Everyday Is a Winding Road
Meet Professional Lens, a new category on Jill's Journey Du Jour where travel, curiosity, marketing, customer experience, and everyday observations come together in one place.
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I’m Taking a Mental Picture of You Now
Looking for long daylight hours, cooler temperatures and somewhere a little less touristy led me back to Finland. Between Helsinki, Turku and the Åland Islands, I found friendly people, great...
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I Can See for Miles and Miles
One thing about Northern Arizona: even when you think you know the area, it still manages to surprise you. Sometimes with wildlife sightings and incredible views… and sometimes with a...
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Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Rubber ducks may be cute, but when they start rearranging themselves on your dashboard, it’s hard not to wonder what they’re talking about.
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Sunny Came Home
Sunny isn’t just the Jeep I could always spot in a parking lot. He represents a moment in my life when everything felt new, uncertain, and full of possibility.
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Do You Come From a Land Down Under?
From Sydney adventures, a visit to New Zealand and exploring Brisbane, Melbourne, Noosa, Adelaide, and Kangaroo Island, a part of my heart is Down Under.
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It’s a Marshmallow World
A northern Arizona escape via the Grand Canyon Railway offered cool temperatures, cozy B&Bs, and a fresh perspective on a familiar wonder.
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Where the Folks Are Fine and the World Is Mine
Stockholm has been calling me back since my very first solo trip abroad in 2005. This visit mixed familiar streets with new discoveries - including a long-overdue adventure into the...
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If I Had a Hammer
A return trip to Porto turned into something unexpected when my visit coincided with São João - a centuries-old festival involving fireworks, street parties, and gently bonking strangers with toy...
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I’ve Been Through the Desert…
Exploring southern Arizona (Tucson, Bisbee & Tombstone) with my brother revealed historic towns, copper mines, desert landscapes, and the breathtaking climb to Mt. Lemmon - adventure, history, and cacti included.
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Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
A spa getaway with my mom at Civana in Carefree offered relaxation, fitness, and all-you-can-drink smoothies - set against Arizona’s warm desert backdrop. Sometimes, changing scenery changes everything.
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Oh, When I Look Back Now
Returning to Pine Mountain, GA, reminded me why childhood escapes matter - Callaway Gardens still charms with lakes, fountains, mini golf, and a dash of history.
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Take Me to the Lakes
Revisiting Portugal brought nostalgia and discovery - historic Lisbon streets, a castle outside the capital, and the charm of Sintra and Porto. Old memories, new adventures, and plenty of hills...
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The Best Of Both Worlds
A Northward adventure with Sunny & my brother included Prescott’s history, scenic drives, Jerome, and an expanding collection of rubber-ducked companions.
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Where the Alligators Grow So Mean
Venturing to Florida’s Green Cay Wetlands and Palm Beach Zoo revealed towering wildlife, lurking gators, and unexpected animal encounters. Nature’s thrills awaited - from anteaters to tigers!
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So Much Beauty in the World
From prickly cacti to the Desert Southwest’s largest public rose garden, Mesa’s Botanical Gardens surprised me with colors, scents, and a stroll worth remembering.
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Maybe You Know Some Little Places to Go
Introducing my brother to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Mesa’s Japanese Friendship Garden — a week of fall foliage, wildlife, and serene discoveries in Arizona.
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The Simple Things in Life (Like When & Where)
Papago Park offered the a good visual retreat - gentle hikes, unique wildlife, and stunning views from the Hole in the Rock.
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Viva Las Vegas
A mother-daughter trip to Vegas mixed downtown exploration, Strip icons, and the kind of stories that only seem possible in the city where anything can happen.
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Living in the Wild, Wild West
Ghost towns, desert legends, and a trip through Arizona’s Superstition Mountains - complete with frontier history, modern fun facts, and zero brothels.
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I Step To The Edge, To See My World Below
An escape from record-breaking heat led north to the Grand Canyon, Bearizona, and Antelope Canyon - where cooler air and awe-inducing views made every mile worthwhile.
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Signs Signs Everywhere Signs
Some signs are informative, some are funny, and a few leave you wondering what inspired them. This post explores the history of signs and some of the most memorable examples...
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A Tale of Two Airlines
Flying home from Zurich via British Airways and American Airlines, I discovered some unexpected perks of American's First Class and the Concorde Room lounge. How did it stack up against...
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Climb Every Mountain
Two more Swiss cantons, countless alpine views, and villages that seem pulled from a postcard - with stops in Saas-Fee and Lausanne that firmly earned their places on my favorites...
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A River Runs Through It
Switzerland’s northern cantons surprised me with rivers, historic towns, and chocolate-fueled discoveries. Join me as I explore Zürich, Lucerne, and Baden before heading south.
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United We Fly
I’ve flown many airlines worldwide, but what’s it like to experience United Polaris on a transatlantic flight? From seats to service, here’s my take – with a comparison to another...
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The Bunny Invasion
A lifelong fondness for rabbits, a childhood writing project, and the surprising realization that my Arizona neighborhood is a bona fide bunny hotspot – until the triple-digit temperatures send them...
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Come On Ride the Train, It’s the Choo Choo
An early-morning departure, the Verde Canyon Railway rooted in Arizona mining history, and a reminder that sometimes the journey really is the destination.
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You Never Forget Your First
After joining the Jeep ‘ducking’ craze, I learned a little trick I'll call "Operation Decoy" - and it led to Sunny’s first feathered friend. A story of patience, strategy, and...
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Wilderness Without Wildlife Is Just Scenery*
A road trip north led to cliff dwellings, cratered wells, gravel roads, and curious cows - a reminder that Arizona’s history and landscapes are just as surprising as a snake...
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…If It Comes Back to You, It’s Yours Forever.
Meet Boomerang - the traveling koala who appears throughout the blog - and the story of how he became a companion, a symbol, and an unexpected through-line in my travels.
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My White Whale? Not Conquering Camelback
Attempting Camelback’s Cholla Trail sounded doable…until I realized just how steep and punishing Arizona’s mountains can be. Did I reach the summit? Read on!
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“Like A Virgin”: My First Ducking
What started as a quirky hotel souvenir habit unexpectedly collided with Jeep culture, rubber ducks, and a global phenomenon rooted in spreading a little joy - one dashboard at a...
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Taking “That Left Turn at Albuquerque.”
Why I started this blog, how Arizona became home, and what it’s like to trade Chicago winters for desert heat, mountain views, and a bright yellow Jeep named Sunny.
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