I’ve waited about a week to write this blog. Partly because I needed time to take it all in, and partly because I still can’t believe how quickly it went by. Our girls’ trip was a whirlwind—in the best possible way.

Nine days of visiting, hiking, exploring, and taking over everywhere we went. 🤣

And somewhere between the miles, the laughter, and the conversations, I realized how much I appreciated this time with my friends.

Girls Trip 2026: Where We Went

Day 1

📍 The last remaining shell-shaped gas station
📍 Pilot Mountain
📍 Andy Griffith Museum
📍 Wally’s
📍 Mayberry Courthouse
📍 Mountain Lake Lodge

Day 2

📍 Lake Shawnee Haunted Amusement Park
📍 John Henry Historical Park
📍 Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
📍 Skyline Drive-In and Hank’s Last Stop
📍 Mount Nebo Lighthouse
📍 Thurmond

Day 3

📍 Mothman Festival
📍 TNT tour
📍 A little adventure into Ohio
📍 Hillbilly Hot Dogs

Day 4

📍 New River Gorge National Park
📍 New River Gorge Bridge
📍 Fayetteville Station Trail
📍 Sandstone

Day 5

📍 A small piece of Maryland
📍 Flight 93 National Memorial
📍 Tower of Voices
📍 Gettysburg

Day 6

📍 Hershey, Pennsylvania
📍 Ringing Rocks
📍 A covered bridge we found along the way
📍 Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Day 7

📍 Amish Country in Lancaster
📍 Harpers Ferry

Day 8

📍 Luray Caverns
📍 Shenandoah
📍 Roanoke

Day 9: Our Last Stops

📍 Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia
📍 Land of Oz in Beech Mountain, North Carolina

Looking at this list, I’m wondering how we fit it all in. Apparently, we took “girls’ getaway” to mean “let’s see everything we possibly can.” 🤣

What I Brought Home

I brought home memories, but I also brought home a few lessons.

1. The world will continue without me.

I can step away. I can take time for myself. I don’t have to be available every minute of every day for life to keep moving.

That sounds simple, but sometimes I need the reminder.

2. I can climb those 150 steps up—and make it down the 150 steps, too.

There were moments when we pushed ourselves physically, and I learned that I could do more than I thought. I might need to catch my breath, but I can keep going.

3. There is nothing like being still and talking with friends.

We covered a lot of ground, but some of the moments I appreciated most were the quiet ones. Just sitting, talking, and having time to finish a conversation without rushing off to the next responsibility.

4. I don’t snore as badly as I thought.

I’m counting that as a win. 🤣

5. These girls are some of the realest friends I could ever ask for.

We’ve known each other since school. There is something special about being with people who knew you long before all the responsibilities and roles you carry today.

With them, I can laugh, cry, be tired, be honest, and simply be myself.

We Carried More Than Suitcases

Our trip held so much: laughter, tears, new experiences, physical challenges, and conversations where we poured out our souls.

During that time, we also learned of the loss of our high school friend, Ben Cunningham. In the middle of making new memories, we were reminded of the people who are part of our older ones.

You will be missed, Ben.

There was room on this trip for joy and sadness. We didn’t have to pretend everything was okay, and we didn’t have to find the perfect words. We could just be there for one another.

I think that was good for all of us.

The Kind of Friendship I’m Thankful For

I am humbled by these friendships and the years we’ve shared.

The question is never, “Why do you need me?”

It’s, “What do you need?”

That is something I don’t take for granted.

Kristina Newman and Chasity Hughes, thank you for the adventures, the conversations, the laughter, and for putting up with me for nine whole days. 🤣

I couldn’t have asked for better friends or a better trip.

I love you guys, and I’m so thankful we had this time together.