As a travel blogger, it’s difficult to disentangle what parts of travel feel like work and which parts feel like leisure—not that I’m complaining. It’s just that sometimes the distinction is clear, like when I’m working with a local tourism board or visiting family—but other times, like a recent visit to Washington, D.C., it’s a …
Category: USA
Wellness on the Go: A Review of Mobile Massage With Soothe
Have you noticed it too? The ache in your neck or the new way your knees crack at the end of a busy travel day, fatigue striking far earlier than it used to? I’ve talked about it before, how my current trips move at a slightly slower pace in this decade of my life than …
Traveling Light: A Packing List for Buffalo, New York (in a backpack!)
I recently spent a summer weekend in Buffalo, New York, and it was glorious. No, not in the typical sunshiny way (in fact, the sun rarely made an appearance), but because summers in Buffalo are comfortable affairs with highs only occasionally crossing the 80°F mark. Coming from muggy, sticky Charlotte (and having recently visited other …
From One Queen City to Another: The Complete Weekend Travel Guide to Buffalo, New York
With bare-bones service and high add-on fees, most people wouldn’t be as thrilled about the launch of a new budget airline route as I am—but because I live in Charlotte, where American Airlines controls 90% of flights and charges significantly higher fares as a result of their monopoly, I relish every alternative we get. Back …
Niagara Falls Day Trip Guide (Beyond the Tourist Traps!)
Picture this: breathtaking, roaring waterfalls surrounded by nature’s lush greenery… …and right next to it, a dinosaur-themed mini-golf course, a wax museum, and a haunted house. This somewhat jarring combination is the reality in Niagara Falls, Canada. Over the decades, this iconic natural wonder has been overshadowed by chain restaurants, kitschy shops, and cheesy attractions. …
10 Essential Restaurants in Buffalo, New York
“Are you going to eat some wings?” I’m usually a pretty patient person, but even I grew tired of hearing this question repeatedly before a recent trip to Buffalo, New York (I can’t imagine how locals must feel!). Yes, of course I was planning on eating some wings in Buffalo, but my food itinerary (the …
Start Your Day at These 15 Essential Charlotte Coffee Shops
Most days, you’ll find me brewing my morning coffee at home with my Chemex. However, there are times when I like to treat myself—or, more likely, find myself in need of an emergency coffee while out and about. As I stand in line, I often think, “Why spend $6 on a coffee in my home …
48 Hours in the Lowcountry: A Weekend Guide to Summerville, South Carolina
Summerville is a town with a pleasant-sounding name that has caught my eye many times when scrolling about on Google Maps, looking for new-to-me destinations. (I call this “mapsurfing,” and I find it fuels my travel-hungry mind far more than mindlessly scrolling Instagram or TikTok). So when the team at Santee Cooper Country Tourism Region …
Wine Country Weekend: A Travel Guide for Elkin, North Carolina
“Where’s that?” People often ask me about my next trip, and my answers typically get responses like “Cool,” “Neat,” or occasionally, “I’ve been there!” But when I mentioned that Michael and I were headed to Elkin for a recent weekend getaway, I got a lot of “Where’s that?” followed by puzzled looks. Elkin may not …
Checking In: A Review of Three Trails in Elkin, North Carolina
A boutique hotel in the heart of an amazing North Carolina small town.