Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 54

48 Hours of Fun On a Budget in Chicago

In this blog series I show you how easy it is to budget travel anywhere and I also give you a quick overview of a new city each time in a brief 48-hour itinerary.
While we're still in a makeshift quarantine, I've been thinking about trips we could take if we lived closer to some destinations. Chicago is in Phase 4 of reopening and is looking to entice tourists to come back. While I'm not willing to get on a plane, I know some of you are closer, or maybe you're interested in going in the future, w...

Food Trucks Are Perfect Pandemic Dining

I don't know about anyone else, but some things are harder than others during this pandemic. Before this hit, we used to spend our weekends eating out and going to movies. I have found that the longer this goes on, the less I miss sitting in a restaurant, but that doesn't mean I want to make every single meal. Food trucks to the rescue!

For the last 4-5 months, we've basically been making all our own meals, with the exception of Friday nights. Previously, this was our takeout night, so we decided...

Organizing an Ideal City Break

At some point we'll be able to safely travel again. People are planning epic bucket-list trips for when that happens. People are saving money by not having so many options for eating out, going to movies, go to cons and concerts. Just because you can't travel now (well, you can, but it's not recommended and a lot of things are still shut down), doesn't mean you can't save up for that amazing trip you've been waiting to go on for forever. 
Photo CreditWhen we think of holidays and getting away, we...

Unique Ways for you to Try New Cuisine When Abroad

There really is nothing better than exploring a new cuisine when you are venturing around the world. Tasting the local delicacies is a very crucial part when it comes to you immersing yourself in culture. When you are in a new town, you need to make sure that you are always sampling the new cuisine and you also need to try and push yourself too.
Source: Pexels (CC0 License)Food MarketsFood markets in major cities really are a great place for you to try new food. Food markets remain to be the best...

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter! Part 2

2020 has been a weird year, but that hasn't stopped us from trying to make the best of it and being creative with our plans. Every year we throw a big Harry Potter birthday party on the Saturday closest to July 31, and we were on track to do the same this year; but in April, I made the choice to switch up the theme and also move it online. It turned out to be a great idea.

If you missed my first post, go check it out now for decor photos. The theme this year was Dragon Pox Quarantine. We had a sm...

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter! Part 1

This year has been full of disappointments and a very small light at the end of a very long tunnel. We've found ways to enjoy what we have and what we can do safely, which is not traveling or going to movies (not that they're open anyway) or out to eat. Back in March, when I realized this was going to go on for much longer than most people expected, I started re-planning my annual Harry Potter party to work online. By the time you read this, the party will be in full swing.

In a normal year, we h...

Portland Is Still Beautiful

With so much crazy in the world, a lot of the news is being focused on my city of Portland, Oregon, making it look like a war zone and and city on fire. Believe it or not, this simply isn't true. Our people are passionate and willing to fight injustice. While the evenings are focused on protests and police/unwanted feds waging war against them with military-grade weapons, this is a small part of a bigger story. 

The news only shows you two blocks of our entire downtown area. Portland is vast, and...

How To Pack Light For Your Next Getaway

With everything happening in the world right now, people are hoping to still get away, but one has to be safe when they do. Taking a weekend getaway or a short road trip can be fun, safe, affordable, and give you a bit of your sanity back. If you're traveling with family, cut down on things you need to take by packing light (which I do even when traveling alone, because I don't want to keep track of too much and I don't want to carry a heavy bag). 

Inspo on Polyvore
When you fly to your destinatio...

How To Pack Your Road Trip Cooler

I love a good road trip. I take all my own food to save money and know exactly what to pack in my cooler to have a good variety of meals and snacks. A few years ago I road tripped by myself to Las Vegas and did it all in one go. I stopped in order to get out and stretch my legs, make food, or to use the restroom. Instead of spending money on food I already had, I would make a sandwich or have a snack when I stopped, and had plenty of drinks on-hand to keep from getting dehydrated. 

Here's my list...

How Will Travel Change After Covid?

With Americans now leading the world in Covid cases, we've been banned from the EU and many other countries. As of today, 26 states have been told they should not travel at all, and there isn't one state in the US that meets the Harvard Global Health Institute's risk-assessment standards to be on track for containing Covid within their state. That said, leisure travel is being highly discouraged for the moment, so let's talk about what will happen after we get this virus under control and travel...