Step 1: Lots of Irish Coffee

So when I told my mom, Nance, as you’ll get to know her, I wanted to do this road trip and start a travel blog, she was of course supportive but she had one request – that I write my first entry from the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco while having an Irish coffee. I had no problem with this stipulation, as I was calling her from the Buena Vista on my second, or fourth, Irish coffee already. 

I've been living in California for about six months taking care of my 94-year-old grandmother, and seeing as she's doing better it's time for me to pack up and head back east! Haley, my best friend, sorority sister, and longtime travel buddy loved the idea of a cross country road trip and as soon as she graduated Elon, with her master's in interactive media, she hopped on a plane to San Francisco and joined in.

* Pause for a quick jam sesh to Party in the U.S.A. (yep, that actually just happened) *

So we’re now on our sixth, or eighth Irish coffee, we lost track...whoops! It's been quite the afternoon, as it usually is when you're at the Buena Vista! We’ve made about a dozen friends by this point, and we are convinced that travel blogging is clearly my calling. So I hope I’m able to provide y’all with some quality entertainment about our adventures across America. If not, then shout out to Nance, my one and only follower. Hi Mom!

Hello.Hola.Bonjour.Ciao.

I’m an amateur traveler and an even more amateur writer, so naturally I’ve decided to become a travel blogger. People always ask you to think about what you’re good at and what makes you happy, well thats simple: travel. I used to think there was something wrong with me as to why I couldn’t stand to be in one place more than a year or two but now I think its because I’m not meant to be in one place too long.

I grew up in Miami Florida, and yes it's on the water and we have the Everglades, which I love and have spent lots of time in, but it's still a big city and I've always wanted something a bit more remote. So for as long as I can remember I was always begging my parents to take me here and there, and more than once I asked to go to boarding school in the mountains. Much to my avail boarding school never happened. I did get my wish when it came to the travel though. My father was an amateur golfer so we would travel with him to ProAm tournaments all over the country. My favorite was getting to go to Hawaii each year! 

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When I was in college my love of nature and the environment was really solidified when I chose to get my degree in Environmental Studies. While my friends were studying neuroscience or Russian Lit I was out hiking the Piedmont region of the Carolinas and getting college credit for it! Then came that defining moment people talk about...that Ah Ha Moment if you will: my trip to New Zealand.

Don’t you worry I’ll tell you all about the wonders of New Zealand…and even the misery known as Stuart Island (just kidding it's a beautiful place, we just had a bit of a trying stay to put it gently). But if I give away all my stories right away how will I ever convince you to stay?? I look forward to getting to know you all over time just as you’ll get to know me and I hope you enjoy reading this blog just as much as I enjoy writing it!