Category: Travel

Destinations, Packing Lists, Style, Tennessee, Travel, Travel Tips, USA

Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for Nashville, Tennessee

Everything packed for Nashville folded and stacked in a pile

Last week I shared how Michael and I spent a whirlwind 36 hours in Nashville, Tennessee, and today I thought it would be fun to share everything I packed for the journey. This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase (at no additional cost to you!) …

Destinations, Tennessee, Travel, USA

Travel Diary: 36 Hours in Nashville, Tennessee

Alyssa and Michael take a selfie in Nashville

Saturday marked a special milestone for us—nine years since Michael nervously asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend. My response? “I guess that sounds alright.” (Okay, maybe he wasn’t that awkward about it.) In the weeks leading up to our anniversary weekend, we began looking for flights. As I’ve mentioned before, we typically look …

Destinations, Food, Italy, Recipes, Travel

A Pistachio Ice Cream Recipe Inspired by Rome

A hand holds a cone with pistachio ice cream

I have an insatiable sweet tooth, so nearly every day on our recent trip to Italy ended with gelato (sometimes we had gelato after lunch and dinner but please don’t tell my doctor). While I’m normally a chocolate ice cream girlie at home, in Italy I couldn’t get enough of the pistachio gelato (or in …

Beauty, Packing Lists, Travel, Travel Products, Travel Tips

Traveling Light: Packing a Liquids Bag for Summer Travel

A quart bag from the brand Blue Avocado is filled with travel liquids

By now I’m sure you know all about the TSA’s rules for bringing liquids in your carry-on—and in case you haven’t heard, I’ll go ahead and mention it anyway so you don’t feel awkward (you’re not the only one I’ve encountered who wasn’t aware of this rule!). Often referred to as the 3-1-1 rule, in …

Destinations, Italy, Travel

Hiking Italy’s Cinque Terre, Part Two: Vernazza to Corniglia

Looking back on Vernazza from the trail

In Monday’s post, I shared my experience hiking from Monterosso to Vernazza in Italy’s Cinque Terre, and today I’ll pick things back up with the second day of hiking: between the towns of Vernazza and Corniglia. Michael and I actually started our hike in our “hometown” for the night, Manarola. We hiked around the marina …

Destinations, Italy, Travel

Hiking Italy’s Cinque Terre, Part One: Monterosso to Vernazza

A Downward View of Vernazza

When we were planning our trip to Italy, I had one stipulation: “We have to stay in one of the Cinque Terre towns.”

Destinations, Food, Massachusetts, Restaurant Roundups and Reviews, Travel, USA

A Review of North Square Oyster in Boston, Massachusetts

Exterior of North Square Oyster in Boston

Well, we didn’t get into Neptune Oyster. The Boston restaurant is well-known both for its seafood and its incredibly long lines (just Google it – you’ll read about both just in the page summaries alone). Michael and I arrived around 2:30 p.m., hungry for a late lunch, and I weaseled my way inside to inquire …

Travel, Travel Tips

How I Afford to Travel: Budgeting Tips and Tricks

Alyssa shakes coins out of a piggy bank

As I’ve mentioned before, I often get asked how Michael and I fund our travels, though rarely directly. Most people ask, “How do you get to do all that?” rather than, “How can you afford it?” But the underlying question is clear. We won’t pretend we haven’t had some privileges in life, but we also …

Travel, Travel Products, Travel Tips

Should You Buy a Travel Journal?

Michael and I have been taking a trip to Europe every summer over the last four years, and each time we’ve brought along one additional item that you might not expect: a journal to capture both the important and mundane parts of each and every travel day. It takes patience and diligence to keep a …