Tag: Small Town Travel

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Small-Town Florida: A Day Trip to Mount Dora

Alyssa stands in the Modernism Museum in Mount Dora

You could say Mount Dora lives up to its “festival city” nickname, with so many events on the calendar. And indeed, a festival is how Michael and I found ourselves in the city one beautiful October morning as part of our mission to visit a different Florida destination each month. The Mount Dora Craft Fair …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Wild Florida: Tubing on a Natural Lazy River at Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Alyssa tubes along the Ichetucknee River

Ichetucknee. Most children in North Florida know how to pronounce this word long before they can read, as tubing the crystal-clear river is a rite of passage in this part of the state. Crowds flock to this natural spring and river during the summer months to take a break from Florida’s intense heat. Depending on …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Weekend Travel Guide for Destin, Florida (30A)

Two chairs on the beach in Miramar Beach

Destin, 30A, whatever you choose to call this area, here’s how to have a truly local experience.

Destinations, Travel, USA, West Virginia

Wild Adventures: Animal Encounters at Oglebay Good Zoo in Wheeling, West Virginia

A cute red panda named Amber at the encounter

Birthdays in recent years have followed the same formula as many of my other trips: find a deal on airfare, a decently-priced hotel, and then pick some fun and cheap things to do. This year was different. This was the year Michael uttered a proclamation I didn’t even know I needed to hear: “Let’s go …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Countdown to Fun: Ten Tips for a Kennedy Space Center Day Trip

Alyssa stands in front of a rocket at the Kennedy Space Center

Keeping with our New Year’s Resolution to travel more within our home state, Michael and I recently made the trek down to Cape Canaveral, Florida, to visit the Kennedy Space Center. I’d dreamed of attending Space Camp as a young girl but missed out on the opportunity (though I guess not for good, since I …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

A Day Trip to Cedar Key, Florida

Alyssa sits on the porch at the Whitman house

Let’s visit Cedar Key for the day, and explore the island’s history and culture (and cuisine!).

Destinations, France, Travel, Travel Tips

Behind the Wheel in Provence: A Road Trip Adventure

A road in Provence leading to a town on the hill

“Oh, and by the way, there is a fuel shortage due to a strike and you may have trouble filling your rental before you return,” the car rental associate explained after the papers were signed and the keys were in our hand. This was only our third time ever renting a car, and our second …

Destinations, Georgia, Travel, USA

Photo Diary: Scenes from Small Town, Georgia

View of the State Fair in Georgia, taken from the highway

After I graduated college, my dad and my stepmom moved up to a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, not too far from a place where I lived with my mom and dad when I was a baby.

Destinations, Italy, Travel

Hiking the Cinque Terre, Part Two: Vernazza to Corniglia

Looking back on Vernazza from the trail

In Monday’s post, I shared my experience hiking from Monterosso to Vernazza in Italy’s Cinque Terre, and today I pick up on the second day of hiking: between Vernazza and Corniglia. Michael and I actually started our hike in our “hometown” for the night, Manarola. We hiked around the marina toward the restaurant Nessun Dorma …

Destinations, Italy, Travel

Hiking the Cinque Terre, Part One: Monterosso to Vernazza

A Downward View of Vernazza

When we were planning our trip to Italy, I had one stipulation: “We have to stay in one of the Cinque Terre towns.”