The End

Happy 2019, everyone! I hope you all had a joyous holiday season, and I wish you a prosperous new year. 

I have an announcement about the blog. This will be the last post. Writing the blog has been a journey that has ushered me to an unexpected destination. The practice of writing consistently, or trying to, has unlocked some important revelations. First, I love writing, but I don't have the focus or dedication to develop my craft right now. Second, part of running a blog is examining what others are doing. I learned quickly that there are many, many people who are more interested in traveling and better at creating content around their adventures than me. Traveling and writing will always be an interest of mine, but if I am being honest, I cannot say that I have a passion for it. 

So what's next? I'm not sure. My creative juices are flowing again, but a bit of experimentation needs to happen so I can find the best way to express myself.

I am posting more often on my Instagram and Twitter accounts this year. You can follow me if you want to see what I'm up to. I don't think the Facebook page will continue. 

Finally, thank all of you who supported the blog and sent encouragement. My heart overflows with gratitude that you spent a few minutes of your precious time reading a post. 

Hopefully not forever but for now...goodbye.

xoxoxo 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Travel Deals Are Here!!

There is more to Black Friday deals than televisions and laptops. Travel companies join the sales excitement with spectacular discounts.

8 Must-Pack Items For Surviving a Long Flight

Flying economy on a long-haul flight is a test of physical endurance and mental fortitude. I flew 15 hours from San Francisco to Sydney, after flying 6 hours from Baltimore to Oakland. A total 21 hours flying time would have been torture without some serious preparation. Here is a list of items that I packed in my carry-on to be comfortable and survive two long flights.

Five Things About My Trip to Sydney

My trip to Sydney, Australia, fully lived up to expectations. What a splendid city! I am planning a return trip because five days was not nearly enough time.

I am going through my pictures and collecting my thoughts about the trip. Here are some quick impressions of Sydney and some things I loved about the city.

Gone Fishin'

Fishin'? Not really my style. However, I will be taking a short break from the blog to maximize quality time with my family and prepare for a summer vacation.

Don't worry fam; I'm not leaving you high and dry. I know some of you are looking past these hazy, lazy days and planning for winter vacations. Check out this post on finding cheap airfares to help you save some coin. Also, for those of you living near or planning a trip to the nation's capital, this list of things to do in Washington, DC, this summer will keep you busy.

I'm headed to Sydney, Australia, in a few weeks. It's a trip I've dreamed about for decades (no exaggeration). Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see how I fare in the Land Down Under. You might see me hugging a koala bear or dancing with a kangaroo.

Enjoy your summer!

xoxo

Linda  

A Simple Guide On How To Avoid Airline Baggage Fees

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the rising cost of airfares and how to find cheap airline tickets. Now it is time to address the airlines’ biggest cash cow: baggage fees. 

Baggage fees have become the bread and butter of airlines all over the world. Not so long ago, only low-cost carriers like Spirit or AirAsia imposed bag fees. These days major airlines charge to transport your luggage on many routes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, airlines collected $4.6 billion for baggage in 2017. That's right, billion! 

7 Simple Ways to Find Cheap Airplane Tickets

Here is a disappointing fact. Air travel is significantly more expensive than it was a few years ago. I recall a time in the not so distant past when a one-way ticket from the east to the west coast cost about $100. Search fares from New York to San Francisco these days and prices are at least 50% - 100% higher.

Happy Blogiversary! An Honest Post About Six Months of Blogging

Wow! Time flies when you're...blogging? Six months ago I timidly published my first blog post. I thought starting a blog was the most ludicrous idea that ever ran through my mind. What did I know about blogging, content creation, promotion, social media, or even writing? The answer was not much, but that did not stop me from wanting to try (especially with Google and YouTube in my corner).

Quick Guide On Riding the Washington DC Metro Like A Local

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on how to save big money on travel. One of the recommendations was to take advantage of public transportation options when available. Public transportation can save you time and money, but navigating trains and buses in an unfamiliar city can be intimidating. If you do some research before you travel, you can alleviate much of the anxiety and save some big bucks during your trip.

A Quick Weekend Getaway to Atlanta

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of driving Mom and two of her cousins to Atlanta. The purpose of the trip was to visit another cousin who lived near the city. However, since none of us had visited Atlanta before, we took the opportunity to spend one day exploring the city. One day is not nearly enough time to experience the ATL in full, but I think we did a good job with the time we had. Keep reading to see what we did during our quick weekend getaway to Atlanta.

15 Fun Things to Do in Washington, DC This Spring and Summer

The cherry blossoms in Washington, DC hit peak bloom last week. The explosion of pink and white flowers signals that warmer weather is here to stay in the nation’s capital. It also means a ton of fun outdoor events are coming to rock your spring and summer. Whether you are a festival fanatic, concert addict, or sports enthusiast, Washington, DC has something to delight you. Here is a list of the most fun things to do in Washington, DC this spring and summer.

Easy Ways to Save Big Money on Travel

I follow many amazing travel bloggers. Some of them travel for most of the year. They work on the road or have saved enough cash to fund endless explorations. Sounds amazing, right?

The reality for me (and probably you) is that full-time travel is not in the cards right now. I have bills and financial obligations to my family. Nevertheless, I will not put my travel goals on hold by vowing to travel someday. I am old enough to know that someday does not always come. Last year, I decided to make travel a priority and committed to travel as often as possible.

So what’s a woman with a basket full of travel dreams and a lean budget to do? In this post, I share tips on how to make travel affordable. I use these strategies to travel more often and visit destinations that I thought were out of reach financially.

How to Avoid Eating Alone While Traveling Solo

Recently, I wrote a post about how to enjoy eating out alone. The goal of the post was to share tips and advice, drawn from years of good and bad experiences, on how to make solo dining enjoyable and easier. I like eating alone, but I know there are some people who will never learn to enjoy it. Eating alone in public is an onerous by-product of traveling solo for them. I wrote this post with those folks in mind. Here are three tips to avoid eating alone while traveling solo.