It's How I Travel | Authentic Travel Articles Stories

🛍️ Our shop has been updated with new items! Shop Now

TRAVEL
Wilmington, NC • Est. 2025

Explore& Grow

It's How I Travel™

Authentic travel articles and stories, no fluff. Just real firsthand experiences from two people who have visited all 50 states and counting.

50
U.S. States
10+
Countries & Growing
Stay In The Loop

Never Miss
a Story

New posts, travel insights, and behind-the-scenes updates sent straight to your inbox.

Checkboxes
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

The Latest

Our latest posts in all categories

Exploring Wilmington NC

Why Exploring Your Hometown Is Real Travel

I was raised in greater Boston and spent most of my adult life in New Hampshire before making the move to Wilmington, NC. Now when someone asks where I am from, I say Wilmington. Not because I am hiding my roots, but because it is where I feel at home, and I want to share it.
Travel has always been about learning and growing for me. I have visited all 50 US states, most of Canada, and several countries across Europe and Australia. There is more world to see, but right now I am pausing to take a deeper look at my new home.
Exploring your hometown, regardless of its size, can be just as meaningful and enlightening as traveling to the other side of the world. This post kicks off a series on Wilmington, the Port City, and what makes North Carolina worth slowing down for.

Read More »
I'm Back

I’m here, I’m here!

It’s been a busy spring at home, but travel is back on the agenda in a big way. We are heading to Washington D.C. and Baltimore for a quick baseball getaway before prepping for another trip to the other side of the planet. That’s right, we are heading back to Australia for the second time in six months, with a pit stop in Fiji thanks to a great deal with Fiji Airways. Beyond the upcoming trips, there is a lot of writing in the pipeline from past adventures, and the It’s How I Travel store is growing with a fresh focus on fun, eye-catching t-shirts. There is a lot more to come!

Read More »
Image of four MLB parks

The 5 Best MLB Parks for a Weekend Getaway (And the Cities That Make Them Worth It)

I love travel and I love baseball, and when those two things combine it makes for one of my favorite kinds of weekends. I have been to every city that hosts an MLB team and caught a game in over half of them. Not every great city has a great park, and not every great park sits in a city worth building a weekend around. This list is where both come together. From the iconic ivy walls of Wrigley Field in Chicago to the unmatched skyline views at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, these five ballparks earned their spots based on the full experience, the stadium, the neighborhood, and the city itself. Whether you are a die-hard baseball fan or just looking for a great excuse to explore somewhere new, these are the MLB parks worth planning a weekend around.

Read More »
Weekend In Saint Augustine Florida

A Weekend in Saint Augustine: The City, the History, and the Beach

Saint Augustine, Florida is somewhere we had always wanted to visit, and when the opportunity finally came, it did not disappoint. Founded in 1565, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States, and that history is felt everywhere you go.
We spent the weekend splitting our time between Saint Augustine Beach and the city itself. The beach is classic Florida, wide open and easy to enjoy. The city, on the other hand, feels like stepping into a completely different world, one that predates the United States entirely.
If you are looking for a destination that blends genuine history, great food, and a beach in one compact weekend trip, Saint Augustine belongs on your list.

Read More »
The Best Travel Accessories for Long Flights (What We Actually Pack)

The Best Travel Accessories for Long Flights (What We Actually Pack)

Headed on a long-haul flight? After logging thousands of miles, including a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Brisbane, Australia, we have learned that the right gear makes all the difference. In this post, we are sharing the best travel accessories for long flights, the ones we actually pack and rely on every single time we leave the ground. From the YETI Crossroads Backpack, which keeps everything organized and accessible without ever leaving the overhead bin, to the Apple AirPods Max, which blocks out every crying baby and dinner cart on the plane, every item on this list has been tested on real trips to real places. We also cover clothing tips, compression gear, tech essentials, and a few small items that most people overlook but will wonder how they ever traveled without. This is not a sponsored list. This is what we actually use.

Read More »
Cruise ship in stormy seas with a magnifying glass revealing the truth, illustrating the dark side of the cruise industry

The Dark Side of the Cruise Industry: What Passengers Are Never Told

Imagine sitting in a peaceful café by large French windows in Amsterdam, watching the city go by. It’s a busy day yet tranquil. A few moments later, the crowds walking past start to grow from hundreds to thousands. They are loud and talking amongst themselves and none of them come into the café. They line up at McDonald’s and pack into the chain restaurant across the way. Suddenly, as fast as they appeared, they are gone, all returning to the massive cruise ship docked at Amsterdam’s port.
Amsterdam is one of many cities actively pushing back against the cruise industry, and they are not alone. From exploited workers earning less than $2 an hour, to ships that produce more sulfur emissions than a billion cars, to port cities that see little of the money passengers spend, the true cost of cruising is much higher than advertised.

Read More »

Travel articles and stories that inspire thoughtful exploration and cultural respect. From local history to sustainable practices, discover how authentic experiences can transform the way you see the world and yourself.

Story Time

Adventures from around the world

Travel Smarter

Everything you need to plan better trips

Travel Help Desk

Your one-stop resource for contacting all major US airlines, rental car agencies, and hotel chains.

Get Help
💡

Destinations

Find travel stories and tips by destination. From cities to countries, explore the world one place at a time.

Explore Destinations
📚

All Blog Posts

Browse every story, guide, and review. From city breakdowns to personal reflections.

Explore Blog
Jay - It's How I Travel Jay - It's How I Travel

About the Journey

For me, travel is about learning. It's about gaining a deeper understanding of the world by opening your eyes wide, asking questions, and listening closely.

It's about trying new foods, sharing meals with strangers who become friends, and seeing humanity in every corner of the globe.

This blog shares stories from the road, practical tips, and honest reflections. The goal? To help you travel better, so you can learn through your own travel.

"It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it."

— Anthony Bourdain