D.C. Packing List

On February 19, 2016February 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Travel Writing, Trip Planning, US Travel3 Comments

By this time tomorrow, I will be stepping off the plane in beautiful Washington, D.C.! I am so excited for this trip I can barely contain myself. The only downfall is that the weather will be only slightly warmer than it is here in Chicago. But! There is a silver lining: packing will be a cinch since it’s all the same clothes that have been in rotation all winter. I will admit that I bought a couple of key items for this trip, but who doesn’t like a new outfit for an upcoming vacation?? I have a tendency to over-pack, and then forget key items. Like the time I forgot a hair brush when I went to Asheville, and instead of buying one like a normal person, I just used my fingers and put my hair up every day. Anyways, this time around I’m trying to be very organized and sticking to the basics. So, without further ado, below is my complete packing list for my four day trip to D.C.:

Toiletries:

Toothbrush + tiny toothpaste
Ponds Make-Up Remover Wipes
Hair Brush
Deodorant
Nivea Lotion
Curling Iron
Shampoo + Conditioner*

*Normally, this wouldn’t be on the list, but since I’ll be staying at a hostel one night, I’d rather be prepared than not.

Make-Up:

Clinique Even Better Foundation
Clean Dual Rollerball Perfume
Bare Minerals Blush and Brush
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer
Elf Black Eyeliner
Bliss Eyeshadow Palette
Elizabeth Arden Mascara
NYX, Clinique and Revlon Chubby Sticks Lipstick

Clothing:

(1) Swimsuit
(6) Undies
(2) Bras
(1) Pair of Tights
(6) Pairs of Socks
(2) Jeans
(1) Sweater
(2) Long Sleeves
(1) T-Shirt
(1) Blouse
(1) Tank Top
(1) Dress
(1) Set of Pajamas
Scarf, Gloves + Hat

Shoes:

Chuck Taylors
Flip Flops (for the shared hostel showers and the hotel pool!)
Black Ankle Boots

In My Tote (Madewell Leather Zip Transport Bag):

Notebook
Pencils and Sharpener
Book (The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman)
Mophie Charger
Wall Charger
Headphones
Glasses
Sunglasses
Passport*
Purse (wallet, lipstick, keys and iPhone)

*Apparently, my Illinois Driver’s License is no longer valid as identification to get on the plane, but passports always work!

I think that should do it! See you tomorrow, D.C.!

What are your packing must-haves? What’s the best packing method?

DC Packing List

On February 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning4 Comments

Toiletries:

Toothbrush + tiny toothpaste
Ponds Make-Up Remover Wipes
Hair Brush
Deodorant
Nivea Lotion
Curling Iron
Shampoo + Conditioner*

*Normally, this wouldn’t be on the list, but since I’ll be staying at a hostel one night, I’d rather be prepared than not.

Make-Up:

Clinique Even Better Foundation
Clean Dual Rollerball Perfume
Bare Minerals Blush and Brush
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer
Elf Black Eyeliner
Bliss Eyeshadow Palette
Elizabeth Arden Mascara
NYX, Clinique and Revlon Chubby Sticks Lipstick

Clothing:

(1) Swimsuit
(6) Undies
(2) Bras
(1) Pair of Tights
(6) Pairs of Socks
(2) Jeans
(1) Sweater
(2) Long Sleeves
(1) T-Shirt
(1) Blouse
(1) Tank Top
(1) Dress
(1) Set of Pajamas
Scarf, Gloves + Hat

Shoes:

Chuck Taylors
Flip Flops (for the shared hostel showers and the hotel pool!)
Black Ankle Boots

In My Tote (Madewell Leather Zip Transport Bag):

Notebook
Pencils and Sharpener
Book (The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman)
Mophie Charger
Wall Charger
Headphones
Glasses
Sunglasses
Passport*
Purse (wallet, lipstick, keys and iPhone)

*Apparently, my Illinois Driver’s License is no longer valid as identification to get on the plane, but passports always work!

I think that should do it! See you tomorrow, D.C.!

What are your packing must-haves? What’s the best packing method?

Trip Planning: Washington, D.C.

On February 1, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning4 Comments

I started this year with the knowledge that I would have a six day weekend towards the end of February. I had no idea where I was going to go during this time, but I knew I wanted to go somewhere. It wasn’t a hard problem to solve, as I have a very long list of places I want to visit and a knack for trip planning. I wanted to go somewhere that would be cheap to fly to, easy to get around once I was there, and that had a good amount of amazing food and interesting attractions. Washington, D.C. fit the bill. I’ve been there once before, way back in 8^th grade. We took a charter bus there that left from the school parking lot. My eighth grade brain took all of the history of D.C. in one ear and out the other and focused mostly on finding those cool FBI sweatshirts with my friends so we could all match. This time around, I’ll be going by myself and I plan to take it all in. I’m no longer interested in hooded sweatshirts, in fact the only thing I will have in common with my 8^th Grade self is my concern of when my next meal will be. I guess I’ve been on a recent kick of returning to places I’ve visited before to better appreciate them (see “Trip Planning: San Francisco”). I am so excited to revisit Washington, D.C. There is so much to see and do and eat there that I just hope I have enough time to accomplish it all. I’ll be there for three nights, staying two nights in a hotel and one night in a hostel to help keep my spending in check. I have a very long list of things I want to accomplish while I’m there. Here is the breakdown:

Flight:

American Airlines – nonstop from ORD to DCA

Lodging:

Courtyard Marriott
Hostelling International Washington, D.C.

What I want to see:

The National Mall, The Memorials and The White House, of course
The Smithsonian Museums
The Eastern Market
The Holocaust Memorial Museum
Georgetown, Columbia Heights, Dupont
The Folger Shakespeare Library
Glen Echo Park
And anything and everything else that I can fit in

What I want to eat:

We the Pizza (any Top Chef fans out there??)
Ted’s Bulletin
Founding Farmers
Dangerously Delicious Pie
Honestly, I could go on and on; I’m going to need to eat four meals a day to keep up with this list

I have two and a half days to do it all. My plan of attack is to tackle the National Mall, Monuments and Museums one day and tour the neighborhoods the next day. I am just so excited to go on this trip, and I can’t wait to explore Washington, D.C. I’m a little bit concerned that because I’m going there in the winter, some things may not be as enjoyable. However, I’m going to bundle up and power through to make the most of it. See you in a few weeks D.C.!

Washington, D.C. 2004 — A few pictures from the first time I visited Washington, D.C., in 2004

If you have any Washington, D.C. recommendations or tips, please share!

Frontier Airlines: A Review

On January 5, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

I booked our flight to San Francisco through Frontier Airlines, because….well, because it was cheap. All told, it was $160 round trip for each of us, which is a pretty good deal. I’ve flown with them once before and had a not so great experience, so this time I wanted to document the flight and see whether the great price is really worth the trouble. The last time I flew Frontier, it was to Salt Lake City in November 2014. That time, my flight was delayed over an hour because one of their flight attendants didn’t show up for work that day. To make it up to us, they gave us a $15 credit, which I didn’t have the opportunity to use because it expired three months later. This plus an unpleasant interaction with their customer service team when I had to change my return flight just left me with a bad overall experience. So although their tickets are cheap and they fly places that I want to go, it took me over a year to book with Frontier again. This time around, the flight was on time and the service was much better. Here’s the breakdown:

Pros:

The flight attendants were friendly and were all on time for work
The boarding process was quick, with the seats pre-assigned at check-in
Cheap airfare, especially when you catch a good sale
No muss, no fuss travel

Cons:

The luggage fees are almost as much as the cheap airfare
There are no free refreshments during the flight
The standard seating has very little leg room and there’s a fee to pick your seat ahead of time
The flyfrontier.com website is not very user-friendly and sometimes goes on the fritz

Tips:

Check your bags instead of carrying on (it’s $5 cheaper), and choose to do so ahead of time to save some money
Don’t pick your seat unless you are super choosey, they’re pretty good about putting you next to who you booked your flight with
Bring your own snacks and water so you don’t have to buy them on the plane

Overall, Frontier is a cheap way to get from point A to point B if you plan ahead and aren’t picky about where you sit. I wouldn’t book this airline if I was travelling outside the continental U.S. (they do offer flights to Mexico and The Caribbean), but it works just fine for short flights. In my humble opinion, it works best if you don’t have a set destination in mind and you book based on the sales that run frequently. I’d definitely do it again, if everything fell into place like it did for San Francisco. So, if the question is to fly Frontier or not to fly Frontier, flight time and budget should be your deciding factors.

Have you flown with Frontier before? What was your experience like? Is there another budget airline that you prefer?

Trip Planning: San Francisco

On November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

Trip Planning: San Francisco

I cannot tell you how excited I am for my upcoming trip to San Francisco. One more month! I booked the flights three months ago, but have only just begun to plan the actual trip. I will once again be travelling with my boyfriend, Michael, and we’ll be celebrating my birthday (ahem, my 26^th Birthday) while we’re there. Right now, I have one hotel booked, but only for two out of our three nights there, and a long list of attractions I want to see. Here’s what I have so far:

Flights: Frontier Airlines – Previously, I had a not so great experience with Frontier (see SLC Punks), but was willing to try them again because the price was so right. I plan on doing a full review on them this time to set the record straight.

Hotels: Hostel International San Francisco Downtown – 2 nights booked. We are on a little bit of a budget for this trip, which is why we chose to stay in a hostel for the majority of the trip. However, I tend to like to stay in a hostel for a couple nights to save money, then book a nice-ish hotel for the last night, just to get both perspectives (I did this in North Carolina too). I think our second hotel will be Hotel Vertigo, but I have yet to book it out of sheer procrastination.

Attractions: The Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, The Mission, Cable Cars… the list goes on and on. I would really like to bike across The Golden Gate Bridge, shop in Haight Ashbury, eat some good seafood by the ocean, and find the Full House house. We are also planning on driving to John Muir Woods to hike and Sonoma for some wine tastings. There are a lot of things to check off and I’m hoping we can get to them all without going crazy.

Restaurants: I have had two recommendations that were pounded into my brain by insistent friends: 1. Dottie’s for breakfast and 2. Yank Sing for dim sum. I plan to try both, and as I said before, I really want to east some good seafood in Fisherman’s Wharf. I don’t want to pick too many restaurants that we absolutely must go to so we can ask around when we get there to see what the locals recommend.

Typically what I do for trips like this is to write down my must-sees/must-eats, which I choose from Pinterest and Travel Blogs, and use Google maps to see how far away from the hotel each one is. That way, I can group attractions together based on what’s near what. I try to make a rough, but not too binding, schedule of how I can make it to everything. This is especially important for this trip, because we have to rent a car for a day to get to a couple of our must-sees (John Muir Woods and Sonoma). I haven’t made the car reservation yet, or our last night hotel reservation, BUT I did get “On The Road” to read on the plane before we visit the historic Jack Kerouac Alley. So that’s settled. Even though not everything is organized quite yet, I am beyond thrilled to be able to visit and experience this gorgeous city.

I’ll keep you updated on this trip, but in the meantime, enjoy these photos from the first time I was ever in San Francisco in 2002. We only stopped there for a couple of hours on our way to Yosemite National Park, but I guess it was long enough to make me want to go back!
Feel free to leave all of your best San Francisco travel tips in the comments!

Planning the Perfect Staycation

On November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

I firmly believe that it’s really important to explore your own city. It would be such a waste of a perfectly good destination if you didn’t. This is where the staycation comes into play. It’s a great way to get the feel of a relaxing vacation when you don’t have the time or funds for one. While travel is obviously something that I’m passionate about, I have a fondness for staycations and the vacation vibes they provide in between big trips. There are two ways to plan a fantastic staycation: 1.) think of yourself as a tourist in your own city and venture to unchartered territory (to you, anyways), or 2.) book a hotel with some sort of spa/pool facility, get yourself a good book and chilllllllll. When my boyfriend and I staycationed at The Freehand earlier this year (see staycation blog here), we chose the first option. We went to a popular restaurant we’d both never been to and wandered around the city, popping into bars and enjoying the River Walk. I have to say, staying downtown and enjoying the city lights and attractions definitely made me love Chicago even more than I already do. It’s about time we try the second option, but more on that later. Whichever option you choose, you are sure to have an amazing time and a whole new appreciation of your hometown. Plus, you get the added bonus of having the knowledge and experience to play concierge to your friends and family when they ask for accommodation or restaurant suggestions. Below are my best tips for planning the perfect staycation, take them as you will and let me know what you’re favorite staycation plans are in the comments!

Choosing the hotel: This is most likely your first step in planning your staycation. Base this decision on what kind of experience you’re looking for, i.e.- if you want to relax, book a hotel with room service, a pool and/or spa and a comfy bed, or if you want to explore, choose a hip hotel in the center of the action. If you live in a big city like I do, the options for hotels are endless and can get a little pricey. As I am not made of money, I usually check if there are any deals on LivingSocial or Groupon first.
Planning activities: Since you’re familiar with the lay of the land, I’m sure you already know exactly what you’d like to do. Choose something that you’ve always had on your hometown bucket list, but haven’t made time for yet. Maybe it’s finally caving in and checking out that city attraction all the tourists rave about, or seeing a play at the local theater or even trying out a trendy bar. If you aren’t planning on venturing out, make a spa appointment or check if your hotel has any special in-room features you can utilize.
Doing dinner: Whether you’re relaxing or exploring, you gotta eat. For the relaxing type – kick back in your hotel room with some room service or order delivery and eat it in your robe. If you’re feeling adventurous, go out to a restaurant featuring a style of cuisine you’ve never tried. Either way, order decadently and enjoy.
Sleeping in: I don’t really have a whole lot to say on this topic, other than, if you are staycationing, it’s imperative that you sleep in at least a little bit. Bonus points for you if you order breakfast in bed.
The morning after: Take your time in the morning and don’t rush to leave the hotel. Go for a dip in the pool, go out for breakfast, have a morning shopping spree… whatever you want! Squeeze every last bit out of this staycation, and don’t even think about checking out early.
Going back to reality: Of course returning from any sort of vacation is always rough, but since you were only a few miles from home, it should be easier to get back into the swing of things. Take the rest of the day to soak up all the good staycation vibes and go back into your weekly routine feeling refreshed and happy to know your city a little better.

Fall In Chicago, Bucket List | RebeccaWanderlusting

Road Trip to Memphis

On October 7, 2015December 1, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Tennessee, Trip Planning, US TravelLeave a comment

Road Trip to Memphis

I’m going on another road trip! And this time I won’t be going alone. While I love solo travel, I am so happy my boyfriend, Mike, is joining me on this one. We are headed to Memphis, TN tomorrow, bright and early. This trip was planned so long ago, that I almost forgot it was happening. In fact, I had a very panicky moment where I thought I misplaced the Foo Fighter’s tickets in the time between booking them (6 months ago) and now, which would be unfortunate as they are the whole reason for this trip. We planned this trip around the Foo Fighters concert on Wednesday, October 7, and decided to make a little vacation out of it. We are staying in Memphis for four days and three nights. It’s only a seven hour drive from Chicago, so it will be a perfect long weekend trip. Memphis is a new city for both of us, so I did some scouting on the best attractions in the area, mostly using Pinterest and taking some tips from some fellow bloggers (thanks Nomadic Matt and The Blond Abroad!). There are so many intriguing things to do there that I had absolutely no idea about, which makes this all the more exciting. It’s going to be a very music-centered trip with the concert and Memphis being the heart of Soul and Blues music (as well as being the birthplace of one of my all-time-favorites, Aretha Franklin). The top attractions on our must-see list so far include: Sun Studios, Graceland, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and of course, the Blues Bars on Beale Street. Plus, I am super excited for some delicious southern barbecue and fried chicken. We will be staying downtown at the Comfort Inn for two nights (chosen for the price and the location) and our last night is still a mystery to me, because Mike insisted on booking the hotel and won’t tell me which one he picked. It’ll be good though, I bet. Today, in the last minute scramble to get ready to leave, I had to pack, choose an audiobook (“The Wind Through the Keyhole” by Stephen King), buy snacks and bottled water for the car, and pick up some other last minute items for the trip. This crazy Chicago weather has me really craving the sunshine and warm weather we’ll be encountering in Memphis, but it also means I’ll have to round up all my warm weather gear that I’d shoved to the back of my closet. My only concern for this trip is that I may have too many items on our Memphis To-Do List. I don’t want it to be so scheduled that we don’t have time to enjoy the vacation we both so desperately need. It will be interesting to see if we can find a good balance of exploring the city and relaxing. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’m just looking forward to hitting the road with my main man and enjoying this beautiful city. Feel free to leave any Tennessee Travel Tips in the comment section.

Memphis Road Trip

On October 7, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

I’m going on another road trip! And this time I won’t be going alone. While I love solo travel, I am so happy my boyfriend, Mike, is joining me on this one. We are headed to Memphis, TN tomorrow, bright and early. This trip was planned so long ago, that I almost forgot it was happening. In fact, I had a very panicky moment where I thought I misplaced the Foo Fighter’s tickets in the time between booking them (6 months ago) and now, which would be unfortunate as they are the whole reason for this trip.

We planned this trip around the Foo Fighters concert on Wednesday, October 7, and decided to make a little vacation out of it. We are staying in Memphis for four days and three nights. It’s only a seven hour drive from Chicago, so it will be a perfect long weekend trip. Memphis is a new city for both of us, so I did some scouting on the best attractions in the area, mostly using Pinterest and taking some tips from some fellow bloggers (thanks Nomadic Matt and The Blonde Abroad!). There are so many intriguing things to do there that I had absolutely no idea about, which makes this all the more exciting. It’s going to be a very music-centered trip with the concert and Memphis being the heart of Soul and Blues music (as well as being the birthplace of one of my all-time-favorites, Aretha Franklin). The top attractions on our must-see list so far include: Sun Studios, Graceland, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and of course, the Blues Bars on Beale Street. Plus, I am super excited for some delicious southern barbecue and fried chicken. We will be staying downtown at
the Comfort Inn for two nights (chosen for the price and the location) and our last night is still a mystery to me, because Mike insisted on booking the hotel and won’t tell me which one he picked. It’ll be good though, I bet.

Today, in the last minute scramble to get ready to leave, I had to pack, choose an audiobook (“The Wind Through the Keyhole” by Stephen King), buy snacks and bottled water for the car, and pick up some other last minute items for the trip. This crazy Chicago weather has me really craving the sunshine and warm weather we’ll be encountering in Memphis, but it also means I’ll have to round up all my warm weather gear that I’d shoved to the back of my closet. My only concern for this trip is that I may have too many items on our Memphis To-Do List. I don’t want it to be so scheduled that we don’t have time to enjoy the vacation we both so desperately need. It will be interesting to see if we can find a good balance of exploring the city and relaxing. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’m just looking forward to hitting the road with my main man and enjoying this beautiful city. Feel free to leave any Tennessee Travel Tips in the comment section for our Memphis Road Trip.

10 Tips for Planning a Trip from Scratch

On September 3, 2015September 25, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

Sometimes when the travel bug bites, you don’t feel pulled in any one direction. This can prove to be a fantastic opportunity. To plan a trip from scratch, meaning with no destination in mind, can be a beautiful thing. Picking a destination through throwing out a wide net and finding what deals are out there is a great way to start planning a trip you may not have been able to imagine before. I’ve tried this tactic a few times with amazing results. This is actually how I planned my trip to North Carolina earlier this summer. Below you can find my top ten tips for completely planning a trip from scratch:

Budget, Budget, Budget: This may be a boring first step, but it’s necessary. Set a budget for how much you want to spend on your airfare and hotels to help narrow your options. I’m not saying you should shoot for budget travel, but just try spend within your means or credit card limits.
Explore your options: Use the Kayak Explore function, or something like it, and see where you can go within your budget. You can put in your home airport and check flights to anywhere. Don’t rule out a road trip! Check mileage with google maps or try roadtrippers.com to help plan the ultimate road trip to wherever you choose.
See what each option has to offer: Once you have options, check out the attractions in the area to see which you find most appealing. I like to use Pinterest to have good visuals and links to the top lists of attractions in each list.
Check Transit: Another thing to check before making any decisions is your destinations transportation options. Is it a walkable city? Is there public transportation? Will you need to rent a car? And those are all things to think about budget-wise, as well.
Lodging: Check hotel prices in the area. I like to use Tripadvisor for reviews and pricing, but I also use websites like Livingsocial or Groupon to find any deals on hotel rooms. Trivago and TravelZoo also have good deals to be found.
Ulterior Lodging Options: If the hotel prices are too high for your budget, take a gander at Airbnb.com or check out if there are any hostels in the area. For me, hostels are always a great budget option with great locations.
Book it!: Once everything fits the way you want it to (locations, prices, attractions), start booking! I usually book airfare, then hotel and finally choose any additional events or attractions (tours, boat cruises…) later on.
Take note: Be sure to write down all of your important dates and times, as well as cancellation dates to avoid charges should you need to cancel any portion of your travels. Having all the details in one place will help you keep organized.
Loose Itinerary: Make a rough plan of things you want to do while you’re there. You should make sure to take note of any special events happening in the area or days certain attractions may be closed.
ENJOY!: You planned this whole trip from start to end and you deserve to enjoy every minute of it. Don’t forget to relax and take in all the amazing details. You earned it.

Have you tried this before? Where did you go?

Preparing for a Solo Road Trip

On July 14, 2015September 25, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning2 Comments

Preparing for a Solo Road Trip

In a little less than a week, I’ll be in a rental car on my way to Asheville, North Carolina. Here’s how I picture it: windows rolled down, sunglasses on, loud music on the radio, and me carefree and cruising confidently down I-65. I don’t think I am actually capable of being that carefree, but I’m hoping to at least enjoy the ride. While I am very excited that I am heading off on my own to explore a chunk of the US, I also have no delusions that I can just pick up and go without some sort of plan. I made my hotel and car rental reservations months ago, and mapped out my route from Chicago. I have the basics down, but there’s still a number of things I need to check off my list before I can embark upon this adventure:

First, and most importantly, snacks. No road trip is complete without a good supply of treats to keep you nourished between pit stops. I typically need salty snacks, like Chex mix or pistachios, and some sort of fruit to keep me going, plus plenty of bottled water, of course. I always pack a box of granola bars to have for breakfast while I’m on vacation to save some money on eating out. I am planning on packing a lunch as well, so I don’t have to stop as much on the way.
A fun, upbeat playlist is essential to any road trip! My trip is going to be around 10 hours from Chicago to Asheville, so I’m working on the ultimate mish mosh of tunes that I can sing along to. I’ve already started on my Road Trip playlist, but it needs a lot more work to try to fill that time slot. Also, because the drive is on the longer side, I’m also playing with the idea of getting a book on tape from the library to help pass the time (any suggestions??).
I know it will be hot in Asheville, and I’ve already started to put aside some hot weather clothes to pack. I also know I will bring too much, as per usual. But, that’s part of the beauty of a road trip: no checked baggage fees! Everything that I have set to bring on this trip already is hoarded on my desk at the moment. In a couple of days I’ll have to get it together and put everything into my suitcase and backpack to be ready to go. Because I am prone to forgetting things when I pack, I always make a checklist beforehand to limit the things left behind.
I have been doing some light research on the local attractions and dining options, but I need to figure out my must see/eat places. I don’t like to go in to a trip with a completely planned out itinerary, but I do like to make a small list of things I absolutely want to accomplish while I’m there. Currently at the top of my list are The Biltmore Estate, The Orange Peel, Chimney Rock, and exploring downtown Asheville. I like to use google maps to see which attractions are close to others so I can lump them in together in one day. I am working with three days to enjoy an amazing city with a lot of activities to choose from so a girl’s gotta have priorities.
While I am fairly confident in my driving abilities, and fully confident in my ability to take care of myself, there will always be ways to limit any travel safety risks. I am putting together an emergency kit for the car, which will include: first aid supplies, jumper cables, pepper spray, and an atlas in case Google maps fails me. I also am bringing along a door stop, a tip that I stole from the Young Adventuress, to secure my hotel room door. I already gave my family and boyfriend my hotel information, and plan to check in with them each day. The best thing I can do to keep out of any weird situations is to simply pay attention.
Over the next few days, I’ll (hopefully) have a good handle on all these things. I am so excited to be on my way, and I can’t wait to tell you all about Asheville when I get back.