It's the height of summer, let's talk about the travel we've done, been doing, and are still prepping to do.
BEST PLACES WE’VE TRAVELED
Kayla’s Favorite Travel Spots:
Well this is just an unfair question. I love all the places I have had the opportunity to travel to - and all for different reasons! So far, I have been to 11 countries - USA (duh), Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, and Iceland. Every single one of these countries holds a special place in my heart because they are all so unique and I have such special memories from them! For instance, Germany was the first country I ever visited alone and I had the absolute privilege of studying at a German college. I spent my days trying (and failing) to learn German while eating my way through copious amounts of french fries, croissants, and Strawberries (iykyk). Peru takes the top spot for the most adventurous traveling I have ever done. Hiking almost 70 miles through the harsh terrain and rainforest to Machu Picchu is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Also, just seeing how appreciative the local communities were for tourism to be returning after Covid was special. Switzerland takes the cake for the most beautiful country I have ever been to. The entire place felt like I was living in a movie. It also happens to be where Aimée and I fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine and got to visit iconic Sound of Music locations. Iceland is home to the most amount of waterfalls I have ever seen in one place. And it is also the only place I have ever seen sleet/snow on my birthday! Japan is a country I can hardly even put into words. I was completely mesmerized the entire time I was there. I loved everything about Japan - the food, culture, people, nature... If there is one country I would ever want to live in besides the US, Japan would take that spot.
So, I guess this is the very long-winded way of me saying, there is no "best place" I've traveled because they all hold so many special memories. I appreciate every place I've seen and hope to one day return although I know it is unlikely due to how many places I want to go!
Sydney’s Favorite Travel Spot:
Israel. This is partly because of the type of trip I went on and the people I went with. I got to go on Birthright in January 2019 and it was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was a 2 week trip with absolute strangers, but by the time we were headed back to the States we were so incredibly close.
There are many types of itineraries you can sign up for with Birthright, but I went with just a generic trip that kind of hits all the major sights and you do a few fun excursions. This was perfect for me since it was my first time in Israel.
We arrived in Tel Aviv and drove straight to the Golan Heights where we would begin our trip. We spent a couple days there hiking, ATVing, and visiting a winery! We visited a bunker about 3 miles from the Syrian border and learned about the Six Day War. We also took a day trip to Tzfat which houses many artists and is a hub for creativity. We met with an incredible artist, Avraham Leventhal, who is a Kabbalah artist and gave us a tour of his studio.
On the fourth day of our trip we drove to the Sea of Galilee and we met the Israeli IDF soldiers who would be joining us on the trip. We did ice breakers and played outdoor games with them to get to know each other before driving to the Jordan Valley. While we were there we got to speak with someone who was instrumental in negotiating the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.
We traveled to Jerusalem for Shabbat where we visited the Western Wall and prayed. The heaviest part of the trip was when we visited Yad V'shem Holocaust Memorial Museum. The sadness and devastation was so thick in the air. I am very grateful to have paid respects there. Since we stayed over Shabbat, we spent most of Saturday playing games in the park and getting to know the Israelis on our trip.We also got to tour the Kotel Tunnels, returned to the Western Wall, and had a night out at The Shuk, a covered marketplace in Jerusalem with bars, restaurants, and shops. Another one of the heavier moments on the trip was when we visited Mount Herzl, Israel's national cemetery, where many young IDF soldiers are buried, even friends of some of the Israeli soldiers on our trip.
After Jerusalem we drove to Tel Aviv where we visited the Taglit Entrepreneurship Center, took a guided tour of the city, and visited an outdoor flea market. We were only in Tel Aviv briefly before traveling to the Negev Desert where we stayed overnight in Bedouin tents. I think staying in the Negev Desert was my favorite part of the trip. We walked out into the middle of the desert and went stargazing. I had never been so engulfed by darkness. It was so peaceful and silent. The next morning we woke up to ride camels during the sunrise before heading off to Masada National Park to hike the mountain and learn about the history there. It was on top of the mountain where many of my new friends and I were Bar Mitzvah'd. This was so incredibly special to me as it was something I had wanted for myself for a long time. We all laughed and cried together during the ceremonies. After Masada we drove to the Dead Sea where we swam around and floated in the salty water. This was definitely a bucket list moment for me and a once in a lifetime experience.
On our last full day we toured something called the Salad Trail, which is a touch-and-taste farm in the Northern Negev Desert. On the tour we learned about agriculture and cutting edge technology while sampling fruits and veggies straight from the vine. I notoriously hate raw tomato, but gave one a taste while here. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten and it honestly ruined tomatoes for me even more! The gift shop features the designer Rockets into Roses, which is art, jewelry and Judaica created from Iron Dome missiles used to protect the citizens of Israel. I bought a Star of David necklace and a Mezuzah that are very near and dear to my heart.
After the Salad Trail we drove to Kfar Azah, a Kibbutz where one of the Israelis lived. The Kibbutz is just 3 miles from Gaza and is often subject to rockets and missiles launched from The Gaza Strip. When we offloaded from the bus we were immediately met with a drill on what to do should a rocket be fired while we were there. The last rocket to be launched at the Kibbutz was just 4 days prior. Whenever radar systems detect an incoming rocket, a red code is announced over loudspeakers throughout the kibbutz. There are bomb shelters or safe rooms within 10 seconds of anywhere in the kibbutz. It was a sobering and humbling experience to learn how people lived on this Kibbutz. The it was time to say goodbye to the Israelis on our trip before heading to our last hotel and flying home the next morning.
I got to travel all over Israel visiting beautiful and historic sites like Masada National Park, the Dead Sea, and the Western Wall (during Shabbat no less!). I went hiking, four wheeling, wine tasting, and ate so much delicious food. It was a long and exhausting trip, but the friendships I made and the memories I have are going to be with me forever.
Aimée’s Favorite Travel Spots:
Hawaii, hands down! And, specifically, Maui. I don't think there's any other place in the world where natural beauty and human kindness come together so magically. I know Hawaiian tourism is a bit of a controversial topic, but I felt welcomed with open arms at all parts of my trip there. It's just really important to be as conscious of a tourist you can be - but that's true everywhere you go. Leave the place as you found it!
To round out the rest of my Top 5 travel destinations:
Hawaii
Walt Disney World (the heart wants what the heart wants, what can I say)
Portugal & Spain (it feels reasonable enough to group them together)
Greece
Colorado
Blaze’s Favorite Travel Spots:
I haven’t traveled too much. I really stretched my study abroad trip out and spent the summer running around Europe about 8 years ago but haven’t been out of the country since. I love the idea and the act of traveling but it’s been hard to make fit into my schedule. I would love to explore more of the world but at once point I was fortunate enough to go to Rome, Istanbul, Greece, Paris, and San Sebastián. I’d say those are my top five.
Rome was incomprehensible historic and soft; Istanbul smelled like corn and was filled with incredible architecture; Greece held my dream beaches and beautiful freedom to explore; Paris felt cold and chic; San Sebastián reminded me of home but with a lot of strong drinks.
I’m looking forward to my next destination wherever it is but I do also love to travel to see family and get that warm hug fresh from the plane.
Vidha’s Favorite Travel Spots:
SO MANY PLACES! Each one holds such an amazing charm!
Wales / Ireland / Scotland - my dream weather (stormy and grey), with the most lush and beautiful country sides, cliffs, natural wonders. Amazing accents and such a rich history (Celtic, Gaelic, Welsh language and history is just fascinating). Amazing DRINKIES! This gal loves a Gin and Juice, Guinness, and Cider! Unfortunately the food leaves a lot to be wanted, as I am NOT a meat and potatoes girl lol, nor do I eat any seafood. But this is made up for by the beauty, richness, and whimsy I felt / experienced in these areas!
Arusha and Zanzibar, Tanzania - ANIMALS! AMAZING FOOD! KIND PEOPLE! Also you are a millionaire when you convert your dollars! A gentle and beautiful reminder that the world is so much bigger than you and your tiny problems.
Washington State: America is BEAUTIFUL. I cried when I entered Olympic National Park, was breathless from the beauty of North Cascades National Park, and in AWE at Mt Rainier National Park. We are so lucky to live on this beautiful planet and have the ability to visit these gorgeous formations.
Israel - Shakshuka!!!!!! Need I say more!!??
India - Best food, worst smells lol, best spiritually enlightening experience, worst creepy stares from weird men. Another incredible reminder of how grateful I am and how both strong and fragile human existence is.
Shelby’s Four Favorite Travel Spots:
Amsterdam — Truly so incredible. It really seems that people are happier here and that the people are heard by the higher-ups (totally acknowledging the fact that racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, and all the isms that, unfortunately, exist everywhere and certainly do so in Amsterdam, but it is definitely less than here).
Stratford-Upon-Avon — I wept in the streets.
Scotland — Specifically the Isle of Skye. Yes, Edinburgh is stunning, but there are no words for Northern Scotland. Fairies are real.
Open water on the Atlantic — I’ve cruised multiple times and being in the middle of the ocean, seeing nothing on either side but more and more ocean, is truly an experience.
DREAM TRAVEL LOCATIONS
Kayla’s Dream Travel Spots:
Everywhere! Which I know is a cop-out, but it is true. I don't really know if there is a country that I wouldn't want to see if given the opportunity. Marc and I are on a mission to see and experience it all! Obviously, that comes with a lot of planning and prioritizing so our current list of "top choices" are as follows (and in no particular order):
Safari in Africa
Tour of Italy - wine, pasta, and gelato….
Running of the Bulls in Spain
Northern lights in Antarctica
Dog sledding in Alaska
With our current budgeting, we are able to take two international trips a year, so hopefully we will have the opportunity to knock a few of these off in the next couple of years! I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you have the opportunity and wish to travel, do it. Don't wait! Take the PTO, spend a little bit of money, and just see new places. It doesn't have to be international. It can be a weekend trip to a lake, or a state park (don't sleep on your local state parks!). There is so much world to be explored!
Sydney’s Dream Travel Spot:
Greece! It seems like everyone is going to Greece this summer and I am big-time jealous. It looks so gorgeous and interesting.
Aimée’s Dream Travel Spots:
I've always wanted to go to Japan, and that desire has only become stronger after hearing about Kayla's trip there and watching Girls Season 5. I really just want to hit the continents I've yet to go to: Asia, South America, and Australia (especially to go to New Zealand, for LOTR reasons). No, I haven't been to Antarctica, but I also don't really feel the need to. Also, I've never been to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, which are all on my short list of places to visit because come on!
Blaze’s Dream Travel Spots:
France, Japan, Greece, Italy, Mexico, New Orleans; the list keeps going.
Vidha’s Dream Travel Spots:
I am going to Portugal this week (June 27th) and am really excited to be back in Europe! It was never on my "Dream" list but after seeing the pictures and getting tips, I am SO extremely excited!
Other places (divided by general region):
SA: Peru - Costa Rica- Colombia- Brazil
NA: Alaska
EU: Norway - Finland - Sweden - Iceland
AF: Morocco - and back to Tanzania
ME: Jordan
AS: South Korea - Japan - Thailand - Cambodia - Singapore
PA: Australia - New Zealand
Shelby’s 10 Dream Travel Spots:
This list is (somewhat) in order of realistic to true dream-level travel / would take years to plan type of travel. It specifically excludes places I’ve already been and what will hopefully be our honeymoon destinations, London and Paris.
Canada (Montreal most likely, but really anywhere and everywhere)
Hawaii
Iceland
Switzerland
Italy (all the places obvi)
Greece + Mediterranean
Morocco
African safari of some kind
Japan or South Korea
Australia + New Zealand
Shit We’re Loving: LISTEN
Our Pick: Our Must-Have Travel Listens
Kayla’s Pick: Speak Now (Taylor's Version) lol
Sydney’s Pick: Speak Now (Taylor's Version). Duh.
[Shelby’s Editor’s Note: ^^ they really did that on their own. This is a Google Form submission.]
Aimée’s Pick: My Road Trip Vibes playlist on Spotify!
Blaze’s Pick: Thieves in the Night by Hot Chip.
The summer after 10th grade I flew up to Seattle by myself for Jazz Band Camp and this was one of twelve songs I had downloaded on my iPod so I listened to nonstop for the four hour flight.
The best travel music is the current rotation of whatever you’re obsessed with at the time. I love any travel song or playlist that gets repeated the whole trip until its cemented so strongly in your brain as the permanent background music to a specific memory that you’re instantly pulled back to it when you hear the song years later at playing over the speakers in a grocery store.
Shelby’s Pick: Probably a pod but also songs I can belt out
On a solo drive? Most definitely true crime podcats. My favs include Morbid, And That’s Why We Drink, and RedHanded. If I’m with Zack, he’s almost definitely driving (he’s a terrible passenger), so it’s his right to pick whatever we listen to. It’s usually a Ringer podcast.
Additional option: When Red (Taylor’s Version) came out and, specifically, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version),” I was driving back to Ohio frm Chicago and purposefully queued the song up six times so I could have an uninterrupted hour of learning the lyrics.
Show Your Support: Global Girl Media
For our final OTF Show Your Support, I’ve chosen Global Girl Media (GGM), which develops the voice and media literacy of teenage girls and young women, ages 14-25, in under-served communities by teaching them to create and share digital journalism designed to improve scholastic achievement, ignite community activism and spark social change.
We change the storytellers so they can change the world.
Global Girl Media empowers young women to bring their often-overlooked perspectives onto the global media stage. By turning up the volume of girls’ voices globally, GGM promotes freedom of expression and strengthens substantive journalism that addresses historically marginalized voices. We do this while also building self-esteem, leadership capacity, and 21st-century skills. Founded in 2010, we are currently active in South Africa, Kosovo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Greece, London, and the Bay Area.
You can’t be what you can’t see. Our media tells us a lot about who we are and the stories we believe about ourselves. Yet, a female POV is under-published, under-broadcast, and under-streamed compared to a male POV. Now more than ever, women and girls of color need a place at the table to change the narrative. That’s where GGM comes in.
In the OTF fashion, we have already donated $200 to Global Girl Media and we encourage you to give and/or promote what you can.
Daily Intention:
Today I choose…
MANIFEST MY TRAVEL DREAMS!
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: