Funchal is the beautiful capital city of Madeira, Portugal. It is much bigger than I was expecting - it’s the sixth-largest city in Portugal and home to over 100,000 people. What really makes Funchal special is its setting. Madeira is
Known for its dramatic and rugged terrain, Northwestern Madeira is highly accessible from the capital city of Funchal. A scenic 50-minute drive from Funchal makes it a great day trip destination! We kicked off our first full day in Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese volcanic island off the coast of Morocco. It has stunning jagged peaks that are perfect for hiking. I’d had the PR1 hike on my bucket list for many years, so I am very grateful I finally
Playa del Carmen is a popular area in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. It is only about 45 minutes from Cancun. We stayed at Paradisus, which has two resorts: Paradisus La Perla is the adults-only resort, and Paradisus Playa del Carmen is
Krabi is a popular coastal region in southern Thailand. Whether you’re interested in island hopping, relaxing on white-sand beaches, or unwinding at a luxury resort, Krabi is the perfect tropical paradise! Mike and I spent three full days in this
During our time in Krabi, Thailand, we chose to stay at the Varana Krabi Hotel. Constructed in 2023, this is a modern wellness-focused luxury hotel. It is located about 20 minutes from the town of Ao Nang, in the Khlong
Khao Sok National Park is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world and is a truly unique place to visit in southern Thailand. There are two parts of the park. The jungle is easily accessible by vehicle
Sametnangshe Boutique Hotel has one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. The hotel is located in the Phang Nga province in southern Thailand. The views of the limestone islands jutting out of Phang Nga Bay are unlike anything
The city of Bangkok is one of my favorite big cities I’ve been to. It is the capital of Thailand and home to 11 million people. While this city sometimes gets mixed reviews, I loved its chaos, grunginess, rich culture,
Doha is the modern capital city of Qatar, located on the Persian Gulf. Doha’s airport is one of the busiest in the world and is a popular spot for long-haul international connections. Mike and I had a 36-hour stopover there
Lake Las Vegas is located about 30 minutes east of Las Vegas, just outside the suburb of Henderson. This is a resort community planned around a manmade lake. There are a few resorts, golf courses, many homes, and a waterfront
Las Vegas is a city unlike any other! While it’s known for its casinos, the city offers so much more for everyone. Whether you’re interested in the elite food scene, spectacular shows, elevated themed hotels, pool parties or clubs for
Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park and is located only an hour from Las Vegas! I’ve wanted to visit this park for as long as I can remember. While in town for a conference in November,
Montana is one of my favorite states and is very popular for outdoor lovers. I spent eight incredible days in Montana in August 2025. While you can see a lot in eight days, you most likely can’t see the whole
The beautiful town of Missoula is a must-see stop on your Montana trip! We were attending our friends’ wedding in the area in August 2025, so we spent the last few days of our trip here. This area is amazing
Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana, along the Canadian border. This is one of my all-time favorite parks and I was lucky enough to visit for my second time in August 2025. The park is quite big, and there
I visited Glacier National Park for my second time in August 2025. This is one of my favorite national parks ever! It is named for its 25+ glaciers. The park is nicknamed the “Crown of the Continent” and it is
Yellowstone National Park is huge! It spans over 2.2 million acres in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. I’d recommend spending two or three days here if you can, but if you only have one (long) day, it is possible to see
The Yellowstone area is one of the most beautiful and unique natural places in the United States and home to the oldest national park in the world! Yellowstone sits on a massive supervolcano, which powers thousands of hydrothermal features. You’ll
Panama City Beach is located along the Gulf Coast in Florida’s panhandle. The area is known for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. There are tons of activities for people of all ages! Located about five hours from Atlanta, I’ve
The charming waterfront city of Baltimore is the perfect destination for a day or weekend! While in Baltimore for a wedding in July, Mike and I got to do some exploring around the town. These are my recommendations for an
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is best known for its role in the Civil War, where the Battle of Gettysburg took place in 1863. This was the bloodiest battle in the war and was a turning point for the Union. Today, the Gettysburg
Miami is one of the top bachelorette destinations in the US. It’s the perfect spot to celebrate with your girls! I was here for my friend Angelena’s bachelorette weekend in April. I thought it was the perfect time to visit
Haywood County is one of my favorite places. I’ve been visiting this area for a long time, and my husband Mike and I got married there in 2024. Located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in western North Carolina,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the perfect day trip destination if you are staying in the Cherokee or Gatlinburg areas. This is the most visited national park in the United States, with over 12 million visitors in 2024. The
The Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall resort is located in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It’s an all-inclusive paradise with all food and drinks included for the entirety of your stay. I visited this resort in February 2025 with my husband Mike and
The adorable town of Breckenridge is located in the mountains of Colorado. It's known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding, but is worth a visit in the summer too!While Mike and I were visiting our good friends Dustin and Sheena
Savannah is one of my favorite cities in the south and is an easy weekend trip from Atlanta. The city is the oldest in Georgia, founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe. It was one of the only towns left standing
British Columbia is known for its gorgeous natural scenery. I was lucky enough to visit this Canadian province in August 2024 with my friend Ashley. We’d been dreaming of backpacking through the Canadian Rockies and made that happen on our
Wedgemount Lake is a glacier-fed lake that is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, about 20 minutes outside of Whistler. This hike is no joke. I thought it was very strenuous, especially with a backpacking pack on. I completed this backpacking
Route 1 (AKA the Pacific Highway) is a coastal highway that covers a good portion of the state of California. The road is 656 miles long and runs from the Los Angeles area to northern California. It’s known for its
I spent a week in Monterey, California for a work conference in August 2024. I ended up having a couple days worth of free time while the conference was not in session. The conference was at Asilomar Hotel, in Pacific Grove.
I visited Omaha, Nebraska with Mike in September 2022 for my cousin’s wedding. While we spent about a day doing wedding-related activities, we also spent a day exploring the city. These are my recommendations for things to do in the
My husband and I spent two wonderful weeks in gorgeous French Polynesia for our honeymoon in May and June 2024. French Polynesia is made up of 118 different islands. We were lucky enough to visit four of them while we
On our 17-day honeymoon in French Polynesia, my husband and I spent our last four days on the quiet island of Taha’a. What drew us to this island was the popular resort with overwater bungalows, Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts.
My husband and I stayed at Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts for two days on our honeymoon. It is a beautiful resort, and we are so glad we got to experience life in an overwater bungalow! There are several resorts
The third island on our 17-day honeymoon in French Polynesia was Bora Bora. I had always dreamed of visiting this island. From the numerous shades of blues in the water, to the variety of sea life and the luxurious overwater
The second island Mike and I visited on our honeymoon was Moorea! Located only about 10 miles west of Tahiti, it is easy to get there for a day trip or longer. Moorea has tons of things to do, so
I spent two days in Tahiti with my HUSBAND on our honeymoon in May! This was the beginning of our 17-day trip in French Polynesia, where we got to explore four different islands. Tahiti was the perfect island to start
I had my bachelorette weekend with nine of my closest friends in Blue Ridge, Georgia in early March! I love Blue Ridge: it’s located in the north Georgia mountains and there is no shortage of things to do. Most of
This section of the Appalachian Trail leads to one of the best views of North Carolina’s mountains. My friend Ashley and I (and my pup Ollie!) hiked to Siler Bald and camped on the top of the mountain. It was
The Canadian Rockies are known for spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, glaciers and icefields, and iconic mountain towns. This area is one of the most beautiful locations in the world. This is my second time here, and I’m sure it won’t
Jasper National Park is located about three hours north of Banff, in Alberta, Canada. On our Canadian Rockies trip in August 2023, we spent about three full days in the Jasper area. I highly recommend spending at least three days
One of the most scenic drives in the world lies between Banff and Jasper, Canada, the Icefields Parkway. On our ten-day trip in the Canadian Rockies, we spent half our time in Banff and half in Jasper. This meant we
On our trip to the Canadian Rockies, we took a day trip to an area I hadn’t been before, Yoho National Park and the town of Golden, both in the province of British Columbia. Located right next door to Banff
Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I had been there before on a hiking and camping trip with some friends, but this time I went on a 10-day adventure through the Canadian Rockies with
If you’re looking for a beautiful Caribbean destination to spend your holiday, look no further! Curaçao is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Curaçao is in the southern part of the Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela. It’s part
My fiancé Mike and I spent eight days in Curaçao in early May. The small Dutch Caribbean island is located off the coast of Venezuela and is part of the ABC islands, with Aruba and Bonaire. We spent our first
We spent one morning on our trip to Curaçao adventuring on an ATV tour with Eric’s ATV Adventures. They have a few options for locations of the tours. We chose the East Tour, as we were staying on the west
During our week in Curaçao, we spent one full day exploring the island’s capital city, Willemstad. We drove about 30 minutes that morning from our resort in Sint Willibrordus. Museum Kura HulandaWe started our day at Museum Kura Hulanda, which dives
During our week in Curaçao, I really wanted to get a sense of the island’s more adventurous side by visiting its two most popular national parks. Christoffel National Park and Shete Boka National Park are located on the north side
I recently visited the island of Curaçao with my fiancé Mike in May. Curaçao is in the southern part of the Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela. It’s part of the ABC islands with Aruba and Bonaire. We decided to make
I spent six days doing a Utah Road Trip in October 2022 with my friend Ashley. We had an awesome time and saw so much!! Utah is one of my favorite states after this trip. It’s so diverse and there
At the end of our Utah road trip, we explored the Great Salt Lake area. This lake (originally known as Lake Bonneville) once covered almost a quarter of the state of Utah. Several thousand years ago, the lake was almost
The fourth day of our Utah road trip was mostly spent around the Capitol Reef area. We started our morning in Monument Valley and left shortly after sunrise to begin the four hour drive to Capitol Reef National Park. If
Monument Valley had been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located on the Navajo Nation Reservation. When I think of the wild west, this is what it looks like. When
On our recent Utah road trip in October 2022, my friend Ashley and I spent two action-packed days in the Moab area. We camped in Dead Horse Point State Park, visited two national parks, and more! ThursdayAfter flying into Salt Lake
I spent a week in Norway in August 2022. Half of our time was spent in the Lofoten Islands hiking and exploring the small fishing villages. The other half was spent in the Bergen area checking out the city and
Norway has been on my bucket list for years, and I was so excited when my boyfriend Mike, friends Ashley and Nat, and I decided to go there in August 2022! We decided to spend one week in Norway and
Our last three days in Norway were spent in and around the city of Bergen. Bergen is the second most populated city in Norway (after Oslo), and is perfectly placed on the western coast, close to many fjords. We were
We spent three days in the Lofoten Islands of northern Norway in August 2022. We were supposed to have an extra half day, but with flight cancellations and delays, we ended up getting in a day later than planned. Fortunately,
On my recent trip to Europe in August, we decided to stop in Amsterdam for a few days before journeying north to Norway with my boyfriend Mike and friends Ashley and Nat. This was my second time in Amsterdam after
I've been hiking for many years and I have learned over time that quality gear pays for itself. If you are just getting into hiking, it may sound intimidating to spend thousands of dollars on nice gear. I recommend starting
After nine days on three different islands of Hawaii, I'm already dreaming about visiting again one day. We spent three days in Oahu, two days in Kauai, and three days on the Big Island. Here are 30 of my favorite
I had wished to visit Hawaii for as long as I can remember. However, I’d always put it on the backburner, as there were more international destinations I had ranked higher on my priority list. In early 2022, with Covid-19
Our last stop on our Hawaii trip was the Big Island. The flight from Kauai ended up being delayed a bit, so we didn’t arrive until 7pm. We were very hungry and tired, so instead of going out to eat
Our trip to Hawaii started with three awesome days in Oahu. Our next stop was Kauai! Kauai is nicknamed “the Garden Isle” due to its lush tropical rainforests. This is Hawaii’s oldest island and the least populated out of the
I just got back from the most magical nine-day trip to Hawaii with my boyfriend Mike! This was my first trip to the Aloha State, and it did not disappoint. Since I had never been before, I wanted to see
Palm Springs is the perfect location for a girls’ getaway. Located in the desert of southern California, it’s an amazing oasis to escape to. I traveled here with my friend Kelsey for my 30th birthday in December. We flew into
Joshua Tree is a popular national park in southern California, near Palm Springs. It is known for and named after its Joshua trees that look like they’re straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. However, I had no idea of
Northern Italy is magical! I spent nine days here bouncing between the Dolomites, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Venice in October 2021. This was my second trip to Italy and I'm sure it won't be the last. These are my favorite
We spent a few days in Tuscany in October 2021 for the wedding of some good friends of mine. While we spent a good portion of our time there participating in wedding activities, we also got to do a little
The Dolomites were a bucket list destination for me. Located in northern Italy, this mountain range is a part of the Alps. They completely blew away my expectations. Day 1 My boyfriend Mike and I started our Italian vacation by flying into
Mount Rainier is one of my favorite national parks. Pictures just can't capture how epic the mountain is. I love how you can see it from so far away because of how massive it is. This trip would allow us to
Seattle is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and bodies of water. What’s not to love? My boyfriend Mike and I spent about five days in Washington at the end of September, with two of those days in Seattle. This
I traveled to Wyoming in August with one of my best friends to visit Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. I thought this was the perfect amount of time here to see a good amount of sights!ItineraryDay 1Fly
On our Tetons road trip, we spent about a day in the town of Jackson. This was a great place to fly in and out of, because of its close proximity to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. These
I recently spent several days in the Teton mountain range and three of those days were in Grand Teton National Park. I thought this was the perfect amount of time to see everything we wanted. Our first full day was
Delta Lake is a beautiful bright-blue alpine lake that sits at about 9000 feet in elevation in Grand Teton National Park. The hike to Delta Lake is about 8.3 miles round trip. Hikers will make a moderate to strenuous
My friend Ashley and I recently spent five days in the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming. One of those days was spent in Yellowstone National Park, the oldest national park (designated as such in 1872!). We flew into Jackson Hole on
The drive from Crater Lake to Portland takes about 4.5 hours. On our way to Crater Lake, we drove on the less scenic route, going through Eugene. On our way back to Portland, we decided to take the route east
The main goal of my trip to Oregon with my dad was to visit Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake is about 4.5 hours south of Portland. It is located in the middle of nowhere. I’ve never felt so isolated
My dad and I just got back from a long weekend in Oregon. While we were there, we spent about a day in Portland. This is what we did!Pine State BiscuitsWe started our morning with breakfast at Pine State Biscuits.
Carvers GapThe Grassy Ridge Bald hike starts from Carvers Gap, a popular trailhead along the Appalachian Trail. Carvers Gap is near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, about 1.5 hours north of Asheville. There is a fairly large parking
I am so excited to share this post from my extensive research over the many years I've lived in Georgia. I've completed just about every popular trail in the Georgia mountains and these 11 are my absolute favorite hikes in
I recently went on a weekend trip with one of my best friends, Anna, to South Carolina’s low country. We took her Airstream camper and set up camp at Hunting Island State Park, which is about 30 minutes east of
In November, I spent three days in Arizona with two of my friends, Ashley and Kelsey. While we were in the Sedona area, Kelsey really wanted to check out Horseshoe Bend. It is located on the east rim of the
On my recent trip to Arizona, we based ourselves in Sedona for two nights. While we spent one of our days in Flagstaff and Horseshoe Bend, I would say we collectively spent about a day and a half in Sedona.
While we were in Sedona, we did two hikes. Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock are two of the most popular hikes in the area, and for good reason! Both were really cool, but I felt like Devil’s Bridge was a
I recently got back from a short three-day trip to Arizona. On this trip, two of my girlfriends and I flew into Phoenix, and then made our way to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Scottsdale is a suburb of Phoenix
Alaska is one of my favorite states I have been to. It was always on my bucket list, but with the pandemic restricting us from leaving the country and finding cheap flights, we thought this was the perfect time to
Denali is unlike any other national park I’ve been to. The park encompasses 6 million acres of land in central Alaska and holds the tallest mountain in North America. This is the second biggest national park in America, second to
The drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park takes about four hours if you are driving straight through. While we did drive straight there on the way to Denali, we left ourselves a day to explore the area on the
We spent the majority of our eight-day trip to Alaska in the Kenai Peninsula. This area is very easy to get to by car from Anchorage. I’ve included everything we did in the peninsula, including activities and restaurants we ate
This was an amazing hike to the largest icefield entirely within the US! Harding Icefield is composed of 40 glaciers and spans over 1100 square miles. While you can see Exit Glacier from the drive in and other easier trails
I spent eight days in Alaska over the first week in September. We were originally planning on going to Italy this fall but with the pandemic, we had to change our plans. When I found extremely cheap flights from Atlanta
The logistics are the most important part of planning a trip in my eyes. How much money will you need? Where will you go exactly? How much time will you spend in each place? How will you get there?
The last park on our Washington trip was Olympic National Park. We camped in Enumclaw, WA Saturday night, and drove to Olympic Sunday morning. Our first stop was in Port Angeles, about a 2.5 hour’s drive from Enumclaw. We stopped
The third day of our Washington trip was a long one! We left North Cascades National Park first thing in the morning and stopped in Seattle for lunch and to visit a few friends. From there, we drove south a
After six months not traveling due to the covid pandemic, I got a sweet reminder of what it felt like to be exploring new places in August 2020. I traveled to Washington state with three friends for an epic hiking
I recently completed a 9-mile backpacking trip in southwestern North Carolina with three friends. The hike to Black Balsam Knob is one of the prettiest and most scenic hikes I’ve done, and I was so happy we were backpacking overnight
Atlanta is about a 1.5-2 hour’s drive to the Appalachian Mountains. While that’s an easy day or weekend trip to get to some of the best hikes in the Southeast, sometimes it’s necessary to stay closer to the city. While
I recently spent a weekend in Houston with my best friend from childhood, Emily. We got in late Friday night and hung out at our Airbnb and caught up. We stayed at an Airbnb in the Montrose neighborhood and loved
Budapest is a beautiful city in Eastern Europe. These are my favorite photos from our three-day stay here!Statute of Gyula Andrassy in front of ParliamentSt. Stephen's BasilicaInside St. Stephen's BasilicaFisherman's BastionFisherman's BastionView from Fisherman's BastionVajdahunyad
These are the places we ate and drank during our three days in Budapest! We had a late breakfast each morning, so didn’t feel the need to eat lunch as well. Breakfast & Coffee in BudapestBudapest BaristasRestaurant Atmosphere: Super cute coffee
Budapest is such a cool and funky city with an eclectic vibe. Our #1 reason for coming here in the winter was to visit the infamous thermal baths. They did not disappoint! We spent three full days and four nights
If I haven't already convinced you to pack up your things and go to Paris, here are my favorite photos from our trip to persuade you a little further. We spent 4.5 days here over New Year's week and loved
My boyfriend and I spent 4.5 days in Paris over New Year’s Week. Paris was even better than I had imagined, with astonishing sites, mouth-watering food, and mild winter weather. I've written about my experiences in the City of Lights
Breakfast, Bakeries and CoffeePaulLocation: They’re everywhere! It’s a big chain around the world but based in France.Restaurant Atmosphere: Cafe atmosphere, where most locations have tables with seating outside.What We Tried: I've tried a lot of things, including the chocolate tarts
Bonjour! New Year’s week was spent in Paris. What a magical place it was to ring in the new decade! We were in Paris for about four and a half days before moving on to Budapest. After landing in Paris early
I spent eight days in Portugal the first week in September with my friend Kelsey. We bounced all over, starting in Porto, moving to Lagos and the Algarve coast, and ending in Lisbon. I’ve included all the logistics I think
In our eight days in Portugal, we ate at a lot of restaurants in Porto, Lisbon, and Lagos. These are the ones I would recommend out of all the places we tried, organized by type of food!Portuguese FoodCantinho da SeLocation:
I've compiled my favorite photos from my week in Portugal to convince you to go to here. Enjoy!Praia da UrsaObidosIgreja do Carmo in PortoLivraria Lello in PortoPortoPortoPortoPortoCharcuterie in PortoBatalha MonasteryBatalha MonasterySunset in LagosBenagil Cave in the AlgarvePraia
I spent the first week of September in Portugal with my friend Kelsey. In the eight days we were there, three and a half of our days were in Lisbon. This was plenty of time in my opinion. We were
Porto was our first main stop on our eight-day trip to Portugal. The city is located in northern Portugal and is known for its Port wine. With 2.2 million people living in the metro area, it is the second biggest
I spent three days in California the third weekend of July with six friends. We spent the majority of that time in Sequoia National Park. This was my first time in the park and I was blown away!ItineraryDay 1Fly
We left Sequoia National Park around 11:30 am on Sunday. We had a 4.5 hour drive back to LA, with nothing planned for the day. Our flight wasn’t until 10:30 pm, so we had about half a day to spare.
The Lakes Trail is a strenuous, long hike in Sequoia National Park. It is located near the Lodgepole Campground, which is where we were staying. The trail goes to one scenic overlook and three alpine lakes. The entire trail to
I just got back from spending two full days in Sequoia National Park with six friends. Sequoia is about 5 hours northeast of Los Angeles. Once in the park, we set up our tents and campsite at Lodgepole Campground. Then
In honor of our Independence Day, I've put together my favorite pictures around the United States that I've taken. Our country really is so diverse! For my American friends, enjoy our holiday!Zion National Park, UtahMinneapolis, MinnesotaAppalachian Trail, GeorgiaAustin, TexasBlue Ridge
I was in Minneapolis last month for a conference and I had one free day to explore the city. Read further to see what I did!Shop on Nicollet MallNicollet Mall is in the center of downtown. It’s a mile-long street
During my week in Colorado this spring, we didn’t actually spend much time in Denver. Instead, we spent our time hiking and exploring a few little towns west of Denver. Our home base was in Evergreen.EvergreenEvergreen is about 40
The Red Rocks Amphitheater is located in Morrison, Colorado, in the suburbs of Denver. The amphitheater is the only naturally perfectly acoustic amphitheater in the world. Anyone can go in and check out the amphitheater, and they have several trails
I recently spent a week in the suburbs of Denver. The first half of the week was in Evergreen. Evergreen is about 30 miles west of Denver, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. On our first day there, we
I was in Saint Lucia in March 2019 for my friend Carson’s wedding. We stayed at The Royalton, an all-inclusive resort on the north side of the island. I brought another friend, Joncel, with me. We were gone for a
The Pitons are two large volcanic mountains in Saint Lucia. They are located in the southwestern part of the island, near the town of Soufriere. The two mountains are called Gros Piton (Big Peak) and Petit Piton (Small Peak). Petit
I spent a week in Greece in June 2015. During my time there, I went to Athens, Delphi, and Santorini. I love this country! Here are my favorite photos from my trip.Arch of Hadrian in Athens (with the Acropolis peaking
My mom and I spent a week in Greece back in June 2015. Athens was our starting spot, and we spent three full days here. We also took a day trip to Delphi while in Athens. From here, we flew
San Antonio is a charming city with a good number of things to do. While your weekend will be filled with activities, it's easy to hit the highlights in just a couple days.Friday NightDinner at Boudro's Texas BistroBoudro’s is
My friends and I recently spent a weekend in a cabin near Asheville, NC. Our Friday night and Sunday morning were spent hanging out at the cabin, but on Saturday we had a full day of activities.Hike Bearwallow MountainBearwallow Mountain
I'm so thankful for all the travels I accomplished this year! I went to France and the Netherlands in the spring. My hiking trips this summer were to Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff National Park in Canada. The
The 12 months, 12 hikes challenge continued this year! This is my third year doing it. I usually try to go once a month, but with as many weddings I went to in the spring, I had to double up
I love taking my drone out when I travel! Here are my favorite aerial photos I've taken this year.
Over the years, planning future trips has become one of my favorite hobbies. I wanted to share my planning process, as I frequently get questions like “where do I even start?” or “how do you not get overwhelmed?”Horses in IcelandMy
Iceland is one of the most photogenic places I've been. Here are my favorite pictures from the trip!Check out my video on our time in Iceland! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axnuA6pVsRoYou may also be interested in: How to Spend a Day in Reykjavik Northwestern Iceland Northeastern Iceland Glaciers in
ItinerarySaturday 9/1 - Land in Reykjavik early morning, spend half day exploring city, drive to Kirkjufell waterfall, drive to Airbnb Sunday 9/2 - Drive to Dalvik via Trollaskagi Peninsula, whale watching tour in Dalvik, drive to Akureyri and stay
I'm so excited to share my new video of my trip to Iceland! We spent 9 days here the first week in September. Iceland was one of the most interesting places I've been. With such diverse landscapes, there were times
On our last two days in Iceland, we spent our time in the southwestern region, east of Reykjavik.LAVA CenterThe LAVA Centre is located in the town of Hvolsvöllur. You’ll get to explore an interactive exhibition on the volcanic systems in
I just got back from my nine-day trip in Iceland! We had an amazing time and I’m so excited to share all of my trip details with y’all. We were in Reykjavik the first half of our first day and
At the end of July, three friends and a I spent four days in Banff, Canada. We flew into Calgary and drove 1.5 hours to get into the park. We camped at Two Jack Lakeside Campground, which was only 15
We came to Banff to hike, and that’s what we did! On our first day we hiked Johnston Canyon, the second day we headed south to Upper Kananaskis, and on our last full day we hiked to Lake Agnes up
Banff has some amazingly blue, glacier-fed lakes that are stunning to see in person. The three that we saw that were easy to access were Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and Peyto Lake. The lakes are about an hour’s drive north
My friends and I just completed our annual girls’ hiking trip in Banff, Canada! We spent four days camping and hiking in the park. The town of Banff is in the middle of the park and it is adorable! These
It was our last full day in Glacier National Park, and my feet were sore and blistered. I was ready to see more of the park though! We left our campsite in St. Mary’s Campground around 8:30 am and headed
On our third day in Glacier, we had planned on hiking the Grinnell Glacier trail back in Many Glacier (where we were the previous day). However, there was still a major snow hazard about halfway through the trail. The group
Cracker Lake was one of the coolest hikes I’ve ever done. But don’t underestimate it! If you hike all the way to the end of the lake, it is about 15 miles round trip. I loved this trail because the
I just got back from a six-day trip to Glacier National Park in Montana! We flew into Kalispell and camped all week at St. Mary Campground.Getting ThereOur group of 7 was coming in from all over the country. The four
I spent a week in Nice and Amsterdam in the beginning of April. I was able to stay with my friend Rachel in Amsterdam, so it was a slightly cheaper trip than it would’ve been normally. Here are all the
On my recent trip to Europe, I spent four days in Amsterdam. My friend Rachel from college lives in Amsterdam, so I was able to stay at her amazing apartment and save some money. I also had four other friends
I spent three days in the French Riviera on my recent trip to Europe. I went with my friend Rachel who is currently living in Amsterdam. Our home base was Nice. We were here Saturday through Monday night of Easter
I spent a week in Maine for work in mid-March. I knew it would be cold, but I didn't know there would be a blizzard while I was there! We got over 20 inches of snow in two days. It
On our final weekend in New Zealand, we headed south to Queenstown. Our study abroad program was allowed one skip day for the semester, and all of us used it to add onto our last three-day weekend, so we had
On our fourth weekend in New Zealand, we stayed in Wellington for the Sevens Rugby Tournament. Wellington has a giant party that lasts all weekend for the tournament. Think of a cross between Halloween and Mardi Gras, where groups of
On the third three-day weekend of my study abroad program in New Zealand, six of us took a road trip to New Plymouth, a city on the west coast of the North Island. New Plymouth is known for its black
Lake Taupo is located in the center of the North Island in New Zealand. Our whole Georgia Tech study abroad program spent four days here (and got to have a day off from classes!). We stayed in a resort in
I spent six weeks studying in New Zealand in January and February 2013. I went with a program from Georgia Tech (my alma mater) with 49 other GT students. After New Zealand, we spent four weeks in Australia and two
I spent six weeks studying in Wellington, New Zealand in January and February 2013. I went with a program from Georgia Tech (my alma mater) with 49 other GT students. After New Zealand, we spent four weeks in Australia, and
My friend Rachel is getting married, so to celebrate her bachelorette party, we went to Asheville, North Carolina! There were 15 of us, so we rented a large cabin in Montreat, about 20 minutes outside of Asheville.FridayThe first group
I enjoyed my 12 months, 12 hikes challenge so much in 2016 that I was excited to do it again in 2017!January: Appalachian Trail - Unicoi Gap to Indian Grave Gap | 5.1 miles, difficult, 100 miles northeast of
2017 has been the most amazing year! In the spring, I spent ten days in the Galapagos Islands and hiking the Inca Trail in Peru. My annual hiking trip was at the Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, and Zion National Parks.
2017 was an amazing year filled with travels! I bought my first drone and it was truly one of the best purchases I've ever made! I'm so happy with how my pictures and videos have turned out with it. Here
I spent two weeks in South Africa in September 2017. These are my favorite pictures from the trip.Watch my video about our time in Cape Town! https://youtu.be/6Xqw4e_mvtM Watch my video about our time in Kruger Park, the Elephant Sanctuary, and the Panorama
I came to South Africa not really knowing what to expect with respect to food. I had heard it was delicious from the few people I’d talked to, but had no idea just how good it really would be! I’ve
I spent two weeks in South Africa in September 2017. Here are all the tips and things I think are necessary to know for planning a trip to South Africa!DrivingDriving is the one thing I wish I would’ve done more
Of our entire two weeks in South Africa, the four days we spent at Kruger Park doing safaris were my favorite. Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, and the largest in South Africa. We
The Panorama Route is a scenic drive along the Blyde River Canyon (one of the largest canyons in the world), between Johannesburg and Kruger Park. It is a little longer than the more direct route, but worth the extra time.
After our week in Cape Town, my cousin Sydney and I flew to Johannesburg. From there we drove about four hours east. Our safari lodge near Kruger Park was located five hours from Johannesburg if you took the most direct
We did SO many activities during our week in Cape Town. These were some of my favorites.V&A Waterfront The V&A Waterfront is a huge tourist attraction. Located right on the water, it houses tons of restaurants, shops, pubs, and even a
Hout Bay is south of the Cape Town city centre, on the way down the peninsula. We visited this area a couple times: once on our way to the peninsula, and then again later that week.World of Birds and Monkeys We
Sydney and I arrived in Stellenbosch on our fourth night in Cape Town. We were staying at an Airbnb in town, and our host’s name was Walter. Walter greeted us with glasses of wine, which is appropriate seeing that Stellenbosch
On Day four of our trip, Sydney and I parted with the boys in Muizenberg and drove to Somerset West, a 40 minute drive. The majority of the drive is right along the coast. I mean this literally; the road
During our week in Cape Town, South Africa, we spent a day and a half exploring the peninsula. The entire drive was breathtaking, with giant cliffs dropping off onto gorgeous beaches.Cape Point Cape Point is the most southwestern point of Africa.
I spent two weeks in South Africa in the beginning of September. My friends Colin, Dan and Andrew were with us for the first half of the trip, and my cousin Sydney was with me the whole time. We arrived
On my long journey to South Africa, I took two overnight flights with a layover in London. If you can fly direct, I recommend it. It's easier to just get that long flight over with. However, if you do have
I’ve lived in Atlanta for 7 years and have gone to a lot of restaurants over that time. Here are my all-time classic Atlanta faves!JCT Kitchen Location: West Midtown Type of food: Southern Restaurant atmosphere: The restaurant is a little hard to find
My friend Joncel and I decided to have a sightseeing and shopping weekend in New York. I hadn’t been there in several years, so I wanted to see a lot that I either hadn’t seen before, or had forgotten about.
Austin, Texas is such a fun and interesting city. This was my first trip and definitely won’t be my last! My friend Rasha lives here and is in grad school at UT. I was so glad I had her to
I recently visited my parents at their home in Charlotte for a weekend. As much as I love Charlotte, we really wanted to get out of town and experience some nature. This was a very spontaneous trip and we planned
I spent four days in Arizona, Utah and Nevada over Memorial Day Weekend with three friends and we had an amazing time! The goal of this post is to tell you all of the logistics and things I learned in
Las Vegas was our starting and ending point for our southwestern adventure. We spent two evenings here, and of course had plenty to do. These are the five things we did with our time!Walk through the casinos We stayed in the
It was the last day of our southwestern adventure, and while I was bummed to go back home that evening, I was also ready for a decent night’s sleep in my own bed. We had been running on very little
I woke up this morning so excited to get to Zion National Park and hike Angels Landing. I’d heard so many amazing things and was eager to get going. (If you missed my previous posts, you can read about our
In case you missed my previous post, I recently traveled to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, and Zion with my friends Rachel, Ashley, and Jessie over Memorial Day Weekend. The previous day, we visited the Grand Canyon. On
In order to get through my massive USA bucket list, I try to go on at least one domestic trip per year. This year, my trip was eventful (and exhausting), getting through 3 national parks and 3 states in only
I spent a week in Italy with my mom in May 2015. These are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.Pin it!You may also be interested in: When in Rome Day Trip to Pisa How to Spend 24 Hours in Florence
My mom and I left Pisa and took the train back to Florence. We spent about 24 hours here. While we were on the bus, going towards our Airbnb, I opened Google Maps on my phone, thinking the ride was
My mom and I spent 2.5 weeks in Europe after I graduated college in May 2015. We visited Italy and Greece, with a stopover in Dublin. In Italy, we spent 4 days in Rome, 1 day in Pisa and 1
I traveled to Peru and Ecuador for 12 days with my friend Carson in March. I wanted to give you guys the logistics of my vacation in case you are planning a similar trip.Trip ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from Atlanta
My friend Carson and I had traveled to the Galapagos Islands, Cusco, and the Inca trail on our South American trip so far. On our last day in Peru, we flew from Cusco to Lima in the morning. We spent
The Inca Trail was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. It was challenging, but 100% worth it. We hiked with the tour company Peru Treks and I would highly recommend them. Our guides were awesome and the food
Our next stop on our South American trip after the Galápagos was Cusco, Peru. Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in the 1500s. Today, Cusco is the city closest to Machu Picchu, where
I spent 11 days on a trip to Ecuador and Peru with one of my best friends Carson. We originally planned to spend the whole trip in Peru, but after doing some research and a lot of planning, we decided
Bring Waterproof Sunscreen That’s at Least SPF 30 If you don’t listen to any of my other advice, please listen to this one! Costa Rica is close to the equator and the sun is really intense here. On our trip, we
I spent a week in Montezuma, Costa Rica with five of my good friends. We flew into San Jose from the US, and then took a very small plane to Tambor. The Tambor “airport” is just a landing strip, with
My friends Kaitlyn and Brian were living in Salt Lake City last January, so I made the trip to visit them. We coordinated it so I was there while the Sundance Film Festival was going on in Park City.Sundance Film
Zapata Falls On the second morning of our road trip in Colorado, my cousin Sydney and I left the Great Sand Dunes campgrounds and headed to Zapata Falls. This waterfall hike is really close to the sand dunes. You can
I graduated college in May 2015 and decided to travel for the next month. My cousin Sydney lives in Denver, and we had talked about doing a road trip around Colorado for months. We decided now was the time. I
While I was visiting my friend Rasha in Dubai we took a two-day road trip to Oman, the UAE’s bordering country to the east. Oman isn’t well-known as a tourist destination, but it's beautiful and I’m so glad we made
Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 154 stories or ½ mile tall! My friend Rasha who I was visiting had already been to the top, so I did this trip solo. I
When we first drove into the city, I felt like I was entering the future. Skyscrapers are everywhere and so many of them have creative architecture. This makes sense because Dubai is relatively new compared to most modern cities. Dubai
I flew into Abu Dhabi to see my friend Rasha who was in Dubai for the year on a Fulbright scholarship. Rasha is one of my best friends from college, and I couldn't pass up the chance to visit her
My friend Rachel and I LOVE to hike, so when she made it her 2016 New Year’s resolution to do a hike a month for the year, I agreed to join her! You may think “how hard is it to
We left the house around 6am and headed straight for Yosemite. Rachel and I had a 1pm train to catch, and there were still a few things we wanted to see! The weather today was much more cooperative, luckily. We
We were thankful we weren’t camping in Yosemite this morning, as it was pouring and thunder storming when we got up. I was really bummed. We had planned a long hike on the Four Mile + Panorama trail, since this
Everyone told us that a three-day Yosemite trip was crazy. And they were right. But I live for crazy!San Francisco Rachel and I flew to San Francisco from Atlanta Friday night and stayed at the Hotel Fusion, near Union Square.
Traveling expands my cultural appreciation. When I’m immersed in a culture, I can understand how other people live. When I was in Fiji, I stepped out of the resort for a day to take a tour of one of the close-by
