I drove home, trying to figure out what it was. You know, it.
The it that summarizes a destination. The it behind the reason people visit.
Some places have stunning natural landscapes with mountains that scrape the sky. Others are home to epic battles where heroes were made. Some places boast towering skyscrapers that wink down to the concrete and steel that shape a bustling city. Big things that define a place. The its of the world.
But as I drove home through the foothills of appalachian Ohio, I stretched my brain to figure out what is Marietta, Ohio’s it? (more…)
We may have accidentally taken one of the best Texas road trips.
The plan was simple. Dallas to Austin. Austin to San Antonio.
But then we heard a rumor. “You may see bluebonnets while you’re on your way.”
Bluebonnets. Oh.
Shortly on the road, I began to notice small patches of blue and orange. And curiosity got the best of me. Bluebonnets. The state flower of Texas. Native to the Texan prairie/hill country. Peaks in the spring in April. Bluebonnet capital and bluebonnet trail and bluebonnet festival located in Ennis, Texas.
It was April. We weren’t too far from Ennis.
I looked at my husband, Eric. “Wanna take a detour?”
As her Maid of Honor, I knew I had to plan something special for her Miami bachelorette party — this is a girl who has pursued higher education in England, explored democracy in Botswana during an election, spent a summer in Ecuador, and has traveled many corners of our beautiful world and shared it with others through her photographer’s eye.
As a career girl whose goal is to travel the world with a full time job, opportunities to travel can be limited to my paid holidays, vacation days, and personal days.
It’s not like it’s my job to get paid to travel.
Until it is. My employer asked me to attend a conference for work [cue victory dance]. The destination: Boston.
My top priority was work. That was my number one commitment. But I still made it a priority to experience the city, so I did my best to figure out where to eat in Boston and what to do in Boston with limited time while on a work trip.
On your 50th anniversary, will you look back and smile at all your memories and travels as a couple?
Why should you take an Anniversary Trip?
Because science.
It’s proven that couples who travel together, stay together. I’m sure I read it in some scientific journal. I’m sure of it. Because travel makes people happy and happiness stems from dopamine in the brain and that’s just like the feeling of falling in love. Travel = Happy = Love. See? Science.
Just like you’re more likely to have a second date if you spend your first on a roller coaster vs. the movies, you’ll probably be more likely to have a next anniversary if you spend this one exploring somewhere new vs. folding laundry at home. The brain likes an adrenaline rush. The brain likes adventure. Okay, maybe it isn’t proven psychology for successful courtship (at least not what a quick Google search could divulge), but I have a good hunch about this one.
Traverse City is known for it’s wine and beer, stunning vistas, proximity to national & state parks, and unlimited itinerary options for families or couples. We’re focusing on the romance, dialing up the fancy, donning on the endearing, and setting up an itinerary that puts hearts in your eyes. This is a getaway guide to a weekend in Traverse City.
[P.S. There’s a helpful Google map at the end of this post!]
That’s what they told me. “They” being nearly everyone I encountered and shared my plan with.
The plan: Work all day Friday. Come home to a family party hosted at my house. Leave around midnight to drive 311 miles from Metro Detroit to Chicago, solo.
There are so many things to do in Philadelphia. It’s a city of icons like Ben Franklin and characters like Rocky. It’s a cradle of American history and UNESCO sites. It’s a city of modern skyscrapers juxtaposed against old buildings. It’s a city I want to get to know, but have only had a small introduction.
I first encountered Philly on a road trip with my dad. It was quick — we posed in front of the Liberty Bell, dropped by Independence Hall, and devoured a cheesesteak. This time, I made the 10-hour road trip alone. I attended BlogHouse Philly, a workshop for travel bloggers. My days were packed with learning and working, but there was some opportunity for playing too.
5 Attainable Long Weekend Getaways from Metro Detroit
Where to go on a long weekend getaway from Metro Detroit? As lovely as Pure Michigan is, the itch for a small change of scenery happens. The improving weather means music up, windows down, and go, go, go. It’s time to get moving – with long weekend road trips that are affordable and attainable. Here is a list of 5 adventures that aren’t too far away for Metro Detroiters to visit.
The rules for this small list were simple: The location must be (1.) outside of Michigan, (2.) approximately 350 miles away (3.) a fun place to visit. Note: distance was calculated from Campus Martius Park in Detroit.
They are realistic, achievable, and affordable road trips not too far away from home. Here they are: 5 attainable long weekend getaways from Metro Detroit.
I drove there by memory. Though if memory failed, there were enough signs pointing the way, much like the Star of Bethlehem to the Three Kings. And as I drove nearer, I grew weary with the road winding through the darkness, passing the occasional home, barn or church, but no indication of my destination. Did I go the wrong way? I began to hesitate.
Then, just as the road curved ahead – a light! Then another! Then THOUSANDS! Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store, beamed ahead with enough Christmas lights to rival the night sky.
Just how large is the largest? Well, Bronner’s is situated on 27 acres, is open 361 days per year, greets 2 million visitors annually, and holds over 50,000 Christmas goodies to sell. And my favorite fact I recently learned from the PureMichigan blog? The average electric bill is $1,250… PER DAY! Oh, and there’s a reason why you get a handy dandy map to guide your shopping experience… because it’s just that large.
There’s a section of Bronner’s dear to my heart. It’s toward the back, near the Christmas trees and angel tree toppers. I had to pass various nativity scenes, nutcrackers of every size, colorful stockings and artists personalizing ornaments. I trotted through the Santa section, perused the food decorations (& giggled at the bacon ornaments), and paused by the cafeteria to inhale the wafting hot chocolate.
There it was, my favorite section: Christmas Around The World.
Did you know you can travel the world at the world’s largest Christmas store? Because for the next hour, I swear I became so enveloped in the detail of the ornaments that the holiday tunes seemed to mute, the smell of cinnamon and pine grew stronger, and the lights from the decor created bokeh in my peripheral vision as my imagination took me to every country with ornaments on display at Bronner’s.
Here were some of my favorites:
This Santa, hand-painted in Poland is so quintessentially Christmas. I don’t think I’d ever leave home for the holidays, unless it were to visit the European Christmas markets. This ornament makes me feel like I’m strolling the markets now with mulled wine between my winter gloves.If these Peruvian food baskets don’t say “South America” maybe the canvas burro would. So colorful and crafted.Made somewhere in Africa, the simplicity of this angel ornament reminded me that Christmas is more than sparkles and presents.
I finally saw Buckingham Palace! When I visited London during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I had the misfortune of the Palace blocked from pedestrians. Looks like I got my royal experience at Bronner’s. I wonder if they decorate the real Buckingham Palace for Christmas…Asian lanterns reminded me of teaching English in China and how often I’d see these guys dangling in a window. Runner up to the Chinese dragon ornament and the Japanese sushi rollOf course, Italy would have baskets of food ornaments. If only that cannoli were real…I’ve never been to Russia, but this hand-painted ornament evokes the cold I can’t even imagine this place experiences.After my recent trip to Australia, this koala made me smile so big reminiscing of the amazing time I had down under.Poland’s hand-painted ornaments were incredible.Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam
Before I left, I watched two young boys excitedly waving the different flags from different countries. They may not be globetrotters yet, but perhaps their magical visit to Bronner’s was a small introduction to how beautiful our world is.
If you ever visit Frankenmuth, Michigan, Bronner’s is a must. Even if you just peruse the Around the World section to fuel your wanderlust, you’ll leave with so much holiday and worldly spirit, you may just drive off singing Christmas carols in Spanish. Feliz Navidad!
This post is apart of the 2014 Travel Advent Calendar Series created by Shere y Paul. The 25 Days of Travel. Be sure to follow along here to see where we’re headed next.
