As final preparations are underway for a ten-day road trip, I wanted to share with you my favorite and best gluten free road trip snacks. They are loosely categorized as fruit, grain, protein, sweets, or some combination of the same.
Gluten free road trip snacks.
FRUIT
My favorite fresh fruit for travel is banana. I mean, come on y’all, a ripe banana in its own pretty yellow peel is just so dang happy-looking and cute. I find a banana to be delicious and almost impossible to resist. I can pat myself on the back for eating healthy, while gleefully giggling since a banana is so sweet and yummy.
Proteins are the most versatile group and can include meats, beans, and nuts. My go-to meat is Old Wisconsin turkey sausage sticks. https://www.oldwisconsin.com/snacks/snack-sticks/turkey Each pack normally contains from ten to twelve sticks and each one is about one-half ounce.
The best bean choice for me is edamame, and The Only Bean company based in Las Vegas https://theonlybean.com/ has crunchy roasted edamame that I dearly love.
Edamame…I say YAY !!
As far as nuts go, I like to take any small jar of peanut butter or peanut and honey spread because it is smooth. This can easily be put on cookies.
Sometimes I will grab several varieties of trail mix, take out the bits I don’t like, and create my own special blend. This usually includes stuff like chocolate, mango, raisins, and yogurt.
SWEETS
Sweets… yes, I’ve already mentioned items that may be sweet, but have saved my three best gluten free road trip snacks in the sweet category for last. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I love sweets!
Even though I am not Italian, I happen to enjoy the heck out of biscotti. There are many good brands of these wonderful gluten free biscuit cookies. Most include small slivers of almonds, and the ones I like add cranberry. They are awesome for dipping into my morning coffee.
Biscuit or cookie? BISCOTTI !!
The top choice for cookies goes to Mi-Del Swedish Style ginger snaps. https://midelcookies.com/category/products/gluten-free/ As a wordsmith, I admit that it is hard to put into words just how great they are or why I crave them so much. I mean, ginger and molasses, so so so awesome! In my opinion there is only one sweet treat in the universe that could be any better than that.
By now you are probably hungry for the best gluten free road trip snacks. And you are wondering what my absolute favorite could be, right? Here it is! Take some shredded and sweetened coconut, then cover it with decadently delicious dark chocolate. What you have there is a Mounds candy bar! https://www.hersheyland.com/mounds THIS is my all-time number one sweet treat.
OK, sure, when folks think about St. Patrick’s Day it brings to mind green shamrocks, green hats, or green beer! And of course… dear old Ireland. While ’tis true that I’d love to once again visit Ireland, sometimes I celebrate St. Paddy’s with a New Orleans flair.
Is that a French horse? Today it’s Irish, of course!
Not to worry, though, if you didn’t make it to Ireland this year, or… ever, you probably already know that you can celebrate the wearing of the green anywhere. (Another great place…in the South…would be Savannah, Georgia, where the parade lasts for hours.) Do you have a special place where you love to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Do they have great food, great music, or a great parade? Tell us about that in your comments.
Plenty of “what is that” while people pass by.
Today I am sharing with you a variety of adorable photos taken on St. Paddy’s Day around Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana. Think of it as putting a French Quarter twist or a Cajun accent on the beloved Irish celebration.
Kilt & bagpipe to celebrate the Gaelic heritage. Sweet fun in Jackson Square. How do you picture New Orleans?
My hope is that you will read this article out loud with your best Irish accent, then have a good laugh! THEN be a dear one to leave a Comment your favorite photo about St. Paddy’s with a New Orleans flair! That’s not really asking too much, is it? Now I wish you TOP O’ THE MORNING and MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH BE WITH YOU!
Travel to new destinations DOES build communication skills!
Maintain Meaningful Personal Connections
After leaving the 9-to-5 work world and becoming a wandering freelance travel writer, I have often questioned my own ability to maintain meaningful connections with other people. The thrill of a solo road trip and exploring unfamiliar places tickles my senses, but the desire to stay in good relations with other human beings tugs at my heart. Travel and connections, personal connections, there must be healthy ways to do both.
This is a situation that has created inner conflict and self-questioning in multitudes of deep-thinking individuals. Those of us who are over 50 and even over 60 look back fondly on large family holidays, weddings, annual family reunions, and even high school reunions. We tend to get sentimental and nostalgic, often wondering why we lost touch with relatives and other cherished folks who had once seemed so precious.
Personal connection implies a certainty of celebrating a kinship or friendship and knowing we value one another. In knowing we can talk, laugh, cry, and share intimate details of one another’s joy and pain, we look forward to seeing each other again.
Once Familiar Yet Now Strangers
You are probably a bit puzzled, thinking that this blog does not seem like my typical joyfully upbeat buzz on some fabulous recent travel experience. And you are exactly right.
I was at home doing research for my next big trip. Then came the phone call informing me that my cousin had died. The details were so sad and disturbing that they shook me to my core. I sobbed and agonized as the grief set in.
Let’s reconnect with friends & family…before the next funeral.
At the funeral, I gazed into faces of people who had once been familiar and important in my life. Sadly, now we are strangers. This is a painful truth that I deeply dislike…and wish to correct…before the next funeral.
Travel Helps in Several Ways
Here are the two points I’m attempting to make. I need to improve my ways of connecting with other humans. And I want to look at ways in which travel can be a positive part of that process. Travel and connections, I am choosing to reexamine and reframe my perspectives. As I offer the following tips, it is very much for others and for myself.
Fresh perspectives are often beautiful.
Be a Healthy Communicator
Active listening means staying present and engaged in a warm and respectful conversation. This is best when it includes asking questions, as well as showing encouragement and appreciation. This is a great skill to practice while enjoying travel.
Be Genuine and Kind
All people in every possible travel destination want to be seen, heard, and valued. Positive energy insists on no fakeness and no harsh judgements. This is complimentary and builds high regard and trust.
Trust, kindness, and confidence lead to great conversations.
Be Bold
Reconnecting with the best of intentions and motivations manifests the confidence to have great conversations. Once the momentum is achieved, it is time to ask for feedback, advice, help, and mutual support.
Be Focused on a Positive Future
Healthy connections include letting go of all past hurts and grudges. This is a wonderful fresh start that can lead to making exciting plans for the future.
Be Focused on Freedom and Well-being
Travel helps us communicate with better perspectives, empathy, and a regenerative mindset. That means we are more thoughtful toward new friends, old friends, and to the planet. We leave things, including relationships, better than we found them. Reconnecting to our own playful inner child allows us to have the freedom to love others. The result is often better mental and physical health and happiness.
Recently I asked a few of my favorite travel writers for advice on how to grow a travel blog or website. Here is the question which I asked; “What is your BEST advice for new bloggers on how to get more readers, and work toward blogging success?”
The little nuggets of wisdom which follow are from good people who are out there doing the hard work. They are kind enough to offer encouragement for those of us who are coming along behind them.They genuinely wish us well even while knowing that someday we may end up pitching the same story ideas.
Anna Cook
Anna Cook is an active adventurer from North Carolina, in https://www.stuckonthego.com/ she proves that travel is good for the soul. Her biggest piece of advice for new bloggers who want to grow their blog is to invest in an SEO course from the beginning.
“SEO takes time to work but it is the best way to drive consistent traffic to your website. For a long time, I thought I knew what I was doing when it came to SEO, but it wasn’t until I took a course on it that I found so many things I was doing incorrectly or could have been doing better.”
Apryl Chapman Thomas
Apryl Chapman Thomas is a feature writer at https://www.southernhospitalitymagazine.com/ who offers this down-to-earth thought, “I wish I had a formula, but all I can say is keep on plugging, creating a brand and building numbers and then reach out to potential advertisers.”
Bill Clevlen
Bill Clevlen shares positive stories at https://billontheroad.com/ in a most exciting and entertaining way.
He says, “Best advice? Be authentic and grateful. Don’t be afraid to admit when things don’t go as planned or afraid to show a less than perfect side of you.”
Chere Dastugue Coen
Chere Dastugue Coen has been there and done that on so many levels as an award-winning author, editor, travel and food writer. Her delightfully wacky and wild travel blog is https://www.weirdsouth.com/ and a must-read!
Her advice, “I would suggest building SEO so that readers will find you and make sure to use keywords for every story. Post links on social media but make it all conversational since social media is, well social. Bottom line, however, is always write the best blog posts and showcase both your talents and your passion. The readers will follow.”
Kathleen Walls
Kathleen Walls is the owner and publisher of AmericanRoadsandGlobalHighways which is best found here https://americanroads.net/ . She is also a prolific author and, like me, a proud Floridian. Here is just some of her sage advice.
“Getting new readers is persistence. I post on social media and join in several retweet and re-instagram posts we do on my favorite travel writer group. Part of the success factor lies in getting good press trips. I put together a media sheet with my stats, social media links, and several of my recent published stories. Yes, for your own blog to succeed, I strongly advise freelancing along with it. To get invited on press trips, be courteous, not demanding on trips. Always let the hosts and PR people know when you publish or a story you sold goes online that’s related to the trip.”
Kristi Valentini
Kristi Valentini helps folks make their travel adventure more fun and joyful and can be found at https://readymadetravelplans.com/ . Here are her thoughts and ideas.
“Showing up in search engines can really make a big difference in your traffic levels. Prioritize learning about SEO – it’s actually pretty simple – and then apply what you learn to your content. Also, if you have some bloggy friends, see if they want to form a group to help promote each other’s content. Each person in the group shares the other person’s latest blog post with their audience on social media or via email.”
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman of https://www.whereverimayroamblog.com/ is one of the sweetest and busiest travel writers I’ve ever met. Her thoughtful advice below is priceless.
“My advice is to really know HOW to blog starting out. What you put into an article is only part of knowing the correct sizing of pictures, spacing, keywords, link backs, etc. Even when I started 8 years ago, it was way more than just a good story. If Google and the rest don’t like you or you don’t hit their marks, success is doubtful. And lastly, be authentic. Don’t try to be someone or somebody you aren’t. There is an audience for you somewhere, just as you are.”
Roy Stevenson
Roy Stevenson at https://www.pitchtravelwrite.com/ is dedicated to writing great travel articles and helping others do the same. He and his wife, Linda Popovich, travel the world and offer fabulous workshops. I am thrilled to count them amount my writer friends.
Per Roy, “Make sure your content is unique & riveting to capture the reader’s attention. There is so much online competition these days, that your posts must be interesting. Use quality photographs with every blog post. Create a captivating headline & lead sentence to draw your readers in. Write print articles & place a link to your blog in your byline. Attract & create your audience. This means you must find people who would be interested in your blog. You won’t create an audience by just starting up a blog. Make sure you have a niche for your blog; general blogs won’t work anymore.”
Reading, Writing, and Research
Let me highly encourage you to read all of the great sites mentioned above. And, yes, also my own https://embracesouthernstates.com/ where I highlight the fabulous folks, food, and fun in the Southeastern USA.
Good travel writers become even better by reading the works of others. This is followed by tons of research, travel, and writing.
Please take a moment to leave a kind COMMENT. I wish you much success as you follow your own travel dreams, whatever they may be.
JOY is the theme! Which joyful 2022 photos do YOU like best? Which ones make you feel most joyful, and why? Your Comment would certainly be most welcomed and appreciated!
It is true…every picture does tell a story. As I looked back over hundreds of photos and tried to decide on just 12, these kept jumping out at me…jumping for joy! After you study each, then consider the (greatly condensed) story behind it…what are your gut reactions?
Does the photo alone cause you to feel joy, or does that come along after you know more of the details? What do you think of this style of simple photography with little or no extra processing? Have you been to any of these locations? How do you find examples of joy during your travels?
Embracing the Moment
The expression of complete joy on this man’s face is precious! Despite the February chill, he fully embraced the moment during a jazz festival in Bainbridge, Georgia. Watching him dance with so much enthusiasm warmed my heart and lifted my spirit several notches.
Food is a frequent topic of my articles and photos. While at that same jazz festival, I happily embraced the moment to enjoy barbecue and potato salad. Do you have a favorite BBQ story that makes you smile?
During a Florida art festival, I helped kids choose free art projects. This young man eagerly chose sidewalk chalk art. He tuned out the world and diligently created art, bringing joy to everyone. When he thanked me, I cried… and thanked God for talented youngsters.
Embracing Simple Pleasures
The early morning sun can make this simple tree bottle glimmer and gleam. Every time I visit Ocean Springs, Mississippi, I make a special point to go see it. I honestly can’t explain why an old ‘haint tree brings me so much pleasure. Can you?
Life is good! Two best friends (Angela & Nina) await hot coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, Louisiana. Have you and your best friend ever shared this simple and delicious pleasure? (Tell me in “Comments” below.)
Somewhere around Mobile, Alabama, I got off the main roads…on purpose. Murals seem to call out to me, waiting to be discovered and appreciated. They always (YES ALWAYS) bring me right back to that sense of childlike wonder! Do you love murals?
Maddie is my beautiful calico cat. I just love how the April morning light bounced around the room and highlighted her so perfectly. I strongly prefer these simple photos without extra processing… easy shots that evoke profound emotions.
Embracing a Destination’s Diversity
Charleston, South Carolina is an award-winning city… a kaleidoscope of colors and cultures. Areas of unexpected energy and excitement mix with others of serenity and charm. I marvel at how one place can be so beautiful…and so very eclectic!
Bright costumes like this one represent Caribbean heritage as the parade kicks off Charleston Carifest each June. The parade is followed by music, dancing, food, and fun. Don’t you think her joyful smile is just as lovely as her costume?
I was (very unexpectedly) invited to attend and photograph an LGBT Pride pool party. Rainbow cups, flags, swimsuits, and headbands were everywhere. Folks were friendly and conversant, but a few did avoid the camera. An eye-opening event on multiple levels!
Walking in the historic district brings to view stately homes with lush landscapes behind walls of wrought iron or stone. Charleston is called “the Holy City” because of the numerous church steeples usually present in the background.
Embracing Honeymoon Memories
On our October honeymoon, Tony and I loved exploring the historic Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia. This view from the 3rd floor veranda looks across to the circular tower where we occupied the Carter Presidential Suite! Dang, y’all, talk about SWEET !!
Art is joy, joy is art!!! Every art lover needs to visit Georgia’s “Pasaquan”, to be surrounded by acres of vibrant art. Every building, wall, stairway, and post is a one-of-a-kind delight. One man’s obsession has become a treasure for the world, in my artistic opinion!!
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Dang, y’all… there you have it. These 12 photos bring out the best memories of my 2022 travels. While they may not win awards for expert skills or techniques, they do give you a clear view of what I value in a photo.
How do you relate to this? What are you first reactions? YOUR KINDEST AND MOST SINCERE COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED !!! Ask me a question or leave a comment, I really do long to hear from you. Please remember that you can also join the conversation in the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/embracesouthernstates … THANK YOU and may we all take joyful photos in this joyful new year !!!
Did you know that there are beautiful and unexpected things which evoke joy and wonder in Central and South Georgia? This travel writer is a true Southerner and has lived in six southern states. So, when I recently married Tony, a man from New Jersey, I wanted to take him on a lovely honeymoon road trip to places he had never been and would never forget. Honeymoon joy and wonder in Georgia is possible, keep reading for details.
Windsor Hotel
This historic hotel opened in 1892, has won numerous awards for hospitality and preservation, and is on the National Historic Register. It has welcomed two American presidents, one Romanian president, numerous celebrities, musicians, and sports figures. Located in Americus, Georgia, it is a great hub for area exploration.
Georgia heart pine, Italian marble, and hand-carved golden oak combine to create a spectacular lobby. The breath-taking influences of Moorish, Islamic, and High Victorian in architecture and design are grand and luxurious.
Lovely evening view of lobby at Windsor Hotel in Americus.
Two of the suites are in a magnificent circular tower. We stayed in one of those wonderful circular rooms, the Carter Presidential Suite. And, yes, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn have stayed there. I mailed a sweet letter to the Carters a couple of weeks before the honeymoon…find out what happened at the end of this article!
Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant
After checking in, our first stop was the hotel’s own gorgeous restaurant. In fact, we were running late for our reservation! But the staff was terrific, and our table was excellent. My husband Tony (I will get accustomed to calling him that) enjoyed the grouper while I savored the salmon.
Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant
I am so drawn to fancy ambiance, and this one includes cream and plum-colored wall panels, red ceiling, perfect white tablecloths, and view of a stunning grand piano complete with a silver candelabra. The simplest things just excite me, like the way the flickering of the little golden candle made my water glass sparkle. There are not enough positive words to say about how much I loved the entire experience of Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant.
Plains & Other Small Towns
What can you expect to see as you leisurely drive all over this section of Central and South Georgia? We thoroughly enjoyed meandering through these six counties: Crisp, Dooly, Dougherty, Lee, Marion, and Sumter. This was at the end of October. The most beautiful sight was large fields of cotton. Some was ready for harvest, while some had just been baled. There were also lots of pecan trees.
Fields full of fluffy cotton ready for harvest. Plains, GA mural celebrates Pres. Jimmy Carter.
In Plains, home of former President Jimmy Carter, we took photos of murals and of the train depot. In towns like Buena Vista and Vienna we delighted in the beauty of the architecture and the nostalgia of those simple small-town vibes. Such sweet variety of honeymoon joy and wonder in Georgia.
Celebrating Art at Pasaquan
How do I even begin to explain or describe the Pasaquan experience? You need to know that Eddie Owens Martin (1908-1986) has been called a visionary, a dreamer, and an eccentric folk artist. He described himself as a creative man, a poet, and a fortune-teller. In a “vision” he saw futuristic beings who told him to build a sort of utopian Shangri-la to be called Pasaquan where he would be “Saint EOM”.
PASAQUAN is a must-see bucket list ART destination!!!
For many years he created concrete statues, mandalas, and various art forms which represented personhood, power, and world peace. Thanks to the Kohler Foundation, Columbus State University, and countless volunteers, Pasaquan has been preserved and is an internationally renowned art site. The current caretaker/tour guide is Charles Fowler. He does an outstanding job of enthusiastically sharing his appreciation for the artist and for this fantastic place. If you have not been, please add it to your bucket list. Any art lover would find a sense of joy and wonder at Pasaquan.
Guide Charles Fowler entertains with fascinating & funny stories.
Celebrating Nature at Radium Springs
In Albany, Georgia, one of the most enchanting places you could ever imagine is hiding in plain sight. Radium Springs is one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. This location has been a sacred ceremonial site for Indigenous people, and later a tourist attraction that included a grand casino.
Is this serenity & healing, or wonder & joy… or all that and more? Radium Springs photo op of me (Angela).
Today visitors can still enjoy a peaceful and pleasant walk while viewing the fabulous stonework, columns, and trees. While you can’t see the underwater caves, you can see fish swimming in the blue water of the cool springs. Radium Springs has long been known as a place with healing properties, and you just might encounter that same sense of healing and serenity during your visit.
Conclusion
My hope for this honeymoon road trip was that it would be relaxing, fun, and filled with unforgettable beauty, wonder, and joy. The entire trip was awesome beyond expected and we will always cherish those memories. The honeymoon road trip in Georgia was, indeed, filled with beauty, wonder, and joy… plus art, food, nature, and lots of love. Every new experience was just like another dollop of icing atop a yummy cupcake.
We were thrilled the following week to get a note from Jimmy Carter in the mail. That was so sweet and special, like sprinkles of joy on top of that same silly cupcake.
How to have a sweet wedding filled with joy, fun, and special memories. This is easier than you would imagine if you remember to keep it simple and let the core character of the wedding couple shine through.
Yes, I’m using my own very recent wedding as the example here. I am Angela, a travel writer who loves to focus on all things “Southern”. I grew up in Mississippi. Later I fell in love with Tony, the kindest man on earth, who happens to be from New Jersey! We now live in Florida.
Tony & Angela … kindness & joy !
Anyway, the theme of our wedding was “Share the Joy”, because that just made the most sense for us. Crafting sweet handmade decorations that also served as mementos for each guest added a quaint and charming individualized touch.
VENUE & OFFICIANT
Our idea of a sweet wedding meant something small, simple, and nearby. We kept the guest list to under twenty and decided to have it in our home. I asked a dear friend to be the officiant and was so thrilled that she said yes (thanks, Deb).
ATTIRE
For this comfortable celebration, we suggested everyone dress casually. The groom wore soft shades of golden brown with black sneakers. The bride wore a dark green dress with golden brown shrug and multicolored paisley sneakers. Everyone there felt relaxed and looked fabulous.
The bride & officiant show off FUN footwear!
CHOSEN FAMILY
A total of seventeen people were together as our chosen family, regardless of actual kinship. We addressed this in the ceremony, welcoming them as precious chosen family into our home to enhance and embrace our concept of loved ones and togetherness.
There were no traditional attendants…everyone in attendance was an integral part of the special event. Every single loved one jumped in with their own unique skill and ability to add a remarkable pizzazz of perfection to the day. Love, joy, and a deep sense of belonging filled the air (thanks everyone).
SPEAK NOW
Apparently, a legal wedding must include time for objections. We added that same “speak now” opportunity for positive words. This turned out to be one of the most touching and heart-warming features of the ceremony.
VOWS
Tony spoke his vows from the heart and mentioned ways that we bring out the best in each other. I used song titles and lyrics to emphasize my enthusiasm. Several guests took photos of my cute and clever vows for future inspiration.
Writing vows was … like a song!Cake… and rings.
LUNCH & LAUGHTER
Tables were rearranged after the ceremony, and we enjoyed a lovely lunch. Charcuterie items were meats, hard cheese, goat cheese, and breads. There was also chicken, potatoes, and green beans. Dessert included key lime pie, chocolate candies, and the wedding cake. It was chocolate on chocolate with white lace frosting around the sides. The words on top were “Tony & Angela Share the Joy”.
Folks drove from Indiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida and I am deeply thankful for every one of those cherished people (dang, y’all know who you are).
PLAYLIST
Using the songs I mentioned in my vows, a tech savvy guest came up with a post-wedding playlist and the perfect gadget for playing it (thanks Terry). Among those glorious golden oldies were favorites by Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, Sister Sledge, and ZZ Top.
CONCLUSION
To summarize, here are the lessons we learned on how to have a sweet wedding. First, make it your own. It can be as quirky or as traditional as you wish. Second, the only rule is that as long as legal parts are in place then there is no rule. Skip the parts you don’t like and add extras that you love. We chose to skip formal attire, florist, alcohol, dancing, and seating chart. We added homemade keepsakes, time for encouraging words, and a classic rock playlist.
It would be my honor and delight to tell you more… just ask! Soon I will be posting an article about (can you guess)… the honeymoon! While you’re thinking about that, please leave a sweet COMMENT so I will know that you care. THANKS SO MUCH.
