Sojourner

I’m Sojourner White and I don’t believe in being “one thing” - so let’s add freelance travel writer for @lonelyplanet and @insider to the list too 😎⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Don’t let anyone say you have to choose one adventure. Be multi-passionate and make your own! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Cheers to more happily hyphenating from your resident social worker-consultant-travel blogger-digital storyteller-travel writer ✨⁣⁣⁣

The planner in me has a question: what kind of packer are you? Swipe to see a tale of two stories 👀⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Twitter said the majority pack the day before a trip and unpack the day after!⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Packing personalities are real and tell you a lot about your travel buddies - for better or for worse 😅⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ SHARE to your story to see what your friends and followers say!

That golden ✨27th✨ birthday glow!⁣⁣ Cheers to another year of being kissed by the sun.⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And making younger me who thought I would be “old” by our 27th proud to know where we’ve been, where we are & that we got a lot of life left to live. ❤️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📸 : @metreeus ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Let’s hang out on the train a bit longer, shall we?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Here’s a behind-the-scenes of day 1 traveling on @amtrak’s California Zephyr looked like with a bit more detail! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Also masks are required on the train so keep that in mind if you want to take this trip soon 😷 ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Who would you take with you on this trip? ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #SoloFemaleTraveler #TrainStagram #CaliforniaZephyr #BackOnTrack

Drop the 😅 emoji ⁣⁣⁣ if you procrastinate packing before a trip ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ But ironically the idea of packing doesn’t stop us from booking trips, now does it? ⁣LOL ⁣ So here’s eeeeeverything I packed in my @ebags backpack for my 52-hour train ride on @amtrak’s California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville, California!⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ What’s a must-have travel accessory in your bag??⁣

The grin of someone who won her first content creator grant!!⁣ Swipe left to see the announcement 😭⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ I am honored to win alongside 19 other amazing Black travel creators and organizations! I believe in this vision and community, but to have others support it too is so exciting.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There are lots of changes, adventures, and content coming up and this grant is going to help make it all possible. I am so grateful and pumped to share it with you all! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣Thank you to @mmgyglobal, @theblacktravelalliance, @NCBMP_ and @NABHOOD2021 for this opportunity!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #BlackTravelGrant #MMGYGlobal⁣ #BlackTravelAlliance #NCBMP #NABHOOD⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣

HAWAI’I PHOTO DUMP + TRAVEL GUIDE is live! Link is in my bio. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Here’s some highlights & FAQs:⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🛖 ACCOMODATIONS: Skip the resort and stay in a Yurt! Ours from @airbnb is linked in the guide.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ✈️ FLYING: It was 11 hours one-way from Milwaukee!⁣⁣⁣ Download music, podcasts & bring things to do.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🌋 ACTIVITIES: ⁣⁣Volcano national park, the green sand beach, Pololū Valley hiking and more.⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🍣 FOOD: Super J’s and @bitetheeye were two of my favorites! I have two reels on more places to eat too.⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🩴 FOOTWEAR: I wore my @teva midform sandals the entire time with no issue in water or on land.⁣⁣ 10/10 recommend!⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🎥 EDUCATION: Visit the Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park and google “Act of War Hawai’i” to understand more about their history fighting U.S imperialism and colonialism. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ Any other questions? There’s more in the guide. Go check it out!

The Big Island, Hawai’i travel vlog is finally live on YouTube! Here’s a snippet of it to save & share for some travel inspiration.⁣ ⁣ Link to full video is in my bio. Don’t forget to to subscribe! @gohawaii @tourismhawaii @visit.hawaii #RoadTo1KSubs😊⁣

HAWAI’I TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS (at the moment) ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Hawai’i’s government recently said their safe travel program will end once 70% of their population is vaccinated. BUT that’s not true yet. Here’s what you need to know!⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ BEFORE you go:⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 🦠COVID TESTING REQUIREMENTS - A negative test from one their trusted facilities no more than 72-hours (from the LAST leg of your trip off the mainland).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 👩🏾‍💻 REGISTERING W/ THE GOV’T - Upload your flight & accommodations info, some health history, and the PDF of your negative COVID test results into their portal. Once approved you’ll get a QR code sent to your email.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 💉PACK YOUR VACCINE CARD OR TAKE A PHOTO OF IT - This wasn’t on the website in May, but I did have to show my vaccine card when I arrived to Big Island. More on this below.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ARRIVING at the airport:⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📄HAVE YOUR QR CODE & ID READY - Print your QR code or use your phone. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 💉SHOW YOUR VACCINE CARD - You can use the photo or physical card. If you are not vaccinated, they will have you take a COVID test.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Always follow travel guidelines and travel responsibly y’all! Happy Tuesday. ❤️✨⁣⁣⁣

💰HAWAI’I BUDGET BREAKDOWN 💰⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ “Just how expensive is Hawai’i?” has been the most popular question in my DMs. So let’s get into it!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ For context, I traveled with 2 friends and we stayed on Big Island the entire time. Here’s how much I spent for a 7-day trip (not including any extras like souvenirs):⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ✈️ @delta flight: $454 RT ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🛖 @airbnb in a yurt: $545 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🚘 Rental car: $72 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🍱 Gas, food, etc.: $265⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ‼️TOTAL: $1,336⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Remember that “budgeting” is subjective. It depends on your travel style, solo vs group travel, saving & spending habits, etc. Everyone’s money situation is different!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ As a former #broke undergrad & grad school traveler, this personally was one of my more expensive trips. Regardless, it was money well spent!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ So how do you plan your travel budget??

This sea cliff view brought to you by the Kohala Volcano erupting roughly 300,000 years ago that triggered a massive landslide ⁣⁣[SAVE + SHARE] ⁣⁣ The eruption + erosion caused Pololū Valley (and six others) to form. At the beginning of the lookout, there is a short, but extremely steep hike that leads to a black sand beach (swipe left).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ BUT to get this view hike past the black sand beach and up to the Honokāne Nui Lookout. It was a 3ish hour adventure so here are some tips:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ✅ Wear sturdy shoes and dust them off before and after the hike at the trail station. This is to protect the land from invasive species we carry on our feet. The @teva midform universal sandals were my shoe of choice.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ✅ Grab a hiking stick! Past hikers leave theirs at the Pololū Lookout for others. This is especially helpful for shorties like me (I’m 5’1).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ✅ Get there early to beat the heat! We arrived to Pololū for the sunrise and the sun was beaming on the hike back.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ✅ Take it slow! This is a very rocky and hilly trail - muddy if it rains. There are signs that legit say “hazardous cliff” and “falling rocks.” It’s gorgeous and doable but be careful. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What’s a place you’ve visited or hiked with amazing views like this?

Early morning hikes often get you the best views with less people 🌋 ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Hawai’i is 5 hours behind Wisconsin meaning I’ve been getting up around 3am pretty much every day and sleeping by 7pm. BUT you can use the time difference to your advantage by:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 1. Seeing the sunrise at the volcano park⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 2. Hiking in places such as Pololū Valley or towards the Papākolea Green Sands Beach (also really great to beat the sun)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 3. Visiting waterfalls such as Akaka Falls or Rainbow Falls before they get too crowded⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 4. Getting a good spot on one of the manyyyy beaches around Big Island⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ So which activity would you get up early to do? 👀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Hello from Big Island, Hawai’i 🏝⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ I’ve been here since last week with a few more days left and it has been full of laughs, sunsets, food and more. This is also the first island I’ve ever visited so I feel like a newbie traveler haha.⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ I have more posts on some of the Hawaiian history research I did to prep for this trip, COVID, outdoors/hiking tips & of course food finds (spoiler: everything has been delicious).⁣⁣ I’m excited to share!⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ What are some other things you want to know about?

It’s a Let’s Unpack That GIVEAWAY!!⁣⁣ [CLOSED] ⁣⁣ This is the finale for season 2 and I wanted to honor YOU. Yes you.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I did not know how this series was gonna be received last June when I hopped in front of my camera and started rambling. But the interactions and connections we have made showed me it was worth it!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And so I want award two members of this community a $50 @airbnb gift card as a small token of me appreciation. This is not sponsored! I’m paying out of my own pocket 😊 ⁣⁣ Here is how you enter:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 1) You must be following me (@thesojournies)⁣⁣ 2) Leave ONE comment about which episode of Let’s Unpack That resonated with you the most AND why?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The giveaway closes on Tuesday, May 25th at 11:59pm CST.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And click the link in my bio to join me tonight with @the.nomadic.network for a conversation on responsible travel!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Good luck and drop those reflection entries in the comments below on this video! 👇🏾

What are things YOU look for in a travel buddy? 👀✈️⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ After a year of no travel some people are auditioning to find their next travel buddy! I asked my Twitter which quality was top on their list. The results were are follows:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 1) Go with the flow attitude (44%)⁣⁣ 2) Open to me experiences (31%) ⁣⁣ 3) Similar budget (16%)⁣⁣ 4) Knows how to take photos (9%)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Let me know which one tops your list and why 👇🏾