Hello, Voyagers!
On a road trip, the name of the game is comfort, utility, and no stress. Here's how to pull that off. See Road Trip Part 1 for what to pack, eat, and wear!

Hoodie, Buckle tank, tinted moisturizer, sunglasses. All I need is the junk food & we’re all set!

This is a great compilation from the Times for some items that will make your road trip life simpler. I couldn’t say it better than they do! And here are a few hints on making your trip fun & relaxing.

If you are worried about conflict amongst the people who will be in the car, you gotta discuss it beforehand, and have a plan for how to make decisions while on the road (who controls the radio, when/where to stop and eat, how often to stop to clean bugs off of the windshield, what is our cutoff time for when to stop for the night, etc.).
Take turns or flip a coin each time for who gets to decide what to listen to. And stick to it!
Download some funny podcasts or books for the road trip. Time will fly. Just make sure everyone agrees on what to listen to. Now Fear This! podcast is a good bet!
Make sure you keep your phone handy - for GPS or music reasons only - with a car mount like this one from Iotti.

Don't be on a strict timetable on a road trip. Have a loose idea where you would like to be that night, but don't get stressed if it takes longer than you planned. Don't always have hotels booked way in advance, but if you do, make sure they're cancelable up until that day.
Have a backup hotel in mind that's a bit closer, just in case.
If, for reasons that escape me, you decide to camp along the way, check out this complete camping list from theroadtripexperts.com.
Be prepared for your cell phones to not work on some long stretches of highway, so your downloads of music and podcasts need to be done before you leave that morning.
Take photos of signs indicating what towns are coming up, and exit signs, etc. They're great mementos.
Wander off the beaten path. If you wonder whether to take the exit to see the "smallest hamburger in the Western Hemisphere" or the "U.S.A.'s Biggest Patriotic Python," take the exit.
Sometimes, take the long way. And through the park. You won't regret it. You'll only regret the things you DON'T do.

Stay Veracious, fellow Voyagers. Stay Veracious.
-VV

Travelin' Beauty: How to wear a bit of makeup even you've only got 90 seconds to get ready

You know, some people, I've heard tell, are opposed to wearing makeup while on vacation. (WTF?!, you're thinking. I KNOW!!!!) Anyhoo, I, myself, am against that, #obvs.

Start with a local beer & other travel tips for Bali, Thailand & lands in between.

Always, always drink a local beer wherever you go. No, not a Coors Light. A local beer. Start on day one. That and a Pepto tablet each day will keep food sickness at bay. (In Thailand, it’s a beer called Singha.)

Graduation Day: Better late than never

Turns out, graduating as a “non-traditional” (read: older) student? It involves the same level of elation as graduating as a youngster. Maybe more. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.

International Road Trip! England and Wales

Driving along the left side of the road takes patience and practice. Unfortunately, you don’t get any actual…practice. And make sure you get an automatic transmission!

Attending the Olympics: Perfectly Imperfect

The first night we landed in Rio, we went out for pizza on a patio. And, much to my joy & surprise, the ACTUAL OLYMPIC TORCH came by on its final leg to the opening of the Games.

A hometown girl's guide to Uptown Dallas, Texas, USA!

I recently realized that I have never done a blog post about my own hometown. It is time to correct that and talk about some of my favorites in & around uptown (my ‘hood) to see, dine, & shop!

COVID-19? Try COVID-38 (lbs)! Getting outdoors to lose that Coronavirus padding

Recently, I stepped on the scale for the first time in 2021. Then I pretty quickly opted to try and change course. So, that’s how I found myself hiking the Appalachian Trail.

A long weekend in Belize

The sounds of the breeze hitting these trees is intoxicating. Here, the waves crest so far out that there is not a lot of ocean sound, but that’s okay. More than okay. Cue Madonna: “tropical, the island breeze…

Road Trippin' 2021 Part 2! Hints & Hacks to doin' it right on the road

If you are worried about conflict amongst the people who will be in the car, discuss it beforehand, and have a plan for how to make decisions while on the road (who controls the radio, when/where to stop and eat…)

Road Trippin' 2021 Part 1: Hints & hacks for doin' it right on the road

This site gives ideas on the best road trips for each time of year. I’ll focus on the trip itself. It’s all about comfort, relaxation, taking in the sites and sights, and, oh, yeah. Junk food.

Guest Blogger! Time for a road trip…with Fido!

If you’re planning your first trip with your dog, you may be feeling a little anxious. While traveling with pets is becoming more common, it can still be a challenge for dog owners to avoid extra expense and stress during those trips.

Well, it's done. And, no, it's still not over. (Cambridge, my beloved Cambridge, oh how I hardly knew ye.)

So, how’d you spend your 4th of July weekend? I spent mine immersed in murder. To be more specific, immersed in my dissertation’s topic: using intuition to prevent murder.

Yellowstone: A Visual Love Letter

If you have been to my site before, it might come as no surprise that Montana is my favorite place in the world, with Yellowstone as its centerpiece.

Being there is like no other experience. I made a visual love letter to it a while back, and just updated it with some more recent photos:

From Dallas, I wrote a Love Letter to Cambridge, and Cambridge’s Newspaper published it!

It is a bit surreal, trying to research on the Cambridge library web sites, and writing papers to submit on crime and violence, referencing theories of crime and deviance that I learned at Cambridge, with the Dallas skyline as my backdrop.

Just ‘cause you party with 20-somethings doesn’t mean you are one, and other observations.

What’s it like heading back to school, in another country, for another master’s degree, in a different field, and with kids my former students’ age now being my peers? Odd. But whereas I had fears of being rejected like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde…

Lake Geneva Weekend: A Once-in-a-Generation Party…but don’t wait 20 years to go there.

The Fête des Vignerons began in 1797, and only happens every 20 or so years, so we jumped at the chance to go. Turns out, they don’t really export their wines, so, you know, they drink them themselves.

South Africa: Giraffes have super-long lashes…lions do it every 15 minutes…plus wine & coastline & otherworldly sunsets

The Garden Route is one of the main tourist attractions in South Africa. The odd thing, though, is the 3-4 hour drive before you get to the Garden Route is prettier than that. The sunrises and sunsets along the southern drive are simply breathtaking.

Pack Like A Boss & Travel Like a Boss, Part 1: New York City, Baby!

Travel

Hello, Voyagers!

On a road trip, the name of the game is comfort, utility, and no stress. Here's how to pull that off. See Road Trip Part 1 for what to pack, eat, and wear!

This is a great compilation from the Times for some items that will make your road trip life simpler. I couldn’t say it better than they do! And here are a few hints on making your trip fun & relaxing.

Take turns or flip a coin each time for who gets to decide what to listen to. And stick to it!

Download some funny podcasts or books for the road trip. Time will fly. Just make sure everyone agrees on what to listen to. Now Fear This! podcast is a good bet!

Make sure you keep your phone handy - for GPS or music reasons only - with a car mount like this one from Iotti.

Don't be on a strict timetable on a road trip. Have a loose idea where you would like to be that night, but don't get stressed if it takes longer than you planned. Don't always have hotels booked way in advance, but if you do, make sure they're cancelable up until that day.

Have a backup hotel in mind that's a bit closer, just in case.

If, for reasons that escape me, you decide to camp along the way, check out this complete camping list from theroadtripexperts.com.

Be prepared for your cell phones to not work on some long stretches of highway, so your downloads of music and podcasts need to be done before you leave that morning.

Take photos of signs indicating what towns are coming up, and exit signs, etc. They're great mementos.

Wander off the beaten path. If you wonder whether to take the exit to see the "smallest hamburger in the Western Hemisphere" or the "U.S.A.'s Biggest Patriotic Python," take the exit.

Sometimes, take the long way. And through the park. You won't regret it. You'll only regret the things you DON'T do.

Stay Veracious, fellow Voyagers. Stay Veracious.

-VV

Previous Travels…

You know, some people, I've heard tell, are opposed to wearing makeup while on vacation. (WTF?!, you're thinking. I KNOW!!!!) Anyhoo, I, myself, am against that, #obvs.

Always, always drink a local beer wherever you go. No, not a Coors Light. A local beer. Start on day one. That and a Pepto tablet each day will keep food sickness at bay. (In Thailand, it’s a beer called Singha.)

What did I wear? A blue one-shoulder dress.

And, of course, ALL the beauty products. #gottabeme

Not everything needs to come from the big chain stores, and when someone has had to solve their own beauty and skin issues in their own kitchen, you often end up with lovely products that work like a charm.

Lots of strange things were afoot at Miami Art Basel. One was a celebration at Arsenale for the launch of a prototype of the world’s first all-electric personal water craft.

Turns out, graduating as a “non-traditional” (read: older) student? It involves the same level of elation as graduating as a youngster. Maybe more. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Driving along the left side of the road takes patience and practice. Unfortunately, you don’t get any actual…practice. And make sure you get an automatic transmission!

The first night we landed in Rio, we went out for pizza on a patio. And, much to my joy & surprise, the ACTUAL OLYMPIC TORCH came by on its final leg to the opening of the Games.

I recently realized that I have never done a blog post about my own hometown. It is time to correct that and talk about some of my favorites in & around uptown (my ‘hood) to see, dine, & shop!

Recently, I stepped on the scale for the first time in 2021. Then I pretty quickly opted to try and change course. So, that’s how I found myself hiking the Appalachian Trail.

The sounds of the breeze hitting these trees is intoxicating. Here, the waves crest so far out that there is not a lot of ocean sound, but that’s okay. More than okay. Cue Madonna: “tropical, the island breeze…

If you are worried about conflict amongst the people who will be in the car, discuss it beforehand, and have a plan for how to make decisions while on the road (who controls the radio, when/where to stop and eat…)

This site gives ideas on the best road trips for each time of year. I’ll focus on the trip itself. It’s all about comfort, relaxation, taking in the sites and sights, and, oh, yeah. Junk food.

If you’re planning your first trip with your dog, you may be feeling a little anxious. While traveling with pets is becoming more common, it can still be a challenge for dog owners to avoid extra expense and stress during those trips.

So, how’d you spend your 4th of July weekend? I spent mine immersed in murder. To be more specific, immersed in my dissertation’s topic: using intuition to prevent murder.

If you have been to my site before, it might come as no surprise that Montana is my favorite place in the world, with Yellowstone as its centerpiece.

Being there is like no other experience. I made a visual love letter to it a while back, and just updated it with some more recent photos:

It is a bit surreal, trying to research on the Cambridge library web sites, and writing papers to submit on crime and violence, referencing theories of crime and deviance that I learned at Cambridge, with the Dallas skyline as my backdrop.

What’s it like heading back to school, in another country, for another master’s degree, in a different field, and with kids my former students’ age now being my peers? Odd. But whereas I had fears of being rejected like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde…

The Fête des Vignerons began in 1797, and only happens every 20 or so years, so we jumped at the chance to go. Turns out, they don’t really export their wines, so, you know, they drink them themselves.

The Garden Route is one of the main tourist attractions in South Africa. The odd thing, though, is the 3-4 hour drive before you get to the Garden Route is prettier than that. The sunrises and sunsets along the southern drive are simply breathtaking.

Light packing is right packing. Trust moi, you do NOT want to be schlepping your giant or super-heavy bags all across New York.

Veracious Voyager

Oh, the places you can find me!

**You know, some people, I've heard tell, are opposed to wearing makeup while on vacation. (WTF?!, you're thinking. I KNOW!!!!) Anyhoo, I, myself, am against that, #obvs.**