Overcoming Travel Anxiety: First Time Destinations Unsurprising fact of the post: I’m not a very brave person and still overcoming travel anxiety. A lot of people, specifically family and friends, disagree with me. After all, I ran off a mountain to face my fear of flying. In addition, I managed to stay positive in face of uncertainty when I… Keep Reading
Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award
Thank you, Jackie from The Globetrotting Teacher, for your thoughtful nomination! As part of my nomination, Jackie posted 10 travel questions for me to answer. Again, thank you so much! Here are the rules for the Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award: Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and link them in your post. Answer the ten questions… Keep Reading
How Not to be a Jerk in the USA
When you meet other backpackers, it’s natural to discuss future/potential trips to mystical lands. Sometimes I get mad at myself for babbling about other journeys when already in the midst of traveling, but those conversations make you bond with others on the road. Inevitably, I meet people who want to visit my home country: the United States. Which… Keep Reading
Top Reasons To Create A Travel Blog
I was a nerdy teenager. No, I’m not claiming my nerdiness was “cool” or “hip” or “trendy;” I’m merely stating the unadulterated truth. While other kids planned epic Sweet Sixteen parties in nightclubs and went on expensive dates near the beach, I read and obsessed over Harry Potter fan theories online and attended after school choir… Keep Reading
My #1 Travel Blog Mistake
Soooooo. You lovely readers noticed radio silence on my blog, huh? Since you all adore me, I bet you wondered why – after such a strong start – my posts suddenly vanished in a puff of e-smoke. What happened to Blond Wayfarer? you thought to yourself, sad eyes gazing at your computer. She was hilarious and cute…. Keep Reading
You Must Visit Northern Ireland
You Should Visit Northern Ireland. I absolutely, positively, definitely loved Northern Ireland. Ireland fascinates Americans. Namely because many people trace their roots back to this country. And Ireland is so damn pretty. Yet, for some reason, Americans also skip over Northern Ireland on their trips to the Emerald Isle. I think their avoidance has to do with the negative stigma… Keep Reading
How Teaching Improved My Travel Skills
“Oh my god, how do you teach teenagers without losing your mind? I’d quit in three seconds.” I’m often asked this question in hostels. Then a twitchy smile follows. A raised eyebrow. A disbelieving shake of the head. Yup, these are all reactions I witness whenever I tell my fellow travelers that I’m a high… Keep Reading
6 Things to Know Before You Travel to Portugal
Things to Know Before You Travel to Portugal Yup, there are definitely some things to know before you travel to Portugal. A country that I loooove. On my ten day trip in April ’15, I had an opportunity to fall in love with this underrated Western European country. I split my time between Lisbon and Porto, and… Keep Reading
The Guide to Beating Anticipatory Flight Anxiety
Although I’ve written a post advising fearful fliers, anticipatory anxiety is truly another beast because it strikes outside of the airport. To be frank, 95% of the time, anticipating a flight is way worse for me than actually boarding the aircraft. Anticipatory anxiety can occur days, weeks, or even months prior to take off. If you’re scared to… Keep Reading