The 5 Books I Read in 2019 that I’m Still Thinking About

Over the years, this blog has been everything from a way to share pictures to an almost-travel blog where I write about the places I go to but not nearly in the professional way more specified travel bloggers do.  So, in keeping with my theme of writing whatever I want, I’m adding in books because,…

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Reflecting on Study Abroad

One year ago, I returned from a semester in France.  I’ve had a decent amount of time to reflect on this and to think about my experience and what advice I would give to other students.  Given that I am writing about the entire process of this from picking a program to coming home, this…

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Tucson for Foodies

The best thing about Tucson is the food.  No, seriously.  I mean, there are lots of great things, but it is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, which should tell you that the food is good.  That said, I thought that in honor of Thanksgiving, I would do a post to talk about some of my favorite food…

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Tucson Fall: Starry Skies and Apple Pies

It’s autumn: That wonderful time of cool weather, hayrides, and pumpkin spice everything. Living in Tucson though, sweater weather doesn’t really come at the same time as pumpkin spice.  In our apartment, we’ve been ready (and rather desperate) for fall since the start of the school year.  None of us are desert natives, but in…

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Visiting Mackinac Island

Most people know that Michigan is bordered by 4/5 Great Lakes.  However, what is less well-known is that hydrologically Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are the same lake.   They’re divided for a few reasons but mostly because of how they narrow at the Straits of Mackinac between regular Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.  The Mackinac…

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Top Five: Detroit

Did you know that Michigan is the 11th largest state based on land size?  Or that Alaska is the only state with more water included in its borders?  Michigan is actually surprisingly huge – although Lake Superior is even more surprising (Trust me, the question “How many Liechtensteins would fit in Lake Superior” has become…

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A Beginner’s Guide to Greyhounds

The best way to learn something is by doing it, I think.  However, that can also be stressful, so a bit of research can also help.  I’ve taken a few long bus rides – in middle school, there was a field trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and one spring break in high school,…

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Solo Girl Sojourns: Santiago

This summer, I flew to Santiago, Chile and spent a few days wandering this massive city on my own before meeting up with my group on Easter Island.  At this point, I’ve done a fair amount of traveling, and I’m on my own for significant amounts of the time.  This doesn’t concern me all that…

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One Day in Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee is famous for music – blues and rock ‘n roll in particular.  With Graceland just a short drive from downtown, the city has a special connection to Elvis, and Beale Street is famous for soul food and blues.  However, it’s about an eight-hour drive from where we live, so I was a little…

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Hidden Gems: Ocracoke Island

There’s something appealing about a place you can’t technically drive to.  Although you can have a car on Ocracoke Island, it necessitates loading your car onto a 60 minute ferry then driving about half an hour into the only town on the island.  The alternative is a new passenger ferry that is 70 minutes but…

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