no gps needed here

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I am all about trying something new and getting others to hop on board with me. You could call me a cheerleader of adventure. I keep the excitement and curiosity of kid and constantly want to explore as if I’m still 8 years old. I hope that never changes.

Last May I quit my job, got rid of my apartments and sold everything I owned then drove from Virginia to Alaska with no plan. (If you have read here for a while, you know the story: Alaska was my 50th state, it was a lifelong goal, and I ended up on the road for 5 months with the trip being a wild success.) I didn’t use a GPS and I still don’t use one. On the trip I didn’t even stop at a AAA office or look at a map until I got to Madison Wisconsin. I didn’t know Alaska Highway was “world famous” until I got to it:

The great part about trying new things is that you never know what kind of surprise will be around the corner. I personally think it’s better not to plan out/know what route you are going to take somewhere until day of. Can you imagine driving along and happening on something like this out of nowhere?

(See Pablito, Juan and Juanita hanging out?:)

I spent a long time wandering around the rows and rows of signs and plaques people had left from all over the world. This spot was a complete surprise to me and wouldn’t have been nearly as cool if I had known it was coming.

There were countless new things I saw and tried on my journey to and through Alaska. Here’s a fun first of me crabbing for the first time:

So, Ok- instead of scoring a bunch of crab, I caught a couple of creepy giant gelatinous starfish. I’m not going to be a pro fisherwoman anytime soon, but this wasn’t too bad for a first try. I was thrilled to catch anything (as if you can’t tell by the look on my face.)

I will always love to travel, because travel makes me to try new things. I connect with people I’d not otherwise meet, I’m more flexible, open and less judgemental. All those things help keep me being the person I want to be.

Here’s to switching it up and trying it all. What new things have you tried lately?