Tag: travel

The Great American Eclipse of 2024

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Full disclosure: This is a more expensive bucket list item and required travel. 

When I was a little girl, I had asked for a book on astronomy for Christmas. I had always had an interest in the stars and heavenly events. I was fascinated by the movements of the planets and the constellations. I wanted to know more about this great universe and at times the sheer vastness was somewhat terrifying. The infinite can be quite overwhelming to a child below the age of 10. This is perhaps why I also have an appreciation for eldritch horror. 

At the very front of this book was a list of eclipses both lunar and solar in North America and was devastated to learn that I would not get the opportunity until 2017 or 2024. I longed to be able to see it and the passage of nearly 20 to 30 years was almost as unfathomable as the breadth of the universe itself. Time of course passed and I grew into an adult. I had half forgotten about the solar eclipses as a dream put to the side, when I read an article online that reminded me of such a momentous event was going to occur in North America in the summer of 2017. Now granted, in truth total solar eclipses do occur with some frequency, but not in the same place which is what makes them seem rare, so one would be correct in stating it isn’t that momentous. However, the ability to travel to see one isn’t readily available. 

I was lucky in that the event happened to coincide with my friend’s 30th birthday which kick started all of us turning 30 that year, so naturally we had to travel down south to see it. Her parents also wanted to see it and invited her and her friends to stay with them in a very nice hotel for a week down at the beach. We were quite pleased to see the budget for the event cut down significantly by their generosity. However, luck would not be with us, for upon the moment of totality, after carefully watching the path of the moon across the sun in the oppressive heat of a southern summer in August, the clouds came in and ruined the experience. The disappointment I felt was almost as crushing as the heat. The rest of the week was still quite pleasant, so I do recommend if you are going to travel somewhere for an eclipse to do so in an area you want to visit if having to go more than a few hours from your home. 

Naturally, I checked the calendar for when the next eclipse would occur and waited eagerly to hatch my plan to view it. This path was a more auspicious one for me as it passed within a few hours drive of my house. In 2023, I began to plan more seriously considering exactly how far away I wanted to book my hotel and drive to totality knowing that hotels would be booking up quickly and highly expensive in the path of totality. 

However, my mother had other plans, better plans. She had recently rekindled a friendship with an old college friend who lived in Vermont, Sheila. They both had been saying how we should come up and visit her on her small farm. With her being so near the path of totality, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go up. She reached out and planned an extended weekend at Sheila’s and also reached out to my “Uncle” Jay to possibly stay in the greater Boston area after the eclipse. With our “hotels” booked, we had hatched a plan. 

On the Saturday before the eclipse, we drove the six hours up to Vermont, listening to an audio book and enjoying the scenery of Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont. We made infrequent stops to maximize our travel time. Pro-tip, if you are traveling through many small towns and need the restroom remember libraries are your friend! We were driving off the beaten path and needed to heed the call of nature. Unsure of where we could go for relief, I happened to spot a sign for a local library as we drove by. I made a small u-turn and parked just outside. The librarian was friendly to two road weary travelers. Support your local libraries friends for they are one of the last true public spaces for all. 

We arrived at Sheila’s in the later hours of the evening, met her two dogs Quinn and Filipa, her two ragdoll cats and their adorable five kittens. I honestly could have died happy just meeting the kittens. They were the cutest balls of fluff you ever saw! We also met her two sons Danny and Astir. On Sunday morning, I was introduced to her three Icelandic horses and even got to ride one [post here]. On Sunday afternoon, we mostly relaxed, spending a little bit of time exploring the small Vermont towns nearby to give our hostess a break from entertaining guests. We took time to take in the mountains. The majestic nature of the Vermont mountains cannot be understated dressed as they were in their finest late snow cover and evergreens. The crisp air carried the promised scent of spring not yet realized. We stopped at a mom and pop store to sample and purchase maple syrup. We perused the local art gallery for our token souvenirs [post here]. 

On Monday, it was the main event. The eclipse wasn’t to start until the afternoon, so we had plenty of time to go to brunch at a town about 40 minutes north of Sheila’s home. We took time to see another small town before heading up the mountain for the prime viewing spot. Something that was quite extraordinary for my nerd heart, was that the property where we were invited to was owned by none other than an astronomer who assisted on the Hubble telescope. 

It was quite the crowd of neighbors considering the population density of the state. Many people had extra eclipse glasses ready in case someone needed a pair. We took turns using a colander as a pin hole camera to see the path of the eclipse. One neighbor brought food with him to share. Some people read books as they waited while others drank beer. This time the clouds stayed away, the sky was crystal clear and the stage was set. 

It is difficult to describe the totality of an eclipse. Throughout the time of the partial leading up to totality, the light begins to diffuse and everything begins to lose its color. The temperature begins to drop and a light wind breezes through dissipating most of the remaining clouds. Seemingly without warning, the moon slips in front of the sun and her shadow plunges the world into a strange twilight. Sunset is on every horizon, the temperature finishes dropping by 10 degrees. Pictures do not do it justice because cameras are made for light, which means most pictures or videos of the eclipse show the black orb of the moon surrounded by fuzzy light. That isn’t what it looks like in truth. In truth, it is a black orb ringed by a thin silver line. Your mind while understanding logically what is happening still has its primal alarm bells ringing of the otherworld breaking through to this one. It is easy to imagine how the ancients would have seen it as disfavor from the gods or an ill omen, when the very light of day is blackened, when the star itself is put out, what else can it be? All too quickly, it passes, the moon continues her dance across the sky heedless of her shadow and the small creatures she has awed. The light comes back and day resumes its throne. 

After nearly thirty years of waiting, I had finally seen my dream become a reality. It took two trips and some luck, but I had made it happen. 

You may dear reader be wondering what such a thing has to do with my blog about bucket list items on a budget, especially when the next eclipse won’t be until 2045 and I did arguably spend a lot more money than most of my items. There are several reasons, the first is to remind you that even if it is 30 years in the making, bucket list items can come true. The second is that the best lain plans of mice and men may still become a bust. I was extremely disappointed in 2017 not to see it, but the disappointment led to an amazing experience later. I would not have gone to Vermont where I got to snuggle ragdoll kittens and ride an Icelandic horse. I may not have gone to Boston as well, had I not missed out. Missing out can lead to better things. We never know what the universe has in store for us. Often it is even better than we could have imagined. There will be times when you carefully plan a bucket list item, you may like me spend a little more or travel a little further just to fulfill this experience only to have your plan dashed to pieces. These are moments of opportunity, be on the lookout for other chances and make the most of the time regardless. Even if I had missed out on totality, I still would have several other awesome experiences. The third is that there are some things that travel becomes a requirement. However, by being more frugal on our other items we will have plenty of money in the bank for these singular adventures. Lastly, there are many other astronomical events which you can keep an eye out to see. The sky is a window to a vast and amazing universe so look up and see what wonders there are to behold! 

How you can complete this or something similar: 

Pay attention to the news for stories of local happenings in the sky and try to make plans to either take a day off or come in late to work so you can stay up late to see it. Be aware of where the dark skies are in your area. https://www.darkskymap.com/ If you do want to see a total eclipse, you have several years to save and plan as at the time of this writing the next one will be in 2045. If you want a cheaper viewing, opt to stay at a hotel outside the zone of totality and then drive to the zone early. My sister found a Barnes & Noble to view the eclipse from. She had a comfortable place to wait, access to a cafe, a bathroom and plenty of entertainment. There were stories of people booking hotels cheaply in advance only to have the hotel cancel their service in order to charge astronomical prices. An air b’n’b was going for 1,000 a night before in the path of totality. My sister found a much cheaper option outside the area and I found some friends. 

If this isn’t your cup of tea, you can still consider the principle of this item. Mainly, completing a childhood dream. I had been waiting almost 25 years to be able to see an total eclipse and while it was a more expensive item, requiring more planning and travel, it was worth it. Part of the point of spending less, while living more is so when these sorts of opportunities come around, I have the means to complete them. Keep an eye out for opportunities to pursue your dreams and don’t be afraid to jump on them.

Completed: April 8, 2024

Miles from home: 430 miles

Cost: About $600 (estimated increase without friend support: $800-900)

Making the Most of Your Travels

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There are times when I do travel. At the time of this writing, I have gone on two cruises, spent a semester abroad, completed a mission trip and traveled a number of times over several states. I am not opposed to travel, though I have stated there are drawbacks to traveling especially when so many things may already be in your backyard if you just take the time to look. However, there may be things or experiences that just require travel. For example, I wanted to see a total solar eclipse. Not living in a place where that was happening in my lifetime, I was forced to travel. If you want to see the Great Wall of China you have to go to china.  

Given the drawbacks to travel, environmental impact, overtourism, money involved in traveling, participating in exploitative practices, etc. it is important to make the most of your travels when you travel to minimize these drawbacks. As with everything else, do your research and be picky. When I went on my two cruises it may have been tempting to lounge about on the many sandy beaches. However as someone who is only a two to three hour drive from the beach, that wasn’t an activity high on my list. I remember distinctly telling my travel companions that if we were going to sit around on a beach we may as well drive to Maryland or New Jersey and save ourselves the time and expense as honestly beaches are fairly universal. Sand? Check. Ocean? Check. Beach. If you, dear reader, are living in the midwestern part of the United States, including a beach day in your cruise makes sense, for those of us from the coasts, we probably should consider other options. 

Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com

Something I am mindful to do when traveling is to consider what are things that I simply cannot do in my own backyard? That isn’t to say that I refrain from doing anything that I can do in my own backyard, more that if given the choice of various activities, I will prioritize the ones that I cannot do or cannot do easily. When I went to Aruba, I opted to get on a submarine, as that wasn’t something I couldn’t easily do off the New Jersey shore. I saw the Panama Canal in Panama because it is a unique piece of engineering not replicated elsewhere in the world. I went to the Rain Forest in Costa Rica because like the Panama Canal, the rainforest simply can’t be replicated. That isn’t to say I didn’t go to the beach at all, I did pick one or two days that included the beach. It just wasn’t my first priority and the days I did go to the beach it was an add on to another excursion, like the caves in Curacao.

I was mindful when picking my itinerary to pick ones with the most places I wanted to experience or alternatively have excursions which include activities I want to experience. This can even stretch to smaller items. When departing from the New York port, I made sure to take time to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty when we left as I had never seen it. I took advantage of being at the equator in order to watch both a sunrise and sunset on the same day. In the north, I would have had to get up quite early to see a full sunrise and being as I am not a morning person, this would be difficult. Closer to the equator the sun rose and set at times more conducive to my schedule. These were small things, but I still got to enjoy them with just a little awareness of the opportunities around me.   

The cast from the play in Stephen’s Green. Discovered by chasing down the gentleman on the far right through the streets of Dublin

This is not the time to necessarily be pig-headed about your agenda or have an agenda so full you cannot be spontaneous. Some of my best experiences come from being spontaneous. That is how I got on a tour of the capitol building in Washington, scored tickets to the British Shakespeare’s performance of MidSummer Night’s Dream in Dublin, and the unicorn tapestries in Paris. Cultivating a spirit of openness and adventure. The best strategy is one that includes openness to pivot to new opportunities. 

The point is to be mindful about what you’re going to do and be mindful when you’re doing it. Don’t just travel to travel, use your time wisely. Thoreau told us to suck the marrow of life, suck the marrow from your trips! Consider carefully the itinerary of where you’re going, cast a wider net to capture the possibilities of the area, and be willing to indulge yourself on things that are inaccessible otherwise. 

If you do go on a cruise ship, check out all of its offerings. On my very first cruise, I discovered it had a thermal spa suite outfitted with lots of things I had never tried before a sauna, steam room and salt room. For a little bit extra, I was able to purchase a pass to access it and found that I spent at least an hour there every day. Considering the very large hot tub and fewer people with beautiful views, it was certainly worth it. I also discovered the ship had a ropes course with a zipline. On another ship, we tried go-cart racing. Something else, I had been itching to try. I loved it, my sister not so much – needless to say we scratched that off our list of sister dates to do. So check out your ship, your hotel or wherever you may be for cheap/free options. It wasn’t like I could really go anywhere else, I had already paid to be able to use it in my fare, so I may as well make use of them and cross those items off the list. Trips I took during my semester abroad to made the best use of my time in Germany. By venturing forth from Marburg I was able to see places I’ve always wanted to see like Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Rome. With Ryanair most of those plane tickets were under $50 bucks. 

Be sure to check the dates of your trip for any special events that may be occurring in the area or be willing to adjust your dates if you discover there will be a special event in the area you want to go to. My trip to Dublin just happened to coincide with their Shakespeare Festival and a performance by the British Shakespeare Company. My trip to Vienna just happened to coincide with Monet’s Water Lilies being on exhibition at one of the many art museums. By paying attention to what was going on at a specific time, I was able to expand what I was able to do. Although contrary-wise, you may want to avoid going to places during certain times of the year. For example, avoid Disney World November through December, typically the park is open for almost 12 hours for you to enjoy. However, during the Christmas celebration, if you want to stay after dark you have to pay an extra $300 – $400 for a pass, that’s cutting your park time down by 5 to 6 hours unless you’re willing and able to pay an extra fee. Don’t go to Boston during the marathon in the spring if you want to avoid the crowds. Skip Florida’s beaches during spring break if you don’t want to be in an overcrowded place with a bunch of drunk, college students. Careful planning can help make or break your trip.

Photo by Vlad Alexandru Popa on Pexels.com

Try to add an extra day in order to add in something special. When leaving from the New York port, my family and I added an extra evening in New York to catch a Broadway musical, something my sister’s mother-in-law had never experienced and is on many people’s list. Yes, it was an extra expense but it would be more expensive to have to travel back up to New York just to see a show. When my sister went on her first cruise, she flew over a day early and enjoyed the sights of Barcelona, for a night at a hotel she was able to experience a whole city. Traveling is often one of the biggest expenses as well as your biggest carbon footprint, so by adding a little extra time, you can enjoy more. Good for your wallet and the earth! 

As budget conscious people, it is important to get the most “bang for your buck” as it were. That isn’t to say pack everything full and rush around so quick you can’t even take in what you’re seeing, it is only to make sure you’re taking full advantage of what is nearby to maximize your experience. With careful planning and a spirit of adventure, you can make the most of your more expensive and far ranging trips.  

The case for travel

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You would think that after making the case to not travel that I wouldn’t shortly have a post about traveling. After all, the whole point is living where you’re at, not waiting for the PTO and money but doing it right now! Before you pick up the pitchforks of hypocrisy, I never said that you shouldn’t travel at all. I said there is a case for traveling less and exploring places closer to home. 

However, you will have already read that I have traveled. I have gone to Europe, the Caribbean and Central America. I have also traveled a bit around the United States, so I can’t say that I never travel. I am in the process of making travel plans again. Travel has its place. Don’t think it doesn’t!

There are many well meaning movements with catchy slogans that work well in a number of places but can’t be transferred to all places. Take the “No Mow May” which is a movement to try and get people to hold off on mowing their lawns until June in order to give pollinators a chance to emerge from their winter hibernation. The movement was started in the United Kingdom which is much smaller than the US, has a different ecosystem and weather. It’s a specific movement that works in the UK. Not mowing the lawn until June simply doesn’t work for places like Georgia. So my travel less may not work for everyone depending on where they are. People living near the coast with big cities, tend to have a lot more going on near them than people living in “fly over country” in the middle of America.

When traveling, make sure to pack the essentials!

And what do I mean by travel less? For some people traveling less may mean “no leaving the country”. The US is a BIG place. We have states bigger than some countries! Okay, maybe not leave your state then. But the states themselves can vary widely by size, Rhode Island is extremely tiny and Texas is HUGE. Is it the travel time from home? My daily commute is about 40 minutes, 20 of which is in the city I work in and it can largely depend on traffic. Perhaps the miles traveled? The carbon footprint of taking a long train ride is still smaller than a shorter car ride. The carbon footprint of travel? Maybe? But not everyone has access to public transit! It’s easy to get lost in the legalistic interpretation. The basic premise is that rather than traveling around the world for a specific experience, see if there isn’t an experience nearby; to look around you to see what people travel to your area for. It’s about reducing travel, not forgoing it altogether. However, there are just some experiences and places that cannot be replicated. There are some people who can’t be replicated. Which brings me to my case for travel. 

I tend to travel for two reasons, the first is to see the people that I know and love. If I happen to be able to check off some bucket list items on my visit all the better. Experiences are meant to be shared and it’s much more fun to reminiscence with the person you were there with rather than tell your tale once to a few semi-interested people and never share again. No one ever asks me about my semester in Germany and if they do they get a general “it was an amazing experience”. I have yet to have someone respond to that with “no tell me all about it!” In fact, we were coached to give a two minute synopsis of our time there because people weren’t going to want to hear it. Visiting people and having them join you on your adventures is always fun. It’s a chance to form stronger bonds and to see people in a new light. 

“Uncle” Jay and I at Hammon Castle

I had known my “Uncle” Jay for years, but spending a few days in his house near Boston showed me a side of him I hadn’t seen before. I got to see all the different pieces of art he had made over the years from baskets to glasswork. I learned he is a rather amazing cook. Plus, he knew exactly what to show me and where to go in the area because as a local, he is quite intimate with the area, something Trip Advisor just can’t replicate. I did get to check some things off my bucket list, but my best memories will be of him. 

The other reason is to see those things that just cannot be replicated. I want to see a geyser and other geothermal activity. I was excited to find a geyser in my home state and started making plans to go see it. Unfortunately, it’s not a result of geothermal activity and more a man-made oops. Needless to say, I stopped making plans. If I just want to see some water squirt up from the ground I can go see a sprinkler at any of my neighbor’s gardens. My only choice is to travel some distance to see it, but I tried to see it locally first.

Now my travel bucket list is a carefully curated list of items that I will be trying to travel for. This isn’t a list of “oh that sounds cool” or a list of “I could go see that”, no these are things that I have dreamed of seeing for years, have watched documentaries on, read books about, looked at pictures, things I really want to see and there just isn’t an acceptable substitution. If this sounds like you, then by all means save up and go! 

Travel is meant to allow you to see and experience things you don’t in your everyday life. To interact with people who think differently, speak differently, act differently and live differently. Travel can expand your horizons. As we all know social media lies and documentaries can edit things almost as much. Going to a place allows you to see it with your own eyes. There is also elements of smell, touch and taste that cannot be transferred through a photo or with words. 

Travel gets you out of your element and forces you to take some risks. This can boost your self-confidence, help you learn new skills and stretch you. When I was studying in Germany, I took it upon myself to travel to the different nearby countries figuring (rightly) it would be many years if ever I would get to see Europe again. However, being a poor college student it meant that I didn’t have money for a travel agent or fancy hotels. It meant booking hostels online, navigating to the budget airline and sometimes going places where I didn’t even know the language like France and Italy. I’ve taken that experience with me ever since, often rolling up my sleeves and thinking “well if I can get lost in Paris and still find my way back without speaking French and before smartphones were even invented, how hard can this be with google at my fingertips?” 

One of my favorite stories is accidently getting lost in the Red Light District of Paris – fun times!

When traveling with my mother, she went off on a small excursion without me and ended up having a lovely time with a local booth owner because of her Spanish skills. She took a risk and was rewarded with special memories, great prices on her souvenirs and even got to pet a sloth! After that experience, I noticed her confidence about moving in the world had increased. Sometimes getting out of our comfort zone can help us learn just how capable we really are.

If you must travel, do so carefully and thoughtfully. When I went to visit a family friend in Vermont, I timed it to coincide with the total solar eclipse. I also scheduled a few days to see other parts of New England and visit the aforementioned Uncle Jay. When I see my boyfriend who lives in Michigan, he often will take me to various places in his state. 

Took advantage of a trip to see my boyfriend to visit Lake Superior together

Are you having to travel a long distance by car? Check your route for cool things! Several years ago my boyfriend went to school in Arizona, he planned extra time for a road trip so he could see the many national parks along the way including arches. He had to make the trip anyway, but by being mindful, he was able to see his own bucket list items. Though he wouldn’t call it a bucket list. 

Remember, travel was never the enemy, only our limited perspective on it being necessary to live a full life. So go ahead pack your bags, order that plan ticket and be off!