Office to Outdoors - All Blog Posts
10 Steps to Plan a Vacation on a Budget
Planning a Vacation on a Budget Have you ever planned a vacation only to realize you couldn’t afford it or came home with a lot more in credit card debt than anticipated? We’ve all been there at one time or another and it’s not fun. However, planning a vacation on a budget doesn’t have to be difficult and it is certainly not impossible. I’ve spent the last several years figuring out the best way to travel on a budget while maximizing my vacation days and having the time of my life. My husband, Sam, and I generally travel once a
Your Complete Guide to Visiting Jekyll Island
Overview of Jekyll Island: You might know Georgia for the Atlanta Braves, peaches, the Bulldogs, and sweet tea. But did you know about the Golden Isles of Georgia? Located on the coast halfway between Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, FL, the Golden Isles are made up of the mainland of Brunswick and 4 barrier islands – St. Simons, Little St. Simons, Sea Island, and the subject of this post – Jekyll Island. This southernmost barrier island is home to about 1,200 residents and many annual guests. Visiting Jekyll Island is a special experience that can’t be explained– it can only be
Planning a Vacation to an All-Inclusive Resort: What You Need To Know
Planning a vacation can be confusing, time-consuming, and exhausting. Consider heading to an all-inclusive resort to alleviate many of the trip-planning burdens. Often located in tropical locations, the resorts include all-you-can-eat food and drinks, pools, activities, and beach access. You might be asking, are all-inclusive resorts worth it? This post dives into everything you need to know about all-inclusive resorts, including locations, booking, common amenities, and overall value. When you make purchases through the links in my post, I may earn commissions at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As always, I
20 Must-Pack Items for Your All-Inclusive Vacation
Booked An All-Inclusive Vacation? Heading to an all-inclusive resort at a beach destination? How exciting! Now that you’ve booked the much-needed vacation, one of the biggest stressors is probably what to pack in your suitcase. I’m always worried I’m going to miss an essential item or not think of something that could’ve made the trip so much better. This post has everything you’ll need to get the most out of your all-inclusive vacay. I don’t include the basics like clothes, swimsuits, and simple toiletries because those vary depending on your location and length of your trip. However, you will find
Hotel Review: Courtyard Jekyll Island
Courtyard Jekyll Island Overview: Opened in 2021, the Courtyard Jekyll Island is an excellent, affordable oceanfront property within walking distance from the Beach Village. It’s actually a dual-branded hotel, with the Residence Inn Jekyll Island on one side and Courtyard Jekyll Island on the other. Together, the hotel has 209 well-designed rooms, a spacious lobby and dining area, gorgeous pool, and plenty of options to relax or catch-up on some work. Beach access is easy from the hotel while across the street you’ll find a paved walking/bike path that will take you to some of the most popular destinations on
8 Reasons Why I Still Love Southwest Airlines
Over the holidays, Sam and I were two of thousands left flightless due to Southwest Airlines’ “meltdown” after a 2022 holiday snowstorm. After our cancelled flight Christmas Day, we rebooked for three days later, only to have that flight cancelled as well. Finally, we opted to book an expensive $900 flight on a competitor airline so we could get home to our lives and our pup. Even after all that, we’d still vote Southwest Airlines number one. And no, Southwest did not pay me to write this – I really do love flying the airline. Beyond the last two rough
Ultimate Guide to Ocean Beach – San Diego
Ocean Beach, or simply OB as it’s known to the locals, is one of Southern California’s most unique beach towns. Located 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, OB features sun, sand, waves, tide pools, restaurants, bars, shops, and lots of character. There is a special charm to OB that you will not find anywhere is in California. The shops are unique, the people are laid back and friendly, and dogs are everywhere. My husband Sam is proud to call OB home and I’ve had the privilege of visiting several times now and have found so many go-to spots. Below I
Complete Guide to Gateway Arch National Park
Complete Guide to Gateway Arch National Park Did you know one of the newest National Parks is in the middle of a city, easily accessible and does not require miles of hiking? Gateway Arch National Park, located in St. Louis, Missouri was officially designated as a National Park in 2018. The Gateway Arch, Old Courthouse and surrounding park area can be found on Fourth Street between Market and Chestnut streets. Below I share a complete guide to Gateway Arch National Park including its history, fees, things to do at the park, and more. ** Visitors are required to go through
Is New Orleans Worth Visiting? An Honest Opinion
My Honest Review of New Orleans: New Orleans is a very impressive city in a way that’s just not for me. The city has architectural beauty, incredible history, and offers a gorgeous and unique environment. However, I found that to be countered by extremely dirty streets, rude people, and complete craziness. If you’ve never been down Bourbon Street on a Friday or Saturday night, you have to check it out at least once. The shear number of people who gather in the street is incredible, let alone the venders, people with snakes, and tarot card readers. If it’s your cup
5 Best Places to Eat on Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island may be known for its beautiful beaches and fantastic shelling, but there are also some of the best places to eat on Sanibel Island. For those of you wondering where the heck Sanibel Island is… it’s a small island off the coast of Florida, near Fort Myers. If you’ve been to the Fort Myers area before, Sanibel Island has a completely different vibe. It’s low-key, very quiet, small, and popular for its shelling beaches. I’d also argue that the restaurants on Sanibel Island are some of the best. The island restaurants have excellent variety, a fun atmosphere, and
15+ Best Beach Bag Essentials
Beach Bag Essentials: How well you pack your beach bag can make or break your day at the beach. There is nothing worse than arriving at the beach for the day only to realize you forgot the beach essentials like sunscreen or the beach toys. Packing for a day at the beach can be a lot of work. You don’t want to forget the essentials, but you also don’t want to forget the extras like a hat or your favorite beach read that will make your day more enjoyable. Below you’ll find your beach bag essentials for the perfect beach
The Ultimate 3-Day Grand Canyon South Rim Itinerary
About Grand Canyon: Less than five hours north of Phoenix, Arizona, you’ll find one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the Grand Canyon. Also a National Park, the Grand Canyon is 227 miles long and over ten miles wide (on average). Pictures simply don’t do this canyon justice. It’s absolutely gorgeous and massive and I recommend it be on your bucket list if you haven’t visited already. While unbelievably impressive, there are some very important items to know before visiting this amazing place. With a little planning, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your trip to the
