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October 29, 2015

The Best Travel Stories

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This year has been an incredible year in travel. Traveling to Thailand, my first trip to Asia, was such a great experience, visiting Istanbul as part of my role as a White House Travel Blogger was surreal, visiting Guatemala – twice – left me beyond words, and of course, returning to France as a Wine Ambassador for the third year in a row felt like returning home.

These destinations have been great, a list that would make any traveler proud. But, between these trips, back in my little simple life as a mother and wife, even bigger things were happening.

We purchased a house, solidifying our home in New Jersey, a huge commitment for this Brooklyn girl and nomadic soul.

I found my birth mother on Facebook, something that I shared with my online family, whose encouragement and support gave me courage up to the moment where we actually met face-to-face and was celebrated by them all, including Facebook itself.

My oldest son started college.

Each one of these details of my personal life affected me deeply and further influenced the way I see the world, interact with it, and then later on, told its stories.

So much so that a trip to Istanbul or Thailand or France or Fiji become more than just exotic tales of travels. Instead, they are the story from a place that is emotional and conflicted and messy. I navigated through these foreign places, and took in these new experiences, while also dealing with intense and equally new experiences at home.

DSC068681-e1429718743725I didn’t use travel as an escape from my life, but as a compliment to all that was happening in it. Thailand, 2015

We are conditioned to shut off or separate our personal lives from our professional ones. The proper time and place of things is a message that we receive as children and it carries itself well into adulthood and into our work lives.

The image of success is often neat and clean and organized. The mess that is real life kept under wraps or photoshopped away so as to not ruin the fantasy or the image.

For many travel bloggers this practice is no different. We present a story that is exciting, inspiring, and effortless. Few ever feel the need or consider it savvy to expose their inner selves so deeply as to tarnish the fantasy that they are trying to sell. I’ve always been a bit too lazy to try to package my life to be anything more than what it really is.

Which is lucky, because had I tried, this year would have blown any falsity right out of the water. Yet, it’s been an incredible blessing. I have found that the best travel story, or at least the ones that I have had the most fun writing, are the ones where I allowed the very raw emotions from all the things happening in my personal life to affect me in such a way that my view of the world was impacted by it.

Guatemala travels_girl gone travel

I allowed myself to feel more intensely, not for the narrative, but because it felt good to do so and it influenced how more deeply I saw the world. Guatemala, 2015

 And in doing so I was more open to conversations even when language was a barrier, and experiences that brought me closer to friendships and more meaningful encounters with strangers. I felt more deeply and appreciated more wholly, and it influenced how I wanted others to read about it too.

What a wonderful journey this year has been.

My hope is that I can be an example in that no matter what life throws your way, whether good or bad, it can serve as an opportunity to embrace the world around you in a richer way. The vulnerability brought forth from the things unknown don’t have to shut you down, but help to open you up to feel life in a way that is fuller and more meaningful. And most of all, I want you to remember that there’s nothing wrong with allowing all of your human self to guide your journey or your story.

Istanbul travels_girlgonetravel

Take nothing for granted, even that which seems the most simplest of things. Istanbul, 2015

There will always be someone out there who will appreciate hearing it just as you lived it – wrinkles, flaws, tears, fears, vulnerabilities, and all.

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. – Marilyn Monroe

All photos are property of Girl Gone Travel® and may not be used without direct consent from the publisher. 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 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 and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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