Boarding Pass - Natalie Schaefer

After an extremely stressful past week at work, I am SO ready for a real vacation abroad. Much to my surprise, airfares this spring are looking much better than expected. So until I decide to jump on some last minute deal -which has been known to happen - I'm stuck traveling vicariously through the latest edition of BOARDING PASS, starring the talented designer, Natalie Schaefer (who is author of the blog Random Inspiration). I really love the way that she's documented her trips and can't wait to take some of her tips with me on my next trip. (P.S. Stay tuned in the coming weeks - I have more great ones coming!!) Thanks, Natalie!!last trip taken:
a ten day adventure in budapest and prague
next trip on deck:
nyc for work (and a bit of fun too) and puerto rico for pleasure
one place you would go back to again and again:

paris! everything in paris is beautiful. i had low expectations of the city when i traveled there, assuming that it was super cliche and full of snobbery, but was dead wrong. the people were very friendly and helpful and the city itself was alive with energy and more beautiful every time i turned a corner. i remember sitting in the mall in front of the eiffel tower and not being able to take my eyes off of it.

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
traveling abroad i would recommend prague. it's such a stunning city and i love the history that has been preserved there. i felt like it was a good mix of european cities...it reminded me a bit of paris, brussels and venice all mixed into one. fantastic food czech food too and a very walkable city. traveling stateside i would recommend san francisco because i absolutely love it there. the weather is always beautiful and i love the vegetation and all the fruit trees blooming. it has everything: friendly people, good public transportation, beautiful coastlines, wine country, redwoods, year-round farmers markets.

preferred method of transportation: the first day i'm in a new city, i prefer to walk around and get my bearings. after that, i love a good subway ride! we don't have a subway in minneapolis, sadly, so i always appreciate good public transportation and i'm always amazed at how easy it is to use. place you've never been but dying to go:

istanbul, india, tokyo, vietnam, brazil, new zealand, stockholm, iceland, portugal, montreal, vancouver, quebec city, mexico city...

place you'd never go back:
michigan. the best part about michigan was taking a high speed ferry out of it!
most memorable: I went backpacking in europe between college and career with my friend heidi. it was the perfect way to conclude four years of crazy fun with my best friend. this is how i ended my journal while on a layover in toronto on the way home: "now that it's over, i can't believe it is. i feel older, at least more versed. and here i am, sitting in the middle of canada, waiting for the rest of my life to start."
how do you prepare for a trip?
talk to friends, family, and acquaintances that have been there. we have a subscription to WGSN (a trend research company) at work and they have really detailed city guides with first hand tips from staff who have traveled there - i always print those out and take them with me. one thing that i learned when i took my first trip to europe was not to do too much research on my destinations because the places i enjoyed the most were the ones i knew the least about and had no expectations for.

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
i keep a journal where i mostly write down events and happenings, but i like to record my intentions for the trip and what i want to get out of it as my first entry. my last entry is usually a recap of all the things i've learned and how i've grown from my adventures. i also like to do silly illustrations and take an obscene amount of photographs.

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
i love photos of doors, food and typography. super random!
on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
50 per daywhat's in your "designer travel kit" ?
a notebook to journal and sketch paired with my favorite pen: black ink, pilot precise V5 extra fine rolling ball, a point and shoot digital camera, a comfy pair of walking shoes and my iphone which is wonderful for both google maps and listening to my favorite musicians in new settings. you're never traveling alone as long as you have your music with you! i've also learned to pack ear plugs and tylenol PM for those rough nights.
what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
i get my photos onto my computer right away because i'm so excited to look through all of them. then i usually throw a few up on facebook for my friends to see and share. i love to blog, so i'll usually do a quick post about my travels.
what are your travel traditions?
i'm usually happy to come home to minneapolis after my travels, so i've made a habit out of listening to the song "minneapolis" by the band that dog as the plane is coming in for landing. my friend scott gave the song to me a long time ago and i still love it.

what i learned from my last travel adventure:
i had to travel a few thousand miles to land on my feet again.

Design work + Portfolio: NatalieSchaefer.com
Blog: Random Inspiration
etsy shop: Collect Three

Click here for ALL the past editions of Boarding Pass.

Glow Ball. Was. Awesome.

An amazing night...

Lots of lights and amazing costumes...

Inner glow, body paint and hair that looks like it belongs in hoo-ville.

Baltimore artist David Hess gets painted...

Glowing hoola hoopers...

Stilt walkers and body paint looks even cooler under black lights...

While the Amish Outlaws seriously rock the house.

Click here for more awesomeness.

Charleston Mini Guide

I think I've convinced my friends Katie and Margaret to put together a real guide to Charleston, but here are just some of my favorite highlights from my weekend away.

TO DO:

• Wander downtown, scout out work by local artisans
• Drool over the amazing homes on rainbow row
• Visit Robert Lange Gallery
• Spend an afternoon at a plantation (we visited Magnolia which was a bit reminescent of Monet's Giverny)
• Take a walk on the beach (more fun with dogs!)
• Learn to knit at the Village Knittery in Summerville (Katie's mom's great new shop)
  

EAT - It's hard to go wrong in this city (and it helps to know people like Margaret who know everyone).

• Sermet's Corner - go local downtown cafe than makes you feel like you're in Europe
  
• Chai (great for happy hour. try the outdoor seating at the bar, and visit the bathroom for beautiful photos from Cambodia...ask for James, the traveling bartender to tell you tales)
• Red Drum Gastro Pub - great ambiance but the best desserts you've ever had (that happen to be made by my awesomely talented "James Beard" nominated friend Lauren Mitterer)
• Surf Bar - for a laid back afternoon on Folly. Known for their black bean burgers, but they also serve up a mean margarita
  
  

GETTING THERE/AROUND:

• I highly recommend the train because it's hard to find direct flights
• Once in Charleston a car is helpful, but if you're staying downtown, there's plenty to do there and your feet will do just fine
• Use a walk on the beach as an excuse to slow down. Keep your eye out for kite surfers
  
  

After Glow at AVAM

Two days til After Glow!!!! Get your tickets NOW!

It's a Circus of Light featuring the visual alchemy of Nana Projects, fire in ice by Doug Retzler, black-light hula-hoopers, Go-Go dancers all a-glow-glow, day-glo body paintees, and more! With FREE DRINKS, LIGHT FARE, COSTUMES & DANCING till midnight (mondo exotica-style) featuring the outrageous and high voltage Amish Outlaws. Get out your SHINY, SHIMMERY, DAY-GLO, battery-operated COSTUMES. Cocktail dress to costume... anything goes! BE the light at the end of the tunnel!

* call 410.244.1900 about discounted tickets for groups of five or more.

Obligatory Foot Shots

Since I was hanging out with Margaret (see her Boarding Pass here) in Charleston, of course some Obligatory Foot Shots were in order during our visit to Magnolia Plantation.

Riding the Rails

For my most recent weekend jaunt to Charleston, SC I decided to spice things up a bit and take the train. At first glance airfares we're decent (meaning $200 range), but they also meant 5:45am departures, which with security and everything else just sounded like one giant headache to me. So looking into the train, I was pleasantly surprised that the prices were significantly cheaper than even those early flights (and then I had the added bonus of 10% off with my AAA membership). Putting the final tab around $160.One of the perks of the train too was timing. My train left at 6:17 pm, so I went to work all day Thursday and literally rolled up to the station 15 minutes before the train was set to leave. I was welcomed multiple times by the staff, given my seat assignment and a fresh pillow. Most importantly the leg room was heavenly!
While traveling through the night was easy (especially thanks to my dose of Tylenol PM), I almost wish the trip was longer (as is, it was 11 hours). I was so productive with my laptop (unlike an airplane, there's an outlet at each seat so you'll never run out of battery power), I had to force myself to turn it off to get some zzz's. Also, when you arrive at 5am at your destination and it's still dark, it means you don't get to enjoy the views along the way. My return trip was even better, as my train left around 10pm, and my 8am arrival made it even easier to sleep through the night (and feel rested as I went straight in to work yesterday).A few tips for riding the rails

• Tylenol PM or Melatonin are your friend!
• Bringing an eye mask (like the ones they give you on overseas flights) is VERY helpful, because while the lights are turned down, they're also a bit annoying if you're trying to sleep
• They give you a complimentary pillow (airline style), but I highly recommend bringing a mini travel pillow / blanket if you have one (I have a great pair my mom gave me from Restoration hardware)
• Bring a pair of socks - especially if you're traveling in summer, you may be wearing flip flops, but you're feet definitely will get cold on the train
• Laptops are great for the train if you want to watch movies, and there's an outlet at each seat so you don't have to worry about using up all your battery power
  
• While food on the train isn't cheap, I'm definitely excited to try out a real meal in the dining car for the true experience
• Once you get outside of the Northeast Coordinator the train is a very financially viable option
  

ALL ABOARD!!! Click here to visit Amtrak online.

Boarding Pass - Jennifer Hill-Battilana

For a long time now, I've been a big fan of the travel inspired patterns of Jennifer Hill. Her line of prints, calendars and cards, Places I Have Never Been [PIHNB] falls under the category of things I wish I came up with first. Her patterns are inspired by lots of research about each place (which you can follow on her blog), and inevitably inspire a new trip when all is said and done. Today I'm so excited to feature the newly married Jennifer on the latest edition of Boarding Pass. Thanks, Jennifer!!

last trip taken:

2 weeks ago, got married in Playa Negra, Costa Rica and then did a little traveling around the Guanacaste area.

next trip on deck:

Tomorrow I'm going to Portland, Oregon to do a little exploring, a lot of eating and see some dear friends. (That has been the one good thing about the slow economy, having the time to cash in those miles and do a little traveling). In the fall we are taking our honeymoon in Marrakech.

one place you would go back to again and again:

Definitely Playa Negra. It is a small surf village on the Pacific coast. It has amazing waves, beautiful beaches, delicious food and the nicest people I've ever met. It has the most relaxed vibe of anyplace I've ever been.
place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
Venice. I really thought it was the craziest place, all those water "streets" are very magical. Plus, if it does actually sink... you wouldn't want to miss it.

preferred method of transportation:

I have recently gotten over my fear of flying so I actually prefer that now. I have been looking at it as a very expensive amusement park ride that I must enjoy.place you've never been but dying to go:
Oh I have a whole series of those! Right now we are talking about planning a trip for India next year. For the PIHNB collection I researched Pondicherry, Kanyakumari and Jaipur so those are on the top of my list, but I just feel that India has so many amazing places - I don't know how we'll ever pick.

place you'd never go back:

Orlando, FL. My family loved Disney growing up and I've been there about 6 times. I'm done.

most memorable trip:

At 20, crying in a phone booth, totally lost and alone in Geneva, Switzerland in the rain while carrying a gigantic backpack. Ended up finding a laundromat and having a nice Egyptian man teach me how to use the dryer and then found a local hostel.
how do you prepare for a trip?
I read a lot. Books (I like novels/travel memoirs set in the place I'm about to visit), blogs, Chowhound, and Tripadvisor. I'm also curing an overpacking problem, thanks to those airline fees , I'm now trying to always carry on my luggage.

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
I usually write lists of what I've done. I take photos of what we've eaten (I love food an love recounting past meals). Also do lots of tiny sketches.
what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
Not surprisingly patterns, whether I find them in nature of in architecture. Those things are always inspiration for new patterns.

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
A few hundred, I'm a big on the go editor. We just received a new Canon videocamera, so this will add another aspect to the photo documentation of our travels.

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
Moleskine sketchbook, smooth black pens, Canon Rebel XTI with a few lenses, Canon video camera, small Macbook.

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
Blog, sometimes that happens right after, sometimes longer. Upload photos for friends and family to see, I also plan fantastic scrapbooks in my head that never really materialize.

website: J.Hill Design

shop: J.Hill Design

blog: Places I Have Never Been, Sacrebleu

Click HERE for all the past Boarding Pass features.