I'm a wide-eyed wanderer currently stuck in the corporate world. Join me as I chase my dreams of tra
The Kay Days is the chronicle of how I decided to spend all of my free money and time seeing the world, all while working a full time job, with the aim of helping readers like you chase our dream of traveling.
Hello dear friends! It has been awfully quiet around here. As it turns out, I've started an exciting new project, which is taking up all of my time. You can learn more about it over at Jetfarer (and please give the page a "like" while you're over there!). I hope you will join me on this new and exciting journey! More to come soon. xoxo Kay
People often ask me why I prefer to travel solo over going with friends. Although I love my friends, and equally love meeting people on the road, I enjoy traveling solo for one thing: freedom. I wrote about what this freedom means to me in a blog post - I hope it will encourage you to take your next trip solo, too!
Traveling solo can seem daunting at first, but anyone can do it. Find out why solo travel can be much more impactful and empowering than you may think!
In the sweltering days of summer, I'm reminiscing on cool nights and starry skies in the Canadian Rockies just one year ago. I can't wait to go back and visit once again! Have you ever been to Banff National Park? Did you love it as much as I do?!
Let's face it - flying sucks. Recently, a reader and friend asked me if I could give her some tips on dealing with anxiety, claustrophobia, and discomfort on long flights. In my travels, I feel like I have tried everything, save for booking myself into business class, to minimize my nerves. Here are my tips on how I maximize comfort and make long flights suck less.
Summer travel is in full swing, and it's natural to be anxious before a flight. Read on to learn some ways to maximize relaxation and minimize anxiety on flights.
I was taking a short, easy hike through Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia (hence the non-hiking boots) when I stopped for a minute to breathe, listen to the running water, and look around. The gorge was absolutely beautiful, but what caught my eye were some simple, colorful wildflowers growing on the side of the trail. I smiled as I thought to myself about how the tiny details of the journey are often just as significant as the big, bold moments. This week, I challenge you to open your eyes to the details that make a difference in your daily trails. Happy Monday, everyone!
One of my favorite trips I've ever taken was last November, when I went backpacking in Torres del Paine, Patagonia. I had the immense pleasure of writing about my multi-day trek there on one of my favorite travel websites, The Planet D. This trip changed my life, and hopefully these words and photographs will help convince you to see it for yourself one day.
As we made our way up the final stretch of the steep, gravel path, I gasped. There they stood, the mysterious, magnificent Torres del Paine, glowing a fain
Here's to happy Fridays, self portraits, and wishing I could spend my summer on the shores of Lake Bled, Slovenia. Happy weekend, y'all!
I decided to go out on a limb and try this video thing out! Here's the first of (hopefully) many more Facebook-exclusive videos. This first one features my tips on some of my favorite things to do with a weekend in Houston, Texas! Enjoy :)
Visit Houston
One of the things I love doing while traveling is taking self portraits. Yeah, I'm often that weirdo who has her camera of a tripod and is clicking away with her wireless remote! Taking self portraits not only gives me a great way to remember my travels, but also empowers me to compose them however I like, rather than leaving it to chance with the help of some friendly strangers.
Sure, it may look funny when I'm in the field, but I love having photos like this one from Slovenia to remember my adventures by
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of spending 4 whole days roaming around Slovenia's beautiful countryside. It was an absolute dream. Today's story features a collection of my favorite photographs from my adventures in Slovenia's Triglav National Park.
Earlier this spring, I took a last-minute trip to Slovenia. Join me as I recount the story of my solo road trip through one of Europe's most magical destinations.
Friends, I have a confession to make: Slovenia is some serious contender for one of my favorite places in the world. It's a tiny magical wonderland full of castles, churches, mountains, and waterfalls. Everything there looks like something out of a novel. Who wouldn't want to wander around it forever?
This photo was taken at Predjama Castle, a structure built into a rock cliff. I unfortunately didn't get to go inside because I arrived too late in the day, but I still took a little while to marvel at its strange beauty.
What would you do with a 7-hour layover in Gatwick Airport? For me, I jumped on a train for a spontaneous adventure in a place I never thought I'd visit.
A last-minute decision during a layover in London's Gatwick Airport brought me to Brighton. What I found was a city that surprised me with every turn.
Do you let bad weather rain on your parade? I spent the evening last night writing a new post on my long layover adventure in Brighton, England. What I didn't dwell on was the fact that it was raining the entire time. Bad weather doesn't have to blow up your vacation, and sometimes, it can even make for some beautiful and unique experiences!
P.S. The post is live on my site! - http://thekaydays.com/brighton-england-layover-gatwick/
There are few things I love more than sunny afternoons in my own haven.
Many of you have asked me about this recent trip to Europe that seemingly popped out of nowhere. In reality, it did! I bought my flights to London and Ljubljana just a few days before I took off, and it cost me less than $600 total. On today's post, you can find out how I hacked some flight deals and took a last minute international trip without blowing up my wallet.
Booking travel at the last minute doesn't have to be expensive! Here are the steps I took to find a last minute flight deal from the US to Europe.
There's something so peaceful about traveling by train. Without the ear-popping pressure change of a plane or the nausea-inducing traffic of road trips, it's easy to find tranquility in the rumble of the tracks below, the landscape outside whizzing by. Today I spent most of my day on a mid-day train ride from New York back to DC. As I typed away on my laptop, I'd take a few seconds here and there to soak in the calm environment. In my moments in this meditative trance, I found respite from the hectic bustle between the two cities.
I'm sitting on a hotel bed in New York City, staring out the window of this 16th floor room as sirens blare by on the streets below. For the past few months, I've been on the go virtually nonstop. It's funny how these moments of solitude are the best times for me to reflect on where my life, my travels, and my career have taken me.
The gears are turning. In the past month, I've moved across the country from Houston to Washington, DC and started a new full-time job with a well-known media company. I'm getting settled in my new apartment and setting down roots (at least temporarily) in this new place. I think the travel itch will strike again really soon - already have 3 big trips in the books for this year! - but for now I'm extremely excited to have a new home base to explore. This week, I'm spending a quick second in NYC, where I have just enough time for dinner on the town and a run around Central Park.
The light outside is becoming dimmer and the city lights are beginning to twinkle, which reminds me I've got dinner plans in the city tonight before I head home in the morning. I'll end this little ramble with this thought: I'm trying to get better at seeing the adventure in every day and every place, no matter how small it is.
"One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years." -Tom Wolfe
Here's some fascinating food for thought on creativity. Sometimes I have trouble writing and storytelling on the blog regularly for this reason. What are your favorite ways to unwind and channel your creativity?
Make a long walk—without your phone—a part of your daily routine.
There are some places I've traveled where the food is simply unforgettable. Vietnam was definitely one of them. My friends over at Why Wait To See The World have captured Vietnam's culinary culture so well in their new post. Just reading it has me drooling!
When people ask me about the favorite places I’ve been (and they ask me that a lot), I tend to vary my answer, but without fail Vietnam is on the list. There are many reasons for this, but here’s the biggest: Vietnam has some of the most wonderful, diverse, and cheap food of anywhere on earth. There...
This beats my apartment in Houston any day. Who else thinks this would be a dream home?
Are you hoping to snag some last-minute deals on flights for Memorial Day weekend? If so, check out my post on how to score cheap flights to basically anywhere you'd want to go!
Do you want to know the secrets to buying cheap flights? In today's posts, I share some of my methods for getting anywhere in the world on the cheap.
A quiet sunrise atop Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park. Where did you watch the sunrise today?
Making plans to head to Brazil this summer, and I can't believe how much has changed in this vast and beautiful country. However, after reading this post from my friend Alex at Alex in Wanderland, I experienced some serious "saudade" for Rio's stunning beaches. Some things never change, and the laid-back beach culture in Brazil is one of them! Have you visited Brazil before? What did you think of the beach culture there?
One of the coolest converted homes I've ever seen! I don't know if I'd ever be able to live out of a school bus for any long stretch of time, though. What do you think? Would you live and travel out of a converted school bus?
Watching the sunset from the top of the Lost Mines trail, complete with Big Bend's eerie but stunning desert landscape.
Just (impulsively) bought a plane ticket to somewhere far away to celebrate my birthday next week. I've been wanting to go to this incredible place for a long time, and now I finally bit the bullet and decided to go! Any guesses on where I'm headed?
Photo is of me smiling like a giddy goof...much like the smile on my face now as I plan my trip!
You might have noticed a vibrant photo of the Milky Way I posted yesterday. That was taken on my recent trip to Big Bend National Park, one of Texas' two national parks. Although Big Bend is gigantic and very remote, you can still see a lot even if you only have a few days to explore. Today's post outlines my suggested itinerary for a weekend in Big Bend (with some colorful photos of this stunning place, too!).
Visit Big Bend :)
Big Bend National Park is one of Texas' most beautiful places. Learn how to explore the highlights of this beautiful area in just two days.
Happy Monday! Let's start the week with one of my favorite photos from my travels this year. Can you guess where this was taken? (No cheating if you already know!)
Happy belated Earth Day to all of you! To celebrate, here's one of my photos from exploring the very early cherry blossoms in Washington DC this year, along with 5 simple ways I plan to help conserve our beautiful planet:
1. Minimize use of disposable plastics, and use reusable tupperware, water bottles, and silverware when possible
2. Buy local food and produce when at all possible to minimize shipping emissions
3. Cut down on livestock and dairy consumption, which contributes 20-25% of carbon emissions
4. Donate monthly to environmental protection organizations
5. Get outside and share photos to show others how beautiful our incredible planet is!
Did I forget anything? Leave some of your tips in the comments!
Women in Travel Summit '17 has been absolutely exhilarating and equally as exhausting. I've never seen such a vibrant and curious group of travel-loving women! Can't wait to spend one last day with Wanderful, VISIT Milwaukee, and the rest of the amazing women gathered here this weekend.
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I decided to go out on a limb and try this video thing out! Here's the first of (hopefully) many more Facebook-exclusive videos. This first one features my tips on some of my favorite things to do with a weekend in Houston, Texas! Enjoy :) Visit Houston
I made it back from Cuba alive!! More photos and stories to come soon, but here's a sneak peak at the three days I spent there.
Today we witnessed the incredible bat phenomenon that happens every evening at sundown. Millions of bats leave a small cave in the rocks and fly out, in one flock, into the dusk. There was really no good way to capture this spectacle, but I did catch a video to give you a glimpse.
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