Got Shells? Anclote Island

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So excited for tomorrow. I’m going on The Dolphin Cruise plus Beach Excursion, in the Gulf town of Tarpon Springs . I hope to see some dolphins tomorrow. I get to diembark on Anclote Island and search for seashells. Shelling is always a relaxing challenge I love to take. The opportunity is fabulous to get up close and personal with Florida wildlife. They even allow swimming off the island. This is one occassion not to forget a camera. More adventures from Tarpon Spring’s on the way!

-Wanderology Girl

Beach Town Packing List

Going on a beach town tour has its obstacles. Packing the right amount, and the essentials needed, is the goal. When chosing your wardrobe for the trip, think simple, interchangeable, and multi purpose. I like to start with a color scheme, It makes putting outfits together much easier. My next tip is to try to pack 14 wardrobe items or less. Light weight wrinkle free fabrics are best. The only exception to the rule is that I  bring my favorite linen beach pants… I just fold them neatly and hope for the best.

Always bring a super strong sunscreen, a floppy hat, sunglasses, flip flops, sandles, travel size skin care, make-up and toiletries. I bring very simple jewelry because you may pick up some cute beachy little bracelets or necklaces in the boardwalk shops. Below are pictures of my 14 items for my next road trip this week and a picture of my Eddie Bauer Boundary 24 liter backpack which I love for week long trips and it’s guaranteed for life.

I cherry picked things that can fit easily in my backpack. 2 neutral colored T-shirts, 1 graphic T-shirt, 2 tanks for the beach and for layering, 1 pair of denim shorts, 1 lightweight hoody sweatshirt for breezy nights, 1 swimsuit with swim trunks, 1 sundress, 1 light weight button up cardigan, 1 pair of trendy leggings for lounging or layering, 1 black maxi skirt that can be dressed up or down as needed, my favorite pair of striped, seaside, comfy, linen pants, and a light mango and white, chevron striped tunic. Hello! Beach Towns ……. here she comes!

Happy Travels!

-Wanderology Girl

10 Tips for Exploring a Beach Town

Hello World! Are you ready to follow Wanderology Girl on her Florida Beach Tour. Here is 10 fabulous tips for exploring new beach towns. Whether your visiting for a day, a weekend, or longer, these tips can make the most memorable, fantastic, wandering experience. Below are some pretty awesome ideas how to be a nomad, beach bum, or at least a relaxed beach drifter.

#1Pack Light

Take a minimal amount of travel essentials to truly be free to wander. Don’t be tied down to all your belongings. Think nomad, drifter, simple, and essential. It doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable….the idea is comfortable. It’s about being a being a savvy packer. I will be posting my (packing like a wanderer) list soon.

#2 Backpack It My Friend

Find a great backpack and you’re set. You will find it difficult walking down cobblestone streets or wandering through beach shops, or skimming through sandy shores, with a giant tote bag or even dragging suitcases around.

#3 Find a Host

Getting to know the culture and learning more about a town can be greatly accomplished by staying with a host family at the beach. You will make new friends and learn much more about relationships in this enviorment. You may not always feel comfortable, but from this experience you will always feel grateful.

#4 Keep a Travel Diary

It may seem obvious how meaninful this tip is, but you would be suprised those who miss out on this. Even if you only keep track of places, visited, feelings felt, people you meet…your favorite discoveries, that will suffice. It will be a treasure to you for years to come.

#5 Explore Farmer Markets and Local Cuisine

Some beach towns have delectable cuisine. Find fun, trendy places to eat. Explore Farmer or Fresh Markets for a taste of local delight and to find recipes to try back home.

#6 Meet the Locals

Don’t be afraid to make conversation and ask locals questions. You will be suprised who you can spark up a new friendship with and get great tips for interesting thing’s to do in the area. The locals are at the heart of a beach town.

#7 Take a Class

Many little towns have classes on local gardening, preservation, cooking, or customs. On weekends some shops even host how to classes in art or crafts. Find something new to learn during your breeze through beachy towns.

#8 Check Out Calendar Events

Most little towns will post current events on a monthly calandar. You can usually get this information by just searching the towns current events. You might be there the perfect time for a parade, arbor tree planting, a festival. Check it out!

#9 Go Shelling

Some Florida beaches are known for shelling. You can kick your toes through salty water and sugary sand to find some great little shells to bring home. This is so relaxing with waves breaking and the ocean breeze in your face. It’s a form of meditation for me.

#10 Explore Like a Nomad Not a Tourist

Don’t just stick with trip advisor or tourist books. Let your soul wander shops and local little hidden gems. Remember not all treasures are easy to see or publicized…some treasure is buried. Your job is that of an explorer….now go discover something special for yourself.

My last and very important tip is always bring strong sunscreen. Florida will be friend or foe to you depending on this cruicial essential. She can help you unwind or scorch you.

Happy Travels!

-Wanderology Girl

The Pampered Travel Essentials….

Some of my favorite travel essentials I can carry in a purse. Cute hairbands from @Goodie,

Small bag of @Clinique makeup, lipstick,compact,moisture surge thirst relief for skin (a flight attendant’s best friend)

hand sanitizer@bathandbody,

sunglasses,

natural Glee gum with no artificial sweetner, (so my ears don’t pop on the plane),

granola bar for non-meal flights ,

note pad & pen @Brighton,

phone with earphones,

On Guard@doterra spray (for spraying dirty table tops and hands in public),

eyecream@cindycrawford(meaingfulbeauty) for long red eye flights,

hand lotion,

pill box with Ibruprophen for headaches & motion sickness pills,

of coarse a passport (One of the best souvenirs). Happy Travels……. -Wanderologygirl

To Travel is Worth any Cost or Sacrifice….

This is a quote from Eat, Pray, Love. I have loved Julia Roberts since I was  young. I somehow can relate to her feelings in the movie of being confused, unsure of her footing, not knowing the direction of her own life. I somehow feel, on the grand stage of my life, there has to be more than trials, suffering, disappointment, abandonment and neglect. It’s as if I hear the Director shouting through His mega phone,  “Show me more joy! I want to see more joy! Come on, get into character…more joy!” If I’m the starring actress in my own life’s screenplay,  then I need some really good supporting roles, I need a star studded cast, in order to make the story of my life a blockbuster. I havn’t always had that support , but I went searching for it. I have some great supporting role models in my life. I am on the set, I am willing to finally play the role I have often avoided in the past. I am a wanderer…so I will travel, I am a dreamer…so I shall dream…. I am a creator…so I will create….I am inspiration…so I will inspire, I am compassion, I will seek out the suffering. Before the final act of the story of my life, I now realize, I am worthy of happiness….so I shall find joy. How will you find joy dear reader?

-Wanderology Girl

Meet LuLu TrixiBelle

I would like to cordially introduce my readers to an angel sent down from heaven. That is why she is white, she just hasn’t sprouted her wing’s yet. Meet Lulu TrixiBelle, my adorable French Poodle and best friend. If you want to learn something about wandering….take a little dog on a walk. We can learn so much if we are open to what the  animals around us can teach us. Lulu has a sense of adventure and purpose when she wanders. She walks excitedly with her little painted toenails, tapping on the sidewalk. She acts like a child on Christmas morning, and her range of joy on a scale of 1-10, is 100! She is elated like she just won the lottery when I clip her leash on her. She bounces up and down like she is getting ready to go on a ride at Disneyland. She reminds me of sunshine after rain, and how even a little walk down the street can be looked forward to like a caribbean cruise. Wandering is an art. The art of being alive! Where will you wander dear reader? -Wanderology Girl

Less is More

One of the challenges to travel is learning how to make it light an easy. The minimalist, yet fashionable, traveler knows that there truly is a secret to packing the right wardrobe for the right adventure. If you gear up to make this a ruthless simplifying exercise, you will find less truly is more. Taveling with less, well chosen, items leads one into vast expressions of creativity. The gift of the minimal wardrobe is how easy and hassle free you can travel still looking flawless and pulled together. I plan to launch a whole page on my blog next month on packing a classic, minimalist bag. Follow my blog so you don’t miss any of Wanderology Girl’s tips, ideas, and adventures. Happy travels! -Wanderology Girl