Eating for less on the road

One of the best things about staying in a home vs a ...

Parlez-vous français?

For a taste of a European city in North America, you need ...

Trading Places in Quebec

Tres belle! My Quebec City home for the next 10 days, doing ...

Trading Places in Ireland

There is a reason that I named my blog “Trading Places.” When I travel somewhere, I like to try and experience what it would be to live life in that place, as much as possible. Yes, checking out the must-see spots and tourist attractions — there are certain sights and activities you just wouldn’t want to […]

Queen for a Day in Scotland

How often do you get to actually live like royalty? I was fortunate to have that opportunity last week, when I was invited by HomeAway to spend a day and night at a Scottish castle, about an hour outside Edinburgh. I was already in Ireland, so it was a quick hop over — how could […]

Brazil in Photos: São Paulo, Ilhabela and Foz do Iguacu

Over the new year, I made my first ever trip to Brazil. It’s been near the top of the list for me and my SO, Keith, for quite a while. We flew into São Paulo on Christmas evening and stayed a couple of nights. Most of our time was spent in the Vila Madalena neighborhood, a bohemian […]

Alaska in Photographs

In late August, I headed to my 50th state for my 50th birthday: Alaska. It was a gorgeous, amazing trip exploring via train from Anchorage up to Denali National Park; then a week on a small boat with UnCruise Adventures, exploring John Muir’s Wilderness and Glacier Bay National Park. There was stunning natural beauty at […]

Gear Review: Toiletry Kit and Sleep Pillow by Eagle Creek

When it comes to travel gear, I am a HUGE fan of the Eagle Creek brand. I use their rolling luggage (mine are the Tarmac 22 carry-on bag, and the FlipSwitch convertible wheeled backpack (full, check-in size), laptop bag, backpack and packing cubes. Pack-It Specter™ On Board toiletry kit So when I needed a new […]

50 by 50 Accomplished!

I just returned from Alaska yesterday — my 50th state, which was the culmination of my #50by50 quest to visit all 50 states by my 50th birthday. Well, my birthday was last week on September 7, and on that day I was on a small ship in the Inside Passage of Alaska, watching pods of whales […]

New England Road Trip, State 49: Connecticut

After visiting Maine and Rhode Island to begin wrapping up my 50 by 50 quest, my mom and I headed into Connecticut — my second to last US state! We stayed in the quaint seaside town of Mystic — known for its historic seaport (and also the 1980s movie, Mystic Pizza starring Julia Roberts.) We […]

New England Road Trip, State 48: Rhode Island

After enjoying Portland and Great Diamond Island in Maine, I headed down to state #48 on my 50 by 50 quest: Rhode Island. We drove into Providence, a polished and beautiful city at the mouth of the Providence River, at the head of Narragansett Bay. Founded in 1636, it is one of the oldest cities in […]

New England Road Trip, State 47: Maine

I’m nearing the end of my 50 by 50 quest to visit all 50 states by the time I turn 50 next month! A couple of weeks ago I headed to the East Coast with my mother, to knock off states 47-49. First up was Maine. Here’s what we did: State 47: Maine We spent […]

Midwest Road Trip: 50 by 50

For a week over 4th of July, I took the Judester on a road trip through states #44-46 on my 50×50 quest: North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. We flew into Denver and, over 1,600 miles, road tripped through the Midwest. We visited numerous national and state parks, including Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska; […]