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    15 NYC Afro Latino-Owned Businesses to Support this Hispanic Heritage Month & Beyond

    If you’re looking for ways to support Afro-Latino businesses in NYC, I’ve put together a list of spots to add to your radar. From cafés and restaurants to bookstores, cultural institutions, travel experiences, and community events, these are places where you can eat, shop, explore, learn, and connect. And while Hispanic Heritage Month may be the reason you discovered them, you don't need a heritage month to keep supporting them.
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    [Ep. 06 | Solo] After 40 States & No Driver’s License, Here’s How I Travel the U.S. Without a Car

    If you’ve ever wondered how to travel without a car, how to get around if you don’t have a car, or what you can use instead of a car, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down the car-free travel strategies that have helped me explore 40 states, from trains and buses to public transportation, rideshares, walking, guided tours, and help from friends.
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    12 Car-Free Day Trips from NYC Every Black Traveler Must Take (2 Hours or Less)

    Whether you live in NYC and need a change of scenery or you’re traveling through the city as a major transportation hub, there are plenty of car-free day trips within reach. A day trip can be enough. That’s why this list focuses on car-free day trips from NYC that you can reach by train or bus in 2 hours or less. When you only have one day, you don’t want to spend most of it getting there. All have plenty of opportunities to experience Black history, culture, businesses, and local gems along the way.
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    I’ve Visited 40 States Without a Driver’s License: Here’s 10 Tips How to Travel the U.S. Without a Car

    If you’ve ever thought you couldn’t travel the U.S. without a car, think again! As someone who is one of those New Yorkers who still does not have a driver’s license and has visited 40 out of 50 states, I can say this clearly: traveling across the United States without a car is absolutely possible. And I’m not speaking from theory. I’m speaking from experience. Here's what works.
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    15 Car-Free Weekend Getaways from NYC Every Black Traveler Must Take (4 Hours or Less)

    While I love a good trip, I don’t always want to use up my precious PTO just to get away for the weekend. So I’m always looking for destinations I can reach by train or bus in 4 hours or less, where I can get around on foot or via rideshare once I arrive. That’s exactly what this list is about: car-free weekend getaways from New York City that won’t require you to use PTO or spend half your weekend getting there.
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    Traveling While Black: Cape May, New Jersey Black-Owned Guide

    Cape May, NJ has a special place in my heart, so I want to make sure I do this place justice. Even though I only spent one day there, it was honestly one of the best day trips I have taken. It felt truly immersive, left me in my feels, and gave me a completely different perspective on this charming seaside town. Cape May is more than Victorian homes and beautiful beaches. Its streets are filled with stories of Black resilience, entrepreneurship, and freedom that are in plain sight.
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    Traveling While Black: Cleveland, Ohio Black-Owned Guide

    Cleveland keeps giving me reasons to come back. After two visits, I have gathered plenty of recommendations for spending a day or even a full weekend in Black-owned Cleveland, OH.
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    Traveling While Black: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Black-Owned Guide

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, does not get nearly enough love. Black-owned Milwaukee, WI most definitely does not get the love it deserves. I think part of the reason is its close proximity to Chicago. Located only about 1.5 hours away on Amtrak’s Hiawatha route, Milwaukee can easily become a side trip from Chicago. But after exploring Black-owned Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I realized it deserves to be the main trip. So here's a one-day guide to help you get started!
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    Traveling While Black: Covington, Kentucky Black-Owned Guide

    Covington, KY is that quiet little sister no one talks about because it sits right across the river from Cincinnati, OH. With a population of around 40,000 compared to Cincinnati’s 315,000, it’s easy to overlook. But honestly? Covington surprised me, especially Black-Owned Covington, KY.
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    Traveling While Black: Cincinnati, Ohio Black-Owned Guide

    Cincinnati, OH surprised me in the best ways. I had no idea how significant Cincinnati’s role was in the Underground Railroad or how connected Harriet Beecher Stowe was to the city. I loved experiencing Black Cincinnati in so many layers, from Black art and music to the entrepreneurs and businesses that continue to shape the city today. This one-day Black-owned Cincinnati guide is for you.
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    20 Underrated Amtrak Travel Destinations Every Black Traveler Must Take

    Have you ever considered taking an Amtrak train ride? If not, would you reconsider if it led you to underrated Amtrak travel destinations rich in Black history and culture? Here are 20 underrated Amtrak travel destinations for Black history & culture:
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    30 Black Free Things to Do in NYC This Summer (From a NY Native)

    Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or simply looking for new ways to explore your own backyard, this guide to 30 Black free things to do in NYC this summer highlights experiences that center Black culture, amplify local voices, and celebrate the richness of the diaspora. Because in a city like New York, some of the most meaningful moments aren’t the ones you pay for: they’re the ones that connect you to Black people, Black joy, and Black music!
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    Traveling While Black in Lexington, Kentucky: Is it Worth Visiting?

    You came here because you are wondering: What is it like traveling while Black in Lexington, KY? Is Lexington a Black-Friendly Destination? Is Lexington, KY worth visiting? I am excited to talk about what it really means traveling while Black in Lexington, Kentucky, and how Lexington measures up on my BLACK Welcome Index.
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    Spend a Weekend in Black-Owned Lexington, Kentucky

    Lower Manhattan is often framed as the financial capital of the world: we're talking Wall Street, big skyscrapers, fast-paced energy. But beneath that polished surface lies something deeper: one of the most significant Black historical landscapes, much of it that exists six feet under. We are talking about the Ellis Island for enslaved Africans, according to former Mayor David Dickens, our first NYC Black mayor.  We are talking about the African Burial Ground. We are talking about a Black-owned Lower Manhattan.
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    [Ep. 02 | USA] She Chased 50 States and 50 Countries, But Found Something Else Instead w/ Ebony Walden

    In this first episode of Unlock Black Journeys: The Podcast, I’m joined by Ebony Walden, an author, filmmaker, consultant, and speaker based in Richmond, Virginia. In this conversation, we explore her journey across all 50 states and 50 countries and what she has learned about Black travel, belonging, and navigating space across the United States and beyond.
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    Dr. Princess Francois.

    Welcome to the Franny the Traveler blog! I’m Dr. Franny, a national award-winning educator, entrepreneur, author, and Black travel enthusiast on a personal mission to make every destination a Black-owned destination. As I visit all 50 states and 50 countries by age 50, this Black travel blog is a growing collection of Black-owned city guides, itineraries, travel tips, and reflections on traveling while Black for the conscious traveler. I’m so happy you’re here!

    Recent Posts

    [Ep. 07 | NY] The Afro-Latinx Experience in NYC: Understanding Dual-Identity, Culture, and Belonging w/ Diva Green of I Got Your Black

    15 NYC Afro Latino-Owned Businesses to Support this Hispanic Heritage Month & Beyond

    [Ep. 06 | Solo] After 40 States & No Driver’s License, Here’s How I Travel the U.S. Without a Car

    12 Car-Free Day Trips from NYC Every Black Traveler Must Take (2 Hours or Less)

    I’ve Visited 40 States Without a Driver’s License: Here’s 10 Tips How to Travel the U.S. Without a Car

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