If you’re an outdoors enthusiast like me, you NEED to add Big Bend National Park to your to go list. 

Located in southwest Texas, this magical place reminiscent of the Wild West is the fifteenth largest national park in the United States, contains over 800,000 acres of protected land, and extends along the Mexican border for over 100 miles. 

With over 33 trails of various terrain including the Chihuahuan Desert, Chisos Mountains, and the Rio Grande, the park is a hiker’s paradise. 

Although you could spend a week in Big Bend and still not see everything, four days will give you enough time to get a taste, and a reason to come back.

Here’s how to spend 4 days in Big Bend National Park, and Terlingua, TX.

DAY 1: 

-Settle into your accommodations. 

-Hike: Window Trail. 5.2 miles RT/~3 hours/moderate. Downhill on the way in, uphill coming back. Beautiful trail with an amazing payoff.

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-Dinner at Long Draw Pizza in Terlingua. This is another gem in the desert with fresh, unique pies and cold beer. What more could you ask for after a long day in the sun?

-Grab a drink at an underground bar called La Kiva (currently closed due to Covid), OR stargaze! Big Bend has the least light pollution of any other national park. Pack your binoculars for the best view of the Milky Way!

DAY 2:

-Grab your gear, including a lunch, snacks, and water, and head to La Posada Milagro for a breakfast burrito and coffee. The food is incredible and will keep you full throughout your morning adventures!

-Hike: Lost Mine Trail. 4.8 miles RT/~3 hours/moderate. Gorgeous scenery along the entire hike and incredible 360 views at the top. 

-Take a lunch break and refill your hydration pack. 

-Hike: Balanced Rock: 2 miles RT. 

-Dinner and live music at the famous Starlight Theater in Terlingua *Opens at 5pm, get there EARLY to avoid a long wait. 

TIP: If you aren’t able to get in right away, explore the shop next door, or walk to the cemetery down the road. It might sound odd, but this is a top tourist attraction in Terlingua, due to the incredible history and stunning 100-mile views of the Chisos Mountains. Additionally, every year, locals celebrate Day of the Dead and decorate the cemetery with floral, candles, and paper streamers.

DAY 3: 

-Breakfast (We ate at La Posada Milagro again!)

-Hike: Emory Peak (10 miles RT/~5 hours/hard or the South Rim (12.6 miles RT/~7 hours/hard) *Unfortunately we did not get to do either of these since they were closed during our trip due to wildfires, but they came highly recommended!

-Relax in the car on the Roswell Max Scenic Drive. This is a 40-mile stretch which leads you through incredible scenic landscapes to Santa Elena Canyon.

-Hike: Santa Elena Canyon. Don’t worry, it’s a quick 1.5 miles RT with little elevation. Cool off in the Rio Grande and wave hello to Mexico! *If the river is high enough, opt to kayak the river instead with Far Flung Outdoor Center! 

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-Dinner at Lajitas Golf Resort. Be sure to stop by the mayor’s “office” on your way into town and give him a pat on the head!

DAY 4: 

–Breakfast at Chili Pepper Cafe *We did not eat here but heard great things!

-Hike: Hot Springs Historic Trail. The walk only takes 10-15 minutes to get to the springs. Take it slow and learn about the unique rock formations and historic buildings along the trail. The springs are 105 degrees, so go early in the morning!

–Hike: Rio Grande Village Nature Trail: This easy 1-mile RT trail looks nothing like the rest of the park, with a swampy river and gorgeous views across the Rio Grande into Mexico. You might even run into some donkeys here! Fun fact: These donkeys are not wild to BBNP; they actually regularly cross the Rio Grande from Mexico in search of food!

-Lunch at DBs Rustic Iron BBQ

-Head home!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WHERE TO STAY:
-Terlingua Ghostown. Home of the annual chili cookoff, and only ~110 residents. Here you’ll find a variety of accommodations from AirBnBs to yurts to hotels. Camping is also a great option! 
–Badlands Hotel at Lajitas Golf Resort: Although staying here will put you about 20 miles from the park entrance, the beautiful views and onsite restaurants will provide a more luxurious ending to your day!

BEST TIME TO VISIT:
-November-May for more moderate weather
-Summers see temps over 100 degrees which can be dangerous for hiking.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST:
-Big Bend National Park only: $30, good for 7 days
-Big Bend National Park annual pass: $55/year
-America the Beautiful Pass – $80/year *FREE for military
-Camping: Additional fees vary

HOW TO GET THERE:
-The closest airport is Midland, TX. 
-Rent a car from Midland, and drive ~235 miles to the park.

TIPS:
-The park is very spread out. Most trailheads are 45-90 minutes from the park entrance. Keep this in mind when planning your days!
-Keep jugs of water in a cooler in the car to refill your hydration packs and water bottles.
-Get gas often! Gas stations are slim, and are occasionally out of service. In case you run into road closures at certain areas of the park for maintenance, it’s best to stay filled up.
-Be cautious of wildlife. Bears, javelinas, mountain lions and more are native to BBNP. Bring bear spray, and be respectful. You’re in THEIR home.
-Dogs/pets are not allowed on trails.
-Bring snacks for the trip and the trails.
-Download the Visit Big Bend + All Trails apps for current weather and trail conditions, updates, and to navigate!

So, is Big Bend officially on your To Go List?

PS: Stay tuned for my next post: a detailed packing list for BBNP or most other hiking destinations!

Can anyone else believe Christmas is just two weeks away?! It’s time to finish up that shopping list!

This year more than ever, it is SO important to support your small and local businesses.

I’ve rounded up TEN gift ideas for the travel lover on your list, all from small businesses linked below!

Happy Shopping!

Personalized Luggage Tags

Journal + Planner Bundle:

Portable Phone Charger

Quickys Body Wipes

Airplane Necklace

Leather Passport Cover

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Personalized City Map

Favorite City Scented Candle

Fanny Pack

Find something you love? Drop us a note and let us know!

It’s been far too long since I actually blogged about my travel rather than just posting about it on Instagram, but as y’all know, this year has been pretty crazy! Between losing a job, starting a business, becoming a certified yoga instructor, the pandemic, getting MARRIED (!!!), and trying to maintain some sort of sanity throughout all of that, I’m actually impressed with the amount of travel I was able to fit in.

I’ll try to cover all of the trips in the next few weeks, but want to start with my recent trip: Our mini-moon to Maine!

When we first started planning our wedding, we decided that our dream honeymoon would be to spend two weeks exploring Italy and Greece; specifically the Amalfi Coast. Since our wedding was in October, we decided to delay the trip until Summer 2021 in order to experience prime beach weather in Europe. Obviously, we had no idea that there would be a global pandemic, but it was nice to (ironically) have one less thing to stress about changing.

Even though we (hopefully) will be able to take that trip next year, we decided that after going through eight months of nonstop stress, we needed a vacation NOW.

Our Requirements:
-Somewhere neither of us have been
-Hiking
-Popular craft beer + food scene

After ruling out the West Coast due to the fires and travel restrictions, anywhere that it might snow, and places at least one of us have been, we agreed on Maine, and booked the trip less than two weeks before our wedding.

COVID-19 TRAVEL INFO: As of October 2020, Maine is requiring all travelers from states outside of New England to either quarantine for 14-days upon arrival, or be able to provide proof of a negative Covid test within 72-hours of traveling. We chose to do the Covid test, since tests are extremely accessible where we live, and we planned to get tested before our wedding, anyway.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Flew into Portland, ME and took an Uber to our hotel. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront, which was the perfect location! Downtown Portland is very walkable, just be careful with your shoe choice on the beautiful, but uneven, cobblestone streets.

After checking into the hotel, we went to happy hour at local brewpub Gritty McDuff’s. We stumbled upon Gritty’s by accident, but were excited to find out that they brew their own beer, and have amazing wings. Seriously, try the the Cinnamon Chipotle dry rub. You will NOT regret it.

Later that night we had dinner at Gilbert’s Chowder House, which was recommended to us by a friend, and did not disappoint. Gilbert’s is a simple, small diner that feels like a local spot, even being right on the waterfront . We shared a lobster roll and clam chowder – both were heavenly.

Day 2 – We woke up to a cold, rainy day, slightly missing Texas breakfast staple, breakfast tacos. Mason was able to track down a very random – albeit delicious – spot inside of an office building that served breakfast burritos, which were pretty dang good for being not in Texas 🙂

After breakfast, we rented a car and started the three-hour drive up to Bar Harbor, where we planned to stay for the next couple of days to hike in Acadia National Park. Despite the nonstop rain, the drive was beautiful. Texas doesn’t really get “fall”, but even growing up in the Midwest, I’ve never seen fall colors so vibrant.

We checked in at the Bluenose Inn, a cozy, classic hotel with a beautiful view of Frenchman Bay, and only a three-minute drive to the main streets of Bar Harbor. The quaint “downtown” instantly makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Features include Maine’s oldest bookstore, peaceful water views, access to whale-watching, and several streets of locally-owned restaurants and shops.

For being a small town, it was hard to narrow down where to go for dinner – everything looked amazing! We ended up at Thirsty Whale Tavern for all things local — seafood and beer. The rain finally let up but the wind was freezing, so we grabbed Apple Cider Margaritas (yummmm) to-go from Side Street Cafe, and headed back to the hotel.

Day 3 – Today was the best day. We woke up early to start our day of hiking in Acadia National Park, but had been instructed not to leave the island without having breakfast at Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast. Tip: Get here EARLY. We arrived at Jeannie’s around 7:30am — they don’t take reservations — and we waited about 30 minutes.

By the time we were seated, the line was down the block! Don’t worry though – the wait is well worth it, so long as you order Betty’s Blueberry Pancakes. Mason and I shared these along with own own breakfasts, and although they are plate-size and thick, I wish we each got our own, because they are that good!

Once we were stuffed, we drove 15 minutes to the Sand Beach entrance of Acadia National Park. During our trip, the park was doing a test run for a new vehicle reservation system (this will go into full effect in 2021), so we had reserved a certain time slot at this gate as soon we we knew we were going to Maine.

We got there early enough (9am) to get a spot in the parking lot, and made our way down to Sand Beach. I’ve always loved being. by the water, but there’s something extra peaceful for me about walking along a beach when it’s chilly.

From there, we hiked to Thunder Hole, and ended at Otter Point. This was an easy, 4-mile RT, fairly flat hike, with absolutely breathtaking views. This trail was pretty busy on the way back, but we felt very safe in terms of social distancing.

We had made a second reservation later that day to drive up to Cadillac Mountain, but unfortunately our park pass was literally blown out of our car by the wind, and by the time we were able to get a new one, we had missed our reservation window. This was frustrating at the time, but just gives us a great reason to go back!

Eventually we drove back to Portland, and ate a quick dinner before heading to the hotel.

Day 4 – After a leisurely morning, we drove over to Cape Elizabeth to check out the Portland Head Light, the oldest lighthouse in Maine, first lit in 1791! Although the gift shop and museum were closed, Fort Williams Park has 90 acres of coastal trails to stroll, as well as lobster and gelato food truck vendors in the parking lot.

Back in downtown Portland, we walked to High Roller Lobster Co., for our last — and best — lobster roll of the trip. Here, you can build your own roll, adding toppings from jalapeno mayo to avocado, to bacon, and I’m 99% sure you can’t go wrong with any of it.

We decided to take a bus and spend the rest of the day in Freeport, where we had found a few breweries to check out.

The bus dropped us off right in front of the first brewery: Maine Beer Company. The tasting room offers indoor and outdoor seating, by reservation only due to covid (as of October 2020). The space was really impressive, and almost felt more like an event venue than a brewery. The beer itself was good, but the vibe was a little too upscale for our taste.

It was a beautiful day, so we walked up the road to Stars & Stripes Brewing Company – a Veteran-owned and operated craft brewery that donates a percentage of their proceeds to veteran organizations.

Since Mason is in the Army, this is very close to our hearts and we instantly felt a connection here. Plus, their beer was incomparable. The Warrior’s Blueberry Wheat and the Semper Fi.PA were our our favorites, and the seasonal Warrior’s Pumpkin Wheat was out. of. this. world.

Day 5 – Before our flight, we had to make one last stop: Donuts! We love donuts, and had heard rave reviews of The Holy Donut. We can confirm, these donuts, made from potatoes, are delightful. We tried the sweet potato, pumpkin, chocolate cake, and toasted coconut, and loved them all.

Sadly, the Exchange Street (downtown) Portland location is now permanently closed due to covid (their last weekend open was when we were there), but they do have two other locations in Portland.

Clearly, we loved our spontaneous trip to Maine, and will be back as soon as possible!

There have been several times I’ve cried on a plane. Most have been when I was leaving a person, or people, that I wouldn’t see for awhile. Two of the times have been leaving Costa Rica. I sat next to a woman on the plane who told me that she and her husband had spent several years living in Texas; she was a dentist, had closed her practice, and they were looking to start fresh. They looked at different cities in California, and even briefly considered living on a boat. She told me she had read about Costa Rica, and thought it might be the perfect fit. They decided to take a vacation to see if she was right — and have lived there ever since.

I cried hearing her story– as silently as possible, because it’s awkward to bawl your eyes out in front of strangers sitting uncomfortably close to you — because I understood. I knew what she felt, coming to a foreign place and experiencing the peacefulness, the beauty, and the kindness of strangers. I understood the overwhelming feeling of a place instantaneously feeling like it’s where you’re supposed to be.

In traveling to almost 20 countries and over 30 states, I’ve only felt this way in one place. Choosing to leave that feeling behind is something I can’t explain in a way other than it feels like losing a part of yourself. While I know that I haven’t actually lost that part of me; the carefree part – the ‘doesn’t need a schedule or new clothes or the perfect house or to accomplish 32479 things a day to feel fulfilled’, part – it feels out of reach. What I’ve realized, though, is that it doesn’t have to. The daily races against the clock, deadlines, things that don’t fulfill me – I don’t have to do them. I choose to.

Since returning to Texas, I’ve made a point to pay close attention to my conscious choices. I felt physically better than I had in months, in one week in Costa Rica: eating a clean diet, practicing yoga twice a day, and walking on the beach.

While I technically could attend two yoga classes a day back home, I (usually) choose to sleep in and miss the morning class, but have committed to practicing every evening. There isn’t a beach close by, but I’ve started to work a lunch-time walk into my daily routine, which also allows me to explore new places in Austin, including some healthy eating spots. I’m working towards my personal career goals, reading inspirational books, and spending extra time outside in the sun. I’m lucky enough to be marrying someone who supports my dream of one day living in Costa Rica, even though he hasn’t been there yet, himself. I’m making choices that the part of me I ‘left behind’ would be proud of.

The point of this rant, is that we all have choices, and going on this trip was one of the best I’ve ever made. I hope that this post serves as a reminder for someone, as we go into a holiday week full of pressures to set a beautiful table, cook delicious food, and cater to others, to choose to take time for yourself, as well.

Thank you to Jillian and Yvonne at Invoke Studio for leading such a peaceful week of practice, to the owners and staff at Encantada for hosting us and treating us like family, and to the group of like-minded yogis who reminded me every day during this trip, that there is so much good in the world – you just have to surround yourself with it.

Resort: Encantada Ocean Cottages
Planning/Host: Invoke Studio (Indianapolis)

Encantada Ocean Cottages Review | I attended a yoga retreat at Encantada in early November, and my experience was better than I could’ve imagined. On our last evening, I shared with our group that often we work ideas of what an experience will be like up in our heads, and end up finding ourselves disappointed, but this trip, and our stay at Encantada was a hundred times even better than what I’d imagined. The resort is so beautiful and peaceful – truly an escape from reality, while still allowing you to be on strong wifi if you choose 😉 Located directly on the beach, the setting is intimate, and we had the private pool, gardens, and beach to ourselves. (This would be a perfect honeymoon spot). The bedrooms were sparkling clean, the AC worked very well, and the beds were extremely comfortable. We had delicious, healthy meals prepared for us every day, using fresh ingredients and were able to try several different local dishes. The resort provided access to excursions including a scenic hike to a waterfall + clay bath, horseback riding on the beach, massages, a day trip to Manuel Antonio, chakra bowls, surfing lessons, and more. The owners are onsite often, and able to help with anything you need. The staff speaks both English and Spanish, and are the most kind-hearted, hospitable people. Don’t forget to ask Daniel to make you his famous Spicy Margarita! 

One of the things I was excited about when we found out we were moving to Austin was being exposed to new music. After all, Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World! Whether you’re looking for an intimate show at a dive, seeing a popular artist at a stadium, or spending the weekend at a festival, Austin’s got it.

Austin is home to festivals of all kinds, one of the most known being Austin City Limits. This fest spans over two weekends, starting at noon and ending at 10pm each day, and is held at Zilker Park — which is, you guessed it — just outside of the city. If you’re not super familiar with the festival scene, ACL offers a much more chill environment compared to other festivals I’ve been to, with a diverse lineup of artists, Austin must-try restaurants, and elements like a wine garden and Insta-worthy backdrop setups. Even the crowd was diverse, ranging from families with young kids, to older adults.

Depending on your commitment to the artists (and the Texas heat), you can buy 3-day or 1-day passes. One interesting thing about this festival is that there are no camping options – so be sure to secure an AirBnB or hotel. You’ll be glad to be able to clean up after spending all day outside! Since the fest is generally held the first two weekends in October, you can pretty much expect it to be toasty. (We got lucky,  and got an amazing 80 degree and overcast day on the second weekend!) The park is essentially a giant grass field, with trees here and there, and some covered areas like the beer tent, but otherwise, you’ll be exposed to the sun all day. Thankfully, the festival is all about sustainability and encourages you to BYO water bottle, and refill it at one of the several hydration stations.

Coming from the eyes of an event planner, I thought the festival was extremely well organized in terms of layout, getting to and from the park, and the convenience of loading money onto your wristband (which is also your ticket) so you don’t have to carry around cash or cards. They also offer a free shuttle from Republic Square Park in downtown Austin, which we took, allowing us to avoid parking and major traffic.

We went on Sunday of weekend two, and got in the gates around 1pm. The busiest entry time each day is between 2-4pm, and we wanted a full day’s experience. Once you’re in the park, it’s basically a huge circle of stages, restaurant booths, drinking spots, and areas to shop for merchandise or souvenirs.

There was an artist painting a mural that caught our eye, and we watched him for a few minutes until a volunteer from one of the booths approached us about becoming donors for people with blood cancer. All we had to do was swab our cheek, fill out some paperwork, and then they call you if you’re a match. It felt like such a random thing to do at a festival, but we figured why not do something good?

Afterwards, we headed over to one of the stages to watch Mallrat, a newer Australian singer who was actually pretty rad. One of the best parts about festivals is being able to wander around and see artists that you’ve never heard of, and at the end of the fest, having found so much new music that you love.

Throughout the day, we saw Rebelution, Banks, Lizzo, and Mumford & Sons. I’d been wanting to see Mumford live for years, and we were able to get really close to the stage, which was so cool, and their performance was amazing. One of the things I loved the most about this festival were the different genres — it wasn’t just EDM, or rap, or rock, but a little bit of everything for everyone.

In between bands, we got to try out some of the different restaurants. Unlike a lot of festivals, the food options at ACL are super yummy. People come from all over the world for this festival — we met people from New Zealand and Europe — so Austin does what it does second-best to music, and shows off its epic food scene.

Some of the vendors included regular favorites of mine, such as Torchy’s Tacos and Juiceland, which you definitely can’t go wrong with, but I opted to skip because I already eat at those places a ton.

For lunch, I had the Long Tall Texan grilled cheese from Burro Cheese Kitchen, which was delicious. I’m all about cheese, all the time, ha! For dinner, we got tacos and shared a cookie dough bowl from Skull and Cake Bones which was basically a giant bowl of cookie dough – aka everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

The only part of the day that was not so chill, was for Lizzo. Basically, no one could’ve predicted she would blow up like she did, so she wasn’t performing on the main stage. This caused an insane crowd at her stage, which was definitely not physically placed in an area of the park to accommodate that many people.

If you watch the video below, you can see how far back we were. Notice that you can barely hear her (even though after the first weekend, they realized this was going to be an issue, and used the speakers and screens from another stage to project her performance, in addition to her stage). The only crowd this size that I could compare this to, is Times Square on New Year’s Eve! Despite the craziness, it was so cool to see this many people coming together to see one artist, and out of all of the ones there, I’m so glad it was for her.

Between artists, we explored the Beer Hall, where they had craft beers both on tap and in cans.

We also strolled through the Wine Lounge, where you could find shade, a live radio broadcast doing artist interviews, and obviously, wine.

All in all, my first ACL experience was awesome, and I’m already excited for next year! Do you have any other festivals you’d recommend? Any questions about ACL? Leave them here!

That awkward moment when you look at your last blog post dated May 30th. Oops. Time flies when you’re having fun. Or when you’re uprooting your entire life and starting over in a new place. Either way 😉

Clearly, there’s been a TON going on over here, so let me fill y’all in.

In my last post, I mentioned five or six hundred times about how much I loved Charleston, and how Mason and I were going back at the end of June. Well, we didn’t go back, but we did get really closing to moving there! The day I got back, I started looking for jobs. I was tired of living in Indiana, dreading the upcoming winter, and fully ready for a new adventure.

Then came the plot twist. While I was busy interviewing with companies in Charleston, Mason’s company presented him with an opportunity in Texas. This was completely unexpected, and we went back and forth about which direction (literally) we were going to go. Long story short, we are now residents of Georgetown, Texas, the cutest small town ever, about 25 miles north of Austin, and couldn’t be happier.

Once Mason got the official offer, we bought last minute flights to Austin to “celebrate our anniversary,” (read: look for houses and interview for jobs for me), and ended up getting ENGAGED while we were here! Austin instantly became so special for us, and the perfect place to start our next chapter. Within just a few days, we found a house, I accepted a job, and we got a moving timeline nailed down.

Twenty-one days later, we moved. It’s been a whirlwind, and not without some unexpected twists, but it already feels like Georgetown has always been home. We’ve met some amazing friends, discovered new favorite places to eat, drink, and shop, and are loving the warm weather.

Stay tuned for more on Georgetown and the Austin area. Talk to y’all soon!

Y’all…I’ve found the place that makes my heart happy.

After years of wanting to visit Charleston, one of my best friends and I decided that since we hadn’t seen each other since her wedding, we were due for a girls weekend, and chose to go to my now-favorite city. It was such a fun place to explore together, and catch up on everything. There’s something so special about a friendship where you can not see each other for a long period of time, but when you reunite, it’s like that time apart never happened.

Charleston (or how they say it in the South, Ch’yallston), has everything I’ve ever wanted in a city: a cute, historic downtown, the beach, proximity to other places I love (Savannah, GA, Hilton Head, SC, Raleigh, NC), and year-round warm weather. Say what you want about the heat and humidity; I’ll take it over a midwest winter any day.

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Day One

We arrived in Charleston late afternoon, so our first stop after dropping our bags at the cutest AirBnB, was dinner at Leon’s Oyster Shop. This place is adorable, and had amazing food. I got a mahi sandwich and frose’. What a perfect way to start vacation 😉

Of course, I had a laundry list of places to check out, so next was The Rooftop at the Vendue. Even though it was dark, it was cool to check out the city from above, while sipping spicy margaritas, of course. The one thing to keep in mind when coming here, is that the only way to the top is by an elevator which holds 8 people, so there can be a bit of a wait at times. Regardless, totally worth it!

Day Two

A little background: I lived in North Carolina for about a year and a half, right after graduating college, which is when I fell in love with all of the best parts of the South; namely the food.

That being said, when I’m back, I have to visit my favorites. We had breakfast at Bojangles, aka the home of the best fast-food biscuits you’ll ever eat, and ironically the only restaurant within walking distance of our AirBnB. Some things are just meant to be 😉

Next, we ventured to Sullivan’s Island. There are several beaches in Charleston, but we ended up going here both days since it was closest to where we were staying (Mount Pleasant area), and wasn’t at all crowded. Each part of the beach is a certain “station”, and we were dropped off at Station 22. We saw a LOT of jellyfish and a few crabs washed up on the shore, which is normal for the area. The area is really cute, with decent shopping and several restaurants.

We ate lunch at The Obstinate Daughter, just a quick walk from the beach. I cannot recommend this place enough. We both ordered the shrimp roll, pictured below, and I almost cried when I saw they had my favorite beer on the menu! Life was good today.

Later, we went downtown to explore. Some must-sees when in Charleston include the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park, and Rainbow Row. These are within close proximity to each other, and in between you’ll get to check out some of historic downtown Charleston. See why I’m falling in love with this place, yet?

Tonight, we had dinner at Paw Paws, (low key probably gained 10lbs on this trip), and it was unreal. We sat at the bar and shared buttermilk biscuits, blue crab dip, and fried brussels. *Drools over memories*

Afterwards, we took a stroll around the city market, where vendors set up booths with all kinds of handmade goods from art to leather bags to jewelry and food. I bought a small painting of the pineapple fountain, since it’s an iconic spot in Charleston, and plan to hang it up in my home office, along with the rest of the art from my travels!

We capped off the night at the Market Pavilion Hotel Rooftop Bar, and wow, this place is like the hidden Vegas inside Charleston, with gorgeous views, an awesome DJ, and people watching.

Day Three

After taking several expensive Ubers and waiting way too long for each one (I’m not sure if Charleston just doesn’t have a lot of Uber drivers or what, but no matter where we were – Mount Pleasant, Downtown, or the beach – it took at least 20 minutes for an Uber to get to us, every time, and they were $$$), we decided to rent a car for our last day, since there was so much we still wanted to do.

This also allowed us to drive through Cookout, another Southern fast food favorite of mine, and then head back to Sullivan’s Island. Parking was free and fairly easy, which was surprising to me in such a popular area.

Later, we met another friend of mine for dinner at Tavern and Table in Mount Pleasant, which was ah-mazing. We shared apps (my favorite way to do dinner), including the crab dip (duh), cornbread, and deep fried deviled eggs. The Mount Pleasant area is definitely up-and-coming, and is adorable. It’s right on the water, and several restaurants, breweries, and shops call it home. This would be a great area to stay in if you want to avoid the higher prices of downtown.

Day Four

We spent the morning at our AirBnB’s neighborhood pool, and then headed off to Boone Hall Plantation. Also in Mount Pleasant, this is one of the oldest plantations in the country, and was absolutely stunning. It was so interesting to learn about the history, and that the current owners still live in the plantation home today! Fun fact: the house was Allie’s parents summer home in The Notebook, AND Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ wedding venue!

The home tour guide was hilarious, and we loved exploring the gardens and grounds. If you’re a bird, I’m a bird, amiright?

Before we got to Charleston, I made reservations at Husk, one of the most talked about restaurants in the area. (They also have locations in Nashville, Savannah, and Greenville, as well). I’m pretty go with the flow when it comes to choosing where to eat, but Husk is known for their cheeseburger, and I wasn’t about to miss out on that! The restaurant is in an old house, and is a very classy setting. 10/10 would recommend, and definitely get the cheeseburger.

Walking off the food was necessary, so we shopped along King Street for awhile, and then, sadly, went to the airport.

I know I already said this was my new favorite city, but seriously, if you haven’t been yet, GO! My boyfriend and I are going back at the end of June, and I seriously can’t wait. There are still a ton of things I want to do and see there, and it’s just such a magical place. Until next time!

 

Ready to feel like you just stepped into your favorite Instagram filter? Book your flight to Turks & Caicos, now.

There’s something about the Caribbean that makes you instantly slow down, relax, and forget about the hectic schedule you maintain at home. Maybe it’s the sunshine and crystal clear water, the fact that everyone lives on ‘island time’….or maybe it’s the lack of air conditioning. Whatever it is, it makes you wonder why you booked that return flight; (my current predicament).

To curb my return-to-the-states blues, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to know before visiting this gorgeous island – plus a few bonus tips! Enjoy 😉

Turks Top 10

1. Turks and Caicos is an archipelago, consisting of the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands. Providenciales, which is home to the only international airport, is the most visited, followed by Grand Turk, which has the island’s only cruise ship port. Day trips to the smaller islands are available by boat or plane, but if your main concern is the beach, just stay where you are! Bonus: The currency is USD, and most businesses take credit cards, however bring cash for taxis and tips. 
2. Speaking of taxis – they’re crazy expensive. Drivers charge per person what a ride in the states would normally cost: a seven minute ride from our AirBnB to Grace Bay Beach was $21 ($7 per person). Renting a car is an option, but since T&C is a British Territory, they drive on the opposite side of the road — and the car — so we bit the bullet on the $$$ taxis. We met a driver named Mr. Ron on our first night, and he ended up driving us our whole trip!
3. Water sports are the main activity, and they have everything from parasailing to dinner cruises to horseback riding into the ocean! We opted to just enjoy the beaches, but if you want to do any of this, be sure to book through your hotel or a tourism office, and not the people who come up to you on the beach, as they aren’t always legit.
4. Due to the climate, very little grows on the islands and most things are imported. Read: expensive. We bought some necessities at a grocery store, but even there, things were 3x the cost we’re used to. I suggest packing protein bars or other snacks to bring to the beach. Restaurants are pricey, but worth every penny. I had fish for almost every meal, and it was delicious every time. Bonus: Gratuity is included at some restaurants, but large tips generally aren’t expected. Check out the end of this post for my favorite spots!
5. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen & bug spray. A travel-size bottle of either will cost $10-15 once you get to the island, and you’ll need twice the amount of sunscreen since the sun is so strong in the Caribbean.
6. Grace Bay Beach is the most popular area on Providenciales. Other than the beautiful white sand and turquoise water beaches, this is where you’ll find most of the island’s resorts, shopping, bars, and restaurants. Despite this being the main spot for tourists, it wasn’t crowded at all, and we were able to use beach chairs at one of the resorts every day. Bonus: All beaches on T&C are free to access! Coconut drink pictured below was purchased at Seven Stars Resort & Spa.
7. Wednesday nights are the night at Da Conch Shack. Conch (pronounced ‘konk’) is a snail, and one of the things the island is most known for. You can order anything from conch salad to conch fritters (pictured below). The best way I can describe the taste is rubbery. I probably wouldn’t eat it not deep fried…but when in T&C, you have to try it! Bonus: Arrive before it gets busy, around 6pm, to get a table closest to the beach for the best sunset views.
8. Thursday nights are the Fish Fry at Bight Park, which you do NOT want to miss! This was my favorite night on the island, and everyone gets together to enjoy the festivities. The locals put on this amazing event which is more like a festival, with several vendors cooking the T&C specialties, snapper and grouper. Other vendors included an ice cream and donut truck, Turks Head Brewing Co., jewelry, clothing and art. The DJ was really interactive and fun, and the night ended with a parade!
9. The busiest time of year on the island is December-April. We arrived on April 30th, and just missed the spring break rush. The beaches were fairly deserted, which was convenient, and the weather was still perfect. Bonus: The forecast might predict rain or storms (ours showed storms for all 5 days we were there), but it only rained once for a few minutes! This is normal in T&C, so don’t worry! Bonus 2: The PLS airport gets super busy on Saturdays and Sundays, so if you want to avoid long lines, try to book your flights during the week!
10. We asked locals for the best spots to eat, and you can find a list of my favorites below!

Mango Reef | Dinner | Super cute spot right on the water. I had the Parmesan & Lemon crusted Mahi Mahi and it was so yummy.

Lemon 2 Go | Coffee/Breakfast | This was our daily spot for coffee, and the best way to start the day! Their sister restaurant next door is called the Sandbox, where they serve lunch & dinner.

Retreat Kitchen | Brunch | This vegetarian cafe is so cute, and right next door to a yoga studio 🙂

Big Al’s | Lunch | Delicious fish tacos!

SANDBOX | Lunch | Salads, burgers, etc.

 Seven Stars | Beachside drinks

Hey guys! It’s been awhile – I’ve had a crazy year so far, and it’s only going to get crazier. I’m going to try to be a lot more committed to the blog, though, because I always write about my trips, I just haven’t been great at posting them. Feel free to let me know if there’s anything you want to see, here!

Over Memorial Day weekend my boyfriend and I spent an amazing few days in Nashville. I’ve been to Music City before, for short trips with my girlfriends, but Mason had never been. We both love country music, and I kept telling him how much he would love Nash, so we took the first long-weekend opportunity that we got, and made the drive.

The trip: From Indy, the drive is only about 4.5ish hours once you stop for snacks and gas. We could’ve flown, but it literally would’ve taken longer once you consider driving to the airport, getting through security, waiting on your plane and then taking the actual flight. Plus – driving means I can take as many pairs of shoes as I want 😉 We were looking for somewhere to eat on our way down, and stopped at a place in Washington, Indiana, called Mason’s Root Beer Drive-In. This place is a hidden gem, let me just tell you. If you’re ever driving through the area, look this place up! It’s super cute, and the food was SO good. We got tenderloin sandwiches because, Indiana. But the best part was the homemade root beer in frozen mugs!

The digs: We stayed at an AirBnB property called Nashvilla. The craftsman-style home was well-kept and definitely had a Southern charm about it. From the wood floors to the classic/vintage decor and modern amenities, it was perfect for the long weekend. Plus, it was in a great location. Our #Ubers to #Broadway ran about $5-10, depending on the time of day, which is so cheap! The hosts were out of town, so we got the whole house to ourselves, which is always nice, too.

The agenda: We both worked Friday, so we didn’t get into the city until about midnight. Yes, we could’ve easily hit the bars since most stay open until 3am, but we’re #old so we just went to bed so we could be refreshed for the morning.

Saturday, we explored the city, driving through downtown, Broadway, and The Gulch. It stormed for a few hours in the afternoon, so we hit up Cookout,saw the new Star Wars movie, and had a relaxing day. Thankfully the weather cleared up later on and made for a gorgeous night out on the town.

Broadway is the most popular bar scene in Nashville, and houses several celebrity-owned and famous bars, restaurants and tourist shops. We hit Nudie’s Honkey Tonk, Acme Feed & Seed (get.the.slushies.), Dierks Bentley’s bar Whiskey Row, Blake Shelton’s bar Ole Red, and several others! It was such a fun night. We haven’t gone out much in Indy recently because we’ve both been crazy busy with work and getting ready to move (we just bought a house!), so this night out — and mini-vacay in general — was well-deserved 😉

Sunday we were feeling a little rough — Nashville has given me some of the best memories, and the WORST hangovers, so I drove through Bojangles for some delicious and soak-up-all-the-alcohol breakfast. Their biscuits are e v e r y t h i n g. I lived in North Carolina for about a year and a half, so I try to get my fix of southern-style food whenever I get the chance! Once we were rejuvenated, we went to the Parthenon – yes, you read that right. Nashville has it’s own full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. If you’ve read my previous posts, you already know I’ve seen the real one! But this was pretty cool, also. It’s only $6 to get in, full of artwork, and just an overall unique site to see. The grounds around the structure would also be perfect to have a picnic or play-date for kids to run around.

It was super hot out today, so when it cooled down a little later we went back to Broadway to check out some of the souvenir shops. The stores generally carry the same stuff, but some have better selections than others. We bought some magnets and coasters for the new house, and then hit the bars again – this time, not as hard.

I think my favorite thing about Nashville is that every bar has live music – and the bars that are multiple levels have different bands on each floor! My dad was a music critic for several years, so I grew up going to concerts and have a huge spot in my heart for live music. Some of the most famous country music artists got their start performing at bars on Broadway, which I think says a lot about the culture of the city. It’s always fun when you’re in Nashville to wonder if you’re going to see the next big artist — or if you’ll see celebrities! Blake Shelton and some of the other celeb owners are known to make surprise appearances at their bars when in town. I would actually fall over if I saw Dierks Bentley walking down Broadway! 😉

Monday we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, which we really enjoyed. It was fairly inexpensive for all there was to see, and was a great way to get out of the heat/kill a few hours before we had to head back to Indy.

I’m convinced that you could spend a lifetime in Nashville and not run out of things to do. We took it pretty easy and only did a few choice activities, but for a full list of things to do (broken out by the type of trip you’re taking), the CVB has several recommendations here!

The grub: If you haven’t gathered by now with my catering background, I’m a huge foodie. My inner fat girl looks up the best places to eat on Instagram as soon as I book a trip to a new city. No shame.

Food in #Nashville might be the second most important cultural aspect after music. Hot chicken, barbecue, biscuits, doughnuts…you name it. My heart/stomach was sold. I had compiled my way-too-long-for-a-weekend list of great places to eat, and ironically we didn’t didn’t make it to any of them, because we wanted to try suggestions from our Uber drivers and other people we met, on where to go.

Jack’s BBQ: Located right on Broadway, this barbecue joint usually has a line out the door, but you don’t hear about it the way you hear about others like Martin’s (linked below). For $11-13, you get your choice of meat, 2-3 sides, and cornbread. Definitely a great deal, and well worth the wait.

Five Daughter’s Bakery: Okay…so my inner fat girl particularly *loves* doughnuts. One of our Uber drivers suggested this joint after I mentioned that I love going places that I can Instagram not just the food but the building — who doesn’t?! He definitely did not let us down. We hit this adorable bakery up on our way out of Nash, and the line was out the door. Now that i’ve had the doughnuts, I can honestly say that I would’ve waited even longer – they’re THAT good. The shop is also the cutest place i’ve ever seen. Everything is pink, sea foam and white, and of course they have light-up signage and a donut mural. #Basic

Cook Out: If you’re looking for a place to grab a bite on the go (drive-through), I’d recommend #Cookout over anything. This gem is not local to Nash, but it is only in parts of the South *link locations here* The cookout tray is the best fast food deal I’ve met yet. Where else can you get a burger with a side of a corn dog, hush puppies, or a quesadilla for under $6? Nowhere, that’s where.

There are so many other amazing places to eat in Nashville, I wish I had more time to check out more of them! Some additional recommendations from friends who’ve been there:

Loveless Cafe
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken *beware of the long lines!
Husk *amazing Bloody Marys!
Biscuit Love Martin’s BBQ
Five Points Pizza

So that was that – our weekend in #Nash! Hope you enjoyed 🙂