There are very few places as near and dear to me as the backroads of California.  My favorite part about California is that you can drive 45 minutes in any direction and the landscape changes dramatically.  It is home to many outdoor activities, and when I visited, I had the pleasure of bouldering, going for long hikes and taking loads of photos, running an impromptu 5K race, wine tasting, shooting shotguns, and taking in the amazing sunsets on the beach.  If you get a chance to visit the Bay Area, I highly recommend checking out the beauty it has to offer.

Bouldering

Climbing is definitely one of my favorite parts of visiting California.  There are endless options for climbing in the Bay Area, especially if you head up towards the Tahoe area.  On my visit back home, I was lucky enough to meet up with some of my climber friends and check out some of the local bouldering.  It was great to be back on granite, get on some volcanic rock, and end the trip attempting some of the traverses in San Francisco on the beach.  If you have plans to visit the area for some bouldering, here are some pictures to check out:

Hiking & Photography

There’s loads of opportunities for exploring the outdoors, and taking awesome photographs in California.  I spent a few days with friend Marie (from Marie Hardy Photography- who has done most of the portraits you’ve seen of me on my site here) hiking, exploring, and taking awesome photos all around Echo Lake, in the Tahoe area.  Here’s a list of awesome hikes you can do around Tahoe.

Running 5K

Once I got back to the Sacramento area, I was spontaneously invited to run a 5K race with my friend Teressa and her pals.  Without any training, I signed up for the Urban Cow Marathon and hoofed it on through to the finish line.  It was amazing to be a part of such a large event.  I’ve never done a race, and the sense of camaraderie and accomplishment from everyone there was nothing short of amazing.

Shooting Shotguns

Being back in America, one suddenly has the urge to shoot large guns.  So, I went out to the Auburn Trap Shooting Club, and learned how to get my shotgun on.  Here’s a picture of me and Sharelle trying to look super gangster…

Wine / Beer / Music

California is full of opportunities to enjoy great wine selections.  I went to a wine tasting event and had amazing wine and food with friends.  Be sure to check out local wine tasting events, or go to the wineries in Napa, Loomis, or Sonoma.

If you are more in to beer, there are a couple of places you need to check out.  One is Swabbies on the River in Sacramento.  You can sip on your favorite cold beverage here (mine was the apricot hefeweizen), eat amazing tacos, and listen to live blues music.  The restaurant is on the water, so it has a fatastic view to take in while the afternoon slips into evening.  Another awesome place is the Yard House.   The Yard House has hundreds of beers on tap, select from a wide variety of ales around the country while you munch on delicious food.

Beaches

And, of course, you must check out the beaches.  My favorite beaches in the Bay Area are:  Fort Funston, Baker Beach, and Ocean Beach.  Here’s some photos from my last day in California before I flew out to go back to Thailand.

Thanks, California!  It’s always a pleasure to visit

I grew up in Indiana, and while I haven’t lived there for over ten years, many of my friends and family are there.  One of my favorite things to do is spend time going to cultural events, and in this post, I’m going to highlight several things to do in Indiana.

Indianapolis Art Museum

If you want a dose of culture, a great place to start is the local art museum.  The Indianapolis Art Museum has a lot to offer, and at a great price – FREE!  Visit the various exhibits from around the world and you can see everything from ancient buddhas to modern art.  I especially enjoyed the textiles room that takes you on a journey through time to modern masterpieces.

American Indian Festival

Being partially of Native American Indian decent, I definitely needed to check out the 2011 Pow Wow that took place in Lebanon, Indiana.  Many Native decendents gathered together for music, dancing, food, and festivities.  Here are some photos from the event:

Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center

Take a trip down to Bloomington, Indiana, and you can explore the beautiful grounds of the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center.  This is a very special place for me.  I did my undergraduate degree at Indiana University, and was able to hear the Dali Lama speak here while I was attending university.  You can also attend various workshops here, and check out their calendar to see what is on the horizon for upcoming events!

Fort Harrison State Park

If you are a nature lover, and looking for some outdoor adventure, check out Fort Harrison State Park.  Just outside of Indianapolis, you would never know this hideaway existed.  It is full of people hiking, biking, running, or even horseback riding!  You would never know you are just minutes from civilization in this quiet natural preserve.

Get Out On the Water

Indiana has loads of lakes, and one of the best ways of relaxing is to go for a boat ride around and take in the great outdoors.  Here are some photos of boating around my Aunt’s place.

Have Some Locally Brewed Beer with Friends

One of the great things about being back in the States was the incredible amount of micro-brewed beer.  Upland Brewery is one of my favorites.  Lucky for me, my friends all like it too!

Special THANKS to my friends and family for making all of these events possible!!  It was great to take in the sights and spend time with people that love me!!

One of the best parts about travel are having reunions with your best friends.  I was so excited when my best gals from college decided to do a Chicago Reunion trip – flying in from L.A., Washington D.C., and our fantastic hostest (with the mostest) offered up her place to stay in Chicago.  We all used to share a floor in our college dormatory, and nothing could be more exciting then spending time visiting the absolute best places in Chicago together!

With all of the travel I’ve done, I’ve definitely come to regard my girlfriends the most fantastic people in the world. I know that conventionally, we are all taught to grow up, get married, and move on with our lives.  But my girlfriends have been there through everything, and I really want to make this post a tribute to all of my gals.

“Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with!” –Sex and the City

Mani-Pedi-Wine

We started our long weekend of fabulousness with a trip to Tres Bien Nail salon.  My well worn feet were happy to get some special attention, and the massage chairs were devine.   I was all too happy to be back in the States to have rows and rows of colorfully labeled wine to choose from, too!

Best Hotel

Since Candace travels the world giving inspirational talks, she had racked up enough points for us to have a couple of days at a fancy hotel on the water.  We were greeted with breathtaking views of the city, a cheese and fruit plate, and complimentary desert and wine.  It didn’t hurt us at all to take advantage of the upstairs jacuzzi either.  Here are some pics from our stay at the Renaissance Hotel:

Best Pizza

You aren’t allowed to leave Chicago without experiencing the amazing bigger-than-life deep dish pizza at Giordanos…

Also, if you love awesome Italian food, you must go and eat at Lucia’s.  We were poured endless glasses of wine and laughed with the owner for hours over our mouthwatering food!

Best Park

Millennium Park is full of wonderful trees, flowers, and beans!  Check out the latest sculpture, The Bean, and have some giggles taking funny photographs of you and your friends.  You might also want to see what music is playing in the amphitheater and enjoy some live outdoor music.  

Best Building

What is the one building you can see the entire world, and even go to the moon?  The Tribune Tower.  It has pieces of history literally built into the walls.  Learn lots about Chicago and enjoy historic bits and pieces in this tower.

Best Discount Shopping

It wouldn’t be a girl’s weekend without SHOPPING!  Since we are all discount gals who love a bargain, we were happy to find all of our favorites in “The Loop”.  Go down State Street & E. Chicago Ave, and you can find top brands at basement level prices.  Our fav’s were:  Filene’s Basement, TJ Maxx, Ross, Nordstrom’s Rack & Old Navy.

Thanks, gals, for such an incredible reunion!!  Hope you’ve enjoyed my list of Chicago’s Best, and give one of your favorite gals a call to make a plan to meet up soon with your Soul-Sisters!!

Just wanted to tip you off on a cool thing I’ve discovered lately which is a super cheap and efficient way to travel.  Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce the Megabus!

I first heard about the Megabus from my mom, who thankfully passes on all travel advice to the one she knows will instantly use it.  And I did.  After checking out the website, and hearing a good review from a friend, I cancelled my first idea of transport (Amtrak) and decided to check it out.

I traveled on the Megabus from New York City to Syracuse, New York, and then again between Chicago and Indianapolis.  The bus is new, comfortable, and really reasonably priced for the journey.  In fact, they have online specials for as low as $1.  Yes, one dollar!!  You can check out their special rates Mega-Deals here and see if you can get one of their special deals, or even get rates between major cities for twenty bucks.

Booking online is easy, just pick your country, plug in your destination and see where the next stop is.  If you are doing a longer journey, you can link your destinations together and make a longer trip out of it.

I was impressed with the efficiency of the check in / line ups.  We were in and on the bus in minutes and hit the road immediately.  This is a great way to get from one destination to another, and even to check out great views of the city.  But, my favorite part was that they had wireless internet, and even plugs for your laptops – a perfect option for traveling nomads.

Whether you are traveling through the UK, US, or Canada, you definitely want to check out this tech-friendly inexpensive way to travel!  So, get on the bus, and get to your next travel destination Now!!

Big 2012 Free Promo

Just in Time!! Megabus is now GIVING AWAY Free Tickets! Go to www.megabus.com and find free trips between January 4th and March 1st, 2012. They’re giving away 200,000 free tickets to start off 2012! The Promo Code is GOFREE

– Happy Travels!!

I’ve been to New York several times, but now I have a new favorite spot:  1,000 Islands, New York.  Nestled on the border between Canada, thousands of islands dot the waterway, making it an ideal spot for holidays, or weddings. I was so excited to be able to travel home for Rob & Colleen’s wedding–and experience some of the wonderful trips, tours, and events of the area.

If you are considering an ideal summer spot to get away, you should definitely make the trip to Clayton, New York.  It is a great place for weddings, reunions, or anyone who loves life on the water.  Clayton is a very small town, and I had so much fun getting ready for the wedding and taking part in the activities that the wedding party invited us along to.  Here are some of the highlights:

Trips & Tours

If you are headed to the area, here are some recommendations of things to check out:

Sign up for the 1,000 Island Dinner Cruise and get a fantastic tour of the area while eating great food.

Take a tour of the famous Boldt Castle, and learn some of the local history on this heart-shaped island.

If you are a boating enthusiast, be sure to visit the Antique Boat Museum, or consider booking the grounds for an event such as a wedding or reunion!

Festivals & Events

If you enjoy music, you should definitely go to the Rock for the River Music Festival.  Several bluegrass artists come together to rock for a great cause.

If you are around for the 4th of July, you can check out the fireworks on the water.  Or, if you are renting one of the homes on an island, you will most likely be able to see some great fireworks from your pier like we did!

Where to Stay

If you are looking for accommodation, our group stayed at either The Wooden Boat Inn, or Catherine Hinds Bed & Breakfast. However there are many other places to stay.  Here is a link to other places to stay in the area.

Be sure to Book in Advance, as places fill up quickly in a small town like Clayton.

Enjoy your holiday, and thanks for reading!!

Maybe one of the weirdest parts of perpetual travel is actually coming home.  For me, coming home was something I’d pretty much put off. I’d been loving my unjustified vagabond experience, and while I missed my friends and family, I didn’t miss the ideals and expectations that “normal society” tends to put on everyone that lives there.

But, it was one of my closest friends that drew me back for her wedding in 1,000 Islands, New York, and so began my rather epic journey around the world.

As I’m writing this, I’ve realized that I’ve been living abroad and traveling for exactly 1,070 days!  And while that hardly seems possible, it is true, and I’ve had such amazing experiences that I would say YES to the experience again and again.

After spending some time in Bali, coming back to Thailand to climb in my favorite place, and hanging out for about a month in France and Sweden, I got on my next jaunt between Stockholm and Newerk, New Jersey – stopping briefly in Iceland.  After Newark, I went through Brooklyn, New York > Thousand Island, New York > Chicago, Illinois > Indianapolis, Indiana > San Francisco, California > up to Tahoe> back down to Sacramento, California > then back to SFO to fly back to Thailand.

I spent about three and a half months in the US and it was fantastic to see all of my friends and catch up with my family – especially my nephews… who, as you can see, are just about as silly as me !

While there were several highlights to my Big Adventure, I think my biggest blessing was that I was able to spend about 5 months traveling around the world.  I’ve yet to have the luxury to find any job that offered me the flexibility to take such an adventure, and I’m just so lucky that I’ve been able to spend quality time with people I love while still being able to work along the way.

In the upcoming posts, I’ll highlight more Travel Tips on each of the areas I’ve spent time, but for now, I’d like to mention a small list of things I’ve learned on the road, and from a lifestyle of perpetual travel:

What Really Matters

The best takeaway from all of my adventures has been a realization of what it is in life that really matters:

• Love your work

• Spend as much time as you can with friends and family, no matter how far away

• Find athletic outlets that make you strong, and keep you feeling adventurous and happy

• Try something new, often

• Pack light

• Schedules change, so learn to be flexible

• Who you are is far more important than what you own, wear, or look like

• Stay enthusiastic even when times seem difficult

• Surround yourself with Positive People

• Enjoy the mystery of life as it unfolds

• Buy one ticket at a time

• Bring more underwear than you think you need

• Appreciate where you came from, but don’t be afraid to move on, even if that means going it alone!!

Leave your comments below!

I was first introduced to the term “Tribe” from Cath Duncan.  She writes a lot about this concept (originally introduced to her by Godin).  Anyhow, if you aren’t familiar with the term, it means this:

“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, and connected to an idea.”  - Seth Godin

The first week that I was in AoNang, Thailand, I had a very unusual thing happen.  I’d decided I was going to go out to dinner, and where I wanted to go.  I left my bungalow and walked towards the restaurant.  And then, something funny happened.  My feet went in a different direction than the restaurant I’d intended to go.  They edged a sharp right, and walked me straight inside a restaurant called Monsoon.  They walked me past a friendly group, and sat me down at a small corner table.  My heart was racing, and I started to argue (logically) in my head.  What was I doing in this restaurant?!?!

It didn’t take me long to figure out that I’d discovered my tribe.  I met the owner, Hilton, and the friendly crew outside would become my lifelong friends.  Monsoon Restaurant remained one of my favorite places to go until the couple owning it decided to move to Sweden.

As a side note, many of the people that live / holiday in Thailand are from Sweden.  So, over the past two and a half years of living there, I’ve gotten to know quite a few Swedish folks that are near and dear to my heart.  Also, during low season (April to September) most of my Swedish friends go home for their summer and earn some extra cash.  Sometimes they come back to work another season, and sometimes they do not.  But when I decided to visit Stockholm, I was overwhelmed by how “homey” it felt.

Meeting up with my Homies

I was immediately intercepted at the bus station by friends, and we went straight to TGIF Fridays to meet up with some others.  After hearing a strange banging noise directly behind my head, I turned to see what the noise was—only to find out that they were putting up a big sign for a Thailand Festival that started the next day!  What are the odds?

Stockholm has a lot to offer for the adventurous.  Since it is a series of islands connected by bridges, there are loads of water activities, and lots of breathtaking views.  Just walking around the parks there you can take in the beauty of the city.   Or, you can rent bikes and go exploring throughout the city, where you can tour around all of the city’s islands and bridges for great vistas.

One of the interesting parts about visiting Stockholm in the summer is that the sun doesn’t really go down.  Well, it does, but only for about an hour.  This completely freaked me out the first night!  I woke up, got ready, paced around, waiting for my friend to wake up, and then decided to do some work on my computer, only to realize it was 3 am.  It was as bright as it gets at noon, and it took a long time for my body to get used to the strangeness of near-constant daylight.

Once I’d adjusted, I started to realize some of the benefits—like that you can spend so much more time outside, or in the parks with friends.  It was also funny to go out, experience the nightlife, and come out of the clubs as the sun is rising (about 2 am).

Later, on the way home, we found a Sandwich Shoe.  What is a Sandwich Shoe, you might be asking?  A native Swedish dish?  Apparently, but none of us had ever seen one before.  I think it is only served at 3am on your way back from a club.  But I would like to openly discuss in the comments section if the Sandwich Shoe has been spotted anywhere else, because it is a quite curious dish that leaves one with so many questions!

Inspired Sandwich Shoe questions:

Who makes the Sandwich Shoe?

What happened to the other Shoe?

Did the Sandwich Shoe come with fries?

Is the Shoe New?

Is it some kind of sidewalk offering?

Please give any details of spottings near you, because it is all too difficult to determine any of these answers without more information.  lol.

Trashy Karaoke is highly advised at Metropol.  If you want to witness good drunken fun and Swedish people singing Metallica, I would definitely check it out.

In Old Town, you can visit the Palace, see street performers, and enjoy some of the touristy spots that have amazing ice cream shops and restaurants.

The food in Sweden is amazing, so expect to have lots of fresh food with homemade breads.  With so much water nearby, there will always be great settings like this seemingly floating restaurant.

Lastly, the park is a rappers delight.  Since the sun doesn’t set, having beers in the park and pretending you are a rap band can happen in to the wee hours.  I highly recommend that…

And always be on the look out for the Sandwich Shoe!

While I enjoyed Paris immensely, I must admit that it is by far one of the most expensive cities that I’ve spent time in.  And before I move on and let you know of the other adventures I’ve been on, I thought it might be helpful to share some tips I learned in my time in Paris.

Where to Stay:

If you read my last post, you’d have seen that I recommend staying in or checking out hostels. Also, it seems like it is a better deal to rent apartments than it is to stay at a hotel.  After I left Paris, I heard about a site called Vacation Rental By Owner.

After checking it out, I was well impressed.  It shows you price, what train its near, what sites and attractions you are near, and has an ample list of amenities and photos of each place.  Check out an example here.  If I had to do my trip over, I would have stayed in the hostel to meet people, then stayed at one of the VRBO apartments.  It’s also a great site if you are looking for reduced price housing during low season–and, they even take PayPal!  Excellent choice that I’ll be using in the future, for sure.

Food:

After trying out several places to eat, I soon discovered that it was far more affordable to find specialty meats, cheeses, salads, and wine at a local grocer.  Most parks and tourist attractions seem to be fine with you bringing your own food and alcohol, and sitting in the park next to the Eifel Tower was a fantastic place to eat cheap.

Entertainment:

Museum costs can add up fast!  Especially since it feels like there are so many things to do and places to see.  If you are planning your trip in advance, you should know about this:  First Sunday.  First Sunday of every month, museums are free.  But, if you are planning on going, go early, as lines get ridiculous. Or, you can do like I did.  While everyone is at the museums, go to other attractions that won’t have lines.  I decided to take the trip to the top of the Eifel Tower, and managed to get to the front of the line in about two minutes because everyone else was at a museum.

Also, consider buying the Paris Pass.  This Pass is a steal and gets you into most of the major museum attractions for one low price of 35 Euros.  I looked up the links online, and I didn’t include it in this post because they are cheaper to get once you are there.  You can purchase them from any of the main museums. If you are a student (or under 26) make sure to bring your ID and you can get further discounts on museum entry prices.

Travel:

I was surprised how walk-able Paris was.  You can save loads of money just by walking rather than taking major transport.  Make sure to bring comfortable shoes  (to get through cobblestone streets and marbled museums) and bring clothing that will allow you to be in the various climates.  Consider paying a little extra to stay near tourist attractions, because you will save money just by the cost of transport. Or, you can book your travel in batches.

Depending on how far you are going and how often you’d like to travel, you can get around for reasonably less than I did.  I wasn’t sure about my itinerary, but for those that are more planned, check out some of the bundled passes for travel.  Here’s a great site for getting around Paris:  Getting Around Paris.

Tours:

One of my favorite trips was put on by a local tour agency called City Free Tour.  They are volunteer based, and can give you a great and informative tour just for your tips!  I learned far more about the city, architecture, where to go, and what to eat in this (nearly) free tour, than on any other part of my trip.  Check out their site to see when tours are meeting near you. (Also, if you are traveling, look for the free tours in your city–this service is available in many cities and a fantastic “first thing to do” on your travel to do list.)

Final Budget Tip:

I also thought it might be a good idea to go cheap on connecting travel, so I went with RyanAir.  This ended up being a “budget gone wrong” choice.  By the time I got to their middle of nowhere destination, paid 40 Euros for a 12 Kg bag, and got to my destination late, missed the bus, and delayed my other travels—I realized this was one area Not To Go Cheap on.

Lol. Anyway, if Paris has always been on your list, but you wanted to figure out how to do it on a budget, I really hope this has helped!

Please leave comments or other tips below that you’d like to share!   Au revoir!

When I was setting off for Paris, this was my biggest question.  After looking at countless “Budget” Hotels that were super expensive and very unimpressive, I decided to take the leap for the first time in my life and have a Hostel experience.

To say that this made me apprehensive is an understatement.  For one, I’m 35, which compared to my long lost college days when hostel-ing was cool, I felt like I might be an old fart.  Secondly, I am a person that doesn’t particularly enjoy sharing my space.  I didn’t grow up with a big family and having personal space is something that goes hand in hand with my peace.  Thirdly, I was afraid of the fact that not just the rooms were shared, but Everything was shared.  Shared toilets, shared showers, co-ed dorms, and there isn’t any guarantee that you’ll get the same bed or room twice.  My last fear was that the schedule was fairly regimented.  You wake up, breakfast is at 9, you get locked out of the hostel between the hours of 11 and 4.  There was a bar attached to the hostel and all I could think of was all of the horrible ways that this could go wrong.  But, it was the most affordable solution, and it was also close to all of the attractions that I wanted to see.

I took a risk, and booked my first three days with 3Ducks Hostel.  Upon my arrival, I met a girl I instantly liked at the front desk.  Bee was a hip and trendy girl from Canada that spoke French fluently and recited off the hostel rules like she’s said them a million times.  I grabbed my rented sheets and went off to seek out my room feeling a bit nervous like my first day in college checking in to a dorm.

The set up was actually nice, and really cool.  The bunk beds were numbered, you get your space, and can keep any of your valuables at the front desk (laptops, etc).  I met my new roomies and started to get a feel for the area and learn from them what some of the top attractions were and what I should do – and in what order.  I found out a lot about how to “do Paris on the cheap” – which basically consisted of buying food at the stores, going to museums at certain days or times when they are cheaper, and different passes you can get to pay less for the attractions.

All of this stuff, while it just seems like general conversation was HUGELY Helpful.  Mostly because it takes the stress off of you immediately.   All of the things I’d been wondering about suddenly were resolved, and my worries about being too old or set in my ways diminished as I began to trade travel stories with my new roommates.  If anything, the other people I met at 3 Ducks seemed to be really interested in what I’d been doing, how I have structured my life to travel more, and they expressed their desire to do the same with their life.

Another great benefit of going with Hostels is that you will get invited along to do things that you would maybe never do on your own. After my second night, I went along with a group to The Gardens of Varsillies.  This was something that was not even on my travel radar and ended up being one of the best parts of my trip.

It also helps with being more active with your night life.  I have a tendency to do things during the day and then not want to do that much in the evening past dinner.  However, the nightlife in Paris is definitely something to be experienced.  I got to tag along to places I’d never gone on my own – like Queen, the gay night club that had a free lady’s night that surprised us with twin male strippers.

So, if you want to see the sites, meet fun people that you can share new experiences with, and expand your horizons, I would definitely recommend getting out of your comfort zone and checking in to a Hostel.  If you’re headed to Paris, check out 3Ducks Hostel and make sure to book in advance.  I waited too long to reserve the second half of my trip and it filled up for the rest of my time there.  But I was thankful for the experience and the opportunity to meet such fun people to travel around with!