holiday gift guide for the wanderluster

In case you're still in need of some holiday gifts after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday... (So many opportunities to buy people! How American) here are some ideas we've come up with for those adventure seekers out there!

1. PASS TO BROOKLYN BOULDERS. This may be our new happy place. Since we're in the city the majority of the winter instead of out on the open road hiking huge rocks, this indoor rock climbing community was a great find. We signed up for the Rope Course last week and have since been hooked. (It all starts with trust falls...what a team-building venture...) It's got an amazing vibe with colorful graffiti and lots of nooks and crannies to explore, so you never feel like it was crowded (although we were warned it would be different on Saturday/Sundays). With the Lumineers and Jose Gonzalez lingering in the background, I never thought I would feel so zen dangling by one hand from the ceiling with a rope hooked to me. 

PS we found all the hot males in the city of new york. SSSHhhhhhh. For multiple reasons, this experience would be a great gift for your wanderlusty-but-stuck-in-the-city friend. They are having a HOLIDAY SALE too. 

2. A WARM HANDMADE ITEM FROM THE MARKET. Something warm, cuddly, handmade, and Fair Trade from a holiday market is always a great gift. My mom got me this Nirvana Designs hat from The Union Square Holiday Market over Thanksgiving. It's not only unique and VERY WARM, but the purchase of this hat supports women in Nepal. (kissy face for free.)

3. HIKING GEAR. There's all sorts of accessories needed for upcoming adventures, whether it's new boots, ice cleats, water bottles, warm light-weight layers, or an actual tent. We'd suggest this REI backpack and this. It's lightweight and perfect for hiking, running, and staying hydrated. Meg's gotten a lot of use out of it in a few short months, as you can see in one of our last days of summer on Bear Mountain. 

4. WANDERLUSTY DREAMY BOOKS. Let's face it- reading about other people's adventures is escapism at it's BEST. (When you're not hanging out with us here of course.) These are some of our favorite reads this year during those drudgingly cold morning commute rides to work when you'd rather have a backpack with sunscreen in it than your computer and work notes. You may not be able to splurge on flights just yet (hint: keep reading), but these will give you the time to dream up where you want to go next and inspiration to start saving those pennies! 

The Lost Girls. Three friends quitting their workaholic jobs in NYC around their 28th birthdays to travel the world for a year...not relatable. At all.

WILD. Cheryl Strayed's memoir of impulsively leaving everything she knows at 26 to hike the Pacific Coast Trail solo without much training or experience. Women foraging their own trail & feeling their feelings...also completely unrelatable. 

5. GOPRO. I'm obsessed with mine. Not a prime filmmaker YET, but it's a fun toy to be able to take with you on ANY adventure and not have to worry about dropping it or getting it wet. 

6. DIY DAY OUT OF THE CITY. We are alllll about this. And this gift can be on ANY budget! Exploring a small town on the coast like Isle au Haute, Maine or a new place in the city (how very lupine of you) or that massive roadtrip in the Southwest... (we've got ya there too) to somewhere unseen and unheard of (please share!). The uncharted territory is the best. Experiences should not be bound by a price tag! Check out how far you can get on public transit, where the local campsites are, and pack up that backpack! 

7. PLANE TICKETS. And of course this is the ultimate gift for any globetrotting wanderluster if you're ready for the big one!! Plane tickets to a bucket-list destination would be AMAZING. You can get us a pair for Iceland, thank you. (So thoughtful!) 

So, what's it going to be? What are you asking for for the holidays? And more importantly, what are you GIVING?

the family that plays together

More often than not, I escape to Long Island on the weekends.  It’s gotten to the point where my roommate is genuinely surprised to see me on a Saturday or Sunday.  Some may say I have an addiction to the beach.  I say it is all in adoration.  Potato.  Potata.

I used to deny my love of the island mostly because I wanted to separate my growing up self from my being grown up self.  I couldn’t appreciate my childhood home because I was entirely focused on how I was different.  I was my own person, with my own home, and my own set of living standards - not those dictated by my parents.  The funny thing is you can never fully separate yourself from your family - for better and worse.  My life is a reflection of my family and the nature versus nurture that I received plays out in my day to day life.  It informs how I treat others, the types of relationships I strive for, and the goals I pursue. 

I’m not entirely sure when the switch happened and I realized how awesome family can be but I fully embrace it now.  And how do I show that love?  By insisting my family goes kayaking with me when it is almost December.  Sans wetsuits. And in open water (well at least for part of it).  It’s really their fault.  They chose to raise their children in a little town on the bay where the go to activities are sailing, swimming, surfing, etc.  As a result, my brother and I have an insatiable need to be at or on the sea.  Case in point: I lived in a landlocked country for a year and I used to close my eyes and pretend I was on a boat with the sea splashing on me as opposed to my current reality of being on the back of a motorcycle with sand whipping in my face.  You do what you have to do.

These days though I don’t have to pretend.  I just travel out on the island, embrace my family, and insist that we spend some time together.  Salt water included.

notes:

- if you wish to go kayaking or paddle boarding on LI, check out here, here, or here.  even though i subjected my family to it, i would not recommend going out during the off-season (when it is cold) as your first time and/or without proper gear, i.e. wetsuit, gloves, booties. ignore my feet in the above picture and do as i say, not as i do.

- i have a brother.  we did not exclude him.  someone just decided that finishing a paper for grad school was more important. psh. 

birthday wishes, nyc

A few years ago I had that big scary thing happen. I know we all have had ours, and mine paralyzed me internally for quite a while. (I've now learned that's a little thing called grief.) Each year since I've tried to focus on an empowering word or mantra every birthday- something to look forward to, cling onto, and get out of that hole.

First it was to HEAL- to have the courage for the very painful and very patient process of healing. Stop picking the scabs back open. Stop pretending. Feeling the feelings- letting them wash over me, but not drown me. Tread that water. 

The next year it was to be HAPPY- to find freedom and enjoy life and all of its joys again. It may have been an indulgent year and involved cupcakes, Coronas, and frequent visits with the ocean. It felt like that was the next step of healing and finding the Grace that I thought was lost. To heal enough to enjoy life again.

Last year it was to be BRAVE- I had healed, I was enjoying life again, but now it was time to start making moves. Time to be bolder in life and take some risks in relationships, performing pursuits, and career ventures. The Grace before that big bad thing was pretty freaking bold, fearless, creative, and so eager for life. I craved to have her back. I felt I had become comfortable, had grown my skin back over those wounds, and I got my heart pumping, skin tanned, hair untamed, and feet dancing again. I had survived some bad things, and stood by some friends during theirs... What did I have to be afraid of? It was time to cut the cord from fear and things that didn't serve me and move on. 

What a year it has been... and I hope continues to be.

This year? I've got two. Cause I can and I make up the rules. They are TO GO & TO GIVE LESS OF A F***! Time to stop waiting for people to come around or change- that's on them. Time to stop waiting for opportunity and embrace entrepreneurship, because this city (and this world and this generation) is full of people hustling and creating their own opportunities. And I'm all about creating! We can spend our whole life waiting. Or waiting to do something until we've got everything perfectly lined up (aka perfection paralysis). Not when you're twentyGREAT. 

This blog serves as a reminder to look for those little beauties in the world around us as well as an exciting challenge to explore new places (and my lovely adventure partner Meg is an extra bonus)! And I'm thankful we keep discovering new things in the city I've lived in for nine and a half years now. 

If you haven't figured out what lupines represent yet (hint: read this), they stand for finding beauty in the world, whether that's in a new place or a very familiar place, and planting them too. The beauties sitting around the table with me last night as I celebrated another year are lupines for me and some of my most cherished possessions. I don't know what could be a better gift than to be able to look around you and see the eyes of love, of people who have walked with you through your story, have cried and giggled with you, have challenged you, and who know you so well. Isn't that what we all want? To be known, like really known? I couldn't feel richer. They're scattered all over the country, but I'm thankful I got to dance with some of my lupines last night. 

notes:

-we ate at bodega negra... some nice fancy mexican food and lovely decor. i mean i'd eat guacamole for every meal if i could. it was a nice crowd for a Monday night, but I fear it's quite different on the weekends. beware: later in the eve, it becomes #locomonday

-billy's cupcakes are currently better than all else. (they've beat magnolia for a few years now) the TWO i consumed last night: banana nutella & of course one with pink icing! 

***yes, the only notes are about food. 

mesa verde, co

"These are people at their very finest." -- John Slevin, Mesa Verde National Park Ranger

The journey from Arches National Park to Mesa Verde National Park was not an easy one.  It began with the sound of sporadic raindrops hitting the tent at 5 30 am.  It then continued with 2.5 hours of driving through intermittent downpours, thunder and lightning, sleet, and even snow.  When we finally arrived at the visitor center, the cold rain started up once again as I darted inside.  I soon learned that while we had made it to the park, we still had another 45 minutes of driving.  Feeling a bit defeated and damp, I eased the Jeep back on to the road and we made our winding, wet way up to the top of Mesa Verde.

Eventually we arrived at Spruce Tree House just as the sun started to peek out from the cover of the clouds.  I remained bundled though in layers of long sleeved shirts and fleece-lined pants.  Not even the sun could ease the chill from the wind whipping about on top of the plateau. It's no wonder why the people of Mesa Verde decided to take refuge in the cliffs.  These alcoves provided refuge from the elements.  Even the design of their kivas created coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter.  

There's something about exploring an abandoned home that draws me in.  As I wandered about the community's remains, I wanted to know what the previous inhabitants lives looked like. What were their routines?  Where did they escape to for solitude?  What made them laugh? Artifacts can only relay some of the material needs and wants of a people but it doesn't provide the stories.

 After the tour, we wanted to stretch our legs and headed out on the Petroglyph Point Trail. Half of the trail is a series of ups and downs along the top of the canyon and and the other half leads you across the edge of the plateau ending up over the Spruce Tree House. If you look for them, you will find the ruins of smaller habitats along the way.  A persistent reminder that Mesa Verde was once a thriving community. 

 If it wasn't indicated with an arrow, I would not have noticed the drawings in rock above my head. It is thought that these petroglyphs tell the stories of the Pueblo people - their history and beliefs. Not knowing the story, I searched the mural looking for familiar images: two kissing birds, a bearded sun, a lone ram.   

The sun was beginning to set and the rain clouds had started to roll back in as we came to the end of the trail.  As we twisted and turned down the road and out of the park, I couldn't help but think of our ranger guide's parting words. He told of a recent dinner he shared with the descendants of the inhabitants of Spruce Tree House.  When he asked his host if there was anything she would like to tell the hordes of people that visit Mesa Verde each year, she replied, "We are still here."

notes:

- we arrived the first day of Mesa Verde's winter schedule so Spruce Tree House was the only cliff dwelling open to exploration and you must be part of a (free) tour.  our park ranger guide was amazing -  take a tour even if not required.

- there is an rv park/campground owned by the sweetest people on the opposite side of 160 from the entrance to Mesa Verde.  if you find yourself in a predicament of having not bathed for a couple of days, they will gladly hook you up with some hot showers.  i'm guessing they would probably let you shower there if you are a clean person too.  just be sure to bring a towel + toiletries.

arches national park, ut

I saw him heading for us. Just as I found a spot protected from the wind - a little nook behind one of the many arches we hiked to - he made his way toward our retreat.

This arch had been a bit of a beast to get to. The wind gusts made me feel blown about and I wasn't exactly stoked by the ridge we had to cross in those winds. Add to it that we had scaled down the side of a massive rock to reach the base of the arch since we failed to recognize the easier path and that tears were streaming down my face from all the sand being whipped about, and you could say that I was ready to sit down and have some quiet time.  

Side note: Arches National Park kind of looks like giant rocks just fell out of the sky and plopped down.  The wind has carved out all sorts of images.  My brain immediately associated them with sea sponges and submarines but maybe you would see spaceships and Martians.

You might think that given my previous experience in Zion I had learned to embrace opportunities for new stories. You would be wrong.  I wanted nothing more than to rest my bones, drink some water, and munch on a bar in my sand-free alcove.  But I failed to avoid eye contact - rookie mistake - and was soon enveloped in the standard where are you from, how did you get here, what do you do conversation.  

It turned out that this gentleman was the younger half of a father-son duo traveling about in southern Utah.  Our little group soon realized that we were all planning on taking the same route back and with that we headed for the trail.  The way back was advertised as a mile longer on what the park called a primitive trail as to the semi-primitive trail we took to get to the arch.  But as we continued down the path following the cairns, I began to lose track of time and became enveloped in the stories of my new companions.  Did you know that technically at noon the sun should be due south? Or that Mexico has sued the US over the Colorado River? 

Before I knew it, we were back at the trailhead with our new found friends.  Instead of being focused on my feet, I was completely enveloped in the conversation and just simply enjoyed myself.  Case in point, I have absolutely no pictures from the second half of the hike.  These are all from the way to that last arch.  Maybe next time I won't initially be so new people adverse.  Just maybe.

notes:

- we set-up camp at devil's garden campground in arches national park.  during the winter, it is first-come first-served and we didn't have a problem getting a site at noon on a saturday.  the campground is set in the midst of the park so i highly recommend staying there if possible.

- i really wish we had ventured into moab while we were at arches.  don't repeat my mistake - the town looks awesome.  i did manage to enjoy some wicked brew coffee early on a sunday morning... nothing like waking up to rain at 5 30 am and having to through everything into the jeep. i don't think i have ever been so thankful for a drive thru as i was that morning. 

bryce canyon and grand staircase-escalante, ut

This post could have also been titled "That Time I Tried to See All the Things."  As it tends to go with these types of things, this part of the journey started with the best of intentions.  Utah has crazy terrain and I had/have fallen in love.  The land is just so completely different from the Northeast with its canyons, cliffs, and giant globs of rock.  It didn't help matters that I had started to watch Ken Burns's National Parks documentary a couple of weeks before leaving for this trip.  Apparently, according to Mr. Burns and crew, there were many places to explore and many were in Utah so onto the itinerary they went and I ignored those minor details of mileage and timing. 

These two parks were visited on our way from Zion to Arches with an overnight in Escalante.  I discovered after the fact that the most direct route between the two is 359 miles.  In order to see Bryce Canyon and have a bit of an adventure in Grand Staircase-Escalante, we took the 402 mile scenic route which added 52 miles of off-roading.  While I love driving on crappy/non-existent roads (10 points to the brother who taught me how not to destroy a car when not on pavement), turns out my traveling buddy does not. Whoops.

Our first stop was Bryce Canyon National Park.  My main motivation for wanting to visit this park was the hoodoos.  I mean they're called hoodoos and they look awesome so who wouldn't want to drive a bit out of the way to check them out? It's like Fraggle Rock. In the flesh.  Only outdoors.  And not a cave... just trust me on this one.  If we had explored the area, I'm fairly certain that we would have found Wembley or at least Sprocket.  Unfortunately for our traveling duo, we did not have time to check them out.  So we did the next best thing and visited some sites along the auto-tour route.  

Driving around to viewpoints is always subpar, while I did get to see my beloved hoodoos it ended up being a bit of a tease. My next trip to the area definitely has the goal of mingle with the hoodoos on it. (Can you tell I like the word hoodoo? If you're counting along, we are up to 5).

After spending about an hour in Bryce Canyon, we hurried on our way to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  We had to beat the sun if we were going to be able to hang out in some slot canyons that afternoon.  As the sun was just about to start thinking of setting, we made it to the trailhead and figured we could make our way through at least one slot canyon - Peek-a-Boo.  

At the start of the trail, it doesn't look like much - just a descent into a wash surrounded by some desert-like terrain and a few trees thrown in to mix things up.  But as we inched our way closer to the entrance of the canyon, I began to realize that we had initially been looking only at the top of it hidden in the terrain.

We began to wind our way through the curves of the canyon and it started to narrow making it harder to anticipate what was around the next corner.  My friend spotted some feathers in a pile which looked like a bird had been recently caught.  As we inched our way forward, I saw a fresh pile of someone's droppings so-to-speak which signaled us to hightail it out of there.  It might be pertinent to mention that the last time this particular friend and I were hiking together and a pile of bird feathers were found, there was a bear cub around the corner.  Oh and the night before the Bear Incident of 2014, we saw a mountain lion.  Cool? Yes. But I have absolutely no desire to encounter another predator anytime soon. I've reached my quota for the decade. 

We made it back to the trailhead without incident, which was perfect timing because the sun had just started to slip behind the horizon. Escalante is not only an amazing place to explore - there are so many other spots in the park I want to see - but it also gets bonus points because you can camp pretty much anywhere for free.  Being two ladies from NYC, we obviously chose the spot that had cell service, was 100 yards away from one of those camper rv things, and was near the main road.  This may have lead me to waking up 547 times throughout the night thinking we were about to be run over whenever a car drove by but at least I knew there were other people around.  Someday I'll graduate to more remote camping in new places.  Besides which I definitely have to come back.  Twenty-four hours in these parks is just not enough.  Lesson learned.

notes:

- if you are heading to any of the spots along hole in the rock road in escalante, make sure you have enough water, food, gas, etc.  there are absolutely no amenities once you are there.  

- the surrounding dixie national forest looks beautiful.  i would have loved to spend some time there as well.  just you know some food for thought.