Author: Mikayla Dorn

Hi there! I'm a small town mid-westerner who LOVES to travel from city to city when possible, hopefully with a cup of jo in my hand (it's often better that way!). I also enjoy baking for family and friends, walking outside, and relaxing with a good book. I can't wait to share my adventures with you! I hope you can sit back, relax, and grab your favorite beverage of choice while you're here. Also, I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to comment or contact me at muffinatermd@gmail.com!

Let’s Talk Goals….Travel Goals!

August 26, 2019 Mikayla Dorn2 Comments

Hi there, today I wanted to focus on travel goals, because like all other goals, they deserve some attention to keep you feeling balanced! If you are like me, you dream of traveling on an almost daily basis. Maybe your sipping tea at an outdoor cafe in Paris, or cozying up to a roaring fire in a lakeside cottage….whatever you’re dreaming of, let’s try to make it a reality!

I wanted to talk about a few steps to think about in making your dream a reality, as well as a couple of my travel destination goals to help inspire you along the way!

My Travel Destination Goals

NEW YORK, NY

In the past year, I’ve researched some of New York’s top attractions, finding at least a handful of places I’d love to see! The city would be amazing at Christmas time as well. I also came across the lovely Library Hotel, which has bookshelves filled with books in its lobby, and each room. This cozy hotel also has lots of warm lighting, very clean and modern rooms, seating outdoors, and a lovely city view. How can you not fall in love?

The Library Hotel
New York Skyline

ESTES PARK, CO

I read about this town in a novel by Heather Graham called The Hidden. First of all, the book is amazing! Read if you love mystery, romance, and the paranormal! Second, the scenery in Estes Park sounded idyllic in the book, and upon looking it up, I definitely had to add it to my bucket list. The mountains and woodlands have amazing views, and allow for activities such as hiking and horseback riding.

PARIS, FRANCE

Paris Cafe
Eiffel Tower

It has been a dream of mine since I was about twelve to travel here! I want to see the Eiffel Tower, and walk the streets of the city, stopping along the way to eat a ton of macarons and drink lots of coffee. I’d also enjoy the shopping experiences Paris has to offer.

A Few Planning Steps

CHOOSING YOUR DESTINATION

What’s the place you’ve always talked about wanting to go? Make a top ten list of places you’d like to visit sometime in the near future. Try not to filter through them for elimination until after you’ve finished! Once you’ve got your list, start thinking about the additional factors. Which of these destinations would you really like to make a reality in the next two years? Which would bring you the most happiness and benefit you now, rather than later in life? Think about whether you’d like to travel alone or with other people.

WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET

A rather large factor in travel decisions is how much money you have to set aside for your adventure. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have much set aside now. If you are dreaming of traveling abroad, give yourself some time to save, you may be surprised once you’ve started your travel fund! After all, you’re making goals so you can plan and prioritize. No matter what, it’ll be the best feeling to be able to tell yourself I’m taking a trip to blank in a year and a half!

RESEARCH RESEARCH

This is one of my favorite parts. Look up your destination on major travel search engines and sites, and read up on tips from the experts and those who have traveled to this place. If you like books, buy one on your destination! Learn what each season has to offer, what are the peak seasons, what seasons are cheapest. Trying a quick destination search on Expedia will give you a list of hotels in each price range, top attractions, neighborhoods, airports, and types of lodging available. Doing the same on Kayak will give you a price range for each month on traveling to your destination, as well as cheapest flights, and specific airport tips. These are both great places to start, so you can branch out from the general stuff. Take notes!! You’ll probably forget what the name of that cool restaurant you wanted to go to was called. This will make it easier to get your itinerary in order and help you book hotels and airports close to your interests.

BOOKING (YAYYY!)

Once you’ve got an idea of things you want to do and places you want to see, you can zero in on a neighborhood that is the most central and cost effective for you. Personally, I like to be as close as possible to my destinations, so when it comes to cost I’m willing to pay a little bit extra to have the added convenience. Figuring out your mode of transportation is also an important factor. City travel is obviously much more central than going to a cottage near the mountains. Do you need to rent a vehicle or are you just needing a lift from the airport to your hotel?

Once you’ve got your list of points of interest and your hotel figured out, you’re ready to book! Make sure you look at different options-some travel sites offer bundled discounts for booking a flight, hotel, and car together. Do the math and see if this is cost effective for you, or if booking directly will get you a better deal. Make sure to read up on cancellation policies when booking through third parties also! Decide if travelers insurance is a smart choice for you. I often find that once the booking is done, there is a weight lifted off my shoulders. The dream has become a reality. The saving and planning is about to pay off!

PACKING

Try to give yourself plenty of time to pack! This way you can make a list, and do it little by little so you don’t try to do it all at once and forget some things in the rush to get it done. I like to start my packing a week or two before I leave for my adventure and do it in chunks. The day before, and the day of departure I check over my list to make sure I hit everything.

ENJOY YOUR ADVENTURE!

What are some of your dream destinations? Please share, I’d love to hear from you in the comments! I hope you enjoyed this post, and will visit me in the future for similar posts about travel, coffee, and inspirations! Thank you for reading!

Photo Sources Below:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/new-york-city, https://libraryhotel.com/en/gallery.html, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/520376931929777884/ , https://en.parisinfo.com/discovering-paris/paris-for-the-first-time/paris-in-1-2-or-3-days/the-essentials/the-essentials2 , https://www.alltrails.com/us/colorado/estes-park, https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/estes-park, https://blazepress.com/2015/10/the-30-most-beautiful-travel-destinations-on-earth/ , https://www.pinterest.com/pin/151855818668650252/, https://www.visittheusa.com/state/hawaii

The Daily Grind: Finding Seattle’s Best Coffees

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 Mikayla Dorn5 Comments

So you probably have heard Seattle is known for having amazing coffee. Some even deem this city as the coffee capitol of the world! But it’s more than just coffee that draws people in.

The coffee shop scene is becoming much more popular because they offer more than just a plain ol’ cup of joe.

A coffee shop is a place that you can make your own. You can choose your favorite beverage, grab your book or meet a friend. You can find a shop with an atmosphere that matches your own vibe. It could be a modern, cleanly designed space with warm lighting, or a cozy getaway with soft plush chairs, or perhaps an eclectic setting with colorful mugs to sip from…

You can try flavors and combinations you’ve never imagined in your wildest dreams. You can try different brewing methods without having to set them up at home.

It’s a meeting place for friends, family and colleagues. However, still a safe and comfortable place to study or read in solitude. There aren’t many places that offer both of those capabilities.

On my current adventure in Seattle (and previous ones), I’ve gotten to taste some pretty fantastic coffee. In fact, I try to make it my mission to try a new coffee shop everyday! There are so many local places to choose from it’s overwhelming. I’d love to share with you some of my favorites, and the reasons why I enjoyed them. Below you’ll find seven coffee shops with key features, locations, and insights on what to expect.

Anchorhead Coffee

Key Features: Unique, Signature Flavors and Helpful Staff

Location: CenturyLink Plaza, 1600 7th Ave #105, Seattle, WA 98101

On my first visit to this shop, I asked the barista for suggestions, and she recommended the Nitro Mint Latte. It definitely sounded a little out there, but she said it was one of the favorites among customers. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it! This iced drink was frothy (hard to get with an iced beverage) and had just a hint of mint flavor that balanced perfectly. When I arrived, it was clear this shop is a favorite among locals, the place was pretty packed. The selection of baked goods also looked delicious, if you get the chance, try the salted chocolate chip cookie.

Caffe Ladro

Key Features: Great View and Value

Location: 801 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

This shop is definitely one to visit on a day with nice weather if you can, because they have a little sundeck that gives a BEAUTIFUL view of nearby streets and buildings. Definitely the most relaxing place that I stopped, for the outdoor setting, and because it usually isn’t extremely crowded. The inside shop is very small, just tucked away in a large circular apartment complex called Tower 801.

Another perk besides the caffeine-there are some pretty awesome baked goods. I had a rhubarb oatmeal bar, I’d definitely get it again. I ordered a caramel latte which was delightfully balanced in flavors, and topped with a lovely leaf design. Caffe Ladro also has a rewards card that works similar to Starbucks for its more frequent customers, and offers a jumbo size for a better value.

Ghost Alley Espresso

Key Features: Fun Vibe and Local Roasts

Location: 1499 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

This tiny coffee shop definitely has a lot of spunk! Located right next to the gum wall under Pike Market, it’s right in the middle of the action. While I visited Ghost Alley, they were fairly busy. The tiny shop was full of people waiting in line to order their coffee.

I ordered the Salted Nut my first time, and the barista did let me know that they tend to add less syrups, so if I needed more to let her know, which was thoughtful. Check out their signature drinks if your looking for something different! When I returned a different day, I tried the Smog Latte, which was a lovely combination of earl grey tea, espresso, and vanilla. Give this one a go if you’re an earl grey lover!

Mr. West

Key Features: Modern Atmosphere and Friendly Staff

Location: 720 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101

Here, they have a great outdoor seating area that has strings of warm lights hanging overhead. Once you step inside, there is an assortment of succulents and other small decorative knick knacks that are available for purchase, some with the shop’s own unique logo and designs.

What I love about this shop, the baristas and other workers are very friendly and professional from what I have experienced. The atmosphere is modern, but yet it is very comfortable and relaxed. I felt okay sitting down to write for a while, sipping my espresso macchiato slowly. There are many more things I would love to try here, since it’s not only a coffee shop, but a cafe and bar as well!

Monorail Espresso

Key Features: Wonderful Espresso (no surprises here) and Baked Goods

Location: 510 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

This shop is newer, but they are always busy with locals, who claim that if you work in the nearby area, that this is the place to stop. There is no indoor seating, but they have lovely colorful tables on the nearby sidewalk, sometimes decorated with fresh flowers. The baristas are very efficient at their job, keeping the line moving fairly quickly, so don’t be intimidated by the long line! I ordered a basic caramel latte here, and also got one of their chubbies (kind of like a soft scone). Their paper cups also sport a personalized logo stamped on them which I enjoyed.

Caffe Dior

Key Features: Organized and Friendly Staff

Location: 800 Convention Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

Located inside the Washington State Convention Center on the main floor, this coffee shop is a nice option for escaping the outdoors for a bit. They offer sandwiches and baked goods in addition to their beverages. I absolutely loved their caramel macchiato, which is more like the Starbucks version with very sweet flavors and less like the traditional macchiato.

I have visited this shop at least three times already, and every time I came in there was a very friendly older gentleman working. He remembered who I was and always asked how my day was going, which always makes for a positive experience!

Victrola Coffee Roasters

Key Features: Relaxing Atmosphere

Location: 800 Convention Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

My favorite location of this growing coffee company is located in Capitol Hill, but they have many locations including one in downtown Seattle. The first time I visited this shop (in Capitol Hill), I felt the need to sit down for a while and read The Seattle Times, given the relaxing atmosphere that surrounded me. Recently I tried their honey latte, the espresso was definitely the front runner for flavor, but the honey added a slight sweetness to help balance it out! Victrola’s downtown location is definitely more congested and has less seating available, so plan accordingly.

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of Seattle’s local coffee shops, I definitely enjoyed visiting them to see what they had to offer. Please join me in future posts for more travel adventures, inspirations, and much more! I’d love to hear from you, feel free to comment below!

Underrated Experiences in Seattle

August 8, 2019 Mikayla DornLeave a comment

There are so many reasons why I love Seattle. Although there are many things to see in this great city, I’d suggest a few basic things to add to your bucket list! The best part is that you can experience them in more than one way, to accommodate your budget and time frame.

City Lights at Night

One of the benefits of flying into Seattle at night is getting to see how extraordinary the city is by night! You see the constant streams of traffic as you get closer, the buildings all lit up, the coastline….the city is still alive with warmth and color.

Sometimes after a long day of excursions and walking around town, you don’t really feel like going out late. In most cases you probably feel like going to bed around 8 pm. BUT….wherever you are staying, I suggest you at least take a look out your hotel window, or a walk outside to see how beautiful the Emerald City is when the sun goes down.

If you are willing to, I’d highly suggest seeing the Space Needle at night. To get the most for your money, I like to go at sunset when you can get the best of both worlds! Since they have remodeled, they now have two floors that you can view the city. The observatory deck is the top floor, where they now have glass walls on the outer edge so you can have uninterrupted view of the skyline. This floor also features a cafe that serves food, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. The lower level is the rotating floor, that also has glass floors that you can look directly down from, as well as glass walls. If you have the time, it is a wonderful way to be able to see all of Seattle.

You can also view the city from other buildings at night, such as the Smith Tower and the Columbia Center. The Smith Tower was the tallest building in Seattle back in 1914. It features an exhibit on the ground floor, and a bar with signature drinks on the observation floor, both giving a little history to the famous building. The Columbia Center is currently the tallest building in Seattle, and has a 360 view of the city as well! Ticket prices include a night and day viewing.

Another option if you are willing to venture out at night, is to go to a rooftop bar in Seattle, there are several to pick from!

The Waterfront Views

The waterfront is an absolute must see, whatever way you decide to do it! An easy way to get a glimpse is to go behind Pike Place Market’s main building. They have open areas with tables, and views of the water. On a clear day, you can view the Cascade Mountains in the distance! This is a nice opportunity to sit back and watch all the sail boats, ships, and ferries go by. There are several restaurants that have a waterfront view in the market as well, whether it be indoor or outdoor (take your pick!).

Another option for those who would like to take a closer look, is to take a sea cruise or tour! We chose the Argosy Harbor Tour (included with a City Pass if you purchase one). The tour is an hour, which is the perfect amount of time to zip around the coastline and get a look at the city from a different vantage point. They have a full service bar, as well as offering indoor and outdoor seating. Be ready to take some great pictures of the coastline! The tour also offers some good photo opts for the Space Needle from afar.

For those who have a little more time, it’s always a great option to take a ferry adventure. You can go to nearby Alki Beach, or several other destinations. Simply check the ferry listings online and go from there!

Local Coffee

Seattle is known for its great coffee, and they have a large variety of local options to test out. What’s even better for caffeine addicts such as myself, the downtown area has one on almost every block! I was even lucky enough to pick a hotel that served coffee all day.

Starbucks also has many locations in Seattle, since it originated here in 1971. You can also find a Starbucks on almost every block. Although I do suggest venturing out and finding local options to try, if you do want a Starbucks experience, go to the First/Original Starbucks across from Pike Place Market, or the Starbucks Roastery. Both usually have long lines to wait in, but are a fun experience for any coffee lover!

All of the local coffee shops in Seattle I visited at least offered the basics (americano, latte, iced coffee, drip coffee, espresso). It’s always a good idea to ask your barista what is popular or what they suggest, to get a feel for what their signature flavors are! There are some shops that roast their own beans, others even make their own flavored syrups! You never know what you’ll find.

Something all of these shops have in common-friendly and helpful staff! All of the places I visited had some great baristas and were very friendly, which I appreciated as a newcomer.

If you are interested in learning more about each local coffee shop, I will have a blog coming up soon with my local favorites and what they have to offer!

For quick reference here are the names of some shops I’d suggest: Mr. West Cafe Bar, Anchorhead Coffee, Cherry Street Coffee House, Caffe Dior, Caffe Ladro, Monorail Espresso, and Ghost Alley Espresso.

Local Seafood

Many of Seattle’s local restaurants boast fresh seafood, and it’s a great opportunity to try something different! When I was in Seattle last year, I did try Etta’s, a local restaurant on Western Ave. Their menu has lots of different seafood options, but I decided to try the fish and chips. It was definitely a great (and filling) meal! Don’t be afraid to try something new, you may just stumble across something you love.

Many of the local seafood restaurants can be found near the waterfront on Western Ave and Alaskan Way. Some well rated favorites include Cutters Crabhouse, Elliot’s Oyster House, The Crab Pot, Shuckers Restaurant, and Lowell’s Restaurant & Bar.

If you would rather buy fresh seafood to cook at home, Pike Place Fish Co. in the Pick Place Market will be happy to ship out orders to your house, or you can take it with you right away (if you have a kitchen available in you hotel room). Or, you can just watch other people buy their fish and get it thrown to them at the market!

I hope that some of these options have inspired you to experience Seattle in your own way. Which places or sights are at the top of your list of things to do in Seattle? If you’ve already visited, what experiences were your favorite? As always I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to comment below, or email me directly. Join me in future posts for more travel adventures and tips! Happy traveling!

Five Things You’ll Discover While Traveling Alone

July 29, 2019 Mikayla Dorn2 Comments

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to share my experiences on traveling alone, as I am currently on my first adventure by myself in Seattle, WA! If you are thinking about traveling solo, I definitely encourage you to do so, you’ll learn a lot about yourself overall. It’s worth it!

YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST ASSET

This is an important one. If you’re like me, you lean on people more than you realize in your every day life. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means that you are used to talking through and doing things with other people. However, when you are out there on your own, trying to figure out what way your gate is in the airport, or your trying to find out if you are walking in the right direction on the city streets, nobody is going to have your back but you!

So first thing you need to do when you have to deal with any type of situation-take a deep breath, tell yourself that you are okay, you will figure this out. Don’t panic, the calmer you are able to deal with things, the more proficient and clear headed you will be.

YOUR MIND FEELS LESS CLUTTERED

I found it much easier to sort through my thoughts when I just had to worry about myself for a bit. Perhaps you love to make your family and friends smile as much as I do! It makes you feel good inside. But sometimes we get so caught up in making our loved ones happy, that we forget about what we want for ourselves! Maybe even what we NEED for ourselves.

Being on an adventure alone is a journey. And you get to lead the journey, just like you should be the leading role in your own life!

There is something refreshing about being on my own time schedule for the day. I can wake up and grab breakfast, work out, get ready in leisure, and head out at whatever time I feel ready for my adventure! Nobody is telling you to hurry up or slow down for them. Wanna take a swim? Do it. Wanna go for another coffee, even though you’ve already had three today? Do it.

YOU DON’T NORMALLY GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH CREDIT

Everyone has situations in life where they feel not in control. Of course, it’s part of the ups and downs we all face. You are just doing the best you can with what life throws at you, and that’s more than anyone can ask of you!

Normally I would push myself to accomplish a whole list of tasks in a given day. When making goals of things to get done, I find it easier to hold myself accountable this way. But it’s easy to overload yourself, and then feel guilty when you miss one or two things. Remember that you are a capable person, and take your alone time traveling as a time to make small goals for the day, ones you know you’ll get done with plenty of time to relax after.

YOU HAVE A HIGHER APPRECIATION OF WHAT OTHERS DO FOR YOU

Traveling alone in the airport for the first time, I realized how difficult it is to wheel two suitcases and have on a heavy backpack at the same time. Normally while traveling with my mom, each of us had one suitcase to maneuver. I never thought twice about it! Multiple times while walking in the city, I felt like I was trying to carry ten thing awkwardly at the same time. It’s always nice to have a second person to hold something for a quick second while you get organized. Especially when you’re as clumsy as me!

There are lots of other things that I took for granted, like how nice it is to come back after a day out and talk to someone face to face about things. Of course, technology is great and we can call, facetime, and text as much as we please, but cherish your time with your loved ones while you have it.

IT FEELS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY THOUGHT

If you aren’t used to living on your own, traveling alone can be intimidating. I enjoy my alone time in my every day life, but I have never lived completely alone. At first, like I mentioned just above, it was weird to come back after my day out and just be alone for the rest of the night. However, I do think this definitely was good for me to experience.

If you feel similarly, don’t worry, you’ll get used to it! I did. A few days in, I was more excited for my evenings because I knew I’d have time to sit down and write without interruptions. Use your time to call family and friends, and simply relax. Play your music loud, take a hot shower without a time limit, watch tv in bed and read that book you never have time to read.

Also, something that isn’t exactly what you imagined doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Maybe your plans aren’t going exactly as you thought. Trust yourself and know that you will make it a good experience regardless.

Obviously you don’t know how you will like something until you do it! So I definitely encourage you to at least travel alone once to get a feel for it. Maybe just a weekend trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to go! No matter what, you won’t regret it because it will be a learning experience.

HOW TO BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND

I said earlier that you are your best asset, essentially that you are capable of taking care of yourself. But being your best friend is more about being kind to yourself, emotionally and physically. I’m lucky enough to have a best friend that I can be honest with, and we simply are there for each other when we need it most. But you can do this for yourself too!

Realize when you’re tired and just need some time to relax. Make yourself as comfortable as you possibly can, spoil yourself with the little things! Get that magazine you’ve been wanting to read, grab yourself a bottle of wine. Give yourself time to breath. Think through things that you feel are important, and trust that you will make a good decision for yourself.

Take time to reassure yourself that you are enough, and everything is, or will be okay. When you are alone you can refocus your needs in life, see the big picture. Do yourself a favor and be honest. You’ll be a lot happier and thank yourself later!

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you haven’t traveled alone, where is your dream destination? Perhaps you travel alone frequently, what was your first travel journey alone like? Comment below, I’d love to have you share your experiences and thoughts! Join me in future posts for more travel stories, tips, and inspirations that I can’t wait to share!

Take an Adventure with Me: Seattle and Pike Place Market

July 27, 2019July 28, 2019 Mikayla DornLeave a comment

Today I’d like to take you on a walk with me through the streets of Seattle!

Imagine tall buildings of varying height towering overhead, giving shade to some of the streets throughout the day. The city traffic is buzzing, cars are driving quickly, honking horns every few seconds. Taxis picking up and dropping off. Sirens are heard in the distance.

Crowds of people are walking up and down the streets, locals and tourists alike.

Men in suits of navy and charcoal, on their venture to and from work. Others doing their shopping in the city for the day, bags hanging on both arms from Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and more. People soaking up this rare sunny day in the park while enjoying a hot dog from a nearby stand. Parents with little ones in tow, holding hands. Some individuals waiting in line for their lunch break meal. Every one of them has a different story.

It’s amazing how many people wait to cross the street at any given time. They gather in groups of ten or twelve at times…

Walking across the street, you must be attentive to the people who are crossing the street from the other side, so as not to run into anyone. As we near Pike Market, the crowds begin to thicken. Only a block away now, the streets are brick, and cars are trying to cross between large groups of pedestrians. You can hear live music playing ahead somewhere, and there is a buzz of excited voices around you as people discuss what their first stop will be. Ahead you see the iconic sign you’ve heard so much about. There are people posing for their picture in front of it, experiencing it for the first time.

The closer you get, the more your senses are overwhelmed. Ahead there are vendors of every kind, outside there are locals selling ice cream and freshly made smoothies under tents. There is an entrance area that we walk towards.

People seem to be packed in quite tightly, many of them are looking at something. Before you can see anything, a pungent smell of raw fish hits you. The bricks under your feet are wet. The crowd opens slightly and you see a wide display of fish laying on ice chips, the workers wearing rubber boots and waders. The sign above reads Pike Place Fish Co.

The crowd is waiting for something. A nearby gentleman steps forward to speak to someone behind the counter. Soon the workers start chanting, and one of the fish is taken off ice and is being thrown back and forth between the workers.

The crowd claps and is buzzing with the excitement.

Next you weave between people to move on. You pass a large variety of bouquets, labeled with reasonable prices and some with the type of flower they primarily consist of. Dahlias, Peonies, Sunflowers….colors for any taste or style.

Moving on, there is a vendor selling jewelry that is homemade. The older lady behind the table greets you with a smile, and encourages you to pick up anything to look at it. There are earrings and rings with pearls, turquoise, and quartz.

As we continue to move slowly through the crowds, you see many more vendors, including those selling lavender, locally grown produce, fresh pasta, and printed t-shirts.

We also pass a few restaurants, some boasting a waterfront view. There are just as many, if not more vendors to catch a ready made meal at, as there are selling anything else. Looking to grab some lunch, you see an endless array of options. Hot dogs encrusted in breading, fried chicken, fresh bakery items, sandwiches with local fish.

There is a teriyaki chicken stand that catches your eye with it’s food displayed in a case. As you approach, it smells wonderful. After ordering and paying for your food, we make our way back out. The crowd is slow moving, but that’s okay. You use this time to enjoy what’s around you, soaking it all in. After all, that’s why you’re here, right?

Apparently around 30,000 people visit the market per day! That’s an incredible number.

I hope you enjoyed taking a walk with me! Those of you who have been to Seattle or Pike Place Market, what are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your experiences. Comment on this post below, and as always feel free to contact me via email!! I hope you enjoyed this post, and will adventure with me again in future posts!

My First Post: My Adventure for Inner Happiness and How to Find Yours

July 25, 2019 Mikayla Dorn6 Comments

Hi there, welcome to my first blog post! I would love to share with you the story of how I decided to take a leap of faith for myself, and go on the trip I’ve been dreaming of for the past couple years….and hopefully inspire you to do something for yourself too. You deserve it!

I have always had a fascination with travel, even from a young age; I have always loved the exhilaration of experiencing a completely new place. I believe each town, city, and village has a story to tell us.

With that being said, a few years ago, I decided to take a trip to Seattle with my mom for a weekend. Although it was a short time, there was just something about Seattle that drew me in. It felt like a home I had never known before, as strange as that may sound. That was two years ago, last year I returned for another weekend trip.

However, even though I had visited frequently, it still didn’t seem like enough. I still had an itch to go back. When I had free time, I’d find myself looking at Seattle apartments, restaurants, and current news….

Part of what fascinates me about Seattle is city life; I’m a small town girl. I felt the need to experience city life for more than a weekend. I often wondered what is would be like to live in a city, plus what’d be better than the one I had fallen in love with? And also as a lover of writing, this would be a great time for me to do some much needed time working on that.

Now, I definitely did NOT make this decision overnight!! Actually, I waited a little too long to act on it. I had been thinking about this for over a year before I actually took the leap of faith and did it. Why I don’t recommend waiting is because if you don’t live out what you dream of doing, you will feel unsatisfied with life. This happened to me all too quickly….I was unhappy with life in general, and I kept thinking to myself, you have so much to be grateful for so why do you feel like this?? I kept thinking what I could do differently.

This had been something I dreamed of doing, but felt extremely selfish for wanting it. Why? Because I had a relationship, an apartment, and a job that I felt I needed to put my daily effort into, and that it would be wrong of me to step away and do a trip by myself. I felt like everyone would blame me, like they would see it as an inconvenience. After having a long talk with my mom (bless her soul) she actually encouraged me, because she knew it was what I wanted/needed for myself.

After having a heart to heart with my mom, it was a little easier to bring it up to others. Although it came as a shock to everyone, no one discouraged me from doing it because I told them the honest truth: This is what I need to be happy. And I need to choose to be happy. People definitely try to understand that. I felt really bad telling my boss I had to leave my job, even had an embarrassingly tearful conversation with him, but I am very glad that I did, and was able to part on good terms.

Now, with saying that everyone was pretty encouraging, I know that this may not happen for everyone! Maybe they think this is a crazy inconvenience. BUT, I’m telling you that you can do this! You need to do this, because you deserve to do what makes you happy. Everyone deserves to make decisions for themselves that will give them inner peace.

Everyone has things they want to accomplish, but what if you stopped thinking of them as “those things” and start making a plan to do them? Maybe you can’t do it tomorrow, but when is the soonest you can? Following a dream can be logical!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and encourage you to check out more of my posts in the future about travel and more! Feel free to comment or contact me with your thoughts, I’d love to hear from you!