Eating My Way Through New Orleans
A month ago, I wrote about my time in New Orleans, talking about classic highlights like Bourbon Street and streetcars, along with some lesser-known finds like the Pharmacy Museum. But I had so much to share with you in that post that I promised a separate one on the food, and here it is. Food is such an important part of traveling for me, and one … Continue reading Eating My Way Through New Orleans
Books Going Places: The Starbound Trilogy
Before I dive into the first post of my new feature, “Books Going Places,” I want to reminisce for a moment. The Dawn of Young Adult Fiction for Me In the summer of 2011, I had just moved to North Carolina, and I was unemployed. When I couldn’t write another application or cover letter, I read. Though my apartment was small and dingy, it was across the … Continue reading Books Going Places: The Starbound Trilogy
Visiting The Poe Museum
When I was in middle school, I was assigned Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Black Cat.” A long-time fan of felines, I was excited about it. When I reached one of the more gruesome parts of the story, I actually burst into tears. It was my first encounter with Poe’s macabre, and as a teenager, I wasn’t ready for it. But then I read “The Gold Bug” … Continue reading Visiting The Poe Museum
Another End of the Year Post: Goodbye, 2015!
Well, it’s been a pretty great year for me, and I hope you can say the same for yours. While every year comes with its share of highs and lows, 2015 definitely tipped the scale on highs. As it’s the season of reflection, I thought I’d share a few of them. By the Titles Two titles changed this year: the blog’s title and my job title. Last month, I … Continue reading Another End of the Year Post: Goodbye, 2015!
A Light in the Darkness (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 12)
Deep within the mazes of Venetian streets, the story of my second night in Venice begins — a night of finding my way and of seeing light in the darkness. After a full day in Venice, our plan was to return to our rented apartment. Earlier in the day, I navigated the winding, labyrinthine alleys of Venice with few mistakes, but in the dark, I found myself disoriented. To make things … Continue reading A Light in the Darkness (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 12)
Exploring at Home: 5 New Finds in the Triangle (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 11)
As much as I love getting out of town, state, and country to travel, my sense of exploration doesn’t turn off when I’m at home. I’m often surprised that I’m still discovering things where we live, but we do live just outside of North Carolina’s second most populous city, Raleigh. (It’s also the sixth fastest-growing city in the U.S.) New stuff is always popping up, and I’m … Continue reading Exploring at Home: 5 New Finds in the Triangle (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 11)
My Top Ten Meals of 2015 (#12DayOfTravel, Day 10)
So far in this 12 Days of Travel series, I’ve talked about my top items of the year that I checked off my bucket list and I posted about my favorite fictional finds of the year. Now it’s time to talk about my real love: food. Most people who love travel also love food. A nearly inextricable part of traveling, eating is often one of the best parts of … Continue reading My Top Ten Meals of 2015 (#12DayOfTravel, Day 10)
Travel & Terrorism: Choosing Between Freedom and Safety (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 9)
Disclaimer: The words I write today have been in my head and on my heart for a long time. This is a more critical piece than usual, so make of it what you will. Tomorrow will return to my usual travel musings – my top eats of the year, to be exact. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide travel alert. To … Continue reading Travel & Terrorism: Choosing Between Freedom and Safety (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 9)
3 Things I Learned from Solo Female Travel in 2015 (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 8)
“You’re going to walk Bourbon Street, by yourself??” “You’re going to eat dinner, alone??” “You’re going to go there, as a solo woman?” Yes. Yes, I am. This year, I’ve done more solo female travel than usual thanks to several business trips and a few situations where my husband, my favorite travel companion, couldn’t come. Though some people insist on a shock reaction, I always find traveling … Continue reading 3 Things I Learned from Solo Female Travel in 2015 (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 8)
Vibrant, Defined: Exploring New Orleans (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 7)
Vibrant. At face value, it means energetic, enthusiastic. It suggests movement, and its secondary definition is “quivering, pulsating.” And vibrant has more particular meaning when applied to color and sound. For color, it implies brightness; for sound, resonation and strength. Lately, vibrant is a buzzword associated with growing cities. Vibrancy now encapsulates an exciting, diverse, progressive, cultured place to be. A place that’s full of … Continue reading Vibrant, Defined: Exploring New Orleans (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 7)
9 Tips To Have a Great Airbnb Experience (#12DaysofTravel, Day 6)
2015 was the first year I used Airbnb, and I learned a lot from the thirteen nights I spent in other people’s homes. Of eight reservations made through Airbnb this year, all but one were good, and some were amazing. I love Airbnb because its properties are frequently: Cheaper More centrally located More spacious and homey than a hotel room Equipped with more amenities Hosted by friendly … Continue reading 9 Tips To Have a Great Airbnb Experience (#12DaysofTravel, Day 6)
6 Favorite Fictional Finds of 2015 (#12DaysofTravel, Day 5)
These past few years have definitely ignited a love of literary travel, which is part of the inspiration for this blog. Whether it’s a bookstore, an author home, a literary museum, or a recreated book-to-movie film set, I’m always up for literary adventures of any kind. #1. Hunt Library in Raleigh, North Carolina How I went four years in this city without knowing about this place … Continue reading 6 Favorite Fictional Finds of 2015 (#12DaysofTravel, Day 5)
Why I Like Different (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 4)
My husband likes to joke that he can always predict what I’ll order at restaurants: the most bizarre thing on the menu. (And as such, it’s usually the most expensive one. Sorry, babe.) The first time he told me that, I laughed as if he was kidding. Then I realized it’s true. I have a few reasons why. One reason is pragmatism — we cook at home often, and I … Continue reading Why I Like Different (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 4)
A Snowy Journey: Riding the Bernina Express from Italy to Switzerland (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 3)
Though I’ve covered most of my trip to Italy this year on the blog, I kept forgetting to post about taking the Bernina Express, the path of which is mostly a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not because it wasn’t stunning, but because it was so different from the rest of the trip. And as winter approached, it seemed fitting to keep this snowy journey in reserve until … Continue reading A Snowy Journey: Riding the Bernina Express from Italy to Switzerland (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 3)
3 Checks on the Bucket List (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 2)
For quite a few years now, I’ve had an informal bucket list. Things like, “see the pyramids” and “go to Iceland.” But this year, partly because I’ve gotten more serious about travel and partly because of this blog, I finally created an official bucket list. A handful I’d already done, but the rest are for future travels. Since I was choosy about what went on the list — … Continue reading 3 Checks on the Bucket List (#12DaysOfTravel, Day 2)
Booked & Ready 