I crossed off my bucket list by riding a camel in Jordan, explored Petra, rode a mule down ancient steps, and dune bashed through the desert.

White water rafting in Bali’s lush jungle felt like magic. Towering trees, icy waterfalls, and adrenaline-fueled adventure down the river.

The Day I Took a Safari on Four Wheels! My Drive-thru zoo experience. Nothing says “vacation detour” like pulling off a back road in West Virginia because someone (okay, me) saw a sign that said Drive-Thru Safari   Zoo and yelled, “Turn here! We’re doing this!” No time to research, no time to mentally prepare, just a dusty trail, a bag of animal feed, and a car full of very questionable confidence., From the moment we rolled through the gates, it was clear: we were on their

Then I saw it—the mechanical bull. The dare that could buck back. It sat there in the middle of the room like a challenge waiting for me, quietly mocking anyone brave or dumb to even enough to try.

So no, dune bashing wasn’t what I expected. It was wild. It was dusty. It was sweaty and sandy and so much fun it made my face hurt from smiling. And that dinner under the stars? Magic.

Peru wasn’t just a trip. It was a challenge, a lesson, and a love letter from the earth itself. It tested my lungs, filled my camera roll, and reminded me of the beauty that comes when you push a little further—whether that’s one more step at 17,000 feet or a bite of something you never thought you’d eat.

I crossed it when I ordered a cup of kopi luwak, better known (unfortunately) as cat-poo-cino, I liked to call it CRAP-achino.

Welcome to SeaTrek in Aruba, where the helmet is heavy, the fish are glorious, and the selfies are iconic.

Trying frog legs and gator was just the beginning. Between boating in the swap, to feeding wild raccoons, and exploring haunted hotels New Orleans created the stories I got to bring home and remember forever.

Trying Portugal's flesh-eating foot fish pedicure.

Parasailing in Cabo San Lucas was the kind of bucket list thrill I’d been dreaming of — soaring above crystal-clear waters with nothing but ocean breeze and a parachute keeping me afloat. While my mom’s panic over a swarm of hammerhead sharks cut our first flight short, I went up again solo, floating high above the sea in pure, unforgettable freedom.