If I had to guess, I'd say that the biggest impact will come from the people you meet, so it's worth putting some thought into what sorts of things the people you're most interested in might end up doing (and also whether the thing is conducive to connecting with people). And otherwise, I'd optimize for diversity of experiences. There's so much value in just understanding what's out there and how it can make you think and feel.
School
Womenās historically 2-yr college (now offering 4-yr degrees).
Unbelievable teacher-student ratio, empowerment, support, community.
Really diverse student body (geographically, socioeconomically, etc.)
- Owned and really lovingly supported by the PEO Sisterhood
Probably depends on the particular school founders, but generally an interesting teaching philosophy that fosters curiosity and self-expression and thinking for oneself.
Global
In general, I highly recommend study abroad at an early age. I recommend this one in particular because itās a free scholarship program and by being run by the government, it avoids some of the pitfalls of programs run directly by businesses.
I went my junior year of high school and I think not only was it formative in a sort of āoh my gosh, other countries have come up with solutions to problems my country/culture hasnāt even acknowledgedā way, causing me to learn another language in a completely organic setting (which is an experience I think about not infrequently as my mind hunts for words that my native language doesnāt have), but really importantly:
It caused me to meet and become friends with a bunch of other 16 and 17 year olds who were willing to take this kind of bold risk, being away from home for the whole time (through this particular program you werenāt allowed to visit the US and visitors were discouraged), not speaking the language, not having any friends, not having any say in what city or village you lived in or what kind of family you might have, missing your junior prom, etc. etc. ā Iām still friends with a couple dozen people from the program; probably one of the most dense collection of friends from anywhere else in my life, despite only actually spending less than 2 months of total days together.
Active
These are usually offered by the city where you are ā they're reasonably priced and they put you in touch with people you would probably not otherwise get to know. I try to sign up whenever I move to a new city. Plus, tennis is a great sport and can be played your whole life long.
(My aunt and uncle are in their early 70s and theyāre sometimes the youngsters in the group they play doubles with almost every morning.)
E.g. YMCA Camp Menogyn
Travel Tips/Recommendations
Eat lots of gelato, which you can usually get at their street-facing counter (I recommend straciatella as one of your scoops), but also set aside time for a sit-down-and-pore-over-the-menu event to try their version of ice cream sundaes. They're very creative, making spaghetti out of ice cream "noodles" with strawberry sauce or almost creating tropical resort style ice cream cocktails. I happen to really like their yoghurette and Amarena Bechers.
Go to a "Sauna park" like this one near OsnabrĆ¼ck:
(and if you see me in person, ask me to describe the experience)
Eat lots of croissants
Specifically chocolate ones and almond ones.
Eat lots of cheese.
Specifically goat logs on the early brie track and comtĆ© (go to a cheese shop and try some at different agesāa 6month comtĆ© is super different than an 18month comtĆ©. The ratings for cheese shops āfromagiersā are basically all amazing. In Paris, I happen to love this one, not far from the canal in the 10thāthe guy in the store art, second from the left is surprising game, despite my friends basically knowing none of the rules or regions.
Eat lots of creamy desserts.
This is the land of chocolate mousse and crĆØme brĆ»lĆ©e and cheesecake that is impossibly light. Even yogurts feel creamier somehow.
Put butter on everything.
Donāt be afraid to mix things like cheese and jam or figs (especially nice combo with Brie).
When you can, opt for getting a āprix fixeā where you get to choose a starter (entrĆ©eā¦which makes a lot more sense than the US meaning), a main (plat), and a dessert and they throw in a glass of wine. Itās a different sort of dining experience and a great way to have a leisurely lunch.
Try the duck confit (confit de canard)
Itās slower in the south. Donāt assume that Paris is representative.
Getting around Paris:
Paris is walkable, and I generally follow my burning man procedure of having a destination to help with what would otherwise be frequent choice points, but then doing what seems good in the moment: taking a side-street, stopping for a croissant, eating lunch, popping into a housewares store, etc.
Taxis, Uber, and Bolt are used widely, but Taxis seem to be the safest drivers (and the others tend to be aggressive in a way that seems a danger to pedestrians, bicyclists, and even other drivers; Iām not a fan). The cool thing is that you can order taxis through the Uber app and you can pay via the app as well. Though the fare for Uber is set in advance and the taxi fare is metered in the traditional way.
Clotted cream
Lemon curd
I spent a summer near the south eastern coast with my friends after graduating from high school, and of all our adventures, our trip to Cornwall was the most magical. The sandy beaches were lovely and we stayed in a hostel in Penzance that was somehow simpler and yet brighter and more welcoming than anywhere else weād stayed.
If you go to Barcelona, I have food recommendations:
The people we were with inĀ BarcelonaĀ went on this amazing food tour one day ("Devouring Barcelona") and while we didn't go (it was really expensive), we did manage to get their menu and itinerary and we made it to one of people's favorites.
The places I can personally vouch for are as follows:
From the tour:
#6.Ā L'Anxoveta
Carrer de Sant DomenĆØc, 16
This is supposedly incredible: (so good that the croquette was completely sold out by the time we arrived) "Bomba" potato and ground beef croquette with brava sauce and alioli (this is a classic--sliced potatoes with brava sauce "patatas bravas" isĀ superĀ Barcelona)
InĀ BarcelonaĀ you also have to try the jambon iberico--which is some sort of salami.
From a different guide book, we ended up atĀ La Plata, a tiny tapas place that only serves three little things: fried whole sardines (we ordered a couple plates after devouring the first), tomato bread (you also HAVE to eat this while inĀ BarcelonaĀ but not necessarily here) oddly topped with anchovies and sausage, and tomatoes/onions/olives on a plate. It's like a place you stop in for a snack, but an amazing artisanal snack not far from the water.
Carrer de la MercĆØ, 28
neighborhood: Barri GĆ²tic (they close between 3:30-6:30pm, so watch out for that--this is a pretty widespread problem in Spain; they take their siestas seriously)
The most incredible meal I've maybe ever had--super fancy food yet was something like $70 for three people including wine (we literally took a picture of the receipt it was so astonishing)--was at a place calledĀ Somorrostro. Completely mind blowing.
It's in La Barceloneta (a neighborhood on a peninsuala by the water)
Carrer de Sant Carles, 11
Open 1pm-midnight daily
There was approximately 5x as much tomato on their tomato bread than we were served anywhere else in Spain. And there were some sort of epic ahi tartar thingys on crackers with all sorts of thoughtful flavors smooshed together. We also got a pot of mussles in garlic sauce (in addition to a pot full of misc shellfish) and we had to keep protecting that pot as we soaked our bread in the heavenly sauce...omg.
Macarena Club
I can't vouch for whichever DJs will be there on any given night, but it's one of the coolest little clubs I've ever been to. It's in a part of town where there are other places to go if it's lame. Look up nightclubs on google maps if you are looking for places -- it's not a strip where you can go from place to place, they are discreet doors in the small alleyway type streets. Speaking of which, it's worth wandering the small streets of the Gothic quarter during the day.
As an adult, the best time to go is probably the earliest possible during their Thursday night Nightlife. The rainforest closes first.
If there aren't crowds or if you have snacks and time to kill, catch the cablecar from Powell St, up over the hill (with views of the Bay Bridge along the way!), to Fisherman's Wharf.
If you've planned ahead and scheduled a visit to Alcatraz (which I've heard is really cool ā there are also spooky night tours I think), you can easily catch the boat from this neighborhood. Otherwise, you can usually get tickets for a Bay cruise with Blue & Gold Fleet and for an hour you'll get to go out under the Golden Gate and loop around Alcatraz. (You can sometimes get discounted tickets via groupon or other similar sites). Just remember it's cold and windy out there, so bundle up!
You can do touristy things on Pier 39 when you get back: clam chowder in a sourdough bowl, chocolate fudge, or just check out the sea lions.
Sometimes I'll walk/hike up to Coit Tower afterwards, but these days the Exploratorium is at Pier 15, so if you're trying to pack everything in at once, you can just walk along The Embarcadero and check it out. Or you can keep going to the Ferry Building and find something delicious to eat.
I used to frequent happy hour at Hog Island Oyster company. Delicious beer, delicious bread and butter, and of course, oysters. They don't have specials anymore, but it's still a fun experience.
I have had very few experiences at resorts, but over a decade ago I was lured to Indian Springs because of their winter special (if you stay one night, you get a free volcanic ash mudbath in their spa ā steam room, claw foot tubs, cucumber water, the whole deal ā in addition to access to their spring-fed pool). The local grocery store has cheese and wine and other delights for a picnic in the hotel and it's easy walking distance to the main street for a fancy dinner or hearty brunch.
Food:
For takeout (there's only seating for a few people at a time), try Avatar's Punjabi curried sweet potato (+meat) burritos or rice plates (cash-only)
To the North, there's Gerstle Cove (you can daytrip to
To the South, there's the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for daytripping
There's also the AƱo Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area where you can see the Elephant Seals ā you'll need to schedule a tour if you go during breeding season (which I recommend ā Valentine's Day is a good target). Bring binoculars. P.S. Their fb page is a fantastic addition to my newsfeed.
Near Mammoth: My favorite hike of all time is the 20 mile loop from the Agnew Meadows campground to Thousand Island Lake. While you're in the area, you should visit Devil's Postpile and swim in the (eerily warm) Starkweather Lake. (You can only drive in with your own car if you have a camping reservation.)
Highway 395 is in the rain shadow of the Sierras (which are tall enough to capture the clouds and make their own weather) but is still pretty lush from the snowmelt. With the mountains on one side and the desert on the other, itās a wonderful drive; somehow the light is particularly magical and as a bonus it also boasts a smattering of hot springs.
In the Valley, highly recommend the Mist Trail (very very popular and very easy to at least get to the bottom of Vernal Falls), but then continue up to the less visited Nevada Falls and loop back along the JMT for a different view and different experience (and to save your knees and avoid the crowds coming down the steps by Vernal Falls).
Also recommend getting drinks and snacks at the cheaper bar inside the fancy Ahwahnee (outdoor seating!) and using it as an excuse to check out the big fireplace and peek in the formal dining room.
Even if youāre just there for the day, itās good to stop and walk to the base of Yosemite Falls. I think it might even be wheelchair accessible at this point.
Bring binoculars!
During the day, itās really cool trying to find tiny climbers on the face of Half Dome and El Capitan and even more magical to look again at/after nightfall when you can see even more of them because of the light from their headlamps as they settle in for the night. š§āāļø
If youāre into climbing, you can often find the climbersā friends near the base of El Capitan with telescopes. If youāre friendly, theyāll often answer questions and let you get a better look. š
Itās hard for me to know what towns people typically pass through en route because Iām a local, but if itās not too far out of your way, I highly recommend getting a chocolate milk shake at the Jamestown Frosty on your way out.
Take the architecture foundation boat tour. Kinda pricey, but well worth it. Great way to see the city and get your bearings + understand cool things about the history of the city and the river. I didnāt know or really care about architecture, but I do care about āneat building with cool backstoryā or ānew way of thinking about the city as you walk around.ā
(Most people know about Ashland because of the Shakespeare festival, but a friend of mine, who is a bit of an expert, thinks this might be the best small town heās ever been to)
š They have the best stand-alone grocery store Iāve ever found:
They stock a shocking number of individual items without being pretentious about it. They have tons of varieties of
š½ Iām a total sucker for indoor/outdoor seating and Skout is perfect with big glass garage doors that slide open and ceiling heat lamps inside. Theyāre right by Lithia Park so you can batch your adventuring and eating and people-watching, and they even have a machine that will let you take a big can of whateverās on tap home with you(!)
(Itās worth bringing a
šĀ If you decide to rent a car, choose one with significant clearance ā in the rainy season many roads are partially or completely submerged for long periods after the rain has stopped.
šµĀ Cell phone coverage is very limited; if you are used to using day-passes from your carrier when traveling internationally (e.g. Verizon travel pass), know that you will probably need to find WiFi somewhere for real internet access.
Iāve never been, but my sister sent wonderful emails while she was living/traveling there in the fall of 2002:
General:
You can get a ton of value from being in a new place without seeing the specific things that are most famous. (The lines/crowds taking pictures of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre has become outrageous; go stumble upon some other cool thing or choose to make art a focus and get a pass that gets you early access or access via a door without a queue so you have more breathing room to appreciate things in a more leisurely way.)
Fun game: tourist or local? If tourist, where from?
I try to always stay at least a week somewhere, ideally a month. Be recognized at your morning bakery, decide on a favorite gelato place, figure out what grocery store has the best selection of gluten free cookies, navigate without checking the map on your phone, start an interaction in the local language (ideally not just asking if they speak English š )
Different places can make you feel very different; I think itās valuable to see other ways that your life could be. How rushed? How relaxed? How myopic? How confident? How safe? How seen? Are people responding differently to your age? Gender? Sexuality? Socioeconomic status? How psychologically healthy do people seem? What matters to them? Are they welcoming? Cliquish?
Do something to be part of a cohort: enroll in a class, a tour, a regular meetup ā a circumstance where you are a part of āweā
And if you stay at an Airbnb or similar, go to a grocery store and get local breakfasty things to start your day, maybe trying to get fresh pastries or special tea, etc in the mornings.
I think I might try Seed the next time Iām on a trip where I want to be able to be more exploratory with my food choices. E.g. in breaking my
But budget time for it and donāt think you can just fill your days as soon as you get off the plane. See my
The real world mapping is actually really cool, and the pokestops at landmarks can also be helpful.
Iāve only tried it with languages that Iām already familiar with, but I brought it up a couple times on a recent trip, and even total beginners were very quick to sing its praises.
You can get same-day passports in places like SF if you can go in person (usually youāll need a paper copy of an international itinerary that shows youāre traveling within 2 weeks and an appointment).
You can process an initial application at the post office, but also consulates, and sometimes city hall. Iāve never tried the services that claim to be able to expedite.
Global entry requires an appt at a major international airportāif you donāt want to deal with the hassle, you can complete the interview upon reentry; that is, you land back in the US from an international flight, and then you talk to someone and give your biometric data while going through customs.
I have seen this preference show up in executives submitting travel reimbursements, Iāve read it casually on Apple news, and recently my sister seemed to hold this view rather strongly.
This is my favorite carryon suitcase ā thereās something magical about the way that all 4 wheels can rotate so that it can roll alongside you without being dragged, but the wheels also magnetically stick in the direction youāre trying to go, which leads to a much smoother experience. (and at 21ā, itās just small enough that I donāt stress too much about needing to gatecheck it).
(They make ones with chargers built into them, but the airlines are worried about hazards and I hear them over the intercom telling people theyāll need to prove that there isnāt a battery in the charging slot while boarding, so it seems better to skip that particular upgrade.)
This is similar to my advice for planning events ā think through what's going to happen, step by step, and imagine what you'll want/need in each of those moments.
But also: don't worry too much. Figure out exactly what you absolutely need, and make sure you have those things. Everything else you can probably borrow or buy.
The essentials:
Wet wipes
(in case other people handle your luggage or for cleaning your seating areaāyou can store a few in a ziplock bag)
Hand sanitizer
(especially if you are going to take off your mask to eat or if you tend to rub your eyes)
Headphones for listening to your devices or plugging into the in-flight entertainment system
Noise-cancelling headphones are really really calming and wonderful on airplanes. Bose has over-ear models (they come with a carrying case, but do take up room) as well as compact ear-bud models, but as long as you don't need them for long-haul flights/or have something to use while they're recharging, Apple airpod pros are maybe the most convenient because of being completely wireless/headgearless (even though they're not quite as good at noise cancelling).
- Note: if you want to plug into the in-flight entertainment on the seat back (rather than on your own device), youāll need a wired set of headphones.
And/or earplugs for sleeping/blocking out other sounds
I usually bring my kindle, but also wired earphones for tapping into the in-flight entertainment.
Other people bring tablets and/or extra battery packs for their phones (though sometimes there are actually places to plug in USB A or even regular plugs on flights these daysāfor security, I would plug a battery pack into the port and then your phone into your battery pack, rather than directly connecting it, though iPhones usually have a security feature where they ask permission to access your content).
I also like using flights as a chill time to gather my thoughts about what's coming next, and I usually have a small paper notebook to jot things down in.
Remember to download any content before you lose wifi/cell phone signal. I use hoopla for audiobooks, spotify for music, and apple for podcasts.
Warm layers:
You can bring a jacket and put it on your lap as a blanket or ball it up as a pillow. I like wearing comfy long-johns to ward against cold drafts and I'll often bring a pair of loose wool socks to put on over my regular socks (especially because I like to remove my shoes during long flights)
Hair wrangling:
Don't use hard clips or they'll bump into the headrest. My favorite hair-ties are listed in
Empty through security, but fill up before you board.
Eye mask
Ear things (see above)
Benadryl (use sparingly, but can be good for jetlag as well)
Some kind of pillow object? (I often just use a balled up jacket)
It's maybe not friendly, but I also like to put on a hooded jacket or sweatshirt backwards and pull the hood over my face to block out light and sound and drafts and to signal clearly that I don't want to be disturbed.
Kleenex
(I always seem to get a runny nose when travelling ā maybe all the cold air? but they're also good for handling spills)
Chapstick
(the air is often really dry)
Lotion
(the air is often really dry)
Pain killers
(preferably an anti-inflammatory for helping with body discomfort)
Zinc lozenges
(for after the traveling: extra exposure to germs + being worn down ā use to coat the back of your throat where viruses replicate)
Fruit leathers or fruit snacks (Mottās are best)
(I try to avoid things that might be messy (trail mix can fall between the seats and chips can crumble and cause oil spots where pieces land and chocolate can melt and somehow get to unlikely places) and I also avoid things that might be smelly (packets of olives from TJs are great on the go, as are these meat sticks, but maybe not as nice to your neighbors + if you're wearing a mask you're going to be smelling your own breath for a long while) and these days, I want to be able to eat quickly so I can put my mask back on.)
A flosser (in case food gets stuck in your teeth)
I think itās easy to fall into the trap of picking something up that basically 1. Proves you were there and 2. Proves you thought of the person.
But for that, I actually recommend sending an old fashioned postcard.
For souvenirs, I think itās much better to use your gift-giving skills (or even just your regular shopping skills) to find something that will spark joy. I used to bring back my favorite candies (and I still sometimes do), but with places like Cost Plus Workd Market, and globalization generally, itās not as necessary to stock up on foreign staples. My sister gave me a set of silver bangles from India and she gave my parents a patchwork piece that they hung on the wall in the living roomāboth gifts have been appreciated countless times and are a reminder of her trip and her thoughtfulness. Very different than a sweatshirt that says āDelhiā (though if that fit with my personality, that couldāve also sparked joy; itās about shopping with the person in mind more than the place, while taking into account the particular offerings of that place). Some people might love an Eiffel Tower Christmas ornament (my parents maybe accidentally have a fridge magnet collection of all the places their kids have been š ) but also consider a Parisian scarf or hat like the ones you admired on the natives during your visit.
Adventures
For $80, the regular price of an annual pass, you get access to all national parks for the rest of your life (along with the passengers of your car).
This is a magical area on the Minnesota Canadian boarder where you can paddle from lake to lake to lake, camping along the way.
Note: by default, youāll have to carry your canoe and your pack overland between lakes. šļøāāļøš¶šBut you can also look for routes that have fewer or shorter portages.
I went on an epic ~8 day trip back in the summer of 2011 and this was our rough itinerary: Snowbank*-->Boot-->Ensign*-->Vera-->Knife-->Bonnie-->Spoon-->Pickle-->Kekekabic-->Strup-->Wisini*-->Ahmakose-->Fraser-->Thomas-->Hatchet-->Ima-->Jordan-->Adventure-->Jitterbug-->Ahsub-->Disappointment*-->Snowbank!
(maybe this isn't always an "adventure" but it definitely can be!)
Report fireballs
Report earthquakes
Lake Tahoe citizen science
Misc food to try (~in the US)
Apparently it started as a Thai thing, but it seems like every major US city has options now. They basically turn cream into ice cream to order and roll it up for you. I recommend sticking to creamy flavors and toppings with low water content to minimize iciness (e.g. skip the frozen strawberry and try the mocha)
(originally from Safeway) It has semi-hardened fudge swirls that melt in your mouth even when surrounded by ice cream, as well as mini peanut butter cups in a muddy vanilla base. I know the
Engineered in MN to be the best apple in the 1970s, they basically nailed it (and have named it their official state fruit). I keep them in the fridge and theyāre always crisp but still very wet, flavorful, sweet and tart without any kind of dry pucker feeling. I always feel a little bad smothering them in nut butter šĀ but Iām generally after the extra protein and calories and the pairing is delicious, especially with a glass of milk.
Sweet and creamy and strange. You get to decide whether to stir it or drink it unmixed through the straw they come with. Often comes with way too much ice, so maybe look around before ordering if youād like to make a request to go easy on the ice.
My favorite Vietnamese food. Itās a noodle salad with veggies and pork and āgioā which are fried spring rolls chopped into bite sized pieces and tossed on top for some crunch
Usually itās CA roll with raw salmon draped on top and then the thin slice of lemon. In the SF Bay Area itās often called ā49er Rollā ā super refreshing.
Until I tried this raw fish, I think I didnāt really understand why dolphins would get so excited about doing tricks for fish as a reward. Itās very fishy, while not being fishy at all.
Itās also beautiful, with swirls of blue and black on its skin.
Not too different from Thai iced tea, but with the inclusion of small chewy marbles of tapioca that you suck up through the oversized straw they give you with your drink. There are many flavors and many alternatives to the default tapioca balls and you can also dial down the sweetness when ordering, e.g. ā25% sugarā and choose between hot or cold options.
Korean food is delicious and I would maybe just go for the many tiny plates of strange foods they bring out while you wait for your order (this is how I learned about kimchi). Their bbq is famous as well and itās difficult not to order a plate of bulgogi for the table, but my go-to is simple, often vegetarian, and wonāt break the bank: Stoneware bibimbop is ~rice with veggies and a fried egg served in a superheated bowl that will continue cooking the rice on the edges, turning it crispy. Youāll want to try adding some of the red sauce on the table (akin to siracha) and youāll want a small bowl of spicy tofu soup to dip your crispy rice in.
Spicy tofu soup doesnāt have the little cubes of tofu that I was accustomed to growing up. Instead, itās made with soft tofu that basically flows to fit your bowl, broken up with the lava of a vibrant hot red flavorful broth.
On their special flat spongy sourdough āenjera.ā
e.g. Ye misir Wot, Atakilt, Gomen, Buticha and Kik Alicha.
If you are eating with a buddy, I would also recommend adding an order of raw beef (kitfo) and/or some of their saucy/spicy cooked meat options (derek tibs?)
When I was growing up, Brussels sprouts were boiled: over cooked, water-logged, awkward to cut into smaller pieces but big enough to be uncomfortable and very likely to burn my mouth.
Hipsters have changed all this: crunchy, flavorful, bite-sized ā a perfect appetizer to share. I wish I could send you to a particular restaurant type or even a chain, but unless you come visit, youāll just need to keep your eye out. Best bet is a place thatās a bit of a brew-pub.
- See also Food & Entertaining