Category: USA

Destinations, North Carolina, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, USA

Traveling Light: Winter Packing List for Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Alyssa stands in front of a shop in downtown Blowing Rock

If you’re new around here, I like to share my packing list for just about every destination I visit. I know that before I started traveling regularly, I found the whole packing thing to be quite a mystery. I found my way through trial and error, but I like to think of this series as …

Destinations, North Carolina, Travel

Winter Travel Guide for Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Snow. That’s just one of the many reasons that Michael and I chose to move to North Carolina in 2019. For snow. But like, occasional snow. Just often enough that we would feel excited when it snowed, but not so often that it would hinder our daily life. And while it finally snowed a few …

Charlotte, Destinations, Food, North Carolina, Restaurant Roundups and Reviews, Travel, USA

10 Great Meals in Charlotte for Under $10

Alyssa stands in front of the sign outside of Yume

Can I tell you something? I kind of love talking about money. Not in the sense of investments or stocks, but how we use it every day. It’s taboo, I know – but spending money is something we all do. And I think the world would be a better place if there was a little …

Charlotte, Destinations, Food, North Carolina, Restaurant Roundups and Reviews, Travel, USA

Charlotte Restaurant Review: Bardo

Alyssa walks underneath the sign for Bardo in Charlotte

2023 Update: Bardo is now closed and the space is now Blue Door, a cocktail lounge from the owners of Trio Nightclub. Bardo is a restaurant that has been on my radar since we first moved to Charlotte at the end of 2019; we quite literally stumbled across it thanks to our daily walks to …

California, Destinations, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, USA

Traveling Light: Packing List for Five Days in San Francisco

A real-life packing list for an autumn visit to San Francisco.

California, Destinations, Home Try On + In-Depth Style Reviews, Style, Travel, USA

Is This the Best Boot for Travel? A Review of the Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot from Nisolo

Alyssa is standing on rocks wearing black pants, black boots. It's a close up shot of her calves and feet, and the Golden Gate Bridge is visible in the background.

I recently had the opportunity to travel to San Francisco for work—but one of the stipulations was that I could only bring what would fit in my personal item on the plane (the bag that fits under the seat in front of you). I’m no stranger to packing light and knew that I could pull …

California, Destinations, Travel, USA

San Francisco in One Square Mile: Exploring Cow Hollow, Russian Hill, and the Marina District

A view of a typical street in San Francisco - the road is very steep!

I recently made a short visit to San Francisco with Mary of Twenty Two West to assist her in her booth at West Coast Craft. I know, what a dream gig, right? My last visit to San Francisco was with Michael in 2015, and we pretty much checked off every item on every guidebook’s list …

Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

The Wayward Day Trip Guide to Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Alyssa wears an all-black outfit on a bridge in Old Salem

At the start of 2020, Michael and I made a New Year’s Resolution to visit a different destination in the Carolinas each month. Well, you know what happened next. This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links (at no additional …

Destinations, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, US Virgin Islands, USA

Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for St. Croix

Alyssa stands among the pastel buildings in Christiansted

I have to say, it feels so wonderful to be back sharing packing list posts with you! Travel style is easily one of my favorite subjects – what you place in your suitcase sets the tone for your trip and thus requires careful consideration. Packing is interwoven with the trip-planning process: you have to figure …

Destinations, Travel, US Virgin Islands, USA

Travel Guide for Four Days in St. Croix, USVI

Alyssa is walking along the paved shore in Frederiksted, St. Croix. She is wearing a tan jumpsuit and a Panama hat

Back in August, Michael and I took our first flight since the start of the pandemic. We weren’t even planning to travel by air; we were set on doing a mini-road trip to Richmond, Virginia, to celebrate our dating anniversary (13 years – time flies!). But, as I often do when I’m bored, I found …