• about
  • City Guides
    • Europe
      • Czechia
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Scotland
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Middle East
    • New Zealand
    • USA
      • Atlanta
      • Chicago
      • COMO
      • Dallas
      • Destin
      • Kansas City
      • Los Angeles
      • NYC
      • Orlando
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • St. Louis
      • Waco
      • South America
  • Tips + Tricks
  • Lifestyle
    • Blogging
  • shop

round trip travel and lifestyle blog

How I Turned a Long Boston Layover Into an Adventure

December 11, 2019
Pin13
Share
Share
Tweet
13 Shares

Every traveler knows the purgatory of a layover. You’re not on your way, you have no designated adventures and if it lasts too long, it just feels like a waste of time. Kristin has provided excellent tips on how to take advantage of your layover (tips 7 through 10 are musts for me!), but what if you’re not stuck in the airport? If you still have a few hours before leaving, if your flight is canceled or if you have more than enough time to switch planes, those tips will just scratch the surface of that dead time zone.

This fall, I ended up in this scenario. I flew to Boston with a full weekend ahead of bridesmaid responsibilities, so I didn’t plan anything else. The wedding wrapped up Sunday evening, and I planned to sleep in and leave the hotel mid-Monday morning for an 11:35 a.m. flight. Plot twist: I was renting a car with two other bridesmaids, one of whom was flying out at 7:25 a.m. Turns out I was in for an early airport run!

After dropping off our early traveler, my friend Emily and I faced a choice: Would we spend almost six more hours at Boston Logan? Or would we squeeze in a tiny adventure with our gap in our schedule? Here’s how we spent our long layover in Boston.

Step 1: Embrace the Adventure

No surprise: We chose adventure! Also no surprise: We were not sunshine and roses before 6 a.m. out of our native time zones. After the drop-off, Emily and I maneuvered off the highway to the best-lit parking lot we could find at this early hour to decide our next steps. Though our brains were a little slow, we found a cute little diner on Yelp that would help us wake up.

Next time: I’d make plans the night before. If you plan better than we did, you can prevent sitting in a parking lot with only your phone as a guide.

Step 2: Expect Something to go Wrong

Or some things. Remember that cute little diner? We never found it—I don’t even remember what it was called. Google Maps was confused by Boston’s underground tunnels and wasn’t helpful with walking directions. We popped into a Pret a Manger we passed, but it was so early they only had beverages available. We had to give up looking for street parking and settle on a pricey garage.

Next time: I would be prepared to be spontaneous. Sometimes even Google Maps doesn’t work how you expect.

Step 3: Eat! Drink!

Don’t doubt the power of addressing the basic levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — in fact, if you only do one thing on this list, pick this. After dealing with rush hour traffic and getting lost, Emily and I were, um, cranky. But when we sat down at Tatte on Summer Street, our morning and moods changed. Black and white tiles patterned the walls and floors, the menu boasted Middle Eastern flair and the atmosphere welcomed conversation. I scarfed down the Egg in a Hole, which was two eggs on a bagel. We perked up with caffeine (coffee for me, tea for Emily), and the sun was finally peeking over the skyscrapers. Morning commuters outside the window reminded us we were in the heart of one of America’s oldest cities, and we didn’t want to sit still.

Next time: When you’re out of your normal routine, it’s easy to forget to make time for a meal. Sustaining yourself on backpack snacks may be practical (and necessary when you’re cranky!), but it’s also one of the easiest ways to soak up local flavor.

Step 4: Look for the Best of What’s Nearby

Google and Yelp are your friends here. Emily and I filtered search results to find attractions that were already open and inexpensive. After scrolling through museums, landmarks, parks and more in Boston, we made our pick: Harvard University. I had never been, and it had been some time for Emily, so why not act like the Gilmore Girls and show up on campus with no tour guide?

We walked Harvard Yard, we found the statue of John Harvard, we found the first programmable computer in the U.S. on display in an academic building! And not sure if you’ve heard, but New England is gorgeous in autumn, and the campus was ripe for top-notch leaf peeping.

Next time: I would get to this part as soon as I can. Best to make that tiny adventure last as long as you can.

And there you go: Only four steps to make your awkward layover an adventure. You could be in one of the most exciting or beautiful places in the world, but you’d never know if you’re only watching for your departure time. Be open to adventure, be prepared to change the plan, get a snack and look around — your adventure is ready for you.

This is a guest post by Taylor Blake.  She is a contributing film critic for ZekeFilm, runs a movie review blog and co-hosts a biweekly Gilmore Girls-themed podcast. All photos courtesy of Taylor Blake.

Author Signature

Share with a friend & save for a future adventure!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Pin13
Share
Share
Tweet
13 Shares
0
0 Leave a Comment

My Fave Finds

Previous Celebrating 5 Years of Round Trip
Next Vlog: How to Pack Everything in a Carry-On

Related Posts

7 Road Trip Essentials For Your Next Adventure

16 Things They Don’t Teach You in French Class

How to Spend a Weekend in Morocco

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Bonjour

Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
learn more about my story

Ad

Top Posts & Pages

  • 50 Most Used French Verbs to Know + Free Flashcards
  • The Beginner’s Guide to Universal Studios
  • 12 More Things to Do in St. Louis
  • 7 Best Destin Restaurants
  • bonjour

About

Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
learn more about my story

Want free access to my 30-minute travel budgeting course?

Hi, it's been a minute, and I'd love to reintroduc Hi, it's been a minute, and I'd love to reintroduce myself👋

🇺🇸I'm a Missouri girl living in southern France where I teach English to French kiddos and update my blog, Round Trip. I moved here in the height of Covid last fall, and boy, do I have some STORIES that I dish in my brand new magazine (keep scrolling for the dirty deets)

🐝I majored in magazine editing and would love to talk your ear off about the Oxford comma. Oh, and I won the school spelling bee in 7th grade. Yep, I peaked😂

💃I'm a middle child, and I don't let my family forget that. I've always loved the attention, and I suppose that manifests in my addiction to glitter and leopard print.

📖This week I launched Round Trip: The Magazine, a 20-page print + digital experience. It’s jam-packed with articles about how I moved to France during a pandemic, the best French villages to add to your bucket list and how I saved $7,000 to move abroad. I spill the tea on how travel and life abroad has taught me the best lessons about insecurity and confidence, heartbreak and love👀

So very nice to meet you! Bop over to link in bio to check out this week's magazine launch❤️

#introducingme #introduction #magazine #roundtripthemag #aboutme #demoi #frioulmarseille #glamourgirl #glittergirl #leopard #entrepreneur #enneagram3 #enneagram3w4 #enneagram4 #microinfluencer #americansinfrance #americansabroad #frioul #frioulisland #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder10k #marseille #marseillemaville
(giveaway) What's a magazine launch week without a (giveaway) What's a magazine launch week without a giveaway?!💥 I recently announced my latest project, Round Trip: The Magazine. This 20-page physical + digital magazine is jam-packed with articles on how I made the move to France during a pandemic, the best French villages to visit, how I saved thousands of dollars to travel and the lessons I've learned through travel. And lots, lots more!

🎉Here's how to enter my giveaway (it takes 30 seconds!):
1️⃣Like this post
2️⃣Follow moi @round.trip
3️⃣Tag a pal who's missing travel like CRAZY

BONUS: Share this post to your story and tag me to get an additional two entries.

This giveaway is not sponsored or affiliated with Instagram in any way. Winner will be selected at random and notified via DM. No purchase necessary. Flat lay design by the wonderfully talented @mariiela_garciia

#giveaway #magazine #blogger #blogmagazine #roundtripthemag #contest #giveaways #freestuff #magazines #flatlay #mockup #graphicdesign #graphicdesignismypassion #launchweek #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #microinfluencer #microinfluencers #bloggersunder2k #bloggers5k #bloggersunder10k #enneagram3 #americansabroad #americansinfrance #imisstravel #missingtravel #assistantsdelangue #tapif
😳Here’s a little secret for you: I was terrif 😳Here’s a little secret for you: I was terrified I would fall flat on my face. Now I’m happy and loving every second of life in France, but let’s rewind the clock back to one year ago, shall we?

⏰I was a mess. Last spring, it’d already been several months since I submitted my application to teach English in France. My heart was set on living abroad. And it was shattered as headlines and exclamation points littered the world with this virus called Covid.

🙈Between March and August, I might as well have had the words “I don’t know” tattooed on my forehead. My heart was constantly in flux: do I keep fighting for a dream that exists only in abstract? Or do I give up my dream to move abroad because life is too complicated or rather it’s just not possible?

🍳I had put all my eggs in one basket. I’d told everyone that the plan was to move to France, and now all of life’s questions could be summed up in a slew of question marks. I feared embarrassment and failure. But more than anything, I had long dreamed of living in France. It wasn’t only a question of pride but of passion.

⏩Fast forward to today: I’ve been living in France for six months, and although it’s not always perfect, I’m in love with my life here. Sincerely. I take walks around my neighborhood, look around and constantly say to myself, “Is this seriously my life?”

❓I get a lot of questions about my life in France. And for this reason along with the journey to get here, I decided to create something. This week, I'm launching Round Trip: The Magazine. It’s a 20+ page magazine (digital or physical — you pick!) filled with stories, travel tips, language learning ideas, bucket list destinations and beyond. Plus, a password-protected online portal with bonus content.

🎊And it's available now — link in bio!

#lacorniche #marseille #marseillecity #roundtripthemag #marseillefr #mediterraneansea #magazine #entrepreneur #microinfluencer #microinfluencers #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder10k #france
(big news!) ☎️Travel called — it wants you b (big news!) ☎️Travel called — it wants you back. The cabin fever is real as we’ve been cooped up in our homes for the past however many months. Whether you’re booking a flight ASAP or wanting to play it safe for a while, many of us have been daydreaming about travel. We miss the thrill of takeoff, the exhilaration of exploration, the elation of discovery.

✈️That's why TODAY I’m launching Round Trip: The Magazine, a 20+ page physical + digital experience. It’s jam-packed with articles about how I moved to France during a pandemic, the best French villages to add to your bucket list and how I saved $7,000 to move abroad.

❤️My heart in creating this magazine is to provide a more immersive, intimate experience than my blog posts and Instagram stories. 

🍵It’s more than just the practical tips but also the raw + real, juicy deets. I spill the tea on how travel and life abroad has taught me the best lessons about insecurity and confidence, heartbreak and love.

I’ve spent HOURS pouring my heart into these pages, and I’m confident these words will not only help you plan your future trips but also inspire you to chase your passions harder.

Today the pre-sale (and sale price!) is available to my email subscribers. Not on the list? Comment 💥and I'll add you to the list. Allez-y !

#lacorniche #magazine #blogger #bloggervibes #roundtrip #roundtripthemag #marseille #marseillefr #marseillecity #marseillefrance #mediterranean #mediterraneansea #selfpublished #microinfluencer #microinfluencers #bloggersunder10k #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder2k #entrepreneur #france #vivelafrance
Sometimes I just don’t believe my life🙈 Toda Sometimes I just don’t believe my life🙈

Today we took a casual 20ish minute boat ride to a nearby island I can see from my backyard. We hiked up to the ancient fort and danced to music mere feet from ruins — all with views of the Mediterranean Sea and Marseille in all her sunny glory.

I think back to a year ago when my life felt heavy and full of question marks. I think of all the hoops I jumped through and all the doors God opened for me to be here. I think of the daily prayers for answers, long walks to let out the stress and the anxious tears.

And friends, it was all worth it. What a beautiful thing reflection is! What an amazing thing it is to see the pain that was and the joy that is! 

The months leading up to moving to France were absolute mayhem, but oh, I am so beyond glad I didn’t quit when it was hard. Because I am in absolute love with my life in southern France☀️
Been kinda quiet on the socials as of late👀I've Been kinda quiet on the socials as of late👀I've been soaking up the Marseille sunshine with long walks, picnics and the not-so occasional ice cream😋

💪I've also been hard at work. For the past two months, I've been creating my latest project, Round Trip: The Magazine. I've sent out surveys, edited and workshopped this piece for hours upon hours. And I am delighted to say I am all set to launch in APRIL!!

🤔What is this so-called magazine, and why should I care? Alas, in September, I moved to France to teach English — yes, in the middle of a pandemic. It's been quite the wild ride, and along the way, I've been getting lots of questions about my journey here.

I also wanted to take my blog to the next level. As much as I love sharing my travel tips + life abroad peeks on my blog and social channels, I longed to provide a more immersive, intimate experience. Ya know, like a coffee date with your best gal pal?☕

Given that I have a degree in magazine editing, I thought it only fitting to answer the questions, share my stories and dish all the dirty deets in magazine format. And I am sooo stoked for next month's launch!! Want to be first to hear when this magazine drops and to get the pre-sale price? Comment with ⭐and I'll add you to my insiders list.

#microinfluencer #microinfluencers #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder10k #marseille #marseillecity #lacorniche #faussemonnaie #malmousque  #lepetitnice #ansedelafaussemonnaie #mediterraneansea #mediterranean #blueskies #southernfrance #jaimelafrance #vivelafrance #france #francetravel #americansabroad #americansinfrance #americaninfrance #expatlife #americanabroad
🍷😋Best eats + sips in BORDEAUX: 🍦@glace 🍷😋Best eats + sips in BORDEAUX: 

🍦@glaceriedumas_bordeaux Tori and I stayed in Bordeaux for two nights, and we visited Glacerie Dumas twice. Long story short: it was delightful. The first night I ordered ice cream macaron sandwiches. And the second night I ordered their chocolate ice cream topped with chantilly. 

🍜@padang8padang I am always in search of a good bowl of pad thai, and this fit just the bill. My pad thai packed flavor, and I was so bummed that my tummy wasn’t big enough to finish the whole bowl. Reasonably priced and steps away from a darling square. 

🍔@cafekokomo Located in a bubbly square, Café Kokomo serves up burgers, fries, lemonade and more of your American favorites. The best part of all (okay, close) is that they handed out those gummy Krabby Patty candies with our order. AMAZE.

🍇L’Oenothèque: Tor and I decided to make our wine tasting at our Airbnb. We found a wine shop right across from Église Notre Dame de Bordeaux. The kind shopkeeper helped us pick out a selection of regional wines for our charcuterie night, and she even pointed to where they came from on her map of Bordeaux. The shop isn't super active online, so here's the address: 1 Place du Chapelet

What are you craving for your trip to Bordeaux? Save this post for your next trip to southwestern France. Link in bio has more Bordeaux food + activity recs❗

#padangpadangfr #padangpadang #padangpadangbordeaux #glaceriedumas #glaceriedumasbordeaux #glaceriedumasfr #bordeauxeats #bordeauxrestau #eatbordeaux #macaron #icecream #bordeauxdessert #thingstodobordeaux #bordeauxcityguide #bordeauxmaville #cafekokomo #cafekokomobordeaux #LOenothèque #Oenothèque #bordeauxwine #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder10k #bordeauxfr
Copyright © 2021 round trip
Theme by SheShoppes
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.