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About Me

Nicole L

Nicole L

Hiya! I'm a 35 year-old native Arizonan, who started traveling around the US and Mexico as a child, and haven't stopped. I've been to 23 countries in a wide range of travel styles, writing about my personal experiences and sharing travel guides and tips (including teaching abroad in Thailand), with a little history thrown in. Hope you enjoy!

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  • teotihuacan header
    Contiki,  Mexico,  Travel

    Contiki Mexican Fiesta: Visiting Teotihuacan

    June 8, 2014 / No Comments

    Updated June 2020Waking up in Mexico City was unlike any morning I’ve experienced. It was beyond noisy, but it didn’t matter. We had to be up and on the bus ready to go by 8 am for our tour of Mexico City and Teotihuacan. Getting on the bus this morning was a little different than other mornings. The group size increased by nearly 20 additional travelers. We tried as best we could, to gathered into the very back of the bus. We liked our original crew and struggled with combining new and old. But, we adjusted quickly to the change in group dynamic. National Palace Our morning started with driving…

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    Contiki Mexican Fiesta: Mexico City

    June 7, 2014 / No Comments

    Updated June 2020Waking up in Taxco was quite magical. The view even better with the sun rise than it was at sunset. I cannot explain how beautiful this mountainside mining town is and pictures don’t quite show it justice. Ish gave us an early morning deadline to eat breakfast then get onto the bus and we all followed. We had another long day, full of adventures. Today’s journey had us driving from Taxco back into Mexico City with a few stops in between. Mexico City is the largest city I’ve ever been to, by this point in my traveled, so I was excited to head back in to explore. Xochimilco…

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    Contiki Mexican Fiesta: Acapulco to Taxco

    May 13, 2014 / No Comments

    Updated June 2020Goodbye Acapulco, beautiful beaches, and the ocean. Hello Taxco, the mountains, silver, and jewelry, and hello haunted hotel. We left Acapulco bright and early to head back inland to the small town of Taxco. Taxco is located on the side of a mountain in the state of Guerrero, southwest from Mexico City. Taxco, Puebla Magico At roughly 50 thousand people, the small town of Taxco is best known for its silver mines, jewelry, and its silverware industry. These, plus its colonial constructions and picturesque scenery, are the reasons why Taxco is another one Mexico’s Pueblo Magico towns. I couldn’t even begin to describe to you what I was thinking when I…

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    Contiki,  Mexico,  Travel

    Contiki Mexican Fiesta: Scuba Diving in Acapulco

    May 1, 2014 / No Comments

    Updated June 2020Today was another full day in Acapulco. This time Contiki gave us the option of what water activity we wanted to do. This is day trip is an option excursion and includes three different options; kayaking, snorkeling or scuba diving. Since I won this trip because of my fear of the ocean, I decided it was only fitting that I scuba dove on this excursion. Originally, I was the only one who selected scuba diving as my excursion. It did kind of bum me out as I was hoping to experience diving in Acapulco with other friends. Thankfully, I learned regardless of the excursion, we were all together…

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    April 30, 2014 / No Comments

    (Updated June 2020) Staying awake partying at Paradise nightclub until almost 3am was probably not the smartest idea. I had a packed day filled outdoors and wildlife activities with a few other tour mates. This is an optional excursion from Contiki and wasn’t very popular. However after hearing what we would be doing, I immediately jumped in, along with Stef, Steph, and Aimee. Barra Vieja: Laguna de Tres Palos In the morning, following breakfast, the four of us girls got into an unmarked white van. It was strange at first, but our tour guide was in the driver’s seat so we weren’t too worried. His name was Roger Doger. I…

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    Contiki Mexican Fiesta: Cuernavaca to Acapulco

    April 28, 2014 / No Comments

    (Updated June 2020)Waking up in the morning in Cuernavaca was much better than in Puebla. For starters, I was feeling a thousand times better and could actually manage to make it to breakfast. Plus, we were leaving the countryside of Mexico and heading westbound towards the beach destination of Acapulco. Acapulco is well known throughout the United States as a spring break destination. It’s not as popular as Puerto Vallarta or Cabo, but it still gets quite the spring break crowd. Regardless of popularity, I was excited to head from Cuernavaca to Acapulco for some beach time RnR. The Morning Journey The morning routine was a pretty typical one. Over…

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    April 23, 2014 / No Comments

    (Updated June 2020)The start of the second morning wasn’t off to the best start. For starters, I woke up in the morning feeling like crap and slightly frustrated that I was getting sick 2 days into the tour. It wasn’t from alcohol as I know I didn’t drink that much the night before. I stuck to XX Amber and Negro Modelo, which are two of my favorite Mexican beers. Instead of breakfast, I tried getting a few more minutes of sleep along with taking a shower. Unfortunately, I still wasn’t feeling up to snuff. I barely managed to pack with enough time to walk down stairs and catch the bus.…

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    April 23, 2014 / No Comments

    (Updated June 2020)It’s finally time to start my 9-day Mexican Fiesta adventure with Contiki. Before heading to Puebla, we’re taking a small tour around the massive Mexico City or Ciudad de Mexico. Contiki tours for Mexico are changing starting March 2021. Located in the heart of Mexico, this capital city isn’t part of any one of the 31 states. It is part of the Federal District, similar to Washington D.C. and it is the country’s largest city. In 2014, Mexico City was the 3rd largest metropolitan area (population included) in the world growing to nearly 22-24 million people during the work days. It’s hard to fathom until you experience it. The morning started…

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    April 22, 2014 / No Comments

    (Updated June 2020)When I woke up the next day, I was still in complete shock from my #NoRegrets Day adventure in the open waters.Did I really just face my fear and concur it? Was yesterday just a dream? How did I get to be someone so lucky to live out a day like yesterday?I can remember laying in bed for a good solid 30 minutes reflecting back on the last 24 hours. I was thanking the Lord for not only the experience and chance of a lifetime, but for providing me the opportunity concur something that has held me back in the past. Acropora Palmata Restoration Program I knew the…

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    April 17, 2014 / No Comments

    (Updated June 2020)When I first won this No Regrets Day trip off twitter from Contiki, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, the day has finally arrived to face my fear of the open waters. It’s been a long and crazy three months. From learning to scuba dive to packing, to flying to Cancun, nothing could have prepared me for the day I was about to have. My No Regrets Day was finally here. Preparing for Our Dives The day before, my team of divers noticed that the wind was picking up pretty intensely. Although ,I don’t know much about the ocean, I do know that this isn’t the greatest…

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About Me

Nicole L

Nicole L

Hiya! I'm a 35 year-old native Arizonan, who started traveling around the US and Mexico as a child, and haven't stopped. I've been to 23 countries in a wide range of travel styles, writing about my personal experiences and sharing travel guides and tips (including teaching abroad in Thailand), with a little history thrown in. Hope you enjoy!

View Full Profile →

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mapless_adventures

No Map. No Plan. Just Life. | Stories, Guides and Tips from a Solo-Female Traveler exploring the world through Mapless Adventures

Nicole | Travel Blogger
Not being able to travel all the time is rough, bu Not being able to travel all the time is rough, but having a group of friends like mine makes staying put a little easier!!!
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#rockingthe80s #borninthe80s #80sfashion #80sparty #nottraveling #friendships #weekendparty
Cycling has been my outlet and my escape from the Cycling has been my outlet and my escape from the busyness of life! Since October 2022, I’m down 18 pounds! I’m hoping for another 30 and know I can do it! 2023 is my year I stop messing around and actually accomplish what I say I’m going to accomplish!
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So what’s my phrase this year:
FOLLOW THROUGH
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I’m the person who starts a project and never finishes, or gives up because I don’t want to put the necessary energy into it anymore. Enough is enough. I need to follow through with what I start, whether it’s my fitness journey, my saving money goal, my house projects, or my work goals, I need to be better at completing all the things I start. 
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#newyearnewme #itsabouttime #theyearofme #myword #followthrough #letsgo #cycling #ifit #finallygoingtodoit #weightloss #weightwatchers #qsciences #iwillfinishwhatistart
Extra thankful this year! 3 countries and counting Extra thankful this year! 3 countries and counting babe! Next up…to be determined but you are my favorite travel partner!
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#happythanksgiving #travelpartners #travellife #travelblogger #thankful #thankfulfortravel #wheretonext #nextdestinationplease #nextdestination #maplessadventures #travelbloggerlife #travelvibes
Jerome, Arizona is a beautiful hillside town locat Jerome, Arizona is a beautiful hillside town located along highway 89A between Sedona and Prescott. It takes about 2 hours from Phoenix and is a good location for a day trip adventure!
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Jerome was established in 1876 as a copper mining camp and at its peak in the 1920s, was the fourth largest town in Arizona with around 15,000 people.
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The mine closed in 1953 and the population dwindled to less than 100 people, promoting the town to a ghost town. In 1967, the federal government designated Jerome as a National Historic District.
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#jerome #jeromeaz #jeromearizona #smalltownarizona #ghosttown #historictowns #explorearizona #arizona #arizonaliving #azlife #arizonalife #daytrips #arizonagirl #jeromeghosttown
Day trip to Jerome, Arizona was a success! • We Day trip to Jerome, Arizona was a success!
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We wandered Haynes, a small ghost town with lots of old equipment and trucks, at lunch at the Huanted Hamburger, went wine tasting @caduceuscellars and the Original Jerome Winery, and ended the day with a Ghost Tour learning about some of the history of the mine and mining industry!
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I highly recommend visiting Jerome if you need a fun and unique day trip from Phoenix!
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If you like haunted hotels, you might want to stay the night at Jerome Grand Hotel, which is the old hospital and still has the original elevator!
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#jerome #jeromeaz #jeromearizona #daytrip #arizonasmalltowns #ghosttown #miningtown #arizonatowns #explorearizona #arizonaadventures #wanderarizona #arizonagirl #arizonalife #arizonaliving #arizonalifestyle
Another non-traveling weekend even though I’m on Another non-traveling weekend even though I’m on fall break from work! Instead we are doing a staycation at my parents condo and are enjoying the day in true German fashion… at Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake!
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#fourpeaks #fourpeaksbrewery #fourpeaksoktoberfest #oktoberfestArizona #tempetownlake #tempearizona #fourpeaksbrewing #weekendadventures #saturdayvibes #saturday #maplessadventures #notcurrentlytraveling
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