So you love the idea for roughing it for a few days, living with nothing but your bug spray, a fire, and the piece of land you pitched your tent on. You’ll cook over your fire for a few days—no big deal right? Until you start planning. What exactly should you pack, what utensils will you need, and what’s the best way to store your food to make it last the length of your trip? Let’s start with breakfast.

If you’re planning a trip to Shawnee, you might be feeling how we were: overwhelmed (but in a good way of course). We knew there was a lot to do in Shawnee, but we figured a three day trip would be enough to see most things. We were wrong! However, we did hit the top recommended spots, and we want to share our thoughts on each one. Overall, we give this national park a huge thumbs up and would recommend it to anyone ready to tear up the trails and see some stunning views!

Believe it or not, it IS possible to take a week long trip with just your carry-on bag. We’ve done it. We love it. Here are a few quick tips for packing as efficiently as possible.

Bloomington-Normal is a quiet town with loads of local shopping, unique restaurants, and lots of history to go around! We took a quick day trip to Bloomington for a relaxing Saturday with plenty of culture and good eats to enjoy. Check out how we spent our day:

When we think of Springfield, we remember our childhoods of taking school trips to the Lincoln museum (with all the creepy wax figures—we’ll never forget), and in our minds, that was really all there was to do in Springfield. Turns out there’s more than just the museum and Lincoln’s golden nose statue.

If you’re a first time tent camping couple, let us show you the ropes! We absolutely adore a simple camping trip—sleeping in the woods, hiking some good views, and cooking over the fire. Here are a few tricks and tips we’ve learned along the way.

You might be a tent camping PRO. Or, you might be new to the whole idea, but totally ready to get a little dirty, spend a few days off the grid, and wake up to beautiful nature views. If that’s you, welcome to this wonderful new world!

Peoria has a truly great bar scene—everything from dive bars, to trendy breweries, to swanky cocktail lounges. Being as our side gig is bartending, we’re a little obsessed with mixology, so we’re always seeking out Peoria’s best drink spots, and so far we haven’t been disappointed!

Galena, IL has some of the most quaint, cozy restaurants you’ll find in Illinois. Some will make you feel like you’re eating on the streets of Italy, and others will take you back to your childhood. We’ve got a lot of feelings about the food in Galena. And they’re all good feelings.

Combine history, romance, and a happy step goal (even on vacation) and what do you get? Probably a few different things, but we like to say, Galena, Illinois. As one of our favorite places to frequent in Illinois, we can confidently say this spot has got what it takes to win the ideal date-weekend award every. single. time.

Travel is expensive. So, is it even possible in your 20’s to travel as much as you wish you could? We asked ourselves the same question. And in the last year, we made a plan to keep ourselves honest when it comes to trip budgeting.

If you’re local to Peoria, IL, surprise your partner with one of these date night experiences—or plan it together—to support local businesses and connect for a full, travel-filled evening close to home!