Category: USA

Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

Checking In: A Review of The Lighthouse at Kure Beach in Kure Beach, North Carolina

View from inside a beachfront room looking out through a glass door to a wooden balcony with a single chair and table, overlooking grassy dunes and the Atlantic Ccean under a cloudy sky.

Learn more about The Lighthouse: a postcard-perfect sunrise stay in Kure Beach, North Carolina.

Charlotte, Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

Charlotte Uncorked: My Go-To Wine Bars in the Queen City

Alyssa holds a glass of wine and smiles at Flight

I haven’t polled people around the globe, but I feel pretty confident making this assumption: most folks are far more likely to associate Charlotte with beer than with wine. I mean, you can’t even share a news article about a new brewery opening without someone chiming in about how we have too many. And whenever …

Destinations, South Carolina, Travel, USA

Two Towns, One Scenic Day: Exploring Edgefield and McCormick, South Carolina

A woman wearing sunglasses and a black outfit sits at a white café table outdoors in McCormick, holding a white coffee cup. She gazes off to the side with a relaxed expression, with a mostly empty plate and napkin beside her; black-and-white patterned chairs and a brick building are visible in the background.

Discover the best things to do, see, eat, and explore in the charming towns of Edgefield and McCormick, South Carolina—from local eats to cute boutiques!

Destinations, South Carolina, Travel, USA

Your Guide to Spending a Perfect Day in Laurens, South Carolina

A woman in sunglasses, a black tank top, and high-waisted jeans smiles while walking in front of a colorful mural that reads “Greetings from Laurens, South Carolina.” Each letter in "Laurens" contains illustrated scenes, including a Coca-Cola bottle, historic buildings, and people, representing the local culture and history.

Heading to Laurens, South Carolina? Your day is already planned—all you need to do is hit the road! — Slowly but surely, I’m making my way around South Carolina and exploring destinations both large and small. From the capital charm of Columbia to the coastal corner of Charleston, and from the billowing branches along the backroads …

Charlotte, Destinations, Food, North Carolina, Restaurant Roundups and Reviews, Travel, USA

8 Great Date Night Restaurants in Charlotte That Won’t Break the Bank

A classy dining room at Bentley’s in Charlotte with elegant chandeliers, white tablecloths, and modern art on the walls; a warmly lit, upscale atmosphere ideal for fine dining.

Tired of the same old date night restaurant? I’m rounding up some personal favorites that you may not have tried yet.

Charlotte, Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

Checking In: A Luxurious Stay in the Heart of Charlotte at The Ivey’s Hotel

Alyssa in bed with breakfast at The Ivey's Hotel

Welcome to Checking In: a series dedicated to the places we stay when we travel. Today we’re making a quick trip to Uptown, for a glamorous staycation at The Ivey’s Hotel in Charlotte. Whenever I’m having a conversation with anyone about my hometown of Charlotte and they discover I’m a travel blogger, the questions start …

Destinations, Packing Lists, South Carolina, Style, Travel, USA

Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for a Weekend in Seneca, South Carolina

Alyssa in front of the Seneca mural

You don’t see business travel packing lists around here often, which makes me extra excited to share this one from my recent weekend at a blogging conference in Seneca, South Carolina. Except… this isn’t your typical business trip packing list. It’s more busin-ish (which sounded better in my head than it looks on the screen, …

Destinations, South Carolina, Travel, USA

A Charming Weekend Getaway Guide to Seneca, South Carolina

Alyssa sits on a ledge at Chattooga Belle Farm

Sharing your essential weekend guide to Seneca, South Carolina. — When I saw that the Southern Travelers Explore conference was going to be held in Oconee County, South Carolina, I could barely contain my excitement. A travel conference in my neighboring state? Yes, please! But… where the heck was Oconee County? As a transplant, I …

Home, Journal, Reflections, South Carolina, Travel, Travel Tips

10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Attending My First Travel Blogging Conference

Six North Carolina travel bloggers at a lake in Oconee County

“I don’t think my business cards are going to make it,” I told Michael flatly. “It looks like they’ll be here tomorrow, after I’ve already left.” It was the morning before I was scheduled to leave for my very first travel blogging conference, and I was feeling pretty downtrodden… and maybe a little dramatic. “What …

California, Destinations, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, USA

Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for San Diego in the Winter

Alyssa walks down a street in San Diego, California

Opening up my suitcase and sharing my real-life packing list for a winter getaway to San Diego, California.