Tag: Southern U.S.

Alabama, Destinations, Travel, USA

Where Lost Luggage Goes: What it’s Like to Visit Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama

Krystal standing in front of sign at Unclaimed Baggage Entrance

“How can the airline just lose my bag?” I have no idea how often this phrase gets uttered, but after a recent visit to Unclaimed Baggage in tiny Scottsboro, Alabama, I suspect it happens a lot. Sorry, what? Unclaimed Baggage? Yep—Unclaimed Baggage is an entire store dedicated to selling items left in unclaimed bags at …

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

Traveling Light: Winter Packing List for Asheville, North Carolina

Alyssa stands in the Asheville airport wearing a sweater, jeans, and boots

A real-life packing list for five nights in Asheville, North Carolina (during the winter!)

Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

Brews and Views: A Comprehensive Travel Guide to Asheville, North Carolina

Downtown Asheville Buildings

Have you heard it too? You casually mention that you’re considering a little getaway in the Southeast, and then they say, “Well, what about Asheville?” Michael and I have heard this countless times over the past few years; suddenly it seemed like everyone was either planning a trip to the North Carolina city or had …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Exploring the Gulf Coast: A Day Trip Guide to St. Petersburg, Florida

Boats bob along in a marina in St. Petersburg, FL

At the start of the year, Michael and I made a resolution: visit one Florida destination every month. Twelve months and countless adventures later, we still felt like we’d barely scratched the surface of everything the Sunshine State has to offer. Choosing our final stop was no easy task. This post contains affiliate links and …

Destinations, Florida, Style, Travel, USA

A Bit of France in Florida: Attending the Pétanque Amelia Island Open

standing under petanque sign

I first encountered the sport Pétanque (also called Boules) when I was researching for my very first trip to France back in 2014. Upon arrival, I witnessed the cutthroat nature and unshakeable camaraderie of the players Michael and I saw in the parks of Paris and so were inspired to attend the largest tournament in …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Mount Dora Day Trip: How to Make the Most of a Visit to the Mount Dora Craft Fair

Alyssa stands in the Modernism Museum in Mount Dora

With so many events on the calendar, it’s easy to see that Mount Dora lives up to its “Festival City” nickname. And indeed, a festival is how Michael and I found ourselves in the Central Florida city one beautiful October morning as part of our mission to visit a different destination in our home state …

Destinations, Florida, Style, Travel, USA

Miami Beach Photo Diary

Alyssa walks along Miami Beach

My “year of Florida travels” continues! …sort of. Michael and I savored our only weekend at home during the month of September, which meant we needed to squeeze another Florida destination somewhere else on the calendar. Thankfully our flight to Europe was booked out of Miami, and who am I to deny these perfectly-aligned circumstances? …

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, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, USA

Traveling Light: A Packing List for Jacksonville, Florida

Downtown Jacksonville from Fuller Warren Bridge at Night

On Monday I shared how Michael and I spent a weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, and today I’ll share my packing list for the weekend away. As a refresher, this trip took place over a weekend in July (i.e. smack-dab in the middle of the hot, sticky, sweaty Florida summer) and included a trip to the …

Destinations, Florida, Travel, USA

Travel Guide: 36 Hours in Jacksonville, Florida

Alyssa stands in a bamboo garden at the Jacksonville Zoo

It was surfing that brought Michael and me to Jacksonville one weekend. Not what you expected, right? Perhaps a sporting event or convention or family or something, but not surfing. Yet there we were on a recent Saturday, standing on the beach in our swimsuits and wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into. This post contains …