The Cafe

I know that when you long to travel to far off places, it's hard to get excited about your day to day. So I created this series,called Local Adventure, to help inspire you to find some of those same experiences in your own backyard.

Some of my favorite parts about traveling abroad are the coffee shops. A foreign cafe is the perfect place to pause and adjust to your new surroundings on a trip. The warm aroma of coffee beans fill the shop and it's nearly impossible to choose your favorite sweet. It's the perfect place to settle in, meet some locals, and get excited about what's next.

Start your local adventure the way we did, and head over to an inspiring local cafe. Rachel and I chose Black Eye Coffee for their inspiring interiors and great brew. Then take advantage of the people watching that a coffee shop lends itself to.Find a comfortable seat by the window.The window is made for daydreaming and for seeing the people go by. Gaze out and watch the couple holding hands, the biking student, or the dog walker across the street. Let your mind take it all in.More after the break...

Nibble on something sweet.Most Europeans I've met love their coffee paired with something delectable. Then, go ahead and try a delicate croissant, a delicious danish, fruity tart, or maybe even a slice of pie.Try a new way of drinking coffee.One of the easiest ways to recreate a foreign cafe experience is to try a new way to drink coffee. A cortado, americano, espresso with cream + sugar or just black. There are many exotic ways to try something you have everyday.Bring something made of paper.No one brings a computer to the cafe in Europe. Sacrilege! They're too busy chatting with friends, snuggling with their significant other, reading, or writing. To really get the full experience, bring a notebook. I like to use it to daydream about my next trip, or to get some journaling done.Go first thing in the morning or leave work early for the afternoon.Finally, give yourself some time to take a break. The light is just right during golden hour. It fills everything with a warm glow and I can't help but feel optimistic in it. I hope you find more ways to enjoy adventure in your neck of the woods.photography | rachel ridingsart direction | brianna burtoncoffee shop | black eye coffee (on facebook)