Why Travel Local?

Annapolis Rock, Middletown Maryland 

If you are a travel junkie like me, travel can morph into this grand and lofty idea. It becomes bigger than itself in the sense that so many people think that great travel can only take place when when you are off on some adventure in a far away and exotic land, in a place you need a passport to get to. It is often forgotten that there are so man beautiful places just outside our back doors.

Don't get me wrong. I am often one of those people. 

But, when you are in a situation where international travel is not exactly feasible you don't need to get on a airplane or use your passport to have a meaningful travel experience.

With gas prices lowering and insanely cheap bus tickets (thanks Bolt!) you can travel locally without breaking the bank. In the past month I have visited the Baltimore Aquarium, headed to the top of the Washington Monument and taken a cruise around Annapolis.

I always remember this quote from the movie Eat, Pray, Love. It's when the character Luca Spaghetti (yes, that's his name) says:

   "Americans. You work too hard, you get burned out. You come home and spend 

the whole weekend in your pajamas in front of the T.V."

That line stuck with me, because its so true. Trust me I love a weekend lounging on the couch, binging on some new TV show as much as the next person, but since we live in a country where half of the citizens don't use up all of their paid vacation days, weekends are precious time. So why don't we make the most of them and get out there and see what our backyards have to offer.

Have you traveled locally recently? Are there any places close to home that you have been dying to see?

Historic Downtown Annapolis

Growing up in a suburb of Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, I have been to the downtown historic district more times than I can even remember; field trips in elementary school, birthday dinners with family, New Years and 4th of July celebrations and bar hopping with friends after I turned 21. 

After our cruise on the Harbour Queen, we had an action packed warm autumn afternoon, wandering around, sightseeing.

There is something for everyone. Join in on the waterfront activities around the city dock, go shopping on main street, try the infamous Maryland blue crab at one of the numerous seafood restaurants or if your a history buff this is the place for you.

         You can't visit Annapolis without eating something with crab meat in it, the unofficial dish of Maryland. 

The Maryland State House in Annapolis is the oldest state capital building in continuous use. It dates all the way back to 1772. 

  We ended the night at one of my favorite Annapolis restaurants, Pusser's. If you're lucky you can get a table right on the dock. 

Have you ever been to Annapolis?

Afternoon Annapolis Cruise

Annapolis is the "Sailing Capital of America." Walking around the docks in downtown historic Annapolis has always been one of my favorite things, I like to look at all the boats docked there and day dream about owning one of them some day. 

On a side note: when I was younger my friends and I went to Annapolis on a field trip or something of the sort and we fell in love with the boats there and decided to save up or money to buy a boat of our own. This involved us scrounging for lost change wherever we went, obviously we didn't ever get close to enough money for a boat but we did have an awesome sleepover with lots of snacks.

So on Jose's visit to Annapolis I had to share my love of boats with him. We took an afternoon on the Harbour Queen. Its a 40 minute cruise that takes you around the Severn River and shows you the sights of Annapolis. 

Annapolis Harbour Queen:

40 minute cruise

$15

Leaves Hourly

My First Weekend Home and a Bachelorette Party

 So remember how in my last post I talked about how American was overwhelming me? Well I had to forget all about that an hit the ground running my first weekend back in the States. One of my best friends is getting married in September and this past weekend was her bachelorette party. This was a weekend of firsts for me, my first ever bachelorette party and the first time seeing some of my best friends in over 30 months (except through the magic of Skype.)

For the first event of the day we went to the Siloppana Music Festival in Annapolis, MD, and for all of those who missed the obvious (like I did) the name of the festival is Annapolis spelled backwards. It was a beautiful day with amazing weather (and go me, no sunburn!). There were numerous great food trucks, offering a variety of food. Of course being a Maryland resident, I had missed out on eating crab for two summers in row, so I got a Crabby Patty, which was a cheeseburger with crab dip on top and it was incredible. There was also a wide variety of beer offered which thrilled me after two years of drinking watered down beer of Paraguay. It was a really fun day of listening to great music, dancing and just acting a fool with all my friends. 

*the bachelorette on the right

*Corey - one of the "bridesmaids"

At night, the bachelorette paraphernalia came out and the whole gang went out for dinner in downtown Annapolis and then went bar hopping for a night a fun and festivities. 

I don't know if I just can't handle America or I'm getting too old (never!) but, I slept all day Sunday to recover.