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Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

December 31, 2012

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America313 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

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Crack of dawn wake ups to check in with electricia Crack of dawn wake ups to check in with electricians at @theflxcottage, followed by mornings full of meetings. Not complaining though because I also got to hit up one of my fave coffee spots (@amitycoffeeco), in one of the prettiest main streets in Penn Yan, NY. And I got to do it with this handsome dude, @travisjcain. Also, being in this place just makes me so dang happy all around. . . . #myflx #fingerlakes #pennyan #favoritecoffeeshop #smalltown @flxwinecountry
Perks of life in wine country: membership to our f Perks of life in wine country: membership to our favorite wineries. Where as in some places farm-to-table is a trend, here it is a way of life. This made it easy for us to pick up a slew of winery top picks from @hectorwineco and we can’t wait to pair them with some awesome dishes I plan on cooking this week. . . . #myflx #fingerlakes #winecountry #farmtotable #countryliving
Home life has become less tense as the end of scho Home life has become less tense as the end of school days get closer and closer. Work has been fulfilling and gratifying. I’ve started putting more time into my fitness, which is making me feel really good. I’m slowly booking my calendar to see my dearest, and nearest friends. And though long distance travel is still not in the works for us, we are gifted with the Finger Lakes nearby and are not taking any of it for granted. So while @theflxcottage is still being worked on, we decided to take a weeklong workcation along the beautiful Seneca Lake. The air is still a bit too chilly for swims or BBQs but I plan on spending as many sunsets as possible right in this spot. I hope this inspires a road trip close to home for you. Because don’t we all deserve a bit more serene beauty in our lives? Go get yours! @flxwinecountry @flpplake . . . #myflx #fingerlakeswinecountry #fingerlakesny #senecalake #workcation #staycation
We were in Jamaica when I realized I had never tak We were in Jamaica when I realized I had never taken my kids snorkeling. They were 10 and 11. So we booked a snorkeling excursion and the boys were fine until we got to the reef and they could see all the ocean wildlife, clear as day, that would be swimming among them. My youngest hesitated. Saying he didn’t want to go. In my heart I felt his fear. I understood it. I’ve spent many years playing in the ocean. I’ve had many encounters with sharks, jellyfish, sea urchins, and even had a near drowning experience. The ocean both thrills and terrifies me. But I venture into it often because fear is such a debilitating drug. And that was my biggest fear for my kids. So I made him sit on the edge of the boat as he teared up, and I nudged him into the water. As I prepped to jump in after him, I saw our Jamaican guide give me a thumbs up, and the other tourists give me a look of disapproving judgement. I jumped in the water and held my boy’s hand, tears were coming down his cheeks, past his goggles. “Baby, it’s OK to be scared. It’s normal. But I will not leave your side. I will hold your hand and nothing will hurt you, I won’t allow it.” I never felt a promise so deeply. We started swimming. Fish of every size and color passing us by and gliding beneath us. He would look at me, nod his head, give me a thumbs up. After awhile he signals wanting to go up, so we do. “You Ok?”, I ask. “Yes,” he responded, “You can let go of me now. You don’t need to hold my hand anymore. I’m not afraid.” Then he let me go and started swimming away. I swam along side him. Never leaving his side. The warmth of my tears fogging my goggles as I realized that it was me who needed his hand holding far more than he did, and bursting with pride at the newfound courage in him, at the beauty of watching my son grow up before my eyes. . . . #travelstory #parenting #travel #oceanfun #Jamaica
How I started today. Sending love to all those who How I started today. Sending love to all those who need it most. To the mamas worried sick about their babies living out in the world right now. To those having the conversation right now with their boys about what it is be Black in America. I texted my boy last night. And he didn’t respond. And I fell asleep fighting off all thoughts of potential harm that could come his way. I think of the tall, beautifully brown-skinned, big smiled man he has become. How bright his present and his future are. How much he is loved and all the dreams he has. I think about how he is still learning, still growing, still making mistakes, things that shouldn’t be held against him much less cost him his life. I think about how he is my heart and my soul and I can’t imagine it - what these mothers and fathers are going through. I woke up to his reply. He had been out bowling with his small niche of friends. His happiness pulsing through the text. And I felt grateful that I alone carried the weight of the fear and sadness of these repetitive moments of violence against our Black and brown babies. He and they all deserve the bliss so easily enjoyed by others. But maybe so do we in knowing they are safe too. The violence isn’t just physical. It is emotional and psychological, and it reaches far and wide, beyond the latest crime. And maybe that’s the point? Maybe that’s the goal? But it is also why we should and will fight harder. Because, Black Lives Matter too. And our families and our children deserve peace. . . . #blacklivesmatter #bipoclivesmatter #protectourchildren
Going through some old files and found my photos f Going through some old files and found my photos from #Thailand. This photo is of a fisherman on the Mekong River. This trip, at that point, was the farthest I had ever been from home and I think of how my being there was an unimaginable possibility for me growing up. But it also reminds me of how challenging travel can be when you aren’t sharing it with those who mean the most to you in your life. As an active travel blogger, I made friends everywhere I went, from all over the world. This trip was no different. But there’s also a loneliness to the experience- one I don’t miss at all. So many people hype up one side of the travel life: the new and self discoveries, the fun, the adventures, the way in which we grow and learn. The privilege, the selective and exclusive access, the fortune of it. Travel has taught me and shown me so much. People are people everywhere we go being the most common lesson. But it also taught me the incredible gift that is a life truly and beautifully fulfilled even when I am home. The world is beautiful and complicated. Travel can give you many things. But self-fulfillment and happiness is not one of them. Gratification, temporary bliss, joy, and an overwhelming adrenaline of excitement, yes. All of it. Worth it too. But it is what you find in the stillness that truly defines where you are, and what you need to work on. And what few people put effort into exploring for themselves. So, just be mindful of the hype. Because escapism is a temporary drug. And reality is always waiting. . . . #travelTuesday #thailand #travelmindset #escapism #truthabouttravel

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