Williams Bay, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva, Day Trip

Day Trip: Lake Geneva

On April 4, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, WisconsinLeave a comment

Lake Geneva, WI is the perfect place for a day trip or weekend escape. Whether you’re coming from Chicago (one and half hour drive), Milwaukee (less than an hour drive) or anywhere in between, this little city will charm you.

I took the train the train from Chicago to Fox Lake (the end of the line for the Milwaukee District North Line Train) where my parents picked me up. My family and I have been visiting Lake Geneva since I was really young, and it’s a special place to us. My parents met at The Riviera (which used to house a bar called Top Deck), my sister got married at Horticultural Hall, and we used to drive up every summer to enjoy the lake on our boat. So, when I asked if they wanted to meet there for the day, of course they were all in.

My parents and I first drove to William’s Bay to take in the view. We stopped into Daddy Maxwell’s for coffee to go, which I would not recommend doing. However, I would recommend sitting down for breakfast there though! The food looked delicious and the restaurant was quirky and fun with a round dining room. We walked up the pier in Williams Bay; it was a quick stop due to it being very windy. The view was gorgeous though, the sun was shining, the lake and sky were both blue as could be. From there, we drove into Lake Geneva proper, and parked by The Riviera, which was just opening up for the season. It was exactly how I remembered it, with the kitschy souvenir stores, the Italian ice, the candy store, and the smell of fresh popcorn wafting down the length of the building. I can remember being in love with the candy store and their wall lined with containers of delicious treats.

I bought some salt water taffy for old times’ sake. My sister, brother-in-law, and beautiful baby niece met us at Popeye’s for lunch. No, not Popeye’s the fast food fried chicken chain – Popeye’s on Lake Geneva; home of delicious house-roasted rotisserie chicken and the best burgers in Wisconsin. It’s a nautical-themed restaurant with good fish fry and a selection of local beers (including New Glarus Spotted Cow, my favorite). I split a cheeseburger with my mom and it was so delicious. They put Merk’s spead cheese on it, which is life-changingly good.

After lunch, we shopped on Main Street a bit, popping into the cute boutiques and outdoors-y stores. We stopped into Geneva Jake’s and Clear Water in search of a Lake Geneva shirt for the baby. After shopping for a bit, we walked over to Horticultural Hall, which is the beautiful wedding venue on Broad Street where my sister and her husband got married. It had a pretty little garden outside that was blooming with these tiny purple flowers (Glory of the Snow). We were there to visit the brick with their names and wedding date etched on it within the path to the hall’s front door. It was displayed prominently in the center, close to the door. Once we found it, they drove back to my parent’s house, it was a little too cold for the babe.

From there, I dragged my parents back to Main Street to check out a couple of stores we didn’t get to before. This included two adorable boutiques with pretty jewelry and cute clothes (Edie Boutique and Blooming Byrds) and The Lake Geneva Antiques and Art Bazaar. It’s no secret I love to browse through thrift stores, so they let me peek around until I was satisfied. The dual level antique store was fun to browse through, but we left empty handed. We crossed the street to Kilwin’s Confectionary for a couple of scoops of ice cream. This place has all sorts of goodies, ranging from homemade caramel to chocolate covered fruits to ice cream. I had Lake Geneva Mud, which was delicious.

We finished our little day trip with a walk along the Lake Path, which goes all the way around Lake Geneva, 21 miles in total. The houses along the lake are huge and gorgeous and gave me some major life goals. My favorite is the Stone Manor, which used to be many things (a private residence, a girl’s school, a restaurant…), but is now a set of six luxury condos. It was a relaxing walk with a fantastic view of the lake; if you’re planning on making the trip out to Lake Geneva, definitely include the Lake Path in your plans.

There are many ways to enjoy a Sunday, but being on Lake Geneva has to be one of my favorites. I’m so happy we were able to visit the beautiful town that holds so many good memories for us. A big thank you to my family for coming with me! See you soon, Lake Geneva!

Have you ever been to Lake Geneva? What did you think? Do you have a favorite day trip spot?

The Perks of Solo Travel

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn solo travel, Travel Tips, Trip Planning4 Comments

I don’t always travel by myself, but when I do, I revel in the untainted freedom of it. There is a certain beauty to exploring a new city on your own. It’s not that I don’t love traveling with my friends or with my boyfriend, but there is a special place in my heart for travelling alone. One could argue that seeing a new destination is best when you have someone to share it with, but I feel like sometimes I appreciate it more when I discover new places on my own. It’s so gratifying to successfully navigate an unfamiliar destination without relying on anyone but yourself. I’ve done it well and I’ve done it not so successfully, but there is no doubt that I will keep travelling solo as long as it’s an option. Below are my favorite perks of solo travel:

Being in Control of Your Own Schedule: Your time is 100% your own and you can fill it with whatever you want. There is no need to compromise what you want to accomplish because it’s your trip. If you want to lay on the beach all day and read trashy romance novels, you can do that. If you want to eat at the same restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner, you can do that too. Your trip, your decisions, whatever makes you happy is what you can and should do.
Meeting Amazing People: It’s always easier to meet new people when you’re by yourself than with a group; maybe because you seem more approachable or maybe because you’re more open to your surroundings when you are alone. Whenever I travel alone, I meet the kindest people who are always ready and willing to help with directions, give restaurant suggestions or chat for a while about the city we’re in, or anything at all.
Never Being Bored: I think my biggest pet peeve about telling people I’ll be traveling alone is when they ask, “Won’t you be bored? What are you even going to do there?” The answer to this annoying question: I’m going to discover a place that is completely new to me, I’m going to try exciting new foods, I’m going to get a feel for the culture and the people. I will be so busy enjoying these new experiences that I won’t even think about boredom. How could anyone be bored on vacation, alone or otherwise?
Gaining Confidence: When I took a solo road trip to Asheville, NC, I was testing a lot of personal limits. I’m not a super comfortable driver, but I made it there without incident AND once there, I drove up and down mountains. MOUNTAINS. This was a very large step outside my comfort zone, however it is kind of necessary to force yourself out of your comfort zone when you travel alone. There won’t be anyone else there to do the uncomfortable things for you. You have to count on yourself for the whole trip, but then again, that’s how you find out what you’re made of.
Never Waiting Around: How many times have you tried to plan a trip, but couldn’t find anyone with the time or funds to go with you? If you travel alone, you only have your own schedule and budgeting to worry about. This makes choosing when and where you’re going a whole lot simpler. There’s also the plus of not having to compromise where you want to go with your would have been travel companions.
Learning a thing or two: Traveling alone is a wonderfully eye opening experience. You’ll learn to be comfortable on your own, and that’s a solid life skill. You will also learn how to consistently budget, the value of a back-up plan, how many pairs of shoes is too many pairs to pack, and, not to mention, how amazingly helpful Google Maps is. If nothing else, you will come back with the knowledge that this is something you can do. You can travel alone, enjoy a new place and enjoy yourself in the process.

Traveling solo is really an amazing and invaluable experience that everyone should try, more than once if possible. Yes, it may change you, but only in the best of ways.

Here are the solo trips I’ve taken lately: Asheville, Miami, Washington, D.C.

Have you travelled solo before? Where did you go? What did you like best about traveling alone?

Travel, Change of plans, RebeccaWanderlusting

When Plans Fall Through

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning5 Comments

Sometimes, no matter how meticulously you plan, travel plans fall through. Maybe something unavoidable came up, forcing you to cancel, maybe you’ve found that you’re in a little over your head financially and need to dial it back, or maybe you just lost interest in that particular destination. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay to change plans. It happens. Heck, it’s happened twice to me in the past month. I’ve rearranged travel plans to better fit my budget, and I’ve done the opposite and splurged on a trip I will need to save up some more money for. They actually go hand in hand, really.

Back in December, Mike gave me a trip to Toronto for my birthday. Over the past three months, this thoughtful gift turned into a little bit of stress for both of us. First it was because we had to keep changing the date due to work conflicts (my fault), then we couldn’t decide whether we should drive or fly there; these little things kept nagging at us. Plus it was starting to get more and more pricey. It just wasn’t coming together. It felt like a sign that this trip just wasn’t meant to be, so we cancelled it. We still wanted to have a long weekend though, because we both had already taken the days off of work. We needed somewhere closer, cheaper, and with enough points of interest to keep us busy, but not enough to overwhelm our short time there. Enter: Grand Rapids, Michigan, home of Founder’s Brewery, Frederick Meijer Gardens, good food and antique stores galore! You might think, “that is the most random place for a romantic weekend getaway,” but it fit the bill perfectly for us. And to be honest, I’m actually a little more excited with this change because it came together so seamlessly. The fact that it will be a cheaper long weekend is a big plus for me due to my second change of travel plans this month. I’ve scrapped a budget friendly trip for the fall to splurge on a eurotrip to Iceland and Copenhagen (more on that later).

So the moral of this story is, someday, a trip that maybe you had been looking forward to will fall through, but that does not mean an equally great if not better situation might come up. The great thing about travel is anywhere you go is bound to have at least one great attraction, restaurant, book store, or whatever interests you. Every destination has it’s merits.

Has this ever happened to you? How did you overcome cancelling your plans?

Top Five Friday, Washington, D.C. Meals, Food, RebeccaWanderlusting

Top Five Friday #9

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, US Travel, Washington, D.C.Leave a comment

Top 5 Washington, D.C. Meals

There are an undeniable amount of fantastic restaurants in Washington, D.C. When I started planning my trip, I had a huge list of restaurants I wanted to try. There was such a large range of cuisines and so many well-liked and much talked about places that it was very hard to choose which ones to go to. If I could afford it and stomach it, I would have had at least eight meals a day. However, that isn’t a realistic feat for me, so though I know there are many other great restaurants that very well could have made this list, below are my five favorite Washington, D.C. Meals:

Le Diplomate – Scallops Nicoise ($29): This was the first restaurant I visited in DC and it made such a great impression. This upscale French restaurant is gorgeous inside and has dining al fresco as well. Because this place was a little pricey for my budget, I only ordered an entrée and stuck with water to drink. They had a very fancy looking wine list though, and had my budget allowed, I would have certainly ordered a glass or two. They brought out a basket of bread prior to my meal and I counted that as my appetizer; the breads were delicious, especially the cranberry walnut. The scallops were so damn good, perfectly cooked and very flavorful. They were served with orzo, tomatoes, onions, peas and pesto. I could have that meal every night and be so happy.
Ted’s Bulletin – Ted Tart ($3): Let me preface this by saying (again) I do not eat eggs, I don’t like them. So breakfast is always a little bit tricky for me: it’s usually a bunch of side dishes or pancakes. At Ted’s Bulletin, I ordered hash browns, bacon and a Ted Tart, their homemade version of a poptart. They had many different flavors (strawberry, brown sugar, lemon something, blueberry cheesecake…) but I chose the salted caramel tart. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I wish I could take a dozen home with me, but I doubt they would have lasted more than an hour in my possession. The restaurant was really cute and the coffee was decent. Be prepared to wait for a table if you go on a Sunday morning (unless you go by yourself, like I did!).
Mandu – Mandu Dumplings ($4 for happy hour) & Chap Chae ($15): I read about Mandu in a Buzzfeed article featuring DC’s best cheap eats. I was instantly interested. They have a happy hour that’s available 7 days a week and has some great deals. The servers were really great and capable of explaining any of the Korean dishes you might not be so familiar with. I had dumplings for my appetizer, trying 2 of each dumpling: vegetable, shrimp and beef & pork. Chap Chae was my entrée and it was very good. I loved the Korean condiments (kimchee, pickles, bean sprouts…) that came with it.
Founding Farmers – Strawberries and Cream Waffle ($8) & Pork Sausage ($6): Founding Farmer’s is on a lot of “best of DC” lists so of course I had to try it. It was pretty bustling for a Monday morning, but I was seated right away. I ordered a latte straight away and was happy when it came in a big, cozy mug. For breakfast I ordered the strawberries and cream waffle and sausage links. The waffle was served with a small metal carton of syrup and a large dollop of dense, custard-y cream and fresh strawberries. The sausage was good as well and balanced out the sweetness of the waffle. It was a perfect meal and a perfect way to kick off a day of adventuring.
Momofuku Milk Bar – Crack Pie ($5.50): I knew I wanted to go to Momofuku Milk Bar, but arrived there completely by happy accident. It was my last day in DC and it was pouring and very cold, I rushed into what I thought was a cute bakery and didn’t realize until I was fully inside that it was THE cute bakery. I ordered the Crack Pie, a treat they’re famous for, and stood at the counter to enjoy it with my coffee while I watched the rain. The Crack Pie was mouth-wateringly good. It was caramel-y and sweet and rich and was the cure for my rainy day mood.

I know there are a ton of other great DC restaurants that I probably missed, which are your favorites?

Washington, D.C. – Part 2

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, Washington, D.C.Leave a comment

On my second full day in Washington, D.C., I awoke early to start another busy day. My first stop was Founding Farmers, a farm-to-table restaurant downtown. I ordered the strawberries and cream waffle with a side of sausage and a latte to round it out. The food was delicious and fresh and the staff was really friendly. I ate every little bit of my meal, and it was the perfect amount to give me the energy to walk around for the rest of the day. I intended to head straight to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial, but I took a slight detour to the Renwick Gallery. I had passed it the day before and the line was down the block; this time there was no line so of course I couldn’t not go in. This gallery also had free admission, as it is an extension of The National Gallery.

Once inside, the woman at the information desk handed me a guide and sent me on my way. Each of the 9 featured artists had their own separate room for their installation, and I walked through them all in awe. The installations were beyond gorgeous and each had its own thought-provoking message. My favorite was “In the Midnight Garden” by Jennifer Angus, which was made mostly of insects a la 7^th grade bug collection.

I also really loved Janet Echelman’s colorful piece in the main room upstairs which consisted of a colorful net strung up from the ceiling.

Once I spent a sufficient time admiring each room, I headed out into the sunny day and walked towards the U.S. Holocaust Memorial.

The Holocaust Memorial was obviously a very emotional experience. I choked up immediately upon entering the actual museum, and had to run into the bathroom to fix my face. Everyone walked through the museum in silence. There were three levels that moved seamlessly in chronological order. It took about two hours to make it through, and it was heart wrenching, but also informative. I certainly left with a different perspective and gratitude. Next, I went to the National Air and Space Museum to see the Amelia Earhart exhibit. The whole museum is very impressive.

There are airplanes and miscellaneous space ships and equipment everywhere – hanging from the ceiling, coming out of the walls, stretching from floor to ceiling. Amelia is one of my favorites and I was surprised to see her exhibit was relatively small compared to others. It was still great though. I also really liked the Time and Navigation Exhibit, which detailed compasses and GPS technology in all its stages. I wandered around the museum, peaking at things that caught my interested, like walking through the full sized Space Station and The Wright Brothers exhibit. Then I moved on to the Library of Congress. The outside of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library is gorgeous, much like most of the other buildings in DC, but the inside is stunning.

I viewed the jealousy-inducing reading room from above and checked out Thomas Jefferson’s personal Library, as well as the Civil Rights exhibit right next to it. I couldn’t get over how beautiful the ceiling and walls were. I spent most of my time in the library looking up. By then, my stomach was telling me it was time to move on to We, The Pizza just down the street. I wanted to go there because it’s owned by Spike Mendelsohn, one of my favorite contestants on Top Chef. Sadly, he wasn’t there, but I did thoroughly enjoyed my sausage and sweet pepper pizza. The restaurant was really cute, with the pizzas all lined up in front and a large seating area upstairs.

From there, I walked the few blocks to Folger’s Shakespeare Library, where I had just missed the last tour of the day. The section that was open to the public without a tour was interesting, but small. I’d say it’s worth visiting IF
you do the tour or if you get tickets to see a play in the beautiful theater there. I took a cab back to the hotel to pick up my luggage and check into the hostel where I was staying that night. The Hosteling International DC was just a short walk away, and the lovely front desk staff checked me into my private room (shared bathroom). I noticed that the hostel offered nightly group activities, which I unfortunately had to decline but it did look like a good time! I took the bus to Georgetown, which was about thirty minutes away. I was trying to do some off-the-beaten path things in DC, but it seemed that I was stuck firmly on the path. Oh well, they’re popular for a reason. I got off the bus at M street and found myself in a very ritzy area. Shops like Banana Republic, Tory Burch and Lululemon lined the streets. It reminded me of the Gold Coast back in Chicago. I waltzed around a bit, stopping into Olivia Macaron to grab a latte and a champagne macaron. The macaron was delicious and the coffee kept me warm as I continued to wander. The small macaron shop was kiddie corner from Georgetown Cupcakes, a bakery made famous by TLC. I didn’t go in. I worked at a cupcake place in college and haven’t
been able to stomach them since. The houses in Georgetown were beautiful and I had fun admiring them as I walked. I wanted to make my way to Washington Harbor so I walked down Wisconsin Street towards the water. There were some cute stores along the way that I’ve not seen back home, including Redz Trading thrift store and American/Holiday, which had cute clothes, jewelry, and housewares. As I walked towards the harbor, the sun bean to set and once I arrived at the Potomac River, the sky was a mixture of blue, orange and pink. There were restaurants and a skating rink at the harbor, but I walked along the river instead of partaking in them. I had planned on going to Right proper Brewing for Dinner, so I walked along the river and then up through the George Washington University campus to get to the metro.

The ride was quick and the brewery was close to the train stop, however, when I arrived I realized it was closed for a private event. I was pretty bummed because I was looking forward to trying a local brewery, but I moved on anyways. Shaw’s Tavern was one block away, so that is where I ended up. The restaurant featured upscale bar food and a lively atmosphere. I ordered a DC Brau Public Ale and the Shaw’s Burger.

It turned out to be trivia night there, so I stayed and listened to the questions. The beer and burger were so perfect and the bar crowd was full of good vibes. I decided to walk home from there, which was a bit of an unnerving experience. However, I did arrive safely, albeit very sore and tired from walking all day. I showered in the public girl’s bathroom, which was clean enough, with thin curtains separating the showers from each other. When I finally lay down on the bed to read, I realized that it squawked every time I moved even a tiny bit. This set the tone for the rest of the evening; I didn’t get very much sleep, especially because I very stupidly got to thinking about the movie the Babadook (have you seen it? Don’t watch it, it’s scary). Anyways, the next morning I opted out of the complimentary hostel continental breakfast and walked over to Astro Doughnuts.

It was rainy and cold, but luckily it was a short walk. I got a maple bacon doughnut and a coffee and sat under the awning to enjoy it. The doughnut was a perfect combination of sweet and salty. It was so good. The rest of the morning was a chain of unsuccessful attempts to see one more thing before leaving. Everything was closed, not reopening until it was time for me to head to the airport or under construction until 2017 (thanks a lot Trump). So I wound up at Momfuku Milk Bar for some of their famous crack pie and yet more coffee. The pie was aptly named and so delicious. It was sweet and caramel-y and almost too rich to finish, not that I didn’t.

Soon it was time to check out from the hostel and take the blue line to DCA. It took only 30 minutes to make the trip, only to be delayed for three hours. By the time we finally boarded, there were only twenty people who waited it out. On the other side of the flight, I took a different blue line back home, happy to be home but grateful for a fantastic trip.

Thank you, DC, for a wonderful time!

Have you been to Washington, D.C.? Where was your favorite place there?

Wanderlust Wednesday: Isle of Skye, Scotland

On March 23, 2016March 24, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn International Travel, Wanderlust WednesdayLeave a comment

Happy Wanderlust Wednesday! As stated in this past post, I wanted to start talking about places I want to go to along with the places that I’ve been. It seems that idea was a good one from the response I got from that post so here we go! This time around I’m talking about Isle of Sky, Scotland. Scotland has been on my list since I studied abroad in London in 2010, and missed the chance to do a weekend trip there (I went to Ireland instead). This beautiful, lush, green land of legends and mythical creatures is calling my name. The whole country is beautiful, and Isle of Skye seems like epitome of that beauty. While I don’t have any immediate plans to travel there, I would jump at the chance to jet off to the Isle of Skye.

What I would want to see and do:

The Fairy Pools and Fairy Fields – too magical to resist
Dunvegan Castle – the oldest, still lived-in castle in Scotland
The Old Man of Storr – a beautiful rocky outcropping that looks like something out of Game of Thrones
The Waterfalls – oh, all the gorgeous waterfalls in all their mythical glory
Hike the hills and spot some sheep
Kayak in the beautiful, turquoise sea
Walk the streets of Portree
Photo Courtesy of IsleofSkye.com

What I would want to eat:

The freshest seafood, sitting at a table overlooking the ocean
Haggis – the Scottish delicacy, that I can’t promise that I’ll enjoy, but I will certainly try it anyways
Shortbread and tea
Fish and chips – a UK favorite
The traditional full Scottish Breakfast

Where I would stay:

The Broadford Hotel – for it’s stunning views and classy bedrooms.
The Ben Tianavaig Bed & Brekafast – for it’s charm and undeniable appeal.
The Flodigarry Hotel – again, gorgeous views, and posh, old-timey decor to boot.

When I would go:

In the late springtime, when the wildflowers are blooming and the weather is mild. There will be less tourists and maybe a little more rain, but what’s a little rain in the land of rainbows?

How I would get there:

Travelling from Chicago, I would need to fly out of O’Hare International Airport into Inverness, Scotland and take a bus or rent a car to get to the Isle of Skye.

Helpful Isle of Skye Blogs:

A Dangerous Business – “The Isle of Skye: Still My Favorite part of Scotland“
Adventurous Kate – “On a Skye High in Scotland”
Hand Luggage Only – “The Complete Guide to Travelling Across the Highlands of Scotland“
Sugar and Soul – “Scotland – Isle of Skye”
Photo Courtesy of IsleofSkye.com

What do you think? Are you falling in love with The Isle of Skye like I am? Or, if you have been there, what was your favorite part of The Isle of Skye? Do you have any tips for what to do or where to stay?

Top Five Friday #10

On March 18, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, Travel Tips4 Comments

Tips for Travel Budgeting

Budgeting is a necessary step in the trip planning process. It may determine the destination, or the type of accommodation, or set a goal for a trip in the far future. Whatever the case may be, a solid budget is an essential travel accessory. Below are my top five tips for budgeting for your next trip:

Set a realistic number to start with and stick to it. Research how much the primary expenses will be, this would include your flight/gas/train ticket and your accommodations. Factor in attraction costs and tours, then add in how much you would ideally spend each day on food and miscellaneous expenses. The key is to not be stingy with your budget starting out. If you have more than you thought you might need during your trip, that’s better than the alternative. (For tips on saving money to add to your travel budget, see this blog).
Add in buffer funds. Whatever you came up with tip #1, add a few hundred to it for emergency expenses. Keep this buffer fund in a separate savings account, or in cash hidden in your suitcase somewhere. In other words, somewhere you can’t readily get to unless you absolutely need it. Hopefully you’ll never need to touch these extra funds, but it’s good to know you have them should anything come up.
Check fees and extra charges before booking. If you have a set budget, you need to account for the fees charged with airline and hotel bookings that might exceed what you’ve budgeted for. For example, budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier have fees and extra charges for pretty much everything. $5 to choose your seat ahead of time, $35 for a carry-on bag… these things add up pretty quickly. There are some hostels charge extra for luggage storage and linens and hotels that will charge for WiFi and parking. Check all of this ahead of time and factor it into the budget.
Budget for each day using cash only. You already know what you want to spend daily, so make it easier on yourself and have only that much cash on you each day. It is much easier to keep track of where you’re at when you are using tangible dollars for each purchase rather than swiping a card for everything you buy. This is a handy way to stay on budget, but you should certainly keep your credit/debit card on hand too in case you’re in need of those buffer funds.
Leave room for last minute adventures. Yes, budgeting is very important for each and every trip, however, I’ve always been of the belief that adventure is nothing without a little spontaneity. If there is something you really want to do or see, go for it! Don’t miss an opportunity to do something you’ll never get the chance to try again just because you’re budget might be a little tight for it. You’re on vacation after all, have a little fun.

What is your best budgeting tip? What adventure would you splurge on?

The Perks of Solo Travel

On March 15, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn solo travel, Travel Writing1 Comment

I don’t always travel by myself, but when I do, I revel in the untainted freedom of it. There is a certain beauty to exploring a new city on your own. It’s not that I don’t love travelling with my friends or with my boyfriend, but there is a special place in my heart for travelling alone. One could argue that seeing a new destination is best when you have someone to share it with, but I feel like sometimes I appreciate it more when I discover new places on my own. It’s so gratifying to successfully navigate an unfamiliar destination without relying on anyone but yourself. I’ve done it well and I’ve done it not so successfully, but there is no doubt that I will keep travelling solo as long as it’s an option. Below are my favorite perks of solo travel:

Being in Control of Your Own Schedule: Your time is 100% your own and you can fill it with whatever you want. There is no need to compromise what you want to accomplish because it’s your trip. If you want to lay on the beach all day and read trashy romance novels, you can do that. If you want to eat at the same restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner, you can do that too. Your trip, your decisions, whatever makes you happy is what you can and should do.
Meeting Amazing People: It’s always easier to meet new people when you’re by yourself than with a group; maybe because you seem more approachable or maybe because you’re more open to your surroundings when you are alone. Whenever I travel alone, I meet the kindest people who are always ready and willing to help with directions, give restaurant suggestions or chat for a while about the city we’re in, or anything at all.
Never Being Bored: I think my biggest pet peeve about telling people I’ll be travelling alone is when they ask, “Won’t you be bored? What are you even going to do there?” The answer to this annoying question: I’m going to discover a place that is completely new to me, I’m going to try exciting new foods, I’m going to get a feel for the culture and the people. I will be so busy enjoying these new experiences that I won’t even think about boredom. How could anyone be bored on vacation, alone or otherwise?
Gaining Confidence: When I took a solo road trip to Asheville, NC, I was testing a lot of personal limits. I’m not a super comfortable driver, but I made it there without incident AND once there, I drove up and down mountains. MOUNTAINS. This was a very large step outside my comfort zone, however it is kind of necessary to force yourself out of your comfort zone when you travel alone. There won’t be anyone else there to do the uncomfortable things for you. You have to count on yourself for the whole trip, but then again, that’s how you find out what you’re made of.
Never Waiting Around: How many times have you tried to plan a trip, but couldn’t find anyone with the time or funds to go with you? If you travel alone, you only have your own schedule and budgeting to worry about. This makes choosing when and where you’re going a whole lot simpler. There’s also the plus of not having to compromise where you want to go with your would have been travel companions.
Learning a thing or two: Travelling alone is a wonderfully eye opening experience. You’ll learn to be comfortable on your own, and that’s a solid life skill. You will also learn how to consistently budget, the value of a back-up plan, how many pairs of shoes is too many pairs to pack, and, not to mention, how amazingly helpful Google Maps is. If nothing else, you will come back with the knowledge that this is something you can do. You can travel alone, enjoy a new place and enjoy yourself in the process.

Travelling solo is really an amazing and invaluable experience that everyone should try, more than once if possible. Yes, it may change you, but only in the best of ways.

Here are the solo trips I’ve taken lately: Asheville, Miami, Washington, D.C.

Have you travelled solo before? Where did you go? What did you like best about travelling alone?

When Plans Fall Through

On March 10, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Writing, Trip Planning9 Comments

Back in December, Mike gave me a trip to Toronto for my birthday. Over the past three months, this thoughtful gift turned into a little bit of stress for both of us. First it was because we had to keep changing the date due to work conflicts (my fault), then we couldn’t decide whether we should drive or fly there; these little things kept nagging at us. Plus it was starting to get more and more pricey. It just wasn’t coming together. It felt like a sign that this trip just wasn’t meant to be, so we cancelled it. We still wanted to have a long weekend though, because we both had already taken the days off of work. We needed somewhere closer, cheaper, and with enough points of interest to keep us busy, but not enough to overwhelm our short time there. Enter: Grand Rapids, Michigan, home of Founder’s Brewery, Frederick Meijer Gardens, good food and antique stores galore! You might think, “that is the most random place for a romantic weekend getaway,” but it fit the bill perfectly for us. And to be honest, I’m actually a little more excited with this change because it came together so seamlessly. The fact that it will be a cheaper long weekend is a big plus for me due to my second change of travel plans this month. I’ve scrapped a budget friendly trip for the fall to splurge on a eurotrip to Iceland and Copenhagen (more on that later).

Has this ever happened to you? How did you overcome cancelling your plans?

Top Five Friday #9

On March 4, 2016March 4, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, US Travel, Washington, D.C.Leave a comment

Best Meals in Washington, D.C.

Le Diplomate – Scallops Nicoise ($29): This was the first restaurant I visited in DC and it made such a great impression. This upscale French restaurant is gorgeous inside and has dining al fresco as well. Because this place was a little pricey for my budget, I only ordered an entrée and stuck with water to drink. They had a very fancy looking wine list though, and had my budget allowed, I would have certainly ordered a glass or two. They brought out a basket of bread prior to my meal and I counted that as my appetizer; the breads were delicious, especially the cranberry walnut. The scallops were so damn good, perfectly cooked and very flavorful. They were served with orzo, tomatoes, onions, peas and pesto. I could have that meal every night and be so happy.
Ted’s Bulletin – Ted Tart ($3): Let me preface this by saying (again) I do not eat eggs, I don’t like them. So breakfast is always a little bit tricky for me: it’s usually a bunch of side dishes or pancakes. At Ted’s Bulletin, I ordered hash browns, bacon and a Ted Tart, their homemade version of a poptart. They had many different flavors (strawberry, brown sugar, lemon something, blueberry cheesecake…) but I chose the salted caramel tart. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I wish I could take a dozen home with me, but I doubt they would have lasted more than an hour in my possession. The restaurant was really cute and the coffee was decent. Be prepared to wait for a table if you go on a Sunday morning (unless you go by yourself, like I did!).
Mandu – Mandu Dumplings ($4 for happy hour) & Chap Chae ($15): I read about Mandu in a Buzzfeed article featuring DC’s best cheap eats. I was instantly interested. They have a happy hour that’s available 7 days a week and has some great deals. The servers were really great and capable of explaining any of the Korean dishes you might not be so familiar with. I had dumplings for my appetizer, trying 2 of each dumpling: vegetable, shrimp and beef & pork. Chap Chae was my entrée and it was very good. I loved the Korean condiments (kimchee, pickles, bean sprouts…) that came with it.
Founding Farmers – Strawberries and Cream Waffle ($8) & Pork Sausage ($6): Founding Farmer’s is on a lot of “best of DC” lists so of course I had to try it. It was pretty bustling for a Monday morning, but I was seated right away. I ordered a latte straight away and was happy when it came in a big, cozy mug. For breakfast I ordered the strawberries and cream waffle and sausage links. The waffle was served with a small metal carton of syrup and a large dollop of dense, custard-y cream and fresh strawberries. The sausage was good as well and balanced out the sweetness of the waffle. It was a perfect meal and a perfect way to kick off a day of adventuring.
Momofuku Milk Bar – Crack Pie ($5.50): I knew I wanted to go to Momofuku Milk Bar, but arrived there completely by happy accident. It was my last day in DC and it was pouring and very cold, I rushed into what I thought was a cute bakery and didn’t realize until I was fully inside that it was THE cute bakery. I ordered the Crack Pie, a treat they’re famous for, and stood at the counter to enjoy it with my coffee while I watched the rain. The Crack Pie was mouth-wateringly good. It was caramel-y and sweet and rich and was the cure for my rainy day mood.