Travel

 

“This is where the hungry come to feed. For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven’t tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience.”
-Alex Garland, The Beach

Have you read “The Beach” by Alex Garland? It’s such a great book. And I just love this quote because really, this sums up my travel philosophy. Go everywhere you possibly can, never fail to be polite, and suck in the experience. What else is there?

In this section, you’ll find my stories and guides from the road. You’ll read about everything from hosteling through South East Asia on $5 a day to travel hacking elite flights and 5 star hotels. Cruising the Caribbean to elephant rides through Rajasthan, India. 

Recent Travel Posts

A Whole New Anniversary Adventure – Our Stay in a Genie-Themed Escape Room!

My husband and I take turns planning our anniversaries. We're not really "gift people", meaning we're not into exchanging gifts and flowers and boxes of chocolate. It's just not our ...
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Exploring Historic Sauder Village – A Fun Ohio Weekend Getaway for Families

Inside: Join us as we explore historic Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio. Step into the past with us on this perfect Ohio weekend getaway for families! We are always on ...
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Fun Things To Do in Westerville With Kids!

My daughter and I recently spent an entire DAY exploring beautiful Westerville, Ohio and had so much fun. We shopped, learned about Westerville's history, admired public art, and ate our ...
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Long-Haul Flight Essentials – My Long-Haul Flight Survival Kit

Inside: Today, I'm sharing a list of my long-haul flight essentials! Long flights can be a stressful start to an otherwise fabulous trip and over the years, I've learned a ...
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A Whiskey Weekend in Louisville, KY – The BEST Gift for Bourbon Lovers!

Inside: How I surprised my husband with a whiskey-themed weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. This quick weekend getaway is the BEST gift for Bourbon Lovers! My husband is a huge fan ...
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A Food Lover’s Weekend in Lake County, Ohio

Inside: Follow along as I take you on a delicious tour of Lake County, Ohio. Did you know that Lake County offered so many craft breweries, wineries, fantastic restaurants and ...
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Our Speakeasy-Themed “Vintage Glam” Weekend In Cleveland

Inside: Run away with us to the 1920's as we step back in time to enjoy the magic of a hidden bar, Art Deco jewelry, and sexy cocktails. You need ...
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10 Reasons To Visit Canton, Ohio – An Easy Weekend Trip From Columbus!

Inside: Join along as I explore Canton, Ohio, including outdoor recreation, national attractions, historic sites, a vibrant art scene and some seriously amazing food and wine! This is an easy ...
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Our Romantic Date Night at the Renaissance Columbus-Polaris Hotel

Inside: I share the details of our hopelessly romantic date night at the Renaissance Columbus - Polaris hotel with a fabulous dinner from the Two-One Restaurant. I'm kind of obsessed ...
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Ohio Girls’ Trip – A Perfect “Mommy + Me” Weekend in Worthington, OH

Inside: Follow along as we eat, play and explore on our Worthington, Ohio girls' trip - "mommy + me" style! We've been going a little stir-crazy at my house. My ...
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A Little Girl’s Dream Trip To Hamilton County, Indiana

Inside: Follow along on a magical weekend in Hamilton County, Indiana. Tea parties, dollhouses, and magical sparkly restaurants make for an incredible weekend for your little girl. You guys. It's ...
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Family-Friendly Adventures in Hamilton County, Indiana

Inside: Follow along on a fun adventure through nearby Hamilton County, Indiana. I'll walk you through some of our favorite activities and meals and show you just how much fun ...
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Ohio Cabin Getaway to Black Creek Retreat – Secluded Cabin in Amish Country, Ohio

Inside: Join along on our fun weekend getaway to a secluded cabin in Amish Country, Ohio. Keep reading for a coupon code for 10% off your stay! This was the ...
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Romantic Hocking Hills “Cabin For 2” Getaway – Cherry Ridge Retreat

Inside: Check out our dreamy stay at Cherry Ridge Retreat. If you're looking for a romantic Hocking Hills "Cabin for 2" weekend getaway, this is it! We're parents. Which means ...
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Romantic Date Night Ideas in Columbus, Ohio – Dinner, Drinks and a Night at Hotel LeVeque!

Inside: Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, birthday or just a normal Friday night, you'll want to add this to your list of romantic date night ideas in Columbus, Ohio! Follow along as ...
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Chicago Weekend Trip: “Upgrading My Style” with Loews Chicago O’Hare

Inside: Day 2 of our Chicago weekend trip. Join along as we check out the "Upgrading My Style" package at the Loews Chicago O'Hare. For our second night of our ...
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A Relaxing Chicago Getaway With Kids – “Snowed Inn” at Loews Chicago

Inside: Our relaxing Chicago Getaway experiencing the "Snowed Inn" package at Loews Chicago. It's been a hectic fall and start to the holiday season for my family. We were in ...
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Glamping in Ohio – Our Romantic Weekend in the Woods

Inside: Follow along as I take you through our romantic weekend in the woods of nearby Hocking Hills. Who knew glamping in Ohio could be so much fun? My husband ...
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The Perfect Ohio Weekend Getaway for Foodies!

Inside: Follow along as I introduce you to the perfect Ohio weekend getaway for foodies! If you love donuts, craft beer, ethnic food from around the world, BBQ, retro diner ...
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Stepping Back in Time: A Family-Friendly Lake Erie Getaway to Lakeside Chautauqua

Inside: Step back in time with me as I explore Lakeside Chautauqua for old-fashioned, family-friendly fun! If you're looking for the perfect Lake Erie getaway, the search is over.  When ...
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What to Eat in Athens – The Eater’s Guide to Traditional Greek Food

The very first thing I do after booking a flight is start researching all the different foods I want to taste wherever I am headed. Our trip to Greece was ...
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Family Weekend Getaways in Ohio – Fun Things To Do In Lancaster With Kids

Inside: Follow along as we explore fun family weekend getaways in Ohio - this time in nearby Lancaster, Ohio! My family loves to spend time exploring and traveling around. We ...
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What To Pack For 10 Days in Greece: My Minimalist Packing List For Greece in March

Inside: Everything I packed for 10 days in Greece. Check out my minimalist packing list for a trip through Athens, Santorini and Hydra in March. I'm a huge fan of ...
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Hidden Gem Discovered On 71 North of Columbus – Totally Worth the Drive!

Inside: Join me as I walk you through a hidden gem we discovered right off of 71 N and SR 95. This amazing bakery and cafe is totally worth the ...
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I Drove an Hour to Eat at a Gas Station. It Was Just as I Expected

Inside: Join me as I drive an hour outside of Columbus to dine at Spearman's Restaurant - located in a gas station. Was it worth the drive? My husband is ...
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Muckross House With Kids – Family Fun in Killarney, Ireland

Inside: How we spent a day exploring Muckross House with kids. Fun for the whole family just outside of Killarney, Ireland. Céad míle fáilte! (A hundred thousand welcomes!) In the ...
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The Buxton Inn - haunted Ohio

Are You Brave Enough to Spend the Night in this Historic HAUNTED Inn, Just Minutes From Columbus, Ohio?

Inside: Join me and my family as we explore a local historic inn and uncover the stories about its spooky inhabitants. Are you brave enough to spend a night here? ...
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The Foodie Buckeye’s Guide to Visiting Ann Arbor

Inside: The Foodie Buckeye's guide to safely crossing into enemy territory to sample all the amazing food Ann Arbor offers. I graduated from THE Ohio State University. I met the ...
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Lufthansa Business Class with Kids

Turning Left: What It’s Like to Fly Lufthansa Business Class (With Kids)

Inside: My review of flying Lufthansa Business Class with kids.  So, I recently wrote about my husband, the "travel hacker" and gave you all an inside peek into what it's ...
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Driving in Ireland

Driving in Ireland – The Ultimate Guide For Americans

Driving in Ireland can be tricky for us Americans. Driving on the left, quirky roundabouts, and teeny-tiny one lane roads that you are sharing with other drivers, animals, and farm ...
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How To Order Coffee in Italy – A Helpful Guide For Americans!

Inside: How to order coffee in Italy without looking like a tourist. Italy. The land of infinite beauty, amazing food, and breathtaking art. And the coffee... Here's the thing. Italian ...
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The Art of Aperitivo – How To Host an Italian Happy Hour

Inside: Learn the art of aperitivo and host your very own Italian happy hour! In northern Italy, there is a delightful ritual called aperitivo. Similar to our “happy hour," it is ...
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5 GENIUS Beauty Products For Travel That Won’t Break the Bank!

Inside: 5 GENIUS beauty products for travel that I NEVER leave home without.  I'm a minimalist when it comes to travel because there's nothing I hate more than being forced ...
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Sleeping with Strangers (Hong Kong Edition)

My eyes flickered as I scanned the profiles, carefully considering each one. I am generally picky and have high standards in all areas of my life, and this occasion was ...
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The Tragedy of Life: Thailand Edition

I cautiously peered through the glass window, and shuddered as I saw a pool of blood and dirty bandages littering the ground. As I looked up, I locked eyes with ...
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In a New York State Of Mind

Inside: What I learned on my first trip to NYC with my daughter. Have you been to New York City? Does the very name conjure up images in your mind? ...
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The Monk in Malaysia – Stories From Our Travels

"Is that man a German?" The old monk asked me, peering at my husband who was wandering outside the monastery. "Um....." my mind started to do that thing that writers' ...
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Dreaming Big Dreams – A 5 Year Old’s Travel Wish List

In my house, we often talk about "dreaming big dreams." In fact, it's one our core family values. We love "big, hairy, audacious goals" because we've learned that when you ...
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Putting On The Ritz in India – An Unexpected Adventure Abroad

When my husband (then boyfriend) came along on a trip to India, he had one request. He wanted to stand before the Taj Mahal. He wasn't alone in this desire ...
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Want to Know if He’s the One? Travel Together

Inside: Want to Know if He's the One? Travel Together I often tell the story of how I fell in love with my husband on a dance floor. It's a ...
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Is an Alaskan Cruise Suitable for Children?

We recently took a family cruise to Alaska. And by family - I mean that we included our little one. We are veteran cruisers, and so is our daughter. I ...
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My Favorite Travel Books for Kids

I have a soft spot for well-written children's books. Add to that my family's love of travel, and suffice it to say we have quite the collection of travel books ...
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You Might Suffer From Wanderlust If….

Did you know there's an official wanderlust gene? Crazy, right? While that's super cool and all, most of us that suffer from wanderlust already know it and we don't need ...
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Day Trip to Berlin, Ohio – A Quick Adventure

Sometimes in between our big adventures, my family starts to get restless. We just love to travel so much that it's hard to wait. Enter: Day trips! These quick little adventures ...
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Souvenirs

No More Buying Souvenirs – Here’s What I Do Instead

I've never really been a "souvenirs" person. To be honest, I've never really been a "buying crap" type of person. I'm just not interested. Please don't take it personally if ...
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Grandmother in Chiang Mai

What a $5 Bill Taught Me About Love – Chiang Mai Budget Travel

We had been on the road in South East Asia for several weeks. Our travels had taken us through Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and we had just arrived in Thailand ...
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5 Tips to Eat Cheap While Traveling

I love to travel and I love to eat good food all over the world. In fact, I really believe that food is one of the best ways to experience ...
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Thirsty Thursday: A Lesson in Travel Budgeting

My husband and I are often asked how we can afford to travel. We're usually asked if we're independently wealthy (haha, nope) or if our families help fund our trips ...
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Portland – A Foodie’s Guide

It's no surprise to anyone that I'm a huge foodie. Eating good food is my calling. And my purpose in life. Luckily, my husband and I just got back from ...
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Dear Southwest Airlines: An Open Letter

Dear Southwest Airlines: An Open Letter Dear Southwest Airlines, As you might have heard, these are not great times for air travel. While I'm thrilled that air travel has become ...
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Childhood – The Universal Language

My husband and I are rebels. Ok, not really, but sometimes it feels like it. I mean, despite everyone's wisdom about waiting to travel until kids are bit older, we ...
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The Naked German: Adventures in International Hosteling

“That’s the trouble with you American girls,” said the naked man standing two feet away from me. “You’re all so prude.” I nervously peered toward the door, silently begging my ...
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Everyone Needs a Tribe – This is Mine

Have you ever found yourself in a group of people, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to connect? It’s a lonely feeling. For most of ...
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Taking Tea: What I Learned About Irish Culture and Customs

The Irish take their tea very seriously. They are one of the world's largest tea consumers, with the average person consuming 5-6 cups a day.  That's on average.  That is ...
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Itineraries are Overrated

There are many things I admire about my husband. Most of them I knew before we were married. His brilliance. Kindness. Integrity. His sense of humor. His dance moves and ...
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A Few of My Favorite Travel Traditions…

Whenever I hear the word “tradition” my mind immediately takes me back to the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”  And I hear Tevya’s voice belting out “TRADITION!”  Oh, how I love ...
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Tips For Traveling With Young Kids

We’ve been traveling pretty extensively since our little one was born.  My husband and I were committed to traveling with our little one no matter what. We wanted to start ...
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