Category: U.S.

Vineyard with lakes and mountains in view

Get Outside + Sip Some Wine at These D.C. Area Vineyards

Mikala Whitaker

I’ve never been to vineyards on the West Coast, but say that Loudoun County, Virginia outside of D.C. has the closest growing conditions to Napa Valley. The county has 40 vineyards, and there are certainly more in surrounding areas and the rest of the state. Here’s my take on some of the vineyards closest to D.C. I admit I’ve only been to the following three D.C. area vineyards so far (as well as Early Mountain Vineyards near Charlottesville, Virginia), so I will certainly be trying more and will update this list. I have enjoyed all three and think that they’re some of the best!

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New Orleans: What to Do

Mikala Whitaker

Jared and I just got back from a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana for Mardi Gras, and we absolutely loved it! Beyond just the Mardi Gras celebrations, there is so much to do, and so much to eat and drink in New Orleans (Keep an eye out for a future post or two dedicated specifically to food + drinks!). Here are some things to do in the city apart from Mardi Gras and drinking in the city.

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New Website and 2019 Travels

Mikala Whitaker

Well, I decided to finally take the plunge and buy my own domain and self-host my blog. In case you haven’t noticed, my site is now www.unanchoredpassenger.com. No more of that “.wordpress” business. It’s been quite the process to transfer everything over, but I’m just about there. Thank you to all of you for your support during this transition. I’m looking forward to having so many more capabilities on this platform to better serve you the content that you’re looking for.

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Escape from D.C. with the Perfect Glamping Experience

Mikala Whitaker

Back in November, Jared and I had the most wonderful stay at a tiny house in the middle of the woods about 2 hours from D.C. near Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. We stayed with the house through the company called Getaway, which puts plots of tiny houses in the middle of the woods outside of New York City, Boston, Atlanta, and D.C. for the exact purpose of getting away.

I first heard of the company through Instagram sponsored posts. I hadn’t known anyone who had stayed at one before, so I wasn’t sure if it would really live up to the appeal, but it most definitely did! Here’s what I loved about it:Read More »

Why Durham is One of the Most Underrated Cities in N.C.

Mikala Whitaker

After living in North Carolina for nine years now, I’ve never heard people talk about Durham very often. Even after moving to the Triangle (Chapel Hill – Raleigh – Durham), I haven’t heard much about it. But Durham is such a cool place, and it’s only getting cooler. Vogue recently named it North Carolina’s hippest city. Here are some reasons that it’s completely underrated:

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