Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 3

Two People In a 16" Carry-On Bag

I've got a goal for my fall vacation, and that's to go to France for a week, with just a small roller bag and two backpacks (one for each of us). I did that for our trip to Vegas and I probably took too many pieces, though that's not terrible when it's 1 million degrees out and you sweat through your clothes by midday. For our trip to France, I'll have some layering pieces that should work for everything, so we'll be set if it's cold or if it's hot. It's been both of those things when we've visi...

Portland Coffee Tour 2025 - Part 7

Can you believe it's already July? We're deep into ice coffee season, which I guess ends when PSL season starts...? Who knows? I'm not a big pumpkin spice fan, so I'll leave that to the other coffee girlies (and laddies, because I don't judge). What I know right now is that the summer flavors are upon us and I'm excited by fresh fruit and that kinda informing pastry and coffee flavors.

This month is hectic, so I did most of my July visits for Portland last month, which is also why this post is so...

A Dozen Pieces = 3 Weeks Of Outfits

I rarely take trips that are longer than 10 days to 2 weeks, but I also like to have options when I travel. That can be difficult when you also want to travel light. As you know, if I go solo, I pretty much always pack in a backpack, because I don't like to hold people up trying to wrestle a bag into the overhead. It's entirely doable though, especially when traveling in the summer, spring, or early fall.

Now, the way to really get a lot out of your travel wardrobe is to not pack by day and inste...

Budget "Europe" for Summer

Europe is really hot this summer. It's one of the best values this year for travelers, but what if you can't afford a trip to Europe? Maybe it's absolutely not in your budget or maybe you have another trip coming up or maybe you're afraid to leave the country right now. In fact, several of my non-binary and trans friends have said they aren't leaving the U.S., due to fear that they will be hassled at security or barred from returning, because the political climate at the moment is horrifying if ...

Portland Coffee Tour 2025 - Part 6

June has been a great month to get out of the house and go hang at a coffee shop. You know I love a cool coffee shop vibe, almost as much as I love a great cup of coffee. Portland knows how to brew beans and turn them into something magical and I really found some of those special places this month. 

If you enjoy a good cup of coffee, brewed in a chill environment, read on for some shops to hit up if you come to Portland (we're in the top 10 cities for inclusivity for LGBTQ+ travelers, in the top...

Where To Go Right Now As a Queer Traveler

Pride Month may be halfway over and you might not even be traveling right now. That's okay, because there are places you can visit all year that are safe, welcoming, and help you engage with new people in the queer community. It can be scary going to a new place, especially as a minority, woman, or LGBTQ, so I wanted to do a little research for those of you who want to travel, but aren't entirely sure where you should go.

You don't want to keep going back to the same places you've been to before,...

6 Items to Double-Check You Packed

There are a lot of things that you can buy when you get where you're going, but sometimes that isn't convenient or economically feasible. I've, unfortunately, forgotten some necessary things when I've traveled, and I've remembered to never do that again, but sometimes you just miss something. 

I always suggest having a standard packing list for your trips that have all the essentials on it and can be changed up for everything else. Here are 6 things you don't want to forget or pack in your checke...

6 Tips for Acing Carry-On Travel

While you may be seeing some cheaper airfares right now, if you don't jump on them right away, you might be out of luck. With a lot of Americans taking a "wait and see" approach to travel this summer, due to so much uncertainty happening right now, airlines are noticing more and more people waiting until closer to travel time before they purchase. This also means that airlines are cutting routes, so there are fewer to choose from. 

A lot of things are up in the air and being able to go with one b...

Great Destinations for LGBTQ+ Travelers

Happy Pride! As an ally and someone who loves to learn history of all kinds, I am continuously looking for ways my vacation destinations are uplifting the LGBTQ+ community and historical spots within. This year I'll be looking for those little nuggets in Normandy, like how designer Christian Dior was never officially out due to the attitude of the time, and how many queer movies were filmed in the region.

So, why would you visit destinations that aren't inclusive or accepting? Anytime I travel an...

Portland Coffee Tour 2025 - Part 5

Spring has sprung, and that means the return of sitting outside in the sun and drinking some first-rate iced coffees. Honestly, I'm an all-year hot coffee drinker, but if I'm out and about in the middle of the day, I'll order one over ice. Often I choose something that's a bit different than my usual hot drink then, because the ice can water it down.

I had some errands to run on the other side of town and that gave me an excuse to try some other coffee shops not near me. 

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