A Southern Gypsy - Travel Blog

I’ve always been an empathetic person striving to find a way to make a difference, but it has taken me a long time to figure out my way of doing that. Changing habits and normalcies is difficult for anyone, naturally. If it wasn’t, I think a lot of people would change their harmful behavior. And, perhaps it’s that they just don’t know how certain things harm others, the environment, animals, and…

9 Super Helpful Nepal Travel Tips for Every Traveler

Is Nepal a destination you want to visit but you’re not sure where to start? Does it seem a bit out of reach or maybe even a little scary? I can understand but it doesn’t have to be with these Nepal travel tips. There are a few things to know about Nepal before you go that will make your trip run smoother – whether you’re trekking, staying in the city of Kathmandu, visiting the jungle in Chitwan…

Recently I shared my guide on visiting Chitwan National Parkin Nepal and I came clean on just how much I didn’t know about Nepal before visiting. This small Asian country was somewhere I wanted to visit one day because quite frankly I want to visit everywhere, but it wasn’t anywhere near the top of the list. In fact, I assumed it would just be a country I’d tack on to another trip at some point.…

I went from knowing I was visiting Nepal to seeing 12-15 rhinos, during a Chitwan jungle safari, in just a one week span. I’m feeling like that is pretty good on the spontaneity scale. My knowledge of Nepal was minimal. Here is what I knew beforehand:

The location. I’m happy to say I could easily point out this tiny nation sandwiched between India and China on a map.

They claim the tallest…

I had my eye on Costa Rica for a while due to many reasons. I heard from so many well-traveled individuals that this was their favorite country in the world, I was excited to see Costa Rica ecotourism for myself, and I wanted to understand what ‘Pura Vida’ meant – not literally, of course. In case you arewondering though – Pura Vida translates to “pure life.” Arriving in San Jose and only staying…

As I watch the mountains go by outside my window on a train ride through the Smoky Mountains, my mind keeps being drawn back to the ocean. This is a big deal because I’ve always considered myself purely a mountain girl. I enjoy the beach when I’m there. I feel a sense of peace being near the water like I do with any form of the Earth, but it was never what I sought out the most. I think if…

Looking to eat vegan in Costa Rica? I got you! While I primarily visited only the Guanacaste region during my first (but, definitely not my last!) trip to Costa Rica, there are some pretty simple things to know that will help while visiting any region of this glorious and beautiful country. I spent four days in Playas del Coco Guanacaste during my ten days in Costa Rica which was the longest I…

Vegan in Manhattan? Possibly one of the easiest things to do. There is definitely no shortage of vegan options in one of my favorite cities on the planet. Not only will almost any spot have a vegan option, but there are countless all vegan Manhattan restaurants and even more all-vegetarian options. As a vegan, you most definitely will not go hungry. In fact, you’re going to have to do a lot of…

Can you take scuba lessons from the comfort of your home? In theory, yes! Getting certified to scuba dive is a somewhat nerve-wracking but highly rewarding experience and there’s no reason why time, nerves, or money should stop you from following your mermaid dreams. The PADI eLearning cost is very reasonable as well and offers a way to break up the total cost of getting certified.

After my own…

I can’t believe we’re a quarter of the way through the year already. We’re 9 months away from being back in the roaring ’20s. Well, I was never there but you know what I mean.

via GIPHY

Where was I in March?

Nashville – I was home most of the month but since I was working on a big freelance project focused on Nashville, I did a lot of exploring in my own city. I can be quite hermit like when I’m…

Ever since I went to Thailand almost five years ago with a carry on backpack only, I haven’t looked back. About the only time you may see me with more is when I’m road trippingbecause I just have so much space and I don’t have to carry it around or go through security. There are so many reasons why traveling with a carry on only is easier and better. I know doing this can be terrifying to some…

Nashville is such a great city but sometimes you just need to get out of town, right? I’m a firm believer that one doesn’t have to travel far to explore the world. Some of my favorite spots in the world, even after traveling quite a bit, are in my own backyard. There are so many driveable spots in and around Tennessee and here are ten weekend trips from Nashville to take.

Psst: Looking for more…

One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years. – Thomas Wolfe

I know some people who think New York City is the greatest place on Earth and some people who have no desire to visit or return again and while I suppose I can understand either sentiment, I’m so happy to be a part of the former group. I think I fell in love with New York City before I…

Last September, I went to an area of my state I had always wanted to visit – Rock Island State Park. With a goal to visit all Tennessee State Parks, this was finally a chance to check one of the most anticipated ones of the list. If I’m being honest I was having a hard time getting in the mood to go anywhere though – I had gone through some personal things at the beginning of the month and was…

February was here and gone way faster than January – that’s for sure. I understand it is the shortest month of the year but you wouldn’t think a couple of days would make that much of a difference. Well, it does. It hasn’t really been winter here in Nashville – just rain and more rain. We had the wettest February on record, ever. In 2010, Nashville had a very large flood and it was devastating.…

New York City is one of the most visited places in the entire world. It is one of my favorite places (and I’m more of a nature kind of girl) so I can’t blame anyone for loving this city or wanting to visit. There is, of course, a reason why the most popular attractions are in fact touristy – they’re usually popular for good reason. The Statue of Liberty is a pretty cool spot to check out, the…

There are many reasons why I love New York City. I’m normally a nature girl. I’d pick a forest over a city any day but there’s something about New York City. It’s kind of similar in the way that I love the feeling of being on a college campus or roaming the stacks of a library – it just leaves me feeling inspired or thisis where dreams come true. One of the reasons I love this city is that I…