The Blog

Wildlife? Check! Art and music? Check! Vibrant metropolises? Check! Awe-inspiring landscapes as far as the eye can see? Definitely, a check! Between the 54 diverse countries and nine territories that make up the continent, every inch of Africa offers up a new and unique opportunity for adventure. Every safari, every waterfall, every bazaar, music festival, beach, and World Heritage Site reminds us that life is sweet.      Travel Memories: South Africa  Feasts for the eyes and actual feasts are all in a day’s work on the southernmost tip of Africa.  MORE HERE      EXPLORE

Daydreaming lately? Yeah, us, too. If you’ve found yourself drifting off to ancient cities, pristine beaches, landscapes that look like paintings, and hotels that look like sci-fi movies; the Middle East just might be at the forefront of your mind. Join us as we mentally book our one-way tickets to the Cradle of Civilization and remember that life is sweet.   OMG-Worthy Musts in the Middle East   No place serves up one-of-a-kind adventures quite like Asia! Get started with our shortlist.  Travel Memories: My Favorite Moments in Morocco     From the bustling markets to the mouthwatering tagine to the striking, blue-washed city walls, the North African nation of Morocco is one big, beautiful sensory overload you couldn’t forget if you tried!  MORE HERE        EXPLORE

It’s September and you know that that means. Fashion! And lots of it! Fashion week is that magical time of year when the world’s top designers release their latest collections in the “Big Four” fashion capitals of New York, London, Milan, and Paris.   There are runway shows, and store openings, presentations, and parties. Sounds like torture, right? :) We’re tipping our stylish hats to the amazing cities and trend setters out there keeping fashion fun, innovative, and alive.     EXPLORE

This week it’s all about the continent that has a 200 foot Buddha statue carved into a mountainside, a special feast day dedicated to monkeys, cherry blossom flavored potato chips, hotels staffed by robots, and a sport called sky biking. If you can dream it, Asia’s got it! This inventory of unparalleled wonders that awaits simply reminds us that life is sweet!    Seven Totally Singular Experiences in Asia  No place serves up one-of-a-kind adventures quite like Asia! Get started with our shortlist.  Travel Memories: Best of the Philippines: Boracay     If you love the idea of an island vacation, Boracay is considered one of the best islands in Asia and well, pretty much the world. It's famous for its blue waters and endless stretches of sandy powder white beaches. Thanks to the efforts of locals and the Philippines government, Boracay’s ocean remains crystal clear and clean. With so many things to eat and do (or not do and just relax), you’ll never run out of reasons to love Boracay.  MORE HERE   Behind the Charms Have you ever picked up a charm and thought, “OMG! I love this!” Of course you have. Have you also ever looked at that same charm and wondered, “but what is it exactly?” Happens all the time! There’s a lot of backstory packed in every little charm and we’re here to break it down.       Wanna see more puppet action? Check out this performance straight from the source! WATCH HERE   Holi Hijinks in Hampi, India     Add a fabulous dimension to your trip by planning it around a festival. If your destination is India, mark your calendar for Holi, the ancient Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is nicknamed “the festival of colors” for good reason! MORE HERE     EXPLORE

Where else can you find a 1,000 year old castle and the newest culinary craze sitting side by side? A city as big and bustling as Rome or as pocket-sized as San Marino? the least collection of Renaissance masterpieces and the most mysterious forests? SPOILER ALERT: It’s Europe. Europe is the continent that has it all and then some—the kind of place that would have been voted “Most Everything” in high school. You get what we’re trying to say. Europe is proof that life is sweet! Ask a Flight Attendant: Fave Under-the-Radar Destinations in Europe    Is there anyone who has traveled further or eaten more tiny bags of slightly salted peanuts than flight attendants? Our sources say, of course not! So, who better to ask for travel tips? In honor of National Aviation Day on August 19th, we asked five fabulous flight attendants to share their cherished travel tips for exploring the EU. Here are a few more things to look forward to.    Location: Rīga, Latvia This hidden gem is my homeland and an art nouveau lover’s paradise. To stay, there’s a wonderful airbnb converted from an old hemp storage unit into a rustic loft. Fun to go during summer solstice — women wear circlets of flowers and men wreaths of oak leaves. They party until the sun comes up with a large bonfire and lots of music. Be sure to visit Birini Castle, a beautiful property with lakes and storks and an amazing outdoor museum. On the way back stop at Ralkalni, where the shop sells candied fruits and berries and there’s an alpine slide for kids (though that didn’t stop me). —Lara B. Location: Delft, Netherlands Delft is located between Rotterdam and The Hague. Known for its “Delft Blue” earthenware, it’s a hugely appealing city for those interested in the Dutch history. The famous painter Johannes Vermeer also lived here. You can tour the Royal Delft factory where many items are still hand painted. It’s much smaller in size than Amsterdam but still has a canal, walkability, and charm that is worth seeing. You can get there from Amsterdam by taking a train from Amsterdam Central Station directly to Delft! —Diderique K.  Location: Lapad Bay, Croatia Dubrovnik, Croatia, although incredibly beautiful, is very touristy. I asked one of the hosts of the hostel where the locals go to the beach and her eyes lit up as she asked me, “Are you up for an adventure?” She told me to take the local bus outside the city limits. When I asked her where I should get off, she told me to simply ask the bus driver when we were at the post office, “and then just walk until you see the beach.” Sure enough, after I walked off the bus and down a pathway, the Cypress trees opened up to the most beautiful, crystal clear water. There was a trail that lined the water, dotted with platforms for diving and ladders on the rocks for easy access to swimming. It was well worth the adventure.   —Zoey R. Location: Ghent, Belgium The northwest city of Ghent is less touristy than Bruges or Brussels and full of great history. The medieval Castle of the Counts known as the Gravensteen is amazing and the main square is full of eateries, local shops, and vendors. Try the freshly made cuberdon candies from one of the sweets sellers. And don't miss the Tierenteyn mustard shop, an old apothecary style shop where the mustard is still sold out of big barrels.   —Patty F.    We <3 the Details   You know how it goes. You buy a charm that you adore. You wear it on your favorite chain and everybody asks you all about it. Then one day, the light hits your necklace just right and BAM! What’s that??? A little detail like an itty-bitty picture or a punny quip you never saw before. You might have noticed that we have a major thing for details. And the only thing we like more is sharing them with you.   Travel Memories: Lisbon     #TBT to Fado music all night and port wine for days. Retrace our steps through Portugal’s charming capital city by the sea. Read more HERE.   EXPLORE

  Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or just because--there's always a reason to share a gift with the people we love. And sometimes those people are travelers! And sometimes those people are actually just ourselves. That's okay, too! Travel inspires so many great gifts (including JSC jewelry, of course!) and below you'll find just a few more of our faves to either take for the ride or enjoy while reminiscing of travels past or plan for the next big adventure.    QUE BOTTLE Do you know what takes up a ton of space in your luggage? Water bottles! But staying hydrated is super important. What to do? Cue the  Que Bottle! Que has created this super cute, silicon water bottle alternative. The bottles expand to fit up to 12 or 20 ounces of water depending on the model, then spiral down to be nice and compact when they're empty. They're great for trekking across Europe, days hikes, or just a little jaunt in the park. There are tons of colors to fit your style and Que even makes a handy little stainless steal cap with a loop so you can clip it somewhere to be more accessible.     SCRATCH MAP Is there anything more satisfying than a scratch off ticket? How about one that complements your wanderlust? And looks cool hanging in your living room? For those among us who love to log and list their adventures, the Scratch Map is a fun, visual way to keep track of where you've been and where you wanna go. Every time you cross a new destination off your to-do list, scratch off the gold foil to reveal pretty colors of accomplishment. Plus, they make new rainbow foil editions and scratch globes, too!         AIRPORTAG THROW PILLOW  Dream of  travel when you cuddle up to, you guessed it, an IATA Code pillow. Airportage Throw Pillow makes tons of square, squishy options to honor your favorite destinations all over the globe from to Auckland to Zurich. That's A to Z in travel talk. And you can choose the perfect size (from 16" X 16" to 26" X 26"), and  even customize them with passenger names, origin, and other flight info from the best trip ever. If you're feeling crazy, Airportag also makes comforters, shower curtains, backpacks, sleep masks, and kind of everything for house and home and travel.     HOMESICK CANDLES There's no place like home! And nothing smells quite like it. Homesick Candles knows that better than anyone and offers a whole product line based on the idea of olfactory memories. Their natural soy wax candles represent cities, states, and countries abroad with tons of different, complex scents that make us feel like we're right there once again. I mean, Vermont is a combo of apple, maple, and baked pie. Brazil is orange, mango, and ocean breeze. Who could argue with that?      ATLAS COFFEE CLUB Your coffee addiction, I mean, interest just might be your ticket to world travel! Indulge in your favorite morning pick-me-up and get a taste of amazing locations around the globe with Atlas Coffee Club. Each month you'll receive a bag of java from a new location complete with brewing tips, flavor notes, and an adorable postcard! Over 50 countries produce coffee so there's more than enough to sample. Choose your preferred roast and bean type and they'll do the rest. Bon voyage!