Happy New Year!

I like to start the new year thinking about things I’ve accomplished the previous year and what I want to accomplish in the future.

Looking back, 2011 for me has been very productive. I’ve accomplished quite a bit, some were planned and some were not. These are the ones that stood out:

1. Exceeded my financial goals.

My very first job while in college was working for a startup company. I was …

Ever since I decided to travel the world, I’ve been looking for ways to do it with as little stuff as possible. After a few test runs traveling with just a carry-on, I’m now a big believer that the less stuff you take with you the more fun you’ll have on the road.

I was searching for a soap that I could use both as a shampoo and body wash, but what I found …

I was very excited to visit the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Though I probably set my expectations a little too high, as I was pretty disappointed…

I only spent a day at the park and the weather wasn’t that great, which probably contributed to my disappointment. The view from one of the viewpoints is definitely amazing, but it looked pretty much the same from all the other …

Now I understand why some people, no matter how much they make, will always be broke. Places like Vegas take all their money away.

I don’t gamble and I’m not really a big drinker/partyer, but I have to admit that I had fun in Vegas. It’s been called the “Disneyland for Adults.” There’s something here for everyone. The casino owners did a great job making this a place you don’t want to leave until you …

Seeing the “Welcome to Sunny San Diego!” sign as I entered the city put a smile on my face. Well, that was only true for my first two days here. The following two days, which I planned to do outdoor stuff, was rainy! I still liked the city and enjoyed my time here, though. Has a nice laid back feel to it. Definitely doesn’t feel like Los Angeles.

I stayed in a Hostelling International hostel …