Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains trip recap

A week ago today, we departed on our very first trip since mid-March...and it was FANTASTIC!

Though limited, these USA trips are a little piece of positivity that we get to share with our travel community.

Keep reading to see how the trip to Asheville & the Great Smoky Mountains went...

Exploring Asheville, North Carolina

Our small group met up in Asheville, did a quick welcome meeting, then set out for some famous North Carolina BBQ and washed it down with a visit to a local craft brewery.

*Before departing, everyone had their temperature checked. Anyone with a reading of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher would not be permitted to continue their trip

‍Meandering through Bryson City

After a good night's rest, we set out to explore the quaint mountain town of Bryson City.

We stopped into some local shops and even saw the part of the famous Appalachian Trail. We ended up visiting this town a few times during our trip to grab lunch.

Hiking and rafting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A highlight for the majority of our travelers was the whitewater rafting! The rapids were the perfect intensity level to be fun for everyone, no matter their experience level. We also got our fair share of fresh air with several hikes through The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just look at those views at the summit of the Lonesome Pine Overlook trail!

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‍Camping under the stars

After a night in a boutique hotel in Asheville, we camped under the blanket of the night sky for two nights, complete with private tents and home cooked meals.

To provide a little extra room to spread out and provide extra COVID safety measures, all travelers slept in their own tent.

If you're leery of camping, don't be! These short camping trips are perfect for a traveler new to camping. Your trip leader will be there to help set up your tent and walk you through cooking meals. You'll be a camping pro in no time!

The Millennial Travel Podcast

This week also brought us some excellent travel hacking tips with the release of the newest episode of The Millennial Travel Podcast!

This week, Matt Wilson sat down with Nick Ewen of The Points Guy and talked about the best travel hacking tips, including the best airlines to earn miles with and which travel credit cards are worth your money.

Have a listen to take your travel hacking to the next level!

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Good News from Around the World!

Media outlets seemingly overflowing with headlines full of doom and gloom. While it's important to stay informed with current events, it's also important to find some positive news as well. We've gathered some uplifting travel news and we're sharing it with you below:

• Mexico is allowing international travelers into their country.
• Beginning in September, Costa Rica will open its borders to international travelers, including US residents from New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut.
• The global Level 4 Travel Ban has been lifted, which previously advised U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel.
• Thailand is welcoming long-stay international travelers to Phuket.

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