Texas and New Mexico - National Parks Road Trip - 7 Day Itinerary and Photo Diary

Hi, folks!

With a country as diverse as the US of A, it can be tricky to plan a trip. If you enjoy warm weather and wide open spaces, and don't want to spend a fortune, then you're in for a treat!

West Texas and New Mexico are "hidden gems". In March 2018, Greg and I embarked upon a Tex-New Mex road trip. Our self-devised itinerary enabled us to explore the main National Parks and Monuments in the area.

Walking on another planet.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

We flew into El Paso, Texas, rented a white Dodge Challenger at the airport (my new favorite American muscle car), and then drove to our Airbnb accommodation: an entire house for $40 per night. Bargain!

Day 1: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

About 1.5 hours north of El Paso lies the worlds largest gypsum dunefield. With a colossal amount of space, one does not need to venture far to find peace and solitude across this white blanket of sand. It was recommended to take appropriate navigational gear if hiking long distances, as the landscape looks identical for miles. Many visitors hired/purchased sleds and went sledding down the sandy slopes. There is nothing else like it! 

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Photo taken by Gregory Richardson.

Upon returning to El Paso, we drove the narrow, winding Scenic Drive and watched the sunset from the Overlook, which offered panoramic views over El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua, Mexico. We stayed until nightfall and marveled at the sparkling city lights across two different cities, two different states, and two different countries.

Two different cities. Two different states. Two different countries.
El Paso, Texas, USA / Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Day 2: Drove 3 - 3.5 hours to Artesia, New Mexico.

Artesia is your stereotypical oil and gas town. It is not pretty. Its main street is home to the Navajo Refinery, the largest refinery in New Mexico. The cheap hotel we had reserved experienced a widespread sewage issue, so they transferred us down the road to the next hotel. It was basic, albeit convenient, and became our "home base" for exploring the nearby National Parks.

Navajo Refinery, Artesia, New Mexico.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

If you stay in Artesia or are simply passing through, make sure to stop by La Herradura for a feed. It is an authentic, family-run restaurant and serves the best Mexican food.  A "diamond in the rough"! The owners/employees spoke very little English, so we communicated with the limited Spanish we had, accompanied by lots of hand gestures and facial expressions. Greg ordered a burrito the size of a truck, and I ordered a combination plate because I like to try a bit of everything.

The best Mexican food!
La Herradura, Artesia, New Mexico.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Day 3: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico.

A short, 1 hour drive from Artesia are the Carlsbad Caverns. There are two options for exploring these underground caves: you can hike down and up, or you can take the elevator down and up. The elevator was not working the day we visited, so that made the decision easy. We hiked the 2km (1.25 miles) down and the 2km back up: the equivalent of walking up and down a 75-story building. 

The Natural Entrance Trail is in reasonably good condition, however it is steep, dark, and smells like bat poop. We were rewarded with spectacular cave formations at the bottom, including the Big Room which boasts the largest single cave chamber in North America. In my opinion, once you've seen a cave, you've seen them all.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Day 4: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.

A short 1.5 hour drive from Artesia. This was the most "American day" I have ever had! Greg had work meetings scheduled all day, so he stayed in the comforts of our 2-star accommodation while I spent the day on a solo adventure. I proudly drove my beastly Dodge Challenger across the New Mexico/Texas border, enjoying every tough grunt it made while accelerating.

I hiked to Guadalupe Peak, also known as the "Top of Texas". It is the highest point in Texas at 8751 ft above sea level. The hike involved 8.5 miles (13.7 km) round trip, a challenging 3000 ft elevation gain, and some rock scrambling near the peak. Texas ain't all flat, ya'll! There is a rock formation just below the peak called El Capitan which looks like Pride Rock from the Lion King.

Looking down on El Capitan from Guadalupe Peak.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

There were few people on this trail. So few, that when you came in contact with other human beings, you stopped to chat. Plus, it was a good excuse to "catch a breather"! I met a group of college students from Austin, Texas, as well as a young family who were on a pursuit to visit every U.S. National Park. Fortunately, I did not meet any tarantulas or rattle snakes on this day. 

The peak offered 360 degree, panoramic views over the raw, arid Texan landscape. Descending that mountain literally felt like returning to earth, back to reality. I drove my beastly Challenger into the sunset, returned to the local oil and gas town, celebrated the days accomplishments with an ice-cold beer, and enjoyed another delicious feed at La Herradura.

"Top of Texas" - Guadalupe Peak
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.
Photo credit to the family I met at the top.

Day 5: Drove 5.5 - 6 hours south to Terlingua, Texas.

West Texas scenery mainly consists of flat fields dotted with pumpjacks, also known as oil wells. They release oil (and sometimes gas) out of the ground. They kind of looked like dinosaurs!

Terlingua: cue "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi (play the video below). This area is the quintessential Wild West. A rugged, primitive, desolate landscape. It was once a booming mining town for metal mercury and ore. By 1903, the area boasted a population of up to 3,000. Mining ceased and it is now known as Terlingua Ghost Town, with a 2010 Census indicating the population is currently 58.

Today, the primary industry in Terlingua is tourism, fueled by its close proximity to Big Bend. Each evening, Greg and I shared a pitcher of beer at the local pub, serenaded by a middle-aged cowboy and his guitar. The water in the shower of our hotel room was merely a trickle, and the walls were super thin. We were unwillingly awoken to the sound of bedroom "festivities" from the couple next door, and painfully heard their detailed discussion about Funyuns until 3am in the morning.

Terlingua Ghost Town, Texas.
Photo taken by Gregory Richardson.

Day 6: Big Bend National Park, Texas.

This Park exceeded our expectations! It is now one of our favorites. Its remoteness contributes to it being one of the least visited Parks. It is vast, expansive, and offers diverse terrain from dry Chihuahuan desert, to river plains, to rocky peaks in the Chisos Mountains. The dark night skies offer amazing star-gazing and Milky Way viewing: an astro-photographers dream!

Rio Grande - USA in the foreground, Mexico in the background.

Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Our first sight of the Rio Grande river was memorable. Contrary to its name, the river is not very grand at all. It is thin and shallow, at least in the portions we saw. It separates the U.S and Mexico. You can literally stand on U.S. soil and throw a rock across the river into Mexico. There is a massive cliff/rock face on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande: a gentle reminder of just how small we and our problems are.

Can you spot Greg?!
Big Bend National Park, Texas.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

We walked the short Santa Elena Canyon Trail. I sat on an American rock, and looked across at the Mexican canyon wall, with only a shallow stream of water in between. Mind-blowing! Such a foreign concept for someone who grew up on an island (Australia) totally surrounded by water.

Sitting on an American rock, gazing across at the Mexican canyon wall.

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Photo taken by Gregory Richardson.

Next, we hiked the Lost Mine Trail which is 4.8 miles round trip and reaches a height of 6,800 ft above sea level. After a steady incline, gaining 1,300 ft in elevation, we were greeted at the top with panoramic Chisos mountain views. 

Lost Mine Trail.
Big Bend National Park, Texas.
Photo credit to random stranger we met at the top.

Day 7: Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico.

We crossed the border! Legally. 😊

Within Big Bend National Park, there is Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry with a passport control center. We presented our passports to a National Park ranger, and were then escorted across the Rio Grande by rowboat for a day trip to Boquillas: a small village in the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico, surrounded by the Sierra del Carmen mountain range. Some visitors paid to ride a burro (donkey) into the town. We chose to walk the easy 1/2 mile on foot which turned out to be the faster mode of transport. 

Boquillas, Mexico in 0.5 miles.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Per local recommendation, we enjoyed some tacos, tamales, and the "best margarita in town". The owner of the restaurant came over to our table and taught us to peel the corn husks off of our tamales. We had been attempting to eat the husks - rookie error! We were serenaded by an old man singing out of tune and playing his guitar with missing strings. We were also accompanied by a resident Chihuahua who enjoyed constant attention. 

Tomales, tacos, and the "best margarita in town".
Boquillas, Mexico.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

After lunch, we strolled around the dusty, isolated village of Boquillas. The closest town is reported to be a 4 hour drive away on unpaved roads, only accessible by 4WD. Thus, a solar farm was recently developed to provide electricity for the village. Apparently up to 2000 people once lived here, mining lead, silver and fluorite ore. By 1919, mining ceased and the population declined. A 2010 Census reported the population to be 110, during a time when the border crossing was closed. The border crossing was reopened in 2013, and since then the population has reportedly increased to 200 people, 400 Chihuahuas, and one million scorpions.

Boquillas, Mexico.
Photo taken by Gregory Richardson.

Today, the primary industry in Boquillas is tourism. Many residents were selling hand-made souvenirs out the front of their homes. Others make a living by rowing visitors across the Rio Grande, or selling food and drinks to thirsty tourists at the local bar/restaurants. Many of the houses were small, colorful and shaped like rectangular prisms. We visited the local school, the church, and by then were in desperate need to use the public toilets, which consisted of 3 porta-loos in the middle of the main street which looked like they hadn't been cleaned in years.

Boquillas School.
Photo taken by Gregory Richardson

Temperatures on this day soared to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), and it was only early Spring. Make sure you come prepared with lots of water and sun protection!

Upon returning to the U.S. border, we virtually spoke with an immigration officer via phone/video camera, and were granted permission to re-enter the US. We drove back to El Paso that evening, stopping by to take a picture of the infamous Prada store situated on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. We arrived in El Paso late that night and rented a room in a house via Airbnb for $25. After showering off the days dust, sweat and sunscreen, we got some much needed rest before our flight home the next morning.

Prada store in the middle of nowhere.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

In summary, we visited 1 National Monument, 2 Countries, 3 States, 3 National Parks, 4 Airbnb's/Hotels, and drove 1,700 miles. Phew! 

1. White Sands National Monument

2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

3. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

4. Big Bend National Park

With the sheer size of Texas and New Mexico, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Hopefully some of the above information is helpful. This may be the longest post I've ever written, so if you actually read this far, give yourself a "pat on the back". 😉

Happy traveling!

Maree

Life Update 2019

Hi, folks!

It has been awhile since I've updated you on my whereabouts. The last time was in 2017, and the time before that was in 2015.  Apparently I like odd numbers.

We are still in Florida, enjoying the sunshine, palm trees, and occasional hurricane. In 2017, Hurricane Irma, the strongest hurricane in terms of maximum sustained winds in the Atlantic, unbecomingly graced us with her presence. We evacuated our home for a few days, and then returned to repair the damage and clean up the debris.

Surprised Greg with a picnic in the spot where he proposed a few years ago.
Location: Sarasota, Florida, USA
Photo credit: camera, tripod and 10-sec timer. 

In 2017, Greg underwent spinal surgery. The hospital health care team had him up and walking that same day, and he has since recovered well, accompanied by a cute little tail (scar) on his lower back. I have also had ongoing lower back issues, so we are both taking life a little slower these days. Yoga, stretching, and hiking have become our new best friends. While we're on the topic of surgery, I recently had all four wisdom teeth removed. Fun times!

My journey as a Speech Language Pathologist transitioned to a school-based setting. If you're interested, here are links to read about how to transfer degrees/licenses internationally and obtaining state licensure in America. I'm currently placed at an Elementary (Primary) School and Preschool, providing assessment and therapy for the communication needs of school-aged children from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. Learning to cater to varying needs in small-group settings, rather than on an individual basis, has been a challenge. A shorter commute, an opportunity to brush up on my Spanish skills, and developing relationships with my sweet kiddo's has been a blessing. Oh, and the school holiday schedule is a bonus. 😉

A couple of 2017 highlights included a fleeting trip to Australia to visit family, friends, and a special mother-daughter trip to Tasmania, Australia. In December of that year I officially became a U.S. Citizen, and am now honored to officially call myself a dual citizen of Australia and America. If interested, you can read about my transition from Resident to Citizen. 

Location: Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania, Australia
Photo credit: Maree Richardson

2018 was the year of adventure: a road trip through the Wild West, hiking various National Parks and Monuments in Texas and New Mexico; a bridesmaid for my bestie's wedding; a wonderful mother-daughter trip through the forests, oceans, and delectable wine country in south-west Western Australia; roughed it through our "first-timers" #vanlife trip through the breathtakingly beautiful National Parks of California and Oregon. Wow - what a year!

Aside from traveling, we renovated our guest bathroom. Our house was built in 1958, so the original tiling was ... mature. We started with the intention of completing the entire renovation by ourselves. Too high of expectations, perhaps? An enormous thanks to my colleagues' husband, who helped us finish the drywall and tiling - what a legend! The guest bathroom is now sparkling, modern, and minimalist. It's our favorite room in the house!

BEFORE Bathroom Remodel

AFTER Bathroom Remodel

Now, we find ourselves in the depths of 2019. We spent New Years with family in Wagga Wagga, Australia, followed by an awe-inspiring trip to Thailand. I'm continuing to learn and work as a Speech Language Pathologist in the local school system. Greg is continuing to work as an I.T. Consultant for an international company. We attended a beautiful Greek/Italian wedding, and are completing some minor repair jobs around the house.

Bring on the rest of 2019!

Please feel free to reach out to me with any comments or questions regarding working and/or living abroad, transferring degrees/licenses internationally, travelling around America, or just to say "G'day!". I would LOVE to connect with more friendly faces. 😊

Have a great day,

Maree

Florida's National Parks

Hi, folks!

One aspect I love most about the U.S. is its National Park system.  I am borderline obsessed!  I have read Lonely Planet USA's National Parks from front-to-back, and love to daydream about potential National Park trips to take during my work holidays and long weekends.

Florida is home to three (3) U.S. National Parks, which will be the focus of this post.

On a long weekend in January I attended a one-day work conference in Miami, and spent the following two days down south to explore the following:     

Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park is 95% underwater, and thus holds the record as the largest marine park in the National Park system.  There is a short, paved walkway and boardwalk alongside the water, although to really appreciate the beauty of this park, it is best to get out on the water, whether that be by boat, kayak, paddle board, snorkel or dive.  Entrance to this park is free!

I spent one day at Biscayne National Park, and took a boat tour to Boca Chita Key.  The guides were very knowledgeable and taught us lots of fun facts about the parks' ecosystems, and also about the somewhat dark history of Boca Chita Key and its lighthouse.  We were given an hour to walk around the Key and climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse.  The view from the top was amazing!  The wind was so strong that it blew my sunglasses off!  You could also see the stunning Miami skyline in the distance.  I would love to return to this park someday to snorkel/dive the coral reef.

View from the Lighthouse - Boca Chita Key - Biscayne National Park
Photo taken by Maree Richardson

Top of the Lighthouse - Boca Chita Key - Biscayne National Park
Photo taken by Maree Richardson

Miami Skyline from Boca Chita Key - Biscayne National Park
Photo taken by Maree Richardson

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S.  The wetlands cover a large portion of southern Florida, and are home to many plant and wildlife species including the Florida panther, the manatee, and of course, the American alligator and crocodile.  Additionally, the Burmese Python, an invasive species, are said to roam these waters. 

I took the Shark Valley entrance and spent one day at Everglades National Park.  It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so entrance was free that day, however it is usually $25 per vehicle.  I biked the 15 mile trail and was astonished at the number of alligators sunning themselves on the side of the road.  Never had I been that close to wild gators before!

In my opinion, the right-side of the trail (if you're looking at it from the Visitor's Center) was the most scenic with a larger variety of plants and visible wildlife.  At the half-way point there is an Observation Tower.  Most people returned the same way they came, however I was curious to see what was on the left/opposite side of the trail.  I had most of it to myself ... for a reason.  This side was long and challenging, with numerous twists and bends.  I rode into a strong wind and felt lactic acid building up in my legs.  At one point I thought that the Visitor's Center should be around the next corner, however was disheartened to see the mile marker on the road indicating I still had 5 miles to go.  Needless to say, I made it to the end, but it certainly tested my physical and mental abilities! 

Sorry, Mum! Look how close the alligators were to the road.
Everglades National Park. Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Staring Competition! Everglades National Park.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Soaking up the Sunshine. Everglades National Park.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson. 

Dry Tortugas National Park 
I have not yet been to Dry Tortugas National Park, but it is on my list!  It is approximately 72 miles offshore, thus is only accessible by boat, ferry or seaplane.  A couple of years ago we were in Key West and had planned to take the ferry across, however the weather did not cooperate.  Guess I'll have to save it for another day ...


Have you been to any of Florida's National Parks?  What was your experience like?

Also, if anyone has any tips for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park, please let me know. 😊


Have a great week!


Maree

2017 in Review - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Friends!

Here is a brief update of our 2017.

It was a “rocky start” for us. The herniated discs in Greg’s lower spine worsened.  He ended up having back surgery in May. We were slow-going for awhile, however, with physio appointments and at-home stretches and strengthening exercises, Greg is much improved. 

Career-wise, I transitioned to working for the local School Board as a Speech Language Pathologist. I'm currently stationed at 3 different schools, and enjoy the variety of working with preschool and elementary/primary aged children.  The School Holidays will be a bonus, too! 😉

Hurricane Irma pummeled through the Caribbean and into Florida in September. We evacuated our house and drove up to Alabama to wait it out. It was a bit nerve racking waving goodbye to our house and not knowing what it would look like when we got back. Fortunately, the storm veered to the right and avoided a direct hit in our area. Our hearts go out to all those who did not fare so well.

We visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee for a second time. This place holds a special place in our hearts.  I also spent one week exploring the beautiful Australian state of Tasmania with my Mum.  We experienced some of the clearest waters, cleanest air, untouched nature and the most diverse geography.  Tassie is bloody beautiful, mate!

Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania, Australia.  Image captured by Maree Richardson.

To top the year off, I officially became a dual Australian-American Citizen. After 4 long years the wait (and paperwork!) has finally come to an end and a new chapter begins.  You can read more about this in my next post. 😊

Have a great week!

Maree

How to Plan a Trip to "The Smokies"

Hey folks,

When planning a trip away, I usually like to explore new places that I have never been to before. However, when hubby suggested returning to "The Smokies", I did not think twice!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee is the only place we have returned to for vacation. We are forever grateful to the Tennessee State legislature for the free entrance to the park. Yes, you heard me, FREE! Here are my tips for planning a trip to "The Smokies".

Sunrise at The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Look how stunning she is...and the view isn't too bad either!
 Image captured by Maree Richardson.

Accommodation:

We have stayed in Kear's mountain cabins near Gatlinburg for both of our trips. After extensive searches on many accommodation websites (AirBnb.com; HomeAway.com; Hotels.com, etc.) we came to the conclusion that these are the best "bang for your buck". For a little over $100 per night, you can stay in your own private log cabin with spectacular views of Mt. Leconte, perhaps the best views in the area. Many of these cabins also have a hot tub on the balcony to soak in after a long day hiking. Most amenities are included such as a washer, dryer, and full kitchen so you can save $ by cooking at home and enjoying dinner with world class mountain views.

Kear's Mountain Cabins. All images captured by Maree Richardson.

Hiking:

There are a tremendous amount of hikes available in "The Smokies". So many, that it is impossible to accomplish them all in one trip. It is best to hike in the early morning or late afternoon when there is less foot traffic. Here is a list of the hikes we have completed so far in order of preference:

1) Porter's Creek Trail - follows a beautiful flowing stream with large boulders and small waterfalls; spectacular creek views and sounds; lots of wildflowers and butterflies; lesser known = minimal people on the trail (quiet); moderate hike due to long distance and unpaved trail; ~ 4 miles round trip.

Porter's Creek Trail. Footage taken by Maree Richardson. 
Press "play" and turn your sound on!  

2) Grotto Falls - the only waterfall in the park that you can walk behind; popular = lots of people on the trail; easy-moderate hike due to short distance and unpaved trail; ~ 2.6 miles round trip.

Grotto Falls. Image captured by Gregory Richardson.

3) Abrams Falls - waterfall with large volume of water; less people than Grotto Falls but more people than Porter's Creek Trail = not many people on the trail; moderate hike due to long distance and unpaved trail; ~ 5.2 miles round trip.

Abrams Falls. Image captured by Maree Richardson.

4) Laurel Falls - 80-foot waterfall; paved footpath; very popular hike = lots of people on the trail; easy hike due to short distance and paved trail; ~ 2.3 miles round trip.

Laurel Falls.   

5) Noah "Bud" Ogle Nature Trail - view a historic farm house and barn, and learn about how people lived in this area in the 1800's; easy hike due to short distance; ~ 1.0 mile round trip.

Noah "Bud" Ogle Farm. Image captured by Maree Richardson.

Other Attractions Worth Seeing:

A) Clingman's Dome: This is the highest point in "The Smokies" and the highest point in Tennessee. From the parking lot, it is a short 0.5 mile, although very steep, hike to the top. If weather permits, the views are mesmerizing! If not, you cannot see past 100 meters or so. The picture below shows our view in August 2015 versus June 2017, the difference being pure luck with the weather.

Clingman's Dome August 2015.

Clingman's Dome June 2017.
Both images captured by Maree Richardson.

B) Moonshine Tasting: In Downtown Gatlinburg your will find Sugarland's Distilling Company. You can sample different flavors of moonshine and purchase your favorite/s to take home.  

Sugarland Moonshine. Image captured by Maree Richardson.

If you are planning a trip to "The Smokies", I hope you found some of the above information helpful. There is no guessing why it is America's most visited national park.

Sometimes all you need is to adjust your altitude. 😊


Happy Hiking,


Maree

The Traveling Career Woman

Hi folks,

Some of us want to be career women. Some of us want to be traveling women. But, what about those who want to work AND travel. Can we be both?

Today's post is inspired by an Instagram post from Ladies Gone Global. I cannot praise their post enough! Ladies Gone Global also has a website, if you want to check them out.

I admit that I have been victim to scrolling through my Instagram feed and have been "sucked in" to the idealistic fantasy that to be "free", you must give up everything (your house, your car, your work) and live a nomadic lifestyle, forever hopping from one place to the next. Lucky for me, my idealistic mind is complemented by my husband's realistic mind.

What does "freedom" mean to you? For me, being "free" is to be able to do what is best for YOU. To work, live, and travel how YOU want to. You can be inspired and influenced by others, but don't let yourself be controlled or pushed by them.

I have a home-base and work full-time, and travel during my work holidays and/or take the Paid Time Off I have earned to do so. Not sure how this would work for you? Here are my "tricks" for being able to pursue a work and travel life:

1. Take advantage of your work holidays/annual leave/paid vacation/PTO. I love planning trips away that coincide with my work holidays. Fortunately, my work follows the local School District calendar meaning I get time off for public holidays and portions of the school holidays.

Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA. August 2015. We visited the Smoky Mountains on my 5 day break in between my works' Summer Program ending and the new School Year beginning.  

2. Rent your spare room. This past month, my husband and I decided to rent our spare bedroom on AirBnB. Wow! If you have been considering doing this, you should do it. We have met some really interesting people and have been able to share stories with fellow-minded travelers who have stayed with us from all over the world. The money we made last month covered our mortgage, taxes, and electricity, meaning we can save more $$ from our regular 9-5 day jobs to put towards retirement and our "travel fund" for future adventures!

3. Take advantage of your smart phone's rewards. My husband has a Samsung Note5 smart phone, and uses Samsung Pay to pay for our groceries and other items. Just for using Samsung Pay (which is free) we received a $50 reward to use towards anything. So, we bought groceries and a bottle of Whiskey for FREE. Winning!

4. Sell stuff you don't need. We have sold a bunch of stuff that we don't need. I sell gently used clothes that I haven't worn in a while on Poshmark (a free App you can download on your smart phone). My husband sold a bunch of his University textbooks on Amazon. Other sites we have used in the past include Craigslist (USA), Gumtree (Australia), and eBay (USA and Australia).

5. Be mindful of your spending habits. I'm sure you've all heard this plenty of times before. But I urge you to really think about it. Do you really need that pretty dress in the shop window? Or, would you rather put that money towards a plane trip to The Bahamas, or towards your entry fee and hiking gear for The Grand Canyon?

6. Pack your lunch to work. Another phrase you've probably all heard before. But seriously, you save a lot in the long term. My husband and I usually cook a big dinner and then take the leftovers with us to work the next day. Super easy and the food usually tastes better the next day as the flavors have had time to soak in. Yum! Plus, home cooking is healthier for you than take out. Win win!

7. Don't forget to explore close to home! Traveling doesn't always mean buying an expensive plane ticket for a long flight to the other side of the world. It can simply mean getting in the car and driving to the town next door. When my husband and I feel burnt out at work, it's usually not that we're burnt out, but that we need to GET OUT. You can Google "hiking trails", "state parks", or "beaches" close to you and find new places to explore right outside your back door! Sometimes a quick weekend getaway is all you need to find inspiration to get through another week of work.

One Saturday in February 2017 we drove 1hr north to explore Ybor City, Fort De Soto Park, and fish off of the Skyway Bridge. Florida, U.S.A.

8. Travel Therapy. If you work in the allied health industry then you are in luck. In the USA, there are many agencies that offer travel therapy contracts all around the States. Assignments can be anywhere from 3 months to 12 months long. I have not yet been directly involved in this, however, work colleagues and online acquaintances have spoken about how they loved being able to explore different parts of the States and earn money at the same time.

What I do have direct experience with is the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that enables the credentials of Speech Language Pathologist's trained in Australia, USA, Canada, Ireland, England, and New Zealand to be recognized and work in each other's respective countries. For more information about this, read my post titled Transferring SLP Credentials Internationally.

9. Moments and memories. When traveling, be present and in the moment. Take pictures. When we travel, we hardly ever buy things aside from transportation and accommodation (the necessities). We choose specific nights to eat out at restaurants, and then cook food where we are staying the remainder of the time. Our photos and memories are usually our most prized possessions from trips. Plus, you can make cool artwork out of your photos, such as canvas prints to display around your home, or coffee table books filled with photos and captions of your favorite places you have visited.

10. Use credit cards with frequent flyer rewards. There are many credit card companies that offer rewards that are geared towards the frequent traveler. Two cards that we use and have benefited greatly from are the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the United MileagePlus Explorer credit cards (both have a USD $95 year fee that is waved the first year). As a signup incentive, both cards offer a bonus mileage of 40-60 thousand miles/points, depending on the promotion they are running at the time.

The MileagePlus Explorer earns miles that can primarily be redeemed for award tickets on United flights while the Sapphire Preferred earns points that can be redeemed for statement credits or transferred to a number of travel partners, including United. In both cases, we are able to use the points and miles to purchase discounted airfares and travel accommodations.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. August 2016. We hiked around Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in Utah during my 5 day work holiday break. Perhaps my favorite trip we have taken to date! 

We love to explore and experience new things, both near and far. We also love our careers and the work we do. So, we combine the two the best we can. We work so we have money to travel. We travel so we have inspiration for work.

The bottom line is, do what's best for you. 😊

Cheers,

Maree