Detour Diaries

Dare to Detour is the supportive wellness community you deserve.

We invite you to join us for the journey, as we reconnect with ourselves โ€” mind, body, and spirit โ€” and step into a new way of being.

Our Stories Matter, Adventure Ali Holst Our Stories Matter, Adventure Ali Holst

Laura Riordan | How to Bring Your Adventure Home

Since I was a young child, I have loved exploring new places and going on adventures. My family hiked, camped, skied, and road-tripped around much of the Northern United States. In those days, traveling was all about spotting wildlife, playing games, and gathering souvenirs from National Parks. In my late 20s, I began to venture farther from home and my comfort zone, and the more I engaged myself in my travels, the more I recognized how profoundly they had altered my worldview. I understood that the insights I was gaining were essential to my development, but I wasn't sure how I would use them once I got home.

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Self Care, Solo Travel, Adventure Ali Holst Self Care, Solo Travel, Adventure Ali Holst

My Latest Mountain Adventure

I just returned from the Sisu Ski retreat in Colorado, and my heart is full of that special kind of joy that comes from doing something outside of your comfort zone and spending a weekend in community with other remarkable women. Despite Mother Nature throwing many challenges my way (including a 4-hour delay in Livingston and driving through complete whiteout conditions on my way home) โ€” it was worth it.

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

What My Parents Taught Me about Love

My parents, Janet and Mel, have been my living, breathing guidebook to what authentic love looks like. Married in 1963, they've given me and my sister front-row seats to a love story that's been unfolding for decades.

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

Dry January Reflections

After quietly taking on Dry January, I discovered something unexpected โ€“ the most profound changes weren't just physical (though hello, clear mind and better sleep!), but in how we view our relationship with alcohol as a society. Here's what happened to me, 31 days alcohol-free

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

My Travel Bucket List for 2025

โ€ฆBut beyond my own personal travel agenda I wanted to share some โ€œnew year predictionsโ€ shall we say. I'm seeing a travel landscape that's less about destination and more about discovery โ€“ for ourselves and the communities we'll encounter.

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Self Care Ali Holst Self Care Ali Holst

Lessons From My 2 Week Social Media Detox

There's something a bit strange about these quiet days after New Year's. Itโ€™s like a twilight zone where the holiday decorations are packed away, and yet weโ€™re still not back to our regular days quite yet. The house feels both empty and full of opportunity. So far, I've spent the beginning of 2025 doing something that was long overdue โ€“ creating space. Physical space, mental space, emotional space.

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

My Word for 2025...

With the horizon of a new year dawns the promise of transformation, evolution, and a fresh intention. Each year I choose a word that serves to guide me as I make decisions personally and professionally and for 2025, my guiding word is VIBRANT.

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Travel Ali Holst Travel Ali Holst

Why I Always Talk to Uber Drivers

There's something magical about travel that opens up unexpected portals of human connection. As someone who believes deeply in the power of genuine conversation, I've made it a personal mission to chat with my Uber drivers wherever I go. And let me tell you, my last trip to National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas was a masterclass in unexpected storytelling.

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

The Essential Post-Holiday Walk

The weekend after Thanksgiving is the ideal time to gift ourselves the simple, yet profound, healing of being outside in nature before the rest of December unfolds. Trust me, you deserve it. I know the enticement of planning and celebrating can be captivating (and stressful), but there's magic in solitude and silence too.

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

The Dare Guide to Gifting

Throughout the year Iโ€™ve found myself returning to the same well-loved products, resources, services, clothing, and gear. Once I fall in love with something, I rarely change my mind. From my favorite travel wrap to the best facial to my go-to suitcase, my trusted camera and lenses, and even the jewelry I put on each morningโ€”these are the things that I love and use every single day. 

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Ali Holst Ali Holst

Questions for the Thanksgiving Dinner Table

Happy November! Whether you dressed up for Halloween, handed out candy, or stayed cozy inside, the turn into November marks the holiday season for us all. With holiday gatherings and celebrations around the corner, I wanted to plant a seed...

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Self Care Ali Holst Self Care Ali Holst

My Morning Routine

I'm one of those people who enjoys the start of a new week, but still, it takes me a moment to shift my gears over to the work week. Most morning look like thisโ€ฆ

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Adventure Ali Holst Adventure Ali Holst

59 for 59

This summer I turned 59โ€”my final year in my 50s! Up until now, I dreaded my birthday. Being in the middle of summer always meant my friends were away and celebrations were scarce. The main highlight was the angel food cake with lemon frosting my mom used to make. Eventually, though, that tradition transitioned into peach pie.

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Breast Cancer, Self Care Ali Holst Breast Cancer, Self Care Ali Holst

5 Years Cancer-Free

October is a big month for me every year, but especially this year as it marks five years since I received the life-altering news of my breast cancer diagnosis. Five yearsโ€”a milestone that seemed distant and daunting back then, but today, it stands as a testament to resilience, courage, and the power of embracing that wild Detour life threw my way.

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Our Stories Matter Ali Holst Our Stories Matter Ali Holst

Nico Hurley | A Path Rewritten

I was on a rock climbing trip in Red Rock National Park, Las Vegas, when I woke up to the news that my cousin Kendra had passed away. Although her death was not unexpected, it still hit me hard, like a punch in the gut, leaving me breathless. The death of a loved one can profoundly awaken you to the reality of your own life.

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Travel & Adventure

Self Care & Wellness

Budgeting

Leadership & Friendship

Our Stories Matter