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Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

Travel
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March 11, 2013

Pursuing Your Dreams, Against The Grain

Every so often, here on Girl Gone Travel, I like to share a personal story or two to remind people that the person sharing stories on travel and food, beautiful hotels and retreats, is a real person who experienced some really harsh moments, all of which pushed her to where you find her today. And lately I have been thinking a lot about where I am today, in my career especially, because[...]

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North America
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March 10, 2013

Winery Road Trips Beyond Napa

I love Napa, CA and am working on putting together photos and a little list of places to check out from my most recent visit there. However, there is an endless list of wineries to visit across the US (did you know that all 50 states produce wine?) and now is a great time to start visiting.  Most wineries are taking advantage of the warmer days and hosting all sorts of events and tastings[...]

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North America
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February 27, 2013

Best Brunch Spots in NYC

Brunch is my religion of choice on Sundays in New York City. It’s one of those things that is such a part of the culture of this city, that I tend to miss and want to replicate when traveling elsewhere. As New Yorkers we love to show off our brunch spots to friends or anyone visiting our town. They are our badges of honor and the reason we choose the apartments we live in. Here is a list[...]

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North America
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February 26, 2013

Best Cozy Spots for Cocktails in NYC

The chill in the air might be enough to encourage anyone to stay home and cozy up on the couch, drink in hand. But if you would rather enjoy your drinks and cushy warmth in the company of friends, finding the perfect place is key. Lucky for us, New York City has a lot of options that offer the serene comfort and roasting fireplace temperatures, while also serving some of the best cocktail[...]

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North America
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February 7, 2013

An Evening of Chocolates, Spirits, & Cheese at Fairway Market Café and Steakhouse

Most New Yorkers have a Fairway Market story. Ours is venturing into the Fairway Market on Broadway in the Upper West side on any and every occasion we were hosting a holiday or celebratory meal of some kind, in search of unique, hard to find products and then cabbing back home with our groceries to our apartment uptown - that is, until we had a car. After which point, we just drove to th[...]

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Travel
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February 7, 2013

The Courage to Travel: How to Make It Your Own

The media dog has found a new bone. This time it is the topic of women traveling solo, and why we shouldn't, using as the example the tragic death of 33-year-old solo female traveler, Sarai Sierra, an American, in Turkey. I won't start another post talking about why I support female travel, whether solo or not, because many great women who travel solo have already written wonderful articl[...]

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North America, Travel
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January 30, 2013

An Afternoon at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ

What is so great about NJ, I am finding, is that like NYC, it has a lot of different neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Traveling into a different neighborhood can make for a nice list of varied experiences and opportunities to explore. This weekend, we headed over to Morristown, known in history mainly for its strong military role in the war of independence from Britain. It[...]

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Travel
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January 26, 2013

“Who’s with the kids?”

The email came one lazy afternoon, distracting me from an article I had been trying to wrap my head around for hours. It was an invitation, to somewhere beautiful, warm, and overseas and though the deadline to respond was a week away, I responded immediately without hesitation that, yes, I would very much like to be there. For the most part, this is how it has been. I accept invitations[...]

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Travel
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January 10, 2013

That thing that travel does

"I want to go to Finland and Japan, mommy." This is what my 7-year-old shared with me today, as easily as saying he wants to go to the park. His obsession with both countries has everything to do with three things: his favorite video games (Angry Birds/Finland and Mario Brothers/Japan), his love for art, and that thing that travel does: give those who take it on the opportunity to experi[...]

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North America
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January 2, 2013

ONE UN New York: A NYC Experience with Views

When visitors ask me about where to stay in New York City, they almost always want to stay near Times Square. "We want to be in the center of it all". That sounds fun, until you get here. Then you realize that being in the thick of it can actually be a bit more than you bargained for. It's why I like to suggest that people consider hotels a little further away from the zone, if only for[...]

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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. 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

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Happy winter and merry everything as we enjoy anot Happy winter and merry everything as we enjoy another snowy day in the Finger Lakes. 

Personally, I am ready to hibernate for a bit and enjoy a book or two by the fire while the sounds of my guys fills our home. 

I am in no rush to start the new year but am also excited to get started. I want a year filled with more time with friends, and pursuing projects that I am really inspired by and to be surrounded by inspiring people. I expect to say no a lot this year, after so many years of saying yes and regretting it. I want days that feel happy and healthy and fulfilling. 

Not too much to ask, right? And I wish you all a happy and healthy year too. May you love and be loved in all the ways you deserve and need. ❤️

Thanks for the follow, the support, the DMs and comments, and kindness expressed and shared.
This time of year is a joyous one but it can also This time of year is a joyous one but it can also be terribly overwhelming and draining. 

As someone managing two small businesses and all that life throws my way, I felt I needed a little escape, and Rochester always delivers!

We booked a hotel room, hit up all of our favorite spots, and a couple of new ones. On the list of musts:

📍Highland Park Diner- a must for a hearty breakfast to start the day. Best on weekdays for no crowds. 
📍Siren and the Sea - new cafe bookstore full of good reads, cozy vibes, and yummy drinks
📍Happy Earth Tea - where I picked up some delicious chai and matcha (also a sweet little yap spot with friends). 
📍Lamberton Conservatory - especially this time of year as it’s decorated for the holidays. Was a lovely spot to sit on a bench and zen out for a bit.
📍Winter Swan Coffee - afternoon cafecito, gift and plant shopping
📍Ugly Duck Coffee - the main reason we were inspired to come to Rochester on this specific day, for their Industry Night, where we nerded out about coffee “and beyond”. Of course we went back the next morning for coffee!
📍Rochester Public Market - for some evening holiday market strolling and hellos to our friends Sylvan Farm and Cidery who were working the market!
📍Lucky’s for dinner - yummy, but man oh man do I miss their onion rings!

Absolutely love this city for it’s ability to make me feel happier and lighter. Happy place 🫶🏾.
I’ve seen some pretty spectacular sunsets in my I’ve seen some pretty spectacular sunsets in my travels. Some of my absolute favorites have been on a beach in Mazatlán, Mexico, behind The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, while sitting on a fisherman’s dock in Seoul, South Korea, along the rugged seashore of La Perla, Puerto Rico, and here in the Finger Lakes. Not an exaggeration. The sunsets here are stunning. Breathtaking even. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #citygirlinthecountry #sunsethour
As a Brooklyn girl, born and raised, I never could As a Brooklyn girl, born and raised, I never could’ve imagined a reason to stray too far from my beloved city…and then, I found the Finger Lakes. Never say never. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Bonus: Brooklyn feels like a world away from all this peace and beauty, but it’s only a 4 hour drive. 🫶🏾

#fingerlakes #newyork #citygirlinthecountry #roadtrip
During my recent jaunt to @visittheberkshires I im During my recent jaunt to @visittheberkshires I immersed myself in @massmoca bliss. With 250,000 square feet of gallery space, it’s easy to understand how with three visits thus far,  I still haven’t seen all there is to see. 

Strolling the interconnected buildings and walkways leads you into a new experience, and with each ticket allowing for two consecutive day visits, you are encouraged to take your time. 

Another thing to note is that in between my visits (separated by a month’s time) I got to see new installations that weren’t there before, as many of the exhibits are ever-evolving. 

I have yet to visit during warmer temps, when the outdoor spaces are activated with more art and events, so am definitely excited to return. It would also be cool to catch a live performance there! 

Bonus: the coffee shop adjacent to the museum - @tunnelcitycoffee - serves up some good sips, and I highly recommend reservations to @casitaberkshires, the Mexican restaurant also on campus.

#berkshiresma #roadtrip #museum #massmoca #visitberkshires
This winter promises to be a snowy one and honestl This winter promises to be a snowy one and honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. Experiencing true four seasons is one of the things I love about living here because everything changes each time. The energy is more serene and mellow. The world is so chaotic and sad in many ways these days, it’s really healing to be surrounded by the quiet and stillness of nature on a snow day in the Finger Lakes. 

#fingerlakes #upstateny #snowday

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