I love lazy rivers. Really. I’m mildly obsessed with them. I survived pandemic doom-scrolling by micro-dosing lazy river content. When I got too stressed, I’d force myself to close all my news tabs and Google epic lazy river photos. And that’s how I found myself, in February 2023, booking two nights at one of the longest lazy rivers in Mexico. (Click here to read my review of that specific lazy river, at Villa La Valencia) Over the years, I’ve become something of a lazy river expert. When a plus-size pool party rented out an entire waterpark last summer, I didn’t even dip a toe in any of the p ..read more

For many solo travelers, eating alone is the hardest part of visiting a destination alone. In this article, I share a few easy-to-follow steps to increase comfort and confidence while dining alone at a restaurant. ???? Eating alone in a restaurant is easy if you choose the right restaurants, keep yourself busy, and cultivate a mindset that you have as much of a right to enjoy a meal alone as does anyone with a companion. Most of us from western countries have been socialized to feel awkward eating alone in a restaurant. But there’s good news!  We can learn to like it. Just because eating ..read more

Before 2020, I was an intrepid solo adventurer booking hostels and boutique hotels in exotic destinations around the world. When travel reopened, though, I discovered my travel style had shifted. Slowly, I began to do what was formerly unimaginable: book vacations to all-inclusive resorts. ✈️?? In this article, I’m sharing the low-down on all-inclusive vs al-la-carte resorts based on my experiences staying at 3 all-inclusive resorts and 3 al-la-carte resorts in 2022 and 2023. Early morning at a resort in Mexico Why People book All-Inclusive Resorts In theory, all-inclusive resorts exist to mak ..read more

I don’t know how many times you have to stay at a hotel to be a “regular,” but I might have reached that status at Cabo Azul. I’ve visited Hilton Vacation Club Cabo Azul property in Los Cabos on multiple occasions in 2022 and 2023. In this post, I share a comprehensive review of Cabo Azul from the perspective of a real guest. You’ll learn insider tips to navigate the resort, amenities, spa services, and food. The opinions contained in this article are totally mine – I haven’t been compensated by Hilton and was not asked to write this article. Cabo Azul is the only resort I’ve ever loved enough ..read more

A few weeks ago, I ventured to Cabo San Lucas to check out a new resort, Villa la Valencia. In this post, I share a full-length review and real guest’s report of the facility, amenities, and experience at this resort. The opinions contained are entirely mine. I have not been compensated in any way. Villa La Valencia is a beachfront resort in Cabo send Lucas that claims to offer luxury accommodations, Cabo’s largest lazy river, and a unforgettable vacation experience. While my time at Valencia was, indeed, unforgettable, if you keep reading, you’ll learn that the reason it was so memorable wasn ..read more

Pool parties, float trips, and beach vacations can be part of a relaxing vacation. But, if (like me!) you’re a plus size person that’s had a bad experience with a too-small pool float, you know that getting a plus size pool float is key to maximizing fun on the water. I tested a bunch of pool floats in my relentless pursuit of maximizing the ultimate form of relaxation: floating. Every product listed below has been tested by me- a robustly plus-size traveler and self-identified fat person. In this article, I share – from my personal experience – the best plus-size pool floats I’ve found. Big B ..read more

A 40th birthday is a major life milestone and gathering ideas for how to celebrate it is half the fun! Many people choose to take a birthday trip for their 40th birthday. Whether it’s an active adventure or a do-nothing retreat, I think a 40th birthday is best celebrated on the road. In this article, I share both from my perspective as a recently turned 40-year-old, and from my professional perspective on how to celebrate your 40th on the road, like I did.  You’ll learn: What it’s like to turn 40 on vacation, how I a chose a destination. What it means to turn 40, from the perspective of ..read more

Traveling as a digital nomad has many challenges. One of the challenges we don’t talk about too often is the difficulty of balancing work and play: a recipe for burnout In this article, I share some of the techniques that have worked for me as I explore the world as a solo traveler and full-time blogger. You’ll learn about: ways to practice meaningful self-care while digital nomading, how to identify a true focus (hint: it’s not work), and how to pack in more fun while working more effectively through the power of play. Finding the middle ground between work and sightseeing can b ..read more

Travel is one of the most vibrant experiences of life, but many travelers hit an emotional low immediately after coming home. This emotional low period following a big trip is what many travelers call the post-travel blues. The good news is that post-travel blues are temporary, and there’s plenty you can do to lessen the effects. In this article, I share from my experience as a seasoned traveler and my training as a licensed psychotherapist about how to roll through the recovery period and move past post-travel blues. Why We Get the Blues after Coming Home During travel, we adjust quickly to ..read more

One of the best parts of travel is trying new food. Although Seattle is not particularly renowned as a food destination in the same way as Chicago, Paris, or even Saint Louis, Seattle has many signature dishes, drinks, and even cuisine. As a bonus, and much easier for tourists: many of these iconic Seattle foods can be sampled without even leaving Pike Place market! In this post, I’ll introduce you to Seattle’s dishes and where to find them in the Market. Eating my way through Seattle: As a downtown local and former Pike Place resident, here is my guide to the 6 foods you must try while visiti ..read more