I’ve never quite understood people who don’t love traveling. My grandma could be perfectly content never leaving her home state for the rest of her life. Maybe I just get bored of where I am too easily. Maybe I’m just curious. Either way, I have come to absolutely adore traveling. It has become one of the parts of my life that I love the most. Seeing new places is exciting. Stepping out of a plane or a car and knowing you’re in different air is a feeling that does not compare to anything else. I have traveled just for fun, for humanitarian trips, with my family, with friends, and even with people I did not know very well when we left. Still, every time, the excitement of being in a new place remains the same. One of my favorite things about it is discovering what is special about the new area I’ve found myself in. Here are my most memorable things that I experienced in each place I have visited.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Blueberry Grill
This little breakfast spot in Barefoot Landing is so yummy. My best friend’s mom discovered it on one of her regular trips and could not wait to take us. After going with her the first time, it definitely lived up to her hype. The outside seating area is so cute and it is perfect for a brunch date with the girls. This restaurant has become a must-visit every time I am in Myrtle Beach.
San José, Costa Rica – Everything is so colorful
The first thing I noticed after leaving the airport was how gorgeous this area was. This trip was my first time leaving the country and I was shocked at how green the plants and trees were. People are so right when they say pictures never do a view justice. During a zip lining trip we took on a free day we had, I was fully immersed in this nature. Looking around and seeing monkeys, chameleons, and even the huge bugs was super cool.
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina – The town park
In middle and high school, one of my best friends’ family had a beach house in Atlantic Beach. Our friend group would take trips there quite often. The house was in walking distance to the park so after a long day by the ocean and dinner, we would walk there to play putt putt and watch people skateboarding. The memories made at this little park were simple, but stand out to me for sure.
Johannesburg, South Africa – The mountains
No matter where we were, the mountains were visible. From the city, from the suburbs, and from the rural areas we explored, the mountains set the backdrop. Every single memory I made here includes the mountain view. They were absolutely gorgeous and unique from the mountains I was used to seeing in North Carolina. I simply can’t think about South Africa without remembering the mountains.
Los Angeles, California – Wilshire Blvd
During our weekend trip to LA, we stayed in an Airbnb on Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. We did not have much time to explore since we flew there on Friday for a concert on Saturday and were leaving on Sunday, but I loved this area. We took time to walk around the nearby shops and get dinner. Saturday morning we walked only a few blocks to get breakfast at a cute cafe and stopped at an adorable donut shop on the way back. We could see the water from Wilshire Blvd and could smell the ocean air. It was the perfect place for our quick girls trip.
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina – The atmosphere
Every little town I’ve been to in the Blue Ridge Mountains has been so laid back. I feel like this is true about most mountain areas, at least the ones I have been to in the South. Either way, I love it. Being a working college student who’s also involved in other clubs and activities, the mountains make me feel like I have no assignments or other worries. It truly is such a restful place and I always feel so much more ready to return to school or work when I leave.
NYC, New York – Radio City Music Hall
My first and only time in New York City was for a concert (if you know me this comes as no shock) and it was a very quick trip. Between the concert itself and waiting in lines we spent a lot of time at Radio City Music Hall. I made new friends waiting in line here and got to talk about my favorite music with people from all over the United States. I got to see one of my favorite groups perform an amazing concert with my best friend. We even saw Enhypen leaving the venue and got to wave them off. Radio City Music Hall will always have a special place in my heart.
Atlanta, Georgia – Kpop Store in USA
My best friends and I accidentally discovered this store on our way to Dollar General (of all places) in search of disposable ponchos. What’s funny is it didn’t even rain at the concert that day like we thought it would, so I guess we were supposed to end up here. We decided to stop in and discovered a stocked Kpop store bigger than any around where we live – which was cool enough in and of itself. However, it became even better when we met new people. They had the same favorite music as us and were so excited to talk about it. Through a long series of events we ended up back at this store two days later and waited for two hours to get in and shop. The whole time waiting, we were able to hang out with other people in line and talk about our favorite Kpop groups. We still talk to a few of these people almost a year later. Now, we visit this store every time we are in Atlanta.