2021 Travels Recap

2021 was filled with a lot of things. Things I learned about myself, some good and some bad things, and unexpectedly, travel. At the beginning of 2021, I didn’t have any trips planned. But as the months ticked by and we all got a little more bold with crawling out of our quarantine caves, the travel planning began. In this blog post I’m sharing my 2021 travels recap. Most of my travels took place during the summer and fall. This year, I went to:

• Jackson Hole, WY
• Austin, TX
• Las Vegas, NV
• Bethany Beach, DE
• Charleston, SC
• Assateague Island, MD

Although thrilled to have some fun summer trips on the books, it was a little chaotic. I was constantly on the go, packing & unpacking bags, endless laundry, you name it. You’d think I would have my packing regime perfected by this point, but I’m still a chronic over-packer. Oh well! 

I wanted to take some time to reflect on these recent trips as a whole and what I’ve learned about myself from traveling. And no, this isn’t your basic “what’s in my suitcase” blog post (like I said, I’m unfit for providing packing advice!).

The number one thing that I learned from these travels is to always take my journal. I began writing in my journal two years ago and I never took it with me until this year. I finally learned to pack it when I got tired of writing notes in my phone whenever I was in a thinking/reflective mood. While camping at Assateague this past October I found some old notes from when I went to Europe for the first time. It was so nostalgic to read them! I could picture exactly the scenery, what I felt like, what my emotions were, etc. It was really cool. With a journal, you’re able to relive moments that might otherwise get lost in the back of your mind. Moments that aren’t picture-perfect and Instagram-worthy, but instead are powerful and leave these lasting impressions in your mind. It could be a feeling of intense anxiety, a “wow” moment of self realization, or something simple like what you wish you had packed or not packed that you want to remember for next time.

The first trip: Jackson Hole, WY

My parents went to Wyoming for a long vacation and I decided to tag along last minute with my credit card points (good thing I had plenty saved up from COVID. I even upgraded myself to first class on the way back and it was SO LOVELY). I’d never been to Wyoming before so this was a really great way to start off the summer. I did experience some anxiety shortly before the trip and it turns out it was for something; we had a suuuuper bumpy and uncomfortable flight to Utah. Aside from that, the trip was really lovely. We explored downtown (which gets pretty crowded in the summer), YellowStone National Park, and the Grand Tetons. My favorite was the Grand Tetons because it wasn’t as crowded as YellowStone. If you go to YellowStone, plan to spend the majority of the time in your car. There’s a lot of driving going between the points of interest.

This was a parents-daughter bonding trip and it was so fun. I hadn’t spent a lot of time with my parents since I moved out in early 2021. The fact that we got to experience these beautiful places for the first time together was really special 🙂

Second trip: Austin, TX

Ryan and I traveled here for the NSA Annual Conference. Read my recap of the whole experience here!

I love Austin. This was a lovely trip, and the first one that Ryan and I went on together this year. He had a fun time exploring the capital, I had a blast at the conference. All in all, a great trip!

Third trip: Las Vegas, NV for work

This was a work trip and my second time visiting Vegas. This was my first time attending a big tech conference out of state. It was a little stressful in the beginning, but I definitely made up for it by treating myself to some shopping, a spa appointment, and taking full advantage of the comfy suites at The Venetian.

Fourth Trip: Bethany Beach, DE

Went here for the annual family beach vacation!

During this trip I realized how much I love the beach. It was such an interesting realization because I never thought I would be a beach person. I hate feeling sandy when not on the beach, I don’t like being in the sun all day and getting burnt, and sometimes the ocean scares me. But at the same time, there’s something so calming about being at the beach. And I absolutely love being on the beach at night. It’s eerily beautiful. This is about to sound real cheesy, but it’s true; every time I look at the ocean, my current problems feel insignificant. I think that’s why I want to live at the beach one day. I feel calmer, happier, and less stressed. I can move at a slower pace and not feel anxious about it. Even when it’s cold and rainy, I still find the beach beautiful.

Fifth Trip: Charleson, SC

Another thing I learned about myself during these travels; I love polaroids and learning more about photography! I brought my polaroid on this trip and had so much fun taking pictures. We went with another couple and stayed in Mount Pleasant. We ate to our hearts (and wallets) content, drank some yummy cocktails, and laughed all weekend. All of us are interested in living in the Charleston area in the future, so it was fun to get a taste of what life could really be like. By the way, I did a ton of research for the trip and here’s my recommendations:

• The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivans Island – GET THE SHORT RIB GNOCCHI
• Sorghum & Salt on King Street – EVERYTHING IS AMAZING
• King Street Cookies
• Butcher & Bee in Mount Pleasant
• Basic Kitchen on Wentworth Street
• Taco Boy on Huger Street

Sixth trip: Camping at Assateague Island, MD

Our same group went to Assateague the following weekend after Charleston. It was fun despite the horses eating our food TWICE. I brought my polaroid again, we chilled on the beach for a while, played spike ball, and stared into the fire pondering life (or just mindlessly stared, there’s something about a campfire that just empties your mind. Know what I mean?)

I love camping and am looking forward to another camping trip in 2022. Hopefully more than one!

Here’s some other misc things I learned about myself from these trips:

• Even though I don’t have my packing list down, I do have my flight kit down; noise canceling headphones, zip up sweatshirt, eye mask, protein bars, tea bags, and TSA precheck.

• Travel with a purpose. Don’t pick things to do just because they’re Instagram-worthy. Instead, do activities that bring you joy. Go on a walk to take in the local sites, or stay in and appreciate your new environment, or spend quality time with your companions. It’s not about checking off things on your list or being able to say you went to XX location. Make it a trip you actually enjoy!

• Eat well. We ate such delicious food in Charleston and I personally think it really enhanced the experience. But it wasn’t just the food, it was the atmosphere and the servers & service (we had some really nice servers, especially at Sorghum & Salt) and our friends that made it so amazing. Pick a yummy restaurant, try something new or split a bunch of dishes and make it yours. At Sorgum & Salt we made our own tasting menu and loved it!

• I can work on rolling with the punches; I’m a planner and like being organized, but sometimes I get too caught up in making sure everything fits/goes/feels perfect.

• Take inventory of everything you packed before you leave and check it off as you’re repacking the return trip. It’s super tedious, but this is the only way that I can assure that I don’t leave anything behind. I ALWAYS forget stuff!

And that’s a wrap! Things have quieted down now with the holidays. Well, at least travel is quieting down. December has been a busy month! I had a work holiday party & wedding in the same weekend, am heading to another holiday party this coming weekend, and then celebrating Christmas!

Thanks for reading. I hope you had some exciting adventures this year, close to home or far away!