Y’all, I did something this past week, and I recommend everyone try it out.

I took a vacation.

I know, I know, going off for a week where I don’t do anything work related at all, WHAT A CONCEPT. I even *gasp* turned off the notifications on my phone for everything.

So, yes. It was marvelous, and much, much needed. On top of that, I’ve been wanting to see what there is to see and do in the USA that doesn’t have me shilling out $$$ for an all-expense paid package.

Can’t I just have a vacation in my own (or someone else’s) backyard?!

After this week I can yes, yes, incredibly yes. Let me tell you all about it.

A State Park…In Your Backyard?

For this two-part vacation, my boyfriend, Dylan, and I first went with his family to Roanoke, VA, to see extended family, take in that muggy mountain fresh air, and just plain relax. And relax we did!

One of the biggest ventures for Dylan and I was taking a hike in someone’s backyard...literally. In Troutville, a suburb of Roanoke, is the Read Mountain Preserve.

Almost 250 acres of forested land, the preserve hosts a 2 mile trail to Buzzard’s Rock, a high point of Read Mountain with gorgeous views (you can see planes fly into the Roanoke airport, a fact that jazzed me up more than I thought it would)!

More recently, a subdivision was built around the entrance to this preserve. So, yes. You have to actually get to someone’s backyard to access the start of the trails in the preserve. Fascinating!

The trails are very well kept up, but even so I wanted to make sure I stayed safe. So this was a great time for me to take advantage of the Tick’d Off Tick/Mosquito Repellent Salve from Green Branch Urban Farm (found in our Loving Nature in the Berkshires Paraphernalia Pack!). Between that and a healthy amount of sunscreen, we had the best time.

Back To My Backyard...To Visit A Castle?

When our time in Virginia was over, Dylan and I had to hightail it back Northeast for a friend’s wedding in Utica, NY. She held her wedding at Beardslee Castle in Little Falls, NY.

It was a gorgeous wedding from start to finish, using the over 150+ year old castle as a stunning backdrop to the ceremony. With a beautiful garden for cocktail hour and an upper hall indoors for the reception, it was an all-in-one experience. And not even two hours from South County!

Overall, it was a week full of friends, family, and stunning views (more photos below because I had a blast and needed to document everything). And best of all we didn’t have to go anywhere “touristy” or high profile! Just goes to show how much beauty there is to see and how much there is to do in this country.

So what are you waiting for! Where are you headed this summer?? I would love to hear about it.

Philip