My Top Travel Experiences of 2020
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
Well, well, well. It’s been eight months – eight months – since my last post. Anyone reading this in real time won’t need to wonder why: 2020 was one absolute shitshow of a year, and frankly, I haven’t had much content to share on my travel blog in a year of virtually zero travel. That said, I still wanted to write this 2020 recap, because I love having a little summary of each year that I can look back on later. I love reliving the highs, the lows, the adventures, the memories and the emotions. That’s why I started this blog in the first place, after all. How 2020 started… I’m about a month ..read more
Visit website
The Magic of Hobbiton Movie Set in 25 Photos
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
In case you haven’t pieced it together based on the rest of my New Zealand posts, let me take this moment to publicly state that I am a BIG TIME Lord of the Rings fan. Truly, I can’t even begin to imagine the number of times I’ve watched those films. At least twice each in the last year alone (Derek and I did a rewatch in late 2019, and then I watched them all again during the flight to Auckland in February). I have a lot of love for all three of the films, but there’s just something extra magical and heartwarming about that first film…and I think the opening scenes in the Shire have eve ..read more
Visit website
Sleeping in a Hobbit Hole in New Zealand: Our Stay at Underhill Valley
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit…” Ever since I first read these iconic opening lines at the impressionable age of ten, I have been absolutely enchanted by the fictional universe dreamt up by J.R.R. Tolkien. Over the years, I’ve reread The Hobbit and rewatched the movies in The Lord of the Rings trilogy more times than I can count. I’ve been awed by Rivendell and mesmerized by Mirkwood, but ultimately the Shire is the region that has stirred my imagination the most over the years. Oh, to be a hobbit! To have a cozy little hobbit hole to call my own, with a fireplace and books and ..read more
Visit website
Journey to Rohan: Climbing Mount Sunday in New Zealand
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
“The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!” “And Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim!” Sound familiar? These words are spoken between Aragorn and King Théoden of Rohan in The Return of the King, the third and final film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For those of you who are a little rusty on your Lord of the Rings trivia, here’s a synopsis: Rohan is one of the kingdoms of Middle-earth, and the Rohirrim are the horselords who call Rohan home. Edoras is the capital city of the Kingdom of Rohan, and is where much of the action takes place in the second ..read more
Visit website
Alpine Adventures Abound in Mount Cook, NZ
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
It’s not often (er, maybe ever?) that I write a full-blown love letter to a destination…so when I do, you know I’m going to have a lot to say. That’s certainly the case when it comes to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand; this is my third blog post dedicated to this epic, larger-than-life destination, and I could still go on and on about it. Mount Cook Travel Guide Overview Road Trip to Mount Cook from Queenstown Things to Do in Mount Cook National Park Where to Eat in Mount Cook National Park Where to Stay in Mount Cook National Park Road Trip: Driving to Mount Cook from Queens ..read more
Visit website
A Snapshot in Time: The Reality of COVID-19 in Mid-April 2020
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
This week, the local government here in Austin made the decision to extend our stay-at-home orders until May 8th at the earliest. The original order was issued on March 24th, though bars and restaurants had closed several days before that. Our local county has also required the use of fabric face masks or coverings when in public spaces, such as the grocery store, gas station, or bank. No mask, and you’re not allowed in. Not only that, you could be fined for not covering your face in public. Line outside HEB grocery store in Austin on March 22. Masks weren’t required at this point, but worker ..read more
Visit website
Hiking the Hooker Valley Track in Mount Cook, New Zealand
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
Hiking the Hooker Valley Track should without a doubt be included on any traveler’s itinerary during a visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand. The 3.5-hour return journey leads through the dramatic Southern Alps, across swaying suspension bridges and over wooden boardwalks, and ends at an iceberg-speckled glacial lake. We hiked the Hooker Valley Track during our two-night stay in Aoraki/Mount Cook, and it was one of the highlights of our entire trip. This hike is now among my favorites in the world, alongside the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail in Yosemite National Park, the Kalal ..read more
Visit website
A Love Letter to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
Dear Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Do you believe in love at first sight? I do—in fact, I’m quite sure you stole my heart even before I got my first proper look at you. I felt that initial hint of a spark in my soul during the drive in, shortly after passing Peter’s Lookout at Lake Pukaki. By the time we crossed the first one-lane bridge, I knew it was true love. My dearest Aoraki/Mount Cook, you are a land of stone and ice. You are known far and wide for your sky-scraping, snow-capped summits and icy glacial lakes. You are revered for your remoteness, your ruggedness. You are t ..read more
Visit website
Stopping to Smell the Roses—Er, Lavender—at Wanaka Lavender Farm
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
Let’s be honest: who hasn’t dreamed of frolicking through a fragrant, purple field of lavender? It’s pretty, it’s colorful, and it smells amazing! In truth, I didn’t even know that New Zealand had lavender farms until I began researching our detour through Wanaka, on the way from Queenstown to Mount Cook. Turns out, there are actually about a half dozen of them scattered around the North and South Islands. But with the Wanaka Lavender Farm directly on our route, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit. After departing from Queenstown that morning, we started our short visit to Wanaka with ..read more
Visit website
Soaring Above the South Island: Our Milford Sound Scenic Flight
The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog
by Kelly | The Wandering Blonde
9M ago
Rugged. Dramatic. Breathtaking. Wild. Majestic. I could list adjectives all day long, but each would fall short when it comes to explaining how insanely beautiful and impressive the landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island really are. There are countless ways to explore the beauty of New Zealand—hiking, kayaking, jet boating, bungee jumping—but one of the most epic experiences by far is a scenic flight. Seeing Milford Sound was extremely high on my New Zealand bucket list. Unfortunately, we only had time in our itinerary for a day trip from Queenstown, rather than an overnight stay. This ..read more
Visit website

Follow The Wandering Blonde | Solo Female Travel Blog on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR