Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 94

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 7

It's officially fall, you guys! You know what that means: hot coffee is back in my life. Not that I quit on it over the summer, because we still had some mild mornings, but now we're into the real cooler weather and sitting down with a hot cup of coffee sounds like a little luxury. Yesterday was also National Coffee Day, so this seems pretty topical today.


This month I tried out some quick-stop coffee shops, because it was hot out and I wanted to get out and about with my iced lattes and such....

Packing Light for Fall and Winter

Packing even for a beach trip in just a carry-on can be a little tricky if you aren’t used to packing light. Carry-on travel has become more and more popular as baggage fees have become the norm among most airlines. 

Not only does packing light save money, but it also saves time, because travelers don’t have to stand around the baggage carousel waiting for their luggage to (hopefully) make it off the plane. Having minimal baggage can save your back, too. Not sure where to start when plann...

Taking Awesome Travel Pics

You know I'm no stranger to taking a million travel photos. I use my point-and-shoot camera as well as my phone (and Eric's), but even I can learn some tricks to take better ones. If your pics are lacking or you think they look a bit boring or flat, then here's a great infographic that can help you make them more fab and give them new life. It's all in how you look at things, which I have had to learn over the years. I've been known to lay on the ground to get a shot I liked or create a fun a...

Packing a Halloween Costume

You know how I always like to travel around Halloween. It's not just because it's cheaper for me to take a trip then, but also because we're often somewhere that we can dress up and have fun, like Disney. If you also plan to travel near or on Halloween and want to wear a costume that doesn't take up a bunch of space in your carry-on bag (because checking a bag to accommodate a costume means you might as well have bought one once you get there), then I've found some great ideas that will make...

Review: One Tribe Apparel's Aladdin Pants

If there's one thing I love, it's travel clothing that's good looking and also comfortable. It's especially fun if they are reminiscent of a travel destination in some way, and you can't get any better than those that help out charities. Somehow, One Tribe Apparel makes clothing that does all four. Even better: They're super affordable.

When they asked if I'd like to check out their clothes, I immediately gravitated towards their Aladdin pants. As much as I enjoyed the look of their harem pant...

Free Museum Day

In less than two weeks more than 1,400 museums in America (and Puerto Rico) will be offering free admission all day. This is a great promotion and can save you big bucks whether you are on vacation or at home. It’s also the perfect time to get your kiddos some culture without having to dish out the cash when they may or may not let you stay long enough to get your entry money’s worth.


We almost always visit at least one museum on any trip we take. From the Museums de la Mitad del Mundo in Ecua...

In less than two weeks more than 1,400 museums in America...

In less than two weeks more than 1,400 museums in America (and Puerto Rico) will be offering free admission all day. This is a great promotion and can save you big bucks whether you are on vacation or at home. It’s also the perfect time to get your kiddos some culture without having to dish out the cash when they may or may not let you stay long enough to get your entry money’s worth.


We almost always visit at least one museum on any trip we take. From the Museums de la Mitad del Mundo in Ecua...

Heading to San Diego

Soooo...remember how a week ago I was super excited about visiting St. Thomas? Well, it sure looks like Irma and Juan are going to thwart that plan, so we're looking into back-up plans. Right now, I think our best bet is San Diego, as neither of us have really actually been there and there are tons of things to do, and we don't even need to rent a car to do it all. 
photo creditI've tentatively booked myself into our timeshare near Balboa Park, so we can walk to 80% of the things we want...

Be a Decent Plane Passenger

Being a decent plane passenger is not only easy, but it makes traveling in a flying tin can a lot happier for everyone involved. You don’t have to be a jerk, just because you hate flying. Just keep in mind that at the end you’ll be somewhere cool, so try not to encourage others to punch you. I know being in close proximity with strangers is hard. I’m an introvert, I like my personal space, and I don’t much love people in general.

I have yet to get into a fist fight or shouting match with anyo...

My St. Thomas Wish List

I've got my plane tickets and my vacation rental booked and a car waiting for me. We are going to St. Thomas! I've really been hoping to get to the Virgin Islands for a while and we've decided to start with the U.S. Virgin Islands and see how we like it. We'll only be gone for a week, so we won't need a passport. Not quite enough time to go island hopping to the British Virgin Islands.
photo creditThough this will mostly be a relax-and-chill vacation, we're definitely going to be wandering the...