My first trip abroad was to Canada when I was 6 years old. It was during the peak of Beanie Baby mania and I was a completely obsessed collector. There was a certain Beanie Baby that was only available in Canada and I talked my parents into taking me across the border to look for it. Living in
The Hungry Traveler Interview Series: Jess Chen
Jess and I met in college when we were members of the same sorority, Theta Phi Alpha, at the University of Cincinnati. We quickly realized our shared love of food and travel and became fast friends. Jess was always ready to join me in trying a new restaurant or spending the day cooking or baking together
Lebkuchen – German Gingerbread Cookies
A few years ago, my boyfriend Graham and I spent the week of Valentine’s Day in Munich, Germany. As soon as we landed, the city started experiencing heavy snowfall, wicked winds, and bitterly cold temperatures that ended up lasting the duration of our trip. Within a few hours, we relented and made our way to a
The Hungry Traveler Interview Series: Hannah Casey, American Expat in Dubai
Hannah and I went to Perrysburg High School together. She’s one of those people that always seems to be doing something interesting, whether it’s traveling or getting really good at yoga. Hannah has spent the last year and a half as an American expat in Dubai. I asked her if I could interview her
Quick & Easy Travel Tip – Parking Garage Photos
This week’s Quick & Easy Travel Tip is one of my favorites. Have you ever returned from a long trip and had absolutely no recollection of where you parked your car? Well here’s a simple solution. Before leaving the parking garage, snap a photo of your parking spot on your phone. Be sure to include
Quick & Easy Travel Tip – Credit Cards
This week’s Quick & Easy Travel Tip deals with credit cards. There’s nothing worse than going abroad and not having access to your money. In an effort to prevent fraud, credit card issuers often put temporary holds on cards that show suspicious charges, such as those made in foreign countries. To prevent this, call your
Three Dream Hotels
There’s nothing I love more than a great hotel. Over the past few years, I’ve compiled a list of dream hotels that I hope to stay at some day. It’s fun to read the stories and history of each hotel and think about what it would be like to be a guest there. Looking at these hotels inspires
Cafe Culture in Vienna, Austria
My dad starts every day by getting an iced tea at Panera. He’s there so often that his phone reconfigured itself to consider Panera his ‘home’ address, as opposed to his actual house. It’s not that Panera’s iced tea is that great, he just enjoys the environment and the social aspect involved with going there. I totally
Quick & Easy Travel Tip: Print Boarding Passes Early
Quick & Easy Travel Tip #2 When flying, print your boarding pass as early as possible. Checking in early saves your seat and prevents getting bumped to a different flight. About 24 hours prior to your flight, your airline will email you saying that it’s time to check in. Don’t ignore this email. Make sure to check in and
Quick & Easy Travel Tip: Booking Hotels
When booking hotels, use sites such as Hotels.com, Expedia, and Travelocity to do research and compare properties. Once you decide where you want to stay, book your room directly through the hotel’s website (i.e. Hilton.com or Marriott.com) where you can often find better prices. If a problem should arise, it’s better to have your reservation