Welcome, Friends!
I’m so glad you found your way to my little corner of the Internet. I’m Laura and this is my travel blog. I’m a 40-something savorer of moments, hoarder of memories, and lover of cocktails. Based in Austin, Texas with my husband of 20 years and rescue Yorkie ‘Bailey’, my lifelong love of travel is alive and well.
What You’ll Find Here
I’m on a mission to help grownups explore the world better through authentic perspectives and practical intel. Let my research and experience give you the perfect starting point for your next adventure. Make the most of your precious time!
Here, you’ll find no-nonsense travel inspiration and recommendations cultivated from my travels in 30 countries (and counting) over the last 20+ years (specific recommendations are current, of course). Destination itineraries, off-the-beaten-path activities, fabulous food and drink, handy travel gear, and more.
I will not exhaust you. Rather than cramming days of exploration into a few hours, my itineraries are built for efficient exploration, covering a lot of ground without wasting time and energy. You’ll discover the best aspects of a place with built-in opportunities to rest, refresh, and savor your experience.
I will also teach you low-cost ways to upgrade your travel and save your hard-earned cash for other goals. Contrary to what some believe, you don’t need to spend lots of money to travel well.
Travel Planning – It’s an Obsession
Planning a trip to a new place can be overwhelming, especially without the contextual details to help you choose wisely. I will try to fill this gap by offering a perspective based on real-world experience, mistakes I’ve made, unexpected things to consider, and the insight that only comes from physically being somewhere.
As much as anyone tries to plan, there will always be something unexpected that pops up. This is part of the fun and excitement of traveling, and you just have to roll with it.
I love researching destinations (seriously, it’s an obsession) and crafting achievable itineraries that feature my favorite things – history, art, culture, food, and drink. I spend many hours doing this ahead of time so that I can be relaxed, present, and ready for anything once I’m out there exploring. Now I want to share the goods with you!
Trusted Recommendations
My recommendations come from an authentic place, like seeking travel advice from a trusted friend. I will never recommend anything that I can’t personally vouch for, either from my own experience or a reputable source. Locally-owned businesses and authentic experiences will always be recommended over tourist traps and over-hyped sites. If it’s worth it, I’ll tell you – honestly.
I will never show you just the “Insta-fantasy” version of a place, a perspective that can be misleading. Traveling is not always picture-perfect and the reality of places is important to understand before you get there. While I love photographing my travels, I will show you things that you can replicate. Of course, there are uncontrollable variables like weather, crowds, and business availability, but I hope you catch my drift. I promise to be real with you.
Travel Well, Travel Better
I will also cover topics to teach you how to travel well without spending loads of cash, sharing specific strategies and resources that I use to upgrade my travel experience and save hard-earned money for other goals. And you can, too!
This may include credit card points and miles, travel deals, and free experiences.
Let’s Go, Friends
If this sounds like your vibe, I can’t wait to meet you! This is a safe space. Feel free to comment, ask questions, and make suggestions for content that you would find valuable. I will periodically check references to specific businesses to keep posts as current as possible. You can also find me on Instagram (@realcuriousginger) when I’m traveling and living life.
Let my research and experience help you plan the best itinerary for your next destination! Thanks for stopping by, friend.