In January 2020, I decided it was finally time to travel to Asia. After much careful consideration, I chose Japan for a two-week trip, as my research showed it to be one of the safest Asian countries for solo female travelers. Unfortunately, the world had other plans, and COVID-19 happened.

Since I couldn’t make it to Japan, I decided to pivot and take a mini-vacation to Indiana Dunes, New Buffalo, and Saugatuck to do all the hiking I could find out there, and more. I spent one afternoon at Indiana Dunes, two days in New Buffalo, and two days in Saugatuck. While it wasn’t the solo trip I had planned for the year, it was an exhilarating and wonderful experience, sparking a renewed obsession with hiking.