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Hey It's Brooke Ash
Travel

Everywhere I've been, and where I'm headed next.

Trip reports, hotel reviews, and full itineraries, organized so you can actually use them for your own next trip.

Snapshots

Straight off the camera roll.

Where I've been

A running map

Pacific Northwest

Bavarian-style storefronts in Leavenworth
Leavenworth — a Bavarian village two hours from home
Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park — rainforest, coast, and mountains in one trip
The vertical Portland sign beneath a clear blue sky
Portland — the food-cart trip that never disappoints

United States

A tree-lined path beneath moss-draped live oaks in Savannah
Savannah — spanish moss and a very good long weekend
A downtown Austin street with the skyline beyond
Austin — breakfast tacos, non-negotiable
The Brooklyn Bridge walkway and Manhattan skyline
New York City, from Brooklyn Bridge to the Met
Pastel houses along Rainbow Row in Charleston
Charleston — spanish moss, horse carriages, one perfect biscuit
The Southernmost Point buoy beside the sea in Key West
The Florida Keys — back in my home state, barely recognized it

International

Narrow Amsterdam canal houses and moored boats
Amsterdam — four days, mostly on a rented bike
A Lisbon funicular on a colorful sloping street
Lisbon — the trip I recommend to literally everyone
Tower Bridge over the Thames at dusk
London, river walks, markets, and museum days
Packing

What I actually pack.

Travel bags at an airport with boarding-pass details obscured
a little packing inspiration room for a little adventure

A little inspiration for a long weekend: outfits that work together, a carry-on you can manage, and room for the things you’ll actually use.

A brown travel bag tucked beneath an airplane seat
The personal item, packed
Brooke’s BÉIS bag unboxing video
My BÉIS unboxing ↗
Read my packing notes
Amsterdam camera roll

Canal-side, and after dark.

A few moments from Amsterdam: canal houses, a market-day stroopwafel, and a stop at the Heineken Experience.

Narrow Amsterdam canal houses and moored boats
Narrow Amsterdam canal houses and moored boats
A stroopwafel at an Amsterdam street market
A stroopwafel at an Amsterdam street market
Brooke exploring the Heineken Experience
Brooke exploring the Heineken Experience
Explore the Amsterdam photo collection
London camera roll

A little London, through my lens.

River walks, museum days, markets, and the meals in between. A few moments from my London camera roll. Open a collection below to see more, or click a photo for the full-size view.

Brooke beside the Thames with Tower Bridge behind her
Brooke beside the Thames with Tower Bridge behind her
Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster
Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster
A food bowl beneath the Borough Market sign
A food bowl beneath the Borough Market sign
Landmarks and river walks (12 photos)
London skyline beneath dramatic clouds from a park viewpoint
London skyline beneath dramatic clouds from a park viewpoint
A busy London street beside a traditional pub
A busy London street beside a traditional pub
Flags above Regent Street in London
Flags above Regent Street in London
Sunset over the Thames and the London skyline
Sunset over the Thames and the London skyline
Brooke looking toward Tower Bridge from the Thames riverside
Brooke looking toward Tower Bridge from the Thames riverside
Brooke beside the Thames with Tower Bridge behind her
Brooke beside the Thames with Tower Bridge behind her
A traditional London pub lit up in the evening
A traditional London pub lit up in the evening
Tower Bridge over the Thames at dusk
Tower Bridge over the Thames at dusk
Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column beneath gray skies
Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column beneath gray skies
Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster
Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster
Battersea Power Station beneath cloudy skies
Battersea Power Station beneath cloudy skies
The London Eye beside the Thames
The London Eye beside the Thames
Museum days (3 photos)
The Natural History Museum framed by trees
The Natural History Museum framed by trees
An elephant skeleton inside the Natural History Museum
An elephant skeleton inside the Natural History Museum
The suspended whale skeleton in the Natural History Museum
The suspended whale skeleton in the Natural History Museum
Markets and food halls (5 photos)
A covered London market with a glass roof
A covered London market with a glass roof
A bar counter at Seven Dials Market
A bar counter at Seven Dials Market
The entrance to Seven Dials Market
The entrance to Seven Dials Market
Stalls beneath the glass roof at Seven Dials Market
Stalls beneath the glass roof at Seven Dials Market
A food bowl beneath the Borough Market sign
A food bowl beneath the Borough Market sign
Meals and little moments (11 photos)
A glass of red wine at dinner in London
A glass of red wine at dinner in London
Pizza and small plates at dinner in London
Pizza and small plates at dinner in London
A restaurant menu on a candlelit London table
A restaurant menu on a candlelit London table
A candlelit restaurant table in London
A candlelit restaurant table in London
A drink in hand at Trafalgar Square
A drink in hand at Trafalgar Square
Coffee beside plants overlooking a London street
Coffee beside plants overlooking a London street
Brooke taking a mirror photo in London
Brooke taking a mirror photo in London
A bowl of noodles in London
A bowl of noodles in London
A red bar counter in London
A red bar counter in London
A roast dinner with Yorkshire pudding in London
A roast dinner with Yorkshire pudding in London
Two plates of pasta at dinner in London
Two plates of pasta at dinner in London
Read my London hostel review
Hotels & reviews

Was it worth it?

A neutral hotel bedroom with soft natural light

The Fairmont Olympic, Seattle

Splurge

The kind of hotel that makes a staycation feel like a real trip.

The vertical Portland sign beneath a clear blue sky

Ace Hotel, Portland

Worth it

Great location, character to spare, book early.

A neutral hotel bedroom with soft natural light

A budget stay in Amsterdam

Skip it

Fine for sleeping, not much else. I'd pay more next time.

Itineraries

Download-and-go guides

The Space Needle framed by trees and blue sky

A perfect weekend in Seattle

Coffee, waterfront, and the neighborhoods worth wandering, mapped out for a first visit.

View itinerary
Tower Bridge over the Thames at dusk

Four days in London

Markets, museums, and a pub every single night, paced so you actually get to rest.

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Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida

A long weekend in St. Augustine

The oldest city in the country, done right: cobblestone streets, one very good crab shack, sunset on the fort walls.

Trip inspiration
The Brooklyn Bridge walkway with the Manhattan skyline beyond

Three days in New York

A first-timer's pace: the classics, the neighborhoods locals actually love, and zero wasted subway rides.

View itinerary