Explorer Chicks of Cape Coral

Benvenuti in Italia

This is the trip to Italy that you’ve always dreamed of – the Dolomites, wine, epic sunrises, lakes, and food. Call the craggy Italian Alps sirens home as you explore jaw-dropping trails and impossibly cute mountain villages on this 8-day women’s hiking adventure in northern Italy.

We’ll meet in Venice before heading out for views of stunning glaciers, dramatic spires, and towering vistas complete with secret WWI tunnels. Our debut hike to Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (aka photogenic panty-dropper) where we’ll stay in a luxurious mountain “hut” and eat our body weight in alpine cooking.

You’ll learn how to traverse via-ferrata style as we sling our powerful bodies across vertical rock walls to climb Monte Paterno. From there, we’ll shuttle to the iconic trailheads of Cinque Torri and Puez-Odle Nature Park, where we’ll spend the night sleeping in an authentic family-run hut high up in the mountains where even Starbucks can’t reach.

Also, no, you don’t have to hulk your beefy Samsonite up the mountains. Throughout your adventure, you only have to sherpa your daypack. We’ll shuttle your main luggage from hut to hotel since you’ll have your hands full moonlighting for National Geographic.

We’ll have down time in villages that can only be described as bucolic AF––including Cortina d’Ampezzo, Corvara, Ortisei, and the stunning South Tyrol wine region which we’ll explore by e-bike. Amidst all the hiking, including an epic sunrise climb, we’ll build in time for slow mornings and plenty of relaxing. There’ll be wine tastings, an alpine spa visit, a hands-on Italian cooking class, and epic sailing on Lake Garda. Did you just become the most interesting woman on the school board? Yes, you did!

Summits And Sips

Imagine finally treating yourself to a girls’ weekend. Only instead of sitting on someone’s living room floor fielding texts from your partner (“WHERE IS MY PRESCRIPTION NASAL SPRAY”) you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail. Eating picnics you didn’t have to pack. And tossing back Virginia wine with women who make you laugh until a you pee a little. Trade the daily hustle for mountain magic with the ultimate long weekend hiking in Shenandoah National Park.

This is a more laid-back hiking adventure––active without being hardcore. We’ll explore sections of the Appalachian Trail by day, including Mary’s Rock, Whiteoak Canyon, and Hawksbill Mountain. And we’ll savor golden sunset hikes to Bearfence and Stony Man before our evening PJ parties.

Our SHE-nanigan Shuttle will be conveniently parked to save us from sweary uphill climbs, whisking us away to our trailheads, an afternoon wine tasting, and our picturesque lodges with local, chef-made meals. This much beauty and sisterhood in one long weekend will feel illegal. But we promise the park rangers won’t kick us out.

By Foot, Paddle, And Fork

Do you identify as orca? Are you craving stupid-fresh air, dense-as-night forests, weird sandal tanlines, and probably the best kayaking in the world? Get your paddle-happy butt on this women-only sea kayaking and camping adventure in the San Juan Islands! We treat you to Washington’s most stunning archipelago from the comfort of glampsites (with perfect cocktail decks) and traditional backcountry camping. Over the next 5 days, you’ll explore Orcas Island, San Juan Island, and Stuart Island by foot, paddle, and fork. There will be cheese.

The San Juan Islands are home to three pods of killer whales. Over 80 tail-flapping giants call these waters home, along with harbor seals, river otters, Steller sea lions, common minke whales, Dali’s porpoises, and bald eagles. Catch a guided whale watching tour at sunset on Day 1 and explore the secret universe of tide pools on the shoreline. It’s okay, blowholes make us misty too.

Live like a Wilderness Queen as you explore the mighty forests and mountain lakes of Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juans. Hoof the best trails including a steep hike to the highest point, Mount Constitution. From the top, you’ll gaze upon rugged coastlines, insane ocean views, and snow-capped mountains before breaking for a picnic lunch and winery visit.

The rest of our adventure is filled with backcountry kayaking to Stuart Island. Feel like a pioneer as you load up your two-person kayak expedition-style––all your camping gear, food, and personal items are coming with, Explorer Chick! We’ll paddle up to 15 miles, making our way across channels and straits to reach Stuart Island to set up our homey primitive camp. Here we’ll do more hiking and paddle to other nearby islands while your co-workers back home collate copies.

Whenever we’re back at camp, your guides cooking up bougie backcountry meals. Sink your pearlies into fresh, organic, locally sourced ingredients that you didn’t have to lift a finger to make. Expect wine pairings also. And dessert. And never wanting to leave. Are you coming or what?

Hit your bucket list with all the feels on this women’s guided hiking and backpacking weekend! During your Yosemite Half Dome Hike adventure, tour Yosemite National Park as you climb the famous cables of Half Dome with ladies who do their own stunts. Live out every last one of those John Muir nature quotes in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park. Mountains calling? Check. Between two pines? Check. Walk with nature? Double-check.

GUIDED BACKPACKING IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BACKCOUNTRY
Romp through the backcountry on a demanding, yet epic backpacking trip. Meet your new woman crushes in the Yosemite Valley as the landscape gives way to mountains, waterfalls, and a piney perfume that’ll make Yankee Candle totally jelly. Mother Nature swiped ALL THE WAY right. Leave the phone on airplane mode to immerse yourself in stunning national park backcountry over the course of four epic days. Climb steep, challenging trails to look down upon the Valley with a panoramic view that includes Mt. Starr King, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, Illilouette Falls, and plenty of ant-sized tourists with tiny selfie sticks.

HALF DOME: HIKING TO THE TOP
Fuel up for the real MVP—the famous cables of Half Dome! Blast that hiker booty (and bring plenty of water) while ascending 500 feet up a .5 mile of steps carved into the rock. Then, the real fun begins. It’s a 400-foot gain up the top of Half Dome with some points at 70%+ grades. Pace your footwork on wooden slabs spaced out on the climb as you get the upper body workout of a lifetime. Worth it? HELL YES!

BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
Don’t have backpacking equipment, but can Beastmaster the stairs? Perfect. Explorer Chick has you covered with:

• a backpack
• sleeping bag
• sleeping pad
• shared tent

All you need to do is show up for this Yosemite Half Dome Hike to backpack like a boss and get that National Parks bucket list checked.