  The day to day grind can become repetivie and draining, and the landscape can begin to look flat with no end in sight.  The water comes, whether we want it to our not.  It's up to us to decide how to divert it into something beautiful.

Take time to build places in your life that create beauty from the nonstop flow of life.  Find ways to change and move moments into new directions, allowing it to cascade and flow into different places.  Above all, find time to stop and enjoy the life that you have built.  Remember the journey it took to build that life step by step, and embrace the beauty that you have created.

You only get to do life this one time.  Build your best life!

We've now made two trips to the capital of Scotland.  Both trips were incredible adventures.  The first trip, we spent 24 hours in Edinburgh, taking in as much as we could as quickly as we could.  We had taken an early flight from Ireland and we were on a train the next morning to Inverness.  Our second trip, we flew directly into the city and spent two days before heading to the Highlands.

The must see attraction in Edinburgh in the castle.  Edinburgh Castle sits as the base of the town.  The original walls and close's make up the central portion of Old Town, with the Castle at the height of it all.  A few notes about visiting the castle:

• Book ahead of time.  You cannot book day of, as you are not likely to get a ticket
• You can use the Scottish Heritage Pass when booking ahead of time.
• If you plan to go prior to 1 PM, you can witness the firing of the cannon at 1.  The cannon set the clocks for merchants on the sea.

The castle will take you a few hours to go through, depending on much you enjoy reading and diving into history.  If you'd like to start at the far end of the Royal Mile and make your way towards the castle in the morning, prior to going, You can stop at a few museums on your way.  The Museum of Edinburgh, The People's Museum and the Writer's Museum are all along the way as you walk up the Royal Mile to the Castle, or walk down the Royal Mile towards the water.  Each of these provides unique perspectives of the history of Edinburgh and the people that have lived there, both common and famous.

If only doing 24 hours, one plan we recommend is to start your day at Calton Hill in the morning, and spend some time taking in the sites of the city.  From there, head to the Castle (booked ahead) and then down the mile to stop at the museums as well as The Real Mary King's Close (a must do!)  (Also, book tickets ahead of time.)  By the time you've taken in these sites, and eaten a few meals, you'll be near the end of the day at Greyfriars Kirk.  Greyfriars Kirk is a great spot to see as the end of the day if you are into the haunting side of Edinburgh.  If you aren't, simply flip the day.  Calton Hill is highly recommended to see at sunset as well!

If you want to spend two days in Edinburgh, immediately split the difference between Greyfriars Kirk and Calton Hill, plan to end each of your nights there.  (If you go in August, the Royal Military Tattoo is work seeing.  We did Calton Hill at sunset and then walked to the Tattoo.)  For your second day in city, take some time to stroll the Prince's Street Gardens and visit the Scott Memorial.  You can move one of the museums into the second day, or visit the National Museum of Scotland.  Head over to Dean's Village and hike along the river to take in some beautiful scenery and sites within the city limits.  Interested in the darker history?  Head over to the Edinburgh Dungeon's and become part of the interactive retelling of the stories that haunt Edinburgh.

There's never enough time to truly see everything in a city.  Edinburgh's diversity truly has something for everyone, and each time you go can be a truly different experience.  Spend some time focusing on the things you love to do the most, and Edinburgh will provide you your adventure. 

We travel, which is a lot busier than a vacation.  Traveling, for us, is to see and experience as much of a place we visit as we can.  We strive to immerse ourselves into the history, culture, and landscapes.

The catch is, you're working within a limited time frame.  Every day only has so many minutes and hours within it, and every travel experience only has so many days.  Every time you start an adventure, it will have an end date.  

So we make the most of it.  We keep moving through the day.  We stop to see as much as we can.  We enjoy lunches in parks and drinks in local places.  We find ways to experience everything that there is to offer, while still contiuning to keep moving forward.

You are traveling through this life.  You are give so many minutes, hours and days.  You have the opportunity to make the most of every exeperience.  Why do we not treat every day as though we are on a travel adventure?

Could you imagine?  Think about what that would look like.  Where would you go?  What would you do? Who would speak too?  If every day you get up and you make the decision to just keep moving forward, what would you see?  What adventures lie just within your reach, even if you don't feel like you're traveling through life on an adventure?

Make the most of every single moment and just keep moving forward.  Find your adventures, and make sure that you are using every minute and every hour to create your own life adventure.  Every step you take, even on the hard days, are always worth taking

Taking a trip to Scotland starts with a trip to the capital.  Edinburgh sits on the edge of a bay off the North Sea.  It's a storybook town filled with layers of history around every corner.  From Castle's to Wizards, Edinburgh has something for everyone to love.

Take a tour of Edinburgh Castle.  Home to Mary, Queen of Scots, the castle sits on an extinct volcano with a history of turmoil.  As Scotland strived to identify itself, battles ensued between the clans and the English.  The castle provides a look at the English's role in the development of Scotland and it's history within the world.  It's also home to the Royal Military Tattoo, an amazing night of gathering and celebrating.

Take a walk down the Royal Mile and immerse yourself in the history and culture that is Edinburgh.  Discover the ancient streets of the city.  A "close" is an alleyway, and there are several fascinating ones that are worth visiting.  Make sure to stop and see The Real Mary King's Close, and take a trip under the city into the time of the plague.  Find your way into the Writer's Close and immerse yourself into the writing history of the city.  Then stroll over to Dean's Village and find rustic beauty in the city setting.

Take a stroll across the city to discover a world of writer's.  Victoria's street allows you to experience the world of J.K Rowling.  Stop into stores along the way and imagine yourself in the wizarding world.  Find your way over to Grayfriar's Kirk and meet Bobby, the ever watchful watchdog.  Here you'll also meet chargers along the way.  One last stop to the Scott Monument, and you're walking in the footsteps of those who make magic with words.

Then at sunset, take a walk up to Calton Hill.  The national monument sits above the city and provides fabulous views to the landscape around.  Grab a drink at the local bar, while sitting and watching the sun set over the castle.  

Edinburgh is a hauntingly beautiful city.  We return year after year because you will always discover something new along the way.  The city is a mixture of history, culture, and nature, providing you the best experience.  As you plan your trip to Scotland, make sure you've found your way to the capital of the Scots!

Every day holds it's own adventures.  The morning comes and day breaks and we begin the journey to the end of the day.  Memories are made, life moves forward, and another day draws to a close.

Sunsets bring the last light into the world.  They ask the world to stop and pause at the end of the day.  The colors dance across the sky, illuminating magic for dreams that will come thoughout the night.  The sunset is the day's quiet moment of reflection. 

When traveling sunsets are the extension of the day.  The longer you stay, the longer you extend your experience.  The sunset becomes part of the travel adventure.  The place that you've visited will change in a variety of ways, creating a multitude of experiences in just moments.  

When traveling we try to experience every sunset we possibly can.  In Michigan, the lakes provide numerous changes to catch oranges and pinks flash across the sky.   No matter what the weather has been, if the sky clear, the sunset is a spectacular display of light kissing the world goodnight.  And as we travel around the world, we find that no matter where we go, people find a sense of peace in the setting sun. 

So as you come to the close of your day, take a moment to pause and take in the sunset.  Watch the colors dance across the sky, and let yourself dream.  For with every sunset, comes a sunrise, and another day filled with possibility.

We are currently recovering from jet lag and exhuastion after walking over 14 miles a day for 12 to 13 hours a day.  We did and saw as much as we possibly could.

While we rest up and recover, here are a few of our photos from the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.  Both countries gave us incredible views and facsinating history that we can't wait to share!

Head over to tik tok or insta to see more.  

Also, summer is winding down fast and the school year is quickly approaching!  Get ready for another year with us as we teach and plan for the next adventure!  Follow along!

And - the hiking shoes are still going strong!  No blisters and way over in miles!  Can't love Merrill enough!  (No affliation!)  Find them HERE.  (We are Amazon Affliates and do make a small compensation from qualifying purchases!)

As we travel, we have explored so many sacred spaces.  From Stonehenge to the ancient burial gounds of the Mound Builders, to churches and carins and natural alters.  As a species, humans are drawn to create sacred spaces.

We have a found a variety of spaces here in Michigan.  The Cross in the Woods is the largest free standing cross in the world.  Bishop Baraga's shrine overlooks Lake Superior with a beautiful view, and Our Lady of the Woods is a spot to wander in peaceful tranquility.

Stonehenge brings forth so many questions of ancient humans.  Why did they create the spaces the did?  And how did the do it.  We love finding ancient Carins.  They offer places to stop and explore while honoring those that have passed.

What draws us to these magnificant structures?  Why do we find peace both within created spaces and natural spaces?  What is it that draws us into the unknown?

The human experience, while unique to each individual, is a collective experience.  As each year and generation passes, we grow and reflect and find ways to look forward to the future.  Futures are unknown, and can be overwhelming, especially when changes occur or we find we have no control over outcomes.  When these moments occur, we have to find an anchor, something to keep us grounded and steady, knowing we will keep moving forward.

Faith is the anchor.  Faith is the ability to build on what we have learned in the past, reflect, and trust in a future we cannot see.  Faith allows us to celebrate, even if things are tough, and find joy in the moments that matter.  When we travel, we always take time to find these places, knowing that there is more to the future then we can possible imagine.  By standing in the prescene of the past, it reminds us how much good comes with moving forward in faith!

Bridges are facisnating.  The delicate complexity of creating a structure that can carry the weight of the world it's supporting is left to engineers who understand the phsyics behind it.  For the majority of people, they are a part of everyday life.  We have some of the most fantastic bridges in Michigan, and in the United States.  But have you ever thought of what it would be like without them?

We travel great lengths with faster speeds than in previous generations.  However, there was a time when it took far more than time to reach places like St. Ignance or the Soo, two places in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  Before both the Mackinac Bridge and the Zilwaukee Bridge were built, travlers waited for draw bridges and ferries to be able to complete their journey.

Now, bridges are easily a part of our everyday lives, even if we don't recognize it.  There are bridges over freeways and roads, both cars and walking, to allow people to move freely without having to wait or naviagate what might be below.  Where our ancestors forged rivers in wagons, worried about currents, we cross the Mississippi or enter Manhatten in a matter of minutes .  Our world continues to move and improve because of bridges lifting us up and providing us an easier path forward.

Think of the bridges in your life, both literally and figuratively.  Think of how much longer your routes would be without bridges to help you navigate major intersections or bodies of water.  Think of the things you might skip or not do at all, simply because getting there wouldn't be worth the time and effort.  

Think of the people who act as bridges in your life.  These people help you navigate easily over obstacles, raging waters, and busy intersections.  They help lift you up so that you can see what's on the horizon, and they help provide a path to get things done easily. 

Take a moment to really recognize those in your life that are making a difference and providing a path for your life to move forward.  They provide a bridge for you to make your life easier, all while holding just the right amout of weight to make it happen.  Bridges in our lives make the world a better place, and are a beautiful part of our world.

"OOOO"  They caught my eye before we even walked to them.  Driving across the wooden bridge, the waterfall cascaded to my right as we drove north through the Keweenaw.  We were traveling spots DC had already visited on his trips north.  I had no knowledge of what the Keweenaw has to discover.  This was definitely a must see.

Eagle River falls is located in Eagle River, Michigan.  This is not to be confused with Eagle River, Wisconsin to the south.  Driving north along the main road to Copper Harbor, you'll go over the falls and turn right into a parking area with a sign marking the historic point of Eagle River.

From there, it's a very short walk to view the falls.  For all of the hiking the Upper Peninsula has to offer, Eagle River falls is a fantastic waterfall that is easily accessible for all.  The bridge across the river is wide and paved.  No need to climb trees or find footpaths.

The falls themselves are beautiful.  Cascading down various points, they fall back and fourth within themselves.  The water shifts and changes, allowing one to sit for a while and just embrace the calm and consistency of the waterfalls flow into Lake Superior

If you have the time, this is definitely a stop worth taking.  You can find more sights around town, and continue north after you have found the falls.  But you won't regret finding your moment to soar at Eagle RIver Falls.

There comes a point in travels when you have been on the move all day.  You've explored and discovered and spent your day making the most of your time.  The sun begins to set, the shadows become longer, and suddenly you're much more aware of the horizon before you. 

Horizons come in all forms.  Waters, fields, forests, and moutains all become illuminates in the far distance as the day winds down.  Colors break across the landscape while also disappearing as the light begins to fade.  And as the day changes, you begin to wonder, what is just beyond that horizon?

Horizons bring the onset of rest and relaxation as the day begins to settle.  It allows you to reflect on the day that you've hard, embracing the hard and celebrating the successes.  It also allows you to begin to wonder in antcipation.  What will the coming days bring?  What will we see?  What lies just beyond what we cannot see?

In life, we always have a horizon in front of us.  We spend our days reflecting on the positives and frustrations, the highs and the lows.  We celebrate and we rest, and we are always moving forward.  The horizon spreads out before us.  We do not not know what it holds and we wonder what is on the other side.

Will the paths be easier?  Harder?  Will the views be better or will they be blocked?  Will we have oceans of unknowns or fields of plenty.  Every horizon begs us to look towards the future with both hope and anticipation, while also begging us to embrace the view before us before it fades away.

There are a few horizon views we really love as we travel.  Find your way to Michigan and take in many of the horizons along the Great Lakes.  The lakes are vast with great depths and pull you to rest along it's shore to ponder the world before you.  We love the horizons in the highlands of Scotland.  With their ominous hills and worn paths below, the horizon spreads out before in a twisted puzzle of awaiting adventure.  

Your horizon awaits.  Remember to rest in the moment as you watch the light fade.  Then take time to celebrate the endless possiblities that lie just beyond your site, waiting to be discovered.