Do you have someone on your shopping list who loves to travel or is always on the go? Or maybe you're just at a loss of what to buy that person who seems to have everything. Over the years I've acquired a list of go-to items which make traveling SO much easier and I'm excited to share them with you. Many of the items on this list I personally own and have used on my own trips - except for a few that ended up on my wish list this year!

From travel gear, to accessories, and even some go to travel OOTD I hope you find something on this list that will make the adventurer in your life very happy this holiday season. I'd also love to hear your suggestions for travel items you can't live without in the comments below.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Between the Blue Ridge Parkway, bustling craft beer scene, and beautiful fall colors, a trip to Asheville, North Carolina during October has been on my bucket list for quite some time. With some extra flight credits to use (thanks COVID-19) we decided to book a long weekend getaway to explore this amazing city. And I have to say this is one destination that, leading up to our trip, everyone I talked to had nothing but amazing things to say. 

We flew in on Friday evening (arrived around 5:30 p.m.) and flew out on Monday morning so it was a quick trip to try and pack in as much adventure, food and beer as possible. Below I'm sharing my full itinerary breakdown. You may also like these other Asheville posts: 

• Where to eat and drink in Asheville
• Best Blue Ridge Parkway stops

Often called the “Paris of the South,” Asheville is a melting pot of art and culture with a mouthwatering beer and a food scene. In fact, Asheville is only behind Portland, Maine, in terms of most breweries per capita. We recently visited for the first time in the fall and had a quick 48 hours to eat and drink as much as our stomachs could handle. The only downfall of our trip is it seems like everyone else has also discovered how amazing Asheville is. That paired with COVID-19 capacity limits made it extremely hard to get into breweries without long wait times. When planning your trip I recommend ordering online when possible, making reservations well in advance, or putting your name on the list early and then walking around to kill some time while you wait. With all that said, I'm sharing my top picks for places to chow down. 

The mountains are calling and I must go! There is just something so refreshing about that cool mountain area. Asheville, North Carolina has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time and my husband and I finally had a chance to visit this fall. One of the main reasons I wanted to go was to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway. This massive road weaves 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina with countless hikes, overlooks and amazing views the whole way. The parkway is also unique in that big trucks aren't allowed to drive it and the speed limit is 45 mph which allows you to really slow down and take in all the beauty around you. 

Northern Michigan keeps me coming back again and again no matter the season. But there is just something so magical about visiting during the fall as Mother Nature begins to paint the rolling landscape with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. "Up north" as we like to call it, is one of the first areas in Michigan to peak with color. While the exact time varies every year depending on a number of factors, the second or third weekend in October is typically the perfect time to plan a trip. This year I hit the road for the ultimate fall getaway with my mom in Charlevoix, Michigan. I had only ever passed through this quaint town or visited for the day so I was excited to have three full days to explore. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Visit Charlevoix. The itinerary was created by me based on personal research and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Labor Day weekend typically marks the unofficial end of summer, and my sister and I couldn't let the season pass without squeezing in one last girl's weekend getaway. We packed our bags and headed 4.5 hours south to French Lick, Indiana where we spent two nights at the beautiful French Lick Resort. It was my first time visiting and I had heard so many great things about the area, including the breathtaking history and architecture of the hotel itself. We were blessed with lots of sunshine and had two days packed full of adventure, with of course some time for a little pampering and relaxation.

Disclaimer: This trip was sponsored by Visit French Lick West Baden and French Lick Resort. As always, all thoughts and opinions about our stay are my own. 

Traverse City is known throughout the U.S. as the "Cherry Capital of the World" and for good reason. Michigan produces 75% of the country's tart cherries and the majority are grown on the city's 3.8 million tart cherry trees. Traverse City also hosts an annual Cherry Festival during the peak of the season in mid-July. We had plans to attend the festival for the first time this year and unfortunately it was cancelled due to COVID-19 but we will certainly be back in 2021. 

Every time I visit Traverse City I always love seeing the creative ways cherries are incorporated into everything from wine, beer, food, and ice cream. I've rounded up 9 of the best cherry products that are definitely worth trying on your next visit. 

I had honesty never heard of Hocking Hills State Park until a few months before we booked our trip. But a few Google searches later and I knew we had to check this Midwest gem off our travel bucket list. Located only 5 1/2 hours from Southwest Michigan, it made for the perfect anniversary road trip destination. It's also only about 50 minutes outside of Columbus so we decided to spend two days there before driving the rest of the way to Hocking Hills. Check out my foodie guide to Columbus, Ohio here - yum! 

Hocking Hills has 7 different hiking areas - all of which are relatively short and moderate making it easy to visit multiple stops in one day. We stayed for two nights and it seemed like the perfect amount of time to explore it all. Keep reading for all the details you'll need to know to plan your own trip and a breakdown of how we spent each of our days.

My husband and I recently spent two days in Columbus, Ohio for our wedding anniversary. This city was originally on my radar as just a fun place to explore on our way to Hocking Hills State Park. Little did I know what a foodie lover's dream the 15th largest city in the U.S. was. We only had a short amount of time here and were determined to try as many finger-licking dishes as we could get our hands on. Below are my favorite places to eat in Columbus, Ohio. 

It's important to note that restaurants may change their hours, in person dining availability, etc. due to COVID-19. Always be sure to check the restaurant's website for the latest information before you visit. 

As much as I love to travel and explore new destinations, I also have those select few places that keep me coming back again and again. Northern Michigan is definitely one of those and is a beautiful area to explore no matter the season. We love Traverse City, Michigan for so many reasons and make it a goal to visit at least once every summer. Since we'd been there multiple times before, the focus of this trip was to discover new restaurants and wineries which made it seem like it was our first time visiting all over again. 

You can discover my other Traverse City guides here: 

• Pet Friendly Guide to Traverse City
• Wandering Through Northern Michigan
• 5 Best Hikes at Sleeping Bear Dunes

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