Here are some of the ways mountains can contribute to stress relief:

Exposure to Nature Lowers Stress Hormones

Studies show that being in natural environments, including mountains, can reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. For example, research has demonstrated that people who spend time in green spaces like forests or mountains experience lower cortisol levels, which leads to a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety.

Research on Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) in Japan highlights the beneficial effects of spending time in natural environments, like forests and mountains. It has been linked to improved mood, decreased stress, and enhanced immune function.

Promotes Mindfulness and Mental Clarity

The vast and serene nature of mountains can promote mindfulness. Being in these environments often encourages people to focus on the present moment, which is a known method for reducing stress. The sheer beauty and scale of mountainous landscapes can trigger feelings of awe, which has been linked to improved mental well-being.

Improved Physical Activity

Hiking or walking in mountainous regions involves physical exercise, which itself has been widely shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Exercise helps release endorphins, often referred to as “feel-good” hormones, which naturally improve mood and help combat stress.

Reduced Sensory Overload

Mountains provide an escape from the urban environment, which can often be overstimulating with noise, pollution, and crowds. The quietness and simplicity of nature, particularly in mountainous settings, help reduce sensory overload, allowing the brain and body to relax and recharge.

Positive Impact on the Brain

Research using brain imaging has shown that exposure to nature can alter brain activity in ways that improve emotional regulation and decrease the activity associated with anxiety and depression. A 2015 study from Stanford University found that walking in nature, including mountainous areas, decreases activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a brain region linked to rumination (repetitive negative thinking), which is a common symptom of stress.

Fresh Air and Altitude Effects

Mountain air is often cleaner, with higher oxygen levels that can benefit physical and mental health. The elevation and air quality contribute to feelings of rejuvenation and relaxation. Being at higher altitudes can also promote better sleep, which is crucial for stress management.

Know Before You Go:

🏔️ Altitude Awareness: Colorado’s mountains are high, so give yourself time to acclimate, stay hydrated, and watch for signs of altitude sickness.

🌦️ Weather Variability: Mountain weather can change fast. Pack layers for chilly nights and sudden storms to stay comfortable in any conditions. If you're visiting a National Park, be sure to check their website for any weather closures. 

🎒 Camping Essentials: Bring quality gear, including a warm sleeping bag and durable tent. Keep your iPhone 16 Pro Max charged and protected with one of the best iPhone 16 Pro Max cases for outdoor adventures.

🐻 Wildlife Safety: The Rockies are home to bears and other wildlife. Use bear-proof containers for food and follow local guidelines to stay safe and respect the animals.

👟 Physical Preparation: Hiking here is no joke! Make sure you’re in good shape and wear sturdy boots. Take it slow if needed—the altitude can make it tougher than you expect.

🍃 Leave No Trace: Help preserve Colorado’s beauty by following “leave no trace” principles. Pack out all trash to keep the wilderness pristine for future visitors.

I practically grew up in the National Park system - my dad wanted to see every one so we spent years in the back of a mini van driving through as many as possible. And we accidentally stumbled into this reservation situation myself in 2022 when we drove up to Rocky Mountain NP and were turned away at the gate. Luckily we just had to wait an hour or so to get in. Our trip was last minute but if we had planned a multi day trip here it definitely would've complicated things not knowing this in advance. So I thought I'd write this post because with eight of the parks now require reservations this could easily affect your travel plans this year. 

One thing to keep in mind is that only three of the parks require advanced reservations to enter at the gate, the other five allow entry but you will need a reservation for specific drives or hikes. Try not to lose your mind reading these requirements - some of them can be quite confusing but bear in mind these tickets help ensure that we all have a good time when we visit! Be sure to visit the National Parks website for any specific information regarding your visit. 

The 8 National Parks Requiring Advance Reservations: 

Entire Park Reservations: 

1. Arches National Park, Utah 
2. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado 
3. Yosemite National Park, California 

Scenic Drive Reservations:

1. Acadia National Park in Maine (for Cadillac Summit Road)
2. Glacier National Park in Montana (for Going-to-the-Sun Road, North Fork, and Many Glacier scenic drives)
3. Haleakalā National Park in Hawai‘i (for sunrise viewing at the summit)

Hiking Specific Reservations:

1. Zion National Park in Utah (for Angels Landing Trail)
2. Shenandoah National Park (for Old Rag Mountain

Entire Park Reservations: 

 Arches National Park, Utah 

Truly a gem of the National Park system Arches is a can’t miss for many people. 

How to get a reservation for Arches National Park:

Tickets are released at different times through the year depending on when you want to visit. They are first come, first serve and you can reserve your tickets at Recreation.gov. Here is the reservation schedule:

• Reservations for April 1–30 open January 2 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time (MT)
• Reservations for May 1–31 open February 1 at 8 a.m. MT
• Reservations for June 1–30 open March 1 at 8 a.m. MT
• Reservations for July 1–31 open April 1 at 8 a.m. MT
• Reservations for August 1–31 open May 1 at 8 a.m. MT
• Reservations for September 1–30 open June 1 at 8 a.m. MT
• Reservations for October 1–31 open July 1 at 8 a.m. MT

Tickets are available in one-hour entry slots from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.—for example you can choose different entry times, 6–7 a.m., 7–8 a.m., etc.

“After entering, visitors may stay in the park for the remainder of the day. Ticket holders may exit and re-enter the park on the same day with a correctly validated ticket,” a release about the 2024 Arches National Park reservation system stated. Timed tickets will cost $2 in addition to your park pass. 

A limited number of additional tickets will be released daily at 7 p.m. Mountain Time for visits the next day. According to NPS: "Tickets book up quickly, especially for morning arrival times, so visitors are encouraged to plan ahead.” Tickets are not available for purchase at the park entrance so buy them in advance. 

Good news! If you have a camping permit, backcountry permit, Fiery Furnace permit, or a tour ticket the timed entry ticket is not required.

You’ll need to present a photo ID and park pass when you enter for the day. 

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

How to get a reservation for Rocky Mountain National Park:

You’ll need a reservation for this park if you plan to visit between May 24 - October 20, 20204. Reservations to enter the park will go on sale on recreation.gov at 8 a.m. MT on the following dates:

• Reservations open May 1 to enter the park from May 24 through June 30
• Reservations open June 1 to enter the park during the month of July 
• Reservations open July 1 to enter the park during the month of August 
• Reservations open August 1 to enter the park during the month of September 
• Reservations open September 1 to enter the park during the month of October 

The park will set aside a percentage of permits that will be available for purchase the day before at 7 p.m. MT through recreation.gov.

There are two types of reservations to choose from at Rocky Mountain National Park:

One reservation is for the Bear Lake Road corridor, which will include access to Bear Lake as well as the rest of the park for entry between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

The other is for all areas of the park except for the Bear Lake Road corridor for entry into the park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are not required before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. if you choose to forgo the Bear Lake Corridor. 

The permits are available in 2-hour entry windows—5–7 a.m. slots, 7–9 a.m. slots, etc. You must enter within that two-hour window but can leave at any time. There is a $2 fee for the reservation in addition to the normal entry fee.

Yosemite National Park, California

How to get a reservation for Yosemite National Park in 2024

Being one of the nation’s most popular parks its understanding that to control the crowds a reservation system is in place for 2024.

You will need a reservation if you plan to visit the park anytime between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on these dates:

• April 13 to June 30 (weekends and holidays only)
• July 1 to August 16 (every day)
• August 17 to October 27 (weekends and holidays only)
• Feb 10-11, 17-19 & 24-25 (during the Firefall event that lights up Horsetail Falls making it look like it’s on fire)

Reservations for Yosemite National Park are available starting on January 5, 2024, at recreation.gov. You’ll have the choice of a full day admission or an afternoon pass. Both are $2 (in addition to regular entrance fee) and valid for 3 days. Keep in mind there are 6 free days in 2024 at this park where an entrance fee is not required but you still need to make your reservations in advance.

Good News! You won’t need a reservation if you are staying at one of their park hotels, campgrounds or on an organized tour. Travel Hack: If you arrive on public transit you do NOT need an advanced reservation.

Scenic Drive Specific Reservations: 

Acadia National Park, Maine  

You don’t need a reservation to enter this park but you will need one if you want to drive the 3 mile scenic Cadillac Summit Road from the end of May to the end of October. 

You will need an advanced vehicle reservation if you plan to visit between: 

• May 22 - Sun Oct 27, 2024
• 30% of the tickets are available 90 days in advance, the other 70% are available 2 days ahead of entry

You will need to choose between a sunrise drive (90 minute window for entry) or a daytime drive (30 minute window for entry). You can book a sunrise drive once every 7 days or you can book a daytime drive each day. 

Reservations cost $6 and you will need to show the confirmation QR code when you arrive so make sure to download it ahead of time. You can switch dates for free if you need to. You can read more about these reservations on the NPS website. 

Like all other parks, make your reservations at recreation.gov and you’ll still need to show your park entrance pass as well.

Glacier National Park, Montana

You don’t need a reservation to enter this park but you do need one if you want to enjoy the scenic drives that the park is so well known for.

Reservations are required:

• May 24 - Sept 8 for Going-To-The-Sun Road & North Fork 

• July 1 - Sept 8th for the Many Glacier entrance used to access the Many Glacier Valley 

Here’s something cool: For all of the above locations you only need a reservation if you plan to enter between 6am -3pm. If you arrive before and after those times you don’t need a reservation!

Reservations open on Jan 25th at Recreation.gov 120 days in advance at 8am M.T. Additional reservations will be released at 7pm M.T. the day before beginning on May 23rd. 

Reservations are $2 and valid for 1 day and you’ll need the standard park pass additionally. Hiking or biking in? The reward for your hard work is you don’t need a reservation! More good news: If you have a lodging or camping reservation or if you are on a bus tour, boat ride, horseback ride or guided hike you won’t need a reservation! 

Haleakalā National Park, Hawai‘i

This is the place to catch the sunrise and if you don’t believe me just believe you better have a reservation in advance to watch the sun make its majestic, awakening journey here. 

Just when you thought these reservation requirements couldn’t get more whacky or get more mind bendingly specific, Haleakalā National Park comes along to save the day with a blissfully simply solution. Yah! 

• Every car that arrives from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. needs a reservation.

Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov 60 days in advance and are released at 7 a.m. Hawai‘i Time.

You can try your luck with last minute reservations too  - additional reservations will be released two days prior to each date of entry. No refunds will be given due to weather. 

Hiking Specific Reservations: 

Zion National Park, Utah - Angel’s Landing Hike

If you plan to hike the stunning Angel’s Landing you’ll need to book a reservation in advance and this reservation involves a lottery. There are a LOT of people who want to hike this trail! Side note: I hiked this around 2009 and it is a stunning and formidable hike. The hike up the landing is very doable and fun, however the summit is quite difficult, in fact I couldn’t complete it - at a certain point you have to traverse the path by holding onto chains and lifting yourself from chain to chain over a large rock face. I simply couldn’t do it - I’m a little short and moving from chain to chain required a little more reaching than I was comfortable with while looking down at what would be my impending death if I missed a chain. After attempting a couple times and being paralyzed with fear I turned back and hung out the chipmunks while waiting for my friends. Don’t let my experience dissuade you though - while I was there I saw kids (shorter than me) and people in dresses easily making their way past the part that was leaving me shaking in my hiking boots!  

If you plan to hike:

• March 1 - May 31: Lottery opens 1/1/24 at 8am M.T. and closes Jan 20th. Permits are issued 1/25/24
• June 1 - August 31: Lottery runs from 4/1//24 - 4/20/24 and permits are issues on 4/25/24
• Sept 1 - Nov 30: Lottery runs from 7/1/24 - 7/20/24 with permits issues on 7/25
• Dec 1 - Feb 28 2025: Lottery runs from 10/1/24 - 10/20/24 with permits issued on 10/25

Late to the party? Additional, limited permits will be made available 1 day prior to the hiking date.

Because this is a lottery you aren’t guaranteed a permit just for applying. Keep in mind that busy tourist periods such as weekends and holidays make it harder to get a permit. If going with a group my suggestion would be to pick a less popular time so that each person in the group has a chance at the permit. Also it’s worth remembering that some less popular days will have plenty of permits that aren’t used up so if your first date doesn’t work out try again! Visit recreation.gov to apply. 

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - Old Rag Mountain Area

The Old Rag Mountain Saddle has become saddled with visitors! Pardon the pun but in order to protect this mountain you know need an advanced ticket to enjoy it.

You'll need a day use ticket for: 

• Old Rag Mountain Saddle, Ridge or Ridge Access trails area  
• On any travel dates between March 1 - Nov 30

The roads and trails outside this area do not need a day use ticket so I encourage you to look at this map to see if you are going to an area that requires the additional ticket.  

Purchase your $1 day use tickets online at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Tickets are not sold at the Old Rag entrance station because there is no cell service so be sure to purchase ahead of time.  A total of 800 tickets are available each day with 400 being released 30 days in advance (starting at 10am) and then another 400 being released 5 days in advance. 

I'd be a liar if I said this new system didn't bum me out - but the good news is that most of parks don't require a reservation! As I've been to 7 of the 8 above parks it's both hard to imagine how busy they must be in peak travel season to warrant this, seeing as they are huge, outdoor spaces. But after being in Yellowstone briefly this August and getting yelled at very aggressively by an angry visitor for not getting out of my parking space fast enough and seeing scores of unhappy park employees I can see why: more visitors = long drive/wait times in the parks = busy trails = unhappy visitors, unhappy employees and unhappy animals.

I anticipate more parks in the future requiring this so here is a guide on how to snag those reservations and stay ahead of the curve this travel season. And I would book as early in advance as you can and remember that all these reservations are taking place on recreation.gov and come with a small fee (in addition to the park entrance fee). It is possible you could get a reservation the day before, if you're lucky, but remember in some of these wild spaces cell service is spotty and wifi is hard to come by making your chances slimmer. So do yourself a favor and plan ahead.

With Mother's Day right around the corner we thought it would be the perfect time to launch some brand new, beautiful scarves! Even though it's still a little chilly here in New England we've got some really pretty lightweight scarves perfect for the summer weather headed our way. 

We've added several more gorgeous scarves to choose from so no matter where you're going this spring we've got you covered. Plus, the super popular Thea scarf (airy and soft) is back in stock!

And don't forget to use THANKSMOM10 to take 10% off your order! 

Victoria Scarf - $51.99

Copenhagen - $56.99

Lorenzo - $49.99

Wellesley Bamboo - $71.99

Lisse Scarf - $56.99

Dream Catcher Scarf - $49.99

We're excited about the new collection and would love to hear which of our new travel scarves is your favorite. Let us know in the comments below. 

I stumbled upon the story of Bessie Coleman several years ago on the Stuff You Missed In History Class podcast and have been in awe of her story ever since. 

Bessie was not only a talented aviator, she was the first African American woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license. In the early 1900’s, American flight schools would not accept her application based on her race and gender, so Bessie learned French, moved to France and was accepted to one of the top aviation schools in the world. She earned her pilot's license a year before Amelia Earhart.

After returning to the U.S., Bessie became the first African American woman to make a public flight in America. Not only was she an excellent pilot, she also specialized in stunt flying and parachuting. She was extremely popular and made several exhibition flights in her lifetime, which she looked on as not just an opportunity to showcase her skills, but to encourage other African Americans to take to the skies as well. 

Quote from Bessie: "The sky is the only place there is no prejudice. Up there everyone is equal, everyone is free." 

Although cut short, she led a courageous and adventurous life and continued fighting for her dreams while surpassing roadblocks put her way. Her bravery and perseverance undoubtedly changed the course of aviation, not only in America but in the world. 

She created a life for herself that was boundless - she rubbed elbows with princes and entertainers, she accepted and then didn't show up for a movie role after learning the role would portray an African American stereotype, she refused to perform at a popular airshow unless there was an integrated entrance. She understood her popularity allowed her a platform to advance African American progress and she used her voice for that purpose without wavering. 

Her official website sums it up perfectly: "Her sights were bigger than yesterday or today. She wanted to influence tomorrow."

I strongly recommend listening to the SYMIHC podcast about Bessie Coleman to learn more about the life of this fascinating and inspiring woman. They do such an amazing job of bringing her story to life. 

After learning more about her, you'll be asking yourself - when's the movie coming out? 

Fun Fact: In Chicago, May 2nd is Bessie Coleman day. 

After eight years of producing what we believe is the world's best travel scarf, we've finally overtaken our arch-nemesis, the money belt, in a travel story about the safest ways to carry money.

And let me tell you, this isn't any old travel story, it's a feature on Better Homes and Gardens written by Mia Taylor, an award-winning travel journalist who writes for Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, and Parents.

She says: "Created specifically to help you travel safer—while looking fabulous in the process—the stylish travel scarves from Speakeasy come in a variety of colors and patterns and allow for stashing all your must-haves in a secret pocket."

All I I can say is watch out fanny pack, we're coming for you next!

Here are some screen grabs of the article coming out in the spring issue in Town & Country UK and if you want you can see more of my photos of the Maldives on our travel blog. 

And if you ever get the chance to go, I can't recommend Gili Lankanfushi enough - what a wonderful place for full relaxation in the most beautiful surroundings. 

Photos of Gili Lankanfushi Resort. 

We've partnered with Dollar Flight Club and Scrubba to give two winners a prize pack each worth $245. We're calling it the Vacation Travel Chest! Not only will it help you save money on your next flight (Hello Dollar Flight Club!), it is also going to supply you with two must-have travel accessories.

Enter here before March 31:

http://bit.ly/2HIGMx2

&

You could win...

Wash and Dry Kit and an Air Sleeve for Tablet/Laptop from Scrubba ($150 value)

Premium membership to Dollar Flight Club for 1 year ($40 value)

Speakeasy Scarf - Hutchinson Grey ($45 value)

Hurry! This giveaway ends on March 31st. The winners will be contacted via email on April 1st. Good luck!

(Bonus: Want more entries? Simply follow the prompts after entering the giveaway.)

Enter here before March 31: 

http://bit.ly/2HIGMx2

Etsy Makers @BowMarket 

1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143

Small Business Saturday - November 24th - 9am - 3pm (map) 

Shop small and shop local! Join the shops at Bow Market plus a team of local Etsy artists for Small Business Saturday and enjoy an awesome day of shopping, holiday festivities, delicious food, fun, and more!

Bow Market is a unique shopping and dining experience in the heart of Somerville's Union Square! For this one day only you'll find more than 50 local makers, artists and small businesses offering handmade artisan goods, locally-made products, art, home decor, and vintage. All year long, Bow Market is home to 15 micro-boutiques, 10 independent food shops, a wine bar, comedy studio, and Remnant Brewery. Etsy makers will be popping up from 9am-3pm. 

Bow Market Week Long Pop Up

SoWa Winter Festival

South Boston Holiday Market

Most markets are weather pending so if we are not attending that week we will put up a post on our FB page letting you know that day. Also feel free to check back here as we plan to add more markets in through the season!

SoWa Arts Market 

460 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA

Every Sunday May 6 - October 28, 10am - 4pm (map)

This is a market that has it all - a local makers Arts Market, a farmer's market and a food truck bazaar! All tucked in among vintage shops and art galleries. Oh they also have a beer barn in the old Boston power station. Plan to spend a day to see it all and visit us while you're there! We'll be in the arts market section. Admission is free and it's a family friendly event. 

Greenway Open Market

Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston, MA (map) 

Every Saturday May 5 - October 27 11am-6pm PLUS every 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. 

Another great local maker market in a very convenient location right outside Faneuil Hall and next to the National Park visitor center. Dozens of makers dot the street among one of the city's best views of downtown. 

NY Now

Javits Center, New York City, New York

Aug 12 - 15, 2018

This is not a maker or retail market but a wholesale market. If you are a business owner and would like to carry our scarves this is an additional spot we can be found. Hope to see you there! 

Sign up at womansday.hearstmobile.com/sweepstakes/35040 to enter to win of four Palermo secret pocket scarves.

Inspired by the beauty of the Sicilian coast, the Palermo is made of lightweight and airy 100% rayon fabric--perfect for spring and summer journeys.

We have a limited amount of this fabric available in our studio, so it's exciting to be able to offer you guys the chance to win your very own Palermo secret pocket scarf. Plus, by entering the sweepstakes, you'll get one free copy of Woman's Day magazine.

Summer in Sorrento - $49

Fox Family - $49 

Highlands - $55

Utrecht Blue - $49

We're excited about the new collection and would love to hear which of our new travel scarves is your favorite. Let us know in the comments below. 

. People message us from all over the world asking if our Speakeasy scarves are available in a shop near them, and exhibiting at NY Now moves us closer to making that happen.

NY Now runs from Feb. 3 to Feb. 7. If you're attending the market, we'll be at booth 8632, Ramona Enterprises in personal accessories. Stop by and say hi, we'd love to chat with you.


February Giveaway - Win a $20 gift card to Speakeasy Travel Supply*
 
We had some downtime after Christmas and I got to thinking about this wonderfully strange life we’ve carved out for ourselves. I’ve got to say I absolutely love making travel gear that helps others move a little more freely (and stylishly) from place to place. It’s your photos and travel tales that gets us through these pesky grey winter days.

We dig them so much that we're giving away a $20 Speakeasy Travel Supply gift card to one lucky reader. It's easy to enter and there are two ways to do it.

• Simply tag photos of yourself wearing your Speakeasy scarf with #speakeasytravel

-or-

• Email us your photos at speakeasytravelsupply@gmail.com.

We'll pick a winner at random on March 1, 2018. So please keep your awesome photos coming!
 
Here are a few of our recent favorites.

Destination: South Africa

Amanda S. wearing her Adventurous Kate Melbourne travel scarf while hiking between Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa! Inside her secure zippered pocket, she had an EpiPen, cellphone, and chapstick.

Destination: Vienna, Austria

Rachel E. enjoying the sights of Vienna with her Soda Springs Cobalt travel scarf. She said "My sister-in-law got it for me for Christmas and I’m obsessed. It’s been to Nice (France), Vienna (Austria) and now Tbilisi (Georgia). LOVE IT. "

Destination: Montenegro

Photographer Heather M. exploring Kotor, Montenegro with her colorful San Felipe travel scarf. You can follow her journey on Instagram here.

Happy Journeys!

Boston Winter is a five week long holiday market in city hall plaza in Boston. Open every day until 9pm so come on down and enjoy the skating rink, entertainment, wine and food festivities and get your holiday shopping done at the same time! Here's some photos of our chalet - we are right next to the stage and food chalets - very easy to find. See you there and don't forget to say hi to Santa! 

Monterey Bay - Lightweight Secret Pocket Travel Scarf

Belmont - Rayon Jersey Secret Pocket Travel Scarf

Aspen - Autumn Secret Pocket Travel Scarf

 With a travel scarf for everywhere, the only question now is where will you go this fall?  

Since then, Kate's traveled to 70 countries and her blog, Adventurous Kate.com, has become one of the world's top websites specializing in solo and independent female travel. And in June, she was named one of the world's 10 most influential travelers by Forbes. 

We love Kate's blog and follow along daily on her adventures at home in New York City and on the road via her Instagram at @adventurouskate.

This isn't our first adventure with Kate. We've actually had a few, including a lively night of wine tasting at an Italian agriturismo. But launching our first signature travel scarf collection with her is our coolest so far.

Beth and I are so excited about these scarves--they are not only beautiful and functional but Kate personally hand picked the fabrics herself!

The Adventurous Kate Melbourne Scarf is a perfect everyday scarf - soft, cool to the touch and the gorgeous color scheme literally goes with EVERYTHING.

While the Adventurous Kate Black/Neon scarf is in very limited quantity so if you like it - snag it fast! [SOLD OUT]

For the launch, Kate and photographer Dani Heinrich of Globetrotter Girls took to the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn with the first run of the Adventurous Kate Collection. We love how the photos came out. They captured the essence of the scarves perfectly.

Kate's a remarkable woman. Be sure to visit her website AdventurousKate.com to learn more about her and get some excellent tips for traveling the world. This girl is a legit globetrotter!

Traveling moms love our secret pocket scarves. They provide a stylish way to keep valuables safe, plus make it easy to go hands free on local adventures with kids and dogs.

To celebrate Mother's Day, we're offering a 15% online code. Just use THANKSMOM at checkout to receive the discount. (Not valid with any other discounts.) 

This weekend we'll be setting up shop at one of Boston's best markets. We'll be at the SOWA market on Sunday, May 7. So, if you're around the city this weekend, stop by and say hi.

All of our scarves are handmade in the USA by travelers for travelers and feature a secure, secret pocket with self-locking zippers. Soda Springs Brick Red is the Scarf of the Day for 5/6.  This gorgeous sweater knit is a the perfect way to add a classic yet modern flair to your look. Get yours today for $39.99, that's a savings of $15!

It’s strange to be excited about a fabric sourcing convention, but we are stoked. We’ve learned a lot about textiles in the last three years since launching our first scarf collection, so we’re thrilled at the prospect of having access to the best fabric suppliers in the world. 

Our goal has always been to expand our secret pocket scarf collection to include varying styles at different price points for whatever adventure awaits. As travelers we know firsthand the importance of having a safe and secure place to stash your valuables while out in the world, which is why we want to put one of our handmade travel scarves in the hands of as many travelers possible. And the first step towards completing that goal starts with this trip to Sin City. 

Want to follow along on our Las Vegas journey? We’ll be sharing highlights and new fabric ideas all week on Facebook and Instagram.

Black Hills

Jackson

Yellowstone

I apologize for being off the blogging radar lately - we've been CRAZY busy the last couple of months prepping for the holidays. 

One thing we decided to try out this year was fitting in as many markets as we can handle. We just started doing markets this spring and we were surprised at how much fun they were! It is AWESOME watching people discover our products and seeing their faces light up when they try on a scarf and slip items into the pocket only to watch them disappear. Since most of our business takes place online we rarely get to experience that and it is really rewarding. 

We've been upgrading our booth set up over the past month or so and it's coming along nicely. We have a vision for our booth to be adventurous and inspirational and it will have an Expedition Everest theme to it complete with faux stones walls, corrugated tin roof, mountaineering backpacks as storage for our goods, laterns & Himalayan prayer flags. If i have the room I will also set up a cot and travel writing desk so it feels you are at base camp at Everest! 

We'd love to meet you so if you happen to be in the Boston/Salem area please come on down to see us and try on some scarves! Plus you get to feel all the different fabrics and I've been stocking up big time on ultra soft, gorgeous prints! AND you get a locals only discount!

Additionally, our secret pocket scarves are now available at the Pioneer Valley AAA stores in Western, Massachusetts. AAA members can use their card to receive a discount on our scarves at the store.

Dates: 

Boston, MA - SOWA Market:

Oct 23 - Sunday 10am-4pm

Oct 30 - Sunday 10am-4pm

Salem, MA - Old Derby Square Market (Part of Haunted Happenings):

Oct 22 - Saturday 10am-4pm

Oct 28 - Friday 10am-4pm

Pop Up Boston - District Hall (Seaport District, free but advanced registry required)

Nov 29 - Tuesday 6pm-8pm

Boston - New England Open Market Holiday Festival

Dec 3 & 4 - Saturday/Sunday 10am-4pm

Boston - Bust Craftacular Holiday Market

December 17 & 18 - Saturday/Sunday 11am - 6pm

Salem - New England Open Market Holiday Festival

December 17 & 18 - Saturday/Sunday 11am - 6pm

Update: To celebrate our first year in Boston, we're throwing a good ole' fashion Summer Flash Sale. For the next 72 hours, we're offering 15% off of our entire store. (Discount cannot be used with our two and four pack bundles.) To take advantage of this special offer, use SUMMERFLASH at checkout.

Headed for some fun in the sun this summer? Our lightweight scarves make the perfect companion for all of your adventures.

Shop the summer collection now. 

Made from rayon jersey blends these cool to the touch scarves were all created to cool you down instead of warm you up.

Beautiful and soft - our summer scarves are perfect for days spent riding beach cruisers down the boardwalk, hiking in National Parks, watching the sun set on a Caribbean cruise or dining al fresco on a warm summer evening with friends. Besides fitting a phone and passport in the roomy pocket you can also stash your sunblock, sunglasses and any other little odds and ends you might need for your day out in the sun.

These scarves are also great for anyone going through hot flashes due to age or chemotherapy - simply pop a freezer ice pack in the pocket and position it at the back of your neck for a constant cooling feeling.

Remember, use SUMMERFLASH at checkout to receive 15% off your entire order for the next 72 hours.

This is actually an article I published originally on our travel website Beers & Beans but it's a great article with step by step tips on how to take fantastic firework photos so I wanted to share it here as well. 

So if you’re planning on watching the fireworks this year be sure to bring your camera!

Although shooting fireworks may seem complicated (burst of bright light in a pitch black environment) and intimidating, it really isn’t. In fact, it can be downright easy. And with some experimentation, you’ll be able to create some unique images that you will be dying to share with your friends & family! 

Of course I should also mention that our summer hidden pocket scarves are the perfect place to stash your camera accessories - lens caps, filters, batteries, memory cards and more! 

Above: Both photos were shot with an aperture of f/22 and at an ISO of 1250. The first photo has a shutter speed of 30 seconds, the second photo is 20 seconds.

Here are Speakeasy Travel Supply's simple tips for shooting fireworks:

The Basics

1. Pick A Great Vantage Point

This is an often overlooked tip but it makes a huge difference in the creation of your images. If you want to get some truly great shots, try scouting out the area before hand. They’ll likely be a crowd on the big night so keep that in mind when you pick your location and if you can choose an elevated spot it will give you a definite advantage. On the night of the fireworks, be sure to get there early to lock in your position.

2. Tripod Up or Find A Stable Surface

I’ll admit I like to shoot sans tripod whenever possible. I hate carrying around a tripod if I don’t have to, and I prefer handheld shooting whenever possible BUT shooting fireworks is one situation where a tripod is a must have. You’ll be shooting in the dark capturing beautiful streams of light – trying to do this while hand holding your camera is a recipe for blur. And I’m not talking about the good kind of blur. By using multi-second shutter speeds, you’ll ruin the firework light trails with camera shake so be sure to use a tripod. Don’t have a tripod? You’re not out of luck! This is a great way to get creative and use any stable surface you have available to you – lawn chair, cooler, large rock, fence post or even the roof of your car (make sure the car is not running). Look around and see what you can use, just remember it has to be a solid, non-moving surface that can support the weight of your camera. Keep in mind the crowd around you but remember that sometimes using a tripod alternative can yield an entirely new perspective for your shots and that’s a good thing.

3. The Self Timer Is Your BEST Friend.

Because you’ll be using a slow shutter speed to achieve beautiful light trails, you need to keep in mind that any little motion felt by the camera is going to be recorded and ruin your image. Even with the aid of a tripod or other stable surface you’ll need to help your camera along a little further to ensure complete stability. A lot of people don’t know this but when you push the button to release the shutter you are causing a tiny amount of camera shake. It’s so minute that you may not realize it at the time but your camera most certainly will. The result will be photos that are always slightly blurry. Not to worry! There is a simple solution to this: YOUR SELF TIMER. Simply set the self timer on your camera and press the shutter. The delay of a few seconds will ensure that the shake from pressing the button with your hands is long gone when the camera works it magic. Alternately, if you have a remote trigger you can use that, but the self timer is a free solution that already comes with your camera and will do the same thing. This little step is an important one so be sure to remember it when you head out for the evening.

4. Manual, Manual, Manual – Exposure & Focus!

When I wrote the Ebook, Getting Out Of Auto, I created it as a resource for photographers that wanted to learn how to shoot in manual mode instead of shooting on auto. Shooting Fireworks is a perfect real life example on how shooting in manual will help you achieve shots you that would be impossible to create if you were using the Auto setting. In addition to manual exposure, manual focus will help you focus correctly on your subject while in a dark situation without tearing your hair out.

Why use manual focus instead of auto focus? Digital cameras have a notoriously hard time focusing in dark situations and if set in auto focus the camera simply won’t take a photo if the lens can’t focus. Even the best cameras can struggle finding a point of focus when shooting in dark conditions and this struggle will cause a delay in shooting which ultimately will lead to you missing the shot and getting irritated. Instead of getting frustrated simply switch the auto focus feature to manual focus, look through the viewfinder while focusing with your lens and pick the  perfect point of focus for your shot. I sometimes prefer to manually focus in other situations as well because it is so simple and easy and it allows me shoot quickly without any camera focusing delays. Keep in mind that if you move your camera or want to focus on something else in the scene you will need to refocus for each shot because your camera won’t do it for you.

Why use manual exposure? Manual exposure is going to enable you to slow your shutter speed (create great light streams), fiddle with your ISO (keep noise in check) and use a greater depth of field (help achieve a sharp photo). See the points below for tips on manual settings that will help you photograph fireworks.

The Technical Details

Keep in mind that your shutter speed, aperture & ISO settings will be affected by the situation you are shooting in. If you are in an area that has a large firework budget and has several fireworks going off at the same time you will have more light to work with than someone else who is shooting a smaller firework display. Use these tips as starting suggestions and then play around with your settings until you find what works best for you.

6. Shutter Speed

Fireworks are some of the best subjects to shoot if you want to see how slowing down your shutter speed will create a different look in your image. I like abstract images and I think that fireworks look best when the shutter speed is slowed down enough so that it can record the trails of light as they fade away. You can play with the shutter speed to create different results and I recommend starting around 4 seconds and then going all the way to 30 seconds. Try out different settings and see which one you like best. If your camera has a B (Bulb) setting you can even try using that to capture several different sets of firework displays.

7. Aperture

Depending on your choice of shutter speed you will want to compensate for the exposure with your aperture. Love the look of the 4 second shutter speed but need more light? Be sure to open up the aperture on your lens to let more light into the camera. Remember ‘opening up’ means that you’ll need to choose a smaller aperture number on your lens – for example, f/5.6 is going to let in more light than f/16. The smaller the f-stop the larger the aperture (aka lens opening). However, there is one other thing to keep in mind when setting your aperture – your depth of field. A larger opening lets in more light however, it also creates a shallow depth of field. A shallow depth of field simply means that not everything in your scene will be sharp. It does not affect your focusing ability it simply affects the range of sharpness in the image from the foreground to the background. Depending on your shooting style this may or may not be that important to you but it’s worth noting and keeping in the back of your mind as you shoot. Because fireworks are large and spread out you’ll want a decent depth of field to keep them sharp. Try out aperture f/8 or f/11 as great all purpose settings to begin with. Start with one and either decrease or increase your aperture to balance the light coming into your lens and camera with the light coming through with your shutter.

8. ISO

ISO is the last setting on your camera that will help you control light but it also controls the noise in your photo as well so try to keep your ISO as low as possible. Start at around 400 ISO and then raise it (to get more light) or lower it depending on your needs. Keep in mind that a higher ISO generates more noise so try to keep it as low as you can.

Above: For a more in-depth look at how Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO & Depth of Field work be sure to check out my ebook, Getting Out Of Auto, which has clear, easy to understand descriptions of each setting.

The Extras

9. Turn Off Your Flash

If you are using your manual settings, then your flash shouldn’t automatically fire; however, if it does be sure you shut it off. The built in flash on your camera won’t do any good while trying to get a good shot of fireworks. The atmosphere is too dark and the fireworks are too large and far away to be illuminated by a flash. If you use the built in flash, all you’ll end up with is a bright white foreground and a very boring background.

10. Consider Your Composition

When setting up your shots remember to consider your composition. Be sure to pay attention to the horizon line and keep it in the top third or the bottom third of your frame instead of dead center. If possible include landscape or figural elements in your shot to add interest and to give a sense of place.

11. Experiment And Have Fun!

Photography is meant to be enjoyed so try not to get too caught up in the technical details and just have fun with it. Play with the settings on your camera until you achieve a look you like and then shoot away.

Photo taken at f/22, ISO 1000 and a 30 second shutter speed.

Feel free to print this article out or stash it on your phone then you can follow each step while out watching the fireworks and snag perfect photos of your night!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Our scarf was featured for "the free spirit who’s always ‘gramming travel photos" - so true!! 

Loving all these cute travel items - especially the cute little fox sleeping mask too! 

You can see the full article here: 

10 Dream Wish Lists For Every Personality Type

We are so excited about our new Summer in California collection!

Two-tone and totally awesome, this is our most vibrant collection yet. Inspired by our time living in California, we believe our handmade summer scarves are the perfect way to add a splash of color to your travels.

So come on down to Cali and join us for some fun in the sun this summer!

Just looking at these transports me right back to the California coast - carefree living and riding my bike along the beach. I can almost taste the burritos as I write this! 

Some of our inspiration - palm trees and back when we used to live on our 27' sailboat The Lucky Lady in the San Diego harbor. No matter where I live I will always be a California girl at heart!  

Got a traveling mom in your life? One of our new Speakeasy Travel Scarves will be sure to bring a smile to her face this weekend. We've added several new scarves to the shop (see below), which are all ready to ship for Mother's Day.

SHOP ALL OF OUR READY TO SHIP SCARVES.

Plus, as a special THANK YOU to mom's everywhere, we're offering 15% off our entire store for the next 24 hours! To get the discount, simply use code--THANKSMOM15--during check out.
 

LEXINGTON

ST. IVES

SAN FELIPE

Spring in Boston is erratic. Last week, temperatures were in the high 60s, this week the forecast calls for cold rain and snow. With this in mind, we’ve designed our 2016 Spring Collection to reflect the uncertainty of a New England spring, so that you’re covered no matter where your travels take you.

Lightweight

Mykonos

Belgrade

Odessa

 Medium Weight

Kingston

Rajasthan

Pueblo

Osaka

Heavyweights

St. Cloud

Tuilieres (Blue)

Which scarf is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.