Practical Wanderlust

Off-Beat Couple's Travel Blog

Playa Blanca on Isla Baru Cartagena, Colombia. Isla Baru is located less than an hour from Cartagena and home to the best beaches in Cartagena!
Latin America

Travel Guide to Playa Blanca & Isla Baru: Cartagena, Colombia’s Island Paradise

Isla Barú, located just off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, is the kind of tropical paradise that most visitors to Cartagena envision when they book their tickets. Palm trees, bright blue Caribbean sea, sandy beaches, fresh seafood and fruit juice… heaven, basically. You can visit Isla Barú for the day, sunning on the shores of stunning Playa Blanca, or you can choose to stay overnight, which is what we did. Read this travel guide to Isla Baru for more tips about visiting Isla Baru and Playa Blanca, and our pick for the best Isla Barú hotel!

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Cartagena, Colombia is one of the most photogenic cities in the world. We've visited several times, and we're sharing the most instagrammable places in Cartagena to take photos during your trip to Colombia!
Latin America

The 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia is one of the most photogenic cities in the world. Around every corner there’s a 400-year old cathedral, a colorful mural, a balcony laden with flowers, or a rainbow-colored street. We’ve taken several trips to Cartagena and find ourselves returning to the same photogenic spots over and over again! In this post, we’re sharing all of our secrets to finding our favorite spots to take photos in Cartagena. You know, for Instagram. Because if you don’t post about it on Instagram, did you really go?

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Watching the sun set over Santa Marta, Colombia, with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. Santa Marta is one of those places you'll end up going when backpacking Colombia, even if you don't quite mean to.
Latin America

How to Get from Cartagena to Santa Marta: A Complete Guide

Cartagena is the starting point for most travelers visiting the  Caribbean coast of Colombia. But too often, visitors to Cartagena don’t venture outside of the city limits and explore the rest of this amazing region. That’s a HUGE mistake! There are a zillion amazing destinations nearby, from Minca to Parque Tayrona to the Lost City to the Tatacoa Desert. But before you can dive into all that the northern Colombian coast has to offer, you’ll have to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta, which is the jumping-off point for most of these spots. Luckily for you, we’ve traveled between Cartagena and Santa Marta many times over the years. Here’s a step by step guide to getting from Cartagena to Santa Marta!

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What to pack for Colombia: the ultimate packing list for this South America travel destination. Everything you need to backpack in Colombia!
Latin America

What to Pack for Colombia: The Ultimate Packing Guide

Packing for a trip to Colombia can be really challenging. After all, Colombia is home to about every diverse landscape you can think of: the tropical Caribbean northern coast; the hot, humid Amazon; Medellin’s “eternal spring;” the cool, mountainous region around Minca and Santa Marta, and the cold, high-altitude city of Bogota. After spending a month in Colombia, we’ve got all the tips you need to pack your bags and go in our ultimate guide to what to pack for Colombia. Plus, get a free downloadable checklist to help you pack!

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30 things nobody told us about before we went backpacking in South America!
Latin America

30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America

We spent 5 months backpacking in South America. Although each of the countries we visited was as unique and different from one another as can be, we did notice a few universal truths about backpacking in South America… things nobody told us about before we left. In no particular order and in various degrees of usefulness, we’ve compiled our observations into this list of 30 things no one tells you about backpacking in South America!

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ABOUT

Meet Lia & Jeremy

Recent Posts

  • As a stereotypical Californian, Jeremy grew up surfing (and wearing fish shirts, I guess). The first place he EVER went surfing was right here in Cayucos, California. It was magical: the air was heavy with fog, all was quiet except for waves and the occasional call of a gull, and as he waited to catch his first wave, a dolphin appeared. They became best friends and frolicked together and this is the story that Flipper is based on. . OK, I'm slightly exaggerating. But there really was a dolphin, and his first ever surfing experience was freakin' magical. . Many years later, he attempted to share his favorite California pastime with his Kentucky wife. Here's what happened: I attempted to squeeze myself into a size M wetsuit (LOL) because apparently the employees at the surf shop had never seen a fat girl before. Then, it took me a full 45 minutes to actually paddle my way out to the right spot, by which time I was cranky and my arms were aching. Every 5 seconds, freezing cold saltwater would splash in my face, causing me to shriek and nearly flop off my board. . Before I could even attempt to catch my first wave, a cluster of menacing jellyfish appeared .5 inches from my face. They waved their angry little tentacles at me. They bobbed terrifyingly in my general direction. I immediately knew I was going to die. . In the blink of an eye, I unshackled my leg from its massive, surfboard-shaped anchor and bolted to shore faster than any wave could take me, screaming my head off. The fear of those gelatanous little monsters chased me all the way back to shore. . I was later informed by my patient husband that they were a harmless species of jelly. Apparently, Jellyfish Idenfitcation is one of the things you learn when you grow up in California. . Needless to say, that was the last time I ever went surfing. These days, I prefer to swim next to Jeremy instead - the better to help him watch for dolphins, jellyfish, and quality waves. . Have you ever been surfing? Are you a mer-person like Jeremy, or do you agree with me that it is a terrible sport made for incredibly athletic people and Californians? Drop me a comment below!
  • Some beach towns feel sort of like you’ve stepped onto the set of a glamorous teen drama, complete with gorgeous 20-something's disguised as high schoolers and Phantom Planet playing in the background. But not Cayucos. Visit Cayucos, California and you might feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the Old West... except on the beach. There are saloons and American flags and antique shops selling exquisite marine-themed crafts and the air is thick with salt, coastal fog, and the scent of the ocean. Welcome to the last of California's historic beach towns. . Cayucos is a tiny coastal town located in California’s Central Coast. It's right on the Pacific Coast Highway, down the beach from Jeremy's hometown of Morro Bay. Blink and you might miss it as you speed past on Highway One. But Cayucos is well worth a stop! . I'm a little embarassed to admit that until the @shorelineinn_cayucos invited Jeremy and I down for a romantic weekend getaway, we hadn't spent much time exploring Cayucos. But we finally spent some time getting to know Cayucos on it's own terms, and we're so glad we did! . We'll be introducing you to Cayucos over the next few days, or you can take a shortcut and click the link in our bio to read our full guide. . We want to know: have you ever visited the Central Coast of California? How about Cayucos? Drop us a comment below! . #sponsored #cayucos #VisitSLO #travelinladies #sheadventures #earthgirllifestyle #ladiesgoneglobal #wearetravelgirls #globelletravels #radgirlcollective #girlsthatwander #dametraveler #darlingescapes #GirlsBornToTravel #thetravelwomen #sheisnotlost #igglobalwomenclub #girlsborntotravel #girlslovetravel #girlslovetravel #wearetravelgirls #citizenfemme #girlaroundworld #femaletravelbloggers #theeverygirltravels #babeswhowander #femmetravel #ShareSLO #CentralCoast #californialiving
  • "Networking" was always a scary word for me. In my former corporate fashion life, networking usually involved talking to people (aah) in person (AHH) about work things (ugh) often while standing around for hours in cute but painful shoes (noooo). But lately I've been realizing that networking within the travel industry is ... different. . For one thing, it's totally acceptable to wear practical shoes, thank goodness. But something about connecting with people who love travel just feels more ... organic. For me, and I think for many of us in this industry, travel is at the very core of our beings: it defines who we are, and there's a reason we built our careers around enabling us to discover new places, meet new people, get out of our comfort zones, and see the world from different perspectives. Besides, it's easy to make a personal connection when you can jump straight from "what do you do" to "sooo, tell me your most ridiculous travel story!" . I recently joined @travelmassive, the world’s biggest travel industry community, as a @travelmassivesf Chapter Lead. So now, not only am I networking regularly with fascinating travel-obsessed people from all over the world, but I'm also helping to lead & plan monthly networking events for the travel industry here in the Bay Area (psst, you should come)! . Last night, we hosted an amazing event in partnership with @VisitCarlsbad supporting their #ColorsofCarlsbad campaign. The campaign is beautiful and visual and colorful and incredibly unique. Carlsbad is the kind of coastal getaway where you can frolic around in Legoland and then drink craft beer and then eat artisinal s'mores and then take a long walk on the beach, all in one day. Not only did I have an amazing time learning about Carlsbad, but I got to meet other travel industry professionals, content creators, and even the founder of Travel Massive! . I'm learning that "networking" is no longer a painful chore, but a fun opportunity to learn and engage and grow ... and even make new friends. Does this mean I have to hand in my introvert card?!. Do you like networking or do you struggle with it too? Drop me a comment below!
  • Is there a "right" or "best" way to travel? Some travelers return to the same place again and again, year after year. Some aim to see as many different places as possible, cycling through 4 cities in a week in every new country. Some check countries off lists like I check "make to-do list" off the top of all my to-do lists. . As for us, we're a mix. We're always tempted to return to our favorite destinations again and again - there is no universe in which we would turn down another trip to Colombia, and the fact that we take weekend trips to Lake Tahoe multiple times each year has never made us not want to go back. Sometimes it's just really freakin' nice to go somewhere that feels ... familiar. Especially when it's within driving distance! . When we do visit a brand new country, we tend to pack in our itinerary like crazy people and try to cover as much ground as possible, moving every 3-4 days to see somewhere new. Sure, it's exhausting, but we might never be back to this country and we have to see as much of it as possible, right?! YOLO, FOMO, etc. . And then, there's the voice in the back of our heads that chastises us when we look at plane tickets to South America or Europe. "You need to see other continents," it says. "You're in a rut. You have to get out more." We aren't continent-counting, but maybe we should be ... . Still, we don't think there is a "right" way to travel. The best way to travel is whatever way gets you out and exploring the world, making connections & experiencing cultures, and challenging your comfort zone. . What about you? What's the "right" way to travel for you? #DameTraveler #wearetravelgirls #sheisnotlost #GirlsWhoTravel #girlslovetravel #sheexplores #WomenWhoExplore #radgirlslife #thetravelwomen #girlsvsglobe #femaletravelbloggers #girlsjustwannatravel #ladiesgoneglobal #wearetravelladies #adventureladies #fatgirlstraveling #GirlsWanderlust #maketimetoseetheworld #wanderingwomen #myboldtravelmoment #colombiagrafia #igerscolombia #loves_colombia #colombia_folklore #visitsouthamerica #PassionPassport #realismomagico #colombia_estrella #loves_colombia #darlingescapes
  • I missed our wedding anniversary last week. Jeremy was at home in Oakland. I was out of town for the IPW conference (you know, the one that was more "fun" than "work"). I felt guilty for weeks leading up to the conference, like I was the female equivalent of those 1950's era husbands who scoffed at things like emotions and grunted at their their secretaries to send flowers for special events through thick clouds of cigar smoke and white privilege. Had I become a 1950's husband?! . Of course, Jeremy didn't see it that way. He was full of support and encouragement. Every time I felt guilty, he told me he proud he was of me. Every time I felt overwhelmed, he stepped in to help. Despite having his own stressful, 60-hours-a-week-full-time job to worry about, he ran around completing tasks, running errands, and printing and designing things I needed for the conference. Even though I took the reigns on our blog after we returned from our year-long honeymoon, I still couldn't do it without him. . On the day of our actual anniversary, I hired a Task Rabbit and had them pick up cupcakes from the shop that catered our wedding: 2 dozen minis for Jeremy's kids (he's a teacher, so they're a package deal; I didn't want to cause riots) and one full sized Key Lime Cupcake for him. . And of course, like the caring, kind, sensitive, thoughtful person he is, he saved one for me. It was waiting in the fridge when I returned from my conference, exhausted and grateful that I have such an incredible partner. Happy 2nd wedding anniversary to us... and here's to hoping I don't miss the other 63 anniversaries, too! . Have you ever missed a special event? Did you feel incredibly guilty about it, too? Drop me a comment! #couplegoals #travelcouple #couplesofinstagram #coupleinlove #adventuretogether #adventurecouple #travelsandchill #romancetravel #coupleswhotraveltogetherstaytogether #travelduo #travelustcouples  #nowrongwaysf #onlyinsf #alwayssf #igerssf #sfliving #howsfseessf #sfblogger #mysanfrancisco #sanfrancisco #sfguide #dothebay  #TravelGram #PassionPassport #LetsGoSomewhere #exploremore #BestVacations #MyTinyAtlas #darlingescapes #wheretofindme
  • 3 world-famous musicians live in concert. 5 Broadway musicals. 7-10 raging parties (my memory is slightly fuzzy). 30 scheduled meetings, and just as many drop-in conversations. What am I describing here? Some kind of weird networking/party/work/fun mashup? . ... Actually, yeah, that's a pretty good way to describe it. . Last week I was at IPW, an absolutely mind-blowing travel industry trade fair hosted by @VisitTheUSA and @VisitDenver. I packed a suitcase full of blazers and business cards and expected to be exhausted each night after a full day of Very Professionally Networking. And while I was exhausted each night, and I did do plenty of Super Professional Networking Things, what I didn't expect was the amount of FUN I had at IPW! Like ... work ... trade fair ... parties ... fun? These things don't seem like they would go together. But somehow, they did. . I never expected to enjoy myself at a massive, week-long industry trade show. I'm an introvert, remember? Talking to people in general is hard enough without having to speak a language that I just barely learned myself (I'll take "impressive sounding ways to describe my job" for 1,000, Alex). . But IPW confirmed what I already knew deep down to be true: I made the right decision when I quit my corporate job and dove head-first into a brand new industry with absolutely no idea what I was doing. I chose sink or swim, and I've been swimming every since. And since I'm already waist-deep into this metaphor, I guess I should say something about smooth sailing, or fighting the current, or developing Michelle Obama-level ripped arms from all that treading water. Or whatever. You get the idea. . So if you're currently biding your time and wondering whether to chase after a dream, I say: do it! Chase it! But like, practically. With a backup plan, and like, 53 spreadsheets. And 6 months of expenses saved up just in case. OK, I'm not the biggest advocate for impulsively making life-changing decisions. But still: think, plan, and then.... DO IT! . Has something ever surprised you by being WAY more fun than you thought it would be? Drop me a comment below!
  • I spent years at war with my body. It wasn't a mental thing, either: it was an all-out physical brawl. Trigger warning - I'm going to talk about eating disorders and self harm in this post. Please take care of yourself if you're feeling vulnerable today! . When I was a teenager, I succumbed to the same societal pressure bullsh*t that many of us do. Someone hurt me and I was struggling, and the nearest outlet for my anger and hurt was myself. I hated my body. I punished it. I carved angry words into my skin - you can still see the scars. I starved myself. I made myself throw up what little food I did eat, and then run for hours on treadmills or ellipticals, like a deranged hamster - just in case any evil calories might get the opportunity to deliver nutrients to my body. . This was me at 15: a bobble-head lookin' body with stick arms and a big potbelly, face and cheeks constantly puffy and irritated, poorly bleached blonde hair falling out in clumps. Had I achieved society's idea of attractiveness? Hardly. . It wasn't until a doctor actually said the words "if you keep this up, you will die" that something clicked. See, I have a heart problem. Not because of the eating disorder, but it certainly didn't help. My heart, suffering from the punishment I was inflicting on myself, was giving up. It dawned on me that I might actually put myself in a grave at age 16. . And then I was like, "wait, hang on - that's f**king stupid." What would my death achieve? Would the patriarchy collapse? Would the men who had hurt me stop abusing other women? Would anything change, would there be any positive outcome in the world? UM, NO. It was like giving up and letting society WIN. . And then I got angry. . I spent the next few years devouring feminist theory, going to therapy, growing out my leg hair, and getting my body confidence on. I've been fully recovered for about 8 years, and my confidence is THROUGH THE ROOF. I love myself as passionately as I once hated myself, and I use my body, and my voice, as a platform for creating positive change in the world every single day. . I'm f**king awesome. And you are, too. Love yourself today and every day. You deserve it.
  • Last week was Teacher Appreciation week, and Jeremy is a teacher. (And I'm his chronically late wife.) But hey, every week should be Teacher Appreciation week! ... which makes it OK that this is coming a few days late, right? Right!?!? Ahem. . Here's the thing about teachers: they're some of the most undervalued, under-appreciated people in the USA. They're underpaid and overworked. They raise our children, not just when it comes to the knowledge in their little childreny heads, but their social and emotional development too. . When it comes down to it, kids spend more time with their teachers than their parents. And yet, we think it's all good to pay teachers less than a living wage while they work 60 hours a week (because lesson planning and grading doesn't magically do itself - that's night and weekend work). If anything, summer is just the time when teachers can "relax" back to a nice 40-hour workweek. And don't even get me started on the teaching situation in my home state of Kentucky, where teachers are striking after finding out that their pensions vanished into thin air. But I digress. . Teachers are amazing. They're incredible. They're superheroes in sweaters and cardigans and sensible shoes. And I'm constantly in awe of them, and of my husband. Jeremy loves his kids so much - and yes, we both think of them as "his kids," because they are. Jeremy is the kind of teacher everyone wishes they had: sassy, funny, knowledgeable, fair, and willing to bend over backwards and sideways to help out a struggling kid. He challenges his students to be the best possible version of themselves, to achieve as much as he knows they can, while encouraging them every step of the way. . Jeremy is fortunate to work at a school here in Oakland which is founded on core values that he aligns with, and his fellow faculty members are equally as dedicated, passionate, and committed as he is. Not all teachers have that privilege, and it's something that we are thankful for every single day. It just barely makes the lack of pay and long hours worth it. Or at least, it helps mitigate the sting. . Do you have any teachers in your lives? Give them some love in the comments!

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