Talley Your Adventure – The Blog

Adventure Awaits!

At Talley Your Adventure, we don’t just plan luxury and culturally rich travel experiences—we live and breathe them. Our blog, travelingtalleys.blog, is where we share the real stories behind our adventures: kayaking alongside glaciers in Alaska, exploring temples in Japan, chasing waterfalls in Iceland, and wandering through storybook towns in Germany. If it’s unforgettable, chances are we’ve done it—or we’re planning it next. Impact-Site-Verification: 8a69d429-4a55-4b53-b8f6-72c437661af5

Nicolette brings deep experience in travel and heritage. With a Master’s in Public History, she’s worked as a Supervisory Park Ranger, Revenue Manager, and Program Analyst across multiple national parks for over a decade. Her career has taken her from managing interpretive boat tours in Alaska’s wild backcountry to overseeing large-scale visitor service projects with million-dollar budgets. And yes—she’s also a licensed 100-Ton Inland Master Boat Captain who’s led cultural and ecological tours from riverboats to remote beaches.

Clinton’s travel roots run just as deep. He’s worked in logistics and operations for the National Park Service and was a key member of the hospitality team aboard National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions. From managing guest services on remote international voyages to coordinating facility software systems stateside, he knows what it takes to deliver seamless, high-end travel experiences—even in the most unpredictable places.

Together, we created Talley Your Adventure to bring our experience, passion, and attention to detail to your travel planning. Whether it’s a fully curated group trip or a personalized vacation built just for you, we combine expert-level service with insider know-how—so you can focus on the magic of the journey.

Want us to help you on your next adventure? Head over to www.talleyyouradventure.com!

@talleyyouradventure_dv
Sakura Blooms – Inuyama, Japan

  • Baltimore to Page:The Camping Experience #CrossCountryTravels #Traveling Talleys #AdventurePups

    Camping Bmore2Pg (3)Driving out to Arizona was the real test to see if Clinton and I hadn’t become too much like “city folk”. We decided we would camp for as many of the days we could, and we would pack a cooler with lunches and stop ever two hours with the dogs. Of the six nights, we camped for five! We did pretty well with our lunches and the dogs, especially considering the space. A Honda Accord is not the biggest vehicle in the world! We decided to get a Thule hard top for the car so we could have our camping gear easily accessible. This really came in handy, especially towards the end when you are really tired of unloading and loading the car and just kinda throw everything in…

    Our first stop along the way was in Tennessee, at Edgar Evins State Park. We had an ambitious drive that day because of the #HurricaneFlorence so we drove throughout the day to get through the Smokey Mountains. We camped on a wooden deck that was pretty cool but a little cramped considering how closecamping-bmore2pg-6.jpg you were to the other camp sites. The nice thing was we were able to block off the main entrance to the deck so the dogs knew their boundary. The next day we headed to Village Creek State Park, near Wynne, Arkansas. Clinton and I have been here a few times already trekking across the country, and we always enjoy our experience. They have showers, beautiful trails, and well maintained campgrounds. We stayed in a different part of the park this time, which was another treat because NO ONE was there – we had the entire campground all to ourselves!

    Clinton and I next camped in Oklahoma at Foss State Park. If you have never been to Oklahoma before, you probably have the stereotypical image of endless flat prairies, oil rigs, and a rather boring landscape. I assure you that not all of Oklahoma is like that! (And, for the record, that is pretty cool for some people!) Foss State Park is plentiful with recreational opportunities on both Foss Lake, and the surrounding landscape. We asked the ranger for a recommendation for a campsite with the dogs, and he sent us to a really cool part of the area that included Camping Bmore2Pg (8)access for kayakers, and trees for us to set up our tent and block the sun (we got there pretty early in the afternoon). We arrived with enough time to do a nice walk and let the dogs swim, before settling in for the night. The next day we woke up and headed into New Mexico, along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, to camp at Coyote Creek State Park. The campsite was surrounded by a forest full of evergreen trees and beautiful views of the southernmost sub-range of the Rocky Mountains. One cool part was the campsite itself – it had a small shelter that included a picnic table. Because we had an incoming storm it was nice to set up the tent but still have a dry area we could walk around in and cook dinner and hand out before really heading to bed.

    Camping can be difficult with dogs but it is also one of the best, most exciting parts of camping as well.Camping Bmore2Pg (10) Having a companion there who is nothing but loyal and wants to be around you to play is a confidence booster, and being a team while out in the wilderness is key. We constantly reinforce rules with the dogs, including boundaries and how far we feel is “too far” from us if they are off leash. We always follow the rules, and if a leash is necessary we at least carry it with us – and always on if other people are around. Be respectful – not everyone likes dogs and that is okay! Always remember to keep your furry friends in mind when packing snacks and water – they need nutrients as well. Before we started our adventure we did go out and upgrade our camping equipment – in particular, our sleeping pads and the tent. When we went out camping in Maryland (future blog post!) it rained for a part of the trip, and our tent leaked. We were uncomfortable throughout the night because everything felt soggy, and to be honest we couldn’t remember the last time we had actually bought any new camping equipment. When we went to the store we were very excited to try the latest stuff, but we also planned smart because we knew that we were going to have limitations for gear because of the size of the car.

    After it rained all night while camping in New Mexico we opted to be lazy and get a hotel room the last night of our adventure. We made it to Page the day after, and checked into our housing. It was definitely an exciting trip that included great and memorable experiences. We made sure to stop if one of us wanted a picture opportunity. We stopped frequently for the dogs, and tried to find places that included open fields for them to run around. Campgrounds are good for this, because usually people aren’t in them mid day and you are just stopping by quickly to stretch your legs. Pack it in and pack it out! Hopefully this encourages you to try and include camping in your next adventure!

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  • America’s First President – George Washington and his home, Mount Vernon #FindYourHistoricHome

    Without a doubt one of the most impressive places to visit is Mount Vernon. Clinton and I arranged to be in Washington D.C. For Labor Day weekend. I had booked a hotel in advanced for a really swank looking place close by to Dupont Circle because the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!) has an alumni group that meets in a restaurant at that location. Plus, I booked a boat ride from the D.C. Harbor to Mount Vernon – directly on the Potomac! It was really cool sitting on a boat and looking out at the land and river that George Washington loved. I can think of no better way to get to Mount Vernon! We took Spirit Cruise lines and the ticket included entrance into the park and round trip to the harbor. Make sure you watch the time when exploring at Mount Vernon– once they leave the dock for the day they are not coming back!

    Mount Vernon is a lovely plot of land situated right at the banks of the Potomac River. The land had been owned by the Washington family for generations before our beloved George Washington entered the picture, who became the sole owner in 1761. One interesting fact that I learned while we were doing the house tour – even after the Washington’s “retired”, they still received enough visitors that they had specific rooms ready for certain friends and family, or even just someone passing through. It was rude to ask a guest when they were leaving, if you can imagine that attitude today! A lot of the history of the house is told from the point of view of Martha Washington, and it was very moving to spend time listening to her explain the hardships of being a wife of a famous general and leader of such a large movement. We sometimes build our Founding Fathers into these almost mythical like Heros who do no wrong and sweep in during bad times to solve our most prominent problems…but in reality these men and women of history are just human, like us. They suffer vices, they make mistakes, and they are not perfect. It puts many things in perspective when listening to the personal life of someone, and to delve a bit more into their true lives to get that bigger picture is refreshing. George Washington spent maybe 434 days total at Mount Vernon while serving his two terms as President, for instance, and while preaching for “Freedom for all men”, Washington was himself a slave holder. It is worth mentioning that in his 1799 will, Washington became the only slave-owning Founding Father to free them upon his wife’s death. At that time there were 317 slaves – 153 from Martha’s first husband, given in her dowry but legally binding to her first husbands estate and therefore not eligible for freedom under Washington’s will. Martha Washington would sign a deed of manumission in December 1800 to emancipate those slaves on January 1, 1801.

    Mount Vernon as a house is a very practical and beautiful, but the real winner is the view of the Potomac and surrounding forest. The gardens are practical and speak of the hobbies and attitude of Mr. Washington himself, including fishing, gardening, tobacco, and boat making. Living there before modern conveniences would have been a bit of a struggle for many of us today, but I can’t speak enough about the area, the view, and the loveliness of imaging the area without many of the conveniences today!

    We headed back and picked up our luggage from the hotel and heading back home via the Metro. If you are traveling around D.C. definitely look to using the Metro as much as possible – there are usually plenty of parking spots in the outskirt locations (more difficult the closer to D.C. you get) and then it is an easy ride into town. We also use Uber frequently when traveling around D.C., but we make a point to verify the driver and the vehicle tag before getting into the vehicle.

    This was the last Founding Father home that we visited while living in Baltimore, but it definitely was not the last exciting place we want to talk about! Keep your eyes focused here for another great place to #TalleyYourAdventure!

    **Disclaimer – Proper Prior Planning would have assisted the Traveling Talleys this trip. We did not pack a phone charger and our phone almost died enroute to Mount Vernon – we wanted to make sure we had the actual time to make the boat over photographing our lovely visit. We are picture-less this post!

  • Tackling Angels Landing, Zion National Park

    Years ago Clinton and I had the fortune to visit the GREATEST National Park in the United States – Zion National Park! Yes, I should state this is truly “Nicci’s opinion”, and of course we can break “favorites” down into designation, state, region…Zion National Park is always a top choice for any reason. It took my breath away when I first saw it, and we were only there for a day. We drove to the park with the thought that we were going to hike to the Subway. When we got there flash flooding prevented us from getting zion np (14)far, so we ended up just taking the scenic bus ride into the park and doing the scenic hikes to various viewpoints. I remember sitting on a rock and watching the water flow by for hours – it was magical.

    One of the hikes I was immensely curious about was Angel’s Landing. A trail that included a chain to prevent you from falling off the side of a cliff? How do I sign up?! I thought it would be such an amazing adventure to climb something that seemed, at the time, impossible. I Googled pictures and couldn’t imagine seeing the area in person. It immediately made it to the top of my “adventurous goals”. My curiosity was peaked even further with Nick, a Park Ranger I worked with at Central High School National Historic Site, told me about his experience hiking to the Landing himself. I thought that this hike was going to be incredibly difficult. I had hiked to Delicate Arch and remember how much I HATED the hike. It definitely made up for it when we got to the top (I highly recommend!) but I knew I needed to be a little bit more use to higher elevation and climbing uphill. This Floridian had 23 year experience with the exact opposite!

    This year, for some reason, it was different. We went to bed the night before with the idea that we would wake up early and leave – and our goal was to hike to Angel’s Landing. We packed one day pack that had a full 3L Camelback. We packed snacks with plenty of salt, and an extra water bottle. That extra water bottle came in really handy on our way down. We both wore hats, shoes that were broken in, and comfortable socks. We dressed in layers – I had a tank top and a light sweater just in case. Some of this you probably know, but just in case you needed some recommendations!

    The hike starts at the Grotto and is uphill almost the entire way. We took breaks when we both felt tired and we did not necessarily walk side by side – Clinton is much faster than me. Everywhere you couldzion (4) stop to catch your breath though was another amazing scene of Zion. You change elevation about 1500 ft and the total round trip is 5.4 miles. It took us about four hours, mostly from going uphill. When you get to Scout Landing you have to make the decision if you want to continue out to Angel’s Landing. Take your time and really make sure you know when you want to bail. Clinton and I started at the same time, and when he reached the edge where it dropped off on both sides 1,000 ft he started to feel light headed and dizzy because he has a fear of heights. We had already talked about what we were going to do if this happened, and we both stuck to the plan – I continued on with the back pack and he carefully turned around and waited for me at Scout Landing.

    The hike was difficult and I recommend you pace yourself as best as possible but this hike was definitely had to stick to that advice. Many people seem to attempt the Landing, especially since it has the chain. There is only one way up and one way down and ONE chain – which does mean you share or you communicate with the ones below or above who is going first. Be a good steward to others when you go out and actually communicate! Going downhill is sometimes more difficult than going uphill, especially if tired – so be patient. When you get to the top it is beautiful! You can see from all around Zion National zion (2)Park, and since we were there during the fall it was especially beautiful.

    But beautiful is used to describe more than just Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park. We took our time getting downhill since our legs were already starting to feel the hike and stopped in the gift shop for a victory shirt and some goodies. We ate dinner at the Utah Brewery right near the park border, and took the shuttle to our vehicle.

    Other things to note: If the parking lot for the National Park Service is full, which is was when we went October 27, you’ll have to park in town and take the free shuttle. Parking was $20 for the day. We took the free, convenient shuttle to the Visitor Center, and then another one into the park. Our destination this time was the Grotto for Angels Landing, but there is so much more to see and do at Zion National Park! We drove through the part of the park we could access before heading home so we could admire the views. Even if this is all you do, we encourage you to visit Utah and #TalleyYourAdventure at Zion National Park!

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