Maryland Archives - Pure Wander

Skip to main content

search

About Us
Travel Tips
Destinations
- North America
- South America
- Caribbean
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Oceania
Letters To The Editor

facebook instagram tiktok threads
search
Menu

Press enter to begin your search

Why Frederick, Maryland, is the Best Kept Secret in the Mid-Atlantic McClintock's Distillery in Frederick

McClintock's Distillery in Frederick

Maryland North America United States

Why Frederick, Maryland, is the Best Kept Secret in the Mid-Atlantic

Learn More

Contact
Work With Us!
About Us – Pure Wander Travel Blog
Group Travel Inspiration
Giveaways from the Pure Wander Travel Blog
Copyright & Privacy Policy
Disclosure

Follow us on IG!

pure_wander

Travel + Parenthood 👶🏻 Pro traveling hot mess for 20 yrs 💅🏼 Travel guides w/ fam & friends✨
New England & the world 🌍
🛩️ Global itineraries ⬇️

If you have the means, I really want you to consid

If you have the means, I really want you to consider taking a trip without your children. I hear so much from older generation that they felt burnt out, overwhelmed and just tired from non-stop parenting, especially in the early years.

Asking for help was frowned upon, and a lot of the burden was left to moms especially to stay on top of things 24-7 for years.

Watching my own parents and parents of friends feel regret towards this has made me prioritize my own travels and time off. ⏰ love my two daughters more than anything, but WOO they are a lot. I work part-time and care for them almost full-time!

I knew to keep my mental health afloat and my marriage strong, I’d need to move mountains to ensure a few nights away a year where I could recharge, sleep, reflect, and retain my identity. 🧘🏻‍♀️💅🏼

Also I now that villages these days are hard to find. We’re lucky enough to have bribed a couple grandparents, used some paid babysitters and even called my old doula for help so we could travel away from the kids. It took time, money, and energy to make it work for us. 🤞

What do you think? Is this something you’ve done, or want to do in the near future? If it’s not money or a ‘village’, what’s holding you back? ✈️

#momtraveler #tripwithoutkids #traveltips101

Hey! 👋🏻 I’m Eileen, a seasoned travel writ

Hey! 👋🏻 I’m Eileen, a seasoned travel writer for the past 20 years. I’m a dinosaur, but I still love to hit the road and have fun. After 35+ countries and 38 US states, I’ve learned a thing or two when it comes to taking trips, especially with my family and friends.

The list above are some of my favorite destinations so far! ✅ Do any interest you? I’d love to send you some ideas and inspo for you next adventure. Here’s some ways to make your next trip flawless:

✨DM me, seriously! I’d love to help. NO course to sell, no trips, just advice. Maybe an affiliate or two that’s no extra cost to you to keep my business running, but that;s it.

✨ Check out my site Pure Wander for TONS of worldwide itineraries and stories, free to you!

💫 Follow along here for lots of fun reels stuffed with inspiration, tips, and hopefully some humor. I travel most with my spouse and two young kids, but I aim for a few solo trips a year too.

Tell me where YOU love to go the most! I’m always looking for my next destination too!

#weekendwarriors #protravelers #traveltips101 #destinationinspiration

🛑 Stop planning every single second of your nex

🛑 Stop planning every single second of your next trip! 📅

Seriously. I dare you to throw out the itinerary – just for an afternoon. I did this in Tucson, Arizona recently and had the best time. My husband suggested taking my dad’s jeep for a spin one afternoon, and we just went for it.

He found a couple off-roading maps and we all jumped in for a little jaunt in the desert. 🌵

We started on Tiger Mine road, followed the Tucson wash and landed over in Mammoth, Arizona after passing under a railroad bridge. It’s a great path for beginners and we took it really, really slowly so my four-year-old wouldn’t get jostled too much.

We’ve done the “Tucson must-sees,” but this unplanned dusty detour was a surprising delight. What’s one thing you could do on your next trip that’s totally NOT on your list? Have you ever just wandered in a new place? Share your experience in the comments! 👇

#VisitArizona #tucson #offroading #familytravel

Share with a friend who wants to eat thier weight

Share with a friend who wants to eat thier weight in tacos next time you land in Mexico! 🌮

I only had roughy 48 hours to stuff my face in Mexico City. I think I managed at least 20 tacos in that time, plus a decadent farm-to-table meal, traditional Mexican holiday dishes, and lots of tequila.

Here’s a few highlights, but definitely go see the FULL guide on Pure Wander for all the juicy and delicious details!

La Tonina: Founded by a famous luchador more than 80 years ago, they make incredible tortillas and gordita de nata, a sweet bread.

El Paisa: An unassuming truck you might miss, but they offer tender tacos covered in herbs and onions.

Arca: A farm-to-table experience among the agriculutral canals of Xochimilo

Taquería El Califa de León: A small stand with a Michelin (!) star that offers a Gaonera (beef) taco. Yummy, but not even in my top three.

What’s your favorite Mexican dish? 🇲🇽

Save and share this with friends & family to remin

Save and share this with friends & family to remind you it will all work out on your next trip! ✈️

I 100% get why it feels like there’s so much pressure. If you’ve saved up, spent months planning a giant trip to London or Paris or Bangkok or even New York: it needs to be perfect. You want make sure you see all the highlights and give your kids the memories they deserve.

I wish I could guarantee you’ll be back or everyone will have an absolutely incredible time, but it just can’t be so. Instead, here’s some ways to ensure you’ll be in the best position possible for an awesome trip:

🤞 Choose one or two things you really, really want to experience. Maybe even let each member of the family pick one thing. You can see more of course, but the rest can just be considered a bonus if it happens. That will take away some of the regiment of a strict itinerary.

🤞 If you have small kids, or you don’t travel often, prep as much as you can ahead of time. With my four year-old and one-year-old, we practice sleeping in a different room, trying new foods on the fly, and maybe even learn a couple words in the local language where will be visiting. We talk about flying or driving long distances so they’re ready. When we do make it to the big landmarks, they’ll be prepared, and some of the meltdowns and stress can be avoided.

🤞If you plan ahead, some of the costs can be alleviated. finding availability in accommodations will be wide open a year in advance, flights should be plentiful, and you might even find a tour too on discount.

▶️ And obviously, use other people‘s expertise! Head to my b!o for a whole bunch of travel itineraries, guides, and tips that I’ve created over the last 15 years to help you plan your next adventure.

Why I do what I do! ✈️👯‍♀️ #ichreela

Why I do what I do! ✈️👯‍♀️

#ichreeladay #purewander #familytravelgoals #traveltips101

(April Fools 😉)BIG PURE WANDER ANNOUNCEMENT! Fi

(April Fools 😉)BIG PURE WANDER ANNOUNCEMENT! Finding your community is SO important in travel. While traveling with my family and friends is cool and all, I really want to follow my passion. And I think it’s an untapped market.

So from now on, I’ll be Eileen: the reptile traveler! Sure, you can take road trips with your dog or bring your calm cat on a plane, but what about your adorable snake or lizard? Why do they get left out?! I can’t wait to share all the tips and tricks about reptile travel, I think it will be really helpful to all to those wandering pet owners. Stay tuned! -Eileen

Hey there. I’m a little all over the place, I th

Hey there. I’m a little all over the place, I think like most people are. I’ve been a professional travel writer for more than a decade, but life has changed over and over again.

I want a little bit of everything! I love taking work trips on my own to experience a new place solo. But I also love sharing the road with others, whether I meet them along the way or bring them with me. And lastly, I have a husband and two beautiful girls who come along for many adventures. It’s so fun to see places through their eyes.

When you take trips, do you like it all too? I’m glad you’re here. Let’s hang out. I want to offer you the best guidance. I can no matter how you decide to see the world. I promise we’ll have some fun!

#travelblogger #travelcontentcreators #femaletraveller #familytravel

I really do love it and I champion those people. T

I really do love it and I champion those people. The ones with beautiful floppy hats and gorgeous dresses flowing in the breeze in Santorini. Cool sunglasses and cameras with giant lenses on a Tanzania safari. It’s awesome. 😎

My style is a little different. It’s a little messier. I get in there, I do the thing, I try to relate to people. I also like to be a fly on the wall to tell other people stories when I travel and experience so many beautiful things. I’m usually sweaty, probably sunburned, and there is a stain somewhere on my clothes. I’ve probably lost something important, gotten lost myself, and probably also overpaid for something I should’ve been smarter about. 💁🏻‍♀️

But none of this stops me! Even after I’ve evolved and grown over the decades, gotten married and had children, adopted a dog and bought a house, deep inside is a fire for seeing the world. I don’t know if that will ever go away and I love to fuel anytime I have the chance. 🫶🏻

I don’t ever want you to feel like you are not worthy of traveling either if you don’t look perfect or feel cool enough to do it. Always take that chance. You’re a traveler still if you don’t go to some five star hotel. You are a traveler, even if you haven’t seen the Eiffel Tower and love to just explore your state on the weekends. You’re traveler, even if your destinations aren’t sexy or trending, but they’re still interesting to you. 🌠

If you want relatable tips from a professional who has seen more than 35 countries but still loses her passport on occasion. I got you. I want to inspire you and get you going any way I can.

#travelhacks #travelmomma #travelinspiration #relatabletravel #purewander #travelwriterlife

I was so, so lucky for a decade to see gorgeous de

I was so, so lucky for a decade to see gorgeous destinations all over the world. Sri Lanka, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Curaçao, Latvia, the list goes on.

Then the pandemic hit. My career took a nose dive. I also got pregnant and eventually had two daughters. We of course could take them to these types of places still, but it’s obviously a process now. We’ve been focusing on lots of domestic and nearby travel, with one splashy trip a year.

There’s a part of my ego that is a little sad. Which is really silly, but it’s still there. I have worked hard though on not worrying about what others think or other colleagues and I’m just running my own race. It’s freeing and I can fully be present in the trips we are taking now, which is way more than the average bear anyway!

What is an exotic destination anyway? When you can brag about with palm trees and piña coladas? It’s silly if you think about it. What are your thoughts? ✈️

The best part of having a front row seat to an int

The best part of having a front row seat to an international culinary competition was getting to know the talented competitors themselves. 🔪🥑 I had the best, most delicious time at the Masters of the Craft finals.

In Mexico City, I got to cook side-by-side with some of the brightest and kindest people from all over Latin America in the Caribbean, hosted by Marriott Bonvoy (@marriottbonvoy) and the @westinsantafe

Eduardo Garcia Luna shares his inspiration for his favorite dish in this mini interview. This is one of the interviews I’d love to share with you, coinciding with my first article up on FWT magazine (@fwtmagazine) about the competition! 🌮🥘🍴

Save and share this for your next trip to Arizona!

Save and share this for your next trip to Arizona! Tucson should not be missed. 🏜️

My second slow travel trip to Tucson uncovered even more local gems and treats. I always have so much fun in this beautiful, colorful place. Here’s a quick visual mini guide to 15 highlights in and around Tucson, with the full itinerary up on Pure Wander. This should keep you definitely busy for at least a week, from natural wildlife and scenery to local eateries and retreats.

A retreat to the desert was a perfect escape from muddy New England to roll into spring.

Have you been to Arizona, or Tucson? what do you love most about the desert? 🌵

SAVE for a distraction on flights with kids under

SAVE for a distraction on flights with kids under five 🖐🏻

I wish I could remember which mom gave me the tip first!

For the first time I brought a roll of painters tape on the flight and it was a game changer, especially for my 18 month old. I’d say she spent over an hour total just sticking tape onto the seat and pulling it off. My four-year-old made little animals and taped her toys together too. 🐱

It was nice and gave them a break from screens 📱 No mess or residue. No noise. Done!

Tell me your top trick for surviving flights with little kids.

#traveldiaries #familytravelgoals #traveltips101

There’s always bad apples. 🍎 There’s always

There’s always bad apples. 🍎 There’s always a drunk business person talking loudly on his phone. There’s always a gaggle of friends shrieking loudly over some inside joke bothering the whole room. There’s always an inconsiderate family dumping food and trash all over the floor.

Luckily, these are all exceptions to the rule of fairly chill and well-behaved lounge guests overall. And that includes traveling kids.

Overall, my kids are pretty calm and quiet when they are in a lounge or flying a premium class section on a flight. I’ve worked hard to ensure this to continue to expose them to all types of situations and environments. I do my absolute best to calmly and efficiently keep them from bothering others around them. I know not all parents do this, but my point is they have every right to be there as anyone else.

I don’t know why children all of a sudden have a target on their backs when it comes to being in public, but it’s really unfair. Especially considering decorum overall with people seems to be on the decline, children should be the least of anyone’s problems.

There’s so much more I could say, but I’ll leave it at that for now. What do you think? Although kids have the ability to be unruly, so do adults. Who is entitled to these lounge spaces? Should kids be banned?

SAVE THIS as inspiration for your next visit to Ar

SAVE THIS as inspiration for your next visit to Arizona! 🏜️

Cacti are my new palm trees. 🌵 I get such a kick out of seeing them, especially the alien looking round ones and massively tall iconic Saguaro cacti. It’s my second time in Tucson and I got the chance to stroll through the botanical gardens today. It’s well worth a visit, especially if you want to see many different species all in one place.

Besides cacti, there’s tons of tropical plants on display, with lots of flowers and bloom in March. We spent a huge chunk of time in the butterfly sanctuary as well. It was a perfect way to spend a morning in Tucson, before heading back into Sabino Canyon, where we’re based. I’m so excited to be traveling here all week!

Stay tuned for more travel tips on Tucson, Arizona and beyond for all types of travelers, especially those with small children, and the ladies who love girlfriend getaways. -Eileen

No gatekeeping here⬇️ I have no course to sel

No gatekeeping here⬇️

I have no course to sell.

No tours to book.

I just have 20 years of travel experience I want to share with you. My goal is to find ways to expand minds through travel, have people enjoy worldwide connections with each other.

traveling the world has afforded me so many positive things in my life. I want to make it as accessible as possible. I’m on a mission too help people find ways to do it too, despite fears or budgets or anything stopping you.

Or simply, give you permission to relax, go on vacation, unplug, and take of yourself. I offer stories, guides, tips and tricks to do just that.

Hey, I’m Eileen! I’ve been a professional travel journalist, blogger and content creator for more than 15 years. I travel alone, with friends, with my husband, and my two young daughters. I can help you travel, there’s so many ways! DM me anytime, or comment ‘wander’ for links to my blog with more than 500 articles, guides & stories.

🔥 SAVE THIS POST for your next Montana adventur

🔥 SAVE THIS POST for your next Montana adventure! 🚒

One evening at Flathead Lake Lodge (@flatheadlakelodge) in Montana, we were privileged to take the horses deep into the forest on lodge-owned property to be greeted with a fun outdoor steakfry. There were steaks provided over an open flame, cooked to order, with an array of sides and sauces. Beer and wine flowed while we were serenaded by traditional cowboy songs on acoustic guitar. 🎶

The best part? We didn’t have to saddle up again full of food! There were two vintage fire trucks waiting to provide a lift back. It was a blast to see the trees whip by and ride of these red beauties. 🚒 -Eileen

Read the full Montana road trip travel guide on PureWander.com - Just search Montana!

#visitmontana #flatheadlakelodge #firetruckfriday #traveldiaries #ifwtwa #usaroadtrips

🏔️SAVE this post for the next time you go int

🏔️SAVE this post for the next time you go into the mountains!

Woo boy I can’t believe how hard this hit me on my recent trip to Utah! But don’t worry it was short-lived and I still had an amazing time. I flew straight from Massachusetts and got in a van to Bryce Canyon National Park. I felt OK for a while but as time went on:

🏥 Had a tough time catching breath, like there was a brick on my chest
🏥 I felt really nauseous and couldn’t keep food down
🏥 I lost my appetite and generally felt gross

It got worse when I returned to Salt Lake City, and took several days to acclimate! It was still well worth the trip, but I wish I prepared better. There’s three mistakes I made: you can avoid these next time you take a trip to the mountains! 🏔️

📍Hydrate, hydrate hydrate! I hear I need to drink at least what I usually do at home. That made the symptoms worse.
📍 Should’ve stuck to simple food at first, rich food made me extra queasy.
📍 And maybe this is common sense, but I felt a little better and had a beer. Nope. It’s worth avoiding alcohol altogether! I think that exacerbated the issue as well.

Have you ever had altitude sickness? Let me know what tips you have too!

Save + share for your next trip to Boston! ✨ HO

Save + share for your next trip to Boston! ✨

HOPEFULLY the snow is behind us and there's only a bit of mud ahead before spring is into full gear. But here's some indoor things to do in Boston and nearby while we wait for warmer skies!

📌See a Show at Roadrunner: New-ish venue with crystal clear sound and great headlining bands year-round
📌Be a kid at the Science Muesum @museumofscience : Rotating exhibits and classics from childhood!
📌Have treats at Cafe Vittoria: My fave spot in the North End with creamy cocktails and desserts
📌Find local coffee like Ula Cafe @ulacafe : This friendly, inclusive spot is found in Jamaica Plain. Use the Boston Cafe Passport to find more too @thecafepassport
📌Head south and visit Scituate's salt cave @scituatesaltcave
📌Go a little farther south for French pastries at Keegan Kreations In Kingston and Plymouth @keegan_kreations

Do you prefer to sightsee indoors or outdoors?

Load More Follow on Instagram

Find us on social

© 2025 Pure Wander.

About Us
Travel Tips
Destinations
- North America
- South America
- Caribbean
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Oceania
Letters To The Editor

Recent Posts

Casually Eat Your Way Around Mexico City: 48 Hours
Time for Tucson, Arizona: A Great Guide
Newport, Rhode Island: girlfriend getaways in the off season!
Ditch the Resort, Try the Sea: Why Your Family’s Next Caribbean Trip Should Be on a Yacht
Sustainable Home Improvement Ideas Inspired by Global Architecture

facebook
instagram
tiktok
threads

Cleantalk Pixel