Category: Travel

bookmark_borderThe Best Thrift Stores in Grand Rapids, MI

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Hey earth muffins! After I moved out of my college apartment last summer, I wrote a post about my favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor, MI. Now that I’ve settled into a whole new city, I thought it was time to share my favorite thrift stores in the Grand Rapids area! Mister Corona hindered many of my secondhand shopping plans this past year or so; but, now that I am fully vaccinated I’ve been able to get back into thrifting again. Let’s jump right into my favorite thrift stores in Grand Rapids! πŸŽ‰

A picture of a thrift store

Rustic Market – 389 68th St. SE

Over the years of perfecting my thrifting routine, I have found that small, local thrift shops often have great finds. This is totally true for Rustic Market. The store is volunteer run and has a nice “local” vibe to it. While the clothing selection isn’t very big, the rest of the store makes up for it. As soon as you walk in, the front of the store is dedicated to secondhand finds for the upcoming holiday(s)… I’ve found some really cute decor here! They also have a nice card selection for various occasions and events. Would definitely recommend shopping around if you are in the area!

World Mission Thrift Store – 2640 Burlingame Ave SW

If you are looking for a huge thrift store, this is the place to go! One of my top tips for thrifting is to look in every single department. Even if you don’t think you will find anything in the men’s clothing, you might actually find some really great stuff. Each section of the store is huge, with a lot of fun stuff to look through. I personally go here when I am looking for some home decor, as they have aisles dedicated to frames, holiday decor, kitchenware, etc. You can find some awesome things here!

Salvation Army – 4281 28th St. SE

I’ve always preferred Salvation Army to Goodwill; but, this is totally an opinion. There are a ton of great Goodwills in Grand Rapids too! I like this Salvation Army because they have a huge clothing department. I’ve found some great pieces here, including some high quality brand names. I remember shopping here during an internship a few summers ago… I found a Carlos Bakery t-shirt and was stupid enough to not purchase it. Definitely regret that every time I shop here. πŸ˜‚ This location is on 28th Street, which means there are tons of other stores around it – perfect for a day of shopping!

Estate Sales Warehouse – 3524 E Mall Dr SE

While not technically a “thrift store” I had to include this place, as it is relatively close to the Salvation Army I mentioned above. This warehouse sells a bunch of random things from estate sales. While there aren’t a lot of clothing items, there are treasures galore. From furniture to kitchenware to baskets, you can find plenty here! It has rummage sale vibes for sure. I often head here if I have nothing in particular to buy but an itch to thrift… And usually find something super cute for my apartment. 😊 Definitely on my list for the best “thrift” stores in Grand Rapids!

Warehouse One Antiques – 449 Century Ave SW

While this is an antique store, I had to include it on the list anyway. Thrifting and antiquing have very different stereotypes, but I love them both the same. This is a HUGE antique mall; it has two floors and spans an old furniture factory downtown Grand Rapids. It is awesome – just make sure you have a lot of time to look at everything! Each booth is different, and I’ve found plenty of clothes (mostly vintage) among furniture, housewares, and anything else you can think of. Super fun place to go with friends because there is something for everyone.

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Final Thoughts on the Best Thrift Stores in Grand Rapids

While there are a ton of other great secondhand stores not mentioned on this list, I wanted to share some of my favorites. I am hoping once Mister Corona settles down even further I’ll be able to thrift shop a bit more this summer… But, no promises! If you are interested in seeing thrift hauls or cute secondhand finds, feel free to follow me on Instagram! What are your favorite thrift stores currently?

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to be Eco-Friendly When Staying in an Airbnb

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Hey earth muffins! With the mass distribution of COVID vaccines, travel has become a possibility again. While you obviously need to still stay safe from Mister Corona, I myself have been venturing out more. Whenever I travel, I love to find cute Airbnbs to stay at. Not only does this provide you with a more unique stay compared to a hotel, it often allows for better amenities as well. 😊 However, is it possible to stay sustainable when using Airbnb? Of course it is! Here are my top tips on how to be eco-friendly in an Airbnb!

A picture of an Airbnb loft apartment

Pick an Airbnb that is the perfect size for you and your fellow travelers.

When looking at Airbnbs, there are often many options in your price range. While it might be tempting to reserve that mansion by the water, try to pick a rental that is the right size for the number of people attending the trip. If it is way bigger, the host will need to clean a lot more than necessary. This will result in excess waste from cleaning supplies, wasted water when doing laundry for bedding, and just extra time that the host could spend doing something else! Aim to be Goldilocks – pick the Airbnb that is “just right”! This will ensure that the preparations for your stay won’t create as much of an environmental impact.

Cook for yourself (if possible) and bring food & drinks!

I always try to get an Airbnb with a kitchen. This allows me to avoid takeout waste and cook for myself. Many Airbnbs with kitchens will already have the essentials – oil, salt, pepper, etc. All you need to do is bring the rest of the ingredients for tasty meals! Go the extra mile and make sure your groceries are plastic-free, from the bulk bins, and/or in glass/reusable packaging. I also like to bring my large Hydroflask so that I can stay hydrated while exploring a new place. πŸ˜ƒ

A picture of a pan of food, getting cooked over a stove

Don’t use travel-size bath products if they leave them out for you.

This is a great tip for hotels as well! I’ve stayed at some Airbnbs where the host leaves travel-sized shampoos and soaps in the bathroom. While this is super kind, a great “how to be eco-friendly in an Airbnb” tip is to avoid those single use plastics. If you don’t use them, another guest can which reduces the amount of trash that will end up in the landfill. It is easy to make sure that you pack your own toiletries and don’t forget them at home!

Take recycling & compost with you when you check out!

At the end of your stay, make sure you sort your waste. If your Airbnb doesn’t have a recycle bin, take your recyclables home (if you have any). Even if the rental does have a recycling bin, I usually still take it home as the rules of what can recycle differs by location. I definitely don’t want to be a “wishcycler“! If you were able to cook for yourself, save any food scraps for your compost bin. This is an excellent way to reduce food waste as you travel!

Leave notes to show what is still clean.

If you didn’t use a bed or some pillows, leave a note saying that they are clean! This will (hopefully) avoid the host washing an already clean item. The same goes for towels in the bathroom. For anything that is dirty, make it obvious that they are dirty by putting them in a pile or even placing them in the washing machine so that the host can just turn the machine on after you leave. The less confusion over what is clean will allow for a lower impact on the environment!

how to be eco-friendly when staying in an Airbnb
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Final Thoughts on How to be Eco-Friendly in an Airbnb

It is definitely possible to stay low waste while traveling this summer. If you choose to stay in an Airbnb, make sure to pick one that has the amenities you want (like a kitchen!) but isn’t too large for you and your fellow travelers. By cooking for yourself, you will be able to reduce takeout waste and save yourself some money for other experiences on your trip. If the host leaves travel-sized items, gratefully pass them up and use what you bring from home instead. Lastly, clean up after yourself and take recyclables and compost home with you. What else do you do to reduce your impact while traveling? 🌎 ❀️

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderA Weekender’s Travel Guide to Ann Arbor, Michigan – The Best Things to See & Do

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Hey earth muffins! As many of you might know, I spent my undergrad/grad years in Ann Arbor attending the University of Michigan. I would definitely not go back to school any time soon; but, those years were some of the best in my entire life. Sure, academics were tough, but college is such an exciting time in anyone’s life. 😊 I have really wanted to travel recently due to spending way too much time stuck in my apartment; I’m not sure when Mister Corona will allow us to travel again. So, I thought it would be fun to post a Weekender’s Travel Guide post. I haven’t posted one of these in a hot minute! Let’s jump right into the ultimate travel guide to Ann Arbor, MI!

A picture of a girl on the field of the Michigan Stadium

What You Should See on Campus:

If you haven’t ever been to Ann Arbor before, then you obviously need to check out some of the campus highlights. I personally would recommend these sites:

–The Diag: As you are walking through the Diag, you will be able to also check out a ton of the cool buildings on campus. This is the center of the school, so it is a great place to start when exploring Ann Arbor. The Union is an iconic building to visit, and it is right near the Diag.

–The Law Quad: If you want to feel like you are at Hogwarts then the Law Quad is for you. It is gorgeous year round and the perfect place to take grad photos. πŸ˜‚ One of the prettiest libraries is also in the Law Quad, so feel free to go peep at some exhausted students.


–The Michigan Stadium: While the stadium itself is a ways from campus, you can jump on a Blue Bus (for free) and take a quick ride to it if you don’t have a vehicle with you. I am personally not a huge sports person, but if you are there during footbal season then definitely get tickets to watch the game!

–The Ross School of Business: If you want to see the ugliest colored building on campus, then this is for you. It is also where I spent 99% of my time, as I graduated with two business degrees in my 5 years in Ann Arbor. The building itself is pretty impressive to look at, and there is a Starbucks inside if you are getting thirsty on your tour.

Travel Guide to Ann Arbor – What to Do Off Campus:

Other than campus activities, Ann Arbor also has some awesome things to see. If you are in Ann Arbor during warmer months, you can check out the gorgeous nature at The Arb. You can walk the many trails or just lay in fields of flowers or sit at the side of the river.

The Michigan Theater and the State Theater both have great selections from new movies to old classics. Along with movies, they also do live shows from students orgs and even livestreams of Russian ballets. It is a great place to support the local community! My personal favorite is that they do these awesome sing-alongs where you can go and watch Disney movies with the words on the screen. It is actually a super fun activity to do with your friends!

A picture of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan

If you want to check out the local secondhand scene, I recommend checking out my favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor! It is pretty expensive to live in this city, so you can find some pretty awesome brands at local thrifts. 😍 Along with those listed in that post, there are also a few small vintage stores close to campus as well.

Main Street also has a bunch of fun activities to choose from. There is The Ark where you can go listen to live music, many cute stores to shop in, and (of course) a TON of delicious places to eat!

Where to Eat in Ann Arbor:

Even during my college days I tried to eat out as little as possible to both save money and reduce my waste. But, I do have some favorite restaurants that I would recommend checking out.

Sadako – 1321 South University Ave

If you love sushi, this place is for you! The restaurant itself is tiny, so I would recommend going at a weird time (or getting it to go). They have great rolls at good prices; I loved going during lunch hours to get the bento boxes – SO much delicious food! They also have mochi ice cream that is really tasty as well. My friend once put the whole thing in her mouth and had a Princess Diaries moment if you know what I mean. 🀣

A picture of a bento box from Sadako restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan
An old photo at Sadako when I used to eat meat.

Salads UP – 611 E Liberty St.

While it might sound lame, their salads are so good! It is a Subway-style restaurant, where you can either get a custom made salad or order one from their menu. I personally always get a custom made one; it was such a great way to finish off a day of studying! I also love that this place was founded by two UoM alums. Feels like I am supporting the school when I eat there!

Cafe Zola – 112 W. Washington St.

This place is on the pricier side compared to the others above. But, it is still reasonable considering the high prices at many of Ann Arbor’s restaurants (again, it’s a wealthy town). The salmon burger and fries are to die for here! My friend’s family would always take us here when they were in town, and it was such a delicious treat. I have yet to try to make my own salmon burger because I know it will never compare!

So, if you ever find yourself in Michigan, Ann Arbor is a great choice to visit! While I could write a novel about all of the cool things to see, I tried to keep this travel guide to Ann Arbor relatively short. But, if you are making plans to go check it out, please let me know! Email or DM me on Instagram, and I would love to make more recommendations. Go Blue! πŸ’› πŸ’™

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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderThe Best Thrift Stores in Ann Arbor, MI

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Hey muffins! After spending the last five years in Ann Arbor during both my undergrad and grad school experiences, I have definitely checked out many of the city’s thrift stores. Secondhand shopping is an excellent way to reduce your waste and avoid fast fashion. It is also super fun to look for treasures! ☺️ Now that I no longer live in the area, I thought it would be fun to share some of my faves with you all. These Ann Arbor thrift stores are the ones I would shop at the most; each one has different reasons on why I like it, so here are my thoughts!

1. The ShareHouse

A picture of the clothing section in the ShareHouse in Ann Arbor

Address: 5161 Jackson Rd

This store was my absolute favorite place to shop – I will definitely miss it! The building is large and contains a mix of literally everything and anything you could be searching for. The clothing department is relatively small, but they have a nice chunk of vintage pieces. There are even wedding dresses if you are looking to have a sustainable ceremony. πŸ’’ Even though they don’t have a large amount of clothes, the prices are excellent ranging from $0.25 to $3.

In terms of home items, they have bins of EVERYTHING (ex. utensils, bathroom storage, craft supplies, etc.). While everything is well labeled, you will have to dig through bins if they are full. But you are bound to find some treasures! They have a huge wall of cheap cookbooks and a whole room for games and puzzles. Most things are assigned prices at checkout (except for clothes), but the owners always give extremely reasonable prices. You could probably bargain with them if you wanted, but I’ve never seen the need. A great thrift store to check out – give yourself at least two hours to look at everything! πŸ˜€

Best finds: Three 1000 piece puzzles ($4), a huge stack of vintage greeting cards ($4.50), Mickey Mouse shirt for Disney trip ($0.25)

2. Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

A picture of the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

Address: 2280 S Industrial Hwy

This thrift store has a moderate amount of clothes, but each week a certain color tag makes those pieces only $0.50! Because the section isn’t massive the clothing turns over pretty quick, so there are always new things to look at. I’d recommend shopping for those 50 cents pieces at the beginning of the week; they are perfect for any thrift flip projects!

If you are looking for crafting/DIY supplies, this is also the place to go. They have everything from single buttons to stickers to scrapbooking paper to fabric to vintage patterns. It is truly incredible and the labeling is on point. The kitchen section is relatively small, but I have found some nice things there. They also have a good game section and check each one to ensure all the pieces are in the box! Unlike the ShareHouse, everything is individually priced. All the proceeds go to support local schools of the area, so I loved supporting this place these past five years!

Best finds: “Technicolor dreamcoat” sweater ($4), Halloween pillow ($4.50), fabric for my DIY Mary Poppins costume

3. Salvation Army

A picture of the Salvation Army in Ann Arbor

Address: 1621 S State St

My favorite “chain” thrift store has always been Salvation Army, and the one in Ann Arbor doesn’t disappoint. This store is basically 90% clothing – it has everything you could ever look for! Because Ann Arbor is a wealthier area, this location is stocked full of amazing brands. This also means the prices are slightly higher, but even as a broke college student the prices were never too high. The store is quite busy, and a lot of people shop here (including college students as it is walking distance to campus). But, this means the inventory turns over often… There are a ton of new items each week!

Best finds: Gnocci “Gucci” shirt ($3)

4. Recycle Ann Arbor’s Reuse Center

A picture of the Recycle Reclaim Center in Ann Arbor

Address: 2420 S Industrial Hwy

This recycling center is close to the PTO thrift store, so I would always stop in when I was in the area. Their “barn” has bits of everything from kitchenware to boxes of books to lots of furniture. Nothing is individually labeled, and I have found that the prices end up being higher than the ShareHouse. But, this center also has a huge selection of reclaimed wood and other materials. If you are a handy person or is about to start some home projects or rebuilds this would be the place to check out!

Best find: Nice golf club for my boyfriend ($8)

Overall, I think there are a lot of awesome secondhand options in Ann Arbor. On top of the ones I mentioned, there are also many vintage and antique stores in the area. The city can be quite expensive overall, so thrifting is an excellent way to save that coin AND save the planet! 🌎 What are your favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor?

The best thrift stores in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderThe Weekender’s Travel Guide to Bangor, Maine!

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Hey earth muffins! Like I mentioned in my previous Focaccia Bread recipe, the world is a scary place right now. 2020 has been an absolute ride, so I hope you all are staying safe and healthy! Today marks the end of the stay at home order where I live; I am excited, but also cautious, to start going out of my house again. The one thing I have missed the most during this pandemic is traveling. I have written some weekend travel guides in the past, so I thought I would share one for a city close to my heart: Bangor, Maine.

A photo overlooking the city of Bangor, Maine

If you read my Bar Harbor, Maine travel guide, you will know that my family spent a lot of time in Maine. I loved growing up on the East Coast and now that I live in the Midwest, I often miss the ocean. Going back to Maine is the number one destination on my travel bucket list at the moment! Bangor is the third largest city in the “vacation state”, so I hope this guide helps you plan your next trip! 😍

What to Do & See:

~Drive by Stephen King’s house. Mainers are pretty proud of iconic author Stephen King. He has a home close to downtown Bangor, which is currently being converted into a museum/living space for other writers. I personally love the creepy fence that surrounds his house at 47 W Broadway St, and the neighboring houses are also super pretty to admire!

A photo of the front of Stephen King's house in Bangor, Maine

~Walk around downtown Bangor. While it isn’t the nicest downtown, there are a couple of highlights. First, the Maine Discovery Museum is perfect for any young kids; I still think the sign out front (complete with a huge frog) is super cute! The Rock & Art Shop (36 Central St) has some really pretty stones and gemstones, which are awesome souvenirs to bring back home!

~Hit up the Bangor Mall! If you are in need of some shopping there are a ton of chain stores at the mall (or in surrounding buildings). I got my ears pierced at this Claire’s location – such good memories haha.

~Visit the Paul Bunyan statue! I have a weird fascination with oversized roadside attractions… I love to make my family stop and look at gigantic animals, etc. This statue is a Bangor classic! Located at 519 Main St, you can admire Paul in all of his greatness.

A photo of a Paul Bunyan statue in Bangor, Maine

~See a show at the waterfront or the Collins Center for the Arts. Bangor is right next to the Penobscot River, and there is an awesome waterfront that hosts concerts and festivals. Each summer there is a huge music festival that is super fun to go to, and I bet there are a bunch of other festivals throughout the year! If you want to see a symphony, ballet, or play, the Collins Center for the Arts is only 20 minutes away in Orono.

What to Eat:

~Bagel Central (33 Central St): I crave their bagels and cream cheese at least once a week! They make bagels, sandwiches, pastries, etc. all from scratch, and their prices are always very reasonable. It is also in a great location downtown, right across the street from the Rock & Art Shop.

A photo of three bagels sitting on a brown napkin

~Asian Garden (123 Franklin St): The last time I went here it was called Panda Garden, but I am sure the Chinese food is as good as I remember! I am a huge sucker for some tasty Asian food, and my family would frequent this restaurant whenever we were in the area. 🐼

~Hannaford: Not a restaurant but a East Coast grocery store that is way better than the Krogers of the Midwest. If you will be staying in an Airbnb or driving to Bar Harbor to camp then you NEED to check out a Hannaford. Treat yourself with their store brand carrot cake – I have yet to find an equivalent!

~Dysart’s (1110 Broadway): Ever seen the meme/video of the old man who can’t say buttery, flaky crust?

Well it comes from an ad for this restaurant! Granted the original truck stop restaurant isn’t this location, it still has the same food. It is homemade and you get a large portion – perfect after a long day of being a tourist!

~Gifford’s Ice Cream (1109 Broadway): Who doesn’t love some Maine ice cream? Just like Bagel Central bagels I often crave Gifford’s too… Their Moose Tracks is the best! 😍

A photo collage of pictures from Bangor, Maine with the words The Weekender's Guide to Bangor, Maine on top
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There you have it – my travel guide to Bangor! I’ve been to a bunch of other cities in Maine; if any of you are interested in other guides please let me know! πŸ˜ƒ Where are you planning on traveling to next?

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderCan a Trip to Disney World be Zero Waste?!

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Hey earth muffins! Wow – it feels great writing an actual post for you all! If you read my latest updates, you will know that my boyfriend and I recently took a trip to Disney World over spring break, before all the craziness of Mister Corona started. We definitely lucked out with timing, as most (if not all) of the Disney parks are now closed due to the pandemic (please stay safe out there everyone!). After my boyfriend and I had picked our destination, I was excited to see if visiting Disney parks is possible when you are zero waste or, like me, trying to be as low waste as possible. We were in Orlando, FL for only a total of 4 days and hit up two different parks: Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

So the big question is, can a trip to Disney be sustainable? For the short answer: yes, it is totally possible to zero waste Disney parks. BUT, it does require some effort. From our experience, I wanted to share some of my suggestions for making a trip to Disney World as low waste as possible.

Take advantage of the fact that you can bring bags into the park. My parents gifted me an adorable mini backpack purse for Christmas, so I was able to bring food and my 8 oz stainless steel water bottle into the park with me. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to bring in metal, but Disney is apparently only strict about no glass in the parks. That being said, you can bring in as many reusable containers as you want, which is awesome if you are wanting to reduce single use items when it comes to food and water as well as save a lot of money with how expensive Disney food is. There are plenty of water fountains around the parks too, so don’t worry about running out of water!

Reuse your Magic Band if you have been to Disney before (or are an Annual Passholder). Even if your band was linked to a different account you are able to re-link it to a new account, which saves you from having a plastic card/ticket to enter the parks and use for FastPass. If this is your first time to the park, no worries! Save your Magic Band for either your next trip or give to family/friends who will be going (who can then re-link the band to their own account). A perfect zero waste Disney tip!

Use the My Disney Experience app instead of paper maps, menus, etc. The Disney app has everything you could possibly need during your visit including wait times, maps, dinner reservations, booking FastPasses, etc. Make sure that someone in your group has a phone that has a battery that will last all day or bring a travel charger if you have one.

Image of the Tangled area at DisneyTake advantage of the dinner reservation feature of the app and take a break by eating in instead of eating out! Many of the Instagram worthy mouse shaped treats come with a lot of waste in tow… Even though Disney did make the switch to paper straws, single use items are still mainly used. If you have the financial resources, try a sit-down restaurant instead! My boyfriend and I had been gifted a bunch of Disney gift cards before our trip, so we definitely took advantage of eating in and found some really tasty food along the way!

Eat vegetarian/vegan options! On the topic of food, I suggest reducing your impact on the planet by utilizing the many vegetarian and vegan options at Disney. I have been a pescatarian since August (a post to come on this adventure in the near future!) and was excited to learn about all of the great options they have in their parks. Many of the take-out options are pretty customizable when it comes to removing meat from say a Greek salad (the price will also be less).

Reduce your food waste by ordering off the kid’s menu. I’ll be the first to admit that my stomach is the size of a large snail. Okay, it’s probably bigger than that, but I get full SO easily. To prevent throwing away half of a meal, I would definitely recommend either splitting or ordering from the kid’s menu. No one at Disney cares if you aren’t 12 and under (I promise!), and the meals are actually quite large, healthy, and cheaper than the adult versions of the same thing.

Use alternative transportation to get to the parks! Reduce the emissions from yet another car going to Disney and use the many other forms of transportation available in Orlando. Many of the resorts and outside hotels have shuttle services or take an UberPool instead.

Buy your Mickey merch at the thrift store (or borrow from family/friends) BEFORE you get to the park. While thrifting for Disney apparel is definitely a trial and error process because of the brand’s popularity, it can be done for a zero waste Disney trip. After keeping my eye out for a couple of months, I found an adorable Mickey shirt for only $0.25 at one of the local thrift stores in Ann Arbor! I actually saw a woman wearing the same exact shirt at Magic Kingdom, but my impact on the planet was much much smaller. If you aren’t having any luck, try borrowing clothes (and even Mickey ears) from family or friends. This will also save you hella coin at the parks!

Be smart with your souvenir choices and avoid all plastic ones! I won’t sit here and tell you to not buy a souvenir at all because then I would be a hypocrite. But, you can still buy things at the parks that aren’t terrible for the environment. We bought a couple of paper postcards to use as wall dΓ©cor (which can then be recycled if we ever get bored of them) and then a glass ornament for our Christmas tree. While avoiding plastic souvenirs gets much harder when you have kids, try to steer your eager shopper towards something that will last a long time like a metal pin, glass figurine, etc.

Overall, I think you can definitely make your trip at Disney a sustainable one! Like any situation, you just need to be cognizant of the impact your decisions will have. But, don’t feel like your whole trip has to be fully sustainable! I personally feel like doing my best to live zero/low waste 90% of the time is totally fine because I am still doing a ton to help out the planet. If you want to splurge on a plastic Elsa doll or a Mickey ice cream sandwich in plastic wrap 10% of the time, I say go for it! We all deserve a little extra at the happiest place in the world.

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderThe Weekender’s Guide to Cleveland, Ohio: What To Do & Eat on the East Side! πŸ₯°

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Hey earth muffins! A couple of weekends ago, I went to Cleveland to visit one of my college friends. She lives in a suburb on the East Side of the city and was kind enough to show me around for a few days. It was so much fun to explore with her, so I thought I would share another weekender’s guide with you all (especially since you have loved my guides for Madison (WI), Fort Wayne (IN), Bar Harbor (ME), and Washington D.C.). 😊

What To Do:
1. Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art – My friend is a huge art buff, so it was great to explore this museum with her as she knew so many fun facts about certain paintings and artists! For a free museum, it has SO much art it in from ancient Egyptian sculptures to modern art. Plus, they have some extremely famous art from Monet, Degas, Picasso, Rembrant, etc. 🎨 We were lucky enough to witness a couple get engaged in front of a Monet painting, which was definitely the cherry on top of this museum trip!

2. Walk around Little Italy – Your girl right here is Italian, so of course I had to check out Little Italy! It was so cute and fun to walk around; see my Italian dessert suggestions in the section below.Β πŸ˜‰

3. Drive through the gorgeous neighborhoods of Shaker Heights – This might be odd, but I absolutely love to drive through residential neighborhoods when I am visiting new places! There are some gorgeous (and huge) houses in Shaker Heights, so I would definitely recommend driving around if you are into that sort of thing.

A picture of a house in Shaker Heights, Cleveland

4. Walk around University Circle – At the heart of the East Side of Cleveland is University Circle which has many museums (the art museum is here!) and colleges (including Case Western). It is a great place to cover some ground on foot.

5. Spend time in the Botanical garden – I was in town when the weather was just starting to turn cold, so I wasn’t able to embrace any nature inside the garden… However, I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are searching for some calm in the city.Β πŸ¦‹

6. Find some famous graves in the Lake View Cemetery – President Garfield, John Rockefeller, and many other people are buried here. There is free parking on the side of the street next to the cemetery on East 123rd Street, which is a great place to park if you are going to walk around Little Italy or University Circle!

What To Eat:
1. Cannoli from Presti’s Italian Bakery – Cannoli have forever been my favorite dessert, and these were a 10/10. This place gets extremely busy, so make sure you take a number when you enter so that you save your spot in line.Β πŸ˜„ They have huge portions for a reasonable price, making it a must stop!

A picture of a display case in Presti

2. Peppermint Thai Cuisine – This restaurant is located over in the Pepper Pike suburb, so if you find yourself nearby I would definitely recommend. The food is healthy, delicious, and a great price! The teriyaki salmon was amazing, and my friend (and her family) order food from this restaurant all the time (which shows you just how good it is!).

3. Mitchell’s Ice Cream – Good ice cream is a staple whenever I travel, so I love that this brand is local to Ohio. They have traditional flavors but also some out of the box ones, making it perfect for everyone in the family! 🍨

What are your favorite things to do on the East Side of Cleveland?

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Airplane Flight ✈️

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Hey earth muffins! After branching out from my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series into topics like periods, I thought it would be fun to explore traveling. As I recently took a trip to Washington D.C., it seemed like the perfect time to share my tips for being low waste on an airplane. 😊

Note: flying on a airplane is not good for the environment. It is actually one of the worst things to do… So, there really isn’t a “zero waste” way to fly; however, if you must fly these are tips that you can use to mitigate other waste at the airport and on board.

1.Β Book an airline that uses online boarding passes – You won’t have to worry about printing your ticket or losing it along the way! Just make sure your phone is charged up to be scanned through security and the gate. Delta has a great app I use, but I am sure many other airlines offer this lovely feature.
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2.Β Bring your own water bottle – People I talk to are often unaware that you can bring your own water bottle through security (just make sure it is empty when you go through!). Airports have water fountains near the bathrooms, which reduces the need to buy plastic water bottles in the airport or to get a beverage during the in-flight food service.

3.Β Be prepared with some snacks! – Again, you can bring snacks through security! For my trip to Washington D.C., I brought along some pretzel sticks in a reusable sandwich bag.Β πŸ₯¨ I was able to refuse the snack mid-flight and even have some leftovers for my layover. While I didn’t have enough space in my bag to bring as much food as I could have, at least a few snack packages were saved!

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4. Bring your own ear buds/headphones (noise cancelling is recommended!) – You can usually purchase cheap, throwaway-able ear buds on flights, but save your money (and the planet) by bringing your own!

5. Don’t check a bag; bring a carry-on! – Even if you have your own luggage tag, your checked bag will still get adorned with some extra stickers and tags that are unnecessary. Save that waste by packing light and bringing only a carry-on. 🧳

Pin to read later!

What do you do to reduce waste when flying?

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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