I’m kicking off my new travel chapter with a 9-day road trip from Cleveland, Ohio to Charleston, South Carolina, from August 21 to August 29, traveling with my 27-year-old son. We’re splitting the stay between a condo on Folly Beach and a hotel in downtown Charleston, mixing beach time with history-packed walking tours. This trip is the very first post in my new travel blog, and it’s the start of a goal to travel four to six times a year now that I’m an empty nester with a new career and way more time on my hands.
Hey Y’all! I have some great news.
I’m starting a brand-new blog category: travel. And I’m not starting it as some expert with tons of stamps in her passport. I’m starting it as a total newbie traveler. A 48-year-old midlife woman who is just now getting the time, the freedom, and the paycheck to actually go travel a little.
For years, my life was built around raising my son as a single mom. Every dollar and all my free time went to him, his school, his sports, his college. That was the right thing to do, and I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. But now? He’s 27, he’s grown, and he has moved out on his own back in June. I just landed a bigger role in my career too. So for the first time in a long time, I’ve got both time and money showing up all at the right time.
And the thing I want to spend it on is travel.
Why Am I Starting With Charleston?
Because it was already planned. In just a few days, I’m hitting the road.
Here’s the trip, in a nutshell:
This is my very first big trip of this new travel era, and I wanted to bring you along for the ride, the planning, the drive, the whole thing.
Why Drive From Cleveland Instead of Flying?
Honestly? Because I’m new to this, and a road trip felt like the friendliest way to ease into traveling more.
Driving means I don’t have to stress about flight prices jumping around, dealing with airport lines, or squeezing my whole trip into a carry-on. It also means my son and I get built-in time to talk, laugh, and just be together before we even reach Charleston. For a mom and her grown son, that’s not nothing. Some of my favorite memories with him already happened in a car, way before this trip was even planned.
If you’re new to travel too and flying feels like a big scary first step, a road trip might be a much gentler way to start. You control the schedule. You control the stops. And you can always turn a long drive into part of the adventure instead of just the boring part before the adventure.
Why Split the Stay Between Folly Beach and Downtown Charleston?
This was one of my favorite planning decisions, and I think it’s a smart move for anyone visiting the Charleston area for the first time.
Folly Beach and downtown Charleston are two completely different experiences, and honestly, why choose just one?
Folly Beach gives us that slow, salty-air, put-your-feet-in-the-sand kind of vacation. It’s laid-back. It’s a great place to decompress, especially after a long drive. Staying in a condo instead of a hotel also means more space to spread out, a kitchen to make some meals instead of eating out for every single one, and a much more relaxed pace overall.
Downtown Charleston is a totally different energy. Cobblestone streets. Historic homes on nearly every block. Walking tours packed with stories about the city’s past. If you know me, you know I love a good walking tour — I want the history, the little-known facts, the stories behind the buildings, not just the pretty photos.
By splitting our stay, we get both worlds in one trip instead of picking one.
What I’m Most Excited About
Two words: walking tours.
I am a huge history nerd when it comes to travel. I don’t just want to see a pretty building, I want to know who lived there, what happened there, why it still matters today. Charleston is basically a walking history book, and I plan to treat it like one. I’ve already got a few walking tours on my list, and I’ll be sharing all the details, which ones were worth it, which ones I’d skip — in my Charleston recap post after we get back.
I’m also just excited to have this uninterrupted stretch of time with my son before he finds a girlfriend, settles down and possibly raise a family. Nine days, one car, two very different generations of playlists, this is exactly the kind of trip I want to be intentional about enjoying, not just checking off.
What Traveling With My Adult Son Is Actually Like
Traveling with a grown child is a completely different experience than traveling with a little kid, and I think it deserves its own little spotlight here.
There’s no need to pack snacks for meltdowns or plan around nap time. Instead, it’s more like traveling with a friend who also happens to share your DNA and twenty some years of inside jokes. We get to split up planning and driving duties. He’ll take charge of some things, I’ll take charge of others, and we’ll compromise on the stuff we don’t totally agree on.
If you’re a midlife mom thinking about traveling with your adult kids, my biggest piece of advice going in is this: let go of the urge to plan every single minute the way you might have when they were little. Grown kids want breathing room too. Build in flexibility, and let the trip shape itself a bit as you go.
My Newbie Travel Tips for This Kind of Trip
Since I’m brand new to traveling this often, I’m learning a lot as I plan. Here’s what’s helped me so far, especially for a shorter trip like this one:
Book your stay in two parts if you want two experiences. Instead of forcing one type of lodging to do double duty, we split our reservations, a condo for beach days, a hotel for downtown walking days. It gave us the best of both without any compromise.
Pack for versatility, not for every possible outfit. For a beach-and-city trip like this, I’m packing pieces that work for both, comfortable walking shoes, breathable clothes, a swimsuit, and layers I can mix and match. Less stuff, more flexibility.
Plan your driving days with real breaks. A road trip from Cleveland to Charleston is a long one, and I’m not trying to power through it just to save an hour. Building in stops for food, stretching, and just resetting makes the whole drive feel a lot less exhausting.
Give yourself permission to not have it all figured out. This is my first real trip of this new chapter, and I don’t have some perfect system yet. I’m learning as I go, and I think that’s actually the most honest way to start this blog section, not pretending I’ve got it all mapped out already.
What’s Coming Next
After this trip, I’ll be sharing a full Charleston and Folly Beach recap, the walking tours that were worth every minute, the food, the little lessons I picked up along the way, and probably a few things I’d do differently next time.
This is only the beginning. My travel list is already growing: Boston, Philadelphia, St. Augustine, Chicago, New York, Cleveland’s own hidden gems, New Orleans, Savannah, Pittsburgh, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Ellicottville are all on my radar for the next few years. My goal is four to six trips a year, mostly right here in the U.S. to start, mostly short three-to-five-day getaways, and mostly built around history, walking, and good stories.
If you’re a midlife woman thinking about traveling more but feeling unsure of where to even start, I want you to know something: you don’t need a ten-year plan or an expert level of experience. You just need one trip on the calendar. Mine happens to be Charleston.
It’s never too late to start exploring.
Keep glowing. Keep growing. You’ve got this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston, SC a good first trip for a beginner traveler? Yes. Charleston is very walkable, has a strong focus on history and guided walking tours, and pairs well with a nearby beach destination like Folly Beach, making it easy to build a trip with a mix of relaxation and sightseeing.
How long does it take to drive from Cleveland, Ohio to Charleston, SC? The drive from Cleveland to Charleston is a long single-day or comfortable two-day drive, depending on how many breaks you plan. Building in rest stops makes the trip far more enjoyable than trying to power through it in one push.
Is it a good idea to split a Charleston trip between the beach and downtown? Splitting a stay between a beach area like Folly Beach and downtown Charleston lets travelers experience both a relaxed, laid-back pace and a walkable, history-focused city experience in a single trip, without having to choose just one.
What should you consider when traveling with an adult child instead of a young child? Traveling with an adult child allows for more flexibility, shared planning responsibilities, and less rigid scheduling compared to traveling with young kids. It works best when both people build in room for compromise and downtime rather than over-planning every hour.
Age 49, Down 200 lbs + mostly naturally.
90 more pounds to loose.
My meal plan for today:
Breakfast
Homemade Protein Bar
25 g protein
12 g fiber
Lunch
Ground beef taco with veggies
Dinner
Breakfast for dinner
Eggs, chicken sausage, asparagus, roasted sweet potatoes
Snack
Cleveland Kraut
Garlic sauerkraut
2 Espresso black and 90 oz of water
+
40 oz Glow water:
Loam fiber powder
Electrolytes
Pearl powder
40 oz water
Come follow and join the party for real life midlife motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#weightlossjourney
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
The very first Friday Glow Report is here! ✨
Swipe for what`s trending this week for women over 40: new shows, real health news, money dates you don`t want to miss, sales, fall food specials, and getaways for early December.
My favorite? Aspen lift tickets for $3.75 on December 14. I`m still smiling about that one.
Every item is checked against a real source, and the full list with every link is in today`s newsletter.
Rather listen? Today`s episode of The Midlife GlowGetter Podcast walks you through it.
Health items are for education, not medical advice. Money items are general education, not financial advice.
Save this post, then tap the link in my bio to get The Friday Glow Report free in your inbox every Friday at 6 AM. Send it to a friend who needs a Friday treat.
#WomenOver40 #MidlifeWomen #MidlifeGlowUp #FridayFinds #MidlifeGlowGetter
Women over 40, I did the scrolling for you. ☕
This week: The Diplomat is back, the Social Security raise drops October 14, Medicare Open Enrollment opens October 15, and Aspen lift tickets are $3.75 on December 14. Yes, really.
I checked every single item against a real source. If it`s on my list, it`s real.
The full list, with every link, lands in your inbox every Friday in the morning in my new Friday newsletter, The Midlife GlowGetter: The Friday Glow Report.
Rather listen? It`s also on The Midlife GlowGetter Podcast every Friday morning.
Tap the link in my bio to get The Friday Glow Report free, every Friday at 6 AM. Then tell me below: which one are you most excited about?
#WomenOver40 #MidlifeWomen #MidlifeGlowUp #FridayFinds #MidlifeGlowGetter
Women over 40, I did the scrolling for you. ☕
This week: The Diplomat is back, the Social Security raise drops October 14, Medicare Open Enrollment opens October 15, and Aspen lift tickets are $3.75 on December 14. Yes, really.
I checked every single item against a real source. If it`s on my list, it`s real.
The full list, with every link, lands in your inbox tomorrow morning in my new Friday newsletter, The Friday Glow Report.
Rather listen? It`s also on The Midlife GlowGetter Podcast every Friday morning.
Tap the link in my bio to get The Friday Glow Report free, every Friday at 6 AM. Then tell me below: which one are you most excited about?
#WomenOver40 #MidlifeWomen #MidlifeGlowUp #FridayFinds #MidlifeGlowGetter
Age 49, Down 200 lbs + mostly naturally.
90 more pounds to loose.
My meal plan for today:
Breakfast
Protein Match Latte
- Almond Milk
- 1 scoop match
- 2 pumps sugar free vanilla syrup
Lunch
Protein Bar - homemade
Dinner
Ground beef and veggie taco meat
Roasted sweet potatoes
Cottage cheese
Hot honey
Snack
Almonds, cashews and pumpkin seeds
2 Espresso black and 90 oz of water
+
40 oz Glow water:
Loam fiber powder
Electrolytes
Pearl powder
40 oz water
Come follow and join the party for real life midlife motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#weightlossjourney
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
These 5 fall soups are high in protein, rich in fiber, and packed with nutrients—perfect for women over 40 focusing on weight loss, gut health, and glowing energy. ✨
From slow cooker black bean to high-protein cheddar broccoli, each recipe is simple, satisfying, and meal-prep friendly. 🥣💪
Your fall glow-up starts in the kitchen. 🌸
👉 Save this post for your Sunday meal prep and let me know in the comments: which soup will you try first?
#MidlifeGlowUp
#WomenOver40
#HealthyFallSoups
#GlowGetterLife
#MidlifeReinvention
Healthy Recipes Over 40
Protein Packed Meals
Fiber Rich Foods
Meal Prep For Women
Fall Wellness
Age 49, Down 200 lbs + mostly naturally.
90 more pounds to loose.
Walking everyday since May 2022. Consistency is key and believe me there are days that I don’t feel like it. But walking gives me energy, joy, creativity, stamina, glow.
Sunday Morning Routine!
Wake 4:30am
Hydrate
Wash Face
Brush Teeth
Check Emails
Dress
Meal Prep
Stretch
Walk outside 45 min.
Take on the day!
Then 8am ready for the day 👟♥️😘
Come follow and join the party for real life midlife motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#weightlossjourney
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
My early 5am Saturday morning routine including stretching, weight machines, sauna and more stretching. Not shown a quick breakfast and walking. Consistency is key and believe me I am trying.
Wake 4:30am
Hydrate
Wash Face
Brush Teeth
Check Emails
Dress
Stretch
Gym 5am
Weight Machines
Sauna
Stretch
Breakfast-Cold Brew Black & Egg Bites
Home
News
Walk Outside
Then 8am ready for the day 👟♥️😘
Come follow and join the party for real life midlife motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#weightlossjourney
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
Question for the day. #lifequestions #midlifewoman #womenover40 #midlifereinvention #midlifeawakening
Bring in the good energy, sunshine, fresh air into your home and your life and your family. #midlifeawakening #womenover40 #midlifewomen #lifelessons #charmed
Cleveland Ohio Fall 2026 Bucket List Activities!
Fall is such a magical time in the land of Cleveland and surrounding areas.
Many of these places I`m going to try to visit before winter moves in.
Follow for more bucket list places in Cleveland Ohio and surrounding communities.
Love,
Jax
XOXO
#cleveland #cle #ohio #clevelandevents #fallvibes
Age 49, Down 200 lbs naturally.
90 more pounds to loose.
Dad 90 years old eats whatever he wants which is usually unhealthy foods.
Saturday grocery shopping at a local farmers market.
Come join me on a little adventure in grocery shopping here in Cleveland Ohio.
#farmersmarket
#wellnessjourney
#cleveland
#womenover40
#agingparents
Age 49, Down 200 lbs naturally.
90 more pounds to loose.
My early 6am Saturday morning routine including stretching, strength training, quick breakfast and walking.
Wake 5am
Hydrate
Wash Face
Brush Teeth
Check Emails
Dress
Stretch
Vibration Plate
Gym 6am
Weight Machines
Sauna
Breakfast-Cold Brew Black & Egg Bites
Home
News
Walk Outside
Then 8am ready for the day 👟♥️😘
Come follow and join the party for real life midlife motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#weightlossjourney
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
I have lost 200 lbs naturally.
I have obtained a new corporate position make $35k more per year in project management and this is what I`m implementing at my in person job for wellness, longevity and weight loss.
✅ stand-up desk
✅ elliptical under the desk
I am going to search for a stand-up desk on facebook marketplace to save money. I am going to get a life pro elliptical from Amazon.
Hope this helps anyone looking to improve their health while having a sedentary job.
I have another 90 lbs to lose and hopefully this will help some to get me there.
Follow me for real life midlife, women over 40 motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#wellnessjourney
#healthylifestyle
#midlifewomen
Please answer the poll, I need your help.
If you could create your dream life in midlife what would you focus on the most?
Age 49, Down 200 lbs naturally, paid down $45k in debt, new career in project management, life coach certified. This is by far my best, highest and most productive season of my life.
Midlife-My best season yet...
Come follow and join the party for real life motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#weightlossjourney
#healthylifestyle
#midlifewomen
Age 49, Down 200 lbs naturally, paid down $45k in debt, new career in project management, life coach certified. This is by far my best, highest and most productive season of my life.
Midlife-My best season yet...
Come follow and join the party for real life motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
Soon to come a midlife women`s glow-up online community and glow-up retreats in Charleston SC.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#glowupafter40
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
Starting to plan a trip solo to Charleston SC in January or February.
Flying this time.
Now is my time and I`m going to make each moment count.
Follow me for real life motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
I hope you have an amazing day today and I look forward to meeting you in my future community, retreats or here online in the comments.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#glowupafter40
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
Midlife awakening and midlife reinvention I a real thing.
I did not have a midlife crisis…I had a midlife glow-up.
I have lost nearly 200 lbs mostly naturally.
I have paid off over $45K in debt as a single mom, single income household with a son away in college.
I have obtained a new corporate position make $35k more per year.
I have become a certified life coach by The Life Coach School.
All of these milestones the last 4 years have completely upgraded my confidence and mindset and growth as a woman over 40.
I feel like I have really come to my own and created my dream life. I am still working and creating my dream life everyday.
I have another 90 more pounds to loose. I want to work on certifications for my career and here online. Nutrition and Wellness Certifications I am working on with NASM. I want to become a Master Certified Life Coach.
I want to continue to help women over 40 all over the world to create the life of their dreams with support and a strong community. I want to create a monthly paid online community and app and in-person midlife glow-up retreats. I want to reach more women on my free podcast and free weekly newsletter.
I want to help you, my friend.
Follow me for real life motivation and inspiration in wellness, weight loss, mindset and lifestyle.
I hope you have an amazing day today and I look forward to meeting you in my future community, retreats or here online in the comments.
Podcast - The Midlife Glowgetter
Website: www.jaxstys.com
Free Newsletter & Guides in link in bio.
Soon to come glowgetter retreats in SC & CO.
Oh and remember it is never too late to create a life and lifestyle you love.
Live a life you’d want to live twice.
Love, Jax
#womenover40
#midlifereinvention
#glowupafter40
#transformyourlife
#midlifewomen
I lost 198 lbs in the last 4 years naturally as a single mom, working full time in corporate finance.
I was on weight loss medication for 3 months, got off it because of cost and side effects.
I have anther 90 lbs to go to reach my goal weight.
Back at the gym after 3 months off.
Hope this helps someone move their body today.
Follow for midlife wellness, lifestyle, & mindset inspiration and motivation.
Love, Jax
#midlifewellness #weightlossjourney #womenover40 #healthylifestyle #midlifereinvention
