The Ultimate Solo Traveler's Guide To Austin

Back in March when I decided to make a huge life change to quit my job as a wedding director to pursue From The Roots full time, I roughly mapped out possible places that I thought would be cool to put new roots down - Austin being top of the list! 

So five months later, here we are! And even though things have vastly changed since March, staying in Georgia will be the best thing for me in this season. But, if an opportunity presented itself to move to TX, then I would pack my bags in a heartbeat! 

Before we dive into this travel post, I will be outlining my four-day itinerary and will be providing recommendations based on what the locals have told me during my visit. Since this is another solo travel post, I will be providing tips and tricks to help fellow solo travelers as they navigate Austin. More solo travel posts here if you are interested! 

So let’s get weird!

Day 1 |

Thunderbird Real Food Bars HQ

Upon arrival, I went straight over to one of my favorite ambassador programs' HQ - Thunderbird Bar. The team at Thunderbird bar was so generous in giving me a tour of their facility, a peek inside their day to day operations, and just slathered me in Texan hospitality! For the remainder of the day, Sarah Haney - marketing manager of Thunderbird, gave me the ultimate Austin tour through an insider’s perspective and it was the best “welcome to Austin” I could ask for.

Elizabeth St. Cafe

A food highlight of the trip - Elizabeth Street Cafe. Vietnamese food meets French bakery, it’s truly the best of two worlds. Sarah and I ordered the pork & shrimp crepe with Moroccan green mint tea and Kirsten (director of operations) ordered the chicken thigh & cilantro chicken meatballs Pho. Here is their menu to salivate over.

Sweet Ritual

Ideally if you want Austin ice cream, you go to either Amy’s Ice Creams or Lick Honest Ice Creams. And even though Lick’s offer vegan options, Sarah wanted to take me to a true GOAT of a gluten and dairy free ice cream spot - Sweet Ritual. So many fun flavor combos like fig olive oil, unicorn poop, and snakebite medicine (pralined pecans and bourbon whiskey).

Mueller lake Park

Take your ice cream with you to Mueller Lake Park where you can take a stroll around the rim of the lake or find a shaded area underneath the gazebo if it’s not packed.

Fun fact - Sundays 10AM-2PM, you’ll find a farmer’s market onsite.

Hotel San José

Right on South Congress Avenue is the queen of Texas boutique hotels - Hotel San José. The perfect afternoon delight as we sipped on overpriced cocktails and dipped our toes in the pool.

Jo’s Coffee

Just down the street from Hotel San José is the famous, Jo’s Coffee. Word has it that the local musician, Amy Cook, took a can of red spray paint to write a beautiful and simply scripted love letter to her partner Liz Lambert, majority owner at Jo’s. If that doesn’t get you in your feels, Sarah got proposed to, at this spot to her now husband! And I’m just over here wondering, “I love you TACOS so much”. haha!

SoCo (South Congress)

South Congress Ave, also known as SoCo, was one of my favorite neighborhoods in Austin. Sarah took off, as I stayed in this area walking up and down the streets, looking at shops, and having dinner / live music at Guero’s Taco Bar.

To be honest, if you had 24 hours in Austin, definitely hang out in SoCo. And if you do, just go straight to this blog post to find all the best restaurants, local shops, live music, murals, and hotels.

Day 2 |

RV life

Starting the next day slow and lazy as I enjoy a cup of freshly pressed “dogspeed” coffee from Austin’s local coffee roaster - Flat Track Coffee Co. and preparing a Texas inspired breakfast using local ingredients from Austin’s supermarket, H.E.B in my super cute RV Airbnb. Haha, I sound so millennial.

Solo Travel Budget Tip:

• Get a place with a kitchen so that you can cook some meals vs eating out for every meal.

• In Austin - You will find either a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, H.E.B. or a farmer’s market within walking distance - I promise!

Hike Barton Creek Greenbelt

Just before heading out for the day, I packed hiking/outdoor essentials (i.e. lunch meal prep, water / electrolytes, snacks, sunscreen, hat) since I wouldn’t be back until later on that night. With that said, if you plan on traveling to Austin in August (the hottest part of the year!) then please pack smart!

The Barton Creek Greenbelt trail follows along Barton Creek for about 7.9 miles and encompasses an area of 809 acres. There are six entrances to the Greenbelt - Starting at Zilker Park, Spyglass, Gus Fruh, Loop 360, Twin Falls and Scottish Woods. I ended up hiking the entire green belt - hiking a total of 4 hours.

I highly recommend exiting out of Zilker Park if you are hiking during the hottest months of the year. Why? Because Barton Springs Pool is just within walking distance. This is where I enjoyed my lunch, took a dip in the natural springs pool, and hydrated before heading to Lady Bird Lake.

SUP on Lady Bird Lake

Giving the hiking legs a break as we transition over to SUP (stand up paddle boarding) out on Lady Bird Lake. This is the best way to beat the heat, take in some beautiful downtown views and meet new people. Also, you just might paddle into a live concert while you are out on the lake!

*hiking on dry dirt trails + 95F weather = free self tanner!

I highly recommend renting SUPs at Rowing Dock.

Bats Fly out from the Congress Bridge

Just as you come out of Rowing Dock, you will be on Ann and Roy Butler Hike-And-Bike Trail, the path Lady Bird Boardwalk extends. Hike about 30 minutes south towards the Congress Bridge so that you can grab tacos, cashew queso, and fresh watermelon aqua Frescas at Veracruz All Natural just before sunset. Why? Because you want to get a good spot just before 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from the Congress Avenue Bridge! It’s a pretty incredible sight to watch!

DAY 3 |

Farmers’ Market

Saturday mornings in the summer = farmers’ market! SFC has two market locations: Sunset Valley & Downtown. I went to the Downtown location since it was central to most of the things I wanted to do on my list without having to Uber around. With that said, I highly recommend this location! Not only was it a central location to everything but they have more vendors and activities. I was able to get sprouted and fermented bagels from Casper Fermentables , ginger beer from SoCo Ginger Beer and produce from Billie and Jeans Farm.

Flower Child

For lunch, I wanted something refreshing and healthy so a few minutes away from the Farmer’s market on W 2nd St. is Flower Child. highly recommend the watermelon & heirloom tomato salad with salmon and draft kombucha.

Explore Downtown

In this area, I just walked around and chatted with locals for things to do, eat, see, and explore - so here is the midday recap:

• Get artsy fartsy at Blanton Museum of Art

• Tour the Texas State Capitol

• Take shortcuts through secret trails in the downtown area.

• Cool down with an ice cream sandwich at The Baked Bear

  • vegan, gluten free, dairy free friendly!

BBQ

You are probably wondering, FINALLY! This girl keeps talking about tacos, but what about the BBQ!? I know, and I am sorry! This was hard because most of the barbecue spots like Franklin Barbecue, had either long wait lines or you had to order at least four weeks in advance online and needed to be at least 3 lbs or more of meat. As a solo traveler, this was a no bueno. But luckily, Terry Black’s Barbecue made the cut and it did not disappoint!

If you would like a list of the best BBQ spots in Austin, check out this post I found helpful!

Post BBQ walk

After I ate my weight in barbecue, I walked around to explore the surrounding area. Some of the cool spots I found was Pavement - a vintage clothing store, a man on a horse, inspirational murals, and a newfound obsession, ranch water!

Day 4 |

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden

Last day! :( Since I needed to checkout at 11AM, but didn’t need to be at the airport until 4:30PM, the best spot to hang out with carry-on and all was Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden. From coffee to food trucks, this area is well recognized in their sustainability efforts and giving back to the environment. Definitely a unique place to check out while you are in Austin!

Food trucks lineup when I was there: LeRoy and Lewis, Tommy Want Wingy, and Pueblo Viejo Traila* tacos are to die for!

Solo traveling FAQ

1 | Did you feel safe traveling by yourself?

• 100%! Even with hiking on the trails alone for 4+ hours or walking the streets in the evening time, there wasn’t a time where I felt unsafe or in a dodgy situation. Even though the homeless population has increased, a lot of people have told me that Austin is one of the most safest cities out there so perfect for your first solo adventure!

2 | Do you have any travel budget advice?

• If you are traveling for more than two days, I highly recommend getting a place with a kitchen so that you can make some of your meals to save on cost. (i.e. Airbnb, hostels, RVs)

• Most of the food trucks will be cheaper vs dining at a restaurant so look for those $2 tacos! Also, I found that the farmers market produce was very reasonable.

• I chose Lyft/Uber vs rental car and saved $200! *find promos when using these apps. For ex: I fly Delta so they had a promo where I get a $20 credit using Lyft while receiving Delta flyer miles.

• Get outside! There were days when I spent 0$ just because I didn’t have to. Go for a hike, walk around the city, stumble upon a free concert, check out do512 and find free things to do when you get there.

• Plan ahead! If you decide to not opt for a rental vehicle then make sure you plan at least four hours worth (half day) in a central area. That way, you are not getting a 20 min Uber here and 30 minutes later, a 10 min Uber there. Rates were very reasonable and everything is typically 10-20 minutes within each other but those rides add up so plan responsibly! This travel guide is perfect for getting a better view of the different neighborhoods to plan 2-4 hours worth and just amazing resource to have in your back pocket.

Travel essentials to save green $$

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

3| Where did you start when planning your trip?

• Pinterest, baby - that is your friend! I searched for certain keywords to hone in on what I wanted to do: i.e. best food spots, outdoor activities, hiking, etc. and then saved those pins to refer back to. One that I found was super helpful was from, A Taste of Koko. This girl has posts on everything you could ever ask for, Austin related!

• Also, the locals! This was the first trip where I roughly mapped out what I wanted to do (my negotiables) so when I got there, I would ask Thunderbird and the locals what they thought were the best places to hit up before I left. I went this route more-so, because I was traveling during Covid so store hours/company policies/restrictions were inconsistent and ever changing.

• Put your “dad cap” on and check the weather before you leave! Planning your trip around the weather will just make the actual travel experience more comfortable and seamless. For example, Austin has a subtropical humid climate so summers are hot and temperatures frequently average 90°F. So if that is not your thing, then maybe plan for the fall instead!

This is just scratching the surface of things to do when traveling to Austin so if you have recommendations, let everyone know in the comments section below!

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip in a Camper Van Part 2

Day 5

As we are driving down to San Francisco, we stopped by this amazing oyster restaurant, Hog Island Oyster Co in Marshall, where you can shuck your own oysters! We didn’t stop at too many restaurants because we have a kitchen in the van, but you must stop here! If you want more information, I love this blog post on the experience. 

After stuffing our faces with oysters, San Fran bound for the rest of the day! Depending on what you want to do in the City by the Bay, one to two days is plenty of time! For the day, here is what we did:

• Drive through super twisty Lombard Street (yes, the camper van made it and yes, I thought I was going to have a heart attack the entire time!)

• Get the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Fortunately, we were able to get both the sunny view just as we entered SF.

• Go say “hi” to the sea lions on Pier 39 while you are at the Fisherman’s Wharf! 

• Hike near Lands End - The best spot to hike in the morning fog as you get incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and the GG Bridge. You can also see remains of a shipwreck, hear sea lions in the background, and walk down to see the Labyrinth. 

• Visit Alcatraz Island. Pro tip: Purchase tickets early - like two months in advance!

• Muir Woods National Monument - Walk among massive trees; just can’t get enough of them!

Day 6

After visiting, “Karl the Fog” over the GGB in the morning - Yes, the fog in the Foggy City has a name! (Even has an Instagram account!) We headed south towards LA. On our way, we were able to stop by many locations! If only there was more time!

But to give a brief itinerary for each location that we stopped at we are driving on HWY1:

• Pacifica, CA - Devil’s Slide Trail - Used to be the most dangerous portion of the PCH but is now a trail for hiking and baking. Great roadside views!

• Pescadero, CA - Pigeon Point Lighthouse - The tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. 

• Ano Nuevo State Park - Have to stop by to see the sleeping sea lions! There is also a 3-mile trail that takes you close to them. 

• Davenport, CA - Shark Fin Cove - Title says it all - cove with a giant rock shark fin formation. 

• Monterey, CA - Where Big Little Lies was filmed! 

• Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Such a charming little town with lots of shops and wineries to check out. This is also where we locked our keys in the van (facepalm!)

• Big Sur

  • Pfeiffer Beach - a beach with purple sand and “the window”

  • Bixby Bridge - One of the most famous bridges on the west coast. 

  • McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - Iconic waterfall that goes into the ocean. 

• Santa Barbara - Drove through but if you have more time, check out State Street, Rincon Beach, and Shoreline Park. 

• Malibu, CA - Leo Carrillo State Park - Cool area where we made an early dinner! If you have time, check out the coastal caves, tide pools, or watch surfers/windsurfers. 

• Santa Monica, CA - Santa Monica Pier - Classic west coast pier.

• Los Angeles - Griffith Park - Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign Hike

Finally made it to LA around 5pm in which we drove straight over to Griffith Park to hike the Hollywood sign. You would think it would be easy to navigate this area since it is so popular, but it is not! I should have saved our exact coordinates but if you find yourself having the same problem we had, here is a great post on locating the exact Hollywood Sign Hike. 

CONFESSION TIME: We did not stay in an RV spot for our last night on our camper van road-trip! There, I said it! But to be fair, we thought we wouldn’t have time to get to LA on this day so we were expecting to find an RV spot before we got to LA. So, we stayed at a Double Tree, ate way too many double tree cookies (have you had them!? they are amazing!) and left early in the am. 

Day 7

Last day! Since LA was our stopping point for the trip, we needed to drop off the camper van at noon and fly out in the evening. With that said, we pretty much had a full day to do just about anything! 

All day LA itinerary:

• Had our last meal around Santa Monica Pier - Made friends with the beach volleyball players real fast! 

• Located about 3 miles away from the pier in Venice Beach where we spent the rest of the morning. Great spot to see live shows, people watching, shopping, and do a pull up at muscle beach!

• Stroll through Melrose Avenue and Abbot Kinney - Great areas to explore cute boutiques, cafes, bars, and to see some awesome street art. 

• Drop off the Camper van! (tears were shed!)

• A dear friend from LA picked us up and we spent the rest of the day getting a local’s guide to the city!

• Just outside of LA in San Marino, CA is The Huntington - Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. My friend surprised me by making tea reservations at the Rose Garden Tea Room! Such a fun and memorable experience! 

• I had the ultimate local experience at San Pedro Fish Market where I had their famous Shrimp Tray. My mouth is watering as I write this!

• Fly out of LAX with a full and happy belly! 

Essential Tips for First Timers:

• When to Travel: We went during the summer months because of our schedule. With that said, the summertime brings in tons of tourists, and it will be harder to reserve an RV/camping spot so plan ahead! So-Cal will stay warm even during the summer months, but the more north you go, the colder it will be. Spring and Fall will have the fewest crowds and all around great weather.

• Which direction to take: When planning your road trip, I highly recommend starting North to South. This will keep you on the coastal side and makes it easy to take advantage of pullouts.

• Attire: Make sure you dress in layers. We experienced colder weather during the first half of the trip since we were up north but as you drive down the coast, it can get pretty windy. Also, make sure you bring waterproof layers in case of rain.

• Park Passes: If you think that you will be hitting up National Parks, BLM, National Forests, and National Wildlife Refuges, throughout your trip, you may save money in getting a parking pass. Here is the link if you are interested. 

• Be Flexible: Most of the small stops along the coast were things that we ended up discovering on a whim. You never know what area you’ll discover and love so make a plan but give yourself flexibility. Also, if you are planning on hiking and visiting state parks, make sure you schedule more time since certain parks can take hours to actually get to them.

• Plan ahead: Yes, it’s great to be flexible but it’s also smart to plan! You will notice that cell reception is almost obsolete in most state parks and as you are driving down the coast so make sure you have a general idea of where you are going. For example, instead of relying on google maps, download an offline map in advance. That being said, make sure you know where gas, rest, food, and rv spots are.

Here are some apps that I found helpful for this trip:

• Travel

  • Spotify - All good road trips need an awesome playlist! That’s why I created an End of Summer Road Trip Playlist. 

  • Roadtrippers - Road trip planner that includes how much money you’ll spend on fuel and far you have to drive. 

  • Gasbuddy - Find the cheapest gas along your route. 

  • Accuweather - Self-explanatory but when traveling north to south, you want to be prepared for all weather conditions.

  • iExit - Use for the practical part of your road trip like what amenities are available at the upcoming exit.

  • Chimani - Helps you to navigate national parks. 

  • National Parks Service - Great for providing live updates on events in the area, where to sleep/eat, and road closures.

  • Scout - If you are traveling alone or want to keep your family/friends in the loop while you’re traveling.

  • Food Tripping - Suggests healthier food options like organic coffee stops, juice joints, microbreweries, farmers’ markets, among others.

  • BringFido- We didn’t bring the dogs with us for this trip, but if you are traveling with a furry companion this app is great as a pet travel and hotel directory.

  • AllTrails - The best hiking, running, backpacking, biking, etc trails around the world.

• Camping 

  • KOA - Campgrounds across North America

  • Hipcamp - Private, unique camping spots

  • The Dyrt - Campsites, National, State, and Private

  • Recreation.gov - National Parks only

  • Tentrr - Glamping, platform tents

  • REI Co-op National Parks Guide - National Parks only, no reservations

  • Campendium - RV, tent campgrounds

  • Allstays - Range of campgrounds, rest stops, and free camping spots across the US.

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip in a Camper Van Part 1

The Pacific Coast Highway road trip has been on my bucket list for quite some time! The inner hippie in me has always wanted to rent a camper van (or live in one) and travel down highway 1 and see what the beautiful scenic route had to offer me. 

And that is just what I did this past summer. Flew into Seattle, rented a camper van, and drove down the beautiful scenic highway all the way down to Los Angeles. Now, I understand that the Pacific Northwest has amazing food, tourist spots, etc but if you are wanting a hippie version that is chock full of hiking adventures, living/lodging in a camper van, and getting lost in the beauty of the pacific coast, then you are in the right place! 

Before we get started on our road trip, let me spill the beans on the camper van company that I used. Since this was a one-way road trip, I went with Escape Campervans. After shopping around and speaking with friends that have rented a camper van in the past, this was the best option for us. We were able to pick up the camper van in Seattle and drop it off in Los Angeles. For two people, the Mavericks was the best choice to rent in my opinion. This model included a functional kitchen, “dining room” table and benches that converted into a big comfy queen-sized bed, and seats/sleeps up to 5 people. Bedding, basic kitchen essentials, lawn chairs, and curtains for privacy are included. Information on this specific model is here.

One Week Itinerary

Day 1: Seattle, WA

Day 2: Mt. Rainer, WA and Cannon Beach, OR

Day 3: Portland and Crater Lake, OR

Day 4: Redwoods National Park and Fort Bragg, CA

Day 5: San Francisco, CA

Day 6: Carmel-By-The-Sea, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, CA

Day 7: Los Angeles, CA

We stopped at many other spots along the way, so here are the google map locations that you can use when planning your one-week road trip!

Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Day 1

When planning a road trip on the PCH, I highly recommend driving from north to south because your vehicle is closer to the ocean. That is why our road trip begins in Seattle! Spent the entire day in Seattle, and I am so glad we did! There are so many things that you can do, especially during the summertime! 

Seattle deserves a separate blog post on its own, but to recap the day:

• Pike Place Market - First place to visit to beat the crowd. Grab a coffee at the first Starbucks and eat breakfast by sampling everything from the smoked salmon to the famous clam chowder. This is also where we grabbed food provisions to stock the camper van. 

• Gum wall at Pike Place - I’m sure you will have gum on hand since you have been eating seafood all morning. Located right below Pike Place Market, can’t miss it!

• The afternoon was spent grabbing the camper van and shopping for provisions. 

• Salty’s on Alki: Amazing views of downtown and great seafood! You need to make dinner reservations beforehand if you want a table! Time to kill before your dinner reservation? Alki Beach is the perfect spot to walk along the water, watch beach volleyball games, or to watch the most picturesque sunsets.

• Frankie & Jo’s ice cream: Why not end a perfect day with the best plant-based ice cream you have ever eaten! 

Day 2

Now that we got the city life behind us, why not let our hair down and officially start this road trip, shall we!? About two hours south of Seattle is our first stop, Mt. Rainier National Park. Get ready for big mountain snow capped views because Mt. Rainier does not disappoint! Fingers crossed the weather cooperates for your visit though! 

Regardless of what time of the year it is, dress appropriately, as there will be snow in the mountains. Fun fact: Mount Rainier is actually a volcano standing 14,411 feet in elevation. Great spot for hiking, picnicking, and snowshoeing. If you want to make a full day here, the park offers great lodging accommodations. We made reservations to camp inside the park but had to cancel due to temporary closures so make sure you check on park alerts. 

Due to the campsite cancellation in Mt. Rainier, we had to get back on the road and drive south to Cannon Beach which takes about five hours. Cannon Beach is a quaint town located on the beautiful Oregon Coast. To be honest, other than seeing Big Sur, it was my favorite beach of all time and possibly a future place to live! 

If you bypass Mt. Rainier, it’s about 4 hours from Seattle and 1.5-hour drive to Portland (where we will be in the morning!). Unfortunately, we only had the evening in this area so the only thing that made sense during the sunset hour is to check out Haystack Rock aka “Goonies Rock”! There are many RV/camping options around the area. We camped at this spot for the night. 

Goonies Never Say Die. 

Day 3

Unless you want to get morning views in Cannon Beach, we are driving to Portland, baby! Honestly, you could do both since Portland is less than two hours from the coast! I wish we had a few days in the city because like their slogan “Keep Portland Weird”, the city did not disappoint! But if you only have half a day, here are a few things you must do:

• Grab a donut or two at Voodoo Donut.

• Wash your donut down with a delicious coffee brew at Stumptown. 

• Stroll around downtown and visit Powell’s Books, Portland Saturday Markets, and Japanese Gardens. 

• Nosh on amazing Thai food from Pok Pok (make reservations beforehand or you will wait in line!)

Back on the road again. (Did I mention that you will be driving a lot!) This time, we are heading to Crater Lake National Park. We are packing this road trip full of experiences so taking travel time into account, we have two hours of hiking time at Crater Lake. Luckily, Crater Lake is very accessible and you can drive around the perimeter of the lake (Rim Drive). Fun fact: Crater Lake is one of the deepest lakes in the USA and quite possibly the most pristine on Earth! The lake is fed entirely by rain and snow (not from rivers), making the water as blue and clear as it’s going to get! 

Want to see the clear waters yourself? Hike the 1.1 mile Cleetwood Cove trail that will give you access to the shore. You can also take a boat tour around the lake. Make sure you make reservations in advance! This area offers great RV spots. We stayed here for the night - favorite RV spot! 

Tip: Make sure you check to see if the park is open since the park’s roads, trails, and facilities are closed seasonally due to snow. 

Bonus Tip: If you decide to park by a stagnant lake or dense forest of trees during the summer, make sure you purchase bug spray or a mosquito net! When we opened the back of the van to cook, a swarm of mosquitoes came charging in. Needless to say, we became close friends for the entire week! Here is a great post on proper mosquito netting for your camper van! 

Day 4

Just below the Oregon border is the Redwood National and State Parks. They are made up of the National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (check out this map to see their locations.) Since the parks are spread out, the struggle was real as far as which one to visit. 

Well, I’m a coastal girl so Del Norte Coast it is! Here are things to do in the park:

• Hike Damnation Creek Trail (4-mile hike) - This hike is great for the adventurer since it’s challenging but very rewarding! The ability to see the Redwoods along the coast is a combination you can’t beat! 

• Hike to Hidden Beach, which is a secluded beach, lined with tide pools, piles of driftwood and weathered rock formations. 

• If you are traveling with family, visit the Trees of Mystery and soar through the trees. 

Next stop, Prairie Creek! Like Del Norte Coast, you get a mixture of redwood and beaches, but one thing that sets this park apart from the rest is their Roosevelt Elk. We had the chance to spot some Elk on the Elk Prairie Trail (2.8-mile hike). 

Another thing you must do is explore the beautiful Fern Canyon. Fun fact: Portions of The Lost World: Jurassic Park were filmed in Fern Canyon! 

If you have more time in this park, I highly suggest hiking the Miner’s Ridge and James Irvine Trail (12.4-mile hike) It takes about five hours to complete but if you want to see the best views of Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, then this is the hike for you! 

Like most of the locations we have visited thus far, you could easily spend a week/weekend visiting all the parks. But alas, we have a lot of miles to get through so to end the day, we are heading four hours down the coast to Fort Bragg! Since we got in late, we passed by Glass Beach on the way to our RV spot for the night. 

Part 2 will include the second half of the itinerary, essentials for first-timers, and the best road trip apps/resources!

Winter Retreat in Shawnee National Forest

Three days, 30 miles, one woman - braving the winter by foot in Shawnee National Forest. Haha, okay that sounds a bit dramatic, but at least I got your attention. ;) 

At the beginning of January of this year, Southernmost Illinois provided me a four-day lodging experience so that I could explore the most beautiful National Forest in the state of Illinois. Not a bad way to start the new year, amiright?! If you are looking for a winter retreat in the Midwest region, then look no further.

Lodging 

For the duration of the trip, I stayed at the oh so cozy, Rim Rock’s Dogwood Cabins. I couldn’t have asked for a better lodging experience! Not only is the location perfectly situated within the Shawnee National Forest, but they have farm animals on the property:  llamas, miniature donkeys, goats, chickens/guineas and 4 dogs to be exact! 

There are a total of 6 unique cabins on the property. I stayed in Coyote Hollow. All of their cabins are pet-friendly and have general lodging amenities (i.e. free WiFi, satellite, outdoor fireplace.) Because there was a full kitchen, I cooked and prepared all the meals during my stay. Here is a link for more information regarding cabin and local area information if you are interested in lodging! Currently, there is a winter special to the end of February 2020: 25% off weekdays and RENT 2 nights, get another night free!

Recipe for paleo magic bar cookie skillet can be found here.

Hiking

Since this is a winter retreat, you are probably thinking that I am going to talk about indoor attractions, restaurant recommendations, and shopping. Sorry to disappoint, because this girl enjoys the outdoors; regardless if it is raining, snowing, or sleeting! And now that I think of it, all three happened in one morning, haha. So if I haven’t lost you at this point, grab a map and a cup of coffee, and let’s dive into the beauty that is Shawnee National Forest during winter! 

Shawnee National Forest Travel Guide

Day 1: 

Since the Rim Rock National Recreation trail is 100 yards east of the cabins’ main entrance, I started there first. Recommend taking the lower loop on the right side, going up the stairs in the “main attraction” area which leads around the rim of a rock escarpment, hence the name! You will see really cool bluff lines, incredible bluffs, unique rock formations, “fat man squeezes”, and creeks. If you go in the summer, wildflowers are in full bloom; so beautiful. 

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail

Distance: 1.7 miles

Difficulty: Easy

While you are in this area, you will see another great trail: Pounds Hollow Lake. And while this spot is more of a summer hot spot, hiking around its beautiful 28 acre National Forest lake is beautiful too! Any horse lovers?! This area is the most popular horseback riding trail spot!

Pounds Hollow Lake and Thacker Hollow Loop

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Easy

The last hike for the day was at high knob since it’s about a 15-minute driving distance from Pounds Hollow. A great little hike to end the day. If you are hiking in this area when it’s raining, make sure you are wearing appropriate shoes. Lots of moss means green in winter = great but when raining = slick! Tip: I highly recommend this hike first if you want the perfect view of sunsets. 

Pounds Hollow

Distance: .6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2

I had an early start to the day as I drove about 40 minutes west to see the falls! First stop: Burden Falls. There are trails that you can explore in this area, but if you are pushed for time and just want to see waterfalls, you can spot them about 100 yards off the parking lot area. 

Burden Falls

Distance: .8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

About 10 minutes from Burden Falls you will find Jackson Falls. This was my favorite waterfall spot! You can spend a good amount of time in this area. At the top of the falls, cross the creek and follow the trail to the left (as you are looking out over the falls) for about ¾ mile. You will cross a smaller creek/waterfall, then about 100 yards, there are some large boulders along the bluff line that you can scramble down and follow the trail back along to the falls. Many miles of scenic hiking along the top and bottom sections in this area. Any rock climbers!? This area is great for rock climbing and bouldering between three waterfalls! 

Jackson Falls

Distance: 3.7 miles 

Difficulty: Moderate

After lunch, I headed over to Bell Smith Springs. This was probably my favorite hiking spot! Spent the rest of the afternoon/evening weaving through various trails that contained clear, rocky streams, scenic canyons bordered by high sandstone cliffs, and beautiful vegetation! Within the trail system, you have interconnected trails featuring Devil’s Backbone, Boulder Falls, and a natural rock bridge. *If you have more time in this area, I would recommend checking Sand Cave

Bell Smith Springs

Distance: 8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate 

Day 3: 

Saved the best for last! At the wee hours of the morning, I drove over to Garden of the Gods to catch the sunrise! Even though it was below freezing temps and killer winds, man oh man, was it worth it! You can easily spend 15 minutes to a half-day in this area. There are a number of trails that offer various activities and are accessible year-round. *Please be safe when climbing the sandstone rock formations! 

Garden of the Gods - Observation Trail

Distance: .5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

And there you have it! Hiking in the winter isn’t so bad! Honestly, it was a truly therapeutic experience for me. Regardless if you are doing a winter retreat on your own or doing it with loved ones, it’s good to take time out for yourself. Nature has a special way of re-grounding us. I leave you with this:

“Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.”

― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

This post was sponsored by Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

How to Reduce Travel Bloat

How to Reduce Travel Bloat - Why we bloat and the ways we can combat travel bloat for good! 

Almost every time I go on a road trip or fly, I get travel bloat. Anybody feel me?! One time when we traveled to Savannah, GA, it was so bad I had to take almost half of the day just lying in bed because of the pain. If you are anything like me, when you travel, you want to see the world. You got things to do and you are on a schedule! Well, when it comes to belly bloat while traveling, say goodbye to itineraries, Instagram-worthy food dives, and looking cute in that new outfit because bloat is here to stay! 

What if I can tell you that travel bloat doesn’t always have to ruin a great time? In my recent experience traveling, I have found products, tips and tricks to combat bloating while traveling, vacationing, or for any occasion. 

First things first, why do we bloat? Well, there are many reasons why we bloat, but a few that you may not think about are:

1. FOOD - Whether you may have allergies, known/unknown food sensitivities, or just eating something you are not accustomed to/out of normal routine, you will have some sign of abdominal discomfort/bloating. For example, flying out of smaller airports can be hard to find a healthy meal so try to pack a meal from home to the airport instead.

1. SITTING - Long layovers, road tripping, or train rides - the majority of your travel is sitting! While sitting, your abdomen is compressed which slows down digestion. I always think of high-waisted jeans. In the beginning, they feel and look great but after a few hours, you can’t wait to take them off because they feel so tight around the abdomen. Those high-waisted jeans are like that to your abdomen so try to get movement in when you can.

1. FLYING - You might not have as much control while you are in the air, but flying in general causes gas and bloating. The change in ambient pressure increases bowel air volume so while it may be polite to hold it in, the best thing to do is to let it out whether in the bathroom or seated politely. While you’re in the air, it’s best to drink water instead of carbonated drinks, sparkling water, or club soda because the added CO2 will only make it worse. 

Now that you are aware of what causes bloating, here are a few quick remedies I have found helpful in my experience: 

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES - Digestive enzymes are substances found in our body to help us digest the foods we eat. There are many types of enzymes that break down certain foods in our bodies; for example, lactase breaks down the sugar and lactose found in dairy products. If you have a lactose allergy like me, then your body may not produce this enzyme.

Let’s just say you’re in Chicago and have been dying to try a Chicago deep dish -- what do you do!? Well, a digestive enzyme supplement is here to save the day! Brands like this provides a full enzyme panel that will not only help to breakdown lactose, but will help to reduce bloating. I like taking digestive enzymes when I eat something that may contain dairy, gluten or that I know causes me gas/distress like cruciferous vegetables, i.e. cauliflower and broccoli. 

VEGGIES - In the past, I thought eating healthy = losing weight for next vacay and eating indulgent = diet’s over, it’s vacation time, baby! Thankfully I do not have the same mindset but sadly, a lot of people still do. When it comes to bloating, not only are you adding more processed foods, refined sugars, or more carbs into your diet, but you may also not be adding enough fiber and prebiotics (the food for good bacteria) that foods like veggies can provide. Whole foods help our digestive system to run more smoothly so try to get in veggies when you can! *Some veggies like cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and broccoli may cause gas and bloating for some. 

SMOOTH MOVE TEA - Even after incorporating veggies into your diet, you may still feel bloated/constipated. Maybe you just need more help! Before knowing I had a gluten and dairy allergy, I would go days, or sometimes weeks, without going to the bathroom. This would also happen during vacation (eating more indulgent/carb heavy foods), stress, or anything that we have talked about up to this point. I tried everything from milk of magnesia to enemas, yet nothing seemed to work. Smooth move tea is the way to go! Tip when traveling: Drink tea the night before when you know you have a relaxing morning the day after. 

MAGNESIUM - A great way to fight fluid retention and to expel gas is by getting your intake of magnesium which works by relaxing the muscles of the intestinal wall, thereby easing constipation. Green leafy vegetables like chard, kale, and spinach have high amounts of magnesium but you can also grab these calm powders for on the go! Bonus: Magnesium not only relaxes the muscles for our GI tract, it also relaxes our body’s muscles! If you have been sightseeing all day or having a hard time going to sleep due to time changes or body aches from lugging a suitcase all day, these calm powders are a lifesaver.

GINGER - Many foods like pineapple, beets, papaya, fennel, garlic, and bone broth are great for digestive health. But the most practical and portable that I can count on when traveling are ginger tablets. Ginger promotes the elimination of intestinal gas, relaxes and soothes the intestinal walls, inhibits any possible inflammatory compounds all while stimulating digestion. Well, that checks off everything! I don’t have to worry about tracking down a tropical fruit like papaya in the states when I can just grab a piece of ginger! Bonus: ginger is great for nausea so if you have a hard time in cars, boats, or planes - ginger’s got you!

WATER - I saved the oldest trick in the book for last! Just drink water! It sounds simple but as I mentioned before, if you are dehydrated, eating salty/ high sodium foods, or having a hard time going to the bathroom, water is key. “But what about water weight… isn’t that bloating?” Water weight is the result from an imbalance of sodium to water. Our body will hold on to water if too much sodium is consumed, so even though it may seem counter-intuitive, drink more water! 

ONE LAST TIP!

Eat mindfully! 

The most important thing we can do for our body is to slow it down. Slowing down the mind and body is not just for the digestive system, but the entire system to work at its optimum level. Our autonomic nervous system (control center that acts unconsciously and regulates all body functions) has two responses. The body can either respond in a parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) state, often referred to as “rest and digest”  where digestion, detoxifying, eliminating, and building immunity takes place, or sympathetic nervous system (SNS) state which is our “fight or flight” response. SNS state produces stress hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine, which increase heart rate, spikes blood sugar levels, and cause vasoconstriction (high blood pressure).

For the average person, lunch break usually looks like this: 30 minute lunch break - 15 minutes to drive over to the bank or do a quick errand while going through the drive thru and stuffing food down our throats so that we can get back to work on time. Sound familiar? Well, when we eat in this sympathetic state (fight or flight) our digestive system shuts down which means that our body cannot properly digest that cheeseburger we just woofed down. Also, if we are always in a state of “on the go” then how will our body be able to switch to a “rest and digest” state? Be mindful of the next time you are on a short lunch break or having a chaotic work week. 

Homework assignment:  For one meal a day, turn off all distractions, and while sitting down, take a few deep breaths (or time to pray/give thanks). Intentionally chew your food slowly, your body will thank you for it! 

 If you try out these tips and tricks for bloating/digestion, let us know! Leave a comment and share your thoughts #fromtherootsblog on Instagram or here!