This Is My South: Stephanie Yoder

This post is part of a series where we interview prominent Southerners or Southern transplants about what they love so much about this area and why others should visit. If you are interested in being featured, leave a comment or send me an email.

Stephanie Yoder is a freelance writer and the blogger behind the site Twenty Something Travel. She grew up in the Washington DC area, but left for a round-the-world trip in 2010. Since then, she’s traveled through Southeast Asia and South America, but is currently calling Sayulita, Mexico home with husband (and fellow blogger) Michael.

What do you love most about living in the South?

I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, right outside of Washington DC. It is just a hairs breath into what people consider the south. It’s really the perfect mix I think, easy to get up north, easy to get down south.

What are your favorite places in Washington DC and Arlington?

The DC area has great international food: everything from Ethiopian to Vietnamese to Russian. It’s never boring. My new favorite place to eat isn’t a restaurant at all– it’s the street food trucks that congregate around McPherson Square and Metro Center on weekdays around lunch.

Eastern Market on Capitol Hill is the place to go for local culture on the weekends. Think terrific produce, antiques, crafts and live music.

Over the river in Arlington there are some great eateries in the Courthouse and Clarendon corridor. A couple of my favorites are Northside Social, Bayou Bakery and Faccia Luna. Great bars down here too.

What is your favorite Southern meal?

Crispy Waffle House hash browns with Tabasco sauce. We don’t really have Waffle Houses in my area but that was a favorite from my college years in Atlanta.

What are your favorite Southern traditions?

A Diet Coke at breakfast every morning. All my non-southern friends think it’s gross, but it is so refreshing!

Thanks again to Stephanie for telling us more about the Washington DC area. You can follow her adventures on her blog. All photos, unless otherwise stated, are property of Stephanie Yoder.