<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[My Site]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Site]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:19:36 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Welcome to Wanders With Tara]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hi, I’m Tara  and if there’s one thing that’s always been true about me, it’s that I’ve never really known how to sit still. I grew up in Michigan, surrounded by lakes, woods, dirt roads, and a family that believed adventure was part of everyday life. From a young age, I was the kind of kid who wanted to try everything. Dirt bikes, quads, side‑by‑sides, kayaks, paddle boards, snowboards, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding,  if it involved movement, nature, or a little adrenaline, I was in....]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/welcome-to-wanders-with-tara</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696d75fd322ac077fef96504</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:34:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/226f43_592e5cf63c5142c1878571511e6183b6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_810,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ultimate Souvenir: How Seasonal Work Changed My Mindset (And What’s Next)]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I look back at my seasonal work journey, from the scorching deserts of Arizona to the snowy peaks of Colorado and Tahoe, and the kelp forests of Catalina Island, it’s easy to focus on the crazy jobs. But there is so much more behind each of these short stories. Seasonal life didn't just give me a paycheck; it completely changed the trajectory of my life. Immersion Over Itineraries Sure, anyone can visit all 50 states and check national parks off their little list. But how much time are...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/the-ultimate-souvenir-how-seasonal-work-changed-my-mindset-and-what-s-next</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc9e24bec251fc0ba9a3f4</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:13:53 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Seasonal Worker to True Local: My Final Years on Catalina Island]]></title><description><![CDATA[After my winter in Lake Tahoe, I packed up and headed back to Catalina Island. But this time was different. I didn’t see this as just another temporary seasonal run. I was returning single, ready to fully immerse myself, and determined to stay year-round until I grew tired of it. Spoiler alert: I didn’t grow tired of it. It took a major plot twist to finally get me to leave. But before that happened, I experienced the absolute best of what island life has to offer. Becoming Part of the...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/from-seasonal-worker-to-true-local-my-final-years-on-catalina-island</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc9abbbec251fc0ba99adf</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:57:10 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Tahoe Hustle: Avalanches, Trams, and a Record-Breaking Winter]]></title><description><![CDATA[After an incredible summer working the beach club on Catalina Island, the snow was calling my name again. But before I made Catalina my permanent year-round home, I had one more mountain to conquer: Lake Tahoe, California. I packed up my trusty Jeep once again, but this time I wasn't going alone. I brought along my friend Kyle, who I actually met working on Catalina. In a crazy small-world twist, he is also originally from Michigan! He had never really traveled outside of the island, so...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/the-tahoe-hustle-avalanches-trams-and-a-record-breaking-winter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc8de5c6c9669173c99bbb</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:01:57 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Going Back to the Island: My First Full Season on Catalina]]></title><description><![CDATA[As much as I loved the powder days and the mountain family I built in Steamboat Springs, the ocean was calling me back. I had gotten a tiny taste of Catalina Island the previous fall, but this time, I was committing to a full summer season from April through October. This time around, things were different. I wasn't just a wide-eyed newbie figuring out where the grocery store was. I came back ready to work hard, save a lot of money, and completely immerse myself in island life. The Beach Club...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/going-back-to-the-island-my-first-full-season-on-catalina</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc8b08bec251fc0ba96c7e</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:47:49 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trading Sand for Snow: My First Ski Season in Steamboat Springs]]></title><description><![CDATA[After a glorious spring in the Arizona desert and an incredible summer living on Catalina Island, I knew exactly what kind of adventure I wanted next: a real mountain winter. Growing up in Michigan, I spent my childhood skiing with my family before eventually switching to snowboarding when I was about 14. But let’s be real, Midwest hills don't exactly compare to the Rockies. In the fall of 2021, I flew back home to Michigan, grabbed my winter gear and my snowboard, packed up my trusty Jeep...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/trading-sand-for-snow-my-first-ski-season-in-steamboat-springs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc8805c6c9669173c98a19</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:38:14 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Swapping Desert Heat for Island Time: My First Season on Catalina Island]]></title><description><![CDATA[As much as my first seasonal job in Arizona was packed with weekend adventures to Zion, riding side-by-sides just outside of Bryce Canyon, and taking trips to Slide Rock, the desert eventually takes its toll. By mid-summer, the average daily temperature was sitting at a scorching 105 degrees. You literally could not leave your house without a Hydro Flask attached to your hip. I loved the desert, the bonfires, and the amazing friends I made, but I am an ocean girl at heart. Adventure was...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/swapping-desert-heat-for-island-time-my-first-season-on-catalina-island</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc8415bec251fc0ba95933</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:20:39 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Michigan to "Misery" to the Mountains: My First Seasonal Job at Lake Powell]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you had asked me a few years ago what my life would look like, I would have told you I was going to work on a cruise ship. But then COVID happened, the world shut down, and the cruise line industry was completely off the table. I still had this massive itch to travel and live somewhere new, which is exactly how I stumbled into the world of seasonal work. My first destination? Page, Arizona . The Big, Scary Leap To say I was terrified is an understatement. I almost backed out several times....]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/from-michigan-to-misery-to-the-mountains-my-first-seasonal-job-at-lake-powell</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc7c4fbec251fc0ba9451b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:46:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/226f43_5b795e1e4a74487c9a676505cb3a2586~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_632,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Is Seasonal Work? How I Accidentally Built a Life Around It]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you had told 21-year-old me that one decision would lead to living in national parks, working on an island, snowboarding in record snowfall, and building a life around travel… I probably would have laughed. But that’s exactly what seasonal work did for me. This is the story of how I discovered seasonal life and how it completely changed the way I live, work, and travel. When Life Started Feeling Too Small Shortly after turning 21, life felt… repetitive. Same town. Same routines. Same...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/what-is-seasonal-work-how-i-accidentally-built-a-life-around-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696da4503d420427946e5bff</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 03:57:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/226f43_3248095071fb450593e3b88165563c7c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How I Discovered Seasonal Life (and How It Changed Everything)]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the Narrows at Zion National Park Shortly after turning 21, I knew something had to change. Life felt slow. COVID had shut so much down, routines felt heavy, and I found myself slipping into a quiet depression without really realizing it. I loved my life, but I craved a new environment, a new pace, and something that felt like me  again. So I made a bold decision. I packed up what I could fit in my car and moved out of state to North Carolina . My aunt helped me get settled while I figured...]]></description><link>https://taralee21.wixsite.com/travelblog/post/how-i-discovered-seasonal-life-and-how-it-changed-everything</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696d8428322ac077fef9801d</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:10:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/226f43_8dcab09220e647fabdee71dea065105f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara Russell</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>