OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

Agree! Caught my first desert sunrise near Sedona. No filter needed.

Took the kids out to Frankenmuth for the summer festival—brats, polka bands, and flowers everywhere.


Walked the riverwalk early one morning, birds going nuts, the air full of fresh bread smells. Stumbled into a cheese shop and, honest to goodness, almost missed the parade because I got stuck ...

Didn’t see any trolls but found some wild morels in the park. Decorah is a mushroom hunter’s dream.

First of all: yes, Highlands, NC is **every bit as magical as the postcards** (unless you count the time I almost slid my Subaru off a switchback near Bridal Veil Falls, but that’s another story, and yes, I’m fine—mostly).

What’s not fine: GPS here lies. Winding mountain roads look cute on Google ...

We did the Route of the Hiawatha bike trail—it’s a bucket list ride! Finished with shakes at Red Light Garage (try the huckleberry). I’ll never forget the neon glow at night and all the old-timers swapping stories at the bar. Wallace is the real deal.