JUNE 2025

Adventures With Carli

A monthly round of tips, travels, adventures and what's next

Hello adventurers!

Spring has been a bit of a whirlwind to say the least. Since May, I've been to 2 countries, 3 states and have flown 23,600 miles ✈️.

I'm headed out again this week (shocking) for 4th of July, then will be in Seattle for the next couple of months to enjoy all that summer in the PNW has to offer.

Where in the world is Carli San Diego?

Earlier this month I went to Louisville for work. Since I'd never been, I flew out a few days early to check out the city and Louisville really surprised me, in the best way. It has a small town feel for a "big" city, everyone is super friendly in a way my Seattle introvert self can't understand, plus comfort food.

If you like New Orleans or Nashville, but hate the crowds you should consider adding Louisville to your bucket list. Here are a few highlights from my trip:

• NuLu - the "arts district" just outside of downtown. Full of fun local boutiques, lively bars and dozens of murals
• Museums - Louisville has a much better museum scene than I expected. But my favorite was the Speed Art Museum. Honorable mentions to the Muhammad Ali Center and Louisville Slugger Museum.

Explore Louisville Museums for a Unique History of the City

• Winning at Churchill Downs - on our last night in town, my co-worker and I went out to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, to watch the horse races. Thanks to a great tip in our shuttle, we ended up winning 1/2 races and made $13.50 from our original $10 bets.

After what felt like a very short week home, I was re-packing my suitcase and heading out to Quebec City in Eastern Canada for a travel conference.

Since I've never been to Quebec, I arrived a few days early to explore.

Reasons you should visit Quebec:

• Has old European architecture and charm
• Everyone is super friendly (yes, even to Americans)
• There is so much natural beauty just a short drive outside of the city, including a number of large waterfalls.
• Nordic Spas! I love a thermal spa and had the opportunity to visit one of the two near Quebec City. It was so peaceful, I could have stayed there all day.

Montreal is easier to get to from the States, but don's miss out the gem that is Quebec City!

Travel Lessons Learned

Always double check your toiletries. Since I was still getting over my lingering cough before heading to Louisville I packed my cough syrup in my checked bag. It was in a ziplock bag, but since the cap wasn't on securly, it leaked over a bunch of my clothes and ruined one of my favorite shirts 😭

Obviously this was my own fault for not checking the cap, but also I should have put it in my large toiletry bag and displaced a few other items instead. My toiletry bag is lined and includes heavy duty plastic pouches, so if anything goes rogue, it's not getting on my clothes. Also it holds everything I need for traveling whether its a couple of days or multiple weeks at a time.

Toiletry Travel Bag

Prime Day is coming!

If you've been looking at certain items on Amazon, and you're a Prime member, this is the best time to find good deals over the summer. This is especially true for electronics. Below are a few of my must have items for traveling, and can almost always be found on deep discounts during Prime Day.

AirTags 🧳 I don't travel without these! Even if you don't like to check a bag, it's helpful to have in your hand luggage *just in case* you have to gate check. ​4 pack is the best deal​

Portable Charger 🔌 This is a must have when traveling, especially internationally. i feel like my phone dies a lot faster between roaming and taking photos ​Get yours here​

Kindle 📖 My kindle might be my best friend. I can't believe there was ever a time I was anti e-books. You can also typically get 3 free mos of Kindle Unlimited with your order. ​Review Models Here​

Be sure to check out my Amazon storefront for other go to travel items. And anything you purchase from my links (whether or not it's one of the items listed) helps support my travel addiction 😘

My Amazon Storefront

Blog Posts

Catch up on some of my blog posts

How to Have the Best Weekend in Louisville Unless you stay in your hotel the whole time, it might be impossible to have a bad weekend in Louisville. The city has so much to offer from food and drinks to history and culture. ​ Read Article

Helpful tips for Driving in Ireland Ireland is such a charming country, and the best way to explore it is by driving in Ireland. I’ve got helpful tips to make sure your vacation is fun and safe. ​ Read Article

How to Travel from Anchorage to Seward Alaska Looking to visit Seward Alaska? This post shares the many different ways to travel from Anchorage to Seward. ​ Read Article

Travel Must Haves

Prevent chafing If you're like me, then when summer rolls around you have an issue on hand especially with the heat... chub rub. Thankfully my bestie Cassie introduced my to Megababe Thigh Rescue. This is a must have for anyone rocking skirts, dresses or (short) shorts in the summer ​ Shop Here

Travel Resources

​Get help planning your next trip​

​Where to book your travel needs​

​My must have travel items​​

​The best travel credit card for beginners​

​Manage your credit cards, benefits and card offers with this helpful app ​

Thanks for following along! Carli

P.S. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. What does that mean you ask? I may earn a small commission, but you won’t pay any extra.