Travel | Lex and Learn

The Travel Itch

April 12, 2012 By Alexis Anderson 1 Comment

I have a major travel itch, but things just aren’t falling in line to scratch it. We do have a few weekend trips planned here and there for friends’ weddings and the like, but spider webs are forming on my passport and I am craving true international travel. It has been FAR too long.

2012 doesn’t seem promising, given the house (not complaining in the least, it is just a fact) and Mike’s new job (also, definitely not a complaint. I am 200% giddy for him).

So I’ve set my sights, goals and financial planning on early 2013. I want to go somewhere warm when it is cold here. I like to dream big, tossing out Africa to Mike the other day while driving, but am content to stick closer to home given budgets and vacation time. I would love to go to Argentina, or finally make our Peru dreams a reality. New Zealand? Don’t mind if I do.

I don’t need fancy hotels or five star restaurants. As long as we’re on reputable airlines, I am ready to survive with a backpack, supermarket snacks and local fare, and basic hotels/upscale hostels. I will not let my love of Four Seasons poolside cocktails stand in the way of what we can make happen!

Until we have a firmer grasp on 2013 time off and finances, I am content to fill my Pinterest “If I Had a Plane” board with jet setting inspiration like the eye candy below.

What stamp is your passport screaming for on its empty pages?

Argentina…

Source: google.com via April on Pinterest

Africa…

Source: nashua.edu via Edna on Pinterest

Down Under…

Source: sydney-australia.biz via Megan on Pinterest

Brazil…

Source: pbase.com via Julie on Pinterest

Filed Under: Reflection, Travel

Austin Detox

March 14, 2012 By Alexis Anderson 1 Comment

I just returned home from six nights/five days in Austin for South by Southwest Interactive. My mind is spinning from all the amazing sessions and my body is screaming from the fried foods, delicious cocktails and lack of exercise. I need a SXSWi detox diet, stat.

When I wasn’t geeking out about Facebook and Pinterest, learning about the latest trends for creating actionable social media content, debating social media as a human right or watching Anthony Bourdain’s crew discuss how they push network limits on social mediums, we were….

Eating gourmet street fare from The Peached Tortilla…

Noshing on fully loaded veggie sausages at Franks…

Sipping famous Austin cocktails at the historic Driskill Hotel…

Running into 1990′s movie “stars” like Matthew Lillard…

And rocking out on the floor at Austin City Limits Live to a FREE Jay-Z concert…

The Jay-Z experience was clearly the personal highlight of the trip. In a nutshell, you had to sync your AMEX to the new Twitter program the company is running, have a 2012 badge to SXSWi, and be a crazy person to wake up at 4:30am and stand outside in the freezing rain for tickets. The doors for tickets opened at 7am and within moments my colleague Jim and I each had two floor tickets to the show on Monday night. We took our two friends/clients from Qdoba Mexican Grill and the rest is history. Jay-Z is AMAZING live. Amazing. That’s the only way to describe it.

Austin has been on my travel wish list for awhile so I cannot believe how fortunate I was to mix pleasure with very interesting social media business. I made so many wonderful memories and am already plotting how to get back there for more music, food and adult beverages soon. It’s a one-of-a-kind city.

I am however, beyond happy to be home with Mike, Kona, fruits, veggies and gym access. I’ve eaten about three oranges today alone.

Thanks for sticking with me going off the radar for a few days!

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Austin, South by Southwest, SXSWi, travel

We’ll Be Back!

January 27, 2012 By Alexis Anderson Leave a Comment

Mike and I are off for a 27 hour stint in Las Vegas. Hopefully we win big! If not, I’ll be back.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Las Vegas, vacation

Santa Barbara Beauty

October 4, 2011 By Alexis Anderson 1 Comment

This past weekend Mike and I had the pleasure of celebrating the marriage of one of my best friends. Jenn and Austin are a fun-loving couple whose adoration for one another is truly genuine and such a blessing to be around. Jenn was a gorgeous bride and I can’t wait to see the professional pictures.

While I was attending to my bridesmaid duties the day of the wedding (you know, the hair, makeup and mimosa routine) Mike had time to wander Montecito and soak up the California sunshine. The weather was so perfect the entire weekend that I had a hard time remembering it was fall elsewhere.

I hope you enjoy these great shots Mike got with our new Canon T3i.

What a treat to come back to Colorado in October with a real California tan.

I hope that one day we’ll be fortunate enough to be able to treat ourselves to a romantic weekend at the Four Seasons Biltmore — which is where the wedding was held. It is a magical property and in my opinion, worth every penny if you have time to enjoy the grounds and beautiful surroundings at the Coral Casino club, beach, Sunday brunch, etc. We stayed just up the road at The Montecito Inn, which is very charming…but this girl needs one Four Seasons stay in her life. Hint, hint, wink, wink.

Where is a splurge-worthy vacation spot you are dying to visit?

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Montecito, Santa Barbara, travel, weddings

Vacation Stalking

September 20, 2011 By Alexis Anderson 1 Comment

Fall is knocking on Colorado’s door, which means winter is just a few blocks away. I’m actually looking forward to it all, but after my first full Colorado winter last year I know that by March I’ll be craving some sunshine and tank tops.

Which is why after boots, coats and sweaters, my evening online “stalking” of things I want has begun to include beachfront vacations for Mike and me this winter (within reasonable flying distance). If I win the lotto this fall, here are a few places we could go on our winnings: