Traveling the world while maintaining a full time job and a life at home often feels like a series of very hard choices. Where to go this year, how do you fit in enough during your two week vacation without overdoing it, etc. Whether to visit the North or South Island in New Zealand became one of those difficult choices for me while planning our … Continue reading How to Choose North vs. South Island New Zealand
This year I was lucky enough to visit three different US cities – Washington, D.C. over Easter weekend, Boston over the Fourth of July, and Seattle over a different weekend in July. Two of these trips (Washington, DC and Seattle) were done very cheaply and the other (Boston) was a bit more of a “treat yo self”, so I can definitely share some ways that … Continue reading How to Plan a Cheap Long Weekend to Any US City
As I’m preparing to head back to Europe in a few months, I’ve been thinking back to my first trip “abroad” and I thought I could share some advice, so I’ve compiled a list of 50 tips that I would give to someone heading out for their first international trip! The Basics #1: Pick somewhere on the beaten path. I know, I know, everyone’s always … Continue reading 50 Tips for Your First Trip Abroad
When I was researching for our trip out to Bonneville Speed Week, there weren’t many resources to help with planning, and I’ve since learned that some of the information was outdated or incorrect. Therefore I wanted to try my hand at an updated guide for those wishing to attend Bonneville Speed Week as spectators! What is Bonneville Speed Week? Speed Week is an event that … Continue reading Bonneville Speed Week Travel Guide
I had a great time in Cuba, and my friend Madison and I always took note of things to add to our “Gringa Guide to Havana” while we were there, so I thought it would be good to write down some advice for women traveling to my favorite city! Gringa vs. Yuma First off, let’s get something straight. In Cuba, you’re not a gringa, you’re a yuma. … Continue reading The Gringa Guide to Havana
Here’s a quick guide to some common Spanish slang that I noticed was used in Cuba during my month there! If you don’t speak Spanish yet, check out these reasons why you should. If you do, that’s awesome, and I hope this quick guide will help you on your trip to Cuba! 1. Yuma This word means foreigner, similar to the way gringo/a is used in other … Continue reading Your Guide to Cuban Slang
IN SHORT I really loved Bolivia, and especially Coroico. It’s a really beautiful area, the people are very friendly, the Spanish is easy to understand, and everything is really cheap (think 75 cents for a meal with a Coke). It’s definitely a wonderful area to explore. BEST ATTRACTIONS 1. UAC – Carmen Pampa The UAC (Universidad Academica Campesina) at Carmen Pampa educates the local young people … Continue reading Quick Guide: Coroico
IN SHORT People often think of Paris as a literary city, but Edinburgh has a fascinating history of its own in that respect. Great writers like Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have called Edinburgh home, and even J.K. Rowling is said to have penned much of the first Harry Potter novels in a cafe sitting below Edinburgh Castle (inspiration … Continue reading Quick Guide: Edinburgh
Puerto Rican cuisine is all about the two P’s: pork and plantains. There’s also a lot of rice and fried food, all of it delicious and most of it pretty un-spicy. This surprises a lot of people who are expecting something along the lines of Mexican food, with lots of peppers and hot sauce. Instead, comida criolla in Puerto Rico is all about satisfying, flavorful dishes. Here’s a … Continue reading Puerto Rican Food and Drink
IN SHORT English writer Samuel Johnson is quoted as saying “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford”. This is pretty accurate–there is so much to do in London, it’s almost impossible to be bored! I think part of this is because it’s both the capital city and a cultural center … Continue reading Quick Guide: London