10 Photos of Mirrors and Reflections

I have a fascination with mirrors and reflections— I love the strange perspectives they give to reality. As a kid, one of my favorite road trip activities was staring at the rearview mirror while watching the reflections in the windows in my peripheral vision. If I did it too long, I got dizzy, but I would stare as long as I could. Now that I’m grown up, I still do that. And sometimes I take pictures, too. Sometimes multiple pictures of the same reflection. Don’t judge me. Mirrors are cool.

Self-portrait in Wyoming.

Tucson, Arizona.

Antelope Island, Utah.

Library, Seattle, Washington. It's a whole building made out of mirrors!

A tiny town whose name I cannot remember, Germany.

Same mirror from a different angle.

St. Elisabeth's Church, Nuremberg, Germany.

Building on the side of the highway, St. Peters, Missouri.

More Wyoming.

De Young Museum elevator, San Francisco, California. Also, this is the greatest picture I have ever taken.

15 Items on My Travel Bucket List

Since my life of nomadism has officially come to a close, my travel bucket list has gotten considerably shorter. However, that doesn’t mean it’s gone away— and Zachary has added several experiences to the list. Here are 15 travel-related things I still definitely want to do (with Zachary, unless noted otherwise) before I kick the bucket!

1. Visit all 50 states. (29 down, 21 to go!)

2. Take a trip to Louisiana to visit the Tabasco farms.

Hopefully, this will be Zach and me next year!

3. Camp out on the salt flats of Utah again.

4. Host a Thanksgiving dinner for some travelers from another country.

5. Hike a section of the Ozark Trail. 

6. Visit Vancouver, Canada, with my sister.

7. Explore Wyoming’s national parks.

8. Finally visit Maine. (I’ve wanted to since I was a little kid!)

9. Take a road trip around New England in the autumn.

10. Go stargazing in a desert.

11. Take a day hike across Rhode Island.

12. Camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

13. Go camping in Alaska.

14. Take a road trip through the Dakotas, Montana, and Idaho to Oregon.

15. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014!

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Where to Go: Buford Mountain Conservation Area, Missouri

The view from Bald Knob

This wasn't even the rockiest part of the trail.

As an epilogue to my blog miniseries about Zach’s and my hike up Buford Mountain, I decided to give the area a more comprehensive review. Any serious hiker should check it out.

Why you should go: The 10.5-mile loop is is one of the most challenging hikes in the St. Louis area, and delves through incredibly scenic forests and glades, rich with wildlife, especially birds. There’s a nice view from Bald Knob. As a bonus, primitive camping is allowed year-round, so it’s one of the few places I’ve encountered in Missouri so far where you can just hike into the woods and pitch a tent.

How to get there: Buford Mountain is about two hours from St. Louis. Backpacker magazine has the most comprehensive directions in this article. (Note that, not being a Missouri publication, they label the trail as fit for a “lazy weekend.”)

What to bring: Assuming a day hike, bring plenty of water and snacks. Dress for some hardcore hiking, especially your shoes: as I mentioned in my previous blog, the terrain is really rocky. There are also no toilet facilities, so come prepared to do your business in the woods.

What else you need to know: The outstanding (but somewhat-lacking-in-trails) Elephant Rocks State Park is just a few miles away, and makes a good side trip. Also, from St. Louis, the drive down is full of scenic Midwestern vistas. Whether you’re day-tripping or spending the night, Buford Mountain is a great place close to St. Louis that lets you experience nature in a vivid way.

The trail also periodically turns into a creek.

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10 German Doors

No, it’s not a weird band name. It’s just a blog that gives further evidence that the Europeans know how to make their buildings beautiful.

12 Amazing Cities I've Visited, Part Three

Here is the conclusion of the matter (a continuation, as you may have guessed, from Part One and Part Two). Since the cities I’ve visited most recently are all in Europe, you’ll find a lack of American cities in this final four. Here they are!

4. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Rijksmuseum alone would be enough to put this city in my top 12. It was my introduction to Europe, showing me that the painstakingly-crafted historic-looking cities in the US are copies of the real thing on the other side of the Atlantic. With scenic canals, amazing museums, and a vibrant cultural life, Amsterdam is more than worth the visit. (Hostel recommendation: Shelter City proved to be safe, clean, and friendly at a bargain price— well, bargain for Amsterdam.)

3. Hamburg, Germany. The thing that impressed me about this city was the care and craftsmanship that seemed to go into every building. From the sweeping harbor views to the tucked-away cottages, this city is both grand and charming. Take a ride on the ferry for the best views of the city and harbor.

2. Nuremberg, Germany. I can’t even explain how much this city impressed and fascinated me. It is magnificent on every scale, and from the medieval castle to St. Lorenzkirche to the house of Albrecht Dürer, there is plenty to see. The city tour, along with a tour of the castle, was more than worth the euros I spent (find English-speaking tours at the nearest Tourist Information office). Be sure to try some Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Nürnberg sausages while you’re there.

1. Salzburg, Austria. I look back on the photos I took of this city and just gape. This is a city on an epic, but distinctly European, scale. The winding streets give way to huge courtyards, massive churches, and other buildings of remarkable beauty. The whole city climbs up a hill (read: mountain), on top of which perches a castle straight out of a fairy-tale. And if that wasn’t good enough, a mildly challenging hike from the city center takes you to views of the Alps that will blow your mind. If you are ever remotely near this city, take the time to spend at least a day.

What are your favorite cities? Which should I absolutely visit before I die?

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12 Amazing Cities I've Visited, Part Two

And now, the follow-up you’ve all been waiting for! (Here’s Part One, if you missed it. Remember, I’m going in order of sequence, not favor.)

8. Sacramento, California. Take a step back into the Gold Rush era in Sacramento’s historic district, then stroll to a few blocks away to the heart of the city for a tour of the capitol building. It’s full of historic buildings, tourist activities, and cute local restaurants and stores. Plus, the downtown’s streets are laid out on a number-and-letter grid, which makes it easy to find your way around. (Hostel recommendation: Sacramento Downtown HI Hostel is a dazzling Victorian mansion, fully restored. Plus it’s a great location.)

7. Portland, Oregon. I’m not going to lie: Portland freaks me out a bit (I’ve blogged about this before). That said, Powell’s Books is enough to make this city any bibliophile’s favorite, and some of the most amazing memories of my life involve eating Voodoo Donuts in Portland’s downtown. The best part of this city, however, is Forest Park. It contains over 5,000 acres of pure Oregon woodland— which is, as any native could tell you, some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. (Also check out the Rose Garden.)

6. Tucson, Arizona. Speaking of cities that freaked me out, Tucson is high on the list. It stands in the middle of a desert and has an eerie, arid feel to it. I can’t say I actually liked Tucson that much, but I was fascinated and drawn in by it. Sometimes it pretends to be a normal city, but it’s most beautiful when it embraces the nature of the desert with thick adobe walls and bright Southwestern colors. And it has the DeGrazia Gallery, which is still the most beautiful art gallery I’ve ever seen.

5. Denver, Colorado. I debated between this and Oklahoma City, but Denver won out because I spent more time there. (Sorry, OK City— you’re still fantastic!) Some people might call Denver a generic city, but I prefer the term “well balanced:” it has a mix of tourist districts, nice apartments, bookstores, walking paths and attractions, with a spattering of urban art in between. The best part, though, is its location: you can walk just a few miles out of town and find yourself scaling the (very tall) foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Tomorrow… the conclusion of the series (otherwise known as “the European City Blog”)!

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12 Amazing Cities I've Visited, Part One

“All cities are alike.” I have heard this from countless nomads and frequent travelers, people who spend months on the road or city-hop every other day. After a while, they say, all the cities start to blur together. 

Since I haven’t traveled as much as some people I know, I’ve been spared that jadedness. While many cities (and practically all suburbs) are generic, several of them still stand out in my mind as amazing, and unique, places. Hence, I’m creating this list.

Although I’ve often been referred to as “the world traveler” among my acquaintances, my travels have not been that extensive. While I have spent considerable time on the road the past three years, I keep on returning to the same places— namely the west coast. Bear that in mind as you read my list of 12 of my favorite cities. For instance, I’ve never been to any of the New England cities, and I haven’t visited Chicago or Atlanta for long enough to pass judgement. To avoid driving myself crazy with the order, I’m arranging them by date I visited them as a traveler, from oldest to most recent. Here goes.

12. St. Louis, Missouri. No, this isn’t cheating! Although I tell outsiders that I’m “from St. Louis,” I actually live in a separate county, so it still counts as “visiting.” It really is an amazing town. I love it for the turn-of-the-century architecture, City Museum, Forest Park, and the ridiculous amounts of free stuff (I’ve blogged about the Zoo, but the Art Museum is fantastic, too). 

11. Seattle, Washington. I fell in love with this sound-side city the moment I stepped off the plane. Breezy and glassy, it’s one of my favorite places on earth. The Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and ferry system are all worth checking out, but my favorite thing to do is just walk around the city, gawk at the architecture, chill in the library, or take a hike down the waterfront. (Hostel recommendation: The Green Tortoise is great.)

10. San Francisco, California. For all my fangirl-love of Seattle, cities really don’t get much better than San Fran. With pristine buildings, a ridiculously scenic coastline, dozens of fascinating sights around the city, and, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s a place you could stay for a week and never think of getting bored. (Hostel recommendation: Fisherman’s Wharf HI Hostel has a great location for a reasonable price.)

9. San Diego, California. Imagine a small laid-back beach town full of surfers, fishermen, and wealthy people with oceanfront homes. Turn it into a city, and that’s San Diego. This town boasts great weather and beautiful flowers all years long. Different parts of the area have different feels, from the surfer-hipster district of Ocean Beach to the wealthy golden-sand tourist trap of Coronado Island. With tidepools, great restaurants, Balboa Park, and a swingin’ downtown, this city is a place that my sister is happy to call home. (Hostel recommendation: Point Loma HI Hostel doesn’t have the best location, but it’s one of the nicest and friendliest hostels I’ve ever visited.)

Part Two of Three is coming tomorrow!

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10 Photos of Our Trip So Far

Although most of our trip has consisted of spending time with family, we’ve taken a bit of time to see the sights, too. Here are 10 photos to prove it.

Cloudy Northwestern skies, as seen from above.

Zach wearing his cool new hat on the Portland waterfront.

My obsession with waterfowl continues…

Checking out the St. Helens waterfront.

More Portland.

It's a cormorant!

Steel Bridge, Portland.

Urban art with flowers.

View from a summit in Forest Park.

Redwood tree mosaic, Forest Park, Portland.

Travel Tip Tuesdays: Five Things I Always Pack

In response to last week’s blog post, a reader asked: 

On the contrariwise, are there any items that you always take, no matter what? 

In addition to using the fantastic word “contrariwise,” this person brings up a good point. I won’t mention stuff I refuse to do without (such as underwear, good walking shoes, and a toothbrush), but here are five things you might not think of but I consider essential:

Water bottle. I have discovered that there aren’t nearly enough drinking fountains in the world, especially in remote hiking areas and downtowns of big cities. To avoid paying through the nose for bottled water, bring your own (preferably a lightweight metal one). You never know when you’ll need it.

iPod Touch. An iPhone (or any smartphone) is even better, but my iPod Touch is very useful to me. Not only do I love listening to music, but it serves as a watch, alarm clock, photo album, reading tablet, and, when I have wi-fi, a tiny computer.  

Hat. I’m not talking about a stylish hat— I bring my green bucket hat, since it shades both my ears and my eyes, keeps off sun and rain, and is generic enough to go with anything. If you sunburn easily and/or are traveling somewhere rainy, this is essential.

A bandana can also be used to clean up the messes of
drooling bears, as Mary is attempting to do here in Seattle.

Sarong. I feel like a hypocrite putting this on the list since I don’t currently own one. Still, it merits placement because it’s one of the most massively useful things ever. Whether using it as a towel, a picnic blanket, or a stylish skirt, I have found a sarong to be a treasured travel companion.

Bandanas. These are about as essential to me as my toothbrush (almost). They work as a quick fix for a bad hair day, a bit of flair to a drab outfit, or a bandage for a gory wound. Napkin, kerchief, washcloth, ankle wrap, sleeping mask or sack, these suckers come in pretty handy.

What do you always pack?

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Have a travel question? Leave a comment and I’ll answer!

Five Photos of a 'Merican in Europe

One of my proudest achievements in Europe was getting the locals to think I was one of them. Usually this occurred when I kept my mouth closed (although the cashier at the gift shop in the Kröller-Müller Museum definitely thought I spoke Dutch), and I got good at saying, “Ich spreche kein Deutsch,” trying to hide my proud smile that they hadn’t labeled me as an American right away.

Still, there were times when my American-ity showed pretty blatantly, as you can see in the following photos:

I found this "American sandwich bread" in a tiny corner store in the rural village of Faucogney, France.

"Local cuisine in Salzburg? Nah, I'll just nom on this Clif bar I bought at a Wal-Mart in Missouri."
(Also, I bear an uncanny resemblance to my oldest brother in this picture.)

I'm sure Europeans get on the wrong train sometimes, too. But they wouldn't stay on the wrong train when
the conductor tells them in German to hop off at the next stop and backtrack. That's an American thing.

Okay, so it's a European food. But WHY DON'T WE SPREAD THIS ON EVERYTHING?

This was my face in Europe a lot. I hope some of the people thought it was cute instead of idiotic.