Are you a solo traveler? I have had very little experience traveling by myself. I love to travel and explore new places but my husband is not one who loves to travel too much. Bummer I know! I recently had the opportunity to meet up with my little sister for about a week while she was on a work trip in Ohio. Considering I had never been to Ohio and my lil sis and I have not had a sisters trip EVER, I jumped up and down to take the trip!! And I literally jumped up and down and couldn’t stop smiling:) My sister has had a lot going on the last few years and I could not pass up the chance to support her and love on her.
My sister works for a large family resort in Texas but they have resorts in other states as well. She is an extremely motivated and hard working girl and always has been. At times working 2-3 jobs to support her family. She is a rockstar in her current position and is required to travel to the other resorts to do crisis control and get things back on track. This is what took us to Ohio!
What resort you ask? KALAHARI!! I wish I had known about their resorts when my boys were younger. Think Great Wolf Lodge but for a more diverse age group. Honestly, I have never experienced GWL but I have heard it caters to more of the younger kid crowd. Kalahari has waterslides and other fun areas for all ages from littles to oldies.
The Journey to Ohio & Our Sisters Trip
My husband, boys, and their sweet girlfriends piled into the car to drive me over the hill to the airport. I may have been a little bummed that they were headed to the mall to shop without me but I was very excited for my adventure! I made everyone snap a pic with me before heading out too! Remember when you could take a person all the way to their gate and wait with them to board, stand at the window and watch the plane take off? I miss those days. I was a little nervous to hop on a plane alone with all the crazy we see and hear about going on up in the air but I got over it!
My husband wanted me to have a good experience while being relaxed and have fun so he surprised me and booked me a round trip flight on United in First Class. I have flown First Class a few times in the past and was very much looking forward to the extra space around me and added perks. A girl has to take pampering wherever she can get it even if it is from a flight attendant in First Class!
First Class Flights Are the Way to Go
I purposely packed all my stuff in a carry on rolling suitcase so I did not have to worry about losing my luggage when I changed flights. Also, I packed an over sized bag that I fit my purse, MacBook, snacks (which I didn’t even end up using since the flight provided me with plenty of sustenance), and other necessities I couldn’t fit into my suitcase. I am the consistent over packer but I can fit a ton into anything! This trip I even grabbed a set of cool packing cubes to keep things organized to my liking and easier for me to deal with. Most of it I didn’t use and don’t usually need but a girl needs to have lots of options for any occasion!
The Anxiety of Solo Travel
As I waited at the terminal to board my first flight, I started to feel a little overwhelmed. I had all my stuff in hand and was in the boarding line and so many people were just crowding the boarding agent stand. Ummm, pretty sure we all have our seat assignments already so I’m not sure why we need to feel such a need to rush the line, cut in front of others, and get so frustrated. And yes, I know not all airlines do assigned seats but this one does.
I had a nice gentleman in line next to me who kindly had me step in front of him. He must have had a wife or daughter at home. I definitely took a big sigh of relief when I sat in my seat. I only struggled a little bit to throw that heavy suitcase in the overhead but I did it like a boss!
On this flight I had a nice man about my age next to me. We easily chatted a bit about our kiddos and families then got comfy on our devices for the flight. I told him about the plans for our sisters trip. After getting seated and settled I was offered a beverage before take off, which I declined. Later in the flight we had a whole meal served that wasn’t too bad and I am a very picky eater! It was definitely enough to fill me up and hold me till my next flight.
The flight attendants were courteous and helpful and never seemed bothered. I had a tight connection and was a little stressed. Our flight got a late start and I knew that when I flew into Denver I had to get to the tram and switch terminals. I know it’s asking a lot but it would be nice if you are on the same airline that you stay in the same terminal.
Almost There
Being in First Class does give you the advantage when getting off the plane. It made the flight to this sisters trip enjoyable. You don’t have to wait for all the Dick and Jane’s to get their stuff out of the bins and get off the plane. And even when they ask passengers to let others ahead who are catching a tight connection, the average passenger does not give a shit or get out of the way. I yanked my luggage down barely missing another passenger and got off the plane as fast as possible and headed to the tram.
If you have never been to Denver, it is gigantic!! Getting onto the tram is like stepping into a gauntlet where you are fighting for space and air. Super stressful!! Anyway, after getting through that I had to pretty much run to my next gate. I kept telling myself to relax, it takes a decent amount of time to get everyone boarded and I have my seat assigned already so I could stop off in the dang bathroom! Which I did and made it in time to jump on the plane.
The second leg of my way there was just as nice and easy. The flight attendants were nice. There was one female attendant though that obviously enjoyed serving a few nice looking male passengers a little more than everyone else. You are not getting tips lady We all paid the same to fly in the good seats, this isn’t a bar. I arrived in Ohio pretty late and the large airport was a ghost town. I hightailed to the exit and anxiously awaited my pick up from my little sister.
Sunny Sundusky Ohio
So where was I going for my sisters trip? Sunny Sandusky! It is home to Cedar Point, one of the biggest roller coaster amusement parks and lots of other destination spots! To get more information on the area and sites, you can check out northeastohiofamilyfun.com , cityofsandusky.com , and TripAdvisor.
I was able to research the area and see things I might be able to fit in. I was hoping to head out on the ferry to the island in Lake Erie. However, it just did not work out. My sister was able to take the ferry. She did some exploring on her own before I arrived and fell in love with the bars and restaurants and the sweet island vibe and history. Most definitely a must do!
We did explore their cute little downtown area and local mall. We even grabbed a pedi at a local nail shop. This is where I accidentally left my wallet. Then I had a horrible panic attack and a sleepless night until I got up in the morning, called, and was reassured they had it waiting for me! I was so relieved to find it again. And to be just the way I’d left it!! I am a klutzy girl and can be forgetful too.
And if you are wondering, I did not mention a word of it to my husband until I was back in town and on our way home from the airport. Just the thought of telling him I had lost it gave me enough anxiety. I could already hear his chastising voice about how irresponsible I can be and can’t do anything on my own. Better to remedy the issue and share then share, hear his shit, and have the situation remedied. At least in this case!
Kalahari Resorts Was Wonderful
My sister gave me the full tour of the resort along with history on the owners and their mission. I loved seeing all the personal photographs throughout the hallways that showcased their family and safaris. The theme is safari at the resort to recreate what they loved on their trips. They also have a fund set up to help provide clean water to areas.
This resort was preparing to undergo a face lift. The Ohio location is the first resort they established and was in the process of revamping. I will share more details about this resort in a future post. However, if you don’t want to wait, you can pop on kalahariresorts.com to find locations, deals, and info! It was so awesome to see my sister in action and hear all the staff rave about her skills and ability to get things done. She is a rockstar! If my dad taught her anything, it was to be confident and hustle!
While my sister worked, I hung out like a lonely tourist at the resort. I enjoyed delish sweet tea, Starbucks (because they have one in the resort), yummy sweets from their sweet shop, exploring the multiple merch stores, laughing kids, and family fun all around. Sometimes it is great to just sit back and observe without any one needing anything from you. It gives you a chance to catch your breath and just be. I don’t get that very often.
Sister Time
It felt so good to just be with my sister. This sisters trip is what we needed. When we grow up, have our own families and lives, it can be so hard to make time for our siblings. Especially if you are like us and live in different states and are in different stages of life. My sis and I would grab dinner together every night! We even had a night out with a couple of her local friends (who welcomed me in with open arms, shared great info on Ohio, Kalahari, and my lil sis!)! She even dragged me to karaoke:) And, my sister can sing! It was so much fun! The days went by way too fast and before I knew it, I was packing up and being dropped back off at the airport. Too short a visit but I think it will always feel like that.
The Journey Back Home to Oregon and My Family
I waited in line for at least an hour to get through security at the airport in Cleveland and then made it to my gate pretty easily. Grabbed a Starbucks, hit the bathroom, and boarded my flight. I had another very tight connection and was way stressed heading into Denver again. My flight had some delays getting into the air but we made it.
Another stellar round of service in First Class from the attendants and food that was pretty decent. Besides the food and beverages, I was given a nice hot towel to clean up with after boarding and great pampering. Another plus with being in the front of the plane … a cleaner, less used bathroom. For a menopausal woman who feels like she has a baby bladder, this is pretty important! That alone might be worth the cost of the flight.
The Denver Airport is Huge
Once in Denver I had to jog to the other side of the gigantic terminal to find my gate. It was at the complete other side of the damn airport. Luckily for me, my next flight was not actually boarding yet like it was indicating. Instead, I ended up standing in the freaking boarding line for almost an hour. Dripping wet by the way because, again, being a menopausal middle aged woman is so cool or actually, hot! Lol!! My husband had to drive almost 2 hours to the airport to pick me up. So, I had to let him know I would be late. At least I made my flight which we thought I would not. Happy to not end up needing to find another flight home!
By this time, my overpacked bags were getting very heavy. After boarding, all the same things were given to me in First Class like my previous flights. It definitely helped me to relax and have a nice flight home. I was so looking forward to seeing my family! Once we landed back in Oregon we sat on the tarmac for over 30 minutes before the plane was pulled in and we could get off the damn thing! It was so great to hug my husband and oldest son. I didn’t get to hug my youngest till I got home. He chose to sit out the ride to the airport to pick me up.
My Sisters Trip Was So Needed
While on this trip it felt pretty good to just be responsible for myself and only my needs. I know I was with my sister in Ohio, but I was alone a good portion of the time. I am hardly ever alone and sometimes forget what that feels like. It is probably good for our souls to take the time we need for ourselves occasionally. If you are like me (a SAHM of older kids and a very doting husband that takes care of you), it feels good to do things on our own and remind ourselves just how capable we are to do things alone. Also, it is so very important to put time aside to spend with our siblings or other family members. I may not talk to my sister all the time. However, it always feels like no time has passed when we connect.
So, take that trip! Meet up in the middle with a sibling or best friend! It is so worth it. Take your time, flash your sweet smile at everyone, be patient, and enjoy the free show happening around you!! I got home grateful for the time with my sister, grateful to be back home with my family, and so blessed to get a solid reboot for myself.
Talk soon:)