Travel Tips

I often look to other travelers and third parties for destination and travel tips and tricks. Here are some resources I've found helpful on my own trips.

What's In My Carry-On?

Whether you're planning your next vacation, or shopping for an adventurer, these are my top picks for must-have travel essentials.

Jan 6, 20237 min read

C-H-I-C-A-G-O, That Toddlin' Town

As a first timer, I had a ton of Chicago must-dos planned for the weekend. I'm proud to say I scratched most of them off my list.

Oct 29, 20216 min read

A Little Bit of Pixie Dust

2020 was terrible... Between the heated election and the freezing storm that shut down Texas, 2021 certainly wasn't starting off much...

Aug 16, 20217 min read

Lone Star Court | Austin, TX

Texans love to hate I-35. I'm no exception. The trek is tedious and lined with construction hazards and "road gators." Nights are dark...

Feb 13, 20212 min read

Taking the Leap: My First Solo Trip

I took a risk. I risked spending money on a solo trip during COVID-19 in the hope that a few nights in a hotel would be better than a few...

Feb 3, 20215 min read

Texas Road Trip | Amarillo, TX

The one good thing about COVID-19 is the revival of the great American road trip. There are so many wonderful destinations in the US, and...

Aug 5, 20203 min read

My Favorite Travel Accessories

It's May 2020 and COVID-19 has us homebound. Yet, a few of us wanderlusters are still planning trips for the future, or getting our...

May 2, 20206 min read

72 Degrees and Sunny | A San Diego Getaway

Last year I was determined to go to San Diego again as an adult. I vaguely remembered the trip my family took in my elementary years, but...

Mar 22, 20203 min read

Holland America | MS Oosterdam

When planning a cruise, I scour YouTube for videos showing the suites and other on-ship amenities. It's rare that I find a video with the...

Mar 21, 20201 min read

Come for the Pie, Stay for the Isles

Put on your walking shoes or grab a bicycle to best take in all of the sites Key West has to offer.

Feb 8, 20204 min read

Proceed to The Route | Arizona Road Trip

You can spot a tourist in Arizona pretty quickly. They all have the same look of amazement. Mouths slightly agape with eyes wide

Nov 16, 20195 min read

I Want To Wake Up In A City That Never Sleeps

My Friday alarm went off a 4:00 a.m. I slid out of bed, made myself semi-presentable, and tossed the last of my toiletries into my carry-on.

Sep 21, 20194 min read

3-Day Weekend In Denver

Denver is one of those great cities that has something for everyone. This is why it rose to the top of the list of destinations for our...

Jul 27, 20194 min read

Booking Boutique in Austin

I'm currently planning a trip to Austin, TX, where the boutique hotel scene is booming. Here are 11 boutique hotels to consider...

Jun 24, 20195 min read

Martinique in Six Hours

Martinique's storied history involves familiar characters: Christopher Columbus, Louis XIII, slaves, British vs. French trade battles,...

May 19, 20193 min read

What I Learned On My First Cruise

I've always been anti-cruise for the obvious reasons. I don't want to be stuck on a boat with annoying "cruise people." I don't want to...

Apr 16, 20194 min read

Don't Plan Your Next Trip Without These Tools

Trip planning can be a beast of an undertaking. If keeping train and plane schedules, rental car reservation numbers and hotel addresses...

Feb 1, 20196 min read

Smooth Sailing

I'm planning to take my first cruise...ever. As a novice, I've dived head first into numerous blogs, vlogs, and Pinterest boards to...

Dec 29, 20182 min read

Gatsby? What Gatsby?

A few years ago, my friend, Hannah, and I did a road trip around New England in mid-October. The trip was one of the more relaxing and...

Aug 19, 20182 min read

An Airbnb Enthusiast Tells All

If you'd asked me a year ago my opinion on Airbnb, I would have told you it was creepy, un-trustworthy, and frankly not worth it. Staying...

Jul 31, 20184 min read

Solo Travel?

You plan, purchase, and pack for your dream trip - alone. You drive, park, walk to the check-in, and go through security - alone. You...

Jul 19, 20184 min read

India: It's Hot, Wear a Scarf

Take a look at these photos. Can you spot the similarities? You may notice that I have a scarf on more often than not. Was it cold in...

Brooke Nine

Jun 21, 20182 min read

The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club

Travelers to Honolulu have their pick of hotels, ranging from the luxiourious to the budget conscious. Skyscrapers, restaurants, and...

May 28, 20183 min read

Point Bonita Lighthouse

I'm a sucker for a lot of things. When ranked, lighthouses fall somewhere between elderly people holding hands and big-sky sunsets. So...

May 9, 20182 min read

The Ugly Truth About Jet Lag

If I could travel back to the 19th century and tell a random person on the street that in the future you could travel in a flying, metal...

Mar 23, 20183 min read

An Over-packer's Guide to Packing Like A Pro

I'll be the first to admit that I'm an over-packer. The "overweight" tag on my luggage is a familiar sight. If you're like me you've...

Feb 24, 20185 min read

Two If By Seaplane

One of my life goals is to visit all of the United States National Parks. So when my family decided to take a trip to Key West, there was...

Feb 18, 20182 min read

If It Ain't Broken Bow

"Glamping," or glamorous camping, is the new craze amongst city-slickers like myself. Roughing it in the woods is a thing of the past. If...

Feb 18, 20181 min read

10 Tips For Traveling With Friends

Anyone who's traveled with friends or family knows that it comes with its challenges. You're likely not used to spending so much...

Feb 18, 20184 min read

Chic Loft in the Heart of Paris!

You can always stay in a hotel, but when in Paris, try an Airbnb. When we traveled to Paris in June 2017, we stayed at Aibnb's "Chic Loft...

Feb 18, 20181 min read

What in the World is Punting?

If you're interested, Cambridge University published a guide to punting in 2008. The guide warns novices against the biggest mistakes of...

Feb 17, 20181 min read

The Tower of London - Yeoman Warder Tour

I've visited The Tower of London twice, and both times I've planned my trip to align with the Yeoman Warder (or Beefeater) guided tours....

Feb 17, 20181 min read

Driving in Great Britain

I watched this daily before our road trip through Scotland, and found it exceptionally useful and easy to understand. I will admit that...

Feb 17, 20181 min read

Veuve Clicquot Cellar Tour

Our journey began at Paris EST, where we caught a 9:28 Rail Europe train to Reims, France. The trip was a short 0:45 ride with several...

Feb 17, 20182 min read

Highland Highlights - Diary Entry

July 6th, 2017 Creag Mhor Lodge - North Ballachuish Inverness-shire (PH22 6RY) Of two things I strongly believe. One, my Lord savior, and...

Feb 15, 20182 min read

Creag Mhor Lodge

When looking for accommodations in Scotland, one cannot rely on the usual suspects - Hotels.com, Booking.com, Expedia.com, etc. Scotland...

Feb 15, 20182 min read