Mini Trips

What’s a Mini?

Mini trips are ones that are based out of where I originate from, the Mid-West. These trips will take us anywhere from 1 to 6 hours away from our home base of Toledo, Ohio… and anyone in the general area can join! We’ve had people join from all over Ohio, Michigan and the Chicago area (so far)… so if you’re in that wide circle, come along with us!

Minis are short group trips, usually ranging from one to three days, that provides group travel in a more local setting. The main focus of each Mini will almost always be some sort of outdoor adventure… whether it be hiking, camping, climbing, kayaking, white water rafting, backpacking, caving or biking, I want to provide opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the outdoors while making new friends and connecting with the travel family we are creating.

So if you’re in the area, please join us!

2025 Minis…

All 2025 Minis are FULL!

Minis for 2026 will be announced January 2026. Stay tuned!

If you have any questions about the Minis or how to sign up, please email acornexpeditions@gmail.com for more info.

  • March 23rd, 2025

    Total cost: $110

    Number of spots: 11

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $60 due to claim your spot

    $50 lock-in payment due March 7th

    Physical difficulty: 7/9

    Are you ready to get extremely dirty? EXCELLENT! We visited this cave system last year and had such an amazing time, I had to make sure we did it again! Come along underground as we crawl, squeeze and climb through a privately owned cave. No part of this cave has been changed for ease of exploring except the entrance… where we will climb 30 feet down a manhole to access the full cave. We will be underground for about 2 hours and all equipment will be provided.

    *Due to tight squeezes hips must measure 42 inches or smaller for this experience… although when we saw the harnesses last year this number seems pretty flexible.

    *When I say “you’re gonna get dirty” I mean it. Don’t wear anything you love and bring a change of clothes.

  • April 12th -14th, 2025

    Total cost: $280

    Number of spots: 12

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $80 due to claim your spot

    $100 lock-in payment due February 28th

    $100 due March 28th

    Physical difficulty: 4/9 we will be hiking a total of 8 miles spread out over three parks and two days. All trails are relatively flat and simple, offering unique scenery and a whole lot of MOSS (I feel as if moss is important to mention here).

    Bougie level: 5/5 we are living in a massive warehouse home where everyone will have their own bed and some will have their own rooms.

    Join us in a massive warehouse home as we gather for a long weekend of nature, laughs, and mad painting skillz. We’ll start the trip out by gathering in our large home together, then head to a cute local restaurant to enjoy some dinner. The next day will start with brunch, followed by a hike at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges. We’ll then go to the ledges at Cuyahoga Valley National Park to enjoy one more hike before settling in for a night of pizza and painting. We’ll spend the night having a hilariously themed paint night together and rise early to hike one more local ledge trail at Worden Ledges.

  • April 19th -21st, 2025

    Total cost: $60

    Number of spots: 15

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $30 due to claim your spot

    $30 lock-in payment due March 14th

    Physical difficulty: 6.5/9 we will be hiking around 14 miles spread out over 2 days. Terrain is easy in some parts, fun and challenging in others (think ladders to take you down some cliffs etc). Although the mileage may be long, these trails are best enjoyed slow to take in everything around us.

    Bougie level: 1/5 we are camping!

    Turkey Run State Park is one of my favorite state parks. The trails are fun, unique, and the area in general is beautiful. This weekend will be full immersion into nature, as we camp and set out to hike all 14 miles of trails throughout the entire park. Do you have new camping gear you want to try out? Have you never camped before and want to get your feet wet?? Perfect! Join us and lets be wild people together.

    *This trip is dog-friendly for friendly dogs. Your pet should be up to date on all vaccines and flea/tick preventative.

  • May 10th - 12th, 2025

    Total cost: $450

    Number of spots: 8

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $50 due to claim your spot

    $200 lock-in payment due February 14th

    $200 due April 11th

    Physical difficulty: 5/9 we will be biking the perimeter of Mackinac Island, which works out to be about 8 miles. The trail is pretty flat, easy, and we’ll be stopping a lot along the ride.

    Bougie level: 3/5 we’ll all have a bed but it’s not going to be a 5 star hotel.

    If you’re a Michigander, you already know this location well! Mackinac City and Island are a Michigan tradition. Come with me to the island of zero cars, lots of fudge, and HORSES! We’ll be spending an entire day on the island, renting bikes and riding the entire 8 mile perimeter… stopping at all the points I’ve been stopping at for my entire life (Mackinac is a huge Exarhos tradition). We’ll explore the fort, shop the shops, wander the streets, and enjoy a fun long weekend together at the top of the Mitten.

  • May 17th - 19th, 2025

    Total cost: $280

    Number of spots: 15

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $80 due to claim your spot

    $100 lock-in payment due February 28th

    $100 due April 18th

    Physical difficulty: 5/9 We will be hiking about 8 miles throughout the park spread out over two days. Trails are mostly flat, and no one is expected to move quick.

    Bougie level: 5/5 we have a massive cabin.

    The Hocking Hills region is well known in Ohio as the most gorgeous outdoor area in the state. We traveled here last year in the winter and slipped all over the trails like beautiful figure skaters, but this year we’re hoping to avoid some ice… We have a cabin the size of a small village that I would love to fill up with amazing people. We’ll have a game night, a friendship bracelet making night, and during our day time hours we’ll be hiking trails around the beautiful region that we’re in. This will be a perfect weekend.

  • July 6th, 2025

    Total cost: $90

    Number of spots: 11

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $40 due to claim your spot

    $50 lock-in payment due May 16th

    Physical difficulty: 3/9 We are doing minor hikes but mostly this trip is just us driving you around on golf carts.

    Last year we explored the Erie Island of Put-in-Bay together. This year we’re moving onto the next island, Kelley’s Island! We’ll hop in two big golf carts and zip around the island, stopping at parks, the winery and the glacial grooves. Kelley’s Island is a very different vibe from Put-in-Bay, with only about a small handful of restaurants for us to pick from, BUT we’ll be sure to gorge ourselves on food and explore everything that we can.

  • July 12th - 14th, 2025

    Total cost: $300

    Number of spots: 11

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $50 due to claim your spot

    $150 lock-in payment due April 4th

    $100 due June 6th

    Physical difficulty: 7.5/9 Climbing and rafting can be hard work, although your level of involvement with the climbing is totally up to you! The river we are rafting is a fun one, but not an insane one.

    Bougie level: 1/5 we are camping!

    Last year’s big hit Mini is here again! Join us in West Virginia as we rock climb AND go white water rafting down the New River. This river is a great beginner’s river if you’ve never gone rafting before. While we are rock climbing you have the option to SUP around the lake, or just chill eating snacks and enjoying the views. We’ve been to this area so often that we know all the best places to eat, drink and hike. We’ll hike in New River Gorge National Park in our free time and enjoy living outside like wildlings.

  • August 2nd - 4th, 2025

    Total cost: $60

    Number of spots: 11

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $30 due to claim your spot

    $30 lock-in payment due June 6th

    Physical difficulty: 6/9 this Mini is all about hiking! We’ll be exploring about 14 miles of trails between the two days.

    Bougie level: 1/5 we are camping!

    Okay, I know when you see the words ‘New York’ you might think I’m about to take you on the exact type of trip that I hate… BUT NO. We aren’t going to the city (praise be) we’re exploring one of the wild sides of New York. The theme is waterfalls and we’ll be hiking to a little over 20 of them! Let’s explore Letchworth State Park and Watkins Glen State Park together as we hike and camp and probably end up playing Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza on a picnic table at the campsites.

  • August 16th - 18th, 2025

    Total cost: $260

    Number of spots: 7

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $60 due to claim your spot

    $100 lock-in payment due May 23rd

    $100 due July 18th

    Physical difficulty: 4/9 this is more of a relaxed Mini. Yes we’ll be hiking, but I will pick easier, shorter trails.

    Bougie level: 4/5 we are in a hobbit home!

    Did I plan an entire Mini Trip around a house that looks like a hobbit home? Yes I did. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, or you’re just looking for a cute weekend getaway, join me in Ohiopyle! Usually when we visit Ohiopyle we’re rafting or rock climbing, but this time we’re chilling, touring Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater”, hiking and sitting around a little fire while I teach you all how to crochet a cute little acorn. Ohiopyle is such a cute little town so you’ll surely love it.

  • October 25th - 27th, 2025

    Total cost: $380

    Number of spots: 11

    Payment Plan:

    Deposit: $80 due to claim your spot

    $150 lock-in payment due July 25th

    $150 due September 19th

    Physical difficulty: 7/9 this is a hiking trip with some elevation changes along the trails. We’ll also be kayaking.

    Bougie level: 5/5 we’ll be in a VERY cute cabin with amazing views

    We’ve traveled to Red River Gorge a handful of times at this point, but we’ve mainly only rock climbed in the area. I want to show everyone how amazing this area is even IF you aren’t a rock climber! Come down to Kentucky with me and stay in a massive, gorgeous cabin with amazing views. We’ll hike around 12 miles total over two days and go underground to kayak in a cave. You’ll sleep comfortably, and have a nice slow morning on our last day where we will all make brekkie together before setting out for one last shorter hike. We’ll probably play some games because of who I am as a person.

I am also a firm believer in DOGS, so I try to make one or two Minis throughout the year dog-friendly (for dogs who are fully vetted and are human AND dog friendly). This giant eared baby is my own, Birdie.