Blogs

The Accidental 7-Mile Adventure: A Last-Day Detour Through Rocky Mountain National Park

📍 Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

With 13 hours to kill before our 11pm flight and checkout at 10am, we made a spontaneous decision to drive 3 hours to Estes Park. What followed was a "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" style adventure that perfectly filled every minute of our layover day.

The Vertical Day: Hiking to Lake Sorapis via the Road Less Traveled

📍 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Italy

Day 12 went vertical. We chose the path less traveled to Lake Sorapis, trading exposure for elevation gain. Here's why Trail #217 might be your best bet for reaching this stunning glacial lake — and what to expect when you get there.

Italy Day 11 - When Plans Go Sideways: A Sunrise Photo Session, Tre Cime, and the Beauty of Italian Flexibility

📍 Dolomites, Italy

What started as a sunset photo shoot at Tre Cime turned into a 5am alarm, a sunrise session at Lago di Braies, cappuccinos by the lake, and a dramatic mountain hike interrupted by lightning. Day 11 of our Italian adventure reminded us that the best-laid plans are really just suggestions.

Italy Day 10 - Cinque Torri and the Drive to Cortina — History, Hiking, and City Living

📍 Cinque Torri, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Italy

What was supposed to be a simple transition day turned into one of our favorite hikes of the trip. Cinque Torri delivered dramatic rock spires, fascinating WWI history.

Italy Day 9 - Circling the Sassolongo: Coffin Gondolas, Rocky Switchbacks, and Tyrolean Magic

📍 Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Day 9 of our Italian adventure brought us to the towering Sassolongo massif, where we jumped onto a moving gondola, descended through rocky switchbacks, and discovered why the Dolomites are a hiker's paradise. This full-circuit hike had it all—dramatic views, surprise challenges, and the best pizza waiting at the end.

Italy Day 8 - Mountain Biking the Sellaronda

When the Dolomites humble you but leave you smiling anyway Today was supposed to be one of the most epic days of our trip, and it definitely ranks among the most talked about in the planning stages. It sparked many prep mountain bike…

How to plan a big trip

Planning a big trip can be daunting. The options can feel endless—and honestly, overwhelming. So, I thought that I'd share my process with you as we've been using this pattern and system for the past 5 years or so. First, brainstorm…

Italy Day 7 - Dolomites bound - Hello Santa Cristina

We grabbed one final cappuccino (one at a time—because all of us and our backpacks couldn't fit inside the tiny coffee bar), then booked it to the vaporetto. Yesterday's ticket was still valid—you get 24 hours from validation, and ours…

Italy Day 5 - Palaces, Sandwiches, Shopping and a Sunset Gondola Ride in Venice

We started Day 5 in full culture mode—and full sun. Dressed up and melting a little more each minute, the plan was ambitious: Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, and St. Mark’s Basilica. Except... I forgot the Basilica tickets. Whoops. So, we…

Italy Day 6 - Venice, Burano, and a Thunderstorm

Lazy morning in Venice. I was up before everyone else, so I grabbed my book and a glass of water and headed out to our balcony to relax. It's so interesting watching a c ity of canals with no cars. The barges and boats that move through…

Italy Day 4 - Venice here we come!

Let me start by saying: I don't know what I was thinking when I booked our travel day out of Riomaggiore. Our apartment check-out was at 10:00 a.m., and our train wasn’t until 11:00. I think I was anticipating getting breakfast or…

Italy Day 3 - Hiking the Cinque Terre Trail – Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare

Today was the big one —the full Cinque Terre hike from Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare , covering all five iconic villages in one long, hot, beautiful day. We made our way to the Via dell’Amore trailhead—only to find out that the ticket…

Italy Day 1 - Riomaggiore Arrival and Travel Logistics

Our Green Hammock Adventure kicked off with a red-eye flight from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Milan via Lufthansa—and we were very excited to be on an Airbus A380 for the first time! We booked bulkhead seats in Economy Light (yep, just…

Italy Day 2 - Hike up and over to Manarola, Kayak in Riomaggiore

Our First Full Day in Cinque Terre, Italy Day 2 greeted us with a breathtaking sea view from our apartment in Riomaggiore—truly one of the best ways to wake up in Italy. We wandered over to our now-favorite local café for a breakfast of…

Summer 2025 - Northern Italy

There will be time to fill you in on our past adventures but right now, while the sounds, smells, and experiences are still fresh, I'll share with you our latest trip to Northern Italy. This was a bucket list trip for the husband and I…

Welcome to Green Hammock Adventures

For the past 7 years, we've been traveling as a family (and a bunch of years as a couple prior). At first it was small and local as they were babies but as they grew and started to appreciate the adventures, we started to expand. In 2018,…