American Road Trip

The Road Trip

The smell of fresh air

The wind in your hair

Going fast without a care

All you do is sit and stare

At the beautiful views around you

You have no constraints

Just you and the open road

Open fields, long highways, gorgeous sites

It never ends

The feeling of freedom is virtually endless

Where you want, is where you go

The direction you take, is up to you

Late nights, early mornings

It’s up to you

You see something good

You stop and observe

The experiences are endless

The memories are unforgettable

No lines, no waiting

Just jump in and go

All you need is a ride

Where are we going?

The ultimate adventure

The Road Trip

On the road, there are no security lines

On the road, you carry what you want

On the road, you stop when you want

On the road, the adventures are the best

Embrace the Road Trip

The freedom of the road

One of the greatest things in the world

Should a nurse take corporate housing or find their own housing?

One of the biggest things for traveling nurses and traveling healthcare professionals in general is making sure they have good housing set-up wherever they go. Of course, they are away from their actual homes and need to make sure the temporary dwellings they are staying in are safe, comfortable and provide what they need.

There are two options for traveling healthcare workers to take. The first is to allow the travel company they are working with to fully set up the housing for them and when they arrive, they just walk in and get the key. The other option is to take a housing stipend, which is generally just added to their paychecks. The question is, which one is the better option? Let’s discuss both in more detail.

With the first option, the travel healthcare company itself works with a corporate housing company that helps set up temporary housing leases for healthcare workers while they are in town. Generally, the leases are for about three months, or however long the travel contract is. The work for the traveler is very little and most of the leg work is done for them. They simply choose which dwelling they want based on the choices given to them and it gets set up for them. For a quick and convenient process, this is the way to go. The options are generally more limited. The traveler may do their own research and suggest some housing options to look into, but beyond that, all of the setting up is done by the travel company.

The other option is just taking the housing stipend, which is essentially a sum of money that is added to their paycheck. For example, if the housing stipend is $2000 a month, then they will get $1000 extra on each paycheck if they get paid biweekly. Now, this option allows the healthcare to use the money to find their own housing. Some of the reasons people will choose this path is to have more housing options and to save extra money. This allows the travelers to look for housing options that aren’t available throughout corporate housing, like single room rentals. Also, travelers often find deals where they will pay rent that is significantly lower than the housing stipend they received. Some travelers will choose long-term motels, stay with a friend or family member or basically live out of a trailer or camper. There are also sites, like thegypsynurse.com that can be used to help find temporary housing. Bottom line: you will have the potential to save more money and have more housing options if you opt to take the housing stipend versus allowing your company to set up housing for you. You will have to do more of the leg work and research though. It will definitely be more time consuming at first.

Neither one is a bad option. See which one works best for you. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions.

Top Burger Places in the US

Okay, so when I travel around, I often look for good burger places to eat at. I always enjoy a good burger. I do take my burger with all of the fix-ins: cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mustard. However, I am not really a fan of the fancy burgers, like the ones that have fried eggs or blue cheese on them. I like them pretty simple. Many people just want the meat and bread, while others want whatever they can get their hands on. To each their own. In any case, there have been several taste tests to determine the best burger in the country. I know Five Guys just beat out In and Out Burger in a national taste test. I enjoy both places, but for me, In and Out is the winner in that race. Now, is In and Out my favorite in the country? Well, let’s have a discussion about that.

Let’s talk about some of the most popular burger joints in the country and see how they compare to one another. Now, I am keeping this strictly at fast food. Their have been several bars and restaurants I have been to that also have amazing burgers, but there are too many to count. Most of the places on my list are more specific to a certain region. For example, In and Out, is based more in the West and Southwest region. So, if you live in Chicago, you have to travel. Unless they have built one there recently and I am not aware of it. The main criteria for determining the best place? Simply put, it was the burger that tasted the best to me. That means the meat patty, the bun, and all of the fix-ins were put together perfectly. Without further ado, here are my top fast-food burger places. After going over them, I will tell you which one is the best for me.

Whataburger-My Texas friends swear by this place and will probably kill me if I don’t put it at the top of my list. The burger is good and they are bigger than the average burger you will find. “Everything is bigger in Texas” is not just a slogan. Whataburger is mainly found in the South and Southwest, like Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Definitely give them a try when you get a chance.

Habit Burger-I saw this place for the first time in California. I admit, I really liked it. The burger patty was nice and juicy and overall, tasted pretty good. I always enjoy a good charbroiled burger. The chain was started in California, but now is located around the country.

Cookout-Cookout is a fast-food chain operating out of the Southeast area of the country. I tried them out in Georgia. The best part about this place, is the low prices. When you get your burger, you will see exactly why. The portions are quite small. I think I devoured my burger in about two bites. None-the-less, the burger was really good and definitely and definitely one of my favorites.

Smashburger-Okay, so I love smash burger, Their burgers just do it for me and I love how they taste. Their portion sizes are pretty good too. They were also started in my adopted hometown of Denver, Colorado. That is all.

Five Guys-Five guys has a great burger and if you cannot handle their full-size burger, you can get the junior size, which is also quite filling. Five guys was started in Virginia, but is now located around the country.

In and Out-What can I say about In and Out. If you grew up in California, which I actually did not, than you swore by In and Out. They have and amazing burger patty and their onions are pretty awesome too. I remember when the first one opened in my hometown of Sparks, NV, the line was wrapped around the building several times. Just a great burger all around. I wonder where this would rank on my list.

So, after discussing some of my favorite burger places from around the country, which one of these do I consider the best? The answer is……………………………………………………………. .None of them.

That’s right. I love all of these places, but none of them are my very favorite. There is one place I have yet to mention, and I tried them for the very first time this year, in 2019. That place is Tasty Burger. That’s right, Tasty Burger is my number one joint for the best burger in the country. Chances are, if you have not been to the Boston, Massachusetts area, you have not heard of them. They first opened in 2010 and their burgers are absolutely amazing. The patty was a perfect combination of juicy and crispy. I may also be biased because Boston is my favorite city. But yes, Tasty burger tops my list for sure.

Here is a quick list in order from the places I have mentioned:

  1. Tasty Burger
  2. In and Out Burger
  3. Smash Burger
  4. Cookout
  5. Five Guys
  6. Whataburger
  7. Habit Burger

These are my favorites. Let me know yours. I could not just keep my list to five.

Here are also some honorable mentions:

-Blake’s Lota Burger in New Mexico

-Milo’s Burger

-Culvers

These places are pretty good also. Thanks for reading my list of the best burger places in the country.

Restaurant Review-Curry Up Now!

Hey everyone, I’m a foodie and have another restaurant review for you. What is amazing to me is how much Indian culture has integrated itself into Western Society. Yoga studios seem to be on every street corner; many fairs and festivals have a booth doing Henna tattoos; and it also seems just about every city, big or small, has an Indian restaurant. How good the restaurants are will be up for debate.

My standard for Indian food is quite high since I have a mom who cooks Indian food better than anybody. There are really a handful of Indian restaurants I have been to that stand out to and I would eat over and over again!

Today, I will talk about an amazing street Food Indian restaurant called Curry Up Now in Atlanta, GA. I guess this is a chain that started in California, but it’s the first time I have heard of it. All I can say is that it is amazing. The Pani Puris have an amazing Burst of flavor. We also tried the Papdi and deconstructed samosas. I am not even gonna begin telling you the ingredients and spices, because there are so many. All I can say is that you won’t be disappointed. At least, I hope you won’t be. Their service is pretty amazing also!

They have a variety of drinks too, from chai, to Indian sodas to various ice teas. Technically, they are in Decatur, GA, right outside Atlanta. If I were to rank this restaurant, I would put it in the top three.

Restaurant Review: White Castle vs. Krystal

I just wanted to write a quick article about one of my favor fast-food chains, and that would be White Castle, which is famous for its sliders, or mini burgers. I tried White Castle for the first time about 12 or 13 years ago and I have really loved them since. I admit that I learned about them first by watching Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. I usually will get some when there is one in the town I am visiting. They seem to be popping up in more and more places. With White Castle, you get it their way. No, not your way. It is not Burger King. You get it their way. That means you take it as they make or you go somewhere else. You take your slider with onions, because it comes with onions.

What I am here to write about today is the comparison of White Castle to a restaurant called Krystal. Krystal is basically the southern version of White Castle. They are also known for their sliders and if you want to know which one is better, well, that depends on who you ask. If you ask a northerner, they will probably say White Castle. If you ask a southerner, they will probably say Krystal. As far as what I say? My answer is….

…..White Castle. Yep, for me White Castle takes the cake, or slider. They just did it more for me. Their sliders seemed more flavorful and the onions were like little flavor crystals. Krystal was not bad, but their sliders just seemed more bland to me. I did enjoy their boneless wings though, so that’s a plus. However, if you are asking which one I recommend, I would say White Castle.

Also, if anyone is wondering if there is a difference between an authentic White Castle slider from a restaurant, versus a frozen one you get from the store? The answer is yes. Let me know your thoughts and thank you for reading.

Top 5 Amusement/Theme Parks.

This past weekend, my wife and I visited Dollywood and we really had a great time. It got me to thinking about some of the best theme parks I have been to. I decided to make a list of my top five theme parks or amusement parks that I have visited in my life. Now, this is my personal list based on the ones I have been to. I am not anywhere close to having visited the majority of the parks that exist in the world, but I hope to visit as many as I can.

There is really no criteria that I used for determining the best, just basically the ones I found most enjoyable. For me, that basically means having the most thrilling rides. But, I also care about other attractions, as well as food, stores and atmosphere, etc. You may be asking what is considered a theme park? Basically, any park that features rides, games and really any other form of entertainment. So, without further ado, I give you my top five favorite theme parks that I have visited. Please give me yours as well!

  1. Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida-OK, I just have to give a huge shout out to Universal. The virtual reality rides in this park are absolutely amazing and when you ride them, you will feel like you’re in a real location. For example, during the Harry Potter ride, you actually feel like your riding along side Harry Potter. On top of the rides, the other entertainment is amazing too. My personal favorite part of Universal is Simpson’s world. It was nostalgic for me to go there as an adult and relive some of the classic moments from a legendary show. Make sure to grab a Duff beer and a Krusty Burger. Yes, you will find them there. Also, grab a butter beer at Harry Potter world. I put Universal Studios in Florida slightly above the one in California because they have a few more rides and attractions. Honestly though, you will not be disappointed with either one.
  2. Disney World in Orlando, Florida-I think most people will put this number one on their list. There is certainly nothing wrong with that as Disney World is an amazing park! The rides, attractions, entertainment and food is certainly unforgettable. Disney World has four different parks and you can certainly spend a day or more at each one. Our personal favorite is Epcot and one of our favorite things to do there is visit the international section where you can experience foods and cultures from around the world. One thing I would suggest for Disney World is to go during non-peak season or shell out a little extra money for a quick pass to all of the rides and attractions. Otherwise, you will be waiting hours in line and it is just frustrating. This holds true for Universal Studios as well.
  3. Great America in Santa Clara, California-OK, so I have visited Great America Park in Santa Clara, California multiple times. It was really the first major park I ever went to as a kid. In actuality, it may have been the only one as the majority of the ones on my list, I had visited after becoming an adult already. Simply put, Great America has amazing roller-coasters and that is what I enjoy the most about amusement parks. My favorite ride there was called Top Gun. However, it has a different name now and I cannot remember what it is. Overall, Great America is a great place to visit.
  4. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN-Yes, Dollywood makes my list. I visited the park for the first time just this past weekend and my wife and I had a great time. The rides were amazing and we had a lot of fun. The food was good too. My favorite rides there are probably the Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle. The best part about going there was that it was not too hot and the lines were not that long. If we went during peak season, it may not have been as fun. But when we went this time, it was absolutely wonderful. On top of that, it is located in Pigeon Forge, TN, which has many attractions to visit. Dollywood makes my top five list for sure.
  5. Disneyland in Anaheim, California-Disneyland definitely makes it on the top five list. Just barely, but it does. It is more known for its attractions and overall ambiance than the rides. Of course, there definitely are a few good rides there as well. For me though, the rides did not compare to the other parks I have put on my list. The attractions, however, will not disappoint.

These are my top five. Let me know yours and maybe I will get some ideas. Remember again that these are based on the ones that I have visited and my list may change in a few years after I visit some more. Here are some honorable mentions that I enjoyed, but did not make my top five:

  1. Sea World in San Diego, California.
  2. Volcano Bay in Orlando, Florida.
  3. Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.

Technology And Travel-The Bad

I was reminded today about the hindrance that technology can play on our travels. Let me just say, technology is a great thing when used properly. It gives us so many advantages and makes our ability to travel much more convenient. This is something I will discuss in a future blog.

For today, I want to discuss one of the biggest setbacks I have personally witnessed with technology, and that is the ability to live in the moment. As I was doing a cave tour earlier today, I noticed many people were taking the time to look at their phones and not pay attention to what was around them. They were surrounded by many amazing rock formations and waterfalls, but really did not seem to notice.

So many of us are handcuffed by our technological devices. I am guilty as charged of this on several occasions. As someone who does freelance work online and also enjoys social media, I understand the need to feel connected all of the time. Unfortunately, this causes us to not be able to experience the real world. We may read about the world, but we aren’t living in it. That is certainly a shame. We are so anxious to post about our experiences, that we are taking a moment to enjoy it. We are so anxious to get that perfect picture, that we aren’t experiencing what we’re looking at in real time.

While I love the advancements in technology, I hope it does not impede our connection with the world. Let’s travel and experience the world!

How I Became A Traveling Nurse!

Ever since I decided to become a nurse, which was towards the end of high school, I learned about the interesting field of travel nursing. I learned how you can live all over the country and even the world while using life saving skills in an area where you are truly needed. Not only that, but get paid to do so, travel and all. In short, traveling nurses are needed in areas where there are critical staffing needs.

Wow, this just sounded too good to be true. However, it wasn’t. After speaking to many nurses in the field, I realized that this was legit. I knew at this point, I would become a traveling nurse. Somehow, someway, someday, I would become a traveling nurse. I graduated nursing school in 2006, and immediately began working. Long story short, I eventually got into the field of dialysis, which I loved more than anything else I had done. I excelled at this field more than anything else too. After about a year and a half, I contacted the travel nursing division of my company and I was all set.

In the spring of 2010, I officially became a traveling nurse and had my first assignment in Colorado. I thought I would do this for only a couple of years, but nine years later, I am still going strong. I have loved this field. I have worked all over the country with great people. I met my wife while travel nursing. Finally, I have had the opportunity to become an author of multiple books. Whatever comes my way in the future, my experience as a traveling nurse will be irreplaceable.

Is travel nursing for you? The only way to know is to try!

Welcome To My Life!

Welcome To My Nomadic Nurse Life!

Hey Hey! Ankit here. Welcome to my site and more importantly, welcome to my life! This has been my life for many years. I am a traveling nurse, which means I work all over the country using my skills as a dialysis nurse to help patients who are living with Kidney failure.

On top of being able to help patients in their most vulnerable states, a responsibility I take very seriously, I also get the opportunity to see and experience the beautiful world we live in. As a nomad since 2010, I have lived and worked all over the US and traveled to many parts of the world. I have met amazing people and tried food I never even knew existed. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to work as a traveling nurse and I am excited to bring my experiences to you.

Not only will I talk about my time as a nurse, I will also share tips, advice and overall life experiences. I am looking forward to speaking with all of you!

For more of my experiences as a traveling nurse, also check out my book: Going Global: The Life of a Traveling Nurse. Or, you can just follow me on this blog. Thanks for joining me!

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This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.