Holiday spirit has been elusive in my world but I finally caught the bug this week. These last several days I have spent with my East Coast Adventure Pal Nichola doing all the Christmasey things her town has to offer.

Friends, Pittsburgh knows how to celebrate the holidays. 

Christmas trees in the Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Art, lights at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, more lights at Kennywood, an awe inspiring holiday model train display at the Trolley Museum and Christmas With The Pops at the Pittsburgh Symphony were the big things. 

We also enjoyed holiday lights across the city, sipped hot chocolate and enjoyed way more Christmas sweets than should be legal.

Looking at things unfamiliar was good for my brain and to jumpstart some creativity. A great example is Randyland, an outdoor art installation like nothing I have ever seen. There were bookstores, breakfast at a Mexican bakery and a slice of pop culture at the Andy Warhol Museum.  

Oh, the stories I have to tell!

With Christmas on the horizon, I’ll show you some of the festive stuff first and we will circle back later to the things that aren’t so timely.

A change of scenery and time with my friend is exactly what my mental health needed. A few hours in and all the stress and anxiety of my regular life was nearly forgotten. I slept well and my mind went quiet. Also, after a few days of eating and drinking basically whatever I liked, going back to healthier eating habits sounds, if not welcome, at least tolerable! 

My friend has family memberships to several museums around her city, an investment in the places but also a way to pop in and out at will, taking with her friends and family for fun outings. This made our adventure much more affordable as did staying at her house and cooking at home some.  After being in and out of the cold all day, it was wonderful coming home to a warm meal. 

All of this contributed to the affordability and fun of the trip. 

This is my rather un-subtle way of reminding you that adventure comes in many, many forms. It doesn’t have to involve a cruise ship or a resort. In fact, I would encourage you to look for other things including places close to home or those where you have friends and family willing to host you for a few days. In fact, I have many friends who have moved away who complain that they have to come home to see loved ones and that no one ever comes to visit them. I think it means a lot when someone they care about cares enough to go to them occasionally. 

And remember to start saving those credit card points and to figure out the hotel rewards program that works best for you so you can go further, longer! Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Tomorrow we go to Kennywood!