Hi! I’m Steph, a 39 year old living in beautiful Athens, Georgia. I’m not kidding when I say I spend the majority of my time going on trips or planning to go on trips. I want to explore everywhere! I’m most drawn to waterfalls and mountains, DIY art environments, classic roadside attractions, and history.
Many people have told me how lucky I am to be able to travel, and how they wish they could travel too. Travel is unquestionably a privilege. BUT. I do believe the average person has the means to regularly explore fascinating/fun/beautiful/weird/meaningful places. My hope is that this blog inspires people to travel more (if that’s what they want).
So far, I have been to 18 countries, 37 states, 7 national parks, and 15 of Georgia’s State Parks. My most expensive trip (if you break it down by day) was Iceland – about $1,900 for 1 week in 2021. My least expensive trip was probably Colombia – about $400 for 5 days in 2023. That includes flights, airport parking, getting around, food, and all activities. The most magical place I’ve been is Chiang Mai, Thailand, but Florida is a close second – I’m completely serious.
To travel you need time, money, and enthusiasm. My top tips to make the most of your time are: set time limits on social media, combine the activities you want to do (ex. hanging out with friends + exercising + being in nature = hiking with friends), and plan out your trips so you know how far apart the things you want to see are. My top tips to save money are: use the library (books, movies, audiobooks, NYT subscription, passport assistance, state park pass, museum passes, zoo passes), set alerts on Google Flights, meal plan, and use a credit card that either gives you cash back or travel points. 😉
Outside of work and travel:
- I love movies, and co-host a horror movie podcast called My Bloody Horrorcast with my friend, Carey. We’re in our 8th year/season! Here’s our IG. My favorite horror movies are House (1977), Black Christmas (1974), and Night of the Creeps (1986). I also love Italian sleaze, but it’s hard to pick the “best.” A few 5-star movies from this year (2024) are Oddity, Longlegs, and Lisa Frankenstein. Find me on Letterboxd if you’re a movie nerd too!
- I love drawing and handcrafts. My arts ‘n’ crafts blog needs some major TLC but here it is.
- You can also find me on my personal IG.
Thanks for visiting! You can always email me about anything to do with travel… or movies!