The Blonde with a Backpack

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The Blonde with a Backpack

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West💫

❤️Endlessly curious + Travel addict🌎

05/22/2026

🗻🇳🇿Milford Sound🇳🇿🗻

Often called the eighth wonder of the world, Milford Sound, a fjord in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, is absolutely stunning. Its dramatic cliffs and plummeting waterfalls are mesmerizing.

These views were from a self-guided nature trail between the parking lot and the boat dock. It felt almost otherworldly - with birds chirping in the trees, the sound of the water from Milford Sound, and the rushing waterfalls after a couple days of heavy rain.

An absolutely incredible and unforgettable experience. 🗻❤️🇳🇿

05/15/2026

❤️🇳🇿Morning Mood on Manapouri 🇳🇿❤️

I was fortunate to be able to stay right on Lake Manapouri so we could watch all the moods of Lake Manapouri throughout the day.

Sometimes sunny. Sometimes cloudy. Sometimes rainy. The moods of Lake Manapouri would change throughout the day.

Lake Manapouri is often considered to be New Zealand’s most tranquil alpine lake. Located in Fiordlands National Park, it is a massive lake with 33 islands and it is over 1,450 ft deep.

For me, the best part of Lake Manapouri was that I could walk its shores and not see another human. I could listen to the water lapping at the shore and the sounds of unique birds. It was so quiet and peaceful. And the rainbows that would light up the sky over Lake Manapouri throughout the day were pure bliss.🌈🇳🇿❤️

05/12/2026

🐑🇳🇿A Baaa-zillion Sheep🇳🇿🐑

Okay, so maybe New Zealand doesn’t have a bazillion sheep, but one of the first things I noticed when we arrived on New Zealand’s South Island was the sheer number of sheep! With 24 million sheep, New Zealand has more sheep per capita than any other county (although they might be tied with Mongolia). That equates to 4.5 sheep per person in New Zealand. They are literally EVERYWHERE.

I fell in love with all the beautiful wool blankets and sweaters and scarves. The sheepskin rugs and throws were also fun - I’ll be ordering a few for my house.

My daughter, who has taken up knitting, has been in awe of all the beautiful colors of wool yarn that she’s been able to find. As winter arrives in New Zealand, she’s been knitting up a storm, making hats and mittens.

And perhaps most surprising was the lamb roast. As someone who eats mostly fish and seafood, lamb didn’t sound particularly appealing. But, you know what they say - “When in Rome…” So we tried the lamb roast and it was absolutely delicious. 🐑❤️🐑

05/10/2026

💫Southern Cross - Twizel, New Zealand✨

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve near Twizel, New Zealand is one of the world’s best places to see the stars. The people here are committed to keeping the night sky dark.

We enjoyed the night sky from a “hot pot” at one of the Airbnbs we stayed in. It was literally an outdoor bathtub, with hot water and no chemicals (hooray for no chemicals!). I was skeptical that it would be warm enough, but it definitely was and I loved it.

One night I asked my daughter if she had been able to find the Southern Cross since she’s been living in New Zealand.

“No, but I haven’t been able to find the Big Dipper, either.”

I laughed. The Southern Cross is an iconic constellation in the Southern Hemisphere, similar to the Big Dipper/Ursa Major in the Northern Hemisphere. But, you can’t see the Big Dipper in New Zealand. So she was never going to find it.

The night sky is so different from the Southern Hemisphere. With almost no light pollution, the sky lights up with thousands of stars. The South Pole faces the galactic center of the Milky Way, which weaves its way like a highway through the night sky. It’s magical.💫❤️✨

04/23/2026

🌏❤️Mother Earth❤️🌏

We are so lucky to live on such an amazingly beautiful planet. As I was on a perch looking out at the Tasman Glacier, I was filled with gratitude for the opportunity to see it before it disappears.

The Tasman Glacier in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is the largest glacier in New Zealand. At 14.6 miles long, 2.5 miles wide, and 2,000 ft thick, it might seem like a permanent fixture in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. But the Tasman Glacier is in trouble. It has been retreating at an average rate of 590 ft per year since the 1990s. And in recent years it has retreated even faster, at a rate of between 1,500 ft and 2,600 ft per year. They predict that the glacier will completely disappear within the next 20 years.

Change is inevitable, but I hope we can all be intentional about taking action to protect Mother Earth for future generations.

Earth Day 2026 🌏❤️

04/08/2026

🌏🇳🇿World Turned Upside Down🇳🇿🌏

The world has been a pretty crazy place as of late. Air travel has been a mess and prices have risen. For the first time in my life, I’ve been reluctant to travel by plane!

But…Blonde with a Backpack 2.0 (my daughter) has been living in New Zealand, living her best life, and confidently embarking on solo travel adventures.

Even though the world has been turned upside down, it’s time to travel Down Under to do some road tripping and hiking with her.

New Zealand is known as the Scenic Playground of the Pacific. Let the adventure begin! ✈️

12/03/2025

💫🌲Season for Stories🌲💫

Tonight I ate dinner with a young gal who was a refugee from Bosnia back in 1998. She talked about her opportunity to move to the US and how it was life changing. Life saving, too, probably.

We all have the opportunity to change lives….for the BETTER. And there’s no time like the present to do things that will make life better for future generations.

The holiday season in Southern California is inspiring. 💫🌲❤️

12/02/2025

🌅🏄‍♀️SoCal Rush Hour🏄‍♂️🌊

Today’s sunset was 4:42 pm. At about 3:30, people with their surfboards started pulling up to the beach in their vehicles. Many frantically tried to pull on their thick wetsuits, then they’d literally sprint to the water.

I was amazed when I realized that people of all ages were surfing. Young and old - they all were looking to catch the next good wave. There was a public parking lot that overlooked Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. I noticed many elderly people sitting in their cars, watching the surfers in the water. Did those older people surf once upon a time? Were they living vicariously through the surfers in the water by watching them?

That golden hour right before sunset seemed to be the SoCal rush hour today. Even though I’m terrible at surfing, part of me wished that I was just sitting on a surfboard enjoying the waves and watching the sunset!🌅

12/01/2025

🌊 🐟🐠Ceviche🐠🐟🌊

Be still my pescatarian heart. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end Thanksgiving weekend than to indulge in some fresh California ceviche. I fell in love with ceviche several years ago and now, whenever I travel to the coast and I see fresh ceviche on the menu, I can’t resist. Tonight’s ceviche was served with a pile of fresh sliced serrano peppers. They gave the ceviche the perfect punch of spice.

After supper, it was fun watching all the surfers on Del Mar Beach in their wetsuits, waiting to catch the next big wave. I’ve tried surfing, but never really got the hang of it. It’s always fun to watch surfers catch a good wave and ride into shore.

Good food. Good weather. Good people. It’s hard not to love California just a little. 🌊🌴☀️

11/29/2025

🍂🏔️🍁Gratitude🍁🏔️🍂

It was a beautiful fall. I’m grateful for every moment that I get to spend in these beautiful mountains. They keep me young; I’m always dreaming of my next adventure through the lush canyons and cragged peaks of the Tetons - once the snow melts.

Today we turn the page on fall and head into winter and the Christmas season. New adventures lie ahead. A warm(er) weather adventure awaits next week. Today I will embrace winter and enjoy the cold and crisp air.

Life is short.
Book the trip.
Take the adventure.
✈️🌍❤️

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Dassel, MN
55325

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+13202248550

Website

https://theblondewithabackpack.com/

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