travel – Page 3 – The Sol Compass

Providence

Hey guys! Welcome back. Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite things in Providence, Rhode Island. I had been going to Providence my whole childhood (let’s just say my mother gave the Roger Williams Park Zoo more than her fair share of dollars over the years ;)). but it’s always so refreshing to go back to a place you loved as a child as an adult. From reminiscing about my days of running carefree in Roger Williams Park, to finding a newfound dorky adult appreciation to the architecture and history, New England cities always know just how to tug on my heartstrings.

Where to stay: The Dean Hotel. This charming hotel had me from the moment I saw its marquee sign. Then they added a coffee shop in lieu of a traditional lobby and a charming red elevator complete with a mini chandelier for good measure. Add in all the quirk and character you could imagine and a prime downtown location, and there really is no comparable option for something unique during your Providence stay.

Where to eat: The Salted Slate. We went here for brunch and it was absolutely perfect. From the cheddar & chive biscuits and warm donuts to the homemade granola; everything we ate was a somehow fresh take on breakfast classics. The Salted Slate also crushed it by featuring pretty much all of my favorite interior design aspects (plants, long wooden shelves, lots of natural light, and an exposed brick wall) in just one restaurant.

Milk Money. Milk Money was our second brunch choice for the weekend, and you can bet that pretty much anywhere that has challah french toast and cheddar grits on the menu will be a home run in my book. And if not, there’s always a quinoa bowl for when I entertain the idea of healthy eating! Interior design aspects captured my heart again, with more exposed brick and long wooden benches, combined with artful culinary displays on gorgeous wooden cutting boards and a basket of beignets!

Los Andes. Recommended by a friend for our last visit, Los Andes definitely did not disappoint. It’s Peruvian and Bolivian cuisine in a low-key environment with five star service. The prices and atmosphere may be affordable, but the staff goes above and beyond to give you an enjoyable dining experience. They have really cool dishes with great flavor, but make sure to make a reservation as they are seemingly always busy!

Also check out: Capriccio, Fellini, Al Forno, Massimo.

What to do: WaterFire. Providence’s signature event has created quite the name for itself in recent years. The best way I can describe WaterFire is nearly 100 fires burning in the middle of the river, accompanied with Epcot-approved music and lots of street vendors. It was a perfect activity for a slightly chilly fall evening but I imagine it would be just as breathtaking during the summer. It’s a truly amazing experience, only enhanced by the fact that it is free.

Roger Williams Park + Zoo. The Roger Williams Park can aptly be described as ‘elaborate’. Well over 400 acres, the park contains everything from lakes and a boathouse to a carousel and zoo. The landscaping is divine throughout the entire park and the zoo is sure to delight kids of all ages. One of my favorite features as the aforementioned nerdy adult is the botanical center, but others may delight in the casino or planetarium!

Walking and Exploring. One of the best ways to experience any city in my book is just to get out and explore it by foot. Appreciating the architecture and people of a city can be more telling than spending your days in and out of one museum and the next. In Providence it’s pretty hard to walk around the city and not find different buildings and historical sites and learn something while you’re there! Check out some popular ways to walk and tour the city!

Thanks for stopping by! See you all tomorrow!

xo, C

Fall in Providence

Happy Monday y’all! I hope your week is off to a good start so far. Today I’m sharing a few pics I snapped in Providence over the weekend. This blazer from Zara is one of my all time favorites. It’s about five years old and it comes back year after year when the leaves start to fall, because the only more quintessential New-England-in-fall style than tweed just might be elbow patches.

Make sure you guys stop by again tomorrow-I’ll be sharing my favorite things to do in Providence for a special Tuesday post!

Outfit Details – Blazer: Zara (last seen here) (similar here) | Sweater: Who What Wear (last seen here, here, and here) | Jeans: Lucky Brand | Booties: Sam Edelman | Purse: Vera Bradley (now on sale!)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

xo, C

Red and White

I honestly feel like red and white just simply doesn’t get enough play as a color combination. I wore this exact same color combination in this exact same spot on my annual Coastal Maine expedition last year in this post and didn’t even realize it (Lizzie McGuire, you are an outfit repeater!) That outfit is actually one of my all time favorites (as I explained in the post). But I guess the ocean just feels like red and white to me, reminiscent of these lighthouses and old sails. For the second time in Maine this year, I broke out some reliable J.Crew Factory shorts. They really are the perfect vacation staple and I just cannot recommend them enough. I don’t know about you all, but I am always on the lookout for perfect white tops with intricate details and so I was beyond excited when I found this one. It goes with literally everything, but adds a bit more dimension than a traditional white cotton tee.

Thanks so much for reading! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Portland

Hey guys! Today I’m sharing a look I wore last week for an evening in Portland. I love the charm of the cobblestone streets and brick buildings in Old Port, combined with the easy access this city has to an abundance of outdoor activities. I’m also going to share a short list of places I think you absolutely have to hit up while in Portland. There is certainly no shortage of food, brews, and culture in this New England gem. There’s even a killer popcorn shop that has an unreal number of flavors that you never thought would taste so good on popcorn.

Morning Fuel: Bard Coffee, Standard Baking Co., Bayside American Cafe

Lunch: Flatbread Company, Scales

Dinner: Duckfat, Grace, Zapoteca

Activities: Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park, Portland Museum of Art, Portland Sea Dogs, Peak’s Island, Windjammer Sails

Nightlife: Bramhall, Rhum, Port City Music Hall

Outfit Details – Chambray: J.Crew Factory (old, new version here) (last seen here) | Skirt: J.Crew (sold out, similar here and here) (last seen here and here) | Sandals: Steve Madden (old, also love these, these, and these) | Purse: Vera Bradley | Earrings: Banana Republic (old, similar here and here) | Necklace: Nadri (old, similar here and here) | Nail Polish: OPI ‘Got Myself Into A Jam-Balaya’ | Nail Polish (toes): OPI ‘Purple Palazzo Pants’ | Lipstick: Naked Vice ‘Native’ | Lip gloss: Urban Decay Naked ‘Liar’

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Hump Day!
xo, C

DC Food

Quick recap: my dad and I went to DC about a month ago for the Cherry Blossom festival and a quick whirlwind history lesson. Our unofficial family motto is “food over fellowship” so needless to say we weren’t popping into a chain restaurant whenever we could find one. Sometimes this results in a lot of hanger as we try to find the right place, but it is almost always worth it to experience something we don’t have at home.

One thing I have heard my dad say on vacations time and time again is “there is nothing near *insert tourist destination here* that resembles a restaurant!” While we were in D.C. this statement was proving to be true. It was mid-afternoon at the National Mall and we were both well past hungry, fearing we would be reduced to eating at the Boston Market inside the Air & Space Museum, when I noticed a sign outside the National Museum of the American Indian advertising native cuisine. We had prioritized other museums, so we may not have even gone inside to uncover this little gem had the sign not been there! The cafe, Mitsitam, was totally worth it, and may have been the best museum food I have ever eaten. If you’re spending a day popping in and out of museums, there really is no other logical food option in the National Mall without venturing out towards Penn Quarter. We went late afternoon, so there were hardly any other patrons there, and the staff was unbelievably friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the cuisine and the flavors of each region. The owners actually went to reservations to do research for the authenticity of the menu! It’s definitely more expensive than some other cafeteria options may be, but when you aren’t paying for museums it’s hard to complain too much, especially when the flavors are so worth it. I had buffalo chili cheese fries (because I am a child) and fry bread with prickly pear agua fresca, while my dad had the five region sampler (sold by the salmon) and said the octopus salad and tres leches were his favorites. A lot of the food are options you just can’t find up near us, so if that’s the case for you (even if it isn’t) I’d say this is a can’t miss based on location alone.

If you go to DC, there is no reason to not go to Farmers Fishers Bakers. None at all. It has everything Papa Hum loves (fresh seasonal ingredients farm to table style, house-made bread) combined with everything I love (environmentally friendly and sustainable, rustic chic interior design with intimate table settings). Every employee we encountered was knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about the restaurant. The location was prime-right on the Washington Harbour in Georgetown, just a quick walk away from the shops of M Street. We ordered the pretzels and kettle corn for appetizers. The pretzels were pretty good, but the kettle corn was absolutely out of this world. I’ve thought about driving down to DC just for that kettle corn about 19 times since I got back. It’s homemade, and you can actually walk over to the kitchen to watch it being made in the whirley pot, and it’s delivered to your table hot and fresh. So good. Seriously my mouth is watering as I write this. For my meal I ordered the roasted vegetable, avocado, and brie sandwich on homemade apple walnut raisin bread, and it was way more delicious than any sandwich has a right to be. By the time the two of us crushed that pot of kettle corn we were way too full for dessert, but the table next to us certainly seemed to be enjoying theirs! The only thing is the secret is definitely out, and you can definitely anticipate quite a long wait without reservations, so definitely plan ahead!

When I’m traveling, I find myself most often snacking on small meals and grab and go style items during the day, and just fueling up on hotel breakfasts and big dinners, because there is always just so much I want to do I wind up constantly moving from one sight to the next. Luckily I found two local places that were perfect for this: Wicked Waffle and GCDC! As someone who has multiple celiac family members, it’s important to note that both of them have gluten free options!

Wicked Waffle is a tiny little place you cannot expect to snag a seat at (although luckily we did grab one of the few outdoor tables thanks to good timing). The waffles are not at all like the waffles you have at the hotel buffet (oof). They are light and crispy, made without butter or syrup, and the perfect sweet tooth craving. I got the strawberry and nutella, my dad got the roasted fuji apples and cinnamon waffle; both were extraordinary. The best part was definitely eating a waffle without that feeling of having a brick in your stomach afterwards!

Shameless snapchat picture from the trip. Follow along @chummer17!

GCDC, or Grilled Cheese DC, is an upscale grilled cheese bar in the shadow of the White House. All the ingredients are fresh and local, and who doesn’t love grilled cheese?! I made my own creation (jalapeños, avocados, pepper jack, and the gcdc sauce on sourdough) and my dad got the mediterranean (feta, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and artichoke hearts on olive bread). They also have cocktails, wine, and beer available after 4pm, and an evening menu which looks absolutely out of this world-I wish we had the chance to try it!

There were a few other places we ate at while we were there, but they weren’t anything special or noteworthy. Other places I had wanted to try but never got to included District Taco and Olivia Macaron.

What are your strategies for dining on vacation? Sound off in the comment section! Thanks for reading!

xo, C

Carry On Travel

Good Morning and Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I spent a good portion of mine packing (or pretending to pack, or avoiding packing), which made me think today would be the perfect time to share some of my travel and packing tips that I’ve tested over the years! I like to think that after traveling to Europe and California I’ve managed to learn what the difference between being ‘prepared’ and ‘neurotic’ is, because while everywhere has stores, no one really wants to spend valuable vacay time running to find the nearest GAP/Sephora/Target/etc because they forgot something (this from the girl who spent an evening in Paris looking for dental floss and has gone into the Sephora in Times Square three years in a row because she forgot to bring mascara to the IFE).

I have never seen the allure of traveling for a week with only a carry on, and I never really stress myself out trying to make it happen when I probably have a million better things to worry about. I don’t mind the wait in baggage claim, fighting for overhead storage makes me anxious, and I would much rather be able to stretch my legs with a walk around the terminal before sitting on a plane for eight hours without dragging all of my belongings along with me. It’s possible that my family and I are the only people in the world who feel this way, because pretty much every blog/magazine/tweet I’ve ever read about travel advises the carry on way, so to each their own.

That being said, I am kind of a master at overnight and weekend travel, and I do only use a carry on size bag for those trips. With Massachusetts being in such close proximity to all different kinds of destinations and friends who live all over the place, I can pack for an overnight or weekend trip in a breeze thanks to my grab and go bags and a tried and true formula for efficient packing.

For starters: this bag. This bag is the best purchase I have ever made. I get compliments on it everywhere I go by pretty much every type of person/traveler. Whether its a trip to Maine or a weekend in New York City, this bag is perfect and stylish and finishes off the ‘I’m a seasoned traveler’ look perfectly. The best part is the quality of the vegan leather is amazing and it cost about 1/100th of the cost of any comparable bag I’ve ever seen and lusted after. It’s currently sold out which is a MAJOR bummer and I hope the lovely Sole Society decides to bring it back, but the slightly smaller size is still available, as is this similar bag and this weekender which is on major sale!

While flying with a carry on, you must maximize your personal item. Most of the time I use an old striped tote (similar to this one) and then just pack the crossbody I plan to use during the trip (love this one-it has so much space!) My trusty and reversible every day “work bag” by Street Level is a great option as well as this oversized satchel. A proper sized personal item can definitely help eliminate that ‘pressed for space’ stress that carry on travel brings.

This makeup bag from bareMinerals is always packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice. I love not having to worry about remembering everything after I use it in the morning, because I have an extra of everything I need stashed in this case. All I have to do is toss it in my bag and we’re ready for takeoff! Having all of these items conveniently stashed together gives me the extra time to stress about my clothes and shoe options-you know, priorities. My favorite part of this bag is that it’s see-through, so I can just toss it on the belt and breeze through security. They don’t make this exact one anymore, but I found a similar at Sephora here– it even has the same cute airplane zipper detail! I travel with minimal makeup because, as my past travel companions will verify, I like to wake up at the crack of dawn and start exploring on vacation and make the absolute most of my time in a new city. Going through a full makeup routine in no way helps me achieve that goal. I make sure this bag has all my under 3.4 oz liquid products (cleanser, moisturizer, lotion, toothpaste, and hand sanitizer) in it so as to not be deterred by an airport security hold up. The only other products I bring are my deodorant, hair brush, and a plethora of hair elastics, along with the three makeup products I deem worthy and easy enough to wear on vacation (mascara, eyeliner, foundation). I’ve filled up my travel bag mostly at Target-their section of travel sized items is an absolute life saver. I never bring shampoo or conditioner with me, because hotels always have them and it’s just another thing to bring, but you can also find a great selection at Target. In other news about hair brushes, I love the wavy look braided hair gives, so by braiding my wet hair the night before it totally eliminates the need to brush my hair in the morning-I just take out the braid and I’m good to go! This proves extra useful if you have an early departure or just don’t want to have to worry about remembering your hair brush.

I’m such a sucker for matching items, it’s kind of outrageous how happy seeing these three items sitting next to each other makes me. This gorgeous iPhone case gives me such a case of wanderlust inspired daydreams on a regular basis, I’m just happy to finally be going away with it! You can shop more of Kate Spade’s fun and colorful phone cases here, and make sure to stop by the travel shop for more getaway inspired items and must-have travel tools! My passport case is about a year old from J.Crew, but their Factory Store has some super cute ones available here! This clutch is from Banana Republic’s fall collection, and is perfect for any small items you may need to easily access during your flight or travels. It’s sold out, but this one from Sole Society is practically identical, right down to the embossed mantras!

Now a quick word about technology. In an ideal word, we would all be able to put our phones away on vacation. But then we wouldn’t be able to take pictures and instagrams and snapchats, so we need backup batteries and potentially adapters. I absolutely love this PowerCube. Not only does it come with all the interchangeable wall plugs you could ever need, but it’s also equally amazing for use at your home year round. With the help of this PowerCube, I can charge everything I need to without having to run around the hotel room trying to claim all of the outlets to myself (sorry about doing this on basically every pre-PowerCube vacation ever, friends). I love to bring this Jackery battery around with me-it holds a full charge and is compact enough to carry in a cross body bag. I plug it in with this cable, even though the battery comes with one, because it’s smaller to carry around and never gets tangled!

Finally I make sure to put my iPad and cosmetic case on top of my bag where they’re most accessible to reach during security and voila! We’re good(ish) to go!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! If you want to see more posts like this and found it at all helpful please let me know in the comment section! Thanks so much for stopping by!

xo, C

Light Up The Day

If I were to pick an outfit that absolutely described me, this would definitely be it. It exhibits the hobbies I’ve adored over my years, such as a passion for music and an active lifestyle, and the places I’ve fallen in love with that inspire my wardrobe daily. Whether it’s feminine eyelet details and chandelier inspired earrings that remind me of the attention and romance in French architecture or some laid back sneakers that exude Californian surfer culture, I find that my favorite and most memorable destinations tend to leave marks on my mind and my style, forever reminding me of their best, most unique, and eternally endearing characteristics.

No place has influenced my life and style as much as the New England coast. I fell in love with the sea and the summer season of exploration and it is constantly inspiring my style in color schemes, silhouettes, and statements alike. The beauty of Coastal Maine is rivaled by no place I’ve ever been, and I try to visit my favorite spots once each summer. One such place is York’s Nubble Light, which is a classic American icon. Cape Neddick has gorgeous views of the Atlantic and a rocky shore that makes for some fun “climbing” for the child/adventurer in everyone. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday in New England then a drive up the coast of Maine listening to the Rolling Stones, and walking along the ocean with my best friends.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo, Caitlin

Safari Room

Hello again, world. It’s been a while. After a very painful computer free week, I finally got my laptop back and am ready to get back into the blogging world. Last week I was able to fit in a quick getaway to Newport, Rhode Island which is one of my favorite summer vacation spots in New England. One of my favorite restaurants in Newport is The Safari Room at OceanCliff. The menu is absolutely extraordinary and the views of Narragansett Bay simply cannot be beat. Another reason I can’t get enough of it is the safari-chic decor, which happens to be a huge weakness of mine when done tastefully (this is).

The day I was there happened to be a bit overcast, but that didn’t stop me from exploring the grounds and taking in the views. I wore this Milly for Kohl’s dress with my favorite white denim jacket and it was absolutely perfect for lunch by the water. I love a good fit and flare dress, and this gorgeous blue Grecian style print just makes it so much better. It’s one of those dresses that I look down out during the day and start smiling because it is just SO PRETTY.

Outfit Details: Dress: Milly for Kohl’s (check out the same print in these shorts, skirt, and crop top!) | Denim Jacket: LOFT (also love this one and this one) | Bag: Vera Bradley | Necklace: J.Crew Factory (old, similar here) | Bracelet: Banana Republic (also love this one) | Ring: Charming Charlie (smaller version here) | Gladiators: BP.

Thanks for reading!

xo, C

Head of the Charles Regatta

This past weekend was the 50th Head Of The Charles Regatta and in true New England fashion, the other Bostonians and myself gathered on the banks of the Charles for two days of racing and other cherised collegiate traditions. Some of my favorite merchandisers included Naked juice, Brooks Brothers, and an intriguing Boston 2024 booth campaigning for their summer olympics bid! Of course, nothing compares to the Harvard campus in autumn, and the foliage was the perfect backdrop for such an esteemed event.

Here are a few pictures taken with my iPhone 6, I am beyond obsessed with the 8-megapixel camera and the quality pictures it produces!