Jenny's Travel Blog:

Are you well traveled? Do you have a knack for recognizing U.S. locations? Have you been carefully reading my blog? :) Then this is the game for you! I call this game Sojourn Photo Challenge . Simply look at a picture and guess the city and state of the U.S. location where it was taken. Included are places I've been to and photographed in the last 14 months of sojourning. Are you up for the challenge? If you want to compete, please follow these instructions: a) Look at the pi

It's partly about the open road. It's partly about seeking healing in nature. It's partly about getting out of the home environment; stepping away from constant reminders like his recliner, his toothbrush, his half of the closet. It's partly about "Go outside and start walking." It's partly about escaping from cold Wisconsin winters. It's partly about going places you know he wanted to go. It's partly about finding your smile. It's partly about fishing still waters. It's part

I picked up my sister-in-law, Cindy, and my nephew, Murray, at the Phoenix airport on March 23, and we moved into a double queen suite at the Arizona Grand Hotel and Spa. For the second year in a row I had successfully wheedled an invitation to join in the fun while Murray and his select baseball team played in a tournament in the Phoenix metro area. My role is driver and supporter, and occasionally scrambled egg-maker. In return, I get the pleasure of seeing family, watching

I visited Joshua Tree National Park for three days in late March 2023. I had been in Phoenix visiting with family, and it took me about 5 1/2 hours traveling west on Highway 10 to reach the park. I arrived just before sunset and drove into the park by the south entrance, pausing to snap a picture of Lakester. I drove into the park to get the lay of the land. Cottonwood Visitor Center and Cottonwood campground are only 7 miles from Highway 10. I didn't have a camping reservat

FIRST CAR CAMPING SWING - March 15 - May 1, 2023: The overview of who I saw, what I did, where I went after packing my Packer blanket and heading out! (Click on hyperlinks for detailed blogs about each location.) March 15: Drove from Whitewater, WI to St. Louis, MO to see Gateway Arch NP, campground at Sam A. Baker SP near Patterson, MO March 16: Drove to Fontainebleau SP near New Orleans, LA - electric campsite March 17: Visited New Orleans, LA - if I visit again it will

Some of my stops are planned, and some are happy accidents. Saguaro National Park in Arizona was a happy accident. I was on my way to Phoenix (for a planned stop to see family) and I was ahead of schedule as I left west Texas. I conducted a little research, mostly using Google Maps and the National Park System map that came with my National Parks Passport booklet. Yes, I stop at national park visitor centers and get stamps in my Passport booklet....like a BOSS! At the beginni

Alternative title: I have not been paid to endorse any of this equipment - I just like it. The most important piece of equipment on my car camping sojourn was my 2016 Subaru Outback, nicknamed Lakester. Lakester is my best friend and travel companion and was the most photographed thing in all photo albums from my adult gap year - humans, objects, scenery included. My late husband Mike found this beautiful vehicle at a used car dealership in Madison, WI back in 2018 after ex

After I left Austin, I headed toward Phoenix to meet up with family. I had three days to get there. The highway speed limit in Texas is 80 mph, but Texas is also the 2nd largest state, so it was going to take a couple days to get across. Mostly I needed to figure out where I was going to find a safe sleep. I felt great driving. Thanks to great Austin radio stations, I had built up my road trip playlist on Spotify and was bopping along pretty well. I drove through Texas wine c

W, March 15 - Whitewater, WI to St. Louis, MO ( Gateway Arch National Park ) to Sam A. Baker State Park, Patterson, MO Th, March 16 - Sam A. Baker State Park to Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, LA Fri, March 17 - Fontainebleau SP to Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to New Orleans, LA; from New Orleans, LA to Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, LA Sa, March 18 - Sam Houston Jones SP to Studio apartment in Hyde Park neighborhood in Austin, TX (visit with niece Maddie)