Meet Maureen
Hi everyone!
I am the writer for Top Ten Travel List and Magazine. I am also the social media manager of Top Ten Travel’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. I am originally from the Chicagoland area. My idea for starting a travel magazine came after several years of moving around the Western half of the US. I was in awe with all the gorgeous destinations and wondered why every travel publication and blogger I’ve ever heard of only focuses on international travel when so many beautiful places could be accessed (much more conveniently and cheaper) right here in the US.
As a fitness buff, I figured a focus on adventure and outdoor activities was a natural fit for our site. Combined with Mike’s background in personal training and fitness, this was an area both of us already had a ton of first hand knowledge in. I have always been a runner, an avid gym goer, and also extremely interested in learning any new sports. Over the years working on this site, I have taken up many new hobbies including whitewater rafting, kayaking, snowshoeing, and skiing.
Some of my fitness accomplishments include:
- I have run 6 half marathons.
- I placed in the top 10% in the Las Vegas Half Marathon.
- I have run over 2 dozens 5 and 10ks. I have placed in my age group in many of them.
- I have hiked the Grand Canyon, portions of the Appalachian Trail, and the San Francisco Peaks.
- My half marathon PR was a 1:51:38 in the Long Beach Half Marathon.
- I placed second in my age group in the Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Pensacola Beach.
- I’ve been ice skating for over 15 years. I still wouldn’t be considered good by any means, but I have been learning many new moves including skating backwards.
Outside of fitness, I have an interest in the following:
- Historical attractions & museums. I love D.C. and Philly museums the most.
- Anything unusual or oddball. You will notice many quirky museums and roadside attractions highlighted.
- Anything paranormal. I love taking ghost tours and spending the night in haunted inns.
- Anything to do with Halloween and Christmas. You will notice a large portion of site dedicated to holiday fun. I travel all over the US to find the best festivals and attractions.
- Coastal cities & towns. I love visiting quiet gems, especially in the Northeast.
- Charming Main Streets. I love going back in time shopping & dining in a chain-free area.
- Theme parks/entertainment. I also like to have fun once in a while with my go-to vacations being Orlando (Disney and Universal never get old), Vegas, and Chicago.
14 States and 20+ Cities
I have lived pretty much everywhere in the country, in the beginning not by choice, later on by choice. As of 2025, I have lived in 14 states. You will find a lot of into on the site dedicated to the areas I have lived in/roadtripped through the longest: Chicago, Boston, the entire Southwest, Rhode Island, Western North Carolina, Flagstaff, Sedona, Tucson the Tampa Bay and Orlando metro, and Upstate South Carolina
States I’ve Lived in:
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
- Maine
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Idaho
- Nevada
- California
- Arizona
Major Metros I’ve Lived in:
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia
- Greater Boston
- Asheville
- Greenville SC
- Tampa
- Long Beach
- Tucson
- Flagstaff
I have basically lived all over and enjoyed every minute of it. In addition to the big cities listed above, I’ve also lived in an island off the coast of Maine (Islesboro) with a year round population of just 500 and a tiny town in the middle of nowhere in the desert (Hawthorne, NV). I’ve lived in suburban areas, big cities, and rustic country towns. This has given me a lot of life experience. I’ve experienced so many different cultures, ways of life, living conditions, etc. Living in all these areas has given me so much in depth insider knowledge on each area I cover.
A few of my most memorable travel moments
- Getting stung by a jellyfish at North Redington Beach, Florida.
- Getting stung by a cactus at Usery Mountain Park in Mesa.
- Seeing a bobcat up close and personal on the Linda Vista trail in Tucson.
- Seeing a black bear and cub cross the trail right in front of me in the Smokies!
- Swimming 5 feet from a manatee at North Redington Beach, Florida.
- Snowshoeing through 3 feet of snow in Flagstaff, Arizona following one of the biggest blizzards.
- Cross country skiing for the first time and not realizing I would have to ski down huge hills.
- Visiting the Statue of Liberty.
- Hiking through brutal 100+ degree heat in the Sonoran Desert.
- Hiking the Grand Canyon to Skeleton Point during an intense and very scary monsoon.
- Seeing a seahorse up close in the wild at Indian Rocks Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
- Visiting some of the country’s most haunted destinations including staying in Savannah’s East Bay Inn and touring the infamous Lizzie Borden house.
- Visiting seaglass beach (I have been an avid seagrass collector for over 10 years now).
My favorite unique experiences
- Running The Strip at Night for the Vegas Rock N’Roll Half Marathon.
- Feeling the vortex energy in Sedona & hiking amidst 200+ million year old red rocks.
- Hiking the Appalachian Trail.
- Driving through the Redwood National Forest.
- Hiking the highest mountain range in Arizona, the 12,637 ft San Fran Peaks.
- Walking The Freedom Trail in the best historical city in the US.
- Enjoying the best city view in the world via the Empire State Building.
- Self guided waterfall tours of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Exploring “The Land of Waterfalls” in Western North Carolina.
- Cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, from SoCal to the Northern redwoods.
- Driving the Grand Loop at Yellowstone & seeing bison up close.
- Braving the crowds & cold at the iconic NYC Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in person.
- Exploring exotic oddities like White Sands National Monument.
- Exploring 200+ million year old petrified wood in Northern Arizona.
- Getting up close and personal with the enchanting Saguaro cacti of Arizona.
- Seeing alligators in the wild (not via an airboat ride!)
- Climbing the highest peak on the East Coast, Mt. Mitchell.
- Whale watching in Plymouth.
- Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Exploring ancient petroglyphs in New Mexico.
- Taking a self-guided tour of John Hughes movie filming locations in Chicago.
- Ghost hunting in Massachusetts.
My Favorite Historical Destinations & Sights of Interest
- Boston: The Freedom Trail, The Arnold Arboretum, Boston Common
- Savannah: Chippewa Square, Noble Jones walking tours of the beautiful historic district, The East Bay Inn
- Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Rodin Museum, Independence Hall, the Rocky Statue
- Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art
- Plymouth: Captain John’s Whale Watching Tours, Plymouth Night Ghost Tours, Self Guided Waterfront Walk
My Favorite Big City Destinations & Attractions
- New York: Wollman Ice Rink, Empire State Building, Central Park, Self guided tours of the NY Public Library
- Las Vegas: Bellagio Gardens & Fountain Show, The Neon Graveyard, Red Rock Canyon
- Chicago: The Lakeshore Path, The Field Museum, The Art Institute, Millennium Park Ice Rink, Willis Tower
- Los Angeles: Hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains (Topanga Canyon), The Strand Bike Path, The Griffith Observatory trails
- Pittsburgh: Duquesne Incline, The Warhol Museum, The Carnegie Museum of Art
Small City Charmers
I love visiting cute small towns that still offer a charming Main Street shopping and dining district. A few of my favorites:
- Camden, Maine
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Bozeman, Montana
My Favorite Nature Destinations
As nature lovers, we often live in and travel to areas known for natural attractions. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money to have a great vacation. A few of my favorites include:
- Yellowstone
- Blue Ridge Parkway/Asheville
- Cape Cod
- Lake Tahoe
- Sedona and Flagstaff
My Favorite hiking destinations
As avid hikers, we often move and travel to areas known for scenic beauty and fantastic hiking opportunities. A few of my favorites include:
- Sedona/Flagstaff
- Sonoran Desert – Phoenix & Tucson
- Western North Carolina
- Santa Monica Mountains
- Southeast Massachusetts
Hopefully, you enjoy reading about our travels and appreciate the genuine photos and experiences we have shared. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages to stay updated on new posts & pictures!
