Amber in New England:
Your Guide to Hiking, Gear Reviews, & Northeast Travel

Affiliate Disclosure:   This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve personally used on the trail. You don’t always need a heavy down jacket or overcomplicated technical mid-layer. A simple, reliable fleece is all you really need for most hikes in New England. Lightweight, warm, and easy to layer. In this guide, I’ll share my trail-tested picks, layering tips, and

Franconia Ridge looks simple on AllTrails, until you realize the loop includes three peaks, a hut, and over 4,000 feet of climbing that’ll have your knees questioning every life choice. So, instead of another vague itinerary, here’s my exact timeline from a real overnight on the Ridge: campsite setup times, sunrise alarms, soup breaks, and all. My pack weighed 27 lbs, I carried every ounce up Liberty Springs, and I’ll tell you exactly what I’d do differently next time. 🥾 Day

If you’re staying in Jaco and want maximum thrills in a single day, the Jaco Jungle Adventure Five in One  is the perfect solution. For my sister’s 30th birthday, our friends and I dedicated a full day to this park, tackling ziplining, RZR rides, canyoning, and more. This is our honest review covering logistics, gear, and whether it’s worth the full-day investment. We squeezed every adrenaline-packed minute out of the day, and I’m sharing exactly what you need to know to make

Introduction: The Swiss Price Tag Switzerland is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Alpine peaks, serene lakes, and picture-perfect trains. But the sticker shock is real. Transportation costs (trains, cable cars, and mountain railways) add up fast. My husband and I traveled in September 2025 , flying from JFK to Zurich , and relied heavily on the Swiss Travel Pass  for nearly every journey. From Zurich → Lucerne → Grindelwald → Zermatt → Zurich, we logged all the costs and benefits  t