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Course Charted: Your Guide to Slow, Sustainable, Savvy Travel

What began as a journey half-way around the world, into the courtroom, and behind a camera has brought me here - helping you chart a course for memorable, meaningful travel...

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9 Reasons Why You Should Stay at the Four Seasons Punta Mita in Mexico

Four Seasons Punta Mita

Come away with me and discover 9 reasons why the Four Seasons Punta Mita is the most idyllic Mexico getaway you’ll ever have!

Categories Central America, Destinations Tags hotels, mexico

Course Charted About Me

Hi! I’m Alana, a Chicago-based attorney turned travel writer, photographer, and travel-hacking expert here to help you travel smarter. Click below to learn how I escaped the 9-5 for the 24/7!

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alanainwanderland

Flying into the weekend like 👼🏻 It’s look Flying into the weekend like 👼🏻
It’s looking like another absolutely stunning weekend in #Chicago, and if you’re having a hard time choosing between all the fun events and activities, don’t worry, I’ve done the work for you! Here are my TOP 5 things to do this weekend:
1️⃣ Have a rowdy good time at the Chicago #PrideParade on June 26th while celebrating diversity and inclusion! The parade starts at 12pm and winds south from Montrose and Broadway via Halsted and Diversey before ending at Sheridan.
2️⃣ Shop and eat at the Logan Square Arts Festival; the fest started on Thursday and is going on until Sunday at 3200 W Logan Blvd between Milwaukee Ave and Kedzie Blvd. This community fest celebrates local art, food, beer and music (this year's lineup includes headliners Combo Chimbita, Man Man and Sarah Shook & the Disarmers)!
3️⃣ Grab your picnic blankets for “Legally Blonde” showing alfresco at Mary Bartelme Park in the West Loop on June 25 at 8:30pm!
4️⃣ Nosh on some amazing local eats at the Taste of Chicago Little Village on June 25 from 12-8p!
5️⃣ If you’re too excited to wait for the Pride Parade, head to Pride in the Park, going on June 25-26 in Millennium Park and featuring The Chainsmokers, Swedish DJ Alesso and a surprise guest headliner!
What are you doing this weekend?? Are you heading to any of these?
PS, if you haven’t checked out this Wings of Mexico installation (in this shot), make sure you get over there because it’ll only be here through Oct! You can find it at the address below ⤵️ // #AlanaInChicago‬
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‪📍410 N Michigan Ave., Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagogram #windycity #capturechicagoexcitement #sheisnotlost #chicagoexplore #wearetravelgirls #chicagopride #chicagoarchitecture #chicagohome #chicagoskyline #pridemonth2022 #chicagolife #downtownchicago #westloopchicago #prideweekend #westloop #thingstodoinchicago #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #summertimechi #chicagoviews #chicagoloop #chicagolifestyle
Looking for your next home in #Chicago? Look no fu Looking for your next home in #Chicago? Look no further than @hubbardplacechicago which combines the best of city living with luxurious amenities, including the most gorgeous rooftop pool and cabanas! [ad]
I recently had the pleasure of exploring everything that Hubbard Place offers its residents, and I am super impressed! From the 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹 🏊🏼‍♀️ to the plush 𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀 to the premium grills and outdoor lounge areas, this building literally has everything to make you feel like you’re on vacation all day every day.
And when I walked inside I was just as wowed by the indoor amenities. The 𝗷𝗮𝗰𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗶, steam room, sauna, 𝗴𝘆𝗺, game lounge, chef’s lounge… the spaces to relax and unwind are endless and thoughtfully designed to capitalize on the building’s incredible views over the city (𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗣𝗘 ➡️ to the last photo to see what I mean!).
Can you picture yourself living here?? 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 to see everything that Hubbard Place has to offer! 🏙🤍// #ChicagoApartments ‬#ChicagoRentals
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‪📍Hubbard Place, Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagogram #windycity #capturechicagoexcitement #chicagorooftop #chicagoexplore #chicagorooftops #chicagosummer #chicagoarchitecture #chicagohome #chicagoskyline #summertimechi #chicagolife #downtownchicago #rivernorth #rivernorthchicago #chicagohome #thingstodoinchicago #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #chicagolife #chicagoviews #chicagoloop #chicagolifestyle
Anyone else feel like you’re melting into the si Anyone else feel like you’re melting into the sidewalk🫠 every time you step outside?? 🥵 Well I have the perfect way for you to cool down while enjoying some gorgeous #Chicago views:
Rent a kayak🛶 with @urbankayaks and paddle out on the Chicago River. I splashed myself several times while paddling and lemme tell ya - it felt pretty darn good. Plus, it’s way less busy on the river during the week so Mon-Thurs are the perfect days to enjoy this activity!
Swipe➡️ to see a lil video of the amazing views while kayaking. And if you don’t have experience, no worries… Urban Kayaks offers guided tours and lessons!
𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: After you’re done kayaking, stop into @chiyachai for a delicious iced chai latte (last slide!) and keep the cool vibes going.
Have you kayaked on the Chicago River?? What’s your fav way to cool down on days like today? 𝗧𝗮𝗴 your kayaking buddies and go have some fun! ☀️🛶 // #AlanaInChicago‬
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‪📍Chicago River, Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagogram #windycity #capturechicagoexcitement #suitcasetravels #chicagoexplore #prettylittletrips #chicagoriver #chicagoarchitecture #chicagohome #chicagoskyline #chicagoriverwalk #chicagolife #downtownchicago #kayakingadventures #rivernorthchicago #kayaklife #thingstodoinchicago #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #summertimechi #chicagoviews #chicagosummer #chicagoloop #chicagolifestyle
The look I give the server when they bring out the The look I give the server when they bring out the paella @tantachicago 😎🥘
Ever since c*vid took away my taste buds I’ve been dreaming of tasting #Chicago’s incredible food again 😩. Now with my taste coming back, I’m eyeing Tanta’s delicious seafood paella as one of my first meals out again. Swipe➡️ to see the deliciousness!
If you lost your ability to taste things then miraculously got it back, what would be your first meal?? Share this spot with someone who loves great food and an amazing rooftop! 🍽 // #AlanaInChicago‬ #ChicagoRestaurants
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‪📍Tanta, Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagogram #windycity #capturechicagoexcitement #sheisnotlost #chicagoexplore #wearetravelgirls #chicagorooftop #chicagoarchitecture #chicagohome #chicagoskyline #rooftopping #chicagolife #downtownchicago #chicagofoodie #rivernorthchicago #chicagofood #thingstodoinchicago #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #summertimechi #chicagoviews #chicagoloop #chicagolifestyle
Lots of new faces here👋 so I wanted to take a m Lots of new faces here👋 so I wanted to take a moment to get to know you and share some fun, weird, interesting facts about me so you can get to know me too!
🏙 I’ve lived in and around Chicago since I was 4 years old, and I tried MANY neighborhoods out before making the West Loop my home!
⚖️ I practiced as an attorney for several years before starting my own digital content creation business!
📸 My first love is photography and most of my early projects involved doing photography for clients, but I now do a lot of videography and copywriting as well, including running my website CourseCharted.com
✈️ I love immersive travel and exploring off the beaten path (during C*VID I applied the same mindset to exploring Chicago and got to know the city on another level, falling in love with it even more!)
🤚I have freakish flexibility in my wrists and can fold my hands flat down!
♊️ I’m a Gemini and definitely identify with the traits: playful and intellectually curious, constantly juggling a variety of passions, hobbies, careers.
☕️ I’m in a serious relationship with coffee and my husband is my enabler with his at-home barista skills!
🌿 I’m a rehabilitated plant-killer and have many p*ndemic plants that I’ve proudly kept alive for over a year!
💧I’m horrible at drinking water (I swear I don’t even know what “thirst” feels like), but I recently bought a motivational water bottle to get myself to drink more!
Now it’s your turn to tell me something about yourself! 🫶// #AlanaInChicago‬
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‪📍Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagogram #windycity #capturechicagoexcitement #wearetravelgirls #chicagoexplore #sheisnotlost #chicagoriver #chicagoarchitecture #chicagohome #chicagoskyline #chicagoriverwalk #chicagolife #downtownchicago #rivernorth #rivernorthchicago #westloop #thingstodoinchicago #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #summertimechi #chicagoviews #chicagogirl #chicagoloop #chicagolifestyle
Happy Sunday funday from #Chicago’s most iconic Happy Sunday funday from #Chicago’s most iconic rooftops: @lhchicago and @ceriserooftop! 🏙🍹
I recently had the chance to go to LondonHouse Chicago (photos 1 & 3) and Cerise (photo 2) — two of our best rooftops in the city — in back-to-back weekends so I figured I’d do a 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 for you:
𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀: this is why you go to a rooftop in the first place, right?! And the clear winner is LondonHouse with it’s a absolutely elite views east and west over the Chicago River!
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: both are free to reserve, but the winner here is Cerise with cheaper food options and cocktails that are about $4 cheaper (though it’s hard to call $14 vs $18 cheap 🤑)
𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱: you don’t really come most rooftops for the food, but if you do, I give the edge to LondonHouse!
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲: LondonHouse wins hands down; the servers and staff have been really kind very time I’ve been here while Cerise has been hit or miss
𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲: LondonHouse wins again in a close call with its upscale yet accessible vibe though I’ve always had a fun time at Cerise as well (especially their table w the swing chairs 😁)
Have you been to @lhchicago or @ceriserooftop?? Which is your fav rooftop in Chicago? 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 this post for later and tag your rooftop crew! 🥂// #AlanaInChicago‬ #ChicagoRooftop
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‪📍Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagogram #windycity #capturechicagoexcitement #suitcasetravels #chicagoexplore #sheisnotlost #chicagorooftops #chicagoarchitecture #chicagohome #chicagoskyline #wearetravelgirls #chicagolife #londonhousechicago #rivernorth #chicagobars #chicagorestaurants #thingstodoinchicago #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #summertimechi #chicagoviews #chicagoloop #chicagolifestyle
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