Hi! We are Stephanie and Jay. We are based out of the Atlanta Metro area. We met in 2019 and immediately connected on our need for exploring the beauty of this world while still balancing 9-5 jobs (sometimes 9-9 jobs), a family, our children, and soccer games to name a few. We went on our first trip in January of 2020 to Charleston and we were planning our first international trip a month later in a beautiful little wine bar. Greece was all planned within a matter of weeks and then COVID 19 struck and quickly cancelled that trip. It didn’t keep us from living though. We bought a home instead and ended up traveling safely to numerous destinations over the next two plus years.

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Our friends and family consistently ask us to post our travels including the beauty, the cocktails, and the local cuisine, and when asked if we should start a blog, we received a unanimous yes! So here we are.

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Who are we?

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Jay calls us an odd couple. Stephanie disagrees…but here are some truths:

• He’s picky. She’s not.

• He’s detail oriented. She’s more of a visionary dreamer.

• He’s frugal (most of the time, but will pay for a great experience). She’s not. She will pay for convenience.

• We can both be a little (or a lot) bougie.

• We like good drinks and amazing food. We only eat local when we travel, which makes it fun.

• Prague is special to us because we got engaged there in 2021!

• We think we are pretty funny and hope to keep this blog light.

• We don’t normally travel on a super tight budget, but we don’t pass up good deals. We will share them with you as well.

• We are real, meaning honest. This blog’s intent is to ensure our friends who visit these places know exactly what to do and what not to do. It is only our perspective, so we are not liable for anyone’s feelings.

 

Jay is particular about his showers and will not use any tubs/showers with a curtain. Yup, that’s the bougie side! He is all about getting out of the tourist traps and living and eating like a local. He only buys souvenirs from the local businesses. Jay loves breweries, good bourbon, and speakeasies. He loves the mountains, especially being in his Jeep! Jay packs in one duffel bag regardless of whether we are gone for one night or 15 days. His t-shirt game is strong. Note: If you are easily offended, lighten up! We aren’t here to offend. We are here to laugh our way through this life.

 

Stephanie is particular about her hotel rooms. She prefers a balcony with a sea view or a sunset. She also loves to garden and capture photos of beautiful flowers and landscapes. Stephanie will eat anything and loves flavorful dishes. She loves a good winery and some delicious cocktails. She loves the sun yet is very happy in the mountains and anywhere spending time with her family. Stephanie packs an hour before the trip yet soaks in travel tips for months before. One suitcase is all she brings despite what Jay says, and it always weighs 49.6 pounds!

 

Together we cook the BEST steaks you will ever eat. GUARANTEED. Stephanie is the super seasoner, and Jay is the cook! We try all the top steakhouses, meat markets, grocery stores, pans, salt blocks, and seasonings to find the best. Be prepared to be surprised!

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Places we’ve visited together so far:

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• Charleston, South Carolina

• Chattanooga, Tennessee

• Chicago, Illinois

• Savannah, Georgia

• Destin, Florida

• Helen, Georgia

• Blue Ridge, Mountains

• Aspen, Colorado Springs, Vail, and Denver, Colorado

• Jacksonville, Florida

• Bozeman, Montana and Yellowstone

• Dubai

• Maldives

• Kansas City, Missouri

• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

• Madison, Wisconsin

• Maine

• Asheville, North Carolina

• Prague

• Vienna

• Salzburg, Austria

• London

• Dallas/Fort Worth

• Athens

• Santorini

• Mykonos

• Paros

• Naxos

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Where to next:

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Our goal is to explore 2-3 new countries a year. Next up we have Canada, Chicago, Wisconsin, and Italy.

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Firstglassticket.com is focused on helping you balance the rigmarole of daily life with travelling the country or world. We will provide you the research you need to plan vacations, prioritize, and pack appropriately so you can integrate travel into your routine, balance life’s undertakings, learn new things, enjoy the simple and free things, and live your best life.  

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