PLACES Driving Solo Across Canada: Rochester to Grand Rapids Posted on December 6, 2023June 27, 2024 We’re finally on the last leg of our drive across America to visit family. And today, I am driving from Rochester to Buffalo and across Canada to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The drive covers most of southern Ontario, and between today and tomorrow, the drive will take me past 4 of the five great lakes. Today, the drive straddles parts of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Lake Superior is the only lake I won’t see on this road trip because it is the northernmost and westernmost of the Great Lakes of North America. The Peace Bridge is located near the center of downtown Buffalo, New York, and Fort Erie, Ontario, separated by the Niagara River. It was one of the most scenic bridge crossings I’ve ever done.
CULINARY TRAVEL Baristro Asian Style Cafe Chiang Mai Thailand Posted on December 4, 2023August 18, 2024 Baristro Asian Style is a perfect example of how social media can work wonders. It proves that being creative and having a solid social media presence can make a big difference. Simply put, they can charge more for what other cafes offer at a lower price. Thanks to its popularity on social media, especially IG, the cafe gets many customers who pay 80 Baht just to come in and take pictures for their personal Instagram feeds. These posts spread the word, and the cafe gets even more attention without spending a dime on advertising, effectively turning their customers into unpaid brand ambassadors. Many cafes try to do this, but Baristro Asian Style is the first one I’ve visited with a cover charge.
NOMADIC TRAVEL Why More Military Spouses Should Blog About Their Travels Posted on December 2, 2023August 14, 2024 It still surprises me that many of my civilian friends don’t understand military life. They don’t understand ranks, the constant moving, or the role the military plays when they aren’t training as badass killers. They’ve never been on a military installation, been assigned living quarters, or speak fluent acronym. And even though they may never understand what a military spouse is, we more common ground than you think. One day we’ll be civilian spouses too. And that’s just one reason why more military spouses should blog.
PLACES A Historic Stay: Experiencing the Hotel Saint Louis Posted on December 2, 2023September 15, 2024 After nearly three years in South Korea, we’re back in the US! Our first stop was picking up our shipped car. We rented a car at O’Hare International Airport and embarked on the 4-hour drive to the distribution center and one of our favorite hotels– the Hotel Saint Louis in downtown St. Louis. As a boutique-style hotel in the Marriott Autograph Collection, it marries beauty and style with the perks Marriott Hotels are renowned for. For us, it’s the perfect blend of luxury, amenities, and convenience. We also love that it is located in a historic building built over a century ago, in 1893.