A Blog focusing on Midwest Outdoors & Adventure✨
Welcome to Hello Stranger, a blog about midwest adventure and outdoor travel! Here you can find trail guides, packing guides, and resources for beginners in the outdoors. I’ve got a background as a Lake Superior sea kayaking guide, so a lot of my focus is helping you find the best adventures around Lake Superior!
Beyond that, my travel and outdoor resources outside the Midwest are still written and created with Midwest outdoor adventurers in mind! I’ll help you pick out practical spring break destinations, plan summer road trip routes, and travel abroad! Come explore with me:
Free resources like the guides linked below are made possible by subscribers of Hello Stranger Newsletter. To receive free detailed trail guides on Midwest Adventures, essays from exploring the Midwest, and so much more, join the thousands of Midwest Explorers in the Hello Stranger Newsletter community:
check out all of my trail guides & outdoor resources! blog posts that answer FAQs are in bold.
Midwest Adventure Ideas (start here):
- 13 summer vacation ideas in the Midwest
- 10 Midwest Road Trip Ideas
- Winter Adventures Ideas in the Midwest
- Midwest Spring Break Ideas
- Best Backpacking in the Midwest
Minnesota + North Shore
- 14 Best Outdoor Adventures near the Twin Cities
- A guide to Leave No Trace on the North Shore
- A Guide to Ely, Minnesota (hiking, sightseeing, cabins, more!)
- 30 Best Things to do on the North Shore
- How to canoe the BWCA
- 19 Stunning Hiking Trails on the North Shore of Minnesota
- The Ultimate North Shore Winter Bucket List
- 16 Best Places to see Fall Color on the North Shore
- Eight Hidden North Shore Waterfalls
- Best Easy Hikes on the Gunflint Trail
- Best Kayaking Spots on the North Shore
- Best Hiking near Duluth
- Best Things to do Grand Marais, MN
- Best Things to do Tettegouche State Park
- Best Things to do Two Harbors, MN
Isle Royale National Park
- How to Visit Isle Royale National Park
- Deep Trouble on Isle Royale (narrative essay series)
- Route guides for paddling and backpacking available in Hidden Gems or Midwest Adventure eBook bundle
Northwoods & Driftless (Wisconsin)
- Best Hiking in the Wisconsin Driftless Reigon!!
- Best Waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin (Road Trip Guide!)
- Road trip Wisconsin’s Great River Road
- Visit Bayfield, WI in the Winter
- 30 Things to Do in the Apostle Islands & Bayfield
- Easy Day Hikes Near Ashland, WI
- Day Hikes in Bayfield, WI
- How to Visit the Apostle Islands Sea Caves
- Apostle Islands Overnight Paddling Routes in Hidden Gems or Midwest Adventure eBook bundle
Northern Michigan
- Best Fall Color in Michigan
- 25+ Bucket List Michigan Hiking Trails
- Upper Peninsula Adventure Guide
- One Week (Budget-Friendly) Upper Peninsula Road Trip
- 9 Best Michigan Road Trips
- 16 Winter Adventures in Michigan
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park full guide!
- Keweenaw Peninsula (SUMMER GUIDE)
- Best things to do Keweenaw Peninsula (WINTER)
- 25 Things to do in the Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Best Hiking Sleeping Bear Dunes
- 30 Best Things to Do Pictured Rocks
- Best Hiking Pictured Rocks
- What to do in Bellaire, Michigan
- Best Kayaking near Traverse City
- Seven Best Fall Color Spots in Northern Michigan
- Day Hikes near Traverse City
- Ultimate Michigan Bucket List
Great Lakes Guides
- Best Midwest Backpacking Trails
- One-Week Great Lakes Road Trip: All the Highlights
- 7 Hardcore Adventure Trips from Minneapolis (That AREN’T the Boundary Waters!)
- 18 Breathtaking Lake Superior Day Hikes
- The Ultimate Great Lakes Fall Road Trip
- 15 Great Lakes Destinations
- Best Kayaking Spots on Lake Superior
- 30 Midwest Hiking Trails Ranked Best to Worst
Southern Midwest + US South
Western US Trail Guides:
British Columbia
- Sea Kayak the Gulf Islands, BC
- Ultimate Guide to Kayaking Desolation Sound
- We spent 70 days kayaking the Washington and BC Coast summer 2022. Read about it here.
Washington & Oregon
- PNW Packing Guide
- One Week Washington State Road Trip Itinerary
- Best Kayaking Spots near Seattle
- San Juan Islands Packing List
- Best Day Hikes in the San Juan Islands
- How to see Whales in the San Juan Islands
- Best Things to do on the North Oregon Coast
- Best Hiking Trails on the Mt. Baker Highway
- 16 Best Things to Do on Orcas Island
- Weekend Guide to Olympic National Park
- 25 Best Things to Do in the San Juan Islands
- Hiking the Lake Ann Trail
- Eight Best Kayaking Spots in the San Juan Islands
Montana
Southwest US
- How to Backpack Havasu Falls Trail
- Havasupai Packing List
- Hiking and Road Trip ideas near Vegas (Outdoorsy Spring Break Ideas!)
- Arches and Canyonlands Road Trip Route
- Best Hiking Trails Moab, Utah
- Best Things to do Moab, Utah
- Weekend in Moab
Beginner-Friendly Outdoor Resources:
- Desert Hiking Tips (Know before you go!)
- Beginnner’s Guide to Winter Hiking
- Managing your Period while Camping: Detailed Guide!
- Ultimate Guide to Solo Car Camping
- Solo Female Road Trip Planning Guide
- How to get a job as an Outdoor Adventure Guide
- 15 Helpful Hacks for Kayak Camping
Guides to Gear:
- How to Layer for Fall Kayaking
- Best Sea Kayak for Beginners
- Best Camping Tents for Beginners
- Best Women’s Hiking Pants (that AREN’T leggings!)
- 15 Hacks for Finding Used Outdoor Gear
- Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Review (Backpacking Tent)
- Kayaking Packing List (Day Trip & Overnight Guide)
- Backpacking Packing List 2-5 Days (Ultralightish)
- Best Women’s Winter Hiking Pants
- Best Baselayers for Winter Hiking
- Best Kayaks for Beginners
- Best Hiking Backpacks (for women!)
- Best Women’s Hiking Boots
- What to Wear Hiking (Beginner’s Day Hiking Guide!)
- Best Hiking Sandals
