The Pacific Coast Highway in California is one of the nation's most scenic drives. There is no shortage of things to do from romantic Santa Barbara to expansive wine country in Paso Robles to vista points like Piedras Blancas all along the drive and breathtaking views on Pebble Beach in Monterey, you won't regret hopping in your car and gulping in the fresh air and surrealism of California.

The number one question I’ve gotten is “how do you do it on your own?” and that was the primary reason for starting this blog. Doing it on my own in the last five years, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks that might make the idea of traveling solo a little less scary for a woman that may want to venture out on her own.

If you’re looking for a location that is advanced and technologically up to date, then I wouldn’t recommend Cuba. If you’re looking for a place to really disconnect and immerse yourself in the culture, I would say Cuba fits the bill. There are some really specific things about Cuba I want to suggest to help you better plan and enjoy your trip.

Before I actually began traveling, I had a running list of places I wanted to visit, mostly international. I had not thought of Cuba…until I thought of Cuba. I found an article that listed places off the east coast with relatively inexpensive flights and Cuba was one of those places.

The borders of Cuba have not consistently been open for political reasons and people have many mythical ideas about it being unsafe. As a solo female traveler, I can say that I had quite the rich, fulfilling, and safe experience in Cuba. I planned several activities over the course of a few days, so I’m sharing them here with you.

Tulum, Mexico is quite beautiful and there is plenty to do between Tulum and Cancun since both are very touristy locations. What the city lacks in infrastructure, it makes up for in beauty and excitement. If you know how to avoid some of the not-so-great things, then you could absolutely have an enjoyable vacation here.

Nassau cuisine is particularly interesting because chefs make use of ingredients that are not common everywhere. Like most islands, you'll find that seafood is popular, and in The Bahamas, mainly conch, snails that are indigenous to the Caribbean. Many dishes are jerk or cracked (deep-fried) and full of flavor.

Nassau is a beautiful destination and, really, getting into anything is something. I had as great of a time watching the men scale fish at the port as I did cuddling pigs and parasailing over the beach. Here, I’m walking you through eight things I did on “the Islands of Song.”

The Pacific Coast Highway is 656 miles long so surely there are several restaurants off of this route that are delicious. The eight we stopped at hit just right from breakfast to dinner to some of the best ice cream you’ve ever had. Check it out.

Traveling to the islands, especially one like The Bahamas, can be relatively easy because they are huge tourist destinations. With the exception of going through customs, traveling to an island is like traveling anywhere nationally. You’ll likely not run into any issues, but there are some things you may want to know before you go.

You should know that Caye Caulker is known for fryjacks, a traditional Belizean dish that is deep fried dough stuffed with various items, and lobster, the seafood that was once their largest export. You’ll also find some Caribbean classics like stewed chicken and Cubano sandwiches. The slogan in Caye Caulker is “go slow” and I would add “eat good.”

I visited Caye Caulker in 2021 when many Covid restrictions were still very much in effect, so there were some experiences that I had planned and scheduled that I could not do, for example the plane ride over The Great Blue Hole and snorkeling. Having said that, I still made the most of my time with some very unique and spontaneous activities that, although relatively simple, were a lot of fun.

In my short trip, I took a river architecture tour, tried at least a couple Chicago food staples like Harold’s Chicken Shack and Garrett Popcorn, and even attended opening night of Wicked on Broadway. Keep reading to take a dive into my trip.

One of the questions I get asked all the time is how I choose destinations to visit. There’s a long and short answer to that question. The short version is that I pick a destination from my list, book a flight, and go. The long answer is that I do quite a bit of research including the things I’m outlining in this post to make sure that a destination is enjoyable, safe, and within my budget.

When you take a trip, you undoubtedly need at least your driver’s license and/or passport and now even your proof of vaccination card, but there are other documents that you may want to consider carrying with you.

I had been hearing my dad talk about TSA Precheck for years because he flew frequently for work, but I really had no idea what all it entailed. Then again, I didn’t travel nearly as much as I do now. I recently enrolled in TSA Precheck and if you travel often, then it’s one of the best investments you can make for quick and easy airport process.

The more I travel, the more I get it down to a system- how to pack to maximize space, what the essentials are versus what I can leave behind, how to get through the airport as quickly as possible and how to be most comfortable. I narrowed this list down to the twenty things I think you need most when you travel.

Cartagena, Colombia is an absolutely breathtaking city that is very much vivid and lively. From the famous Palenqueras to the Arabic architecture to the aromatic street food, it is an adventurer’s dream. There’s so much to discover and the locals don’t mind helping you do it.

When I decided that travel was going to be my biggest goal of life as a single woman, New Orleans topped my list of places in the United States. The thought that I could be caught by the surprise of live music on any street at any time or the idea that I could possibly have the best food dish I will ever have were good enough reasons to make a trip to NOLA happen.

Let’s talk about what is obviously the most important part of visiting New Orleans—the food. Aside from music, the Big Easy is known for the endless options of amazing flavor and variety. Most of the food is creole or cajun inspired—a blend of many different cultures. So, when you eat in New Orleans, you’re literally getting a taste of history.