Hello World! It is so exciting to be (finally) fulfilling one of my lifelong dreams by starting this travel blog – I did grow up in the Xanga era after all. And to be kicking it off with one of my most favorite recent travels makes it all the sweeter! A bit about me:

• I am 24 years old
• I live in Austin, Texas (howdy, y’all)
• I plan political & editorial events for a Texas-based media company and LOVE it
• I am a mommy to the cutest kitten in the entire world, my little Stevie Wonder
• And most importantly, I LOVE to travel (which is, of course, why we’re all here)

I was first bit by the travel bug when I was in college – I spontaneously decided to take a summer study abroad in Prague, and fell head over heels. I’ve been doing my best to not stay in one place for too long ever since, but it hasn’t always been easy. Thus far, my travels have taken me to 3 continents, the majority of countries in Europe and many U.S. states – meaning I’ve only just started!

Through this blog, I will share with you my secrets for how to how to have it all! Not really – that’s impossible, of course. But I have worked very hard to make traveling the priority in my life, and as a result, have been able to travel to many new places and spend a lot of time on the road on a very limited budget. So stay tuned! And make sure to follow my travels on Instagram at @jessicawtravels. 

Now on to Phoenix – I recently spent the Thanksgiving holiday visiting a college friend in Phoenix, Arizona. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the city, and I haven’t known many people to spend any significant time in Phoenix, but a new city is a new adventure (and a friend in the city = a free place to stay) so I hoped on a plane.

The city was absolutely STUNNING. From the moment I stepped out of the airport in the perfectly mild November weather, I was in love with the city’s desert vibes (and you know, actual desert-ness). The massive & abundant Saguaro cacti dotting the city made the most incredible scenery, and I was a bit obsessed.

DAY 1: I spend the afternoon on the gorgeous patio of the Lola Coffee Bar in Central Phoenix to wrap up a few work things, then my friend & headed into Scottsdale for an Arizona-inspired Mexican dinner. I was skeptical at first, since no one interprets Mexican food better than us Texans, but the brussels sprouts nachos at Diego Pops were to die for. Basically, Day 1 was all about the food.

DAY 2: Easily my most beautiful day spent in the Grand Canyon State. We spent Thanksgiving day on the road driving through first the desert, then the gorgeous mountains of northern Arizona. The views from the highway were absolutely breathtaking – rivaling my favorite of driving views in Southern California. We stopped at Page Springs Cellars for a traditional Thanksgiving feast of a cheese & charcuterie board and a flight of red wine. The expansive vineyards and soothing sound of the patio-side creek made for an amazing & relaxing picnic, and the perfect place to ignore the holiday of the day (one of my favorite hobbies).

We then drove into Sedona to watch the sunset among the stunning red rock walls surrounding the city. [I’m having a tough time coming up with creative ways to tell you how truly beautiful this place was, but it’s no joke. I walked around with my mouth agape for the entire trip.] We chose our spot at the Chapel of the Holy Cross – this amazing tiny chapel built into the hillside that offers sweeping views of the city and of the rainbow of colors created by the sunset. If I haven’t said it: BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.

DAY 3: lost dutchman state park

DAY 4: Desert Botanical Garden + Barrio Queen