Give the Gift of Travel

Give the Gift of Travel

If you’re like me, you’re already scheming and planning for 2024 travel. And, since the holiday season is upon us, let’s skip more stuff and give the gift of travel instead. What’s on our 2024 wish list? Montana, Park City, Quebec, and of course a return to NW Arkansas. If you are looking for outdoor adventures, mountain bike vacations, or golf destinations check out this 2023 recap, they are all places worth a return trip for sure. Cheers to the holidays and to adventures in the new year!

The Other Nashville (Mountain Bike Brown Co. Indiana)

February arrives in Michigan with the hope for Spring, but winter typically holds us in its clutches for longer than we would like…especially for biker types.?Not in the mood to wait, Josh and I drove five hours south to?Nashville, Indiana, in search of Spring and mountain bike trails.?

The other Nashville, the Indiana variety, is a quick hour south of Indy, home to?Brown County State Park?and almost 40 miles of mountain bike trail, designated an IMBA bronze-level ride center in 2015. It’s Indiana’s largest state park, plus there are 21 miles for hikers. Then, add the quaint small town with its locally-owned restaurants, boutique shops, and art galleries, just two miles from the trail system. It’s a winning combination: the trails, the town, and the people (townies).?

Spring Swings and Singletrack (Bella Vista, AR)

Bella Vista?in the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks is an outdoor epicenter where golfing and mountain biking are intertwined – golf course fairways intersect with rolling ribbons of singletrack trails. Golfers in khakis and collared shirts traverse fairways in power carts and give right-of-way to bikers pedaling through in spandex, wrap-around shades, and helmets. Golf and mountain biking – An odd pairing? Actually, the terrain is ideally suited for par fives or trail systems like Little Sugar and the Back 40 that churn up and around the signature mossy slate and rock ledges. Both sports take advantage of the elevation change, contributing to the unique flavor of pedaling bikes or swinging clubs. Flat and boring – not in?Bella Vista.?

Most days of our April visit, we celebrated an occasional par on greens like?Kingswood?that flanked signature trails like?Danger Will Robinson. There are 99 holes to shoot at and 100 + miles of trail to ride. So my tip is to golf nine in the morning, grab a sandwich, then roll out for some afternoon trail time. It’s the perfect two-a-day that will lead to the happiest of hours and the always colorful OZ sunsets.?

Read full blog here and three more destination ideas!

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