Stories from the backyard to the other side of the world
The drive into the Badlands feels like a shift into another world—prairie winds, scattered bison, and skies that open up into a sea of stars after dark. I finally put the whole route to words in my latest story, Road Trip to the Badlands: Prairie, Bison, and Night Skies. Frequent photographer, aspiring writer and sporadic traveler. A personal collection of adventures on water, trail, and open road.
- Kayaking Black Canyon on the Colorado River
- Sailing the turquoise waters off Cancun
- Learning to surf — a first-timer's guide
- Running a half marathon on a whim in Wisconsin
The Blog
Real stories, real miles
Lauren and her husband Kirk quit their jobs in Chicago to live in Australia for five months in 2010. After returning to Michigan, they worked on a movie starring Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore — then packed up again and moved from Michigan to California.
Since then, the blog has followed a winding path through real estate photography shoots in La Costa, spontaneous half marathons in Wisconsin, sailing trips in Mexico, and quiet Christmases with family in Big Bend.
- Travel stories from the United States, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and New Zealand
- Photography — from real estate shoots to travel and everyday moments
- Writing coursework through MatadorU and contributions to the Hobie blog
Meet Lauren
A chronic midwesterner with a camera and a passport
Lauren has lived in Michigan, Chicago, San Diego, and California. Her parents are in Big Bend, Wisconsin, and her dad works at a Culver's in Muskego. She attended Summerfest in Milwaukee — The World's Largest Music Festival — and wrote about it. She once decided on a Thursday to run a half marathon that Saturday, tracing a route from Big Bend to Muskego.
Her kayaking story about Black Canyon on the Colorado River was published on the Hobie blog in January 2017. Her surfing guide, From Beach to Break: A First Timer's Guide to Surfing, came out of MatadorU travel writing coursework in March 2012.
From the Archives
Reader favorites
"A kayaking trip through Black Canyon, 12 miles downriver from Hoover Dam — eight people, multiple Hobie kayaks, pedalboards, and a paddleboard. Originally written for the Hobie blog."
A Kayaking Story for the Hobie Blog
January 2017 · United States
"Sailing in Cancun — part of the Mexico and Central America travel series. Posted in June 2016, capturing the color and rhythm of the Caribbean coast."
Sailing in Cancun
June 2016 · Mexico
"CRASH! The wave knocked me off my feet. A first-timer's guide covering longboards, small waves, warm water, surfing etiquette, and technique — written for MatadorU."
From Beach to Break: A First Timer's Guide to Surfing
March 2012 · MatadorU
Photos
A gallery of moments
Browse photography from real estate shoots in La Costa, California, travel across Australia and Mexico, and everyday scenes from across the United States. Banner images throughout the site are drawn from Lauren's own photo collection — coastlines, backyards, and the spaces in between.