I’ve been traveling the globe and writing about it since 2006, first solo, then with my husband, and then with our daughter. When my healthy, strong husband passed away mid-flight in January 2025, I became a solo parent traveler in an instant. It was the beginning of a life I never expected, but I knew I still wanted to show our daughter the world.
Even as a widow with an infant, I choose to see the passport as half full, not half empty. So, whether you’re new to travel or just need encouragement to keep going, I want the Half Full Passport to be a resource for single parents, the grieving, and travelers everywhere. Welcome.
Unpopular opinion: Travel with a toddler doesn’t have to revolve around toddler activities! I looked into the Children’s Museum, Railroad Museum, and other child-specific activities, and they were either way too expensive, the timing didn’t work around nap time, or they just didn’t seem like something my daughter would like.
My favorite thing to do when I travel? It’s hard to choose, but very near the top of the list is shopping for gifts! I love to pick up birthday and Christmas gifts from the places I travel, especially the ones that I know loved ones would be interested in, but will likely never visit. When planning my trip to Syria, thought, gifting wasn’t really on my radar. I had a few other things on my mind. When I arrived, however, I found that Syrians have some of the best gifts in the world. Check them out. Here are the best gifts to buy in Syria!
My favorite kind of shopping? Definitely coffee shopping! Local coffee shops can be quirky, funky, classy, anything really. It’s kind if like a box of chocolate… You never know what you’re gonna get! Savannah has everything. I lost count of how many coffee shops Iris and I tried out, but we did all the hard work for you on our weekend trip. Here are the best coffee shops in Savannah!
Southern comfort food is best in Tennessee. Am I biased, as a native Tennesseean? Sure. But it’s the hill I’m dying on today. From smoked meats to sweet cobblers and mac and cheese for my baby girl, we came hungry and left full, body and soul. Here is the best food we ate in Chattanooga, y’all.Â
It’s the most awkward part of travel: Tipping. Is this a tipping culture? Is it not? Will people be offended if I don’t tip enough? Do the locals get mad when tourists tip too much? Can I ask how much an appropriate tip is? It’s uncomfortable, confusing, and because Syria
It’s my favorite thing to do in a new city: Visit the coffee shops. All of them. Or at least as many as possible. Chattanooga has become so cool and trendy, yet remained down-home and small-towny, I knew their coffee scene would be worth writing about. So here it is, to help you plan your trip around your caffeination needs: The best coffee shops in Chattanooga, Tennessee!
