Have you ever read an article written by someone who’s traveling the world with just a backpack and no itinerary?

So cool…

Ok, but when you read those articles, do you think to yourself:

“What can they pack in that little bag?”

“Where do they sleep?”

“Where are the hair care tools?!”

BECAUSE I DO.

Hey, I’m Cindi – a California native and current resident, entrepreneur, writer, wife, mother, and grandmother. Generally NOT someone you’d describe as a seasoned traveler, but I’ve had a travelers’ mindset for years.

My goal is to see as much as I can – whenever and wherever  I can see it. That includes day trips, weekend trips, local restaurants, art, and history museums, sprinkled into all the far-flung travel I can finagle.

Then I need to come straight home – to my life, to my house, to my bed – to recharge for the next adventure

Here’s the thing…when I take a big trip, I DO NOT obsess over travel planning because I like spontaneity (and, frankly, it likes me).

But…I will take my sweet time picking out where I’m going to stay, because, you know – good beds are essential. Quality Bathrooms. Blow dryer plugs.

I aim for a Five Star experience on a 3.5 Star budget for all my trips. (I’d LOVE to spend a boatload of money when I travel — maybe that’ll happen someday… Looking at you LOTTERY! 👀)

The absolute KEY to my travel philosophy?

I check my bag.

It makes me feel thinner once I’ve dumped it at the ticket counter and I hear “Off we go – into the wild blue yonder,” playing in my head.

(I’m not opposed to carry-on only per se, but those trips always end up with a bad bathroom stall story in them.)

So, if you like to check your bags, bring your blow dryer, pack a little more “just in case”, AND stress less about what’s supposed to be a good time – follow along! Join me as I talk about the tools I use, the unique solutions and “hacks” I discover, and, of course, my travel adventures near and far. And FYI – that’s gonna be warts and all because sometimes it works – and sometimes I end up with a great story to tell.

My Traveling Past

Nope, I’m not (ahhhhemmm) a “Seasoned Traveler”. Aside from a few dashes across the border into Baja California as a UCLA undergrad, my first trip outside the US was to Fiji when I was twenty-six. Another eight years passed before the next big travel opportunity came up.

Since then, I’ve made many stops across Europe and hit many tropical islands, but my bucket list is still longer than the list of places I’ve visited. (I’ll keep working on it.)

In between all of that, I’ve traveled the United States, diving deep into the four corners, hopscotching the Midwest and the Southwest, and even cruising the inside passage of Alaska.

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area for years, I’ve taken countless visitors on insider tours from Silicon Valley to the hills of The City (aka San Francisco). Now I’m living in Sacramento, with quick access to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra mountains,  and a few lesser-known wine regions that give Napa and Sonoma Valleys a run for their money.

In case you didn’t realize it, you can do a lot of ‘traveling’ right in your own hometown. So get out there and find stuff – then tell me about it! I may be coming your way sometime soon and insider tips are the best!

Until then, safe travels!