Articles by Leah Carmody

Guides gathered for this part of the map, so a place name can become a day you actually spend.

Find Hidden Gem Restaurants With a ZIP Code

I grew up in a military family, so I got used to landing in a new place and needing a game plan fast. My favorite trick still works in any town I visit: I pick one ZIP code and let it point me toward where the locals actually eat. Not “best restaurants in the city” (which can turn into a popularity...

A Homebuyer’s Day Out: Scout a ZIP Code Before You Move

I grew up in a military family, which meant new towns, new schools, new everything every few years. I learned fast that the fastest way to feel grounded is to understand your immediate radius: where you buy coffee, where you walk after dinner, what the traffic feels like at 8:10 a.m., and whether...

Map a Self-Guided Walking Tour with ZIP Code Boundaries

I learned to love “contained” adventures as a kid in a military family. New town, new school, new everything. My fastest way to feel at home was to pick a small slice of the map and explore it like I belonged there. These days, I do the same thing on purpose: I grab a ZIP code area, treat it like...

How to Plan a 5-Mile Radius Day Trip From Any ZIP Code

I learned to love tight-radius exploring the hard way: growing up in a military family, you do not always have the luxury of “someday we will visit.” You land somewhere new, you have a weekend, and you make it count. That is basically my whole micro-trip philosophy in one sentence. Pick a ZIP code,...

About Leah Carmody

Hi, I’m Leah Carmody, and I build day trips out of zip codes. That probably sounds like a niche hobby (it is), but it started honestly: I grew up in a military family, which meant I was the new kid in a new place every few years. While other people were still unpacking boxes, I was already doing...