Florida North America United States

How to Celebrate Turning 30 in Deerfield Beach, Florida

With COVID-19 still looming and almost a year of stalled travel plans, my boyfriend, Tim, and I made the somewhat risky decision to join my brother, Don, and his fiancé, Kristina, on their trip to Deerfield Beach, Florida for Don’s 30th birthday. *P.S. this post contains some affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may earn a small …

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Illinois North America United States

How to Spend Two Spontaneous Days in Chicago, Illinois

Candace and I met in late 2016 at a personal development course – back when we were both still living in Houston, Texas. We became closer friends as we did several other programs together, and one of these brought us to Chicago, Illinois in mid-2017. We decided to take advantage of the situation, since neither of us had been before, …

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Alabama North America United States

Things to Do During a Long Weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Looking for a fun and affordable beach vacation here in the U.S.? Might we recommend Gulf Shores, Alabama? I know what you’re thinking – wait, Alabama? Does Alabama even have beaches? Yes, you read that correctly, and yes, they do! Little did we know that the Gulf Coast has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and Gulf …

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Africa Kenya Nairobi

Things to Do in Nairobi: The Perfect 1-Day Nairobi Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

If you’re planning a Kenyan safari, odds are you’ll likely fly in and out of Nairobi. And whether you’re just passing through or planning to spend a little more time here, you’ll find plenty of exciting things to do in Nairobi—especially if it’s your first visit to Kenya (or Africa!). Nairobi is East Africa’s most cosmopolitan capital and the gateway …

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Africa Kenya Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to Spend 3 Days in Maasai Mara National Reserve: A First-Time Safari Itinerary

If you’re planning a safari in Kenya and wondering how to spend 3 days in Maasai Mara National Reserve, this itinerary walks you through exactly what to expect—from game drives and cultural experiences to where to stay and what surprised us most. During our 12-day trip to Kenya, my boyfriend Tim and I, along with our friends, Allison, Ryan, Emily, …

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Africa Kenya Lake Nakuru & Lake Elmenteita

Our Lake Nakuru National Park Safari Experience + The Most Beautiful Stay in Kenya

After the cool forests of Mount Kenya, our next stop brought us back into classic safari territory—with a few unforgettable twists. Lake Nakuru National Park and nearby Lake Elmenteita gave us some of the most emotional wildlife moments of our entire 12-day Kenya itinerary, including our first up-close lion sightings and a crash of white rhinos (baby included 🥹). We …

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Africa Kenya Mt. Kenya National Park

How to Explore Mount Kenya National Park: Serena Mountain Lodge & Forest Wildlife

After several days of classic safari landscapes in Samburu National Reserve, Mount Kenya National Park felt like a complete shift in pace and scenery. Instead of wide-open savannahs and all-day game drives, we traded dusty roads for cool mountain air, dense forest, and a lodge experience unlike anywhere else on our 12-day Kenya itinerary. Our stop at Mount Kenya National …

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Africa Kenya Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve Safari: What to Expect on Your First Stop in Northern Kenya

If you’re planning a Kenyan safari that goes beyond the usual Masai Mara route, Samburu National Reserve in Kenya is an unforgettable place to begin your journey. Samburu was the first safari stop on our 12-day Kenyan adventure, and it set the tone for everything that followed—dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and that unmistakable “this is really happening” feeling you only …

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Africa Kenya

The Ultimate Kenya Safari Itinerary: National Parks, Travel Tips & What to Expect

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” — Susan Sontag Kenya wasn’t originally at the top of ours, but once the idea took hold, everything fell into place faster than we ever imagined. What started as a casual conversation about traveling to Africa someday turned into a fully booked, 12-day Kenya safari itinerary across some of the country’s …

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