Quick Overview of this newsletter:

1. ✨ Hello 2024
2. 🍁 Quebec Article was Published!
3. 🥾 Top 10 Moderately Adventurous Blog Posts of 2023

Hello 2024

Happy New Year Reader!

Has the onslaught of sales, products, and end-of-the-year emails slowed yet?? Is it safe in your inbox?? 🫣 As Thanksgiving approaches each year, I start to feel overwhelmed with putting my email newsletter out in the world. Especially anything related to products because it feels… money-grabby. Is that my imposter syndrome speaking? Yes, absolutely. Because, deep down, I know you probably wouldn’t mind hearing from me once a week. But I’m not giving up. I’m back in your inbox today (and hopefully again later this week) with a very happy announcement and partial 2023 re-cap to get 2024 in motion.

Truly, I hope you had a delightful time with family and friends during the holidays/New Year's. I definitely did! Also wanted to wish you a fresh start and plenty of adventures in 2024! It’s not too late to start travel planning, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy winter sports. But more on that later this week.

Happy Travels,

Hanna

Quebec Article Published for Matador Network

🍁Published author alert!! 🍁Yep, that’s right, the press trip to Canada was for Matador Network, and my article about it has been published. It’s called “Where To Stay, Eat, and Play in Quebec for the Fall Trip of a Lifetime,” and I can’t wait for you to read it.

In the article, I share almost my exact itinerary for visiting the French-speaking city and surrounding area, for which the province was named. During the trip, I experienced three different regions: Côte-Nord, Charlevoix, and Québec City, with activities from whale watching in the St. Lawrence River (wild, I know) to a Via Ferrata and two national park visits. Plus, I share all of the restaurants I ate at – one had a 7-course menu with wine pairing, and another had a 5-course menu with the chefs making the meal in the middle. I rolled around in the fall colors, saw whales, learned about the First People, ate far too much, and collapsed in a comfy bed each night. Québec ended up being the fall destination of my dreams.

Whether planning a trip or not, check out MY article “Where To Stay, Eat, and Play in Quebec for the Fall Trip of a Lifetime” on Matador Network. (EEEEEE, so proud!)

Top 10 Most Viewed Moderately Adventurous Blog Posts of 2023

For fun, I looked through my analytics to see which blog posts got the most views in 2023 and thought you might be curious. I added some thoughts about why the top 5 are in the top 5. Are they surprising to you? One thing I've noticed from the start is that these are not my newest blog posts. Instead, it's typically posts that have been around for a year or more, which slowly gain season relevancy. I suppose that's one reason why I've never rushed things

1. ​CALIFORNIA – MT. WHITNEY GEAR LIST - Year after year, my Mt. Whitney blog posts start gaining traction in March and last through the fall. I’m a little surprised by the gear list being the most visited, but whatever is helpful for people out there!
2. ​LAKE TAHOE – MONKEY ROCK HIKE TO UNINTERRUPTED VIEWS - We caught this hike with the most beautiful conditions possible - low crowds, a glassy lake, crispy clarity, and a dusting of snow on the surrounding mountains - so the photos are phenomenal. It’s also a relatively easy and popular hike for everyone visiting Lake Tahoe.
3. ​ARIZONA – 8 THINGS I DIDN’T EXPECT ABOUT A GRAND CANYON RAFTING TRIP - As my first multi-day rafting trip, there was a ton to learn, so I put this post together. I typically don’t do this type of insights blog post because I incorporate my thoughts into whatever breakdown post I do, but maybe I need to do more. You tell me!
4. ​NORWAY – EXPLORING THE DARLING SMALL TOWN OF EIDFJORD - This one is surprising, but my guess is that there is less writing dedicated to this little town in Norway.
5. ​YOSEMITE – FLOAT THE MERCED RIVER - Catching the Merced River at the ideal water level in peak season for someone who doesn’t live nearby is like catching a shooting star. All of the logistics were worth it.
6. ​LAKE TAHOE – MAGGIE’S PEAK IS ONE OF THE BEST HIKES IN THE AREA
7. ​WASHINGTON – THE ENCHANTMENTS BACKPACKING AND PERMITS
8. ​PRODUCT REVIEW – TESTING THE ADVENTURE WAGON INTERIOR MODULAR SYSTEM​
9. ​ARIZONA – HAVASUPAI HIKE​
10. ​WASHINGTON – HOLE-IN-THE-WALL BEACH CAMPING FOR THE FIRST TIME​