way·ward
\ ˈwā-wərd \
(adj.)
not going or moving in the intended direction
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Hi, I’m Alyssa. Welcome to Wayward, where I explore my passions for authentic weekend travel and minimalish-style – and the point at which those passions intersect. I’m so glad you’re here.
After several years of traveling while working a traditional, full-time job and hearing from others, “How do you do it?” Wayward was born in 2017. What began as a place to chronicle my favorite hidden gems and to share my tips for taking inexpensive weekend trips has morphed into a robust collection of detailed travel guides to over 100 destinations, real-life packing lists, boutique hotel guides, and curated product reviews.
As much as I love to travel, it’s important to create a home we want to return to at the end of a trip, so over time, Wayward has also evolved to feature home content as well as in-depth guides to my home city of Charlotte.
Considering shaking up your weekends through travel? You’re in the right place! I’ve got you covered, whether you’re planning on taking your first day trip to a new city, scoping out cheap flights, finding a unique hotel, hungry for a delicious meal, or choosing the right suitcase to take along on your journey:
- How to Find Cheap Flights
- All Travel Guides by Destination
- My Travel Essentials
- All Style Reviews, Sorted by Brand
- How to Split Travel Costs When One Person Makes More Money
- Twenty Questions You Should Ask a Potential Travel Partner
- What it’s Like to Fly Somewhere for the Day
- I won a trip! (Now what?)
- Weekend Guide to Richmond, Virginia
- Four Days in Cartagena, Columbia
- Day Trip Guide: Tequila, Mexico
- Three Days in Minneapolis-Saint Paul
- Checking In: A Review of The Liberty Trust in Roanoke, Virginia
- Packing List: Two Weeks in Europe in a Carry-On
- Packing List: Five Days in Mexico City
- My Flight Got Canceled and All I Had to Wear Was This Dress
- Why I Changed My Name at Age 32
Snag your companion ticket and join me on this journey in real-time by signing up for the Wayward newsletter, and by following me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or LTK. Have a question? Chances are you’re not the only one! Find answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions.
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Contact
I love connecting with current and future travelers, as well as soon-to-be friends in Charlotte; feel free to drop me a line any time! You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. I look forward to seeing you out in the world!
Looking to collaborate?
I am committed to sharing evergreen weekend guides to destinations large and small, boutique hotel reviews, innovative travel products, and versatile clothing and accessories with my readers. Please visit my Work With Me page for more information and to contact me regarding potential collaborations.
Note: Wayward does not accept collaborations that do not align with the writer’s values. This site does not permit guest posts or participate in link insertion schemes.
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About those links…
Wayward contains affiliate links to offset the cost of blogging and to be able to run this site ad-free (isn’t it nice not to have to close out of a bunch of flashing pop-ups?). When a reader clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, it may generate a small commission for the blog without additional cost to the reader. I carefully choose any items or services that are featured here and frequently turn down opportunities to promote products that don’t align with my ethics – so I am extremely grateful any time a purchase is made through one of these links. You can read more about affiliate links here.