Welcome to another edition of my travelogue, which, if we’re being honest, is 95% for me to remember my year by and 5% for you to get some inspiration for your upcoming travels. 2021 definitely started out looking as exciting as my 2020 travelogue. I was still working from home, and we were hunkering down, waiting for a vaccine to get approval and then waiting for our age bracket to receive access to it.
Finally, in April, we both got the jab! By the end of May, we were fully immunized, and the world was our oyster again. I mean, we couldn’t travel to most countries and weren’t sure we would’ve wanted to anyway. But, now that it’s all listed her together in this post, I’m realizing that we did do quite a bit of travel in the last three months of the year. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Orlando, Florida
My first plane ride since January 2020 was actually to the very same location as my last before COVID hit. After a year-long hiatus, we were able to host a Scripps National Spelling Bee in the summer of 2021. While it was mostly virtual, it did happen, and we brought a small group of Finalists to Orlando, Florida, to compete at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. Assuming none of you have been living under a rock, you’ll recognize our lovely Champion! (I can confirm that Zaila is as lovely in person as she appears in interviews!)
Since we were at the ESPN complex for almost all of the trip, I don’t have any recommendations for you! But if you’re heading to Orlando, might I suggest having some fun at EPCOT while you’re there?
Lake Keuka, New York
My first non-work trip in over a year took place in the Finger Lakes where I traveled to celebrate my college housemate Allison for her bachelorette weekend. We had a lovely girls trip in the perfect Airbnb to fit us all, and it was such a treat to meet her friends from all the different phases of her life! It was my first time in the Finger Lakes, and I would absolutely return, especially in late summer when the weather is just gorgeous.
EAT: Bully Hill Vineyards Restaurant | Not only does the overlook serve a perfect view of the area, but the restaurant serves up great barbecue with a large enough menu for everyone to find something they would enjoy.
DRINK: Heron Hill Winery | This winery was my favorite of the ones we visited. The building itself is beautiful, clean, and large enough for multiple tasting groups. They also had a set tasting menu with a good bit of variety, and all the wines tasted great, too!
DO: Rent a Boat | On our second day on Lake Keuka, we rented a boat and spent the day swimming, relaxing, and exploring the area. It was a perfect way to close out a bachelorette weekend.
Atlanta, Georgia
We kicked off the first of the 2020 COVID cancellations with a wedding between our hometown friend Sawan and his now-wife Jayna. They had a beautiful weekend of ceremonies and festivities at the Omni Hotel at the Battery in Atlanta, and while we spent most of the weekend within the hotel, it was my first time getting to explore the Battery a bit.
EAT & DRINK: The Battery Atlanta | Although Turner Field was a Braves institution, it’s a lot of fun to visit their new home and see everything that’s built up around it. You can eat, drink, shop, see a show, and of course, cheer on the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
Troy, Michigan
After postponing and having a Zoom ceremony due to COVID, Allison was finally able to get married in her hometown, and I’m so glad we were able to attend! She and her now-husband Austin had their ceremony and reception at the coolest venue called The Treasury, a historic financial building built in the 1920s. Our entire trip was spent participating in wedding festivities, so I don’t have anything else to recommend to you!
Loretto, Kentucky
Way back in 2015 when Spencer and I did the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with his parents, we signed up to be Maker’s Mark Ambassadors. It’s a free club that gets your name on a bourbon barrel and cute gifts every Christmas. This year, our barrel came of age, and we were invited back to the distillery for a special Ambassador Tour and to dip bottles from our barrels in their signature red wax.
DO: Tour Maker’s Mark Distillery | Whether you’re doing the Ambassador tour or the regular distillery tour, Maker’s Mark is worth a visit. In fact, it’s my favorite of all the distilleries included on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Berea, Kentucky
In November, we drove a few hours south into Kentucky with our friends Molly and Josh for a weekend stay in a little cabin on Lake Linville. Relaxation was the buzzword for the trip, and we spent our days enjoying nature, watching college football, and playing so many board games in the cozy Airbnb.
EAT: Happy Jack’s World Sandwich Bar | This cute sandwich shop in historic downtown Berea was the perfect place to fill up after a morning hike. From tortas to bahn mi and chicken katsu to Korean street toast, there’s something internationally inspired and delicious for everyone to enjoy!
PLAY: One Night Ultimate Werewolf | Our first night in the cabin, we made dinner and started digging into some of the board games we’d all brought. By far, the standout from the trip was this role-based card game that has now become a game night staple. That first night, we stayed up until 2:30 a.m. playing quick game after quick game until we forced ourselves to go to bed!
DO: Hike the Pinnacles | Touted as “the best hike in Kentucky,” The Pinnacles has a variety of different trails and even the easiest of them rewards you with fantastic views of the valley below. Fall was a perfect time to visit because the colors were magical, and the weather was just right for sweatshirts and leggings.
Scottsdale, Arizona
We skipped out on hosting Thanksgiving for our families this year to attend our friends Niraj and Pallavi’s wedding in Arizona, which took place over the holiday weekend. Since we were at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa for the sangeet, baraat, ceremony, and reception, I don’t have any new recommendations to share. But we did visit Scottsdale as part of our multiday scenic drive around Arizona with the couple a few years back, and I would recommend it as a stop on your own trip to Arizona!
Louisville, Kentucky
We met up with some of Spencer’s family in Louisville at the beginning of December, and though it was a quick weekend trip, we had a blast! Louisville is such a cool city, and it’s criminal that we’ve lived so relatively close to it and haven’t spent hardly any time there. In fact, the last time we visited was way back when we did the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
EAT: Four Pegs Smokehouse & Bar | The bacon chili cheese fries (above) were to die for, and Spencer and I split the 502 Querrito, which was enormous and amazing. Honestly everyone loved their meals, so I don’t think you can go wrong here!
DRINK: Falls City Beer | They had a good selection of beer along with seasonal cocktails for anyone in your group who might not be into beer. I also really loved their little brewery, and we spent a good couple of hours playing darts and hanging out.
Manchester, Vermont
It was a Christmas with my family year, which means we packed up the car and drove the 12 hours up and over to southern Vermont. I have to admit that most of this year’s holiday was spent indoors around the fire, playing board games and a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, a first for me!
EAT & DRINK: Long Trail Brewing Co. | We’ve been fans of the Long Trail pub for years because it’s an easy drive from Manchester (about an hour on main roads), the beer is good, and the food is great, too! They’re currently reservation only, so be sure to book a table before you head that way.
SHOP: Northshire Bookstore | This enormous independent bookstore has been a Manchester staple since before I was born, and I have fond memories of picking out books every year to read on Christmas morning. They also have a nice little coffee shop and café attached that I would recommend.
Thanks for tagging along on my travel memories from the year. What’s the best place you traveled to in 2021?
P.S. You can check out my past travelogues here: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
