Happy 5th Birthday, Blog!

On this day exactly five years ago, JessicaLippe.com was birthed into the internet.

To be honest, I didn’t even realize this until my domain registration was processed for another year today. But I still think it’s a cause to celebrate!

Although today was spent in my hometown (but planning for future trips of course!) I want to celebrate by sharing what I’ve done on September 24th in years past. I also will share some of my traveling birthday celebrations, and top posts from this website.

On This Day

My Facebook memories helped me remember the fun that was had on this day in 2015 and 2016.

Athens, Greece: Besides weekend trips and the like, my first big trip documented on this blog was 92 days trekking the Mediterranean. It ran from July to October, 2015. On September 24th, 2015, I was in Athens. I loved exploring this city on foot and passing by ancient artifacts on the roadside. At the time I didn’t realize I was celebrating my blog’s first birthday, but what a way to celebrate!

Athens

Lava Beds National Monument: A year later, I took a day trip to Lava Beds, which is probably my most-visited national monument. It’s in California, but just south of the Oregon border, about a two-hour drive from my home. I love exploring the caves. I try to visit several each visit, especially those on the Cave Loop behind the visitor’s center. I was actually working that day as a nanny. It was sure a fun way to work! I was celebrating National Public Lands Day, and unintentionally also celebrating another blog birthday! (Note: National Public Lands Day allows free entrance in all US National Parks. Make sure to check it out this year- it’s September 28th in 2019.)

My Top 5 Traveling Birthdays

My birthday is in May, which is a great time of year to travel. School isn’t out yet, but the weather is usually great (and not quite as hot as summertime).

Dublin, Ireland: My most recent birthday didn’t start out quite as planned. I was supposed to arrive in Dublin the day before so I could have a full day of celebrating in Ireland’s capital city. However, since I had a delayed flight and a missed connection back at Chicago’s airport, I didn’t arrive until that morning. (Due to the time change, I missed several hours of my birthday. So I joke that I’m not as old as I actually am since I didn’t get a full 24-hour birthday.) It was still a lot of fun with a walking tour of the city and a visit to the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Overall, it was fun and I hope to look forward to spending more birthdays in Europe.

Notice I’m wearing a birthday badge in Epcot, Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World: I’ve been privileged to spend FOUR of my birthdays on family trips to Walt Disney World. Ages 8, 12, 18, and 22 were rung in at the most magical place on Earth. Any day at these parks are better than a birthday at home, but when you wear your free birthday badge around the park, you can be surprised with a little extra treatment. One was especially special because that year, Disney gave me a $75 gift card to celebrate. It was great that my birthday was a good season to go to Disney World. I think that my birthday is now part of high season for Disney World (as well as the Epcot International Flower and Garden Fair), but any day at any Disney park is a celebration!

Hot Air Ballooning: Sometimes you don’t have to leave town to travel like never before. My 24th birthday went to new heights as I rode a hot air balloon over Central Point, Oregon. I learned new traditions (you wouldn’t believe what first-time ballooners have to do after their flight!) and even got a turn at being the pilot.

10366081_891476504212737_7657679533641549928_n — Riding a highline unicycle at Cosi in Columbus, Ohio, for my 23rd birthday

Columbus, Ohio: I had a fun weekend bicycle trip for my 23rd birthday. I stayed in The Wayfaring Buckeye Hostel, and spent the rest of the time seeing the city by cycle. I went to a topiary garden, a German village, a bookshop, the world’s largest gavel, the birthplace of Wendy’s fast food, and some delicious restaurants in one day. I even happened to find a cycling fair at a park! But the big attraction was the science museum, Cosi. I spent several hours there, and a minute of that was spent cycling in a different way, above the first floor!

Skydiving

Skydiving: Hot air ballooning and riding a unicycle on a tightrope weren’t the only ways I’ve had high adventure on my birthday. Two years ago, I celebrated my birthday with a skydive. The closest airport with skydiving is in Creswell, near Eugene. I made a weekend out of it with a visit into Eugene for restaurants and an IMAX movie, contrasted by a stay in a country cabin.