Are Day Trips Worth It? What Happened On My Day Trip To Santa Barbara
Last year, I traveled a lot. There were moments when I was jetlagged and fatigued, but traveling benefited my spirit in a way nothing else in my life has.
I would attribute that to my love of learning more about the world around me. I haven't been out of Los Angeles since January, and I could feel myself needing to feed my inner adventurer. So, I traded in my usual Saturday ritual of couch surfing, ordering in, and binge-watching a series on Netflix for a day trip to Santa Barbara, CA. I'd even contemplated staying overnight, but the way hotel prices in Santa Barbara are set up, that would have been too much of a splurge.
I have historically not been a fan of day trips. They usually leave me feeling tired and rushed. But, most of the day trips I've taken were for work and were usually fours hours (or more) away —making my trek eight hours roundtrip. Since the train ride to the coastal town was just two hours (and I didn't have to navigate through LA traffic), I thought, Why not?
I bought my ticket on the Amtrak site two nights before and did my usual Sunday chores like laundry, grocery shopping, and wash day Friday evening after work because I knew that I'd want to make Sunday my "do nothing" day. The next morning, my alarm went off at 6:30 am. I rolled my eyes and hit snooze, thinking to myself, Why did I book an 8:21 am train ride? After hitting snooze more times than I can count, I got up, got dressed, and called my rideshare.
I boarded my train, and I was off on my day trip adventure. I even treated myself to a mimosa and cheese plate. My day was filled with trying local restaurants, chatting with the locals, wine tasting, and just taking in the beauty of Santa Barbara. Here are a few things I learned about making a day trip count:
Don't Go Too Far
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If you're traveling to a city for the day, consider how far you'll have to drive or ride to get there. My two-hour train ride was just enough. I was able to read, have a drink, and relax while taking in scenic views of the Pacific Coast. My new rule of thumb for day trips is that if you're in route longer than the time you're spending in the city, you might want to make it a weekend trip or choose a closer location.
Plan Ahead
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Day trips might seem like something to wake up and do, but without taking the time to think about the things you want to do once you get to your destination, you'll likely waste a portion of your day deciding what to see, eat, and do. TripAdvisor and Yelp can be great guides, but finding information put together by local bloggers or publications give you a chance to explore the city like a local and skip the tourist traps.
Turn Off Anything That Will Make You Want To Scroll
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Before I left my house on Saturday morning, I deleted my email and social media apps. I tend to mindlessly scroll when I have nothing to do, and two hours of scrolling on a trip that was meant to help me clear my mind seemed counterproductive. Instead of using my phone to keep me entertained, I brought a book. I know that we want to share our travels with our friends in real time or answer that work email really quick, but you'll only be away for a few hours. Stay in the moment and share your memories with your internet friends when you return home.
Do What You Enjoy
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I love visiting art museums and eating at local food spots, but I don't do enough of that in my free time, so I found a way to do all of those things in a seven-hour window without feeling rushed. I started my day at a Parisian cafe called Bree'osh with a bacon and egg brioche bun coupled with a dirty chai latte. I sat in the sun and ate while I read my book. I felt like I was on vacation even though I was just ninety-five miles away. My next stop was the Santa Barbara Museum of Art to see the Kehinde Wiley piece they were showcasing. Of course, I had to leave a little black girl magic there (see above).
Follow The Locals
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When you're trying to find things to do in a new city, it can be easy to get caught up visiting all the "hot spots" or touristy areas. No shade to those part of town, but my general rule of thumb is to spend no more than an hour channeling my inner tourist and spend the majority of the time going where the locals go.
Santa Barbara is known for its wine tasting rooms, so I knew I had to go to at least one. I found one that was a little off the beaten path that was connected to a cheese shop. I opted for the twenty-dollar wine tasting, and then went next door to C'est and made my version of a charcuterie board, which was very basic, but was just enough for me. Five pours of wine later, I was feeling it and needed food. There was a must-go-to taco stand on my list, but I decided to go with an option that is known as a local favorite called Lily's Tacos. The tacos were cheap, yummy, and just a few blocks away from the Amtrak station. Once I was done, it was time to head back to the station.
Lately, I've been feeling the need to "get away," to be honest, I've wanted to run away — which I know isn't a good thing. I thought maybe I'd run away to Italy for a month or go off the grid in Sedona, but I know that isn't a reason to travel because running away solves nothing. But, if I focus on being mindful and grateful while tapping into the cities around me, maybe that thought of running away will get quiet (which is what happened). We don't have to plan a big trip to get out of town nor do we have to spend a ton of money. My trip cost me $109, roundtrip Amtrak ticket included.
Next time you want to get out of your home city, think about the places nearby that might have something to offer whether that's nature, good food, or an opportunity to do something out of your comfort zone.
Traveling is good for the soul, and you don't have to go far to get the benefits.
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Bianca Lambert is a proud Atlanta native soaking up the Los Angeles sun. She is the founder of Mae B: a stationery company for women of color and a digital content creator on a mission to elevate the voices of women of color everywhere.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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While I was growing up, I didn’t take a lot of medicine; it simply wasn’t the type of household that I was raised in. Don’t get me wrong, if things got real crazy (like when I had chickenpox or strep throat), a round of antibiotics is exactly what I was given. However, if something could be handled in a more holistic fashion, that’s just what my mother preferred to do.
I’m pretty sure that’s a big part of the reason why one, my immune system is still going strong to this day, and two, I’m so “pro herbs” my damn self. It’s also why I like to write about the things that I’ve learned about them as often as I can. Today, what I want to tackle is some herbs that you may have never heard of that could be just what you’re looking for when it comes to achieving optimal health.
Now before diving in, I think it would be totally irresponsible of me if I didn’t advise that you only take this as an introduction to the following eight. What I mean by that is after checking out the list, please do some thorough research on your own, please pay attention to what articles may say potential side effects may be (some herbs are pretty damn powerful), and pretty please run these by your doctor before taking them (especially if you’re currently on any type of medication). At the same time, though, as an avid herb taker myself, I wouldn’t be singing the praises of them if I wasn’t such a fan of what herbs are able to do, in general.
So, are you ready to learn about some cool herbs that you (probably) don’t hear about every day? Let’s do this.
1. Aritha (Soapnut)
If you’ve ever been curious about what Ayurveda actually means, probably the easiest way to break it down is it’s a popular form of alternative medicine. One of its main philosophies is that most diseases are brought on either by stress or an imbalance in the system — and since things like asthma, diabetes, depression, obesity, and heart disease are all directly tied to stress…Ayurveda is certainly onto something.
What does this have to do with aritha (which also has the “nickname” soapnut)? It’s something that is used in Ayurveda when it comes to achieving, well, all sorts of things. Because it’s a solid source of vitamins A, E, and K, it can help to do everything from making migraines more bearable and bringing relief to asthma to reducing dandruff and taming frizzy hair. In fact, if healthy hair is your goal this year, mixing some soapnuts with some of your favorite hair products could be what makes it so much easier to get what you’re after.
2. Brahmi
Brahmi is a really interesting herb due to the things that it is able to accomplish. If you want to improve your memory, try Brahmi. Looking to get a better night’s sleep? Try Brahmi. Sick of feeling anxious and stressed out? Yep…you already know: try Brahmi. Apparently, because of its potent antioxidants and powerful anti-inflammatory properties, it can even help to improve your cognitive function and reduce ADHD symptoms. Like I oftentimes say: the more you know, the more you freakin’ know.
3. Epazote
From what I’ve read and researched about this particular herb, it’s used in a myriad of ways, from cooking to essential oils to teas (apparently, it tastes like a mixture of oregano, mint, and citrus…hmph). The reason why you might want to consider adding it to your health and wellness regimen is that it is high in fiber (which makes it great for treating constipation and bloating), it has a good amount of magnesium, potassium, and calcium in it and it can help to boost your immunity, strengthen your bones and help you to shed a few pounds. As a bonus, epazote is also good for helping to keep your blood pressure under control, too.
4. Gokshura
An herb that gets rave reviews in Chinese medicine is gokshura. Although the West is still catching up on learning about it (surprise, surprise…#totalsarcasm), men have used it to increase their testosterone while women have relied on it for menopause symptom-related relief (including irritability, hot flashes, low lubrication, and yes, a low libido too). Something else that makes this an herb worth noting is some studies have revealed that it helps strengthen ovarian health as well.
5. Mullein
If your respiratory health is what you’re trying to get under control, try mullein. Since it’s got solid anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, this is an herb that has a reputation for keeping your respiratory state in good condition. That’s why those who are looking for alternatives to medicine when it comes to coughing, bronchitis, asthma, and overall congestion sometimes rely on this herb. The way most people prefer to consume it is either in tea or powder form.
6. Rhodiola
Are you stressed out all of the time? Maybe you’re so overworked that you find yourself feeling drained and fatigued more than you would like. For both of these issues, something that brings some much-needed relief is rhodiola. Since the roots of this herb are adaptogens, and those help your body to handle stress more effectively, how could someone who doesn’t exactly watch the clock when it comes to work not have this in their possession? Plus, if working out is another way that you try to keep your stress levels under control, this is an herb that can help to improve your exercise performance, too.
7. Safed Musli
A rare herb from India that seems to be going through a bit of an international overharvesting crisis right now is safed musli which is also known as Chlorophytum borivilianum. Whether you’re looking to increase muscle mass, boost the testosterone levels in your partner, reduce stress, help to prevent hair loss, or naturally treat male infertility, safed musli is an herb whose name comes up in all of these topics as far as natural alternatives go. Impressive indeed.
8. Shatavari
Another name for Shatavari is Asparagus racemosus, and yes, it is a part of the asparagus crew. Its antioxidant properties help to fight off free radicals, its anti-inflammatory benefits are great at keeping your immune system in top shape; and if you’re looking for something that will slow down the signs of aging in your skin, Shatavari is good for that, too. Because I will always and forever be on the lookout for all-natural things that can make your sex life better than ever, that’s another reason to do your own additional research on this herb.
Word on the street is it’s so good at balancing your hormones that, not only can it give your libido a boost, it can also make PMS more bearable, it can make it easier to breastfeed and it can help with perimenopause and menopause-related symptoms. Yeah, Shatavari is that girl.
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There you have it: eight herbs that you might not have ever heard of that can do your body a world of good. Again, run them by your physician, get them from a reputable health company, and follow the directions as given. If you do all of that, you should be on your way to having some unusual herbs doing some awesome things in your life.
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