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Skip the Suitcase

Travel site featuring travel stories, budget tips, travel photos, and more!

We focus on packing light and traveling cheap, so we can continue to get out there and adventure.

09/05/2022

Summer is coming, that means summer travel is starting up!

Where are you excited to adventure to this summer?

Featured: Fossil Beach, Kodiak Island, Alaska

15/04/2022

Joshua Tree National Park is known for the beautiful Joshua Trees the cover the horizon.

But did you know that these famous trees aren’t really trees? Joshua Trees are actually giant succulents 🌵

Temps can soar into the 100s during the summer, making hiking dangerous in this area. If you’re planning a visit to this park, make sure you plan to visit in the winter or spring, where temperatures are much lower and you can get a whole day of hiking in.

21/02/2022

What’s your favorite warm destination for a winter escape?

Rhodes, Greece is a perfect retreat of sunshine, cocktails, and old ruins. If you visit before summer, the island is quiet and hotels offer great bargain deals.

A week in an all-inclusive for $400? Yes, please!

Situated just off the coast of Turkey, Rhodes offer endless vistas of turquoise waters and ancient towns. When we get tired of the cold, this island is always top on our wish list. ☀️

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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17/02/2022

Winter is a great time to visit Everglades National Park. With the sunny and dry days, mosquitos and other unpleasant flying friends are few and far between.

If you make it all the down to Flamingo, be sure to spend the night. RV spots, tent sites, and eco-tents are available for visitors to reserve (just be sure to pack some food, provisions are limited).

Check out the link in our bio for a full rundown of a weekend spent in Florida’s garden. 🌴🌴

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳 Photo credit to 📸
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14/02/2022

Join on for Valentine’s Day ❤️

and .lex_g will be live to discuss our 2-day winter road trip in ! Learn top travel tips about how to visit Iceland on a budget. Visit our Twitter site to access the link! Or see our bio for our article on this great destination. See you there!

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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11/02/2022

Cabin fever? This picture was taken last February on the south rim

Northern Arizona is a great, February destination. Without the heat and the crowds of the summer, you can experience the splendor of Grand Canyon (and other nearby attractions) in peace. We watched a sunrise and sunset from this spot in complete isolation.

February also guarantees cheap rates, uncrowded restaurants, and a chance to get some desert sunshine to break up the winter dark. Phoenix Airport is only about 4 hours away or you can also fly into the smaller airports at Flagstaff and Grand Canyon Village. ✈️

Be sure to pack some ice cleats in case there is lingering ice or snow along the trails.

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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06/02/2022

30/01/2022

Mollie Breese, Alex Graffeo] is back tomorrow for our live podcast on ! Join Mollie and Alex as we discuss studying abroad in Scotland at the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

If you are new to Twitter Spaces, this is a free, live podcast platform offered on Twitter. You have the opportunity to ask live questions and engage with the speakers. You can still access the event without a Twitter account, so check out the link in our bio and in the comments below. If you can’t attend the event, check out the recording on our Twitter account afterwards and share with friends!

See you there!

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us Mollie Breese, Alex Graffeo] so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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23/01/2022

Meet the travel writers of !
lex_g and will be hosting our first Twitter Spaces event tomorrow at 1 PM EST. We will be discussing who we are, why we love to travel, travel writing, and our favorite travel tips! Join in on this free event podcast though the link below! (Direct link is also our bio)

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1lPJqmzAArYJb

See you there!

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us Mollie Breese, Alex Graffeo] so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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21/01/2022

Cold, rainy January days have me feeling very sloth-like.

Sloths can sleep up to 18 hours a day. Beyond having a cushy work schedule, they also live in warm climates through central and South America. This adorable (and awake!) three-toed sloth was spotted on a short hike in downtown La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

While the rest of us freeze in the winter, he is content to spend his days in the sun and munch on some leaves. What a life!

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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04/01/2022

Winter in Alaska might be cold, but it’s not always dark. On clear nights, Lady Aurora likes to come out and dance.

Fairbanks is one of the easiest and best places to see this spectacular event. While the temperatures may plummet to a chilly -40, these cold temps keep the skies clear and beautiful—perfect for a night of watching bands of green and purple chase across the sky.

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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30/12/2021

Baby, it’s cold outside?

This seal doesn’t think so. While the lower 48 are getting slammed with winter weather, this seal thought it was the perfect morning to take a swim in the Alaskan waters.

Seals are frequent visitors along Kodiak, Alaska’s shores ❤️

Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳
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27/12/2021

Merry (Belated) Christmas from Skip the Suitcase to you! We were out exploring and celebrating over the holiday, but it’s back to work tomorrow 😩

The mountains are my happy retreat over a long weekend. Share a picture or a comment of your favorite weekend getaway 🌲🏝🏡

Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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22/12/2021

This Kodiak Momma Bear is getting ready for a Christmas feast. While most streams are frozen over this time of the year on Kodiak Island, a few are still thawed enough for a Kodiak bear to grab that one last salmon of the season.

When I was kid, I used to think all grizzlies hibernated in the winter time. However, a visit to Kodiak has taught me otherwise. While most momma bears and cubs will hibernate until May or June, roughly 50% of Kodiak bears do not hibernate (mostly males and young sows). This means you can still see bears on a winter hike! Always be bear aware, hike with a buddy, and have bear spray. But most of all, enjoy seeing these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat 🐻🐻

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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19/12/2021

Every Saturday before Christmas, the most creative and festive captains come together for the annual Harbor Lights Festival. Beautiful ships (both small and large) parade between the harbors, lit with festive lights and fireworks. It’s a great celebration to break up the long nights! 🎄🎄

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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15/12/2021

It’s Christmas Market Season! 🎄🎅❄️

Tallinn’s Christmas Market is consistently rated the best in Europe every year—and we agree! We had the pleasure to visit this amazing market two years ago, and it embodied everything you could want from a European Christmas Market experience:

✔️Delicious Food
✔️Glüwhein
✔️Stalls selling handmade goods
✔️Beautiful Christmas Tree
✔️Holiday Spirit

These Christmas markets are free to visit, and typically start around Mid-November and run up until Christmas.

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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15/12/2021

Hey, Mr. Good Looking.

The southern coastal regions of Alaska are one of the best places in North America to spot America’s Icon: The Bald Eagle. It’s not uncommon to spot over ten of these birds in one tree (especially in the winter).

This guy preferred his solitude, but made for a beautiful sight. 🦅❄️

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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14/12/2021

This squirrel monkey is definitely not dreaming of a white Christmas. We spotted this rare little fella just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica.

This park is home to three different types of monkeys: white-face, howlers, and squirrels. Though, the squirrel monkeys are my favorite. Costa Rica only has four native monkey species, so a visit to this park knocks off most of your list to monkey bingo.

Costa Rica is a great winter destination. With hundreds of eco reserves, pristine beaches, and an abundance of wildlife, it is a great place to dust off your shorts and hiking boots while your friends back home are bringing out their parkas.

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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13/12/2021

Great Christmas destination? Alaska.
This picture just screams “put me on a holiday card”. But we’re a travel blog, not Hallmark. So, enjoy the beauty of this moment captured on Kodiak Island 🦌

Fun fact: Kodiak Island has the highest density of Sitka black-tail deer in the world, but they are not native to the island. They were introduced in 1924, but quickly adapted to the mountainous landscape, flourishing in numbers. Now they are a common sight along the road system, and on the outskirts of town.

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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12/12/2021

Who doesn’t love an adorable sea otters? Everybody, unless you’re a monster.

Kodiak Island is surrounded by these adorable, fuzzy creatures. One has established permanent residence in the downtown marina, so you don’t even have to walk that far to see them.

Fun facts: Sea otters spend almost their entire life in the water, and have the most dense fur on the world (this made their fur very desirable during the 1800s and early 1900s). Sea otters were almost extinct in the Kodiak area during the fur trade era, but decades of conservation have led to their populations to rebound. Now, they are a common sight along the cliff side trails and harbors of Kodiak.

Drop your favorite sea otter fact below, so we can learn together 🦦🦦🦦

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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10/12/2021

Kodiak is known for the bears that roam this island, and a hike around here does not disappoint (just be sure to bring your bear spray, hike with a buddy, and keep four-legged companions on a leash).

Kodiak bears are a subspecies of the commonly known grizzlies. They are also the second-largest bear in the world (after polar bears). Scared yet? You’ll be happy to know that these bears enjoy salmon over human, so keep your distance and enjoy the moment.

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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30/11/2021

Take a trip with us to Malta, where history, culture, adventure, and blue seas come together in perfect harmony. Link in bio!

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24/11/2021

Will it be cliche to write~ “Walking in a winter wonderland”❄️

Too late, already did it. Location: White Sands Beach, Kodiak Alaska

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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23/11/2021

A lot of things have been happening and Skip the Suitcase has been quiet for awhile. That’s because one of us (Mollie, the crazy one) decided to make the move up to Kodiak, Alaska! I’ll still be posting about our latest adventure down in Costa Rica, but will be intermingling it with fun updates about adventures around Alaska.

To start it off, Kodiak is the second largest island in the United States and is located in the Southcentral area of Alaska. First inhabited by the Alutiiq, it has been home to a variety of cultures- to name a few: Russian, European, Korean, Chinese, American, and Mexican. But that’s only a few!

It’s also home to the Kodiak Brown Bear, the second largest bear in the world (after the polar bear). Here, the bears outnumber the people, so it’s advised to always carry bear spray on every hike.

I’ll be spending six months here, so follow along for more fun facts, travel trips, and beautiful pictures of beautiful Alaska!

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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19/10/2021

Monteverde has an abundant of preserves to check out. While the Cloud Forest Preserve attracts the most visitors, smaller preserves are much cheaper and avoid the crowds and noise. They’re also just as beautiful, as this tree can attest to.

This is at the Ecological Sanctuary, a smaller reserve with beautiful views over the San Luis Valley.

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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12/10/2021

Catching a free ride🐒

A visit to Costa Rica isn’t complete unless you spend a few days exploring the specular, volcanic region of Arenal National Park. However, all those $20-$30 entry fees to access each hiking area quickly adds up. Not to mention the high cost of hiring a private night tour guide.

I recently spent the weekend exploring Arenal, with the option to do all the day and night hiking I wanted (compete with waterfalls, hanging bridges, and exotic animals). The best part? I didn’t have to pay every time I wanted to put on my hiking boots and head out.

Want to know how to access unlimited hiking and save of night tours in Arenal? Check out our article on “Free Hiking in Arenal, Costa Rica” on our website skipthesuitcase.com or the link in our bio 👀👀

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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11/10/2021

Palm Tree Dreaming 🌴🌴

Check out our latest article on How to Have a Romantic and “Affordable” Weekend in Key West, Florida. Link in our bio and on our page skipthesuitcase.com ❤️

Budget travel and Key West don’t really go hand in hand, but with some smart planning and strategy, you and your special someone could be partying up along Duval Street.

Have a favorite travel location? Tag us so we can follow along and feature you ✈️🧳
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30/09/2021

Humming away ❤️

If you love hummingbirds as much as I do, plan to spend several days in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Here you can hundreds of these gorgeous creatures darting through the forest to snack on all the vibrant flowers. There are over 30 species that call this region home!

Looking for a great (and free!) spot to photograph these beautiful birds? Check out the Cafe Colibri, just outside of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. You can sit, enjoy a delicious Costa Rican coffee, and duck as these birds fly all around. Photo credit to the talent for catching this great shot of two fighting 📸
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27/09/2021

It’s the rainy season in the mountains of Costa Rica. Typically a winter destination, visiting the beautiful cloud forests during the wet season guarantees less crowds ✔️, cheaper prices ✔️, and more wildlife ✔️

Monteverde is a great destination for lovers of nature. Giant trees erupt from misty forests, and each walk in a reserve is guaranteed to show you a new wonder of the world. Just remember to pack your rain jacket 💧💧
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Join @skipthesuitcase on #twitterspaces for Valentine’s Day ❤️ @be_breezing and @a.lex_g will be live to discuss our 2-day winter road trip in #Iceland! Learn top travel tips about how to visit Iceland on a budget. Visit our Twitter site to access the link! Or see our bio for our article on this great destination. See you there! Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us @skipthesuitcase so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳 * * * * * * * #skipthesuitcase #travel #travelblogs #wanderlust #seetheworld #bucketlist #destinations #budgettravel #blogs #wanderers @fodorstravel #wildlifephotography #optoutside @__photo_of__the_day__ #lpphotochallenge @natgeowild @natgeotravel #exploring #travelgram #travelphotography #nature #winter @natgeoyourshot

Alaska is a great destination to see the northern lights. This phenomenon is typically visible late September-early April throughout central Alaska (Fairbanks) and the Arctic circle. But every so often, the southwestern areas get to see some of the show. This time lapse was captured Feb 4th around 4am on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Have a favorite travel photo? Tag us @skipthesuitcase so we can follow along on your adventures ✈️🧳 * * * * * * * #skipthesuitcase #travel #travelblogs #wanderlust #seetheworld #bucketlist #destinations #budgettravel #blogs #wanderers @fodorstravel #wildlifephotography #optoutside @__photo_of__the_day__ #lpphotochallenge @natgeowild @natgeotravel #exploring #travelgram #travelphotography #nature #winter @natgeoyourshot #northernlights #aurora #auroraborealis #alaska

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