Hello Autostraddle! Last week, my girlfriend Carlytron and I left for a super short but fabulous 5 day vacation in upstate New York before going to The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts to attend a wedding. And because Carlytron & Robin have been crowned Cutest Couple ever by our friend (and Autostraddle’s COO) Brooke (she made us mugs to prove it) …
… I’ve designated us qualified to offer some travel tips for lesbians in love! I offer these tips not because I myself have figured it all out or somehow think i’m one half of the Gay Lady’s version of Brangelina, but because I went on vacation last week with my girlfriend and this is all I got to photoblog about! :-) Also, I took some pretty pictures. So, here goes …
Background on our little road trip upstate: For those of you unaware, Ithaca is a small town in upstate NY packed with amazing eateries, hippies, gorgeous waterfalls, more hippies, and scenic hikes. It sits with below the middle finger of the fingerlakes! Lovely! “Ithaca is Gorges” is the catch phrase in Ithaca and it is indeed the truth.
Carbin (see exhibit A, mug, for explanation) traveled to Ithaca because:
A. Ithaca is really gorgeous, obvs.
B. Robin went to school there for 2.5 years, and
C. in Robin’s head, Ithaca was somehow on the way to The Berkshires from NYC. (Fact: it is not.)
Waterfalls at Tremen State Park in Ithaca
Tip #1 – Have a plan.
Open a google doc and write down your ideas about what you want to do and where you want to go. Share this document with your traveling companion. This will prevent one person from having too much control over what is done on the vacation and allowing everyone to share ideas and priorities. Compromise is key!
An example of this would be our list of “To Dos” while in Ithaca. I had included kayaking as a possible activity option, not aware of Carly’s fear of drowning via overturned kayak. Crisis averted!
As per our plan, we spent our first day at the waterfalls which gave me some time to teach Carly a requested photography lesson and Carly some time to work on her physical fitness.
We had a great time “hiking” around and being outdoorsy. After being bitten by several bugs, we decided we had had enough nature and were in desperate need of sangria!
Tip #2 – Laugh off traveling mishaps.
Sometimes shit happens on vacation. You just can’t plan for things like rain or a failed meal or a really crappy pedicure. So you have to suck it up and chalk it up to a lesson learned. The stress of travel and spending money can sometimes cause two loving ladies to turn on each other. Don’t let your troubles keep you from enjoying the good experiences and even better company! This goes for missed flights and lost luggage too!
Because we were going to attend a wedding, we decided it was crucial to get our nails done on Thursday! Mani-pedis are a must to be summer chic. (We defy all stereotypes.) So we ended up at a spa which was less than desirable, even though we’d already been advised to go to the mall.
Tip#3 – If you don’t know something, trust the locals.
Don’t leave it up to chance!
After a bad paint job and over 100 bucks in the hole, we walked out of the spa and mutually decided to laugh it off. It was all worth it because the lady behind the counter was humming When a Man Loves a Woman slightly out of tune throughout most of the painfully long visit.We also went to Moosewood Cafe which is a vegan restaurant in Ithaca where Robin used to waitress! Check out their famous cookbooks!
Tip#4 – Share like-minded activities.
Due to Carly’s distaste of insects and Robin’s exhaustion with suburban things like Target (yes, NYC, there is a Target in Ithaca), we decided drinking would be a fun shared activity! Luckily, we both enjoy drinking and there was plenty of it in Ithaca! Also, luckily, Carly and I both do not like things like camping, and insects, and extreme temperatures. We also did things like shopping and eating, which we both enjoy.
Soooo … on Friday, we went on a wine tour!! We were virgin winery tourists, so this was an especially fun activity!
We got to act like we knew what was going on, but really we were just enthralled that you could pay a dollar to taste 16 kinds of wine!
This experience included us saying things like “I would have this with a nice grilled salmon, maybe some chicken. Probably not a great wine with steak or pasta. Would you agree?” Wine tasting is fun times as you can meet all kinds of drunk people under the guise of a refined and classy adult experience.
Tip#5 – Take some time apart.
Even just for a few minutes, its important to give your traveling companion some time to themselves.
Carbin gives FACE.
Tip#6 – Do something social!!Lesbian relationships are the leading cause of Social Death in America. Don’t let this happen to you! Its easy to get sucked into spending all of your time together, especially when on vacation. We were able to see some good friends and meet some new ones on our trip!
On Friday night, we met up with friends and went to Ithaca’s gay bar, Felicia’s Atomic Lounge. It’s a mixed (boys and girls, gays and straights) bar with amazing mixed drinks!
Carly also left her tab open when we left town and they were super nice when we called freaking out from the road. (It’s never happened to her before! I was amazed.)
The weekend was spent at a friends wedding in The Berkshires. I think we looked pretty darn cute!
Although this tiny trip was a walk in the park, I’m really looking forward to our trip in November to Buenos Aires to get us out of our comfort zones and to entirely new and beautiful country!
Check out this fun video for more tips! Hint- its got some gays in it! It also has some miserable woman talking about throwing up in her mouth when her boyfriend/husband suggests kissing near a waterfall, sad.
Here’s another tip, if kissing the person you are with makes you want to throw up in your mouth, its time to break up :(
That’s all for now. Hope you found this article educational and you enjoyed our pictures! Carly contributed her artistic eye and lots of new found photo skillz to this piece. I need a nap now! Happy Travels!
xoxo
R
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Very good read. I LOVE to travel so any articles from you all about that is A+ to me. You both look super cute. Who would have thought all of that was in NY?
I can’t wait for the Buenos Aires trip review!
I wanna read your Buenos Aires trip review NOW.
Hmmm I always forego to the mani part of the manipedi because… well because it seems to be breaking a lesbian rule to have painted nails. Nicely filed nails, yes. Painted? Not so much. Am I wrong? Do other girl-on-girls like to get their nails painted? Discuss!
(Then again I didn’t really like to paint my nails really even before I discovered the joys of girls-on-girls. So it might just be me. Excuse me, I need to go file my nails.)
It’s a personal choice I guess. Carly gets black. Short nails = a lesbian rule. I think anyone can get them painted. This is 2009 afterall!
I always have my nails painted black and ask them to cut them as short as possible because I “type a lot.” I actually feel naked without my black manicure and get a little antsy on the days that it starts to chip until it can be perfect again!
I was that girl with a boyfriend and french tipped acrylics in HS, but now that I’ve met my gf, I have given up on the fake nails. I still like to paint them, and do so frequently (as well as my toes), but my gf won’t even let me paint her toes clear. I think I’m close to a breakthrough with her, but it hasn’t happened yet. I think it’s just a personal preference. I like that all lesbians don’t fall into one category of dress and style, and can mix it up a bit. When I met my gf and she wore makeup, I was surprised! We shouldn’t judge a girl by what she LOOKS LIKE she should look like.* Do what feels good to you. It will help get all of us on the same page and support each other rather than put each other in categories. (LBTQ…)
*I’m not saying you’re judging, Sarah, I’m saying PAINT THOSE NAILS IF IT FEELS GOOD! LIVE IT UP!
next up, my review on how to vacation when you’re SINGLE AND ALOOOONE.
jk jk you guys are the cutest ever and i want to squish your faces.
I’d read that review :)
As would I! Especially if it was How to Vacation When You’re Single, Alone, and BROKE!
You two definitely ARE the cutest couple ever. Just saying.
ZOMG Carlytron I am also afraid of kayaks! I’m afraid I’ll flip over and not be able to right myself OR that I’ll hit my head on a rock and be knocked out, stuck underwater! Shudder. I also hate canoes. And bugs. But I like hiking.
Also, you guys are too cute for words.
and those are all of my reasons for not liking them too!
Dear 1/2 of my Favorite Couple EVER, two things:
–
1. I would like to Facebook like this post.
–
2. I have never heard of this trying 16 wines for a dollar??
dear brooke,
those cups are amazing.
i am not mean.
xo,
emily
wow, those pictures are GORGES. (had to.)
I think now is a good time to reveal my internet crush on Robin. Paired with thinking that Carly and I would be internet BFFs, I want to publicly voice my support of the Favorite Couple Ever award.
And the Berkshires are awesome. I went there for flag day weekend two years ago and it was the best long weekend ever. This may have inspired revisiting the ‘shires this soon!
Great post and pictures as usual, and I also support the mani/pedi movement.
it’s a good thing you have a crush on robin on the internet, cos if you talk to the interns, you’ll hear that she’s SUPER MEAN in person. we’re all terrified of her!
I’m sensing some internet sarcasm…
Stef, I’m just going to start telling people you have crabs. How do you like me now!?
oh hi Mindy! I’m so delighted to hear someone has an internet crush on me! My ego thanks you. Also, did you hear Stef has crabs?
do you think brooke would make me a commemorative mug?
robin is sunshine and bunnies irl, btw.
Stef + Crabs = Strabs?
Not as catchy but it could work.
That part of New York is so pretty. My dad’s family is from there. Maybe next time we go to visit, I’ll hit Ithaca!
is it weird that when I first saw the header I thought you were talking about Ithaca in Greece? like in the Odyssey? man, I think I’m too much of a nerd.
and I’m even FROM upstate NY.
The best tip you gave was to roll with the punches. My gf and I did a East-West cross country trip 2 years ago, and boy did that get challenging. Prepare yourself that everything and anything that could go wrong just may, and that it’s ok and you’re in it together. No nitpicking and no cranky girls. Best. vaca. ever. will happen.
You guys are the freakin’ cutest thing I’ve seen in my whole damn life.
robin, i’ve been ogling your “Robin Roemer Photography” logo basically forevs, and now I see that you have a necklace to match! storytime…
ps- i totally wish my friends made me commemorative mugs
oh boy. robin and carly, i just “awwww”ed over you taking time apart and having social lives. i am in love with your relationship. AND these pictures are beautiful. AND brooke’s mugs are too cute for words.
I second Laura’s comment. I “awwww”ed my way through this, perfect reading for a Friday afternoon.
I third Laura’s comment. Very cute :)
i cannot believe i lived in ithaca for 2 years…you actually made it look totally beautiful and enjoyable. :)
such a cute pair of grrrrls!
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Ok, first time posting, i always read but im too much of a lazy person to comment but i just had to cause i do think u two are quite cute togheter and because i have a serious trauma with this song by Deleted Scenes “Ithaca”i just love it, the AutoRock Remix is even better…I’m from Mexico havent heard about the town before but after i listened to the song, Ithaca just pops out everwhere i go, haha, like on a Sagan book, talks with friends, a few other reads and here i just love it, i think Ithaca is my new favourite word. The town looks amazing thanks for the pics too.
awwwwww this was kinda cute. autumn liked it.
I know I’m a year or 2 late, BUT nice to see my college town on autostraddle. Woo!