Door County, Wisconsin is a 4 hour drive from our home. My parents always drove here in the summer and fall, but I had never been. Nate had been going to Door County for years and loved it…he insisted we take the trip together. Our first adventure to this beautiful part of the Wisconsin wilderness was the fall of 2018. Nate showed me all of his favorite places…it meant the world to me. It is a beautiful area and if you haven’t traveled here before, consider it in the future…it is lovely. It is now our most favorite romantic and outdoorsy local getaway ❤️ To help you plan your Wisconsin adventure, I’ve put together a list of things that we know are winners…and so romantic!
The sunsets here are wonderful
1. Washington Island and Bike Riding
Nate said… “let’s take the ferry over to Washington Island and ride bikes together”… Yes!!!! I don’t ride bikes very often, but when I do, I prefer to do it with my husband on an island. I’d say it’s kind of our thing, we do that exactly a lot. Washington Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Peaks Island.
The Washington Island Ferry Line picks you up in Ellison Bay and is $16 per adult. We brought both of our new Treks on this trip (my birthday present from Nate!). This was such a pleasant way to spend the day. While on the island, stop at the Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm! We shopped, ordered lavender champagne, and sat outside together and chilled. WONDERFUL. The beaches are also a must-stop-and-see. We rode our bikes to Schoolhouse beach where you can see the limestone rocks that are perfectly rounded and smooth. I had never seen a beach like this…we had a moment.
A lovely stop at the Lavender Farm
2. Fish Boil
Don’t miss an opportunity to do one of these!! Every time we go to Door County, without fail…we have dinner at The Old Post Office. I think it has the best fish and presentation. It is said that the Scandinavian immigrants brought the fish boil to this area. Cooking fish this way fed a lot of people…at that time, mostly lumberjacks, fisherman, and laborers. It’s really something to see….they get the water boiling hot, they add the salted fish, and then they light that fire up to ‘rager’ level and BAM!!…fish is done.
This web page is a great source of information behind the infamous Fish Boil, don’t miss this!!! If you love white fish smothered in drawn butter AND a slice of cherry pie at the end, make reservations now 🍒 and enjoy a romantic dinner for two Door County style. For another romantic dinner option, The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek has a delicious restaurant! Unless it is the dead of winter, you’ll need to make reservations for sure. This is a popular place.
The White Gull Inn
3. Cherry-Stuffed French Toast
Cherries are a thing. When visiting Door County, one must buy (and eat) a famous Door County cherry pie AND one must order the cherry-stuffed french toast at The White Gull Inn. Nate surprised me with a cottage here (so cute!) and he said that we HAD to have the stuffed french toast. If you go to their website here it is prominently featured. This Inn is beautiful to stay at all year long. If you are looking around for accommodations, the White Gull Inn is exceptional.
The White Gull Inn in February
4. Snow Shoeing
This was really awesome… we rented snow shoes at Nor Door Sport and Cyclery (they ALSO rent fat tires….) and made our way over to Peninsula State Park. It’s really the best way to do a winter hike.
We bundled up and set out on a snowy exploration. We hiked down to the water where Nate made his way out onto the ice. Right where he entered the frozen lake was one single rose. I must have stared at it forever…the day before had been Valentine’s Day. Someone had hiked down to that exact location and left one rose on the frozen lake. It was perfectly red and preserved. It was so sweet and sad, I of course left that spot wondering what the story was. Amazing that we found it…it’s a big park and a big lake. We had stumbled upon someone’s love story.
5. Stay at a B&B
Nate loves Bed & Breakfasts… one of our visits included a stay at The Hummingbird Inn. This was a small, intimate B&B. We had an exceptional breakfast cooked just for us (we were the only guests there) every morning. The grounds and gardens were beautiful and we had our own private bonfire every evening. They even had a cute storage shed to keep our bikes safe at night. Our days were filled with low-key adventure, our nights with red wine, a romantic fire and great conversation.
The Hummingbird Inn
…And, One More…Wine!
Those who know me know that I looooooove a glass of red wine. Door County does have wineries and we do tastings everytime we go. Door County wine is no Willamette Valley, however, it is fun to do together. I recommend trying a few…I mean, you’re there already, why not? Here are 3 to try on your next visit… Door Peninsula Winery, Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market, and Harbor Ridge. Enjoy!!
We hope you find all the nooks and crannies of Door Country as romantic as we did. We love going there, wish it were closer! Every time we go, we do something different. I cherish this area of Wisconsin and the wonderful memories I have there with my husband. From bike riding to walks along the lakeshore and fabulous restaurants…I have been drinking the Door County 😊 Wisconsin kool-aid ever since!
My first visit to this beautiful desert state was in July of 2004. I had no idea it would be the very beginning of a long, long journey resulting in healing and awareness, figuring out life, re-prioritizing, setting goals, reflecting on change, celebrating, and landing me where I am today.
If you are looking for peace and quiet, the Sonoran is waiting for you
It was my mom’s idea to go.
I had moved to Chicago to move in with my then boyfriend whom I dated my last 2 years of college long distance. I was in Cincinnati, he was in the Chicago suburbs. I did what I thought was the next logical step in the progression of our relationship. I made the mistake that so many others make…unknowingly, of course. I made a life changing decision without asking myself if it was the right thing to do. I made the decision like a robot programmed to go to the next level. I knew soon after we moved in together that it was wrong, but there I was. I had just graduated from college and was looking for a job. I found one…working at Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue. Not a month later, I was offered a position with a large corporation as a design assistant…I took it. It seemed like everything was going well…except my personal life. 9 months later, I made the hard decision to end the relationship and I had to scramble to figure out where I was going to live. To say it was a difficult time is an understatement…I was way over my head with the resulting consequences of my actions. Life lessons suck.
I had a flight to Vegas that I was no longer going to take (our trip together) due to the break-up. My mom said “let’s go to Scottsdale and relax.” Scottsdale? Arizona? Isn’t it hot there? But she assured me that it was beautiful and wonderful and just the thing to pull me out of dealing with my crumbling life. So I used my ticket to go with her in July of 2004. We stayed at the JW Marriott, we ate at Roy’s, we shopped at Kierland Commons, we laid out by the pool…I was hooked. It was my first time in the desert and my first time seeing cactus everywhere. How can a place like this…hotter than hell with dry sand everywhere…be so beautiful? How could life even survive here? I had a lot of questions regarding this new environment I was in. It was fascinating. Nothing should be living here, yet it does and it’s green and the cactus even have flowers in the spring. Life survives even the harshest of situations. I took the next few days to quietly think about my current situation wondering what I was going to do now. I had to rebuild my life to an extent. I put a plan together, and when I got home, I moved forward with it. Some answers, not all of them, but some, came to me in the warmth of that glorious hot sun.
Fast forward many years to 2011… I was getting married in a few months. I didn’t want a traditional bachelorette party, but rather, I wanted more than anything to go back to Scottsdale. I went for a long weekend with my mom and sister. I wasn’t there to mourn a broken relationship, I was there to celebrate and it felt wonderful.
Scottsdale girl’s weekend….restaurants and wineries
I was on top of the world…I had succeeded and made my way thru the dating jungle! We had all these plans ahead of us… have kids, buy a bigger house, fix it up, go on summer family vacations every year. It was a wonderful couple of days there with restaurants, horse back riding in the desert, spa treatments, and lots of pool time. I remember looking over our balcony at the red mountains that surrounded our resort feeling thankful. I had come a long distance to get to where I was in that moment, and I was so happy to be back in the desert blanketed by warmth. People complain about the heat there, but I love it. Yes, it’s hot, but you need that kind of intense heat to reach the core of your soul…and that’s why I go back there.
The view from our balcony….there’s something about a desert sunset and those red mountains
Everything came to an end just a few years later. My world collapsed and I had to accept that I was going to have to rebuild once again, except now I had two small children in my life…and their needs came before my own. They were all that mattered to me. I ignored myself and the pain I was in. I was lost, absolutely, and all I wanted was to get back to Arizona if just for a few days. I had some questions to ask those mountains. I had some mourning and quiet crying to do. I needed to know what to do next. My heart needed a break. My mom and sister said Yes to another trip to Scottsdale, I am thankful that they did. It was a wonderful few days where I could heal, if just a little bit. It meant a lot that they were there with me. The process of rebuilding my life was going to be a long one. One thing I heard clearly from those mountains was GO SLOW. I took a lot of deep breaths during that trip. I put a plan together in my head and came home to my wonderful kids. They needed a mom who had her sh*t together. Period, no exceptions. I needed to find a new home, I needed to work on myself (I wasn’t blameless in things falling apart), and I needed to be there for my kids. When in Arizona, I also realized that I had some family relationships I needed to repair. Spending time with my sister was really nice, and I wanted to do that more. I hadn’t seen my brother in years, and I wanted to fix that too. Those Arizona mountains have insight and inspiration…if you’re listening. They warned me not to hold on to life destroying feelings like anger and resentment. I felt a deep sadness that I had to look square in the eyes and deal with. I slowly moved forward with a new life…like, turtle slow. And I’m so glad I did.
Fast forward to 2019… life is good 🙂 It has been many years since my marriage ended, I also have been living in my new house for a few years as well and my fiancee (the most wonderful wonderful man) had just moved in a few months prior. My mom and sister were down for another visit to Scottsdale and so we traveled there in September. A wonderful trip with lots of laughing and pool-side drinks. The desert and mountains greeted me with a warm hug, almost like visiting a family member I hadn’t seen in years and was so happy we were together again! I left that trip knowing that I had to bring Nate to Arizona. All I wanted was to share this place with him. I surprised him with a trip to Scottsdale and Sedona in 2021.
My partner in crime (shopping)This right here is the BESTSedona red mountains
To experience a place that meant so much to me on the deepest level was amazing. While we were there, we talked about bringing our kids (we have 4!) to Scottsdale so that we could share it with them. And we did that this year! They were enthralled with the cactus. The heat? Not so much….still, we swam every day and went hiking in the Sonoran. It felt like I had reached the end of this journey that began all the way back in 2004. It felt good.
My travel partner, best friend, and husband. I didn’t know I needed unwavering support until I had it. He is wonderful…
Arizona is special. It was a foreign planet to me back in 2004 but today it feels like my other home. I think what I like the most about it is that it is a harsh environment where beauty lives and survives. Someone told me once that “everything in the desert is trying to kill you” which makes me laugh. I can see that…120 degree weather, what can survive in this hellfire heat? Snakes, scorpions, coyotes…predators everywhere. Dry desert all around…no water? How can plants thrive and survive? Doesn’t that seem like life sometimes? How does one thrive and survive this life that can be so harsh and hard at times? We just do. We find a way. The cactus do it, they’ve evolved into these beautiful machines that don’t need a lot of water, are bright green and healthy, shockingly, and even bloom flowers in the spring. They’ve evolved their defenses to include long sharp needles to keep predators away. They have survived and they do quite well. If they can do it, I certainly can. I like going there as a reminder of what I’m capable of surviving.
Travel, in my opinion, is so much more than just saying you’re somewhere else. Traveling to new places could be a pivotal step in your life, a point in time where you’re smacked in the face with reality AND insight to move forward. We are all looking for answers… and I say, travel. The ocean brings clarity…the mountains offer wisdom…the desert offers peace. I can’t say that answers always come, but eventually they do. I can’t say that realization is a fast process, it was pretty damn slow for me. I do think that traveling to new places, whether it be just yourself or with another adventurer, changes things. It changes you. And if you’re willing to walk, not run, you’ll get to where you’ve always wanted to be. Slow and steady wins the race…everyone knows that. I’ve always found that reflection was best surrounded by mountains. I’ve always found that my soul can actually relax and breathe when by the ocean. Travel changed my life and has been the voice of reason over the last 2 decades.
Go adventure… ask your questions, experience new things, do some reflection on your own personal journey. One of my favorite inspirational quotes is “love life no matter how bad it treats you”…I am grateful for this life and the many opportunities I’ve had to learn hard lessons and rise from them. Travel has been a big part of my life transformation. Nate and I are fortunate to be able to travel around, local and far away places, as much as we do and it is something I cherish and never take for granted. Looking forward to next year’s travel plans…and…very much looking forward to hearing what the ocean and mountains have to say.
We recently spent 4 amazingly flavorful days in Las Vegas and have decided to do a write up for those seeking adventurous and delicious eating! Did you know that there’s actually MORE to Vegas than gambling and pulling all-nighters at the casino?? Yep. Vegas is one of my most favorite adult timeouts loaded with artistically designed cuisine I didn’t have to make myself.
Me doing what I love most…ordering and eating fancy Tapas
I love food, but not just any and all food…. chef crafted food….and so does my husband, and Vegas has some of the best. This blog details our delicious and unforgettable food-cation! If you’re a foodie like us, maybe you’ll find this video useful in planning your next visit! And if not, perhaps you’ll consider opening up your palate and sampling some of the best restaurants Vegas has to offer. Side note: I did also do a narrated video on youtube for those who like to watch helpful videos, here it is!
LAVO at the Venetian, located in the Palazzo Tower
LAVO
Our first stop on our food-adventure was LAVO at the Venetian. Go to their website, you’ll see why I booked this place. It is Italian food and hand-crafted cocktails. Vegas always does such a great job with ambiance, and LAVO was no exception. We walked into an eclectic space with unique lantern-esque light fixtures and a trickling water feature that spans the entire wall above a seating area by the bar. The menu covered everything, from charred octopus and roasted beet salad (my husband’s favorite) to the anticipated pasta dish and traditional steaks and chops. I ordered the sea bass, flavorful as always, with a chickpea and tomato puree and fried portobello mushrooms. Nate ordered the Branzino…another favorite of ours. You can do family style here which makes it more fun to pass around these amazing dishes to sample and share. This experience was excellent.
Julian Serrano Tapas
On to Julian Serrano Tapas at the Aria. The website promotes small plates, big flavors. Agreed. Chef Julian Serrano infuses his spanish background into all of the menu options. I did some research on his accomplishments, he is a two-time winner of the prestigious james beard foundation award and the executive chef of Picasso at Bellagio.
Branzino
He is a native of Madrid, one of our most favorite places in Spain. Nate and I have fond memories of spending time in Spain so whenever we get a chance to eat authentic Spanish cuisine, we take it. This restaurant greets you with vibrant colors obviously reminiscent of Spanish culture. We decided to order sangria (of course!) and a few tapas to try. The octopus was my favorite… it was fresh, grilled, and the texture was perfect. The filet tapas was served with delicious thick sauce and saffron honey… and the branzino was perfectly cooked and smothered in a tomato confit with sherry vinegar. It had all the smells, and all the flavor. Not an octopus fan? Try it before you deny it!! Eat here…It was amazing.
Chica
Chica at The Venetian was date night! A passionate night deserves to start with a passionate menu. Chica has locations in Miami, Aspen, and Vegas, lucky for us. They promote a menu that is a celebration of latin flavors… sounds perfect!
Mussels with a Coconut Chorizo Broth
Chef Lorena Garcia opened Chica in 2017 and we hope it’s around many years to come. With influences from Peru, Brazil and Argentina, this menu was impossible to say no to. I was so excited about our food journey thru latin america, I wore a bright red sequin dress… I was ready for an amazing night. We started with Peruvian Ceviche…. excellent. I then ordered the Mussels which were drenched in a chorizo coconut broth. I’m not ashamed to say that I practically licked the bowl. Nate ordered their signature Baby Back Ribs Al Pastor, known as the smoke show…. and here you’ll see why. The meat literally dissolves in your mouth, so much flavor, and such a creative presentation.
Creative and Delicious
And for dessert? A cheesecake formed into the shape of an ear of corn! A culinary experience that I can’t wait to go back to!!!
I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for the culinary arts. Chef prepared food is something that I find so exciting and adventurous. It’s not every day that we eat like this… we are raising 4 kiddos that wouldn’t touch all of this flavor with a 10 ft. pole… they just aren’t ready yet. So for us to be on a trip to Vegas with every night open for the chef experience….well, we took full advantage, we ordered some crazy unique dishes, and we laughed into our wine glasses knowing that we didn’t have to eat plain cheese pizza that week… it was food bliss. When I tell people I love Las Vegas, they always say “oh, do you gamble?” No. I make dinner reservations. For me, Vegas is one of those places where you’ll find the absolute best entertainment, the absolute best hotels, and the absolute best chef dining experiences.
We hope this blog inspires you to make some upcoming dinner reservations the next time you visit Las Vegas. I am already planning the next one…
Food is a big component to trip planning. I don’t want to eat food that I can otherwise eat here at home. And, I don’t want commercialized restaurants, like a chain. I want unique, chef prepared, and ideally independently owned dining establishments. The food is just better, fresher, and ‘considerate’, meaning someone actually thought through the entree…from how the fish was cooked to the sauce and the accompanying flavors. These types of restaurants are usually more expensive, so we plan for it. I want to experience everything our travel destination has to offer…. and that includes eating what the locals eat! This belief system shared by me and my husband has served us well. There’s nothing he won’t try and I really LOVE that about him 🙂
Welcome to Florida dining!!! …said the Gator on the roof
We recently went to Florida and had the opportunity to try a handful of restaurants in various seaside towns. My mission was to eat gator and shark. You don’t get food like that in Illinois. I did a lot of research and made reservations at the following places. For those looking for delicious Florida dining, I hope this list is a push in the right direction!
New Smyrna Beach
Norwoods Eatery and Treehouse was a unique restaurant that we had to try. It is open to the Florida breeze on the first floor and up in the treehouse dining area, which sounded wonderful to me. They had a delectable menu of creole inspired dishes…including my favorite: Shrimp and Grits. It had a brown spicy gravy with savory bits of bacon rinds, topped with fried okra. I ate every bite. And some of my husband’s, too… The Chef’s menu includes dishes like Blistered Shishito, Grouper Ratatouille, and Ribeye Gorgonzola. #GoHere
Click here to view their website, and check out the menu! And make reservations… we made ours for the Tree Trop dining area.
Another great must try?? For a quick seaside lunch, Izzy’s Island Tacos & Ice Cream was perrrrfect. We all did the three tacos of your choice with Mexican street corn as a side. There are lots of taco shacks like this around, try a few!
Concerned about the delicious calories you’ll be taking in on a foodie trip like this? Burn it off with some bike riding…we certainly did!
Cocoa Beach
There are a lot of seaside towns that seem to have the same blueprint…lots of touristy places to eat and lots of touristy things to do. Cocoa Beach reminded me a lot of Myrtle Beach, Daytona Beach, and Virginia Beach. If you are looking for a quick dinner of fish and chips, fish tacos, or even a burger or basket of chicken tenders, there are no shortage of places in Cocoa Beach. I wanted a more diverse culinary experience 🙂 Cocoa Beach was just a few miles away from Cape Canaveral where we had spent the entire day. I searched and searched for a place that featured a fresh seafood menu, a good wine list and more creative entrees…. finally, I stumbled upon Florida Fresh Grille. And I’m so happy we did! The food and the presentation was everything I was looking for. An exceptional dining experience, and one that I would highly recommend! If you are in the area watching a SpaceX launch (we saw one, it was amazing!!) or spending the day at the Kennedy Space Center, this seafood restaurant is worth a stop. Try the Corvina, it is very similar to Halibut. Delicious 😊
Halibut Bites – Best appetizer I think I’ve ever hadSeared Scallops and Jump Shrimp with Jalapeno Bacon Cream DrizzleThis was DELICIOUS – Seared Corvina
Port Orange
When I searched for a local favorite type of restaurant, my search turned up Aunt Catfish, which is located in Port Orange. It was about 20 minutes away from us. One look at their menu and I was making reservations within seconds. Their menu boasts “Down South River Cookin'”…sign me up! They had all the things…shark, catfish, gator…and homemade cinnamon rolls??? Yep. It was a fascinating food combination we couldn’t say no to. It is a cute place right on the water… there is indoor and outdoor seating with LIVE entertainment.
Good restaurants are hard to find. I actually think we got pretty lucky… what you read online isn’t always what you get. If you love seafood prepared in interesting ways, and unusual things (like delicious gator!), the above restaurants did not disappoint!
This is an opinion article. I don’t normally do these. My blog is mostly trip recommendations and stories behind the locations… I pretty much stick to ‘eat here’ and ‘don’t eat here’, ‘this excursion was awesome’, etc. I am writing this because I think the shift in Disney trips is interesting and makes for a great debate. To book or not to book?? The current dynamic of the Disney vacation is strange and one that I’ve been thinking about a lot. This is my opinion, I am sharing it as a ‘food for thought.’
Disney “poor” is a thing now. So, to book a vacation or not to book…this is the great debate I’ve been hearing lately….and it seems to come back to sentimental value vs. financialvalue. I think Disney needs both to win. For me, they are not aligned. My childhood memories of growing up going to Disney every other summer for years brings me back there as an adult. I think that a lot of people find that they continue to book Disney vacations because of their memories there as a kid. That’s something that the best marketing team could never replicate. Sentimental value drives business, drives hotel bookings, drives multiple park ticket purchases and spending, spending, spending. It is every corporation’s best case scenario…profits, profits, profits. For a long time, the price was high but doable. I went anyway, my heart told me to go. I do love it there…and the new rides they open are amazing. Financial value (sort of) and Sentimental value (absolutely). For the price, I was willing to go and schlep my kids there for days in the hot humid and completely hell-on-earth Florida weather. Then the pandemic changed everything…
I remember when Disney shut down. I was actually worried it would never reopen. That’s sentimental value for you! Then as soon as it opened, we planned our visit. It sounded perfect… controlled guest count (have you been there where there is a billion people walking around like a thick fog you have to navigate through? Miserable), park pass prices weren’t crazy, and we found a very affordable and fabulously huge 2-bedroom condo at a resort just outside of the park (staying on property is a ridiculous expense for the convenience and still is). So, we took our 4 kids and went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Blizzard Beach. Expensive, but doable and worth it for me, I love Disney and I wanted to experience it with our kids. The food was way over priced ($220 for lunch at a restaurant in Magic Kingdom), but the line waits were impressively short! There was no fast pass, so this was huge that we didn’t have to wait forever for every single ride. Avatar still had a long wait, but our kids did it without complaining. We saw a spectacular light show right before Magic Kingdom closed, it was a great memory.
Fast forward to this past April (2022), we did one day at Epcot. The park pass expense was typical, so no shock there. Disney introduced the Genie Plus program which replaces Fast Pass. This was our first experience using it, I had my doubts. Turns out, this is NOT a good thing. Each person pays $15 to participate in Genie Plus (not great). Then, you can only pick your rides that morning for the day, one….ride….at….a….time. We picked Frozen first, and the Genie line moved quickly. We excitedly opened the App to pick our next ride BUT….nothing was available until 3 hours later, smack dab in the middle of our lunch. And, the rides that were available (only a few) were kiddie rides. The App restricts your ride options, ridiculous. The most irritating part to this whole Genie thing? If you want a new ride, like Ratatouille, you had to PAY EXTRA PER PERSON. Yep. Um, I already paid $15 to use this program? I can’t believe someone at the Disney executive level approved this program. We were only able to pick one more ride that day (yes, 2 rides the entire day using Genie Plus) and then there was nothing. The App actually tells you that the ride you want is no longer accepting Genie Plus reservations, or something like that. We were stunned. Worst $15 dollars I ever spent. For me, the financial value is now suddenly a snowball rolling downhill.
The park was dirty. And this hurts a little bit to say. I always tell people that I aspire for Disney-esque gardens at my own home because in my mind they are a perfect 10 when you go the park….clean, immaculately so, and beautiful. The flowers looked good, but there was trash blowing around everywhere we went. You never saw any park employees going around like they used to sweeping and keeping it constantly clean. It was noticed. Are they short staffed? Probably. Maybe they can hire more people with all the money they are getting with the Genie Plus program.
Staying on property will not be something we consider, the value just isn’t there….sentimental OR financial. I grew up staying on property, too… The Contemporary, The Caribbean, The Yacht Club, The Beach Club. As an adult making decisions about how I spend the money I make, I just can’t justify $500 a night for the tiniest room ever. The resort grounds are beautiful, the pools are great, and the convenience is wonderful, but the bill you have to pay is not. It’s stupid.
This past January, Disney terminated the Magic Express. Wow. So now you have to rent a car or Uber it to the park. This is an added expense that never was before. The Magic Express was pretty great, and now families have to build in the $$ of transportation into the already ballooning expense of going. For those people who treat Disney like a religion, they are being unfairly tasked with the challenge of justifying the expense. These avid Disney fans keep the park lights on.
Yes, I love Disney, and Yes, I have fond, cherished memories going there as a kid. We went last year with our kids and had a great time and swallowed the price. I went with my husband this year and only did Epcot, swallowed the horse pill that is the Genie Plus program, and had a pretty great day together…. we went to every country and instead of having a drink, we shared a kiss 🙂 You can still have a good time, you’re just paying more than you’ve ever paid for it.
Next year, we are talking about taking our brood of kids to Hollywood Studios… and we are talking about paying extra for the Star Wars ride….cuz I guess that’s how it is set up now. After much discussion, we are not doing multiple days at Disney, and may never do it again with prices being what they are. We aren’t thrilled with paying for food there for the day, we know it’s the equivalent of a car payment, but…we have no choice, we have to eat. We are staying off property at a mansion-sized Florida home with more amenities than we know what do with… that part is awesome, and talk about bang for your buck! Rather than doing multiple parks, we have decided to see all the other things Orlando has to offer, and I’m good with that. Disney has failed to convince me that it is WORTH going to multiple parks and spending the hard-earned money we make.
And that’s just it, right? We have a choice and we decide HOW to spend every penny. And with limited pennies available, where do we spend it? We spend on the things that matter to us AND make us feel that it is justified and worth it…. when sentimental value and financial value are not aligned, it poses a spending conundrum. I realized that my kids will be totally fine if we don’t go to Disney ever again. I saw a meme once that had me laughing for days about how a Disney vacation costs $7k, but a refrigerator card board box is free and that’s all a kid needs to build a fort and talk about it for days and play with it for weeks….maybe we convince ourselves that kids need and appreciate these trips, but I think all they really want is to be with you, and, it doesn’t matter where that is.
The feelings I feel now regarding Disney trips are feelings like resentment, being taken advantage of, being unfairly asked for more and more and more money when all I want to do is have a wonderful adventure with our kids riding all of my favorite rides, and being angry (like, really angry) that meals are hundreds of dollars for a family of 6. Those aren’t good feelings, and it makes me sad. Our 1-day visit next summer might be our last visit. There are so many places I want to vacation with our kids… why continually choose Disney? We can take them to the Caribbean for less.
Disney is not what it used to be, and I had to accept that. It has changed with the times. My question is this: if sentimental value and fond memories are what drives disney vacations (and $$$) for decades to come, with prices being what they are and these vacations becoming completely unaffordable, will Disney find that the desire for future adults/parents to go is simply not there? Thus affecting park attendance and hotel room bookings? If kids today aren’t being taken to Disney every summer, or every other summer, will they care at all to go as parents who have their own kids one day? Maybe they are doing what they need to do to win the Short Game, but may find that they lose the Long Game. I think people are now, more than ever, questioning what they spend money on. And spending dollars at Disney, from what I’ve been reading and what I myself experienced, is certainly in question more than ever.
Food for thought, and as always, a welcome debate. I am just a Mom of 4 who wants amazing summer adventures with our kids for the best price and value ❤️
#GoAdventure without going completely broke, that makes no sense at all
I had no idea what I was getting into when we booked our Hawaiian honeymoon. This island is for the adventurer who gets up at sunrise and doesn’t stop till sundown (and then maybe keeps going for a few more hours!). There is so much to do on this island, we tried to cover as much ground as we could with only 7 nights. This trip can be a lazy one if that’s more your speed…you can check in to wherever you’re staying, enjoy relaxing mornings, coffee, breakfast somewhere, go to a beach or the pool, read, relax, do dinner somewhere fabulous, then glide into bedtime. For us, we chose to do the exact opposite. With that being said, the next trip is going to be a lazy one.
Our agenda was action packed…although we did infuse some downtime which was much needed. I wanted to share our list of things to do for the aspiring Big Island traveler!
Fair warning for those thinking of booking this trip: flights are cheap (or at least they WERE before inflation started to strangle our daily lives) but being on the island is very VERY expensive. This trip was a lot like Iceland… getting their was doable, but being there was a lot of $$$$. Food is pricey ($60 for breakfast), gas prices are high (almost $6/gallon) and tours and excursions are expensive ($350 for the Luau experience and Mauna Kea stargazing was $267 a person)…. So, it is a trip that needs to be financially planned for well in advance of going. Do the math before you go. There are certainly less expensive tropical islands to adventure to, but Hawaii is one of those places you just have to see and experience. It was a trip we will likely be talking about forever.
I hope this short list of activities inspires your own agenda when traveling to the Big Island!
1. Manta Ray Night Snorkel
For those who are fearless, this excursion is for you. I bravely jumped into the ocean at night knowing that these ginormous sea creatures were swarming below. This was tough for me….I LOVE the ocean, but swimming in it at night?? Not so much. Nate stood right by my side and when I finally got in the water, he was right there next to me. You hold onto this contraption that floats and has these intense lights that attract the Manta Rays.
They know to come up to the surface and investigate when they see it. They come right up to you, flapping you with their huge wings. Their mouths are always open…. it looks like an alien with a gaping huge mouth coming right at you. I was certainly screaming in my snorkel mask. It is jarring, to say the least. There were so many of them, too. It was a unique experience, absolutely, and I’m glad I somehow managed to be courageous enough to do something I otherwise never would have done.
Me and My Adventurous Husband
I ended up getting out while others stayed out in the water for awhile, and I just watched the Manta Rays swim. They are graceful, gentle giants (up to 16 ft. wide!) that only eat plankton…so no worries 🙂 Although, I did and I do… I was certain that there was a Hawaiian shark out there waiting for me. This tour was highly rated and I have to say, it is the craziest most unique thing I’ve ever done on a vacation. If you are interested in jumping into the water with Manta Ray’s, here is the tour
2. Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Looking for a lovely low-key island day? Mix in some beach naps with a tour of the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. I love places like this…it is a site where a lot of Hawaiian history on the big island took place.
There are still remnants of old buildings right by the water. This historic location is referred to as “A furious journey of life or death” which was determined by the gods. If you had broken any laws, rather than be put to death, you could take your chances and swim to Pu’uhonua which was considered by all as a place of refuge. No harm would come to you if you survived the swim.
This was a spiritual sanctuary where forgiveness and a second chance was waiting for you. It’s a beautiful place….very peaceful, and you are surrounded by crashing waves. It is a lovely afternoon. And, if you happen to go during turtle season which is summertime, the green sea turtle is known to nest on the beaches at Pu’uhonua. Learn more about this national park and try to fit it into your day!
3. Mauna Kea Stargazing
This is the ultimate tour. It also comes with the ultimate price tag. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something like this, so we did it. The is an all-day excursion…it might consist of many shuttles (we had 2) to get to the base of Mauna Kea. From there, our tour guide took us up this massive volcano.
It feels like you are standing on top of the world…
It is dormant, of course, and rises 13,803 ft. above sea level. Mauna Kea is 1 million years old….you don’t realize how ancient Hawaii is until you learn details like this. You are surrounded by unfathomable years of life. Why go to the very top of Mauna Kea? To see the world’s largest observatory for astronomy…and the view. For Nate, doing this tour was equivalent to Christmas morning… he was beyond excited. It is another world up there. And freezing. You literally drive up until you are above the clouds and it’s just you, the mountain top, the observatories, and the sun.
A pretty incredible view…
The drive up is a long one. Once you get there, they hand everyone a warm winter coat and gloves. I do highly recommend that you dress warm for this day…jeans, long sleeve shirt, warm hat. The wind is fierce and the cold temperatures somehow reach the core of your body. But what you see at the very top is truly amazing.
We then drove down maybe halfway and stopped at a public tourist building. This is where you stargaze. The tour guides have these fancy telescopes and they talk about the many planets and stars available for viewing depending on the time of year you do this tour. Our guides had snacks and hot chocolate which was a nice touch. If you are fascinated with the stars, this tour is a must-do. Learn more here…
4. Hiking to Captain Cook Monument
On my birthday, Nate said I could pick whatever I wanted to do that morning. I picked a hike down to the Captain Cook Monument. This is a piece of Hawaiian history that is really fascinating! Captain James Cook was a British explorer who discovered the Hawaiian islands. He was quite the adventurer… he was commander of The Endeavor and his voyages are legendary. He is also responsible for creating charts and navigation maps from all of his travels. In 1779, he arrived in Kealakekua Bay. The islanders treated them like Gods, but sadly a month later he was killed where the monument is located. It is an interesting story, read more about it here
It was a LONG hike down….P.S. don’t wear sandals!
The trailhead is located right off the road, the signage isn’t great. Once you get down to the bottom of the cliff where the monument is located, it is a beautiful cove where snorkelers come to see the exquisite and colorful sea life. Dolphins are regular celebrities that swim here..
A perfect location for snorkeling amongst the dolphins
We watched a family of black spinner dolphins playing around and darting here and there. This hike is not for most, I suspect. I had no idea how it was going to be…I would say that I was not an ideal candidate to make this journey down the cliff. On a scale of 1-10, it’s a 9. I also wore sandals, huge mistake. The terrain is ever changing…. dirt to sand, to gravel, to sharp treacherous lava, to big rocks you have to carefully navigate down and around. It is 4 miles of this…so be well prepared. Going down is hard, going up is SUPER hard. The reward when you get down to the monument and old village ruins is the snorkeling. There is no beach, just lava and rock, so be ready to put on your flippers and snorkel mask and literally jump in. This is a popular tour location for snorkel trips so you’ll likely see some boats in the cove. Here is information about the trail
5. Hiking Pololu Valley
This day was my favorite….and it was unplanned. The north side of the island is quite the drive from where we were staying in Kona.
We ended planning a visit to Pololu Valley because of dinner reservations we made in Waimea. It ended up being a wonderful drive! We even saw migrating whales swimming along the coast line. Pololu Valley is a BEAUTIFUL place: enjoy the hike down to the ocean and the black sand beach surrounded by dormant volcanoes covered in greenery. It was warm but not crazy hot, which made for a luxurious tropical breeze.
My pictures here don’t do it justice, no picture can. You have to be there to take in the views, the smell, and the sounds of everything around you. Please don’t pass up the opportunity to adventure here, it is wonderful.
6. The Hawaiian Luau
We celebrated our last day in Hawaii with a Luau…I.loved.this.
AMAZING!!!!
We did the VIP package which meant we were up front close to the stage. I am enthralled with the music and dancing. I could have done a Luau every night, total entertainment! Growing up, we did a big family trip to Maui and Oahu and what I remember the most was the Luau we went to. The food is good, not great… it’s comparable to a backyard BBQ Hawaiian style. The entertainment is excellent….and so much fun.
I didn’t want it to end! There are a few Luaus to choose from, we did the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau. The view from the hotel location was exceptional…. you have giant waves crashing against the rocks just a few feet away from stage. Take it all in, try the Poi, and enjoy this amazing show!
7. Volcano National Park
And finally…. the most amazing thing we saw in Hawaii! Volcanoes.
Kīlauea erupting…we took this photo at 5am
We were told to go to Volcano National Park around 5am. We chose to do this the very next day after arrival. Due to the extreme time change, we knew we’d be up at 3am wide awake. It worked out perfectly. We made the 1.5 hour drive to the park in the pitch black. Why go so early?? You can actually see the red and orange glows from the volcanoes whereas during the day, there’s too much light.
Kīlauea Volcano, within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, was erupting when were there… very cool. We spent the day hiking the park and walking miles of trail over lava fields and even explored a lava tube. It was still hot… there’s apparently lava underground that is always flowing. I imagine there are very few places on this planet like this, so if you go to the big island, you have to make the drive to see this place. And, when you’re done exploring, I suggest going to the Volcano Winery and relaxing with a glass of red! We also heard great things about a Thai food truck…and it did not disappoint!
I’ve read that Hawaii is a paradise born from fire. It truly is another world…unlike any terrain or landscape I’ve ever seen. The lava is everywhere. The entire island is nothing but volcanoes, lava, trees, ocean, and some people live there. It was a wonderful 7 nights, we look forward to traveling to the other islands with our kids (I am thinking Oahu) and going back just the two of us to Kauai…the Garden Island. For those that adventure here, be sure to read my previous blog post on Travel Tips to help you prepare and pack!
The first time I watched The Goonies, I was hooked and preceded to watch it easily 1,000 more times. In fact, we watched it with the kids a few weekends ago! Nate and I love sharing our favorite movies from when we were kids, brings back a lot of great memories. I know the lines, I know the scenes, and I love that it is all about pirates, treasure hunting, and friendship.
Fast forward to planning our wedding and mini-moon right after. I immediately thought of Cannon Beach, Oregon. I had gone there for the first time with my parents in 2017 and was hooked on the scenery, the beautiful ocean and beach, and the food. I also knew that Goonies had been filmed there… Astoria wasn’t too far away, either, which is where they all lived in the movie. The rocks sticking out of the water like mini mountains are famous… that’s where one-eyed Willy hid his pirate ship. There was one particular place in Cannon Beach that I didn’t get to see and it was Ecola State Park. I sold Nate on the idea of getting away for a wonderful long weekend in Willamette Valley (the wine!!) and spending a day in Cannon Beach 🙂 First on my list? A hike at Ecola State Park.
Ecola State Park
What a BEAUTIFUL state park. The entrance to Ecola State Park is just a few minutes outside of the Cannon Beach main street where all the restaurants and shops are. It’s a perfect spot to take in the majestic ocean views of the West coast. We did some hiking there, but would love to go back and do more and experience the Oregon Coast Trail, which is about 8 miles. This park is also ideal for a picnic…also on my list 🙂 To learn more about the trails, click here.
You’ll see the views below, which are quite famous. Haystock Rock is well-known as Cannon Beach’s most famous ‘sea stack’ and is also featured in the movie The Goonies. It is usually covered in birds, which is quite something to see. When the tide is low, you can walk right up to it…. something I have yet to do!!!
The Goonies
Are you a Goonies fan??? Me, too!! As soon as we got to Ecola State Park, we had to see the spot where the Fratelli’s hideout was located. THIS was cool 🙂 If I’ve seen Goonies once, I’ve seen it a million times. It had all the things…pirates, treasure, friendship, bad guys, good guys, adventure, riddles, booby traps, car chases, and a great ending! Below you’ll see some of our pictures… the restaurant that the Fratelli’s took over was a set. They built it and then took it down. It would have been AMAZING if they had left it standing…
I’m standing where the boys discovered the Fratelli’s hideout…pretty cool. If you are a passionate Goonies fan and are interested in all the many filming locations (we never made it to Astoria…but next time!!) you can read all about them here
The view of Cannon Beach from Ecola State park shows where the famous Fratelli police chase on the beach occurred. This whole area is worth seeing and spending an hour or two …. or all day if you do the hiking!!! Then head down to Cannon Beach and eat a fabulous seafood dinner at one of the many restaurants. We had a wonderful, memorable day here…we love adventuring through state parks, this is one of my favorites. The beauty of this place has to be experienced in person. And once you’re there, you’ll see what I mean.
My hilarious husband…he loves a good warning sign
Cannon Beach
From the shops, to the restaurants, to the beautiful view and state park….Cannon Beach is adorable and the quintessential seaside town. Side note: for the treasure hunter in you, there is a treasure STORE!! It’s called All Buried Treasures and it’s the coolest shop I’ve ever been in. I love it here and will never forget the first time I walked down the main street. That first visit was in June and it just so happened that there was a big sandcastle competition on the beach! Now that was something to see…
We spent some time at the beach which is miles and miles of beautiful shoreline
Oregon is one of my most favorite states to travel to. I love the forests, the ocean, the ice cream (Tillamook!!), the wine, the food, the waterfalls, the people, the outdoorsy-ness of it all. If I could convince Nate to go there every year, we would. If you’ve never been, I hope this blog gives you the inspiration needed to adventure here and spend some time at one of my favorite state parks and beach.
Set up a flight alert, snag that reasonably priced flight to the west coast, and escape and breathe the air of new places!
San Francisco was a memorable trip…I diversified it as much as possible to get the full experience! This was a girls trip with my wonderful friend Mary who was willing to go adventuring with me a few years back. We did a lot, and I took tons of pictures, and I’m so glad I did!! I was in San Francisco for a few days when I was a kid and then again as a young ambitious fashion-design-focused college student, so going back as an adult was a really nice experience. We saw a lot in 4 days! So, here are some of my top suggestions to look into for the future San Fran traveler:
1. The Redwood Forest
We caught a tour bus downtown San Francisco to get to the Redwood forest…and it was amazing. As soon as we got off the bus, the smell of eucalyptus hits you, such a wonderful fresh smell! Redwoods…there’s no tree like them which is why I had to see one. They are resistant to rot and fire and date back all the way to the Jurassic period. Their bark can be a foot thick which helps protect it from the elements, and bugs! Pretty amazing that a tree can have such a tough defense system. It is the tallest tree on earth, so imagine standing in the middle of this forest… you feel so incredibly small. It is an experience I tell everyone to do if they are heading that way and is something I’d like to do with my husband in the future 🙂 You might wonder what happened to all of the Redwoods as they used to cover most of California… we cut them down due to their rugged and durable tree trunks. I hope that the Redwood forest stays in tact and full of life forever, it is a place full of living ecosystems and foresty breezes and peaceful sounds. If you’ve ever seen Ferngully, it reminded me a lot of that movie from way back when. I kept thinking I was going to see a forest sprite flying around, or a magical tree nymph 🙂 If they exist, they surely live here. This is a GREAT website that tells the story behind Redwoods, worth a read
Looking to do the tour?? Book it!! It’s something everyone visiting San Fran should experience…there’s no place like it
2. Bike Tours Are My Jam
Why do a bike tour?? It sure beats walking!! We did our fair share of that, too, but the bike tours are always the best time ever…especially going down those classic San Fran hills. The tour was a good sized group, our tour guide took us all over through various neighborhoods. The highlight of the tour?? The Full House house! I, like most people in the early 90’s, grew up watching Full House so seeing the home they featured in the intro was very cool. We really enjoyed this… we biked thru neighborhoods we otherwise never would have seen. Colorful and full of California charm…
Here’s a bike tour to consider when planning your exploration of San Francisco
3. China Town
I had toured China Town for a college project way back in 2001. So going back was very nostalgic. It is America’s oldest China Town, its beginnings date back to 1822. The very first private home, an adobe, was built in China Town. Grant Avenue, the main street in China Town, was San Fran’s first street. I mean, if you love history and finding out why things are there and when did they first appear, this is a great place to explore! And, if you love delicious Chinese food…which I do…this is a part of town you can’t miss. There are tours that you can participate in, but for us, it was nice to just leisurely walk in and out of stores and stop for lunch.
4. Landmarks & Restaurants…Of Course!
The Golden Gate bridge is the one thing everyone has to see when visiting, no excuses. We decided that the best way to see it was on a boat! We did a day tour that took us out on the bay and under the bridge…prepare for wind!! It’s a breezy experience 🙂 Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are also popular places to check out if only to see the seals sunbathing. There are numerous restaurants to try here…. I’ve made a short list to help with your research (only the best seafood will do!):
San Fran has remarkable architecture, delicious food, and a unique culture that everyone should feel, savor, and experience.
Now, some places I travel to aren’t exactly what I envision in my head…this one of those places. A heads-up for San Fran Travelers…
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t put a warning out there for travelers planning a visit. San Francisco, in my opinion, was a lot like Portland, Oregon. There are a lot of homeless people living on the streets, in parks, and common grassy spaces (I am unaware how the pandemic affected things, but perhaps it has changed ). This was shocking to me as I wasn’t expecting it. There are no pictures of this when you book tours or hotels, ya know?
When my friend and I walked from our hotel to get coffee in the mornings, what I remember most is seeing syringes on the sidewalk. When we left for the airport, on our cab ride out of town I saw a man completely exposed with his pants down standing by the side of the road. Yes there are beautiful areas in San Fran, and yes the tours are incredible. But, know that this isn’t a trip without the seedier side of life all around you. There are gorgeous, expensive neighborhoods right next to a park with people living and sleeping on benches and under trees in tents. You just have to be careful, and you have to be aware of your surroundings. Make good choices about where you go and when. She and I did not go walking around at night, we did all of our exploring during the day and then hunkered down with a bottle of wine in our fabulous boutique hotel courtyard after dinner. We always took an Uber or cab at night to our dinner destinations. San Francisco is a place with lots of history and remarkable scenery, just plan your trip wisely.
With that being said…
Enjoy yourself, see some things, order a HUGE plate of crab legs, and be safe
There are beautiful beaches all over the world… I have yet to see Tahiti, the Maldives, and Seychelles but plan on it! Beaches are one of those places that I find overwhelming. The first time I saw Orient Beach in St. Maarten, I almost started crying I thought it was so beautiful. I couldn’t believe where I was, I had never seen water that turquoise and sand that white and perfect. I grew up going to North Carolina and South Caroline where the beaches are nice, but the sand isn’t white and the water isn’t blue. It is dark, murky…and full of jellyfish. I never went in the water, it didn’t look inviting. So going to the Caribbean was like venturing to another world entirely…. you mean the ocean can be crystal clear, like a swimming pool? And the water is warm and you can see all the way to the bottom? The Caribbean is my place. It is where I fell in love with the ocean. It’s hard not planning a trip there this year…with the testing requirements, the risk of getting stuck there is a risk we can’t take. So, I wait patiently for travel to change and flying in and out of the Caribbean is risk free like Hawaii. It’ll happen…and when it does, I’m thinking a trip to the Cayman’s and a trip to St. Maarten should be the goal. I would love Nate to see these places….
If you are like me and plan trips around beautiful beaches, then let this list be a tentative guide to help you with your travel plans!! If I had to pick any type of place in the world to vacation, it would be the beach over mountains, desert retreats, forests, and snowy resorts. I’m an Aquarius inside and out. The ocean is the place I want to be near.
My Top 5 Beaches
#5 – Pololu Valley Black Sand Beach
When on the big island of Hawaii, adventure to Pololu Valley. It is that quintessential image we have in our minds when we think of the Hawaiian islands… all you see are green, lush mountains and deep valleys. This valley was the result of a landslide where the parts of the oldest volcano, Kohala, fell into the ocean. This landslide created the cliffs surrounding the valley and overlook the black sand beach at the bottom. From the top of Pololu Valley trail head, you’ll hike your way down 490 ft. to find a beautiful clearing with tall trees and a black sand beach. It is not recommended that you swim in the ocean here as it is known for aggressive and violent currents and rip tides. But, the beach is amazing. This was my first black sand beach experience… and I loved it.
It is so scenic, you sit there on the beach surrounded by walls of stone, lava and green. It is something to experience and feel. Nate and I sat there for awhile, just taking it in. If we had brought a couple of beach towels, it would have been a perfect place for a mid-afternoon beach nap. Enjoy the hike down, the hike up is rough! But worth it…
I took this video from the look out…it’s about half way down the cliff, still a ways to go to get to the bottom…
#4 – Playa Palancar Beach, Cozumel
A perfect shade of turquoise…
What else can I say about this beach (and really the entire side of Cozumel that we were on…) other than it was perfect. It was the kind of water that I envision when you think about a true beach getaway. We walked out of the resort onto this beach every single morning after breakfast…and stayed there. This ocean was great for swimming and snorkeling. There was always a breeze, and no one was at the resort because it was still early 2021 and people were hesitant to travel (which we took full advantage).
This was a blissful 5 days at my #4 beach, this trip was a memorable one for so many reasons. The biggest one, though? I experienced a 2nd life-changing miracle on this beach.
I accepted a job offer right after we landed in Cozumel. It happened very fast, a real miracle at the time.
I was one of those people that the pandemic left stranded without a job suddenly on a Thursday. That was April of 2020. Maybe the scariest day of my life (so far). I just remember being stunned, not really being able to talk as it was happening (virtually, of course) and crying. I also remember my husband (amazing boyfriend at the time), suddenly appearing at the kitchen table with me, holding my hand, and whispering that everything was going to be ok. (It was???)… I believed him, though… and I got thru one of my worst days, the kind where you feel lost completely. Later that day I started sending my resume out, I had an interview the next day, I had two more interviews with this same company, and then the offer came in. I pulled off my own crazy-fast miracle, the kind that gives you courage to get up and keep going. 8 months later, we had this trip scheduled for Cozumel and even though the world was still uncertain, I insisted to Nate we still go. 8 months in and my new job wasn’t great…it wasn’t a good fit…and I knew that changes were coming if I didn’t take the bull by the horns and do something about it. I had interviewed just the day before we left for Mexico… a whirlwind virtual interview with three people on the call, which, if anyone has done this yet, it is intense. I told myself, just get thru this…do your best and then you are on a plane to Mexico first thing in the morning. We had just landed when the email came across my phone… Job Offer. We were at the resort and the first thing I did was electronically sign all the paperwork…and then we met up with my sister and her husband and told them the news. The next morning, I woke up feeling hopeful again that my life had finally reset properly since being laid off. We went to the beach, this beautiful beach above, and I stood there in the water, staring at the crystal clear water and white sand, and felt grateful. It was a moment. A beautiful one, and the fact that I had it on this beach is something I’ll never forget. I had not one, but two miracles in the span of a few months. And I FELT it on this beach.
A beach has this magical quality…maybe it’s the sound the ocean makes, or maybe it’s the feel of the breeze and water….it cleanses everything and calms the soul. For months, the anxiety that my job infused into my life was slowly killing me. And my poor, concerned family was feeling it, too. I felt it every second of every day. I swam in that ocean and let all of that go.
Why go to a beautiful beach? I go because there is no feeling greater or more wonderful, and I come out of that turquoise water a better version of myself. I’m at peace. And man, that feels good.
#3 – Hapuna Beach, Hawaii
I think Hapuna is the best beach on the big island of Hawaii…. but, I admit, I haven’t seen them all.
We had breakfast at the fabulous Mauna Lani Resort one morning. We decided to also pack our beach bag and see what beautiful stretch of beach we could find! We found Hapuna Beach. Unlike most of the beaches in Hawaii, this was a white sand beach with very little lava to have to work around. It was a great morning laying out in the sun. This beach should absolutely be on your list if visiting the big island… there are apparently strong currents here so you have to be careful. I opted not to go in the water but rather took a blissful nap and we took a walk together on the beach. Perfect. Side note: it has really nice picnic areas, so pack a lunch and some drinks! The area is well kept and very VERY clean. Lots of parking, too. You do have to pay to park, learn more about how to visit Hapuna here. Go get some delicious poke, ice cold beverages, and enjoy this place!
#2 – Eagle Beach, Aruba
A gorgeous and serene stretch of water and white sand…
This beach is BEAUTIFUL. I’ve seen Eagle Beach in Aruba on a few different ‘best beaches’ lists…being there, I could see why. It is the widest beach in Aruba and is miles of brilliant white sand and turquoise water…my favorite. It also has many Fofoti, or Divi Divi, Trees, which is a well-known visual icon for Aruba. This beach is on the resort side of the island so you’ll find many resorts along the coast line. This beach is perfect for a morning or afternoon… I can’t wait to go back.
#1 – Orient Beach, St. Maarten
And here is my most favorite beach…so far…
Orient Beach
This was an experience. I had never seen a beach like this… it was my first Caribbean beach experience and it overwhelmed me. Orient Beach was the perfect combination of shallow water, clear blue color, white sand, and no crazy waves or currents. There was also a sailboat regatta going on…AMAZING. I felt like I was in a James Bond movie. This beach was worth spending the entire day at. St. Maarten (or St. Martin) is a quaint island, not too big, not too small. There is the French side and the Dutch side. I was told you could go around the entire island in 2 hours. This beach was on the list for must-see and experience. It has been compared to beaches in France, I had to go. It is a clothing optional beach, the southern end is mostly nude. There are food and drink huts along the beach where you can eat and lounge and take in this amazing view. This beach has my heart ❤️
The Pursuit for Amazing Beaches continues…
Maybe it’s because the water is so calming, maybe it’s because I’m an Aquarius and the stars say I’m a water lover…. or maybe it’s because I’m just human and beautiful beaches have a way of taking over your soul, allowing your mind to quiet and relax. They are my favorite vacation and place to get away to. Lucky for me, Nate is on board! He and I have quite the list of places to pursue once global travel normalizes. Seychelles and the Maldives are our dream vacations… I can’t wait for us to get there. In the short term, Croatia, Belize, and Turks and Caicos are on my list! They will keep us occupied until longer 2-week vacations are possible. We are always planning our next adventure, exploring new places ALMOST on a monthly basis… which I love. The mountains are nice, the desert is stunning, but being by the water is where I want to be the most. Here’s to exploring more beaches in 2023 🌊
The DR is a favorite for a lot of people. Nate and I went back in 2019 for my 40th birthday and it just so happened that 4 other couples that we knew ALSO went to the DR that year! It’s a popular place due to its amazing weather and beautiful beaches. The all-inclusive’s are the way to go… but not all resorts are created equal. Food is the #1 deal breaker for me…. and the drinks. If you’ve been to the DR and stayed at a resort, you might have noticed that the food was just ok…and the drinks were mostly juice. But I have spoke to others about their stay at various DR resorts and they say that the food and drinks were EXCELLENT, and those are the resorts you want to stay at. I recently spoke to a fellow traveler who just got back from the Dominican and he had a great experience. I am grateful that he took time out of his day to share the details with me!
Why did you choose the Dominican Republic and how long did you stay?
We chose the DR because we did not need to test prior to departure, it’s an easy tropical destination to get to. It also had everything we were looking for which was sun every day, a beach, and all-inclusive resorts. We wanted to relax on this trip rather than fill our days with tours and stuff to do. We usually do VRBOs and AirBNBs when we travel places, so this was a nice change having everything right there.
What was the required testing process?
There were no requirements, we did not have to take a covid test prior to departure. When we arrived at the resort, however, our temperatures were taken. When you arrive in the Dominican, you can get randomly pulled for a covid test at the airport, but if you are fully vaccinated and show proof, you do not have to do this. To get home, you did have to take a covid test 24 hours prior to departure but we handled the testing at the resort. We got our results back in 1 hour but had to work around the testing hours at the resort which were limited, only 9am to 1pm. We got an email stating that the test was negative and we showed this at the airport check-in.
What was the mask policy?
If you were indoors at the resort, masks were required. If you were outdoors, they were not. The resort did have night shows outside, they required masks going up to the bar when ordering drinks. If you did not have a mask on, they would not serve you.
What resort did you choose and why?
There’s SO many resorts to choose from, for me personally, I was looking for an all-inclusive that had a beautiful room, highly rated food, and covid insurance. I chose the Majestic Mirage and we were very happy with absolutely everything. They did offer Covid insurance, it was $20 a day per person and this covered the potential quarantine situation if you had to stay at the resort due to positive test results. This was really important to us. The room was amazing, it was 2 stories and had a balcony with a private hot tub and bed with a beautiful view.
One thing notable about this resort was that the food was excellent! Which in my experience isn’t typical. We had a few restaurants to choose from and the food at every place was great…Also, drinks were premium, you could taste the difference. The resort was one of the more expensive ones but we felt that the value was there for the price.
Can you share anything notable about your trip?
Although we had no plans to really do anything while we were there, we DID decide to do an excursion where a speedboat took us to a pontoon, which then took us to a small private island. It was a really nice beach, we hung out there for awhile and swam. They served us a buffet style lunch and then did a sunset sail on the way back. I highly recommend this! It was a great way to spend the day.
Do you have any travel tips to share?
Yes. I have two….
Book your transportation to and from the airport in advance. This saves the hassle of trying to figure it out when you land. The resort we stayed at offered a transportation service called Go Majestic which combined transportation and excursions, which was convenient. We booked the resort shuttle in advance and it was a private pick up, $50 per person roundtrip.
We had an interesting experience on the beach where a man walked up to us with a large Parrot and Iguana. They ask you if you’d like a picture with you and either the Parrot or Iguana on your phone, that they are willing to take it for you. He said it was only $5. We said sure, we took the picture, and then he said that it was going to be more money. It’s not like he held our phone ransom, he handed it back, but claimed that the picture was going to be $50. It was very weird and uncomfortable, we felt bad, but at the same time were forced to haggle with him over the price. He wouldn’t leave. We ended up giving a little more money to go away. We saw him do this same tactic with other people down the beach. Just be warned and the best response is really to just say “no thank you”…
Thank You, Traveler Andy K. for sharing your experience with us!
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