Unique digital nomad travel adventures from around the U.S.
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I recently came across an interesting article; the gist was that more and more frequently, music is driving Millenial’s vacation choices. As I reflected on some of the statistics found in that study, I realized music is a large component of my adventures. This post will discuss how incorporating music into travel can lead to an enriched experience and maybe take you places you wouldn’t otherwise go.
Music is a key aspect of culture in some places of the world and it would do you a disservice if you didn’t at least try to experience it like the locals do.
For example, when we visited Bali we made sure to go to a legong dance performance where musicians play traditional gamelan music. During the performance we saw, around half a dozen gamelan players sat on the floor and hit hammer-looking things at drums and metal bowls. It was very percussive and when combined with the dancing semi-trancelike. (Or maybe I just had major jetlag.) I have not purchased any gamelan CDs yet, but it was really cool to hear the type of music people have been playing in this area for the last 2,000 years. Yeah, it’s that old.
I’ve been to Salzburg, Austria, twice and both times had a really good time incorporating music into travel. On trip number one, we were visiting the Mirabell Gardens and just happened to stumble upon a local performance where older Austrians in traditional wear danced around to some musicians playing acoustic instruments. It was serendipitous and super cool to see. On the last trip we took, our friend C scheduled an AirBnb Experience to take yodeling lessons. We had so much fun! The teacher was delightful and our class had B, C and me, along with four older Austrian women. One interesting thing did happen: the locals were WAY better than us at yodeling Austrian songs. But when it got to a yodel that was more country/western, we rocked it! Their jaws all dropped when we all of a sudden didn’t sound like howling coyotes.
When we visited Belgrade, B and I learned that you could go see an opera at the Serbian National Opera house for about $5. Now, we didn’t see an opera that was specific to Serbia (it was La Traviatta), but performances like these have a rich history of being performed in Europe. I specifically recommend attending performances in Eastern Europe because you can see world class talent at rock bottom prices. $5! And that was even an upgrade to the nice seats.
Funny sidenote about seeing La Traviata. It was sung in Italian and since we were in Serbia the subtitles provided were in Cyrilic, which means we understood none of the words (spoken or written). We figured there were three acts and after what (we felt) was the third act, we got up and left when the lights came on and people started clapping. I didn’t quite follow the story so I looked it up back at our hotel and it turns out we left before the third act even started. Whoops.
In the millennial article, one in four people said they would travel internationally to a concert of a band they like. B and I haven’t made it to a show in a foreign country, but we have definitely had fun incorporating music into travel in the U.S. to watch some bands.
When we took a giant road trip of the Southeast, we planned our route based on when the Randy Rogers Band was going to record a live album in Helotes, Texas. About a week later, we saw the Turnpike Troubadours were going to be playing in Memphis, Tennessee. Those things gave us the framework for all our other destinations and stops along the ride.
On our way back from Morocco, B and I were flying in and out of New York City. Our flight arrived late and we knew we were going to have to overnight it and then continue westward the next day. American Aquarium just happened to be playing that night, so we went straight from the airport to the subway to the show. I’m sure we smelled delightful to all our fellow concert goers, but luckily there’s enough going on in dive bars that no one really can pinpoint the source of smelliness.
I’m a little embarrassed to say this, but on that same trip home from Morocco, we flew from NYC to Denver to watch another concert and then finally made it back to Boise the next day. What can I say…we were younger.
Festivals are a delightful way to blend travel and music. There are loads of these shows now (mainly during the summer). I’m guessing they bring in a ton of money, bands like them cuz they get to hang with their friends in other bands, and concert goers like them cuz they get to see lots of bands all at once.
A few of our main summer activities usually revolve around festivals, be it the Braun Brothers Reunion or Wheatstock in August or the Highway 30 Fest in June. These festivals are all located within a few hundred miles of Boise. It seems like festivals are becoming more and more popular, no matter the size of the town. The Wheatstock festival I mentioned earlier? That thing takes place in a town of 184. There isn’t even a gas station or ATM around, but they have great music!
You can still incorporate music into your travel, even if you don’t get to see a live performance. How? By creating a trip soundtrack! It’s really fun to find good music that has some reference to the places you are going. When we crossed Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, I had “Hurricane” by the Band of Heathens all ready to go. And when we drove into the majestic Blue Mountains in Australia, I had “Blue Side of the Mountain” by the SteelDrivers all keyed up.
I have some friends who would create trivia playlists for each other for their road trips. The one who didn’t make the list had to listen to the songs and guess the common theme. For example, if I played Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the FooFighters the answer would be ‘bands from Seattle.’ Music can make or break a road trip, so make sure you are primed and ready with your tunes before you get in the car.
If music is a big part of your life, it is a no brainer that incorporating music into travel will enrich your experience. So what about it? Did the article describe you? If so, make sure you include music in your next adventures. And if you have other good ways of combining music and travel, please share!
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There is no end of fun things to do and see in the City of Roses. Here I share five things to love about Portland, Oregon.
Portland is a fun city. It makes a great weekend getaway and is an ideal spot for a girls trip. I recently spent a long weekend in Portland with a very good friend of mine. I was a return visitor and she was experiencing Portland for the first time. We both had an equally wonderful trip, demonstrating that Portland is great for newbies and veterans alike.
We stayed downtown in the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Portland. The location was great and the service was fantastic. But my favorite part was the decor. The funky wallpaper and colorful upholstery represent Portland well and staying here only added to our overall experience.
As a return visitor, I found new things to experience. But I also enjoyed some tried-and-true favorites. Below are my five things to love about Portland, Oregon.
Did you know there is a Portland Downtown Donut Tour? We did not go on it, but it shows this city’s love of donuts. The most popular donut comes in a pink box. Voodoo Donuts is practically an institution in Portland and is on many visitors must-do list. Expect to wait in line.
Personally, I prefer Blue Star Donuts. The flavors, particularly the lemon poppy buttermilk old-fashioned cake donut, are moan worthy. You’ll see a few tourists in line, but you’ll see more locals. I can also recommend Coco Donuts. Regardless of which donuteer you prefer, getting a donut (or two or three or four) is kind of a must when you visit Portland.
Speaking of Portland institutions, it is impossible to talk about the things to love about Portland, Oregon, without mentioning Powell’s Books. The headquarters has been dubbed Powell’s City of Books and it occupies a full city block in the Pearl District. It also claims to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. Being large is helpful since there will be a lot of tourists and locals also exploring the nine, color-coded rooms.
With over 3,500 sections, it is easy to get lost in the City of Books, literally and figuratively. As someone who loves to read, I cannot help but love Powell’s. I particularly love the children’s classic used books, the travel section and all of the fun gifts and nicknacks spread throughout the store. Even my friend who doesn’t like to read managed to kill a good hour here. Note, Powell’s is a great place to hang out when it rains. Which it does a lot in Portland.
A first for me on this trip was a visit to the Lan Su Chinese Garden. The gardens were small, but lovely. A few of the trees had started to bloom, but I can only imagine what the garden looks (and smells) like when spring is in full bloom. Regardless of the time of year, I highly recommend you visit.
The real star of the garden is the teahouse. Don’t miss it! The two-story teahouse is beautiful and a wonderful place to relax. If you time it right, there is live music as well. We enjoyed a cuppa and a small tea ceremony, but they also serve light meals and snacks if you are hungry. After you explore the gardens and enjoy a cup of tea, be sure to stop by the small gift shop. There are treasures to be had there.
Outside of the Lan Su Chinese Garden teahouse, there are plenty of other tea rooms, tea houses and tea shops to explore. This is a city of tea. I am excited to come back and sip my way through a few more of Portland’s tea offerings.
Perhaps my favorite thing to love about Portland, Oregon, is the artisan scene. Handmade goods abound here, which makes the shopping spectacular. We did not venture too far from downtown, yet we only scratched the surface when it came to shopping for local wares. It seemed like every street we walked along, cute boutiques were calling our name. I came home with some fun stuff from Tender Loving Empire, Woonwinkel, Crafty Wonderland and Boys Fort.
Long before this latest trip to Portland, I was a big fan of local jewelry maker, Betsy & Iya. You can find her stuff in various stores around Portland (and even in Idaho). But if you are in Portland, I recommend you visit the studio. You can see where the magic happens! No jewelry making was happening when we visited, but it was still fun to see the shop. And I am now the proud owner of another gorgeous ring.
There is something for everyone in Portland. I promise. You just have to get outside and start exploring. Sooner or later, you will find yourself walking out of some sort of boutique with that one-of-kind souvenir. That is Portland at its best.
“Keep Portland Weird” is a slogan that can be found all over the city. I’m not entirely sure its origins or its purpose, but I love how this city owns its slogan. What’s especially funny to me is that I find the many signs and bumper stickers superfluous. You don’t have to spend a lot of time in Portland to realize how weird it is compared to other places.
My friend, M, found this aspect of Portland particularly novel and fun. She embraced the sentiment and did her best to keep Portland weird while we were there. (This mostly consisted of taking photos with tiny hands, which her Instagram followers loved.) I appreciate a city that embraces what makes it unique. In Portland’s case, that is a whole lot!
I have shared five things to love about Portland, Oregon. But there are plenty more. Every time I go back I experience something new. I also enjoy my favorites from previous trips. What are your favorite things about Portland? What do we need to try the next time we visit? We would love to hear from you.
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I am pretty low maintenance normally, but on a trip I take it to the next level. (I don’t necessarily see this as a good thing….just how it is.) At home, I have a nice selection of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces that I rotate out and wear depending on my outfit. On a trip though, I really like to just be able to put jewelry on when I leave my house and not take it off again until I have returned home. This post will talk about some travel jewelry that I have found that works for being as lazy as possible and still looking good. We’ve mentioned a few in a travel beauty hack post.
Over the years, I have tried out various types of earrings for travel. My main requirement for a travel earring is that I am able to sleep with the earring in and not have it poke me in the head. Secondly, I don’t want to have to take the earrings out to take a shower. Here are three earrings that I’ve had over the years, with my comments.
These earrings are really cheap (under $10 for example) and can be bought on Amazon or ebay. You can get them in stainless steel and different colors. I like that these look edgy (as edgy as I’m ever gonna look). I do not like that they take me forever to get them in place. You have to perfectly balance a tiny ball with two grooves into the open hoop. The pressure of the hoop keeps the ball in place. I always get the very thinnest gauge possible, but even the thinnest type hurts my ears for a few hours after I put them in while my ear stretches out.
These earrings can be found in lots of little girls’ ears. They are great because you can pick out the type of stud and then screw the back on so the pokey part of the earring doesn’t jab you in the head. I got small crystals on Amazon that look great and only cost around $25. I don’t recommend getting any too big or wearing real diamonds around on a trip, because why ask for trouble? The posts are made of steel so you don’t have to worry about turning your ear green if you shower with them in.
These earrings are my favorites right now. I am really feeling yellow gold currently so I got some small closing hoops from Mejuri. The hoop pulls open and reveals the part you put through your ear. It then folds closed so all you see is the hoop. I love these earrings, but they are very small. If you want to make a statement, you should get a bigger hoop. Also, since they are real gold, they cost more than the other earrings I’ve mentioned, around $120.
Like my earrings, I don’t want to worry about taking off necklaces for showering. Since I’m not going to wear anything too expensive, that rules out metal chains. I have found two kinds of corded necklaces that I like. One is a black cord with a small charm on it for when I’m feeling fancy. The other one looks almost like hemp with some beads, for when I’m feeling bohemian. I have been mainly wearing the charm one lately as it matches my hoop earrings.
A few years ago, I went slightly crazy for threaded bracelets. The company Pura Vida makes these adorable bracelets and their website states they also help the people who make them become more financially sound. So I don’t feel guilty at all that I bought a ridiculous amount. I really like the layered look with these bracelets. They have different styles with different charms and beads, but my favorites are the ones that just look like threads. (Pura Vida also makes anklets, if that’s your thing.)
Another option of fabric bracelet comes from our trusty sandal maker, Chaco. You know the adjustable straps on the Chaco sandals? Well, the company has branched out into travel jewelry with bracelets that are made of the same stuff. You can wrap them around your wrist a few times and get a layered look.
Wearing jewelry on a trip makes me feel more put together. This is an important thing, especially given the clothes that I wear when I’m on vacation. By choosing travel jewelry that I put on once and don’t think about again, I free up time and space in my bag for other things. Like cute jewelry that I can bring home with me.
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