I want to feel the ocean wind whipping through my hair. I want to see every vibrant landscape that this world has to offer. I travel to experience the most beautiful things in life… to have my breath caught in my throat as I gaze upon a beautiful sunset.
To push myself to new limits. To not only think about doing something really scary – but actually do it.
The best kinds of trips are spontaneous ones. The kind where you pack your bags and head out on a whim, without any expectation of what to do when you arrive.
On a Thursday night in November, that’s exactly what Matt and I decided to do.
Relaxing on the couch with Matt by my side, I felt the blues kick in. You see, whenever routine settles in, I tend to feel a little out of it. There could be nothing “wrong” in the moment, but I’ll feel a little sad anyway just because there hasn’t been enough novelty or excitement in the day-to-day lately. He knows me well, so all it took was him saying, “I think we should take a weekend trip” for me to perk up.
Within minutes, we were booking a one-night stay at a hotel in downtown San Diego. By Saturday morning, we were packing a small bag into the car, ready to make the drive from Los Angeles. When we arrived, we had no idea what to do! (I guess this is the one downside of spontaneous trips.)
Luckily, the hotel employee who checked us in had a recommendation ready: Seaport Village. Within short walking distance of our hotel in San Diego, it’s a perfect stop for a long afternoon walk. Continuing the spirit of spontaneity, we immediately took the recommendation. Here are my favorite photos from our walking tour of Seaport Village…
As I mentioned in a previous post, saving money for travel doesn’t need to be hard. Don’t get me wrong, though. Just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean it’s easy.
When you’re constantly tempted by the call of impulse purchasing, your well-meaning plan can go off the rails in a heartbeat. Goodbye, vacation to Japan. Try again next month…
Since I know first-hand how difficult it can be to avoid impulse buys, I’m sharing 9 tips to help you make future purchases more mindfully. With these things in mind, I’ve found it easier to save money for travel and avoid unnecessary purchases.
Does this sound familiar to you? It definitely does for me.
I’ve spent the last couple of years learning the in’s and out’s of personal finance, and how to save money while covering all the financial responsibilities that come with adulthood.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve learned that it doesn’t need to be hard. It can be simple to save money towards your travel goal, with a few shifts in thinking and a solid game plan. If you’re currently struggling to save for your travel goals, here is my ultimate list of Do’s and Don’ts for saving money. I hope these tips will be as helpful to you as they have been to me.
Although Oahu isn’t Hawaii’s largest island, it is the most visited – and for good reason. In Honolulu alone, there are a multitude of attractions to explore: Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and beaches with incredible views, just to name a few.
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to have an entire week in Oahu. With a week’s amount of time on my hands, I wanted to dedicate an entire day to exploring another side of the island: The North Shore.
An easy drive from the Honolulu area, the North Shore of Oahu has a couple of the island’s most famous eateries, iconic beaches, and even a particularly fruity tourist attraction. Keep reading to explore my one-day itinerary of Oahu’s North Shore.
This might surprise you, but I’m not a fan of hikes. Generally speaking, I love the outdoors, but the outdoors does not love me back.
You see, I’m pale (see the side-bar for proof), and I need SPF 10,000 to have a moderate chance at warding off sunburns. Even when I take precautionary measures, my face starts to look somewhere in-between “purple heirloom tomato” and “boiled lobster” after five minutes in the sun.
… I’ll let that visual soak in. Lemme tell ya, it’s very attractive.
To top it all off, I’m not in shape. At all. The amount of huffing and complaining I do during an easy jog is downright embarrassing.
What am I a fan of, you might ask? Beautiful views. And unfortunately, to get a glimpse of those beautiful views, you have to embark on a hike every now and then.
As someone who’s a cross between a lazy sloth and an adventurer, I’ve made it my life’s mission to find the easiest hikes in Los Angeles with the biggest pay-offs. Whenever I’m in need of Pacific Ocean views, this easy hike is my go-to…
I have a bad habit of crying on airplanes. Not the hysterical kind of crying that you’d see from someone who’s convinced the plane is about to crash. These tears are more like the silent type – you know, the type that dramatically rolls down your cheek in slow-motion. If my life was a movie, this is a scene that would be filmed in contrasty black and white, accompanied by a lilting violin instrumental to really punctuate the dramaticism.
Alas, my life is not a movie and the only background noise is the plane’s engine roaring at take-off. As the plane lifts higher and higher into the sky, I get hit more and more by the realization that inspired the tears in the first place…
Who else knows that feeling? I think we all get hit with a case of post-vacation blues, whether it’s only a subtle feeling of, “Sucks that it’s over” or absolute dread of returning to routine.
Here are the ways I cope with the post-vacation blues. I hope this post helps anyone else who is currently experiencing that unmistakable “back to reality” sadness.
Oh, La Jolla, you’re such a treat. Even in the middle of winter, you’re not too cold and not too hot, with a gentle ocean breeze made for leisurely walks along the coves. It’s no wonder La Jolla is such a popular tourist destination.
Here’s what you need to go before you go: The La Jolla Edition.
Anyone who has been to New Orleans will know that while visiting, you eat until your stomach hurts. Then, you have a drink (might I suggest a Hurricane?) and then you eat some more.
Why is New Orleans called the crescent city, anyway? I don’t see what this has to do with pre-packaged ready to bake dinner rolls. (I’m kidding. And I’m really sorry for the corny joke.) In any case, I’d like to make a proposal for it to be re-dubbed the city of food.
Fearful of feeling like a beached whale? Too bad. It’s gonna happen, and you’re going to love every minute of it. Despite that growing feeling of fullness in your stomach, you won’t be able to resist having “just one more bite.”
Having grown up in New Orleans, I’m very familiar with this feeling. Spoonful after spoonful, I just keep eating until my plate is clean. I moved out over a decade ago, but whenever I go back, I rarely leave a plate unfinished.
If you’re uninitiated to the classic dishes of New Orleans, or just wondering what to eat on your visit, you’re in for a treat. I’ve compiled this list of my top five things to eat in New Orleans, along with some food photography for good measure. Please try not to lick your screen. (It’s unsanitary.)
These phrases have come out of my mouth with alarming frequency. Can you relate?
It’s a catchphrase that I literally just coined that describes anyone who puts off their travel ambitions, with the hope that “one day” will come around. One day we’ll take that trip we’ve been dreaming of for years. That time will eventually come… right?
Yeah, sure. One day, we’ll hop over those roadblocks. No problem. We’ll totally figure out how to solve those budget issues, overcome the feeling of overwhelm, and tackle the lack of planning.