Category: goals

Iowa: 2 of 50

Takeaway:
  • Templeton Rye is still my favorite.  It’s bottled and labeled (by hand) in Templeton, IA.  AND there is a tasting at the end of their tour!  Yum.  
  • To get to Templeton Distillery, simply put Templeton, IA into GPS and pick a street.   You can wander around and eventually run into it or ask someone on Main Street!  Try to take the highways for a beautiful ride (as long as it’s not a snow storm).
  • Downtown Carroll, IA has a cute boutique, We The Dreamerz.  Great pricing and selection.  Then again, don’t go.  I want it all for myself.
  • Des Moines is AMAZING.  Saturday farmer’s markets are a must.  Especially check out Gemstones Jewelry.
  • If you go to Fong’s Pizza, take a kamikazee shot.  If they ask if you would like it with a helmet, you do.
  • Yes to Zombie Burger, but even more yes to their fried brussel sprouts and milkshakes.

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Whiskey, wine and Shopping Time

Iowa, Iowa, Iowa.  I am able to drive there in 10 minutes from the house I grew up in, but still haven’t spent much time in the state.  So when I decided cross over the river and check it out, I wasn’t sure where to start.  However, not too long ago I’d been telling my mom and Grandma about how much I love a good Old Fashioned and the best way to make it being with “the good stuff”, Templeton Rye.  My grandma blew my mind, informing me it originated in Templeton, IA, less than two hours from where I grew up.  IMG_7410Therefore when my mom and I were planning to wander over for wine tasting and lunch in Carroll, IA at Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery we decided we HAD to stop at the Templeton Distillery beforehand (side note: the wine was OK- if you enjoy a very fruity and sweet wine, this place is for you.  If not, I would suggest the Chardonnay and Sparkling wine options.  Those were my favorites.   Their salads and outdoor seating area were the best part of lunch- DELICIOUS).  We arrived at Templeton just in time to catch the final tour of the day, getting to know some of the exciting history behind Templeton Rye.

 “When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholicIMG_7387 beverages in 1920, many enterprising residents of a small town in Iowa chose to become outlaws- producing a high-caliber and much sought-after whiskey known as Templeton Rye, or “The Good Stuff” to those in the know.  Alphonse Kerkhoff was one of those Templeton outlaws.

Over the course of its storied history, Templeton Rye became Al Capone’s whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center of his bootlegging empire.  Legend suggests that a few bottles even found their way inside the walls of Alcatraz to the prisoner of AZ-85. …”

-Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC

Iowa.bottlingAs the tour ended we got to label a few bottles ourselves before they were sent out to new lucky owners before moving on to a tasting.  I couldn’t have been happier.  It’s good to note Templeton Rye is not sold on site.

We went on to wine tasting and lunch, followed by wandering around Carroll’s downtown.  We stopped into an adorable boutique, We the Dreamerz.  The entire store was filled with pieces I loved.  I bought myself a couple belated birthday presents (I’m certain I deserved them) and I’ll be sure to point them out in later blog photos!

Des Moines, a surprise layover and surprisingly good time

Iowa was simply meant to be state number two because the next day I went back to work and was called for a trip to Des Moines, IA.  It was an awesome Friday night-Saturday afternoon layover.  This was my first work trip to Des Moines and I refuse to believe it was only a coincidence 🙂  I asked Facebook what I should do in Iowa and I had an overwhelming response suggesting Fong’s Pizza, Zombie Burger and the Saturday Farmer’s Market.

IMG_7465We got in late Friday evening, but I forced myself to change out of my uniform and head to Fong’s Pizza.  I ordered the crab rangoon pizza (which is what everyone suggested) and sat at the bar to wait.  I chatted with the people around me and listened to their suggestions of bars nearby that have live music.  Des Moines, evidently, has a great variety of music throughout the city.  The following day I saw bars with patios and stages and kind of wished I’d taken up their offers to show me around.  Next time, Des Moines, next time.  Just before my pizza arrived, there was a nice (although intoxicated) gentleman offering to buy a round of shots.  Who was I to say no?  He bought us kamikazees and the bartender asked me if I wanted them with or without helmets.  OF COURSE I said yes to the helmet and I suggest you do as well.  Then took my pizza to go and scooted back to my hotel so I could curl up and devour my pizza in solitude from the comfort of bed.  I must say while the crab rangoon pizza was good,  I prefer pizza to taste like pizza (if that makes sense).  I guess I am a pizza traditionalist.  I am looking forward to returning for some of their others menu options.  I just want to try them all, to be honest.  Their crust was thin and delicious and with all the different choices I know I’d find something I love.

Iowa.DesMoines.FarmerMarketSaturday morning I headed to the farmer’s market which was located in the same area as Fong’s.  While I’d been told it was large I didn’t realize how large, expanding multiple blocks and down side streets.  I couldn’t buy any fresh fruits, veggies or flowers like I normally would, so I browsed mostly at the jewelry stands, live music and artwork.  This particular Saturday a craft beer festival was beginning as soon as the farmer’s market ended as well.  I was bummed to miss it.

I picked up an adorable knit coozie (I am collecting a coozie a state) from one stand and a beautiful citrine necklace on a long vintage chain from Gemstones Jewelry.  I originally purchased simply because I thought it was beautiful but as I was waiting for Zombie Burger to open later that day (I arrived 15 minutes before 11:00 which was perfect.  I ended up being third in line) I did a little research about what citrine stands for, is used for and it was wild how connected I felt to this specific crystal.  If you have Iowa.gemstonejewelryany interest in learning more about the meaning of citrine and why it puts me at peace to wear, check out this site!

I was seated at the bar of Zombie Burger and started out with their Chocolate Cake Shake (yeah, a chocolate shake, with cake mix in it) and fried brussel sprouts.  They were appetizing enough I could have stopped there but it is called Zombie BURGER, so I felt like I HAD to order a burger.  I topped off my order with a Juan of the Dead.  It has a jalapeno and cheese croquette on top of the cheeseburger.  Protip I learned from my waiter: poke the croquette with your fork before you eat the burger. It was a cheesy taste explosion, I didn’t know what to doIowa.ZombieBurger.BS with myself.  I don’t even want to think about the number of calories I consumed in the 14 hours I was in Des Moines . . . so I’m not going to, but it had to be A LOT and I think it was worth it.  My mouth waters just thinking about the food.

While at ZB, I was lucky enough to meet a man who is living my dream.  He travels wherever he wants, whenever he wants, sometimes in his airstream, sometimes in his truck and always with his moped.  How cool is that?!  Learning someone is actually living the lifestyle I aspire to rededicated me to this current journey . . . and also reminded me to start investing in my retirement 🙂  I hope to run into The Man of Leisure again on my adventure and am SO looking forward to all the other people I will meet along the way.  Stranger’s stories and different lifestyles have been some of the most interesting parts of my travels thus far.

I can’t wait to keep this going and I am going to remember to get the posts written in a more timely manner!  Next up is Massachusetts, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nevada.  Send all your suggestions!  It’s other people’s ideas that are making my trips so memorable and I appreciate all your insight!

Georgia: 1 of 50

Takeaway
  • It’s amazing all you can experience in 2 days . . . especially if you limit yourself to the most minimal amounts of sleep. Thank goodness I’ve had training as a flight attendant!
  • My one Savannah encounter – Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room- and I was NOT disappointed.  Pro tip:  have a small bfast then come hungry!
  • When on Jekyll Island rent a bike and pedal it EVERYWHERE, who needs a car anyway?
  • On Jekyll you have beautiful sunrises AND sunsets. Watch both, maybe in one day.
  • Talk to strangers (sorry, Mom). They share amazing travel advice and also feed you crawdads if you don’t know how to eat them yourself.
  • Don’t drop your phone in water a week after going on vacation without having saved your pictures 😦  You’ll be stuck with whatever you sent to friends and family, which thankfully were some pretty good pictures, but not nearly enough to capture the wonderful memories I’d made.

The beginning of my journey was blessed or cursed depending on your attitude.  I kept forgetting things (including my passport on the bus on the way to the airport :-/ ) delaying me so I arrived at my flight with only seconds to spare.  I decided to take it as a blessing because it seemed like the right kind of mindset to begin this journey.  As I sat on the tiny plane taking me to Savannah I was thankful I made the flight and with how distracted I’d been, it felt like more than ever I needed to clear my mind and pay attention to what was happening around me.

Short Savannah experience turned long . . . but worth it

When I picked up my rental car I asked a wonderful Avis employee (Michelle) if there was anything I HAD to do (or eat, I was hungry) before I headed to the coast.  Her suggestion was Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room and oh was I grateful to Michelle.  They are only open from 11-2 so she said my approximate time of arrival (11:45) would be perfect.  Little did I know my arrival would lead to hours of waiting outside in the Savannah sunshine (heat) in a line that went down the block and curved around the corner.   It was worth the wait though, especially when you spend time in line getting to know your neighbors who are soon to become your lunch mates and friends.

I met two girls from New Hampshire who were on what sounded like a pretty amazing road trip.  They shared some travel tips for the states they’d visited along the way and told me about the ghost tour they had been on the night before.  I didn’t realize Savannah is known as the most Georgia.MrsWilkes2haunted city in America, but surprise!  It is.  They loved the tour, by the way and I wish I had gotten the name, but just know it’s the one in a hearse.  The other important info they shared was Mrs. Wilkes is CASH ONLY.  They waited the day before almost 3 hours only to find out when they finally reached the entrance.  I was impressed by their dedication to come back and glad they did as my experience would not have been the same without them.  It’s amazing how much you can enjoy your time with “strangers”.  While I LOVE food, there is something that makes a meal more fulfilling when you enjoy it with others.  I swear that fried chicken tasted even better because I was able to look at them with my eyes bugged out exclaiming how delicious it was and have them look back with the same expression.Georgia.MrsMilkes

They serve the meal family style and there were so many choices I didn’t know where to begin.  I filled my plate as if it were Thanksgiving, a little bit of everything, then grabbed seconds of what I enjoyed most (okra, creamed corn and friend chicken were my faves).  When you go, I’d suggest having a small breakfast to stretch your stomach out a little, but make sure you come hungry and you will be sure to leave happy.

The beginnings of Jekyll and my toes finally touch the sand

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By this time I was hours behind on my “schedule” so I started the drive to Jekyll Island.  Don’t worry, I did fit into the economy size car even though Michelle was concerned I’d be too tall.  It is interesting how strangers worry about you.  The gentleman checking me into my hotel was also worried about me.  He was sad I was alone, on my birthday.  Little did he know it was exactly what I wanted and had been planning for quite some time.  I am just starting to like myself again and ya know what?  It’s nice to spend time with me!

I took a drive around the 7×1.5 mile island to take it all in before heading down to the beach.  I wanted to relax and reflect on my day so far and I got exactly what I wished for.  It was late enough I was one of the few people left on the beach, there was a warm breeze and soft sand to rub my poor aching feet in (afterthought- wear tennies to stand in line for Mrs. Wilkes, flat sandals were rough).

Once I pulled myself away from the beach I went to dinner with the expectation of walking to the West side of Jekyll for the sunset (my hotel was on the East side).  However, I kept getting distracted by the landscape, the ocean continuously drawing me off the path and toward the water.  By the time I was getting to Tortuga Jacks, a recently opened Mexican Restaurant, it was already almost dark.   I decided to give up and have dinner right there.  I sat outside enjoying a delish marg and nachos as the stars started to peak out.  I walked back to my room, accompanied by my “to-go” margarita when I ran into a few people out on a dock.  We watched the carts drive up and down the beach looking for sea turtle nests and they told me about the conference they were there for.  I couldn’t help but think if there was a company consistently sending me to workshops on Jekyll Island so I could drink margs on the dock under the stars . . . I might have to think about a change in profession.

Sunrise to dusk, full and beautiful

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With little to no sleep my alarm was beeping and I was sprinting to the beach for the sunrise.  When I arrived I popped a bottle of champagne and made a toast to myself.  I was turning 29 years old and feeling pretty proud of the place I had reached in my life.  It felt good.  I hadn’t felt that way about myself in a while.  I sipped my champs, wandered around the beach, watching one of the most beautiful sunrises I’d ever seen-Or maybe it was the lack of sleep, the champagne and the fact it was my birthday-but still, it seemed like the most beautiful sunrise I’d ever seen.  There was nothing to feel at that moment but peace and contentment and I received a nice reminder I was in a good place, making the right decisions.IMG_7526

After a short nap, I rented a bike for the day, only $19, packed a lunch and headed out.  I stopped at a dock (it may have only been for resort goers, shhhh- don’t tell) where I sat down for lunch.  As I ate I watched a couple catch fish after fish and imagined myself in some of the boats coasting along in the distance.  I continued my ride over to Driftwood Beach (which I later found out is supposed to be one of the best locations to watch the sunrise) and biked along the outskirts of the entire island.  It’s good to know the island is dotted with historical and informational signs and markers for those who like to learn while they vacation.  At one point during my ride I stopped to take a dip in the water only to have horseback riders behind me and a couple dolphins swimming along the coastline in front of me.  It was another one of those incredibly peaceful moments.  This trip was continuously putting my soul at ease.  It was also making me think maybe someday I want to live on an island where I can ride my bike everywhere.  Jekyll you may have a new resident after my 30th!

 Dinner on Jekyll, more bike rides, beautiful sunsets and encounters with special strangers

By the time I got back to my hotel I needed to get ready and go to dinner.  I did not want to miss my chance to watch the sunset on the West side of the Island again.  I grabbed my bike and headed out, I seriously loved riding my bike around the island.  I went to dinner at Latitude 31, however I went to the Rah Bar portion of the restaurant.  I parked at the start of the dock and headed toward the live music.  There was first-come first-serve seating outside, but it was busy and the sunset was starting already so I headed into the bar.  I grabbed a seat with a beautiful view and placed my order right in time to catch another amazing sight- the sun setting over the water.  It was enough for me to decide every year on my birthday I need to watch the sun rise and set. Georgia.Jekyll.Sunset As I posted on Instagram, it might not always be as beautiful as Jekyll, but it will always be memorable.  It will help remind me of the beauty that surrounds us every day, I just have to take the time to notice.  I also met a kind woman who explained to me the sunset held a lot of “galactic energy” and the earth was “going into the fifth dimension”.  I really wish I would have asked more questions as I feel like people who say things to you randomly at bars usually have some pretty great life advice and interesting views on the world, but instead we just stood and enjoyed the sunset together.  Soooo . . . if any of you would like to share some insight into what the what she was talking about . . . I would LOVE to hear it!

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With Roy and his crab legs.

The food was insanely good and it was my first time eating crawdads.  I had to ask the guy (Roy) sitting next to me to show me how you eat them because those little guys are quite intimidating.  He taught me, cracked half open himself, even fed me one or five crawdads and insisted I wash them down with a fruity cocktail.  He said my mussels, shrimp and crawdads should always be eaten with a cold, fruity drink.  While I may disagree, I appreciated his help (and the couple of rounds he bought me).  By this time, the sun as completely tucked away and I decided it was time for me to be too.  At this point I was stuffed, buzzed, happy and ready to get my bike back and get some rest before I had to head out-of-town.

I took a final bike ride in the dark along one of many Jekyll bike paths and felt the beach wind blow through my hair one last time.  I was sad to say goodnight and goodbye to the island.  Jekyll Island is an incredible place.  I look forward to coming back someday, maybe on a vacation with others next time.  I can show them all the island has to offer and we can explore some of the places I wasn’t able to reach in my two days.  My adventure on the island was over, but it was exactly what I needed for the weekend I turned 29 and started this journey.  If all my trips hold up to this one, I will be one lucky girl.

50 States, 52 weeks: The Beginning

Somewhat recently I was released from an abusive relationship. While primarily it was verbal and emotional, it left me a hallowed out version of myself. I was unable to recognize anything when I looked in the mirror. The worst part was the longer I stayed the more I became like the abuser, my empty parts being filled with rage and fear to match his. Rage and fear I couldn’t seem to escape, making me feel lost and dizzy. It was all-encompassing. I lived for a long time in a fog of self-hatred and confusion. I disappeared from many people’s lives and those who spent time with me didn’t know this person I had become.  It’s hard to imagine those times now that I’m making my way back to me. Once you’re out of the darkness it’s hard to remember how it feels to live without hope. I’m glad to be working my way back to “normal” Johanna and I have since recognized life is all about learning. I’m just hoping I’ve gained the strength to GO before the worst happens in the future because oh how my intuition screamed GO back then. I just hadn’t learned to listen yet.

This experience has changed me. I am not quite as carefree as I once was. Smiling is difficult and I feel like there may be a part of me that might never heal 100%. The one thing that has gotten me out of my self-imposed downward spiral is the planning of an adventure. After spending so long living life as a zombie, I needed to run free again.  This decision was made on a plane ride back to my mother’s home during a very low period. My world felt like a dark pit and I couldn’t continue. I had become so dependent on the relationship and the criticism that I didn’t have the strength or confidence to crawl out, let alone walk away. I didn’t know how to get out of my own head. Then an idea arose and I knew I needed this escape to be real. 50 states in 52 weeks. I started a job as a flight attendant the year prior and hadn’t quite traveled as I originally planned. There was no one to tie me down anymore, no one to make me feel guilty and I didn’t know where I wanted to live in the world anyway, so why not visit every state in one year and see if anything sticks?

This is where the good part begins. I started talking about my #50in52 and people loved the idea. They also loved telling me what to do in their state and I LOVE to listen. I will be blogging the adventure and the healing so please, track my progress. Hold me accountable! Most of all, if you’re reading this and you know someplace I HAVE to GO, tell me! It’s not just about stepping foot in every state, it’s about experiencing the best/weirdest/most fun/most interesting things each state has to offer. I’m starting this week, the first week of June (my 29th birthday) and I want to fill the last year of my 20s with as many amazing stories as possible. Even if all you have to share is where I can get the best sandwich I’ve ever tasted… I NEED THAT SANDWICH! So share, tell me where I need to go… Because this time when my intuition is screaming GO, I’m listening. Go Johanna, go! Go everywhere.