Even though Asheville is best known for scenic hikes, art, hipsters, and the Biltmore, this incredible city is filled with amazing Black-owned businesses, a rich Black history, and a community of leaders and organizers that fight hard to ensure the prosperity of the Black Asheville community. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the city’s diversity overall. During my recent trip with Explore Asheville, I was able to support a few Black-owned businesses and learn their stories. I’m pleased to share what I’ve learned in this post (I’ll also list a few other Black-owned businesses in Asheville, even if I didn’t get the opportunity of supporting them). I hope that by the end of this post, you’ll be inspired to visit Asheville and immerse yourself in its Black community!

If South Korea isn’t on your travel bucketlist, add it promptly! With a distinct culture and history, there’s truly no place in the world like South Korea. In fact, it was my favorite destination in 2022. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing the itinerary I used when I visited South Korea. It was the perfect plan for me, so I’m happy to be sharing it here. Read on for everything you’ll need to know to plan your trip!

Out of my 5 week trip hopping around Asia, I was pleasantly surprised by Kuala Lumpur. It was one of my favorite destinations because it has a (dare I say, perfect) combination of sightseeing, dining, nightlife, efficiency, and affordably. I recommend this city to any and everyone, and I hope to return soon! So read on for all of the information you need to plan for your trip to Kuala Lumpur — a truly underrated city!

Singapore is a city-state that has built a reputation for itself as a model of effective city-planning. Singapore is one of the most efficient, safest, and cleanest places in the world. If you have a Type A personality (like myself), then you’ll take a liking to Singapore. It’s definitely a destination that’s cooler than cool, so if you’re ready to start planning your visit to Singapore, then read on!

Bali is truly a distinct and magical place — no wonder it’s been at the top of everyone’s social media feed for years! However, Bali has a diverse array of areas with its own atmosphere and things to offer. When you’re planning your trip to Bali, you may feel overwhelmed with all of the options. Or, if you’re like me, you may have no idea what people mean when they say “Seminyak” or “Ubud” or “Uluwatu.” I created this blog post to share what I learned after visiting different parts of Bali so that you can select the area that best aligns with the experience you’re seeking. Read on to find out more!

Bali, Bali, Bali…a travel destination that, in recent years, have taken the world by storm. As arguably the most popular travel destination on social media, I was excited to visit Bali and see what it had to offer. I had the privilege of spending 2 weeks in Bali and exploring different parts of the island. If you’re interested in spending a couple weeks in Bali, then read on for information to help plan your trip!

As an avid traveler for the past 10 years, I’ve started to gather some gadgets that help make my trips smoother. In this post, I’m listing my favorite gadgets to pack for any trip — long or short. I also include links to all of them. Hope this is helpful!

They said that Chicago in the summertime is the best, so I wanted to visit Chicago and check it out for myself. Verdict: they’re right! In this blog post, I’ve included the exact 5-day itinerary that we used in order to keep this trip affordable. If you haven’t been to Chicago — and even if you already have — check out this blog post to plan your next visit! If you make it to the bottom, you’ll see the total amount that we spent per person. I wonder if it’ll surprise you.

Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta…I was born and raised here, but once I moved back after 8 years of being away, I was amazed at how this city felt like a brand-new place! As such, I’ve been “re-discovering” the place I call home. This blog post includes information about some of my favorite neighborhoods in Atlanta. For each neighborhood, I’ve included some historical background, things to do, and food/drink recommendations. This list is not exhaustive, however, and at the bottom I’ve included some honorable mentions. Read on to plan your next outing in Atlanta!

For a while, I didn’t think of Boston as an American city where everyone should visit (as opposed to places like L.A., New York City, Miami, or Chicago). But after visiting Boston for the second time in a year, I was proven wrong. This city is filled with history, culture, public spaces, renowned sports teams, and — this came as a surprise for me - delicious food. This blog recounts what my family and I did during our weekend trip to Boston. We went for my graduation from grad school so those respective activities took up some of our time. At the bottom of this post, I’ll include recommendations for things in Boston that I’ve done before as well as things that I wish I had the time to do (which means I’ll have to return for a future trip!). Read on to start planning your trip!

Last weekend, I had the privilege of traveling to Boston with my husband and parents to participate in Harvard University’s Commencement. These graduation exercises were specifically organized for the classes of 2020 and 2021 since COVID-19 prevented in-person ceremonies for our respective classes. I was happy to have my “Harvard Moment;” I know my parents were beyond proud to watch their youngest child walk across a stage under crimson Harvard banners. If you told them this 20 years ago, they wouldn’t believe it. At the same time, being a Black Woman graduate of Harvard didn’t erase the wariness I felt about Harvard’s history. This blog post is a brief snapshot of Harvard’s legacy of slavery, the work that a team of researchers are doing to spread awareness and make systemic amends, and my thoughts about it all.

Jamaica is not only known for its pristine beaches, pretty waterfalls, and lush jungles; Jamaicans know how to party, so there’s never a shortage of things to do when you want to get your groove on. This blog post will focus specifically on popular parties places in Kingston to party on a Friday night — which is when most of the locals come out to decompress after a busy week of work. Read on for whenever you find yourself in Kingston — a city that truly deserves more attention from tourists.

Imagine staring out into the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea off of a cliffside in Jamaica’s western coast. Now imagine a hotel that sits right on those cliffs. Hard to imagine? What if I told you that this kind of place actually exists? The Rockhouse Hotel & Restaurant is a boutique hotel located in the west end of Negril, Jamaica. Abraham and I booked a stay for a few days to celebrate an anniversary. In this blog, I’m going to leave a review of our stay, including my thoughts on the accommodations, the restaurant, and other amenities we used. Let’s say that we were not left wanting more. Read on to get all of the details — and perhaps plan your own trip there!

Abraham and I were with a group of work-friends in Miami when we all decided to book an impromptu trip to Mexico. The next day, we boarded our flight and headed to the popular jungle town of Tulum. What ensued was 6 days of balancing work, planning, experiencing what Tulum had to offer. In this blog, I’ll highlight the things we did, the places we stayed, and some of the delicious food we enjoyed. Feel free to bookmark this post when you’re ready to plan your next trip to Tulum!

We all know about Tulum: this chic, tropical, and relatively inexpensive destination has been drawing the masses for the past decade. But is overtourism ruining Tulum? Is it soon facing its demise? How did Tulum even get so popular, and what can we do about it? This blog explores all of these questions and includes sources that provide even more information. Read on!

Probably one of the most famous and recognizable spaces in Tulum, Mexico, AZULIK is a unique and stylish eco-hotel that has been at the top of the “things to see” list for many travelers to Tulum. Unfortunately, the nightly rate for the most basic room at AZULIK starts at $520 USD a night. Naturally, this prices out most people from ever booking a stay there. Luckily, you don’t have to be an AZULIK guest to experience the beauty of the property. This blog covers what Abraham and I did to visit AZULIK without spending more than $100 USD (among the two of us)! Read on for more,

You may have seen those boxes in various restaurants and stores that proclaims, “Win a Free Trip to the Bahamas!” You also may have wondered if they’re a scam. Well, they’re legitimate, but with most free things, there’s a catch. This blog post summarizes the experience I had for my birthday trip, which was a free overnight cruise and resort trip for two that one of my closest friends transferred to me as a wedding gift. What should have been a relaxing few days turned into a battle to get home. Please note that this post isn’t to disparage any companies, but just to share my personal experience so that others can be aware.

Hawaii has been one of the most beautiful and exciting places that I’ve visited. But what made it truly special was the indigenous Hawaiian spiritual practices I encountered, especially in reference to the relationship between Hawaiians and their land. Read on for more socio-cultural information!

Would you believe me if I told you that you don’t have to spend a dime to swim with Green Sea turtles in Hawaii’s island of Maui? Whether you would or wouldn’t, it’s true. As long as you have some some snorkel gear (and it doesn’t have to be fancy), then you can get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity under your belt. Keep reading to find out how to swim with turtles for free!

The Road to Hana is MUST during a trip to Maui, and for good reason! The trip is filled with the most natural splendor and will satisfy any adventurer. The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped the visitors and locals alike who drive through the 64 miles of the eastern Maui coast to hike, chase waterfalls, and swim. We didn’t stop at every stop along the way, but this blog post will share some general information to plan for your trip, as well as a review of the stops we personally made. Read on for more!