All work and no play is a common theme in American life. Between work, family, and everything else competing for our time, vacation can easily get pushed to the bottom of the priority list—or those precious days off get spent catching up on everything except actually taking a vacation.
And even when we decide to travel, planning the trip can feel like another job. Where should you go? How many days do you need? Where should you stay? Do you need a car? Which attractions need advance reservations? And how do you fit everything you want to do into the vacation time you actually have?
That’s where Out of Office comes in.
About Sherianne Higgins
I’m Sherianne Higgins, the founder, writer, photographer, and trip planner behind Out of Office.
I’ve been traveling within the United States my whole life. I began traveling internationally in 2007 and have visited 37 countries. My travels have taken me across Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia.
But I’m not a full-time nomad with an unlimited travel calendar. I have a career outside this blog, so I know exactly what it’s like to plan travel around limited vacation days.
That has shaped how I travel and how I write Out of Office.
I care about the details that can make or break a short trip: where it makes sense to base yourself, how much you can realistically see in a day, whether you need a car, which attractions require advance reservations, and when squeezing in “one more place” simply isn’t worth it.
I want you to come away from an Out of Office guide knowing not just what to see, but how to make the trip actually work.
About Out of Office
I created Out of Office for people who love to travel but don’t have unlimited time to do it. If you have a job, limited PTO, and a very long list of places you want to see, you’re in the right place.
I know how much work can go into planning a trip—figuring out where to stay, what’s actually worth seeing, how long you need in each place, whether that “easy” day trip is really easy, and how to fit everything together without spending half your vacation in transit.
Out of Office is designed to make that part easier.
My goal is to help you use your vacation time well, with practical itineraries and destination guides that make it easier to go from “I want to visit someday” to actually booking the trip.
How I Research Out of Office Travel Guides
Whenever possible, my guides are based on my own travels and firsthand experiences.
I personally visit the destinations I write about, take the photography you see on Out of Office, and research the logistics behind each itinerary so that the information is useful when you’re planning a real trip—not just daydreaming about one.
Depending on the guide, that can include researching and testing:
- Transportation between destinations
- Driving times and road-trip routes
- Hotels and the best areas to stay
- Tours and activities
- Restaurants
- Opening hours and reservation requirements
- How much time attractions actually take
- The most efficient order to visit places
- Day trips and whether they’re realistically worth your limited vacation time
When I publish an itinerary, it is based on a trip or route I have personally taken. I may adjust an itinerary when I think there is a better or more efficient way for a reader to structure the trip, and I’ll explain that when it’s relevant.
Travel information changes constantly, so I also research current logistical information when writing and updating guides rather than relying solely on what was true during my visit.
My Travel Style
Out of Office is travel for people who have places to be on Monday.
My itineraries tend to be active and efficient. I like seeing a lot, but I don’t believe a good vacation means racing from attraction to attraction just to check things off a list.
I look for the sweet spot between seeing as much as possible and actually enjoying where you are.
That often means choosing a convenient home base, grouping attractions geographically, knowing when a rental car saves time, booking popular experiences in advance, and occasionally deciding that something isn’t worth sacrificing half a vacation day to see.
My travel style is generally independent, fast-paced, carry-on only, and budget-conscious with occasional splurges.
Most importantly, I plan around the reality that vacation days are valuable. You shouldn’t need three weeks off to have an incredible trip.
Editorial Policy
My goal is to make Out of Office accurate, useful, and honest.
I base my travel guides on a combination of firsthand experience and additional research. Personal experiences and opinions are my own, and I aim to make it clear when information comes from research rather than something I personally experienced.
Because destinations change, I periodically review and update published guides. This can include checking transportation information, attraction hours, prices, reservation requirements, hotel information, links, and other practical details.
Even with those efforts, travel information can change without notice. I always recommend confirming important details—particularly opening hours, ticket requirements, transportation schedules, and entry requirements—with the relevant official source before your trip.
If you notice something in one of my guides that has changed, you can contact me at sheriannekay [at] outofoffice [dot] blog
Affiliate Policy
Some pages on Out of Office contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Affiliate partnerships help support the cost of running Out of Office, but they don’t determine what I recommend. My goal is to recommend destinations, accommodations, experiences, and travel resources that I believe are genuinely useful to travelers.
Sponsored content, complimentary stays, hosted experiences, or other partnerships will be disclosed when applicable.
Ready to Get Out of Office?
If your vacation-day balance is calling your name, start planning your next trip.
You can explore my DESTINATION GUIDES, browse my TRAVEL ITINERARIES, or browse some of my TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDES.
Now use those vacation days.