Making Travel Fun Again

I don't know about anyone else, but I've been having a hard time with traveling lately.  I haven't taken a long vacation in almost an entire year.  I was getting worn out.  I wasn't feeling happiness from my travels any longer.  I'm going to try to run down why, right here, out in the open.  This might look like a complete mess when I am done.

So, I have always loved to travel, since I was a kid.  I have dreamed of far away lands, great places to see and wonderful things to do.  When I became an adult and started to go to those places, I absolutely adored every single minute.  New states, new countries, new beaches.  It didn't really matter where I went or what I did.  It was amazing!

At some point, I stopped experiencing my travels.  I instead began to document them.  I felt the need to take tons of pictures, tons of video, buy souvenirs.  It was like I thought if I didn't document everything, I would forget it all.  Or maybe it would be like I had never been in the first place.

Add to that the desire to somehow make money off of my travels, and it wasn't fun any longer.  It was a competition.  One I wasn't winning by the way.  Don't get me wrong.  I don't hate or hold any ill will towards people who can make money while traveling.  I feel great happiness for them.  It just wasn't working for me, and part of why is that I wasn't putting in the work necessary.  I wasn't in it.  I didn't really want it as bad as other people.

After our trip to Colorado last year, which I feel pretty sure I never shared on my blog, travel blues hit me hard.  Not just me, but my entire family.  They expressed feelings of being tired of being filmed, or having their pictures taken constantly.  I was tired of being behind the camera.  I just wanted to enjoy myself again.  

That brought us to here.  We are fixing to take our first family vacation in almost an entire year.  This is different for us because we have vowed to put away the cameras, lock up the phones, and just be present with each other.  We have decided not to document our vacation just to share with other people. 

That means I probably won't be sharing much with this blog either.  I hope thats ok.  Instead, I plan to write down the things we do.  I will be descriptive.  I will use my words to save the memories.  It's always more fun to sit and here a story than watch a slideshow anyways.  

Happy Travels!

Changing It Up - Starting New

I've decided to change things up a bit.  Start new.  Refresh myself.  I don't really know what to call it. I feel the desire to write, regardless of who sees it.  There was a point where I chased topics, chased readers, tried to appeal to people.  I'm not going to be doing that any longer.  At some point, I will likely hide all of my past blog posts.  Maybe it is silly of me, but that's what I'm going to do.  

Anyways, I don't really know what this blog is going to be about at this point.  I'm going to let it be organic and take its own shape.  Maybe it will be amazing and someone will enjoy reading my ramblings and musings.  Maybe it will just be a therapeutic way for me to get my mind right.  Who knows.  Hope you enjoy my journey.

Saving Money While on Vacation

So, you've booked yourself a vacation to somewhere amazing! I'm so excited for you!  Here's the thing. Vacations can be expensive. Really expensive. But they don't have to be!   I have a motto when planning a vacation. Book your flights. Snag a place to sleep. Then it's time to plan what you will do while you are there.  I'm not going to get into details on booking flights or hotels. You can look here for help with flights or here for help with hotels.  You are the only one who knows how much money you can afford to spend on vacation. Ideally, you have been saving a little money here and there for a couple months or more and you have a good idea how much you can afford to use.  I have to be honest, I'm a huge budget traveler.  I'm usually in it to see amazing scenery, but sometimes I like to go to a nice dinner, see a great show, or visit a unique museum. This is how I do it.  First thing I do is search Groupon for my destination.  I look for places to see, things to do, and places to eat. I've found groupons for massages, huge discounts on food, attraction discounts, shows and movie discounts, and so much more. It's seriously my first stop and I always look there first.  Once I've found a few things there, I typically add those to my itenerary. Some things have specific times you can use them, so be mindful of that.  If your hotel or lodging option has a kitchenette or a small fridge, use it!  Making sandwiches, small salads, or easy meals at your hotel is a great way to save yourself money!   I also regularly use ebates when I'm shopping for things online. I save the money earned until I get ready to go on vacation, and then I use that money for my vacations. It's super easy and if you already do some shopping online, why not get some cash back for it?  If you don't already use this app, please check it out. You might be very happy about it!  Use Yelp or TripAdvisor. Both are great ways to find fun and FREE things to do at your destination. There are reviews and forums that you can review that can answer all kinds of questions.  You don't have to be wealthy to travel to amazing places and enjoy them while you are there. If you have specific questions or ideas I haven't shared, comment below. I'd love to hear from you! 

What I Love About Traveling

I often get asked what I love most about traveling, and I find my answer changes regularly.  I figure it's probably the same for everyone.  It depends greatly on things going on in my life.  Traveling is fluidity, movement, abstract, etc. 

In different times in my life, travel has been an escape.  A way to change who I am, who I've been, and who I plan to be.  Travel can be the intermission of a great play, a time to get refreshments and change the stage of your life.

I love travel because travel doesn't have to be the same thing for everyone.  Some travel to place with great historic significance, beautiful natural scenery, or exotic beaches.  Some travelers indulge in a little bit of everything.  Food, culture, friends and family can all take you in different directions.

For me, personally, I travel for experiences.  I want to see the tallest mountains in the world, see the longest rivers, take pictures of the most beautiful waterfalls.  I want to see statues, temples, and churches.  I don't care to climb them, jump from them, or sky dive over them.  I want to sit and look at them. 

I want to soak in every single image, because some day, I won't be able to.  My eyesight will be gone, and I won't be able to see anything any longer.  I want to capture as many beautiful views as I can before it is all gone for me.  That is why I travel.  Because some day, my memories of beautiful places will be what I have. 

Why do you travel?

Wichita Mountains - Always a Beautiful Adventure

The Parallel Forrest

Located in the southwest corner of Oklahoma, the Wichita Mountains are full of beautiful scenery and plenty of activities for anyone.  A little history on the area, because who doesn't love a little history?

The Wichita Mountains are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, which also means there isn't much left of them.  They are not tall and mighty peaks.  This adds to the beauty in my opinion.  They are small, dome shaped peaks full of weathered boulders and beautiful hiking trails for every type of hiker.  You can read more history about the Wichita Mountains here. 

Now, on to our adventures and what I recommend checking out if you make your way to the Wichita Mountains.

1. I always recommend checking out Medicine Park, a quaint little town nestled at the foot of the mountains.  It is absolutely beautiful, filled with local culture and music.  Check out some of the pictures we snapped the last time we stopped by.
   
    

   

   Jumping from the Cobblestone paths

   
   

   

   Medicine Park Music Hall

   
   

   

   Smelling the roses

   
   

   

   Panorama of Medicine Creek

   
   

   

   Sitting on the steps to the entrance to the swimming hole

   
   

   

   Looking down Medicine Creek

2.  After your time in Medicine Park, I recommend taking a short drive up East Lake Dr around Lake Lawtonka.  Here you can find great camping, fishing, boating, swimming and so much more.  It is such a fun little lake.  I usually do day trips here, but I spend my evenings in the NEXT destination.
    
3. When you are looking for somewhere to camp in the mountains, you have to check out Camp Doris.  It is my families favorite place to camp in the Wichita Mountains.  Why?  I can't even tell you, I just have to show you.

   

   Sitting by the campfire

   

   Sipping my coffee

    

   

   And then came the deer

   
   

   

   They surround the camp sites

   
   

   

   And they get very very close

4.  As if these weren't enough reasons to visit this beautiful place, I have more.  The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  Inside the Wichita Mountains, there is a refuge.  As if you needed something MORE, there is the Holy City, Jed Johnson reservoir, and Mount Scott view point.  These are things you will definitely want to check out if you drive through.  If you get a bit more adventurous, you will want to check out these next 2 places!

   

   Holy City Easter Pageant taken by Trevor Lockhart

5. My final 2 things you must check out are The Lost Lake and The Parallel Forrest

   

   Lost Lake after a rainstorm

Staycation Really IS a Thing! - How to Staycation

I used to be like so many other people when I heard the term "staycation".  Queue eye rolling and irritation.  It isn't a vacation if I am still at home!  It's simply a day off!  Then I learned the secret.  Nobody tells you the secret to the "staycation", but I am fixing to!

How to Staycation like a champ

1. Do something different.  Don't just sit on the couch and turn the tv on.  Locate things around you to do.  I know you LIVE there, but Tripadvisor the city/town you live in!  Just look at the things to do around the small town I am currently visiting!
   
   I know it seems weird to do this, but often times, tourists see your town in a much different way than you do.  As a result, tourists will often catch new things and even old things that you have never even heard of. 
   

   

   Even if you lived in some of the surrounding small towns,
   just look at all there is to do!

   
   

   
   

2.  Turn off your phone.  Turn it off.  Wait, not yet.  Wait until you finish reading this.  I know this seems silly, and if you just cannot turn it off in case of emergency then don't.  Just put it down.  Let your family know you are going on staycation and to only contact you in case of emergency.  Step away from the normal day to day activities, just like you would do if you had gone away.
   
3. Turn off or put away your computer too.  I mean it.  Facebook will still be there when you get done.  Put down your computer and enjoy your family and friends.  There isn't much to say about this.  I don't really have much to elaborate on.  Just shut it down and walk away.
    
4. Do something completely different.  Don't eat the same thing you always eat.  Don't sleep in the same place you always sleep.  Don't do the same things you always do.  Pretend like you are in a completely new place.
   
   Shop at a different grocery store.  Go into a Korean grocery store and ask them to help you put together the ingredients for a special dinner.  Ask them for a recipe that they would make at home.  Don't care for Korean?  Step into a German grocery, Indian, Mediterranean, etc.  Don't think you have those in your town?  Check the nearest city to you.  If it is less than 45 minutes away, make a visit. 
   
   Roll out sleeping bags in the back yard and set up candles all around.  Put up a couch cushion fort in the living room and cover it in sheets.  Tell stories and enjoy time with your family.
    

   

   Borrowed from Heroes Get Made

5.  You are saving money by staying home, so do something nice for yourself!  Go get a pedicure (yes, men too!), get a massage, have a special dinner out, or go shopping.  You don't have to spend a bunch of money, but do something nice for yourself.  It's really okay to spend a bit of money on a staycation.
   
   I hope I've helped you have a better staycation than you thought you could have.  Have any ideas of other ways to have a great staycation, share them in the comments!  I can't wait to hear what you think of my list!

Do What You Love

In all my dreams, I could have never imagined I would get to do something that I truly enjoy for a living.  I know everyone tells you that if you do what you love the money will follow, but how often does that really happen?  Out of all of the people that you personally know, how many of them love their jobs? 

I will turn 30 in just over 1 year, and I can say that I know very few people who love their jobs.  I know people who like their jobs, but they truly wish they could be doing something else.  Well, not me.  Now don't get me wrong, I've always enjoyed my work and the people I work with, but I've always felt as if something were missing.

I don't feel that way anymore.  I work just as hard now as I have ever worked, but now I am working for myself.  I haven't figured out how to make a ton of money, but I didn't set out to make a ton of money.  I set out to enjoy what I do.  I've got that.  The money will follow.  I'm sure of that.

My advice.  Figure out what it is that makes you happiest in life.  Do that.  Don't give up on doing just that.