Sometimes the closer we live to a destination, the less we see it as an option for a getaway. It might feel less special or feel like a pointless way to spend money when your home is nearby. But for any of you who live in the greater Chicagoland area (like me), a Chicago staycation…
Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos
When researching solo female travel in Turks and Caicos, I didn’t find many resources, so I wanted to put together a full guide! If you’re dreaming of a Caribbean escape, TCI (Turks and Caicos Islands) has you covered. With award-winning beaches, friendly locals, COVID infrastructure, tons of sunshine, and all of the good vibes I…
Backpacking Costa Rica
This post is a little bittersweet to work on for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I was backpacking Costa Rica when the pandemic shut down the world, so I had to cut my time there short and fly back to the US a lot earlier than planned. Secondly, my brand new phone stopped working for…
16 Beautiful Things from 16 Countries
Although I was on track to make it to 30 countries by 30 (darn pandemic), I’m beyond grateful that I’ve now been to 15 countries plus the US. I thought it would be fun to go through each country and share one beautiful thing out of all my travels that has left me in tears,…
Solo Female Travel in Western Europe
It took me 28 years to work up to traveling on my own. I chose to visit Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam to kick things off! Solo female travel in Western Europe is a safe and easy option for first timers. I spent a total of 9 days between those 3 cities before heading off to…
What to do in Malibu: a 2-Day Itinerary
A travel blogger’s top tips for what to do in Malibu in 2 days including the perfect Airbnb and best activites (all within a reasonable budget)!
Walking Stage 1 of the Camino de Santiago
Last spring, I walked Stage 1 of the Camino de Santiago, completing over 100 miles (of the 500 total) in about 2 weeks. Of course the dream was to walk the whole thing at once, but the reality is my job wouldn’t allow for the 5-6 weeks off required to do so. I wanted to…
The Chicago Flyover Experience is now open! Here are my thoughts on Navy Pier’s newest attraction.
The Chicago Flyover Experience opened on Navy Pier on March 1, 2024. It takes the place of the IMAX Theatre. As a lover of all things Chicago, I was very intrigued when I saw this new attraction opening. I had to check it out for myself! The Chicago Flyover Experience The Chicago Flyover Experience is…
Winter Wish List and Wrap Up (2024)
I used to write weekly updates back when I was traveling full time in 2019 and 2020, and then I wrote monthly updates in 2022. I liked these posts because they gave me a chance to share current favorites, musings, real time travel thoughts, that kind of stuff. I haven’t written an update-style post in…
Asheville, NC Travel Guide (in 5 Days)
Asheville sat at the very top of my USA bucket list for the longest time, and I was so happy when I finally got to visit last fall. I wanted to put together this Asheville, NC travel guide to help you plan your own trip. You’ve probably heard of the Biltmore, which is definitely worth…
What to do in Michigan (but beware of falling in love)
This isn’t just a post about what to do in Michigan, it’s a full on declaration of (travel) love for this state. I always joke that Michigan is my 2nd favorite state after California, but I say that with a level of sincerity. To me, California has that wow factor. It’s the big love that…
I accidentally traveled solo in Maine but think you should do it on purpose.
I didn’t mean to end up in Maine for 5 days on my own, but the universe (and Jet Blue) had other plans. This trip was originally planned to be a girls’ weekend, me and my bestie exploring coastal Maine amongst the changing colors of fall. Turns out it’s not that easy, logistically, to get…
The Year of Spanish: 2023 in Review
These posts are some of my favorite to work on each year because I get to s l o w d o w n and reflect on all my travel memories from the past twelve months. Everything I get to do– big or small, near or far, solo or shared– is so special to me,…
Camino de Santiago Female Packing List
Before I walked Stage 1 of the Camino de Santiago (from St Jean Pied de Port to LogroƱo), I scoured the internet for hours and hours to make sure my packing was on point. This here is a compilation of everything I researched and decided to bring on my own camino. Use this post as…