A Little Time and a Keyboard: Travel tips
Showing posts with label Travel tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel tips. Show all posts

Steeped Coffee: A Delicious and Eco-Friendly Travel Solution

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Steeped Coffee: A Delicious and Eco-Friendly Travel Solution

Steeped Coffee: A Delicious and Eco-Friendly Travel Solution

**Disclosure: I did receive samples of Steeped Coffee in order to bring you this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Steeped Coffee roasted in California is packaged in single-serve packages and utilizes a special brewing method. Immediately, I was intrigued and thought that Steeped Coffee could provide an ideal travel solution when you are in a pinch for a good coffee on a trip. My readers may remember that I like to take my own tea on trips. So, I was pretty excited to learn about an easy way to bring my own coffee.

Read More

How to Be a Steward of Hiking Trails

Sunday, May 3, 2020

How to Be a Steward of Hiking Trails

How to Be a Steward of Hiking Trails

With so many of us savoring the charms of nature and enjoying hikes, I thought it would be useful to come up with ways that we can become better stewards of the trails. Here are some ways that we can all be stewards of our trails:

Read More

Travel is a Feeling

Wednesday, April 15, 2020


Travel is a Feeling

Travel is a Feeling

Travel is a feeling. Right now, many of us are feeling a bit encumbered and locked down. I won't deny that I have my moments. To me, though, travel is really that feeling of discovery, experiencing something new and looking through new eyes. We can still while we are in the home. For me, I started adding live video to my blog Facebook page. The new addition allows me to explore and look through different eyes. To travel.

Read More

5 Ways to Build More Flexibility Into Your Trip

Sunday, June 16, 2019

5 Ways to Build More Flexibility Into Your Trip

5 Ways to Build More Flexibility Into Your Trip 

In the past, I used to build my vacations with pretty hard and fast lists. Now, I like to leave plenty of space in my itineraries to just be in the moment, not have to rush or easily fit in sites and experiences I discover when already on my trip. When I went to Paris, I decided not to take pictures on our Seine River cruise opting to just revel in the beauty that is Paris. I found the experience to be freeing and refreshing, so I started reevaluating how we travel and how rigid we make our travel. Once we started adding more flexibility into our travel, I feel like we can live more in the moment and really be in a place. Here are a few strategies that we use:

Read More

13 Train Travel Tips for Long Distance Train Travel

Sunday, May 5, 2019

13 Train Travel Tips for  Long Distance Travel

13 Train Travel Tips for  Long Distance Travel Including on Amtrak's Empire Builder

Last summer, we crossed a big section of the country from Chicago to Seattle and back from Portland to Chicago on Amtrak's Empire Builder. The adventure truly was an adventure of a lifetime and we were able to see incredible sections of the American landscape from the windows of the Empire Builder. Such a unique way to see the country! We enjoyed the novelty of the travel and being able to relax while crossing the country.  If you are considering traveling on the Empire Builder or another long distance train, I have a few tips for you from our adventure:


Read More

6 Tips for Planning Road Trip Pit Stops

Tuesday, February 26, 2019


6 Tips for Planning Road Trip Pit Stops

6 Tips for Planning Road Trip Pit Stops

Pit stops provide extra fun on trips, break up the monotony of the drive and invite a welcome stretching of the legs while on a road trip! We thread them throughout all of our road trips. Here are a few tips to help you more easily add them to yours:

Read More

6 Ways To Cut Food Costs on Your Next Road Trip

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

6 Ways To Cut Food Costs on Your Next Road Trip

6 Ways To Cut Food Costs on Your Next Road Trip

We are busy planning a couple of upcoming road trips. So, I have travel planning on the mind! Here are a few ideas to help you cut costs on food on your next road trip:

Read More

7 Ideas for Celebrating Christmas on the Road

Friday, December 14, 2018

7 Ideas for Celebrating Christmas on the Road

Being away from home and even en route somewhere on the holidays can be difficult. Here are some ideas to infuse a little cheer when on the road!
Read More

Tips for your Vacation Hiking Adventure

Saturday, July 21, 2018



When hiking is a portion of your vacation, it is important to be prepared. Sometimes, hiking is a portion of our vacation and not the whole vacation itinerary. So, it is easy to overlook an important detail.

Read More

5 Items I Can't Travel Without

Saturday, January 27, 2018

5 Items I Can't  Travel Without

I have seen some fun lists about what people can't travel without, so I thought I would share mine. These lists are useful for discovering new hacks for your next trip. Here are 5 items I always bring on a trip:

Read More

11 Tips for Celebrating Halloween on the Road

Friday, October 6, 2017

Tips for Celebrating Halloween on the Road

My daughter always gives us a hard time when we are on the road during a holiday. Sometimes, though, you cannot avoid it. Sometimes it is part of the adventure! I always try to bring the holiday with us, so that we still get to celebrate. Here are a few tips to help you if you are celebrating Halloween on the road:


Read More

10 Things Not To Do When You Hike

Saturday, May 13, 2017

What not to do when hiking

When you are out hiking this season, here are some things not to forget:

Read More

Reasons to Join the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Gardens Program

Thursday, January 19, 2017


Benefits of a Garden Membership

Years ago, we fell totally in love the with The Morton Arboretum here in Lisle, Illinois. With the range of hiking trails weaving through striking tree groves, peaceful ponds for contemplation and impressive children's garden full of activities, we knew that we would be back many times and had to become members. We have been members for years now and I can honestly say it has been one of the best choices we have ever made! The Morton Arboretum membership is part of the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Gardens Program and we have certainly enjoyed the program!

Read More

Adding Local Flavor to Your Vacation

Friday, January 13, 2017

Adding Local Flavor to Your Vacation

When I travel, I like to absorb the local surroundings as much as possible. Sometimes this requires a bit of pre-planning. Often, you can also find some true gems on the fly. Supporting the local businesses and treasures adds a richness to your experience while helping the local communities you enjoy so much! Here are a few ways I have learned to capture the essence of my destination to take a little piece back with me:
Read More

10 Tips for Your Winter Road Trip

Thursday, December 1, 2016



Just because winter is nearly here, it does not mean you can't go on road trips! Here are some ideas for keeping you safe:
Read More

What to Wear in Iceland

Monday, October 31, 2016

Standing at the Black Sand Beach in Iceland

One question that I am always asked is what to wear in Iceland. So, I thought I would give you some tips that have worked well for me on our three visits. First, I am going to get this out of the way --- DO NOT bring an umbrella. It rains often in Iceland, but the weather is so changeable it can rain for 10 minutes then be sunny for 10 minutes then cloudy  for 10 minutes then rainy again, etc. You will always be fussing with it. Due to wind, it will not protect you from rain at angles and most likely you won't be able to keep it open. So, why waste the space?

Read More

13 Tips for Starting Off Your Cruise Vacation

Saturday, June 25, 2016

cruise tips for families

We just returned from a quite lovely cruise vacation to Alaska! So, I definitely have cruising on the mind! This cruise was my 9th and my husband has 20+ under his belt. As you can imagine, we have developed methods that help us launch into our cruise vacation. I have put together 13 ideas to help you start on the right foot as you begin your cruise vacation!
Read More

10 Road Trip Games for the Kids

Friday, March 18, 2016


Road trip season is here! One of the biggest challenged facing us families hitting the road is keeping the kiddos entertained. Here are some games that I put together from my childhood road trips and the road trips that we take with our daughter. Some require a little preparation, some don't. Have a great trip!
Read More

6 Tips for Touring a Historic Home with a Child

Sunday, October 12, 2014

6 Tips for Touring a Historic Home with a Child

I am a total history buff through-and-through. So, I did not like the prospect of not being able to tour homes with my daughter when she was little. Before I knew it, she was old enough to consider bringing on a tour {with my husband's assistance, of course}. Bringing your kids on a historic house tour can be a little bit daunting, but there are ways that you can make it easier.
  • Age restrictions and suggested ages: Some homes actually have age restrictions for children. These homes have been painstakingly restored, so many homes have various restrictions in order to prevent mishaps that may compromise the home and artifacts. Be aware of these before going.
Read More

6 Things to Love When You Wind Down your Trip

Sunday, March 30, 2014



We just returned from a week long adventure driving out to Maine and back. We love the road, but sometimes the last leg can be a bear. Last evening, as we enjoyed our last bit of freedom before returning to the hum-drum of everyday life I reflected on one of the great things about by at the end of your trip. Here are some things this traveler enjoys as journey's end nears:
  • Whatever you pull out of your suitcase, you wear it clean or dirty. Pretty much, you have reached the slim-pickin's stage of your travels. But, you really don't care and are happy when you find two socks that match.
  • Indulging one last time is a must. By the end of the trip, there is less of a worry of undoing your diet. You have already done what you have done and the next day you will be returning home and to a more normal eating and exercising schedule. So, you are less worried about that extra piece of chocolate.
  • You start thinking about the next adventure. All of you with wanderlust know what I am talking about. No matter how grand your trip, you are already thinking of future travels while on vacation. This doesn't mean you did not enjoy your adventure. In fact, you are riding so high from your recent trip that you are vigorously anticipating further voyages!
  • Soon, you will be sleeping in your own bed. There is nothing like the first night home in your own bed. You will sleep well--don't forget the alarm clock!
  • Tails will be wagging when you get home. The welcome home we receive from our dogs makes us feel like we are part of the British royalty. 
  • You begin looking through pictures of your adventure and reminiscing of the amazing time that you had. Usually, we have some dead time on our way back whether it be waiting for our flight or taking a breather at a rest area. I fill some of this in with going through our pictures. Reliving the some of the nicer moments of our trip always has us smiling even during a rough travel day home.
Now, the trip back to reality is not nearly as joyous as our time away. But, it does have a bit of its own charm. For now, I am happy to be home and reconnecting. However, I am sure that I will be back to active travel planning again in another couple of weeks! Carpe diem!
Read More