The Joy of Leisure Vacation

For those of you who have seen my posts, you know that I am an adventure traveler. I absolutely love it! My daydreams always revolve around where my next great adventure will take place. I have a massive trip coming up in a little over a month. A few friends and I are going to spend 2 weeks trekking across Australia and New Zealand doing everything from snorkeling to rolling down a huge hill inside an inflatable ball to spelunking to taking a helicopter up to the top of a glacier. It's going to be awesome! That said, I just enjoyed a very nice relaxing vacation where the most exciting thing we did was go to Walmart. I was thinking about what to write for today's post and almost passed right by my most recent trip to New Mexico. But I think leisure vacations definitely have a place!

We were visiting family in Albuquerque and had a very chill week. We didn't go on a single hike or visit even on museum! And you know what? It was AWESOME! We just laid around the rental house, read books, watched Christmas movies and enjoyed being with family. While this particular trip did not really satisfy my adventure itch, it sure did rejuvenate me! And the views from the car as we drove to Walmart and back were GORGEOUS!

It certainly helped that we had already explored the area the last time we came to visit New Mexico. In fact, we hiked up that very mountain!

As for this trip, I tried to stay off of my phone and instead I took on a thousand-piece puzzle (which we didn't end up being able to finish - frustrating!), read tons of books, painted and spent quality time talking to some amazing people. I think it's important to take a relaxing vacation every once in a while - or even a stay-cation! Not every vacation has to be this big, grand adventure. Sometimes staying in one resort and laying on a beach all day every day can be just what you need.

That said, I am rested up and READY for my next big adventure! If you'd like help planning your vacation - chill or daring, up to you! - I'm happy to help. Visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

My First Formula 1 Race - Austin, Texas

I recently spent a week in Austin, Texas to see the Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, and I had a great time! I was not a huge F1 fan before the trip, I must admit, but my husband's family are huge fans. I decided to jump on the bandwagon and root for my Mother-in-law's favorite drive, Kimi Raikonnen! I bought a cheap t-shirt from Amazon with a pithy saying ahead of time and picked up a Ferrari cap at the venue. I was ready!

On Thursday, we got the chance to go to the Pit Walk. It. Was. COOL! We got to see pit stops up close and personal and get a good look at the cars. I believe pit walks are invite only, but we somehow got passes.

Day one started with RAIN. A lot of rain. Fortunately, we had been creeping on the weather and were prepared. We had our Frogg Toggs (highly recommend) and were braced for the rain. It was just practice so we didn't end up staying too, too late. We walked around the track, bought some souvenirs and watched the cars kick up a ton of water as they zoomed past. All in all, it was pretty cool!

Day two was qualifying! I took the opportunity to get to know the sport a little better. My husband answered all of my questions, and I really started to get in to it! Our favorites did relatively well and qualifying was fun! Today the wind was our biggest challenge. The struggle was real, and I ended up back in my rain outfit trying to ward off the cold. We were going to stick around for the Bruno Mars concert afterwards, but my poor husband was coming down with a cold so we called it an early day.

Finally, it was race day! It was awesome! I actually kind of followed the whole race and understood what was happening. And the best part? Our favorite driver won!!! Kimi for the win! It was his first win in over 100 races. It was really exciting and all in all I would recommend it!

We ended the whole fun trip with good old Brittney Spears. Her concert was included in the price of the pass (general admission), and I had to see her! My middle school dreams came true as she was everything you would expect her to be, haha.

Even if it's a sport I'm not overly familiar with, I'm happy to learn and help plan! If  you want a sport-themed getaway, I'd love to help. Visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Airport Tips and Tricks

Airports are inevitable if you're an adventure seeker like myself. Airports are synonymous with lines and long waits, but I've found what works for me, and I thought I'd share my tips.


Step One: Leave Yourself Time!
This is honestly the biggest tip I can offer. If you leave yourself just twenty minutes to check your bag, go through security and catch your flight, you are going to be so stressed and have an unpleasant experience. I always find that the more time I leave, the easier the check in process is. Inevitably, when you are running late, the baggage check and security lines are insane.


Step Two: Bring Entertainment
I am a huge fan of stocking up on activities! I like things that fit easily in my backpack that don't require power. Some examples include: an adult coloring book, paperback books, notebook, sketchbook, knitting (with airport-friendly needles). Bring a variety of activities!


Step Three: Roll With It
Finally, just be ready for delays, cancellation and a little bit of chaos. Anyone who has travelled a great deal has had a terrible airport day. You just need to accept that as part of traveling. For example, on our honeymoon, we missed our connecting flight to Portugal and wound up stranded in Madrid for 12 hours. We made the most of it and explored Spain! Just because we could! No matter where you get stuck, try to make the most of it. If you're stuck in airport, take a nap, Skype a friend, make up a silly game. You will eventually get to where you need to be, and a bad attitude never helped anyone!

Bright Angel Trail

Our first hike at the Grand Canyon was the bright angel trail! It was so fun and SO exhausting! It is inadvisable to try to hike from the trailhead all the way down to the river and back up in one day. With that in mind we decided to hike down to Indian Gardens or Plateau Point and back up. We were staying at Mather campground so we caught the free shuttle to the trailhead and started our adventure.

It's 4.5 miles from the trailhead down to Indian Gardens (which is lush and beautiful!), so it's a 9-mile round-trip hike if you choose that route. Also, side note, Indian Garden is the perfect place to relax, eat some lunch and get some water. There is also a ranger's station there, which is always good to know.

We were feeling pretty good, so we decided to go the extra mile and a half out to plateau point, adding another 3 miles onto our hike. It was so worth it! We got to see the river and really take in the views. Unfortunately, there were some people messing around on the rocks and not being very respectful. I would highly recommend being a little cautious and staying on the trail if you do decide to venture out to the point. It's really windy, and it only takes one huge gust to blow you off. Be careful! Honestly it was a really great experience.

For me, this trail was an absolute must-do. I highly recommend it! Just be safe, pack lots of water and snacks and bring a trail guide. I suggest you check out this trail guide: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/BrightAngelTrail.pdf
It was tremendously helpful!

As always, if you'd like help planning your next adventure, visit MilesintoMemoriesTravel.com.

A Weekend Away in the Countryside

 Sometimes life can be a little overwhelming and the desire to just get away starts to creep in. Often, it's too expensive to take a big, spontaneous trip; however, a weekend away is much more doable. My husband and I were living in different states, planning a wedding, getting married, moving halfway across the country and going on our honeymoon. That's a lot of work (and fun)! We were ready for a break. We decided that a weekend away in the countryside was just what we needed! 

After a little bit of time spent browsing Air BnB, we stumbled across this adorable cabin!

And what was even better, is that this gorgeous getaway was just 35 minutes away from our house. PERFECT! 

The views were gorgeous, and we had the best time. It was still quite cold, so we didn't end up walking around the grounds - but maybe next time! Instead we curled up on the couch inside and just relaxed and enjoyed the views from the comfort of the cozy cabin.

The furniture was very cozy, and we had a blast. We read books, played games and enjoyed each other's company.

Sometimes taking a break is just what you need to recharge. It was the perfect weekend for us, and it was not very expensive at all! I highly recommend taking a look and seeing what little adventures are near you. It was exactly what we needed.

If you'd like some help finding the perfect getaway (big or small), I'd be happy to help. MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. 

How to Stay Entertained on Solo Road Trips

Road trips with friends = an absolute blast! Road trips alone = longest drive ever.
I went to college 6 hours away from home, so I mastered the art of solo road trips. I've learned all the tricks to making time pass quickly, how to stay focused and how to make the most of your alone time.

Let's start with the hardest (for me) challenge: Making the time pass quickly. Is it just me or does one road trip minute feel like 20 minutes of regular life? I swear it feels like  I could have watched a whole episode of the office in the time it takes me to make it one mile down the highway. The point I'm trying to make is: time crawls by on solo road trips. Or at least it does if you aren't properly prepared!

In college, I didn't have an iPad or smart phone to play movies on, so I used what I had - an old school personal DVD player. And the best part? It played with the lid closed. That means I could plug it into a little outlet converter and an aux cable, put the lid down (so I couldn't watch the screen even if I wanted to - not even a glance!) and put on some of my favorite movies and/or tv shows. I listened to every episode of Gilmore Girls AND Boy Meets World over the course of my college career. I specifically chose those shows because I knew them really, really well. That means I didn't need the visual cues to follow the story line. Win! You could achieve the same effect with a locked phone or iPad screen. Oh, technology.

Next up, try audio books! And no, I'm not sponsored by audible. I personally don't even have an audible account, because I prefer to read books rather than listen to them. However, for the occasional road trip I actually use the app OverDrive. You can check out audiobooks from your local library though the app! And it's free! I think you may just need a library card to check something out. The choices are more limited than on audible, but hey! It's free!

I know what you're thinking - what about music? I actually LOVE music, but I tend not to listen to music while I'm on solo road trips because it makes time pass in increments of 3 or 4 minutes. Each song just takes a few minutes, whereas a TV show passes by in the span of either 20 or 45 minutes depending on the series. That makes the hours fly by! I highly recommend trying it out on your next trip.

Finally, if you find yourself getting a bit tired or unfocused - first off, pull over if you are unsafe. Take a nap and recharge if needed. However, if you just need a pick-me-up, consider this: blast the AC, crank up the music and sing along. I know I said I wasn't big on music, but this is the exception. Go full on sing-a-long! I personally like to do this at night and try to learn the words to a new song. It keeps my brain active and alert - always good when you're driving - and helps keep me alert.

Anyway, those are my top tips on how to have fun on a road trip even without your best friend by your side. Focus on your destination and don't let going alone slow you down!

My Favorite Country?

Every time I talk with friends and family about my travels, inevitably the same question pops up: What country is your favorite? That's such a hard question!!! I've been lucky enough to travel to so many incredible countries, how can I be expected to pick just one?

Let's start with the obvious. The U.S. is my home. It's a beautiful country, and I'm proud to be an American - but no country is perfect. The U.S. is home to gun violence, corrupt politicians and poverty. But it's also home to some of the most gorgeous natural wonders on the planet, beautiful souls and of course, freedom. While U.S. seems like an obvious choice for my FAVORITE country, honestly, it's not the first thing that pops into my head.

My gut response is usually The Netherlands. Sounds random, right? Well, I actually have quite a history with Holland. I moved there when I was just 6 months old, and it's where all of my earliest memories were formed. I remember skating on the canals with friends, riding horses through open fields and riding on the back of my sister's moped to the candy shop. Anytime I visit that country it takes me back. The nostalgia is overwhelming in the best way possible!

But that's not to say that's the only reason I love Holland. I've gone back as an adult several times and my feelings have remained the same. I love that country! The food, the people, the buildings, the museums and history. It's just beautiful. Something about me feels so at home each and every time. Part of it may be because I can (mostly) understand the language. And that's so cool! Unlike when I'm in Spain, I don't feel as though I am directly translating words and phrases in my head. It's more like a dutch person will say something, and I'll just kind of know what they mean. I should probably mention that up until age 6 I spoke more dutch than english. I guess some of that is still clunking around in my head. It's a really cool feeling to be able to follow along as those around you talk... even if I usually don't quite have the words to respond.

Oh and did I mention that Holland is GORGEOUS??

Hiking the La Luz Trail - Albuquerque, NM

Now that we are back from Portugal, we've already started brainstorming ideas for our next trip. We are tentatively thinking about hiking the Grand Canyon which got me reminiscing about our hiking trip to New Mexico in 2015. It was gorgeous, and I don't think I properly shared photos from that, so here we go!

Our biggest hike was La Luz, which is a trail that goes up the side of Sandia Mountain. I believe it's roughly 8 miles, but it does go up a mountain so leave yourself plenty of time!  That elevation change will get ya. We took our time and enjoyed the views, so it wound up taking us about 10 hours.

But look at the views! So beautiful!

And here's a shot of the triumphant gang at the top of the mountain. Go team! If you're in New Mexico, an outdoor enthusiast and up for adventure, I highly recommend this hike!