adventure – Health & Happiness

Dates visited: October 2024

This was Juno’s introduction to travel at 3 months old! My girl loves traveling dirt roads with the boot window down and hanging out with her puppy cousins. Her first adventure was to Colorado where we visited Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas (including side quests to the Great Sand Dunes and Garden of the Gods) with my sister & her husband (this is their 4Runner and their sweet Poms) and my brother, Joe, who happens to be my regular traveling buddy.

For the duration of our trip, we enjoyed a small cabin in Grand Lake, CO which served as our base when visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding areas. Juno loved her extended sleepover with her Pom cousins.

We entered Rocky Mountain National Park via Hwy 34, and it wasn’t long before we fell in love with the beautiful landscapes. Though honestly? You can throw a dart on a map of Colorado, and you’d likely end up surrounded by gorgeous views. It is definitely one of my favorite states.

After passing through the park gates, we were immediately treated with Autumn meadows painted with the yellow leaves of Aspens who had valiantly held out until the very end of the season before putting on their golden show. I’d like to think they waited for us! And as we crept our way up the steep slopes, sunshine gave way to a dusting of snowflakes as we reached the peaks overlooking a glacial tundra. Pika were putting on an adorable show as they frantically darted in and out of the rocks below, a flurry of activity as they frantically gathered vegetation to add to their stores before winter officially arrived.

Every inch of Rocky Mountain National Park was beautiful, and Juno was very photogenic as we tasked her with sitting pretty at nearly every overlook. We were disappointed to learn that dogs are not allowed on trails, and though I understand the reasoning behind this decision, it is still disappointing that this is the rule for most areas of our National Parks.

This trip started a journey that was the catalyst that sealed the deal for me. It made me yearn to see all that our beautiful country as to offer. Especially in a time where there is so little else to be proud of as an American.

It made me realize that I was no longer content with simply waiting to die in my tiny corner of Mississippi. If I had unlimited resources, I’d be living in a van with my two puppies and traveling (between visiting my beloved kids!) like the nomad that my heart and soul tell me that I am. I’d probably force my brother along for the ride, but for now, I’m the one tagging along.

And I’m ever so grateful.

For more photos, check out my Gallery or head to my brother’s instagram: jhankinsmedia. He is a phenomenal photographer and loves shooting wildlife in our beautiful parks. He also takes amazing pics of my pups, Juno & Willow.

Dates visited: October 2024 and May 2025

Juno & I have had the pleasure to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park twice, and each visit has been remarkable! The first time I visited, I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights over the dunes. It was such an awe-inspiring experience that left me sobbing with joy and wonder. We thought we had experienced all the dunes had to offer, but boy were we wrong.

The second visit, my son joined us and he had a blast hiking the dunes. While he spent his day battling the gusting sands, my brother and I enjoyed off-roading Medano Pass. We weren’t even aware that this was an option the first rushed visit, but it was one of the highlights of our trip and sparked my love of overlanding. It is a 22-mile road connecting Great Sand Dunes with the Wet Mountain Valley and Colorado State Highway 69 that is only open in the warmer months each year that features sand pits, rock crawls, and water crossings. There’s some backcountry camping available (21 FCFS sites), and I would love to go back and experience a night or two along the Pass.

We ended up staying at the Zapata Falls campground, a BLM primitive campground that offered sweet views of the dunes and the surrounding valley. It was only $11 a night (just vault toilets and fire rings) and honestly one of the best camping experiences to date. The sunset, the stars, the vast expansive views. Unforgettable. The rocky road to the campground ended in a trailhead to a waterfall (Zapata Falls) where my son and I saw a bear and her cub sitting atop the rocks above the falls entrance! It was absolutely magical.

During our May trip, we were able to experience Medano Creek, a surge flow of melted snow meandering through the dune fields. There is a small outpost just before entering the park that rents out sand sleds, as well as a shop that rents them in nearby Alamosa.

While most people take a gander at the impressive dunes and call it a day, I definitely recommend exploring this park and its surrounding areas, especially the Medano Pass if you have a 4WD vehicle. Visiting the dunes beneath the Northern Lights and exploring the Medano Pass with my brother and Juno are both such cherished memories. I smile every time I think of my son’s joy and pride after he traversed the dunes solo. As such, the Great Sand Dunes National Park will always be one of my favorites for sentimental reasons. I’m grateful for having experienced everything it had to offer.