Category Archives: travel talk

What’s On Your Travel Wish List?

Posted on by
Reply

My passport has been feeling very neglected lately. It’s been 5 months since I pulled it out and got another stamp in the Bahamas, and since then I’ve been itching to hit the road again.

After my epic trip to London and Paris last December, I made a list of places I wanted to go this year, and unfortunately that hasn’t quite materialized yet. Instead of traveling, I’ve been steadily racking up bylines (which, will hopefully lead to more travel), but come 2013 I definitely MUST add more stamps to my passport.

So where would I like to go?

Costa Rica

I’m not sure why, but I’ve been wanting to go to Costa Rica for years. Perhaps it’s the potential to travel through the rain forest, or maybe it’s just because all of the picture I’ve seen look downright beautiful, but I really, really want to go to Costa Rica.

Paris

Sure, I’ve already been to Paris, but it was for a mere 12 hours. After reading ‘Passing Love,’ I realized that my magical day trip to the City of Lights didn’t even begin to scratch the surface. I want to wander the city for days, or weeks, eating pastries and working on my French.

Africa

I know Africa is not one, big ol’ country, but I haven’t quite decided which of Africa’s 50+ nations I want to visit first. South Africa is all the rage these days. Tanzania is a draw for its beaches and safaris. Ghana with its history and “Door of No Return.” I want to see the Africa other folks merely dream of and never knew existed.

That’s it for now, although my ideal list is a whole lot longer.

How about you? What’s on your 2013 travel wish list?

On Wanderlust & Travel Withdrawals

Posted on by
Reply

Sacré-Coeur, Paris – Taken during my trip last December.

After starting out with a bang and aiming to document all of my adventures in and around Los Angeles, I haven’t written in this space in quite some time. It’s not because I’ve been holed up in the house, slaving away on that unfinished book (I wish that was it), and it’s not because I haven’t gone anywhere around the city all summer. So what gives?

While I’ve been hanging out in and around L.A. for the past three months, my lack of travel travel, you know the kind where you board a plane and go somewhere AMAZING, has been giving me the blues.

After going on some very life changing trips (*whispers* London, I miss you) within the last year, my traveling has stalled, and I have yet to go…anywhere…all summer. I’m thoroughly annoyed and going through massive withdrawals.

ParisRecently, I stumbled on Jacqueline Luckett’s latest novel, Passing Love, and it has once again stoked the travel bug.

The novel follows Nicole-Marie Handy, a 57-year-old woman whose life is a list of “dittos.” Despite wanting more, Nicole is unmarried, a dutiful daughter to aging parents, a worker bee, and is involved in a long-time affair with one of her bosses who dangles a hasty marriage proposal in front of her to keep her stuck in a rut. After the death of her closes friend, she decides to cash in her vacation days and head to Paris for a month.

I’m not quite halfway through the book, but I love it already. The way Luckett describes Paris make me soooooooo very jealous. I wish I had scribbled more details in my journal about the streets and the people during my brief, but wondrous, trip to the City of Lights instead of just wandering aimlessly down les boulevards.

Reading Passing Love not only makes me miss Paris, but traveling in general. I miss that indescribable feeling when you first step off of the plane and you are so full of emotions you don’t know whether to laugh or burst into tears. I miss not knowing where to go first, but knowing that I have to go…somewhere. I miss it all. And I need to hit the road again.

Before this year is over, I’m going somewhere, anywhere. I’m desperate to make it happen.

How do you deal with wanderlust and travel withdrawals? 

Photo Trippin’: Art of the Streets

Posted on by
1

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to travel to some pretty cool places. Although I’m no professional jet setter like the homie Oneika, I’ve had the pleasure to cross-cross this country and see some of our nation’s coolest spots. No matter where I go, however, I’m bound to find one thing–street art.

From pieces of the Berlin Wall in Los Angeles, to graffiti on the walls leading up to the Paris’ Gare du Nord train station, I’ve seen some pretty dope open air art pieces, and since I haven’t written a travel specific post in some time, I thought I’d share some of the pics I’ve snapped of my travels.

Enjoy!

Chicago, IL

Mural in Hermosa Beach, CA

Art in Milwaukee, WI

Pieces of the Berlin Wall

Piece of the Berlin Wall

and…Paris!

Are you a fan of Street Art? What city has the best outdoor art?

Unexpected Surprises: The Milwaukee Public Market

Posted on by
2

image

Last month I traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to visit the Harley-Davidson museum and learn more about black biker culture.

Have you ever been to Milwaukee? This was my first trip and I’ll be honest, at first, I wasn’t excited about it. I thought to myself, what could possibly be in Milwaukee that is so great? And in the dead of winter? Nawl!

Initially I wasn’t feeling it, but I stepped out on faith because I wanted a new experience, and who passes up a free trip–even if it’s to the frozen tundra?

When I stepped out of the airport I was greeted by the cold, but it wasn’t as freezing as I expected. Good sign. The car took me and a few other journalists to the Iron Horse Hotel to check in and get situated. Because I had a few hours to myself I decided to head out and see something. Before traveling, I’d already looked up places of interest and had heard about the Public Market. I decided to hop a cab and see what it was all about.

The Milwaukee Public Market is located in the city’s Historic Third Ward, a gentrifying area  filled with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and lofts. The Third Ward also borders the river and in the summer, I imagine it makes for beautiful scenery.

The Public Market consists of food shops, spice stores, bars, candy shops, gourmet stands, and cute little desert shops. I was hungry when I got there, but because I was met with so many options I had to do two laps around the market to figure out what I wanted.

image

I didn't know what the heck a Cow Pie was, so I took pictures!

image

image

Who wants one?

image

image

All of these smelled SO GOOD. I should have bought some. #fail

After making the rounds and oohing and ahhing over the treats,  I decided to grab a turkey sandwich from The Green Kitchen. Although it sounds very plain jane, the sandwich was totally gourmet! It was filled with mascarpone cheese, sun dried tomato pesto, spinach, and tomatoes. I didn’t have my camera on hand (all these pics were taken with my phone), but I don’t think it mattered, I just dove in!

image

image

Above the Public Market

I took my sandwich to the second floor, which includes a small lending library where you can borrow a book to read, and enjoyed my meal above the busy market.

Before I left Milwaukee, I HAD to meet up with a friend and AMAZING photographer, Christina. Christina and I “met” years ago when she began reading a blog I was writing at the time, and she became like my sister-from-another-mother. She damn near brought me to tears in the market when she gushed about my writing & how it inspired her to start blogging (and now she’s DOPE). Because she’s also a chef and foodie, we had to grab a treat before we left. I picked a chocolate covered rice crispy treat, which was hard as hell on my teeth, but so so good!

image

YUM! 

Before we left the market, Christina snapped a photo of me, and although I was super tired (and my eyebrows look a mess) I quite like it. Whatcha think?

Moi!

Going to Milwaukee reminded me to always operate with an open heart and mind. Although I was a little suspect about the trip going in, I ended up having a WONDERFUL time and connecting with many, many interesting people (and, I’ll be learning how to ride a Harley soon #score).

So the next time someone asks you to go somewhere or do something you never really considered before, do it! You never know how much you’ll enjoy something until you give it a shot.

Have you ever been to the Milwaukee or the Public Market? What was the last place you went that really surprised you? 

~~

Like what you see here? Subscribe to the blog, friend me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter. And be on the look out for new posts every Tuesday & Thursday!

Black Folks Travel, But Why Aren’t There More Films About It?

Posted on by
2
NYC Statue of Liberty

NYC Birthday trip 2010, Lady Liberty

I posted this article over on Clutch magazine, my “day job,” but it’s quite fitting for this space as well…

~~

I was getting my daily Shadow & Act fix when I ran across an interesting question by Tambay. Although there have been several films about Africa, you rarely see films depicting African Americans traveling to Africa…and beyond.

He writes:

We’ve seen quite a number of films about white Americans or white Europeans either already living in Africa, or visiting some African country, in search of something or someone – whether it’s salvation, redemption, inspiration, vacation, themselves, their spouses, children, friends, their dogs, cats, apes, whatever; and it’s rare that they’re villains, nor in positions of inferiority.

Also, those that are historically based usually involve white *settlers* (or remnants of colonialism) who come to see themselves as native to the land that their ancestors once occupied.

Aside from Shaft in Africa as Tambay mentioned, and Phat Girlz (of all things), there are very few films that show African Americans in the motherland. Why?

One glance at the travel articles published on Clutch and the people I’ve met through the Nomad*Ness Travel Tribe, and it’s clear that black folks do, in fact, travel. So far we have traveled to every inch of the globe and often take up our passports and head off on international jaunts. But aside from How Stella Got Her Groove Back, we rarely see ourselves traveling on screen.

To be fair, these days black folks rarely see ourselves doing much of anything positive on screen, so I’m not surprised. But wouldn’t it be nice to have our own Eat, Pray, Love?

Off the top of my head there are several books that could easily be turned into films about black folks seeing the world: Black Girl in Paris, Searching for Tina Turner, and Kinky Gazpacho. But still no films. 

Why?

Do you know of any travel films featuring leading black characters? If so, share them! 

Oh the Places We’ll Go!

Posted on by
1

The big ballon at the Great Park

So, le kid and I haven’t been exploring as much as I would have liked. Last weekend we DID take a trip out to The Great Park in Orange County to ride the big ballon, but because it’s free…spots fill up fast. Alas, we weren’t able to take a ride, but we made due by racing each other (bad idea to race a 6-year-old who never gets tired) and riding the merry-go-round. Fun times!

Today–if I can manage to get motivated–we’re going to head out to the Children’s Museum of La Habra for their free Target Day, but that will mean getting dressed…and right now, my PJs are winning!

View from the ground up at The Great Park

I’ve been meaning to update you guys on my Milwaukee trip, which…is almost a month old now (where did Feb. even go??)! So I’ll have some info about the hotel, the Milwalkee Public Market, and hopefully, the Children’s Museum of La Habra next week.

One thing I MUST add to the list: Planning a quick vacation with le kid. The other day he told me, “Mommy…you always go places, I want to go!” So…I have to take him somewhere. He’s sort of right, though. The last few times I’ve been to the airport, he’s been left out, so I need to make it up to him. So far I’m thinking Vegas, Arizona, or the Bay Area–places we can see on a long weekend. But we’ll see…got any suggestions for me?

Where are you headed this month? Going anywhere interesting? 

What Inspires You To Travel?

Posted on by
2
Nomadness Travel Tribe

It's the Nomadness Travel Tribe at the L.A. Times Travel & Adventure Show!

Do you have a wandering spirit? Are you always itching for your next trip? Well…join the club!

Over the weekend I attended yet another travel show. Although I just spent time wandering the booths of the Travel & Leisure Show in Long Beach just two weeks ago, over the weekend I did it all over again at the L.A. TImes Travel & Adventure show. Although it seemed that some of the exhibitors from the previous show were missing, especially those from Caribbean countries, I had a great time nonetheless.

If you’ve never been to a travel show it’s basically a huge commercial inviting you hit the road. Whether you’re interested in international trips or local excursions, you can find just about anything on the floor of the show.

From most countries around the world to zip lining, rock climbing, and at the previous show, scuba diving, you can find just about everything at the travel show.

As I went from booth to booth, I struck up conversations with tour operators, members of various tourism boards and fellow travelers (and wannabe travelers). Although the room was FULL of diverse people from all around the world, one thing we all had in common was a love of travel.

While I was in awe at the sheer numbers of people itching to hit the road, I wondered what their motivation was for traveling. Are they just tourists who like to hit the well-known spots, or are they seasoned travelers who long to experience the “real” culture of a local place? Either way, every person I encountered had an insatiable appetite to travel the globe.

As I mentioned before, I was inspired to travel by my parents who took me and my brother on several trips when we were young. Although we didn’t have a lot of money, we still packed up the car or hopped on a plane and saw something more than our neighborhood.

Now that I’m a mother I’m inspired by my son. I want to show him, just as my parents did, that there is more to the world than what he sees every day.

But enough about me…what inspires you to travel? 

Trippin’ Soundtrack: What’s On Your iPod When You Travel?

Posted on by
3

What do you listen to when you travel?

I love music.

I can trace nearly every significant moment in my life to a particular song or an album. And for as long as I can remember, music has been inextricably connected to my life.

When I was growing up I’d listen to Jodeci and write fan letters about how fine I thought DeVante was (and I’d pine over some boy I had a crush on), and as I got older and more aware, I turned to hip hop because I felt it best expressed how I felt. Back in ’94 (I’m dating myself), when I was a freshman in high school I listened to Nas’ “Illmatic” for a year straight and scribbled into notebooks, lockers, and on the palms of my hands. It is because of that album that I’m a writer today. Seriously.

When I travel….it’s no different.

Sometimes I search for songs to fit my mood. And others, I might hear something while I’m on the road that becomes the theme of my trip. Gearing up to go to London, I was introduced to a UK artist named Shakka. After hearing his song on a mix, I googled him and found out he put out his own mixtape. Maybe it was the fact I was getting ready to go to London and he was British, or perhaps it’s just cuz I fell in love with his voice (it’s pretty dope), but I listened to that album insistently before, during, and now, after my trip.

For whatever reason, while I was in London I really just wanted to hear something soulful. I couldn’t listen to any ignorant rap (don’t get me wrong, I love it at times), and I didn’t want to hear any jazz. While I was there I stayed listening to Shakka, Jill Scott, Ms. Badu, the Roots, the Foreign Exchange, and a mixtape (download it, it’s hot) by my brotha in travel, Mike Bigz. Each of these put me in the mood to explore, reflect, and just experience the moment.

What do you listen to when you’re on the road? 

Best of the Best: What Places Make Your List?

Posted on by
4

Michaela, of the travel blog Awe Inclusive, tagged me to fill out the list for my “Best Of” of travel. So without further adieu, let’s get started. 

Best Domestic Travel Destination

Brooklyn Bridge

Yes, I took this picture. #Brooklyn!

New York City: I’ve had the pleasure to travel around the U.S. a great deal, but there’s no city I love more than New York. Although I consider NYC sort of my second home (I lived there for a few years), every time I travel to the Big Apple I can barely contain myself. It truly is the city that doesn’t sleep and anything you want to do, you can totally do it. From the cultural activities, to the shopping, the Broadway shows to the clubs, New York is my favorite city in the states.  (Runner up: New Orleans)

Best Travel Experience

Hanging out and meeting people in London: I loved, loved, LOVED my trip to London. Not only because I was in a whole new country and continent, but also because I met so many amazing people. Traveling is not only about what you see, but also who you meet and the memories you create. And my newfound London massive is just amazing.

Best International Destination

St. Pancras Station

St. Pancras Station, London. I took this the day before I left for Paris.

London: Did you have any doubts? Sure Paris was nice, I mean it’s Paris after all, but I just felt at home in London. I don’t have many international spots to compare it to just yet, but of the few places I’ve been so far, London tops my list. Perhaps it’s because I was just excited to be there, but I had an AMAZING time. I saw all the touristy things and even got off the beaten path to see a bit of the “real” London (yes, even the hood).

Worst Travel Experience

This is tough. I don’t really have a “worst.” When I was eight we went to Disneyworld in Florida and it rained most of the trip, but we still had a great time. My brother and I splashed around in our rain ponchos and even brought them home to wear when it rained. Fun.

Overall I’ve been blessed to always have fun on a trip even if things didn’t quite turn out as planned, they’ve all worked out. *knocks on wood*

Most Embarrassing Travel Moment

Throwing up on the plane: On the way to London I had a layover in Boston. While in the airport I got a sandwich and about a half hour before the flight to Heathrow, I started to feel sick. I took some deep breaths, pushed the urge to vomit away, and boarded the plane. I thought I was good until I ate the meal they served. All of it. Clearly, I wasn’t thinking.

About an hour later I rushed to the bathroom and threw up ALLLL over everything. Totally missed the toilet. It was bad (real bad). I stayed in there cleaning it up and apparently, no one noticed what a mess I had just caused, but I knew. After throwing up, I still felt nauseous and asked the flight attendant for a barf bag…a big one. Sure enough, an hour later I’m hurling into the bag until nothing else remained. I’ve never thrown up on a plane before and hope to never again. My only saving grace? Most people were asleep while I was heaving into the bag.

Best Local Destination

Horseback riding in Santa Barbara

I'm on a horse!

Santa Barbara: Ok, so Santa Barbara isn’t THAT local, it’s about two hours from L.A., but that counts, right? Last year for my birthday I took a day trip to Santa Barbara to hang out and go horseback riding. Although I had never been on a horse before (I wanted to do something new for my bday), I had an AMAZING time. We rode up a mountain and when we got to the top, we had a beautiful view of the ocean. I was mesmerized. It was so peaceful and I literally felt like I was on top of the world.

Best Travel Lesson

New Orleans

Self-portrait in NOLA

You Are Enough: Like a lot of people, I used to operate under the assumption that you needed someone else to travel with you in order to have a good time. My ideas on this shifted a bit when I went to New Orleans last July. Even though I met up with some friends, they left a day earlier than I did, so on the day I was alone, I decided to explore. I didn’t want to stay in my hotel room simply because I was rolling solo, so I got out and saw the city.

In London and Paris this served me well. I traveled alone, saw most of the city alone and still managed to have a GREAT time. My takeaway was that I was enough.

Although traveling with people is fun, I had a wonderful time exploring on my own time and doing what I wanted to do. I didn’t have to worry about anyone else’s schedule or what they wanted to see; I just went.

What about you? What are your travel Best Ofs?

**ps: Like what you read here? Feel free to donate to the Trippin’ Travel Fund :)

3 Tips To Make Travel Affordable (and you can totally do them!)

Posted on by
4

Affordable TravelDo you know someone who has seen the world (a few times!) and you wonder how the heck they can afford to travel so much? I know I do.

I belong to this amazing travel group, and after noticing that it seemed like just about everyone had been to just about everywhere (and were still going), I just had to ask:

HOW CAN YOU AFFORD IT?!

Previously, when I thought of traveling, the first thing that came to mind was money. Plane tickets can be expensive and hotels are costly, so I didn’t see how people of “normal” means (with no rich uncles or sugar mamas) could afford to pick up and go so often. But after I inquired about how they do it, I got so many great tips, tricks, and travel hack ideas that I could barely contain myself.

While Trippin on the Weekend is about finding things to do in your own city, let’s face it, we all need a change of scenery sometime. I love to see other states and countries like the next person, and it takes a little more planning (and more money) than quick weekend trips.

And although I’m a champion of the staycation, I’m also here to tell you that you CAN afford to travel the world. Yes, I mean it!

Sharing information is one of the best ways to not only solidify the ideas in your own life, but also help others. So here are some of the tips I picked up from some of my more well-traveled peers on how to afford to see the world.

Cut Costs: I confess, I spend money without thinking. Dinners out, new clothes, movie tickets, premium cable. It all adds up. One of the best ways to save money for travel is by reviewing your spending habits and cutting things that aren’t necessary. This year I think I might FINALLY ditch my cable company (and for me, this is scary lol..I watch a lot of TV *hangs head*). The bill just keeps going higher and higher, while finding content online has become easier. I’ve had my eye on a Roku box for a while now and am 75% sure I’m going to buy one and put the extra money toward my travel fund. Other ways to cut costs? Review everything: Credit cards, insurance, phone service, and call the companies to negotiate lower rates. If they want to keep you as a customer, most times they will work with you.

Make Saving Automatic: After you’ve cut your costs, you should automatically funnel that extra money into your savings account (and if you don’t have an account, you should DEFINITELY open one). Making your savings automatic will increase the likelihood that you’ll actually save money because you won’t even have to think about it. And here’s a tip. Do not have your savings account attached directly to your primary checking account (i.e. at the same bank). I have a separate savings account with a different bank for traveling, which means I’m less likely to dip into it to cover everyday purchases.

Make More Money: Let’s face it, you can’t cut your way to more money. At some point, you’ll have to get out and increase your income. And while I’d like to pretend that I live frugally…I don’t. So my only other option is to generate more cash and put it toward traveling. Recently I’ve become (mildly) obsessed with Ramit Sethi’s site I Will Teach You How To Be Rich. In it he has all sorts of tips on how to negotiate a higher salary, or, if you’re self-employed like me, how to earn more income on the side. From side hustles to second jobs…if you’re not good at cutting things from your budget, earning more money is your best bet to reaching your travel goals.

No matter where you want to go, I hope you know you CAN afford to get there. No place should be off limits because of your financial status, but just know you might have to cut back a little more and work a little harder, but you can (and will) get there.

Are you saving for a trip this year? Do you have any additional tips to add to the list? Please, share! 

*ps: Like what you read here? Feel free to donate to the Trippin’ Travel Fund :)