a travel and style blog
Michael’s answer to where he wanted to go for his birthday was the same as last year: “The beach.” “Are you sure?” I asked. “Absolutely,” he replied, and off I went exploring both of Florida’s coasts on Airbnb. I compiled a short list of places to stay, and he chose a small studio in John’s …
My colleagues were confused when I lamented about packing for Mexico City. “Why?” they asked. “Don’t you just pack shorts, tanks, and sandals?” All of Mexico is not hot, with sunny beaches. In fact, much of the interior of Mexico runs quite cool due to the elevation. Mexico City’s temperature varies little throughout the year, …
I think I caught Michael off-guard when I asked him the following one day: “Do you want to go to a Lucha match in Mexico City?” “…Are you being serious?” he asked, scanning my face for hints of sarcasm or joking. “Of course I’m being serious,” I replied, smiling. He couldn’t contain his excitement, and …
A disclaimer: Three days in Mexico City is not enough. But I have a feeling that a week, or a month, or a lifetime would still not be enough time to spend in the city. The capital of Mexico is beautifully chaotic and vibrant, with patches of quiet and green space filling in the gaps. …
Ichetucknee. Most children in North Florida know how to pronounce this word long before they can read, as tubing the crystal-clear river is a rite of passage in this part of the state. Crowds flock to this natural spring and river during the summer months to take a break from Florida’s intense heat. Depending on …
Sharing everything I packed in my carry-on for a weekend in St. Louis, Missouri Well, Michael and I finally made it to St. Louis, Missouri, and we did so in celebration of our tenth dating anniversary at that. With just shy of thirty-six hours in the city we had no excuse but to pack lightly—which …
Ah, St. Louis, Missouri (also known as The Gateway City). It’s a place that has been on my travel list for quite some time, yet Michael and I didn’t solidify our plans to visit until less than a week before departure. In fact, we weren’t even planning to be in the Midwest that particular weekend—we …
On Monday I shared how Michael and I spent a weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, and today I’ll share my packing list for the weekend away. As a refresher, this trip took place over a weekend in July (i.e. smack-dab in the middle of the hot, sticky, sweaty Florida summer) and included a trip to the …
It was surfing that brought Michael and me to Jacksonville one weekend. Not what you expected, right? Perhaps a sporting event or convention or family or something, but not surfing. Yet there we were on a recent Saturday, standing on the beach in our swimsuits and wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into. This post contains …
One of the toughest packing challenges most people face involves shoes. What kind? How many? I’m often asked about this topic and it’s definitely time for a travel-friendly shoe guide. As an advocate for packing light and a frequent budget airline passenger, I tend to stick to two pairs of shoes per trip, wearing one on …