Trip Well Gal https://www.tripwellgal.com/ Helping gals and their pals go easy, travel well! Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:29:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Table Topics: Becoming a Better Food Trip Traveler https://www.tripwellgal.com/becoming-a-better-food-trip-traveler/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/becoming-a-better-food-trip-traveler/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:45:27 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16687 Food Trip Plating from India to Alabama Shortly after I checked into my airport hotel, I headed out for a rendezvous in New Delhi. It was my first time in India and my travel buddy, an experienced traveler and San Diego foodie, had made reservations for dinner at the Spice Route, considered one of the […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/becoming-a-better-food-trip-traveler/feed/ 0 Find Inspiration in Art Outsiders Creations https://www.tripwellgal.com/get-inspired-art-outsiders/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/get-inspired-art-outsiders/#respond Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:37:52 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16671 Outside art, outsider art or art outsiders – all of them can inspire new ways to connect with the spaces we find ourselves in and the objects we live with. Have you ever stumbled upon a piece of art, something you didn’t expect, that shakes up your relationship to the place you stand in? As […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/get-inspired-art-outsiders/feed/ 0 When the Absence of Light Leads to a Full Heart https://www.tripwellgal.com/absence-of-light-full-heart/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/absence-of-light-full-heart/#respond Mon, 26 Jan 2026 03:46:19 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16652 I live in a dark house. The central rooms remain shadowy throughout the year, and that absence of light is surprising on the brightest Southern California days. My guy turns on multiple switches while I’m still getting dressed in the mornings. He leaves dimmers at full to read on his cell or iPad. The brightness […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/absence-of-light-full-heart/feed/ 0 Enter the Magical Land of Oz Across the United States https://www.tripwellgal.com/magical-land-of-oz-united-states/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/magical-land-of-oz-united-states/#respond Sun, 28 Dec 2025 22:35:25 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16637 With the giant success of the Wicked movies, another generation has discovered the magical land of Oz stories. I see the younger fans and families every time I visit an Oz-themed location, and there are many across the United States, which I share below. I confess to falling in love with the original books, where […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/magical-land-of-oz-united-states/feed/ 0 Travel and the Importance of Leading a Balanced Life https://www.tripwellgal.com/travel-and-the-importance-of-leading-a-balanced-life/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/travel-and-the-importance-of-leading-a-balanced-life/#respond Sat, 29 Nov 2025 21:44:59 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16610 Travel has been a priority for most of my life. It can be a luxury, a necessity for work, an opportunity for reunions, and more, but most importantly for me, traveling is how I feel most alive. To do that well, the importance of leading a balanced life becomes a priority. When traveling, my senses […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/travel-and-the-importance-of-leading-a-balanced-life/feed/ 0 Savoring Hispanic Heritage Month Art and Culinary Traditions Across San Diego https://www.tripwellgal.com/savoring-hispanic-heritage-month-art-and-culinary-traditions-across-san-diego/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/savoring-hispanic-heritage-month-art-and-culinary-traditions-across-san-diego/#respond Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:41:03 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16588 When you live on land that once was part of Mexico, long before the Conquistadores and pioneers arrived, it’s second nature to celebrate that culture. The reflections are everywhere. That’s part of why I love about living in San Diego. It’s reflected across Southern California, deepening our menus, emblazoned across our architecture, shops, and major […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/savoring-hispanic-heritage-month-art-and-culinary-traditions-across-san-diego/feed/ 0 Hurricane Katrina Encounters – Visiting the Lower 9th Ward https://www.tripwellgal.com/encountering-hurricane-katrina-lower-9th-ward/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/encountering-hurricane-katrina-lower-9th-ward/#comments Sun, 31 Aug 2025 22:12:18 +0000 http://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=9793 It was supposed to be a day of kayaking and bird-watching in New Orleans, but Mother Nature had another idea. Rains started at dusk the night before, and I woke early to learn that our tour, launching from the lip of the Bayou in the Lower 9th Ward, was cancelled for safety reasons. (This post […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/encountering-hurricane-katrina-lower-9th-ward/feed/ 24 World Parents Day and the Choices We Make https://www.tripwellgal.com/world-parents-day/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/world-parents-day/#respond Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:17:24 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16565 The marine layer was still thick along the San Diego coastline, as Eric and his kids packed their things in the car. They were determined to go kayaking. I pulled on a sweatshirt and wool socks to join them. The girls, intrepid late teens, wore shorts and T-shirts. Why did I expect them to bundle […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/world-parents-day/feed/ 0 Visiting Paris? Try These Overtourism Solutions https://www.tripwellgal.com/visiting-paris-try-these-overtourism-solutions/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/visiting-paris-try-these-overtourism-solutions/#respond Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:29:49 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16547 Are you planning a trip to Paris and concerned about crowds or being part of overtourism? It’s possible to travel smart in hugely popular destinations when you apply overtourism solutions. Read on to find some tactics and strategies to help you avoid becoming part of the problem. . Southern European destinations have long been bucket-list […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/visiting-paris-try-these-overtourism-solutions/feed/ 0 Tahiti on a Budget – Solo to Family, Basic to Luxe https://www.tripwellgal.com/tahiti-on-a-budget-solo-family-luxe-to-basic/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/tahiti-on-a-budget-solo-family-luxe-to-basic/#respond Tue, 20 May 2025 20:44:52 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16516 Have you ever dreamt of visiting the South Pacific? Soaking in the warm blue water, being lulled by tropical breezes in one of the most beautiful island archipelagos in the world? I knew that, given the chance to go, it would be a Tahiti on a budget trip. I bolted when a travel alert popped […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/tahiti-on-a-budget-solo-family-luxe-to-basic/feed/ 0 Unlocking Lost Memories of Virgin Mary of Guadalupe in a Museum and Connecting with the Iconic Image https://www.tripwellgal.com/iconic-image-virgin-mary-of-guadalupe/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/iconic-image-virgin-mary-of-guadalupe/#respond Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:24:58 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16494 I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of everyday objects, especially as displayed in the Mingei, where the galleries are filled with folk art, craft, and design. Set on the Prado in Balboa Park, the recently renovated museum rotates collections dedicated to the ‘Art of the People.’ So I was particularly inspired to explore the […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/iconic-image-virgin-mary-of-guadalupe/feed/ 0 The Tulsa Center Bob Dylan Fans Won’t Want to Miss https://www.tripwellgal.com/tulsa-center-bob-dylan-fans/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/tulsa-center-bob-dylan-fans/#respond Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:28:57 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16469 I confess – I wasn’t always a big Bob Dylan fan but that changed during a chance encounter at the Tulsa Center Bob Dylan selected for his archives. I was there after my sister and I drove across the country to research family roots in Oklahoma. Tulsa was also on the map for Greenwood, the […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/tulsa-center-bob-dylan-fans/feed/ 0 Fallbrook Wine Tasting at Montserate Vineyards https://www.tripwellgal.com/fallbrook-wine-tasting-montserate-vineyards/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/fallbrook-wine-tasting-montserate-vineyards/#respond Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:33:48 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16450 One of the sweet features of traveling around San Diego County is discovering hidden neighborhoods between canyons and ridges. Many streets twist and wind along with the terrain. The county is huge, so no matter how long I’ve lived here, there’s more to experience. One sunny winter afternoon, I joined friends for a Fallbrook wine […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/fallbrook-wine-tasting-montserate-vineyards/feed/ 0 How to Travel Smarter in the US Without a Car https://www.tripwellgal.com/travel-smarter-in-the-us-without-a-car/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/travel-smarter-in-the-us-without-a-car/#comments Fri, 24 Jan 2025 23:01:03 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16434 Driving in a foreign country for the first time always comes with challenges. Not knowing the language is the hardest. Not knowing local traffic laws doesn’t help. Is it legal to turn at a red light? How to navigate roundabouts, and speed limit uncertainties can make for an anxious ride. (As I wrote about in […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/travel-smarter-in-the-us-without-a-car/feed/ 8 Unraveling the Bollywood Effect – Tips for Visiting India https://www.tripwellgal.com/the-bollywood-effect-india-never-fails-to-surprise/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/the-bollywood-effect-india-never-fails-to-surprise/#respond Tue, 31 Dec 2024 22:11:25 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16407 I love looking out the window whenever a flight lands in a new destination. Excitement builds as I look towards a unique terminal, notice people on the tarmac, and the land beyond. “What is about to unfold?,” I wonder. The thrill of adventure can be a tantalizing lure and visiting India is not for the […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/the-bollywood-effect-india-never-fails-to-surprise/feed/ 0 Confessions on the Way Into the Heart of Thanksgiving https://www.tripwellgal.com/confessions-on-the-way-into-the-heart-of-thanksgiving/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/confessions-on-the-way-into-the-heart-of-thanksgiving/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:31:38 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16392 I’ve made some seriously uncomfortable social faux pas while trying to be helpful. There’s been way too many awkward conversations to count. I may think, “I know we hardly know each other but…” but then say, “Why don’t you join us for Thanksgiving?” I’ve tried to include people who otherwise might be alone for the […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/confessions-on-the-way-into-the-heart-of-thanksgiving/feed/ 0 How to Live Gratefully on Huahine Island in French Polynesia https://www.tripwellgal.com/live-gratefully-huahine-island-french-polynesia/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/live-gratefully-huahine-island-french-polynesia/#respond Sat, 23 Nov 2024 20:57:20 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16374 When you’ve written a travel blog for over a decade themes emerge and one of my favorites is writing about gratitude. As I learn to live gratefully and stay open, things have manifested in surprising ways. In 2011, I wrote about an unusual Thanksgiving day with a lobster dinner, finding wild mushrooms, and a beached […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/live-gratefully-huahine-island-french-polynesia/feed/ 0 An Eclectic Collection of the Best Books to Read While Traveling https://www.tripwellgal.com/an-eclectic-collection-of-the-best-books-to-read-while-traveling/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/an-eclectic-collection-of-the-best-books-to-read-while-traveling/#comments Tue, 01 Oct 2024 02:03:13 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16338 Books make fine travel companions no matter how you read them. I prefer paper copies. They give tired eyes a rest and there’s something satisfying about turning a page.  Most books can be slipped into a carry-on easily, although a used copy of The Tales of Gengi by Murasaki Shikibo came with me on my […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/an-eclectic-collection-of-the-best-books-to-read-while-traveling/feed/ 1 Wreck Revelations – Pensacola Diving and Lionfish Hunting https://www.tripwellgal.com/pensacola-diving-and-lionfish-hunting/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/pensacola-diving-and-lionfish-hunting/#comments Wed, 11 Sep 2024 21:56:35 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16320 As a scuba diver, Pensacola diving has always been a tantalizing idea. Warm, clear water, and unique underwater environments, without the agony of jet lag, sounded great but Pensacola diving still remained a distant idea – until recently. I spent the better part of a week in and out of the water.  Since returning, I’ve […]

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]]> https://www.tripwellgal.com/pensacola-diving-and-lionfish-hunting/feed/ 2 An American Samoa Travel Itinerary – Only US National Park South of the Equator https://www.tripwellgal.com/an-american-samoa-travel-itinerary-only-us-national-park-south-of-the-equator/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/an-american-samoa-travel-itinerary-only-us-national-park-south-of-the-equator/#comments Wed, 21 Aug 2024 03:11:14 +0000 https://www.tripwellgal.com/?p=16304 I’ve been traveling long enough to know that if I have a friend or family invitation in a remote place, it’s time to pack my bags. What to include in an American Samoa travel itinerary was a mystery until Meole invited us for his 80th birthday. We said, of course, and plans started to materialize. […]

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