welcome to my garden
desire to flourish
North America
The United States:
Ohio: State of C's: Cornfields, Cowboys, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cedar Point My hometown is Huron: You should come here during the summer for the beautiful lake and very peaceful vibes. Visit Pied Piper for a chili dog and ice cream, and enjoy them on a bench at LakeFront Park. While you're here, head over to Sandusky to ride roller coasters at Cedar Point. I grew up coming here and to the attached waterpark. No, I never get tired of going. Hocking Hills: Secluded cabins with many beautiful hiking spots. Mohican River: A MUST summer activity. You float down a 7-mile river for 2/3 hours. Drinking, smoking, swimming, floating, what more could I want? My alma mater is the University of Toledo, a campus nestled inside a big city. UT has Harry Potter-esque buildings, a laughable acceptance rate, and affordable tuition, a perfect combination. Not the most walkable city, unless you're on campus or downtown. 30 minutes from Bowling Green's campus if you like a small college town vibe here and there. Also, right on the Michigan border, close enough to Ann Arbor and Detroit for a night out.
Texas: Everything's bigger here, but don't say that goofy phrase to a local; no one knows where it started. Also, don't say pop, they said soda 'round here, calling everything Coke. Houston: Full of amazing BBQ- go for the brisket, tacos, crawfish, and just about any other food you could want. Galveston is only an hour away for a beach vibe and amazing fresh seafood, just don't trust the oysters. Water isn't clear, but neither is Lake Erie; it made no difference to me. You have to grocery shop at HEB, go to Buc-ee's, and eat Whataburger for the full experience. You can spot Alligators at Brazos Bend State Park. Go early for the best weather and to see the most sunbathing gators. South Padre Island: 6ish hour drive from Houston. Young spring break island vibes. Just don't travel with any Mary Jane, there is border patrol when you leave this town.
New England: Vermont: Want to go skiing? There are tons and tons of options that I unfortunately did not explore. I did, however, visit Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory- 10/10 New Hampshire: Another skier's heaven. I visited Pat's Peak and Loon Mountain Resort, both with affordable prices and nice options for a beginner, or dare I say, novice. Portsmouth is another town in NH that I have always heard great things about. Maine: A huge state I only got a glimpse of, and never saw a moose in. Portland is an upcoming, young, artistic city. I loved this town, coffee and thrift shops everywhere, along with dispensaries. I also met a kind man who took me under his wing, taking me to a small rock gig where I met all his Portland homies, who later gave me shrooms. Such a vibe. Bar Harbor is for Acadia National Park. Beautiful place with amazing views and wildlife. From October to March, this is the very first place in the US to witness the sunrise. In June and July, this is also the only place in the US to spot puffins. Massachusetts: Boston is a beautiful, quaint city that gives smaller, cleaner, more peaceful NYC vibes. A must-visit in my opinion, but prepare your wallet- it's not a cheap one. The North End has amazing Italian food and desserts, with my absolute favorite place to hammock, Christopher Columbus Park. The rooftop of Prudential has the best view of the city by far. Go before sunset and stay until you see the city lights. Sit in the Boston Common to people watch for a picnic, best in the fall and spring, and has ice skating in the winter. Cambridge has Harvard with a hipster vintage vibe. Tons of thrift and record stores. Step outside the city, and you find rural America. More expansive grassland and fields. Springfield has a 6 flags amusement park that is very fun. Rhode Island: Providence is just an hour train ride from Boston. From May into the fall, they hold Waterfire every few weekends. A beautiful festival of pop-up tents with local artists and food, while people ride in kayaks, lighting fires in the river (yes, I'm sure it's safe). Newport is the definition of lifestyles of the rich and the famous. This town felt like the Old English version of Beverly Hills, a whole city of huge estates, history, and flowers everywhere. Connecticut: Bristol has Lake Compounce, the water park that saved my 4th of July when we didn't book our tickets for Brownstone Adventures in advance. There is also an amusement park attached, and the tickets were affordable. Greenwich is a boujee town located right on the NY border. Close to Stamford and NYC, you can take the train to either.
Florida: Orlando is for Disneyland, but I prefer Universal for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. So iconic, I would go back in a heartbeat. Miami and Tampa are other cities I've been to; I don't remember anything in particular about either, besides swimming in the crystal clear ocean, especially in Miami.
New York: Regrettfully, I've only visited NYC out of this beautiful state. When in the city, a Broadway show is a must. Walking on Fifth Avenue feels straight out of Gossip Girl. You need to go into the subway at least once, too, quite the experience- you can also walk from train car to car, because why not. One of the only cities I've been to in the US where you can party until 4 am. What I really loved was people watching and being able to eat a hot dog wherever I wanted. The fashion, uniqueness, and diversity you will see here are truly what make NYC one of a kind.
California: Los Angeles, of course. Amazing food, weed everywhere, but expensive, and you need a car for everything. Not my favorite. Interesting fact: the ocean is rarely warm enough to swim in. San Diego: Beautiful city with mustached men everywhere, very military vibe. See sea lions at La Jolla.
Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee: Mashed these babies together because all I've seen of each was a cabin in the woods. Of course, there is more to each, but I have no experience elsewhere. Great vacation spots for secluded relaxation and hikes.
Illinois: Another state I've only seen the iconic city of. Chicago is amazing, though. The city is very walkable and right on Lake Michigan. I stayed at HI Hostel during my visit- 10/10 recommended. Kayaking on the river is also a must, very peaceful and good views. The Lollapalooza music festival is on my bucket list.
Mexico:
Mexico City: Shamefully, the only city I have truly gotten to explore in this beautiful country. I spent a week staying at Massiosare Hostel- 100/10 recommended. The vibes here were immaculate. CDMX has amazing street food, salsa clubs, culture, and sites to see. I did not visit the Teotihuacan pyramids, but heard many good reviews for a day trip. I was here for Dia de Muertos- it was PACKED full of people. I would recommend going to a smaller city if large crowds aren't your thing. Safety-wise, it was no different than any other huge metropolitan. Just be smart.
Belize:
Caye Caulker: An island off of Belize City. One of the best snorkeling spots I've been to. I swam with sting rays, sharks, sea turtles, and a ton of fish. I recommend Carlos's Tour. Message him on Instagram @carlos.tours. The hostel Tropical Oasis was cheap and sufficient. Bella's Backpackers is another popular one. A very safe destination, once you're out of Belize City. I didn't feel too comfy there, quite honestly, but I also didn't explore much.
Guatemala:
Flores: A touristy small island in the North of Guatemala. Easy destination from Belize by bus. Tikal is a popular site to see Mayan ruins. Go as early as possible for the best weather and animal viewing. I stayed at Ahau Hostel 10/10, with free yoga, coffee, and vibes. So many events here. Cubulco: VERY small town. No tourists here. I was here for a volunteering opportunity, staying with a family. El Paredon: 100/10 recommend. My favorite city in Guatemala. It is a beach town on the south coast. It's giving welcoming hippy vibes full of tourists and locals alike, surfing all day, and playing beach volleyball every sunset. Best sunrise and sunset I've seen. Even a daily baby sea turtle release. I stayed at Driftwood Surfer hostel 10/10- best location right on the beach with a big pool for when the sand's too hot. The hostels collaborate to have events like trivia, karaoke, and beer pong tournaments pretty much each day of the week. I saw bioluminescence in the ocean here. I had an extremely safe experience in this country, taking public transport to Cubulco, but taking shared vans with other travellers for longer trips for convenience's sake. Feedback I heard for the chicken buses was that the most dangerous part was the reckless driving. Do with that what you will.
El Salvador:
Juayua: I stayed here for 2 weeks volunteering at Rick's Hostel 9/10. Come to this town if you want relaxed days spent with locals and driving a Moto to neighboring towns. Santa Ana: A bigger city, but I didn't like it better. El Tunco: Beach vibes, come here to surf and drink, but that's about it. Also, a very nice sunset. A very safe country to visit for tourists, in light of recent leadership and a bit of unethical cleansing.
Costa Rica:
Drake Bay: I was here to volunteer as a sea turtle conservist at ACOTPRO. 10/10. A truly magical time in my life. Sea turtle season in October-December happens to be the rainy season too, so bring your raincoat. This country is known for her amazing diverse wildlife, many colorful birds, nature conservation, and sustainable energy efforts. This, in combination with being well-known to tourists, makes for a pricey trip. Very touristy destination, which makes for a safe trip.