I am very lucky in that I have been able to travel often throughout my life! Travel is such a great mental and physical escape for me, and some of the best times in my life have been exploring new places. Here's a little overview of where I've been! I've been to (or at least through) 41/50 states, but have only traveled to Canada & Italy internationally. Looking forward to more international travel in the future! Arizona.We stopped at the Grand Canyon on our way to California. It was gorgeous, & I'm so glad I was able to see it! (The last photo is a Parks & Rec reference.) Click "Read More" to see the full list! Arkansas.For about a decade now, I've gone to Northwest Arkansas about once or twice a year. I enjoy visiting Eureka Springs, Bentonville, and other little towns in the area! Eureka Springs has the working bunnies, Thorncrown Chapel, Local Tub bath store, and a train ride through the mountains. Bentonville has my favorite coffee shop (Onyx Coffee Lab), Crystal Bridges Museum, and the amazing Chocolate Coffee Pudding at Preacher's Son. California.My first California trip took place when my mom, sisters, & I went to California to take Mackenzie to participate in the Disneyland College Program. We explored LA & Anaheim on that trip. My mom & I went back the following summer to visit Mackenzie, and saw San Diego as well. Then in December 2020, we went to clean out my great aunt's estate in the Santa Barbara area and had a quiet visit with a socially-distanced beach picnic for my 30th birthday. Canada.During our road trip to Boston when I was in middle school, my family made a stop in Canada to see Niagara Falls. I was fairly young, but one thing I remember is seeing all of the candy bars. They had several that we didn't have in the U.S., & even some of the ones we did have had different wrappers. Also, the speed limit & distance signs listed both miles & kilometers! This was so long ago that you didn't need a passport to cross the border - just a birth certificate. Colorado.My family went to Colorado the summer after I finished 4th grade, I believe. We stayed in the Estes Park area. We did some hiking, & I remember seeing elk everywhere. Even though it was the middle of summer, there was still snow on the mountains. I thought it was the prettiest place I had ever been! (Also, check out my super cool shoes.) Taryn & I went to Denver for a sister weekend in Spring 2021, and had such a good time. Kevin and I went back in December 2022 to the Colorado Springs area, and had a pretty perfect weekend! Florida.My first trip to Florida was in 2013 to go to Disney World with my family! At this point, I've been to Disney so many times, I'm not even sure what the full total is. We love visiting Universal as well! I also visited Destin and to Panama City Beach a few years back. Georgia.Both of my visits to Atlanta were very brief. The first time, my family stopped through during Kiefer's senior trip. I just remember touring the CNN building, getting a photo with the sign, & then getting yelled at by security because we weren't supposed to be climbing on it. The second time, we stopped at the Marriott Marquis in December 2015 on the way to Florida. That particular hotel is where several scenes from the Hunger Games movies were filmed, so we had fun exploring! This is also where my feet were run over by a car... I visited Savannah with Kelly in fall 2021. We did a ghost tour, toured a plantation, and visited lots of local businesses. Illinois.My family visited Chicago when I was in middle school. I remember going to the field museum & seeing Sue, the biggest T-Rex ever found (& thinking it wasn't as big as I expected - although, my mom pointed out, I wouldn't want it running after me). There are a few photos from our boat ride on Navy Pier. Notice my sisters' American Girl Store t-shirts ;) There is also a photo from the Cubs vs. Cardinals game we went to. We saw Sammy Sosa (that's him in the photo). I read Harry Potter the whole time - it wasn't really my thing. I went back to Chicago for my birthday in 2017. It was fun to see the city again as an adult, & to see everything decorated for Christmas. I loved having a Girls' Weekend with Whitney, too! We did all of the typical touristy things: Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute, Eataly, Lincoln Park Zoo, Hancock Observatory (& Tilt), Sears Tower (& the Ledge), & the Bean, plus lots of shopping & great food! Indiana.I went to Indiana to be in Whitney's wedding in December 2018/January 2019, then surprised Whitney and visited her in Indiana for her birthday weekend in April 2019! Italy.Kevin and I went to Italy in March/ April 2023. This was my first real international trip, not counting that little stop in Canada in middle school! Our first stop was Rome, with a stop in Vatican City. Next was Florence, with day trips to Vignola and Bologna. That last stop was the Amalfi Coast. We stayed in Atrani, which a teeny tiny town right by Amalfi town, where we visited throughout the rest of our stay. We also went to Pompeii, Naples, and Ravello. Kansas.The town I grew up in was about 20 minutes from the Kansas border, so I've been to Kansas a million times. One pretty stop is Keeper of the Plains, which is a park that houses a Native American statue, outdoor museum, & garden area. At night, the statue lights up with fire, & it's really pretty! There's also the Botanica Gardens and some interesting museums. Maine.We visited Acadia National Park during our trip to Boston, which was absolutely beautiful! Massachusetts.My family went to the Boston area when I was in middle school and my aunts were living there. I don't remember much except for walking the Freedom Trail, seeing the Cheers bar, Plymouth Rock was more like Plymouth Pebble, & the beach had rocks instead of sand (which was crazy to me). Mississippi.I've been to Mississippi a few times to see my mom's extended family. I'm sure my mom has photos somewhere, but I don't have any on my computer! We mostly played outside, ate a lot of home-grown and home-cooked food, & spent time with family. Missouri.Growing up, we had family friends in Ozark, and we'd visit occasionally. That was when I first tried Lambert's Cafe, home of the throwed rolls! I have visited Springfield often. I love all of the local businesses, thrift stores, and food. There's an arcade where you can play unlimited vintage games for $5. I have also visited Kansas City a few times. I've visited Walt Disney's childhood home & first studio, went to the World War I Museum & Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, went to the Sea Life Aquarium & Hallmark Visitor Center, & went to so many good restaurants! I also got a photo of the parking garage at their library - it was one of the first locations I ever saved on Pinterest, so it was fun to see in person! I did a brief visit to St. Louis as well, where I went up in the arch and visited the zoo. Nevada.We had a quick layover in Vegas once, so I played a slot machine just to say that I did. New Mexico.On our way to California in 2018, we made a quick stop in Albuquerque for a photo op at Twisters, which was the filming location for Pollos Hermanos in Breaking Bad. Oregon.My family went to Oregon the summer after I was in 9th grade. This is one of the prettiest places I've ever been. We saw the West Coast for the first time here, and Crater Lake has the bluest water I've ever seen. It's almost unreal. I'd love to go back. South Carolina.We stopped briefly at the beach in South Carolina in 2009. It was warm outside, the water wasn't freezing, & it wasn't insanely crowded. We went boogie boarding, & also got to witness a gorgeous sunset. My parents let me bring my friend Maegan on this trip, since it was my senior trip! Tennessee.My family went to Memphis, Tennessee several times as I was growing up to see my great aunt and uncle. My great aunt would always make big, homecooked meals, and her pear preserves were incredible! We also stopped in Memphis during my senior road trip. We visited the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. We saw the grounds of Graceland, Elvis's home. We also walked down Beale Street & had the best food! In fall 2018, I went to Nashville for Whitney's bachelorette party. We went to a winery, visited Broadway Street, and stayed at an Airbnb with all of her friends. Kevin and I visited Nashville in September 2022. We had so much incredible food, and even visited a Dolly Parton-themed restaurant. Texas.Since Texas is so close to Oklahoma, I've been more times than I can count. My family spent many Spring Break weeks in the Galveston area beaches. I have also had lots of fun weekends in Dallas, exploring Rainbow Vomit and Sweet-tooth Hotel, visiting coffee shops, going to concerts, and eating good food. And I visited the Dr. Pepper Museum and Magnolia Market in Waco! Virginia.During part of my senior trip, we went to Mount Vernon & saw George Washington's former home (insert Hamilton lyrics). This guide hit on us in olde English, which Maegan & I found very entertaining (& my dad did not). I also remember taking a boat during part of the tour, & it was so windy, we couldn't see anything the whole time because our hair was in our faces. But the walking part of the tour was interesting! Washington.My family saw Mt. Saint Helens in Washington when I was around 9th grade. My mom told me it was an active volcano, so I was expecting boiling hot lava pouring everywhere. Looking back, I'm not sure why I thought my mom would have taken me somewhere like that. This wasn't quite as eventful as I imagined, but still very pretty! Then in 2019, I visited my friend Brandon and his wife Stacey in Seattle. I loved exploring Pike Place Market, seeing Lake Cushman, and eating fresh seafood. Washington, D.C.My family has been to D.C. twice, & there is still so much I haven't seen! We toured the White House, went to Arlington National Cemetery & saw JFK's Eternal Flame & the Changing of the Guard, & went to several Smithsonian Museums. We went to Ford's Theatre & saw where Lincoln was shot, & where he died across the street. We learned about sit-ins & the Civil Rights Movement, visited several monuments & landmarks, & saw the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, & Van Gogh & Rembrandt's self portraits. That's only a fraction of the things we saw, & there were still several museums & monuments we didn't get to go to. It's such an amazing city!
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About the AuthorSydney Aerin is a published and performing poet, as well as a licensed therapist. She is passionate about disability awareness, mental health education, and equality for all. Sydney lives in Oklahoma City with her two dogs, Lily and Padfoot. Archives
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