Sturgeon Bay, Whitefish Dunes, Door County, Wisconsin, RebeccaWanderlusting

A Door County Road Trip – Part 2

On March 24, 2020 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, WisconsinLeave a comment

**please note this trip was quite a while ago, but it was unfinished so here we are.**

The best part of passing out early on vacation is getting an early start the next day. I had a lot of exploring left to do, and I wanted to drive through Door County, making stops at all the places that had been recommended to me or that I had noted for myself to check out.

The Holiday Music Motel had a continental breakfast set up in their little diner nook on the first floor, so I helped myself to some muffins and coffee. The whole hotel had a fun retro look, and I very much enjoyed sitting at the singular table in the kitchen and watching people filter in and out to grab coffee and baked goods.

Once I had my fill, I headed over to Potawatomi State Park for a brisk morning hike. I bought the out of state pass for $11 so that I could go back to Whitefish Dunes later that day too. The ranger that sold it to me recommended the Ice Age Hike, so that’s where I started.

The path ran right along the shore, halfway between the lake and the road. The majority of the lake over here was frozen over still, but the sun warmed me as I walked. Because it was still early, I didn’t run into anyone on the trail. It was so peaceful. The views of the lake popped up intermittently between the trees, creating a very picturesque scene.

After walking a ways down the path, little yellow markers led me up stone stairs to the road. The path picked up on the other side, but the terrain was very different. There were no more pine trees, just birch and ash trees that were still barren from the winter. I was planning on hiking to the old fire tower, but only got fifteen minutes into the hike before I lost my nerve. The forest was deserted and I couldn’t get the Blair With Project out of my head! There was also a bird whose call sounded like a crazy woman laughing, and that was the final straw. I hightailed it out of there and went back the way I came. Much better. I got back to the car and drove past the boat launch just to take in the view before continuing my Door County road trip towards Bailey’s Harbor.

Once there, I stopped at Cornerstone Pub for lunch, where I was one of the only patrons, so I chose a table with a view of the water. I ordered a solidly Wisconsin meal of cheese curds, seafood chowder and a New Glarus Moon Man – it was super heavy, but also super worth it.

My next stop was Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay, but I made a quick detour to the Ridges Sanctuary to see the view I had from the restaurant up close.

The cider house was on my list of Door County must-sees, and I was so glad I stopped in. It was very cute and the cider was delicious. I tried the tasting portions of the Lavender, Pear, Cherry, and Brut Ciders and sat outside to enjoy them. The Cherry and Lavender were the best, so I bought a large bottle of each to take home with me!

After making my cider purchase, I jumped back in the car and moved towards the Ellison Bluff Overlook. I had to turn off the main road onto a dirt one to get there, fearing for my rental car as I hit multiple potholes on the way. The view that awaited me once I parked and walked down a set of wooden stairs though was one for the books. It was the kind of view that might make you cry.. or puke.. or do whatever you had to do to not move from that spot. The small wooden path jutted out from the bluff and looked over Lake Michigan, lined on one side with pine trees and limestone cliffs.

The gradient in the water moved from a brilliant emerald green to the deepest blue; it was stunning. I didn’t want to leave that view, but I still had more to see. So I tore myself away and took the very scenic drive to Fish Creek, a town of many cute shops and restaurants.

I needed a new book for the rest of my trip, so I stopped into the Peninsula Bookman. The store was chock-full of new and used books, which made it very fun to browse through. After searching for twenty minutes or so, I landed on “The Lord of the Flies”, which I’d never read before. I walked around Fish Creek a bit, but a lot of the stores weren’t quite open for the season yet, so I made my way back toward Sturgeon Bay.

I wanted one more hike at Whitefish Dunes before dinner, and decided to walk the other way around the lake from the day before. This trail kept near to the lake, but the dunes hid most of the view. A ways down, I came to a board walk that lead to a beautiful view of the lake.

There was quite a bit of snow on this trail, which made it extra adventurous in my mind. I decided to take the trail up to “Old Baldy”, the tallest dune in the park that boasted a GREAT view from it’s observation deck. It was a long hike, and there was nobody else on the trail. All I could hear were the waves on the other side of the dunes and the occasional crow. It was actually really peaceful. Until I finally made it to Old Baldy and it was CLOSED.

I was so frustrated by this sign that I marched myself right passed it and up to the observation deck anyways. I wish I could say the view was worth it.

On the way back down, the light was perfectly golden and it made the forest around me look so dang pretty. The smell of the pine trees was almost enough to make me pack my bags and move up North. All of my senses were content with the rest of the hike.

By the time I made it back to the car, I was very happy with my day but also pretty exhausted. I went back to the hotel to freshen up and then went to The Inn at Cedar Crossing for dinner. It was mediocre in service and cuisine, but I did enjoy the wine and reading my new book. Despite the so-so end to my trip, Door County was everything I wanted and more. The hiking, ciders, and cheese curds were enough to make me wish I was a permanent resident. I can’t wait to make the drive up again!

Have you explored Door County? Which Door County town is your favorite to stay in?

Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, RebeccaWanderlusting

A Door County Road Trip -Part 1

On October 2, 2018 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, WisconsinLeave a comment

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin came on my radar early in the year because my sister had gone up there for a conference and couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards. She gushed about the cute town and the lush state parks until I just had to check it out for myself. I booked a rental car and a few nights at the Holiday Music Motel in downtown Sturgeon Bay and then I was off for a long weekend at the end of April.

I drove the four hours straight through, listening to an audio-book entitled “800 Grapes” (good, not great, but perfect for a long drive). My first stop, once I arrived in Door County, was Whitefish Dunes State Park. There was a $5 fee for an hour of hiking, which I paid at the visitor center. I set off, aimlessly hiking down a path that was set next to the rocky coast of Lake Michigan. There was still snow on the ground that far north, so that and the fact that I was there before the tourist season picked up in Door County meant that I had the park pretty much to myself.

Once I got further into the wooded area along the lake, there wasn’t really any defined path. I switched between walking on the rocks by the shore and through the trees where the ground was covered in pine needles and dotted with patches of ice. It was windy, and the waves on Lake Michigan crashed into the rocks, spraying up water. The views throughout the park alone were worth the drive up there, and there was still so much to see. Right next to Whitefish Dunes is Cave Point County Park, but they might as well be the same park as they run into each other. The “cave” was an unassuming rock formation that dipped into the lake, the waves splashing in and out, soaking anyone that stood too close.

I couldn’t get over the view from each outcropping. The lake was a perfect sapphire blue. My time was halfway up when I reached the cave, so I turned around and went back the way I came, taking it slow to soak up all that fresh air. I decided to come back to Whitefish Dunes again at some point while I was in town. It was just too pretty to not take another hike there.

Since I had driven straight to the park and then hiked, I was so hungry by the time I got back to the car. I didn’t have any phone service to try and look up where to go, so I drove towards downtown Sturgeon Bay. I stopped at Grammy’s Country Store, and they recommended the Door County Firehouse on 3rd Avenue for lunch. I took them up on their suggestion and set myself up at a high top in the bar side of the restaurant. I felt compelled to order a Spotted Cow and got a pulled pork sandwich too. I know I was really hungry, but that had to have been one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had.

After lunch, I went and checked into the Holiday Music Motel. The motel is a renovated space that has gained a good amount of attention for their affinity for live music and their retro decor. Once I actually got to my room, I immediately showered and took a glorious nap before heading out to explore the downtown area. I walked along the lake first, which was beautiful in the late afternoon sunshine. The bridge and the rocks along the shore were so pretty, the water perfectly clear.

I meandered over to the local fancy Italian restaurant, Trattoria Dal Santo, for dinner. They sat me at a lovely table for one, and I immediately picked out the Montepuciano by the glass to start. The waitress commented on the book I was reading (“In The Woods” by Tana French”) and we had a nice conversation about books and the absence of bookstores in the area. Apparently the local bookshop had closed recently (though I’m told they now have a new one). I ordered the Scalllopini Marsala for dinner, which came with a garden salad to start and mashed potatoes on the side.

The food was delicious, and the ambiance in the restaurant made it all the better. I savored each bite and took my time, reading while I ate. The staff was so wonderful, and let me hang out longer than the average dinner check, which I appreciated. After I finished, I walked over to the Door County Maker Space, which is an event space/concert venue/center for the arts. They were having a singer/songwriter showcase. I was a little bit late, and the place was packed, but luckily, the guy manning the door let me bypass the cover charge.

I stayed for a few songs, and then it was intermission time. Everyone seemed to know each other, which was nice to see, but not the best case scenario for an outsider. I felt a little awkward, so I moved out and went across the street to Roots, a wine bar. I got into a discussion with the bartender about what was going on in town that evening. She gave me a newspaper to check out the local section and directed me to the Stone Harbor Pub to see a local cover band.

The pub was right on the lake, and I sat at the bar with a (couple of) Spotted Cows, content as could be. They had the Celtics vs. Bucks game on the TVs, and I stayed through the end of the game, cheering for the Bucks, since I was in Wisconsin. The cover band was pretty good too! They were called the Tighty Whiteys. I walked back to the hotel after awhile to have a glass of local wine and watch a movie. It was a great first day in Sturgeon Bay and I was looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.

Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, RebeccaWanderlusting

Touring Chichen Itza & Cenote Ik Kil

On June 18, 2018 By rebeccawanderlustingIn International Travel, MexicoLeave a comment

Seeing Chichen Itza while I was in Mexico was non-negotiable for me. So much so that I booked the tour when I booked my flights so I could work the rest of the trip around that activity. The tour shuttle was scheduled to pick me up at 7am, so I got up super early to get ready and run to the lobby for coffee and a sweet roll. I was the first to be picked up, so William, my tour guide for the day, gave me the pick of the seats in the van. He gave me the rundown of what we were doing that day and then started off towards the next hotel. There were ten other people on the tour with me, and I soon found out that I was the only English-speaking participant. This was only a problem in that I only understood every third or fourth word of everything William said. Luckily, he didn’t say a whole lot during the two hour drive to Chichen Itza. This post could also be entitled “The One Where I Didn’t Learn Enough Spanish Like I Should Have and Got In A Tiff With The Tour Guide”.

The Mayaland Hotel is the gateway to Chichen Itza and also happens to be a beautiful oasis of a resort. The ticket stand/gift shop for Chichen Itza is just to the side of the hotel, so we all piled out and milled around for awhile. There was another tour group waiting for their guide to the ruins and somehow, without me knowing it, I was pushed into that group. This was ultimately for the best, because they were an English speaking group, but at the time, I was a little concerned because all of my things were in the other bus and I wasn’t quite understanding if I was with them for the rest of the day. Off we went down the path to the ticket counter, where I discovered I didn’t have the right ticket, because I was switched around between the two groups. I was annoyed but determined not to let it ruin this tour that I was looking forward to, so I ran back to the trailhead, bought my ticket and ran back. I got stamped in, and followed Carlos, our Chichen Itza expert down a path that was lined with vendors selling straw hats and blankets and trinkets.

Carlos (pictured above) led us through each exhibit of the Mayan culture, including a cenote that would have provided most of the water to the old city and a replica of a typical home with a thatched roof. We kept walking, past yet more vendors who yelled over each other to exclaim to us how low their prices were. The group moved through the tree-lined path into a clearing, where the majority of the ruins sat. It took my breath away. I had waited to see this for so long, and I was just so grateful to finally be there. It was so beautiful.

Carlos gave us some time to take it all in and take all the pictures we wanted. Once we all gathered back around him, he went on with his tour, pulling laminated photos out of his backpack to illustrate his points. The Temple of Kukulkan (the main pyramid associated with Chichen Itza), named for the Mayan feathered serpent deity, stood in the middle of all the other buildings. Carlos walked us over there and showed us how if we clapped in the right place in the right way, the sound would ricochet off the building and replicate the sound of the serpent’s wings. It did sound like how I can imagine a winged serpent might sound, if I’d ever heard such a thing. In the midst of him showing the other buildings, we got stuck in a rain storm that came and went pretty quickly, but there was no shelter to speak of so we quite literally just weathered the storm. Carlos showed us the ball court and a few other points of interest, and then we started the walk back to the hotel for lunch.

I met a really nice couple from South Carolina on the tour, and we sat down to lunch together. The hotel’s dining room was set up in stations that were mostly self serve. There a traditional Mayan cuisine, tacos, a salad bar, “international foods” (sliders, pizza, hot dogs) and dessert. I hit the taco station first and got a chicken taco with pineapple and a bowl of the Mayan cuisine which consisted of rice, beans, peppers, and Adobo pork and a Mexican Coca Cola for good measure. It was a fantastic meal in a beautiful setting. The courtyard we sat in was so pretty, and there was a peacock wandering around the diners.

The group I originally started with took a lot longer touring the ruins, so I spent an hour looking through the gift shops and buying some souvenirs for my family. Finally, I ran into my original guide, who basically apologized (“sorry, we just get so many tourists”) for passing me off and then loaded us all back onto the bus to head to Cenote Ik Kil. It was just a little ways down the road from Chichen Itza. We were allotted an hour to swim, and were to meet back at the bus, so we all hurried off to make the most of the time. It was set up like a theme park, with turnstiles, ticket takers, rent-by-the-hour lockers and changing rooms. I got a locker and changed into my swimsuit. The cenote was set into the ground, and it took approximately sixty steps to get to the bottom. The vines hung down from the top of the crater and it was dark and mossy toward the bottom. There were four ladders lined up to climb in and out of the water on one side and a staircase that went upwards for the more adventurous guests to jump from.

It doesn’t look very high, but once you got up towards the top…it was pretty high. I made a beeline for the stairs and jumped in right away, I had to or I would have lost my nerve. It sure felt high once I was in the air. Once I was in the water, I paddled around happily. What a beautiful place for a swim! I felt something brush against my foot, and noticed these fish swimming around everyone – they looked like little sharks. I swam over to the ladder and waited my turn to pull myself out, all the while anxiously looking around me for the pseudo-sharks. I pulled myself up and decided the best course of action would be to jump again, but from a higher stair. There was a little girl putting everyone else to shame, but climbing up to the top stair and jumping in over and over again, putting grown men to shame as they jumped from the lower stairs. It was amazing. I swam up until it was almost time to leave, and then I ran back to my locker to grab my camera to get some good pictures. It really was one of the most magical places I’ve ever been.

I could have stayed there all day, but I had to meet the group back at the bus. Everyone fell asleep for the ride home, and of course I was the last one to be dropped off. After one last awkward interaction with William, our bus driver, I was home free. I showered and got ready for dinner, which consisted of the semi-authentic Italian food. The food wasn’t so good, but I made it taste better with lots of wine. I finished my last night in Mexico in the outdoor bar, where a live band was playing. I settled down into a comfy chair off to the side and ordered a mojito to enjoy with the music. It had been a long day, but it truly was one for the books. This trip had been incredibly healing and enlightening and wonderful; I was glad for every moment leading up to it and every moment there.

Have you ever toured Chichen Itza? What company did you use and did you enjoy the experience?

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

On May 10, 2018 By rebeccawanderlustingIn International Travel, MexicoLeave a comment

Well, well, well… look who finally decided to show up. Me.. I know, I’m sorry. These past few months have been a little rough in more ways than one, but I’m happy to report that I’m much happier now than I have been in a while. Thank goodness! So let’s get down to business. The plus side of not being active on the blog is that I’ve had a lot more time to get myself back to my normal self. The downside is that I have SO MUCH to catch you up on. So, I’ll start with my trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico back in January, here goes:

I booked an all-inclusive trip to Playa Del Carmen via Expedia on my 28th birthday after a rough day and a bottle of cheap wine. A month and a half later, I was heading to the airport bright and early on a Saturday morning. When I arrived in Mexico, it felt like a world away from the frigid city I had just come from. Everything was warm and vibrant, and there were palm trees everywhere. A few steps outside the airport, my amazement at the scenery was abruptly interrupted. Men and women in polo shirts jumped out at me from every angle, offering tours and taxis and timeshares. I made a beeline for the Super Shuttle stand to hop on the bus that would take me to my hotel.

I was grouped with four older travelers (two couples, its seemed), They were very talkative, but also super negative; grumbling about everything from the traffic to the suburban scenery. When the driver got in the front seat, he told us to buckle our seat belts, and one woman replied “Why? Because you’re such a bad driver? I know you people like to drive fast”. Oh lord. I sent up a silent prayer that he knew I wasn’t with these negative nancies. Another small mercy: I was the first one dropped off. I was staying at the Grand Riviera Princess, which was in a line of other resorts along the coast. A gentleman greeted me with a clipboard to assist in check in. He asked me my name and marital status, which tripped me up a bit – literally. I tripped. After making my signature clumsy first impression, I worked my way over to the front desk where they offered me a glass of welcome champagne. They gave me a map of the hotel grounds, a schedule of events and my all-inclusive wristband which I was cautioned never to lose.

I was told I needed to make reservations for dinner each night or I wouldn’t be able to eat, so I made my way to the reservation desk and chose the seafood restaurant for my first night. It sounded fancy, and I wanted to get dressed up for my inaugural meal. I bought a Free People maxi dress for the trip and I was very excited to wear it out. Unfortunately, it was wasted on a sub par Mahi Mahi in a glorified snack bar. Not one to wallow in a bad situation, I drank enough house wine to make the food taste good and ordered dessert for good measure. Afterwards, I went back to my lovely room and sat on the porch with my free mini bar beer to read “Big Little Lies” (the PERFECT beach read, by the way).

On my first full day in Playa Del Carmen, I woke up early and headed to the breakfast buffet as soon as it opened – eager to properly start my vacation. Again, the food was kind of meh, but they did have an impressive variety of breakfast delights. I ate what looked halfway decent (fruit, bacon and toast) and then headed to the beach to walk along the shore. I’ve always loved being by the ocean, so despite the cloudy skies, I was just so happy to be there. The hotel staff was grooming the shoreline and there were few other people out and about, so I had the beach mostly to myself. I spent the rest of my morning relaxing and reading. It’s so rare that I take a vacation that’s purely calm, no rushing around to see the sights, so this was perfect.

I decided to hop on the shuttle to downtown Playa Del Carmen to explore for the afternoon. The line was long to get on the shuttle, but I snuck on and sat in the front seat – one of the perks of traveling alone. When we got off the shuttle at 5th Avenue, we had to walk through a jewelry store to get to the pedestrian-only main drag. The shuttle driver had warned us that there would be a lot of solicitors on the street; that they’d see our wristbands and say “oh do you remember me? I was your waiter last night at the Grand Riviera”. Even though he told us this, I was still taken aback by the intensity with which they offered me tours and souvenirs. I made my way up and down the street, popping into stores but not really buying anything. It was crowded and hot, so I ran into the nearest restaurant to get some lunch.

The restaurant was completely open to the street, so the sunshine streamed in. I picked a table slightly in the shade and ordered a locally-brewed pilsner and some arrachera tacos. The tacos came with the spiciest salsa I have ever tasted. They were delicious, and so was the pilsner. It was such a nice break from the bustling street that I lingered a while, people-watching and slowly sipping my beer.

After lunch, I was more interested in eating some more than buying souvenirs, so I stopped at a cute little gelato store and got a gelato bar dipped in chocolate, white chocolate and sprinkled with nuts. It was so delicious. I had walked down 5th Avenue to each end and back again, so I grabbed a coffee and headed back towards the meeting point for the shuttle back to the hotel.

Once back at the hotel, I changed back into my bathing suit and laid out by the ocean to read and drink cocktails like a drunken slug. The hotel had waitresses taking orders from all of the loungers on the beach, and I got promptly ordered mojito. After some liquid courage, I left my things on my chair and attempted to go for a swim. I stubbed my toe as soon as I walked into the sea (typical), but, despite the new pain in my foot, I bravely moved further in and dunked my head under. The water was warm enough, and I jumped around in the waves for awhile, enjoying the beautiful beach.

I spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool, drinking mojitos and making new friends at the swim up bar. I met a couple from Marengo, IL, which isn’t too far from my hometown. I was wearing my Bears hat, so I was immediately pegged for a Chicagoan. I also met a couple from Canada that I wound up spending a good amount of time with, chatting about travel, politics and the difference in our separate countries’ health benefits. It was weird banter for the poolside setting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. We parted ways and I ran back to my room to change for dinner. This time, I was headed to the one Mexican restaurant on the hotel grounds. The food was significantly better than the night before. I ordered a grapefruit/lime/tequila concoction that was better than any other drink I’d had on this trip, or ever. For dinner, I couldn’t decide between the shrimp tacos and the steak, so I got both (yay – all-inclusive!) and it was all so good.

I stopped by the hotel bar to take in the salsa lessons happening on the dance floor. There was such a fun mix of people participating and the music was so festive. I stayed and watched for a while, too beat to join in. Either way, it was nice to sit in the warm night air and enjoy the scenery. I slowly made my way back to my room to get ready for bed, and to my delight Hombres Misterios was on TV. I fell asleep quickly, which was a good thing, as I had a full day tour the next day. Mexico had already made an impression on me, and I was excited to see more of it.

Have you been to Playa Del Carmen? What was your initial impression?

Culinary Misadventures in Miami

On November 28, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Florida, US Travel1 Comment

I’ve written about my previous solo travel missteps in Miami before, but I recently wrote a travel essay for my aforementioned creative non-fiction class and decided to share it. It’s a funny story, and my family still makes fun of me for this instance to this day. I hope you enjoy it and please feel free to share any of your own solo travel misadventures in the comments below!

Miami, FL was carefully chosen for my first ever solo vacation for its cheap round trip flights from Chicago and its beautiful beachfront hotels. I was twenty-three years old, and desperate to prove my worldliness and bravery. I booked everything without much research and bragged about my solo trip to anyone who would listen.

I flew out of O’Hare and landed in the evening, taking a shuttle to my hotel. I stayed at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort which was technically in Sunnyside Isles Beach, just North of Miami proper. The plan was to just lie out on the beach, read, and sip cocktails while I worked on my tan. While I did try to venture out more to explore, I often just got lost and went back to my hotel, defeated.

On my last night in Miami, I decided to treat myself to a nice dinner at the fine dining restaurant in my hotel. I brought a book with me as a shield against the other diners who may feel sorry for me for dining alone. (I’ve since learned that this doesn’t matter at all.) Despite this, the waitress still gave me a pitying look as she took the second set of silverware and water glass off the table.

I tried to play it cool and ordered the special of the day: the lobster. It came with a salad to start, which I happily ate, along with the rolls and butter that were set before me. This wound up being the only thing I would eat for dinner.

When the lobster was placed in front of me, I tried to continue being cool as a cucumber and thanked the waitress. The portion I was served was not solely the lobster tail, as I had enjoyed before, but the whole lobster. I looked around at the other diners near me, but no one in the immediate vicinity had ordered the special as I did.

“Whatever,” I thought to myself. “I went to culinary school. I can figure this out.” I confidently cut into the front end of my lobster, and the green brains came seeping out onto my plate.

I was at a loss. Do I eat the disgusting ooze? I slid my phone out of my purse and took a discreet picture. I sent it to my dad, the resident seafood eater in our family, with the caption “what do I do with this?” My dad promptly called me, and I tried to be nonchalant as I asked him how to eat the monstrosity on my plate. He tried to advise me as to the best plan of attack, but I had to rush him off the phone in the quiet restaurant. I tried to pick at the tail, as my dad suggested, but the majority of it had been tainted by the green brains.

I cut up the lobster and pushed it around on the plate to keep up appearances but wound up filling my stomach with the rolls and butter. After I paid for the dinner I didn’t eat, I went out to the bar by the hotel’s pool. After ordering a PBR Tallboy, I sat poolside and vowed to do better next time.

Chimney Rock Essay, North Carolina | RebeccaWanderlusting

A Chimney Rock Essay

On October 10, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn North Carolina, US TravelLeave a comment

One of my goals for this year was to take a continued education class, and I waited until I was ten months in to finally get started on that goal. I decided to take a creative non-fiction writing class online through Gotham Writers Workshop, which also has classes in real life in New York. One of our first assignments was to write a memoir -style essay about a crosswords we had to face. I took that literally and wrote about my solo road trip to North Carolina, specifically my time spent in Chimney Rock State Park. I decided it would be fun to share it with you all, dear readers, because it’s travel related and I liked what I wrote. So, without further ado, here it is:

I took one look at the road that zigzagged up the mountain with harrowing hairpin turns and contemplated turning back. I had just driven the forty-five minutes from downtown Asheville to the outskirts of Chimney Rock State Park, and before that, the ten hours from Chicago to Asheville. It should be noted that I am not a good driver; I can more accurately be described as a nervous passenger. I learned how to drive in a small town with three main streets and no highways. I had only just learned how to drive on the expressway a few months before this trip, when my boyfriend pushed me into trying it in his car. He had a good point, I couldn’t go on a solo road trip across state lines without ever having driven on an expressway. Now, here I was in a rented Kia Rio, staring up at a whole new level of driving I had yet to experience.

Internally, I was going over the worst-case scenarios; I turned the volume down on the radio to help me think. I could go careening off the side of the steep cliff, I could crash head first into one of the other cars coming down from the top at a surprisingly quick pace, or I could slide backwards if the tiny car I had chosen because it was the cheapest rental option couldn’t make it all the way up. Finally, after watching multiple cars drive up and down the mountain, I said “fuck it” and headed into the park. I took it slow, hitting the horn every time I came around the bend of one of the hairpin turns. I winced each time a car sped past me going the opposite way, especially the large campers that were somehow swinging around each turn like they were on rails.

Once I neared the top, I felt the knots in my stomach loosen. I pulled up to the parking lot, grateful to be on level ground again. I paid my entry into the park, parked and headed to the start of the hiking trails. There were 500 steps to the top of Chimney Rock, and the view from the top was worth each and every one. The day was clear, I had just conquered one of my biggest fears and I could see the road I had just driven, along with the beautiful valley, river within it and mountains beyond from this vantage point. I was proud of myself and felt like I could accomplish anything after that drive. I hiked around the park with my chin up and breezed back down the mountain, with some of my previous caution but none of the fear.

Share a fear you’ve conquered in the comments!

Solo Trip Snapshots

On September 5, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Denmark, Iceland, International Travel2 Comments

It has officially been a year since my solo trip to Iceland and Copenhagen, Denmark, and I’m still in awe of the scenery in both countries. This trip meant a lot to me, as it was the longest I had ever taken by myself. I think it might be cliche to say that I learned a lot about myself on this trip, that it was life changing, but I’ll say it anyways. It would be hard not to visit two completely new-to-me countries and come back unchanged, especially when the countries are that beautiful. Plus traveling alone is always such an empowering experience. I returned from this trip with a little more confidence, perspective and of course the need to book more trips immediately. Now, a year later, I have some more exciting travels planned for the near future, and I’m feeling nostalgic for one of my favorite trips ever. So, without further ado, here are my favorite solo trip snapshots from my trip to Iceland and Copenhagen:

I’ll start with Iceland, the most beautiful country I have ever been to.

My favorite things about Iceland were the waterfalls along the South Coast, hiking Mount Esja, the street art, the people, the hot dogs, the whale watching tours, Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach, Reykjanes Peninsula, and the Black Sand Beach. I don’t think I will ever see such amazing, diverse, and breath-taking scenery again (unless I go back).

In Copenhagen, I was in love with the pace of life, the wine and lattes at outdoor tables in beautiful squares with fountains in the middle. I loved the boat tour along the canal, drinking and reading at Paludan Cafe, playing at Tivoli Gardens, exploring the Norrebro Neighborhood, the museums, the shops… I could go on all day. It is such a beautiful and unique city, and I’m so happy I chose to visit.

Please share your own solo trip snapshots in the comments; I’d love to see them!

Top Five Friday #18

On June 16, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday1 Comment

Favorite Travel Memories

This year my travel plans are lacking, because, well… because of a multitude of reasons. Mostly budgetary, but also because I started a new job with an unpredictable schedule and no vacation days quite yet. This has me looking to past trips and trying to live vicariously through travel memories. Appreciating all the places you’ve been is a huge part of travel, and I don’t think we do it enough. We, the collective we as travelers, seem so focused on getting to the next place and collecting more and more countries and experiences. When I get down about not being able to travel as much, looking through old travel photos and reading old posts cheers me up like nothing else. So without further ado, here are my favorite travel memories (s0 far):

1. Asheville, NC: My firs successful solo trip was to Asheville, North Carolina. I chose Asheville because I got some glowing recommendations from some of my friends, and sure enough, I loved it too. The scenery is beautiful and the people are so dang nice. The memory that stands out to me as my favorite is hiking to the top of Chimney Rock and getting there red-faced and triumphant. The view was one of the prettiest I’ve seen. Also. for a non-driver, I was pretty proud to have driven there and back without any accidents.

2. Seoul, South Korea: At the time, my cousin Katie lived in Seoul and had invited me to visit. I think it surpised us both when I bought my ticket. I stayed for nine days and it was the perfect combination of exploring by myself and having her as my guide. She lived right by Namsan Park, and I loved walking around and hiking up to the top to see Seoul Tower and the amazing view of the city. My favorite memory though was taking a train and a ferry to Nami Island and then getting the most delicious dinner of Dak Galbi afterwards and it was perfect.

3. Chattanooga & Gatlinburg, TN: My family used to go on a vacation every summer when I was growing up. Then, when my sister and then I went off to college, we stopped going so much. Last year, however, we finally got to take another trip as a family (plus two significant others and one baby) to visit my mom’s side in Chattanooga and hike in Gatlinburg. Both parts of the trip were amazing, especially visiting my family in Chattanooga. and then staying in a log cabin in Gatlinburg. Hiking in the Smoky Mountains stands out as a favorite memory, especially because the views were just perfect. I loved every minute of this trip, so much so that I cried for the first thirty minutes of the way home because I didn’t want this trip to end.

4. Iceland & Copenhagen: This trip definitely made my bank account take a hit, but it was so, so worth it. It was such an amazing thing to plan and execute this trip and not have any regrets when I came home. I’m not even sure what I’d call the highlight of the trip, because there were so many unique experiences. I will say that the Elding Whale Watching Tour and the South Shore Tour in Iceland took my breath away. And what I liked most about Copenhagen was just wandering around the city, popping into cafes and museums. It was the perfect balance of outdoor adventure in Iceland and city exploration in Copenhagen.

5. New Orleans, LA: This was the first trip Mike and I ever took together and though there have been many since, this will always be my favorite. We drove there and back, which was a real test for our five month old relationship. But, we survived without any crazy fights. The standout memory for me is walking around on our first day there in the pouring rain, running from awning to awning until we just didn’t care any more and got soaked. I also really, really enjoyed walking through the swamps and trying to spot crocodiles. I loved this whole trip and will forever remember it as the moment when I fell for Mike.

What are you favorite travel memories? Where have you gone that still holds a place in your heart?

A Note on Solo Trips

On February 7, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Lifestyle, Travel Tips3 Comments

I love taking solo trips. I think they are great for the spirit and can lead to adventures that maybe would not have been possible when traveling in a group. That being said, I have personally experienced a slight downside to solo travel. There’s a certain guilt that can arise when you travel alone that starts when something doesn’t go exactly how you planned and continues on through each misstep or change in itinerary.

When I took my solo trip to Iceland and Copenhagen last year, I had a fantastic time. I came back knowing that I did everything I could and saw what I wanted to see and enjoyed myself. However, while I was actually on the trip, there were definitely moments of self-doubt and moments where I questioned my choices.

While I was in Iceland, there was a night when I was just wandering around, people watching. A gentleman I passed in the street, who was clearly intoxicated, lunged at me and grabbed my arm, mumbling in Icelandic. I cursed at him and speed walked away, heading straight back to my hotel. This cut my evening plans short and sent me into a tailspin of questioning what I was even doing and why I was there. I started the next day in a funk, but eventually pulled myself out of it, though the doubt hung over me for the rest of the trip.

Once I got to Copenhagen, even though I was in an amazing city, there were times when I just wanted to fill my time to make it go faster. I was a little homesick and I missed Mike, and I felt guilty for those feelings. Shouldn’t I be having the best time? Was I less independent because I missed the familiar?

What helped me most, funnily enough, was reading Bill Bryson’s “Neither Here Nor There” about his own solo travels through Europe. Mr. Bryson’s hilarious accounts of his hits and misses on his trip made me laugh and comforted me, especially as I read them while at a restaurant alone. I found solace in the fact that many other people have had low moments when they travel solo, and that not everything can be the highlight reel it might appear.

That’s the purpose of this little note. If you have taken a solo trip and felt guilty for any downtime or for any moment spent homesick or any night in, you’re in good company. Solo trips are great because you can do whatever the hell you want and no one is there to judge you, so don’t judge yourself.

Have you ever felt this way on solo trips? How did you cope?

Copenhagen Card, Copenhagen, Denmark, RebeccaWanderlusting

Copenhagen Card: Worth It or Not?

On December 28, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Denmark, International TravelLeave a comment

On my recent trip to Copenhagen, I decided to invest in the Copenhagen Card, a city pass that included many attractions and museums. In my original planning for the trip, I thought the card would be an invaluable asset to exploring the city. Plus, the fact that it might save me some money on this tightly budgeted adventure didn’t hurt!

In addition to covering the entry fee for many museums, tours and palaces, the Copenhagen Card also works as a public transportation pass and includes discounts to restaurants and attractions that aren’t included in the card. I ordered my city pass through the website, and opted to pick it up from the visitor center once I arrived in the city, saving the $8 shipping fee.

In total, the seventy-two hour Copenhagen Card cost $89, which I thought I would easily earn back, and then some, with all I wanted to accomplish there. Though I had very high hopes, it turned out to be kind of a daunting task. I had three full days in the city, and wound up going to 2 museums (one, the Copenhagen Contemporary, was not included in the card), 2 palaces, the Round Tower (I visited twice because it was the best place in the city to see the sunset), Tivoli Gardens (the Copenhagen Card only covered the entry fee, the rides and food inside the park was extra), and going on the canal boat tour.

These attractions, combined with the exploring on foot and enjoying the cafes and architecture, completely filled my time in Copenhagen. Here is the breakdown of the attractions I entered using my Copenhagen Card for and their actual entry fees:

The Canal Boat Tour: 80Dkk ($11.25)
Tivoli Gardens: 150Dkk ($21.10)
SMK Art Museum: 145Dkk ($20.40)
Round Tower (twice): 50Dkk ($7)
Amalienborg Palace: 75Dkk ($10.55)
Christianborg Palace Ruins: 50Dkk ($7)
Christianborg Palace Reception Rooms: 90Dkk ($12.66)
Bus to Norrebro: 24Dkk ($3.38)

Total: $93.34

So, was it worth it? Financially, yes, just barely. And it was awfully convenient to use the Copenhagen Card to get in everywhere and to get on the public transportation. Though I could have taken advantage of the public transportation more, I should have taken into consideration how much I would want to walk around.

There were also a couple of attractions that were included that I wish I could have seen, like Frederiksborg Castle, The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and The National Museum. The truth of it is, I felt like having the Copenhagen Card put a lot of pressure on me to run around and do as much as possible.

Instead of giving into the pressure, I did the opposite, and spent a lot of my time in Copenhagen aimlessly wandering and exploring the beautiful streets and neighborhoods. The end result was a really great trip, tinged with a small amount of guilt that I didn’t do/see enough. Overall, Copenhagen was an amazing city to visit, and I’ll just have to see the things I missed the next time around.