Welcome to our Book of Adventures

Travel Stories for the Curious Adventurer, Est. 2021

Porsche Experience Center

Atlanta: History, Fast Cars, and Southern Cookin’

Heather Heiking

no comments

March 3, 2022

I’ve been to Atlanta a hand-full of times… and each time, I explore and discover something else that keeps me coming back! My obsession with southern cooking motivates my decision to travel here, but I also love the history and the beauty of this city.

I have a special place in my heart just for Atlanta. My brother lived there in the cutest vintage bungalow on Peachtree…it was crown molding, vintage tile, a gorgeous fireplace, and the most amazing spa-like backyard I have ever seen (and likely will ever see). I loved visiting there….it felt like my home away from home when I desperately needed that.

The most obvious reason to go to a place like Atlanta is the history. I took a day to literally walk all over the city….I must have walked for 5 hours. In doing so, I stumbled across amazing restaurants, stopped and toured the Swan House….(gorgeous!!!), found a thrift store I still visit and shop at to this day, and saw most of the historical landmarks without having to fight traffic. The Atlanta History Center is a one-stop-shop to help plan your visit and see the things that resonate with you.

On my last visit there, I brought Nate. This trip was very special, one of those trips where everything feels new and exciting all over again. We soaked up all the things that I love about Atlanta: food, history, and its beautiful parks. I also surprised Nate with a visit to the Porsche Experience Center! I made reservations at the restaurant there and afterwards we toured the place. Next time we visit, we’ll have to participate and book some time on the track 😊

If you’ve been to Atlanta before, or never been, here is my list of places that I think one should consider while visiting! There’s so much to do here, I always look forward to going back and trying a whole new list of restaurants and local tours…

This track looks like fun….

The Porsche Experience Center

Nate is a Porsche enthusiast. He is passionate about the engineering, the craftsmanship and attention to detail, the engine design, the sleek exterior… I can see why he loves these cars so very much. I surprised him with lunch reservations at Restaurant 356, the dining experience there. While onsite, we toured the facility which was really stunning. It is a driving school that offers a 1.6 mile driving track where you can learn (in a Porsche of your choosing) how to drive the car in various conditions.

You can actually watch people driving the track and doing the various exercises. Nate was hooked, we will definitely be back as driving students. Even though we did not do the school, the experience was really fascinating and would suggest any car enthusiast to carve out some time in Atlanta to see it!

Restaurant 356 has quite the view

My first experience sitting in the drivers seat….AND now I own one, so be warned

City Murals

Atlanta street art and building murals is kind of a thing. It’s also something that I really enjoy! The talent you have to have to create such a beautiful, and ginormous, painting on the side of a building or bridge leaves me speechless. So incredible. The Atlanta Beltline has it all….murals, shopping, cool places to stop and have a beer, walking, bike riding, etc.

Ponce City Market is an EXPERIENCE for foodies, you cannot NOT go here. Every time I visited it was priority one for eating. Love it there…. You’ll see why 😊 I have my brother to thank for this one, he took me to all the really great places!

We were on a food tour in the south downtown area when we stumbled across some murals, like this upside-down alligator. Murals are really sprinkled all over, so if you have time, plan a walking and exploring day! And have your camera handy…

The Quintessential Food Tour

Whenever we are anywhere, I book a food tour. The south is my favorite foodcation with the East Coast being my #2. There are many food tours to choose from… I chose a tour that also focused on historical places in the city. I really enjoy learning the history behind where we are, so combining knowledge with great food was a good combination!

I chose this food tour because it combined a walking tour, a history tour, and multiple food stops….perfect. The food was southern fried deliciousness…. I highly recommend a food tour whether it is this one or one of the many food tours offered. The south has some of my most favorite eats (fried green tomatoes, waffles with maple syrup bacon drizzle, biscuits and gravy…. now I’m hungry!!) The south for me is food splurge, so when you are here, SOAK IT IN AND EAT!! You can go back to eating salad and salmon when you get home 🙂

Here’s some food tours I’d personally love to try on our next visit:

Bike Rentals on the Beltline

I.loved.this. And, it’s the perfect way to see and explore multiple neighborhoods connected by the Belt Line. You can rent bikes and do your own thing (which we did…) or you can explore historic Atlanta by doing a Beltline Tour! I think this would be great to do next time. It was a perfect sunny not-too-warm day for us and have wonderful memories stopping for food, drinks, and pictures (of course!)

We rode our bikes for hours and eventually stopped at Piedmont Park… it offers a great view of the city!

Piedmont Park

Southern Cooking

I am convinced I lived in the south in a past life….I love how I feel when i’m there. The food is something that you just can’t get anywhere else. It may be replicated, but it’s not the same. I am a foodie 100%… I eat it all. So, if the menu is offering all the things….fried green tomatoes, biscuits and gravy, butter fried bacon, okra, pecan pie, and all of that on top of pancakes, I’m ordering it. The food here is delectable.

Here is a short list of restaurants that I can recommend as being WONDERFUL…Nate and I call trips to Atlanta (and anywhere in the south) “Foodcations”… you’ll see why:

Tupelo Honey
Amazing Food, every time…
Cheers!!!

Traveling to Atlanta is one of my favorite long weekends. We’re due for a return visit, I think! I hope that if you are planning a first-time visit, my lists above provide some insight and ideas… there’s a lot to see and you won’t see everything, which means you’ll have to go back 🙂 I didn’t even talk about the homes and the architecture there! Such a beautiful place… I’d love to rent an Air BNB and live in a vintage home next time… and try a new list of restaurants. Something I’ve found to be true everywhere I’ve traveled is that the best meal is NOT the most expensive meal. Be adventurous and try that ‘hole in the wall’ place…. it likely has the best food you’ve ever put in your mouth!

Travel far and wide, and #GoAdventure

Heather and Nate

Going to the Big Island? Travel Smart.

Heather Heiking

no comments

February 24, 2022

I’ve been to Maui, O’ahu, and recently the Big Island of Hawaii. Nate made a travel dream come true for me…We stayed for 7 nights and during that time we adventured from one end of the island to the other… we saw it all and I learned A LOT. Flights are actually priced to sell right now for Hawaii, and if you are fully vaccinated the trip is easy peasy. So, if you are planning a trip to the big island, here are my top tips for preparing and exploring…Have a great time, and don’t forget to do a Luau!!!

Hawaiian Sunsets…they are the best

1. Book a VRBO or AIRBNB…Here’s Why

We booked a beautiful home on the south side of Kona for a DEAL, it had tons of space, completely updated, and a killer view of the ocean and sunset. My wonderful husband found this place and it blew me away. Why a rental home vs. the traditional resort? You would pay through the nose with a resort. Now, the resort amenities are nice, but, we really enjoyed feeling like we were living there and we knew we would want to venture out and try local places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was truly an experience and I highly recommend it! And if you get a place with a view of the ocean to watch the sunsets, even better 🙂 🙂

2. Book a rental car through Turo…

We love renting cars through Turo. I have zero interest in paying premium prices for a sub-par rental car when I can have something fun or luxurious for the same price. I also hate standing in line and filling out paperwork only to be rewarded with an over-priced basic 4-door sedan. No thanks. We rented this super fun Mini Cooper and loved it. The car was already waiting for us when we landed. Drop off was easy, the owner of the car was so friendly and awesome, I can’t say enough about how great our experience was. If you’ve never tried it before, TRY IT 🙂

This was SO fun driving around the island…

3. Do NOT make dinner reservations without doing a Google Map first…

Learned this one the hard way. We made reservations at Merriman’s in Waimea. It was highly recommended, total foodie place to eat. We looked it up, saw that the chef created a very unique pre-fix menu and we were sold. Come to find out later that the restaurant was an hour and 15 minutes away from where we were staying… so, we made a day out of it which actually turned out to be the BEST day in my opinion 🙂 Had we looked up where it was in proximity to us, we likely would not have booked it. Hawaii is a big BIG island…. things are not close, they are very spread apart and you have to drive around a LOT of lava to get anywhere. Always look up the distance prior to making dinner reservations…you’ll thank me for this one.

4. Pack a small first aid kit that has the essentials…

There is lava everywhere you go on the big island. Most beaches are just lava beaches and you just put your towel down there. The lava is actually quite sharp, it looks smooth but it isn’t. We actually had an incident where Nate slipped and braced himself with his hand, thus getting one wicked lava slice on his finger and needed a band aid. In that moment, my brain said “I wish we had brought a first aid kit”… so, next time we visit the islands, we will certainly have one. With all the hiking and exploring, you really do need to be prepared for injuries.

5. Plan your daily agenda according to driving time…

The big island, as mentioned earlier, is very large and things are very spread out. From where we were at in South Kona, the Volcano National Park was an hour and a half away, Hilo was also an hour and a half. The north end of the island was over an hour’s drive, so we decided to spend the entire day wherever we were to justify the hours spent in the car. There’s no way around driving a lot… and gas is almost $5 a gallon, so….. plan for it.

6. When hiking the island…

Hawaii is certainly a great place to go hiking! This island is all about the adventure so plan to do a handful of hikes where you see the ocean, waterfalls, beautiful cliffs, and stunning beaches (like a black sand beach!) When hiking, be sure to:

  • Bring 2-3 bottled waters (or the equivalent)…it’s surprising how fast these go
  • Wear a hat, the sun is fierce!
  • Wear a bathing suit under your hiking clothes… when you discover a beautiful beach that you had to hike 3 miles to get to, you’ll want to experience the ocean
  • Do NOT wear sandals. I made this mistake on one of our hikes…it was brutal.
  • Bring some light snacks like trail mix or beef jerky… you might be out there awhile

7. Pack a sweatshirt and jeans…

You wouldn’t think that you’d need these items on a tropical island. However, the weather on the big island is all over the place, including temperature. It can be dark, gloomy and raining in one area, and then clear skies and sunny at the same time. You look up in the sky and you can actually see the difference! Waimea is cold and a bit breezy…I was not prepared for this. Kona is warm and sunny all the time…. Hilo is mostly rainy. This one island has a lot going on weather-wise, so prepare for every temperature and you’ll be all set.

8. Last but not least, pack Ibuprofen…

This island is for the active, and if you plan to hike and explore, you will hurt at the end of the day. I packed a small ziplock of Ibuprofen and I was so glad I did. It was a necessity, everything hurt! Which also meant that we certainly didn’t lay around… we were out there seeing everything you could see, and it was AMAZING 🙂

Wherever you roam, I hope that you soak it in and realize how amazing it is to be there! Hawaii is certainly a place to do some reflecting and deep thinking…the kind where everything is put into perspective. I had a moment our first morning there where I was up crazy early because of the time change (3am) so I went outside and sat on our huge porch looking up at a black sky full of stars. It was a feeling of total gratefulness for everything in my life and being on this trip. Everything had led me to that very moment where I was looking up, and overwhelmed, in Hawaii with my husband, and I am eternally thankful for it. This trip for me was more than exploring, it was about reflection. Life has a winding, twisty way of working out. We loved every minute of this trip…

I hope the list above helps prepare a future Hawaiian traveler! Travel, learn, and share…

Travel Safe, and Go Explore!

#GoAdventure

Heather & Nate

Traveler Interview: Cancun

Heather Heiking

no comments

February 20, 2022

Thinking of booking a trip to Cancun? I sat down with a recent traveler to Cancun for a short-and-sweet interview. I myself have been thinking of visiting Mexico and was curious as to how the experience went. I hope that this interview provides some insight into current travels to Mexico!

Beautiful Cancun Sunsets…

Why did you pick Cancun and how long did you stay there?

“We picked Cancun because we love the weather there and it’s not too long of a flight. I found a really great deal on an all-inclusive that we have stayed at in the past which made it very enticing to book again. We stayed 6 days at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera.“

What was the process for leaving the U.S. and entering Mexico?

“There was nothing in regards to leaving the U.S. We didn’t have to take a test before flying to Mexico, which was nice. It relieves a tremendous amount of stress knowing we can just go. To enter Mexico, you have to fill out a customs form and a health form asking if you had been around anyone with Covid. To then leave Mexico, you had to have a Covid test 24 hours prior to departure, which our resort offered for free. This is ideal, we did NOT want to have to find a local clinic and deal with the hassle. You also had to fill out the health form again asking the same questions about possible Covid exposure. I’ll be honest, we were on pins and needles the day before we had to do our testing. We didn’t sleep well, what if we had Covid and didn’t know it?? We were speaking to one of the staff and she said that a couple from the UK tested positive and couldn’t leave. They were moved to a different room and had to quarantine for 10 days. All of their meals had to be brought to them, they could not leave the room. All of these things go through your head right up until you get your negative test results. We’re not sure we will do this again… it was emotionally hard.

Once you received your negative test results, you had to print them out and upload them into an app called VeriFly. The airline required this or we couldn’t check in for our flight. Once the airline has the test results from VeriFly (the are connected), you are able to check in with the airline. We received notification from the app that we were now able to check in, it did not come from the airline.”

Was it easy to get around there?

“We actually chose not to leave the resort to minimize possible Covid exposure”

Any mentionable trip highlights for other travelers?

“The resort we stayed at, the Hyatt Ziva Rivera, has excellent food which we find rare for all-inclusives. Usually food is sub-par, very average. But the food here is exceptional and the highlight of our stay there. The grounds are beautiful, too. They had free cooking classes which we signed up for. Specifically, we did the Guacamole class! Loved it. We love Cancun because of the perfect weather, so if you are looking for warm temperatures, beautiful sunsets, and a very clean resort with delicious food, this place has all of that.”

At the resort, how was the staff culture?

“Excellent service and friendly staff…in fact, every time you pass a staff member on property, they put their hand over their heart and they say ‘hello’ or ‘good morning’ or ‘good night’…. this meant ‘from the heart’ and I have to say, it made us feel so very welcome there.”

How was the pandemic experience there?

“Well, the resort did feel empty….there are 7 buildings on property and only 3 of them were open. Regardless, it made for a wonderful and relaxing 6 days. We did have to wear masks any time we were indoors, but outdoors was not required.”

The Hyatt Ziva Riviera

Last but not least, is there a travel tip you can share with the readers?

“Yes, I suggest you arrange your airport transport in advance of arriving there. Be sure to book a reputable transport from the airport to your hotel. I booked the Cancun Shuttle Service, I read that they have been in business for 50 years, so this made me think that they were reliable and wouldn’t scam us in any way. We are leary of things like that. You can book them in advance online, it was $29 for two people each way, which we thought was very reasonable”

Thank you Traveler Yvonne S. for sharing your experience with us!

Lake Geneva, WI: A Weekend Trip

Heather Heiking

no comments

January 26, 2022

I was recently asked for my recommendations for a Lake Geneva, Wisconsin weekend…You don’t realize how many times you’ve visited a place or how many things you’ve done there until someone asks you for your list of things to do. I’ve been going to Lake Geneva for years now… every summer, really. From day excursions to entire weekends with many days filled with events, I’ve done a lot. I love it there so much I recently got married there! And at the time we booked it, I never really thought about just how much I love going there. So, here is my list of things to do! For anyone who is local, or anyone thinking of planning a trip to Lake Geneva, know that there is SO much to do there you’ll have to come back multiple times 🙂

Beautiful Lake Geneva

Things To Do:

Visit a winery

Nestled behind all of the lake-town hoopla is Studio Winery. We went for a tasting and and took home a bottle of the Marquette Reserve 2016. Delicious.

Zip Lining

I love Zip Lining, and Lake Geneva actually has multiple options! This is a great 2-3 hour adventure for those brave enough to fly through the trees…

Lake Geneva Ziplines and Adventures

Boundless Adventures (30 minutes away)

Take A Pie Home With You

Take a delicious pie home with you from Lake Geneva Pie Company…these are so good, we ordered these for our wedding. They have a variety of pies to choose from, everything from fruit pies to cream pies, and some real fancy ones, too! These were excellent… every time we go, we have to get a cherry pie! (and sometimes also a key lime…). We’re pie people 🙂

Lake Geneva Pie Company

Lake Geneva Boat Tour

Do the Lake Geneva Boat Tour… I’ve done this twice, it is so peaceful if you do this ride on a gorgeous summer day. You can see the big historical lake homes like the Wrigley Mansion. There always seems to be a breeze…just lovely. Sit back and relax…

The Spa Life:


My go-to spa is Clearwater Salon and Spa in Williams Bay, which is just on the other side of the lake. They do massages and facials, I’ve done both. The salon is super cute inside, I love it…. https://www.clearwaterssalonspa.com/

I’ve also done the spa at the Grand Geneva, but you’re going to pay the fancy tax. They have a lot more to choose from, which is nice…https://www.grandgeneva.com/well-spa/spa-treatments

For the Lake-Life Foodie:


I’ve eaten dinner at the Grand Geneva’s Chop House and Restorante Brissaggio, both excellent…it’s a food splurge, but I felt it was worth it! https://www.grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ristorante-brissago
https://www.grandgeneva.com/restaurants/geneva-chophouse

A fabulous dinner at the Chop House…and a rose for no reason at all

If you are looking for a casual atmosphere and pricing, Oakfire never disappoints and is right on the water, new building, and just a fun place

https://www.oakfire.pizza/


Here is a place I keep trying to eat at, but it never works out!! the menu looks fabuloushttps://soprabistro.com/

There’s a cute coffee place you might want to check out…we love coffee from actual coffee houses, and we stopped in here one weekend and will certainly be back! Really flavorful….https://www.avantcyclecafe.com/our-coffee

Horseback Riding

Did you know that there is a cute little farm just in front of the Grand Geneva Resort? I’ve done a sleigh ride here in the winter and done horseback riding in the summer… check out Dan Patch Stables!

Time to Get Some Rest:


I’ve stayed twice at the Grand Geneva, a very expensive room and in my opinion was very basic. I am definitely a boutique hotel kinda girl, these rooms could use some beautiful design. The actual resort though is nice. We were told it used to be the playboy mansion…so there’s some cool history there! I guess that’s what you pay for. They have a nice pool area and there’s skiing in the winter. Oh, and there’s golf…if you do that 🙂 (Nate would say YES but I would say ‘Um, what?’)


The Baker House is a no-kids-zone, which makes it ideal for adults looking for peace and quiet… the rooms are awesome, it is on my list to try this place https://bakerhouse1885.com

The Maxwell Mansion is BEAUTIFUL! I certainly had my fix for unique design in the rooms. Loved it. Nate and I stayed here for our wedding night and it was AMAZING….we stayed in the stable house part of the hotel. I believe they have a no-kids policy here as well…There is a Speakeasy in the basement, which we tried but fair warning…it is a SMALL basement space and it does smell like humans when it is full of people. We ordered our fancy drinks and took them back to our room. https://staymaxwell.com/

All in all, there is SO much to do here that I didn’t even go into, like doing a cooking class or renting jet skis…I love this lake town. I go every summer and do something new every time. Last summer we rode our bikes along the White River State Trail. If you have never been to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, put this on your travel list and explore! You won’t be disappointed.

#GoAdventure! and explore some place new this year

Heather and Nate

Dubuque, Iowa: Vintage, Artistic, and Delectable

Heather Heiking

no comments

January 19, 2022

When I told people Nate and I booked a few nights in Dubuque, the response was always a “Why?” or “What’s in Dubuque?” The perception that people have of Iowa is certainly one that does not align with a destination one might adventure to. I am happy to report that it is! Dubuque has all the things….foodie restaurants, cute coffee shops, outdoor activities, history museums, wineries, and gorgeous old Victorian homes (for those who love that sort of thing!) Nate and I have compiled a list of To-Do’s that will make a trip to Dubuque a memorable one! We are so happy we chose Dubuque…or perhaps Dubuque chose us??

Beautiful architecture…from basic Victorian to the very elaborate

The History:

A quick history lesson on Dubuque (cuz every town has a story on how it came to be…). Dubuque is Iowa’s oldest city, it all began way back in 1785 when Julien Dubuque, a fur trader, came…saw…and conquered. He had a good relationship with the local Mesquakie Indians and was allowed to mine the bountiful lead deposits. Eventually, these lead mines attracted many others who then settled in the town along the Mississippi River. The towns official birthday, according to what I’ve read, was 1837. As we all know, rivers often lead to new towns and prosperous cities as it was an ideal way to get goods to other places. The Mississippi River was the inspiration that led to Dubuque’s beginnings, and it still inspires today. The stories of how places came to be are at the top of our list when we venture somewhere new. To learn more about Dubuque, the city website has a really great history page…

Our Victorian rental had the most beautiful vintage rooms…

Stay in Something Historical…

The homes here are astounding. They are massive old Victorian homes with elaborate front doors, mouldings, millwork and trim, with wrought iron fences, spires on the roof, and carved stone. There are plenty of hotels to choose from, but if you want a true experience here….we suggest renting an old home.

I found our perfect staycation home on AirBNB. We actually worked here too during the day so renting a home was a much better fit for us…we brought a few groceries and beverages with us, packed some of my comforts from home, and truly enjoyed living ‘somewhere else’ for a few days. Our house was on the big hill overlooking town, surrounded by more Victorian mansions.

A fabulous combination of cream cheese and goat cheese at Brazen

Dubuque is for Foodies

When I look for restaurants, I look for menus that 1. Promote a Chef (I am looking for talent!) and 2. Have a menu that changes with the seasons, and 3. Have unique crafted cocktails! I made reservations at three restaurants and they exceeded my expectations. I recommend trying all three as they were exceptional meals and reasonably priced. 

Brazen Open Kitchen – This was my #1 favorite restaurant. Had I known how great it would be, I would have eaten there all three nights and tried something new. Everything here is made from scratch, and you can taste it. Amazing. We started with a savory sweet potato pancake with some kind of crazy delicious gravy. I then had the shrimp, Nate had the salmon, and we both had Aviator cocktails. Dessert was a cream cheese/goat cheese cheesecake topped with a homemade caramel sauce. We didn’t want to leave…

L.Mae Eatery – this restaurant was also good and made delicious crafty cocktails… I had the honey lavender martini. Dinner for me was the filet with blue cheese butter. We also couldn’t say no to cheese cake and ordered a piece of their turtle cheesecake with this decadent cinnamon and sugar topping…. so good.

Pepper Sprout – This restaurant is more of a meat and potatoes kind of place. I say that because the menu had a variety of heavier meals…. Beef Stroganoff, Mac and Cheese, Steak (of course), pastas, etc. We started with a very original Winter Neopolitan appetizer which was phyllo dough stuffed with goat cheese, cranberries, carmelized onions, and squash. It was very unique! Then we had the pumpkin squash soup which I loved… had a nice spicy finish. I ordered the Stroganoff but barely ate it… Nate ordered the pecan-crusted pork chop.

Winter Neopolitan Appetizer

But first, Coffee…

We have a travel tradition…find local coffee houses and GO THERE. It’s how we prefer to start our day when we travel. And, if those coffee houses brew their own beans, well you’ve just hit the powerball of morning coffees. We only had enough time to try two coffee houses, although I will say that Carolines’ Restaurant in the Hotel Julien made an excellent cup of coffee!

Charlottes Coffee House

We spent our first morning in Dubuque at Charlotte’s Coffee House, a delightful coffee house with lots of seating inside and great breakfast items!! I ordered a cranberry scone, definitely made from scratch. Nate had a scrumptious bacon cheddar panini…We took our coffee to go, love the Coffee Love sticker!!

Habits Coffee and Mini Donuts

You have to check out Habits Coffee and Mini Donuts. This was a GREAT find… their thing is tiny fresh donuts topped with sauces, fruit, nuts, bacon, candy, etc. We both got lattes and 12-mini donuts… my favorite was the maple bacon!!! This little coffee house was on Locust St. and right at the bottom of the hill for us! So fun, and they had a travel-themed wall which I had to get a picture of!

Out for morning coffee with my honey
the cutest hand-made donuts you’ve ever seen

A Town Filled with Art

When you drive around the downtown area, you’ll notice the big, beautiful murals every few buildings. They are quite amazing. These are naturally popular Instagram locations…who DOESN’T want their picture taken in front of a beautiful work of art?

There are close to 40 murals in Dubuque. The project to create beautiful murals here started in 2015. They are done by renowned artists from all over the world…how amazing it was to see them. Below are just a few…. There were so many others I wanted to see, not enough time! 

Ski the Hills at Sundown Mountain Resort

When I met Nate, I had never gone skiing. Our first experience together? Breckendridge, Co. We went straight for the Colorado ski elite challenge. I spent most of the day falling down… and vowed that I would get back on skis again and do better next time. When I saw the Dubuque had a ski resort, I booked a full day of skiing. Sundown Mountain is the perfect size ski resort with every level of hill. I spent the entire morning doing lessons, both in a group and then private. It was so helpful, and if we come back, I’ll do private again for sure. I learned so much from my instructor…the one-on-one makes a huge difference. Nate is the opposite of me, he is a natural with the balance and motion of skiing. He glides down the hill effortlessly. He stayed right with me when we ventured down a ginormous hill, he was wonderful. He never left my side. Although I had my fair share of falls in the afternoon, I also improved greatly and plan to do this again! Practice makes perfect, and I very much want to go back to Colorado and try a new ski resort. Some people have been skiing their whole life, I’ve only been skiing a fraction of mine.

Sundown Mountain is a small resort and very manageable. The buildings and facilities are a bit run down, but the outdoor space glistens in its perfectness. The landscape was quite beautiful. It was a wonderful day and ski experience, and the price to ski all day was affordable! It was about $80 a person for the day pass and lift fee. We then paid for lessons on top of that. The private lesson was around $50 a person. 

at Barrel Head Winery

Wineries

I look for a winery everywhere we go. I just love trying new wines and maybe taking a bottle home! Thank goodness wineries are open in the winter…There were only two wineries open on Friday so we sampled Barrel Head Winery and Stone Cliff Winery. If you’re a wine adventurer, here are three more we wish we could have tried!

  1. Sunset Ridge Winery
  2. Park Farm Winery
  3. Sinnipee Valley Vineyards and Winery

Our first stop was at Stone Cliff Winery downtown Dubuque…this wine was mostly fruit wines, so if you are into the sweet wine, this place is for you. They did have a Cab, so we had a glass and then moved on to the next one.

This trip was 4 nights, 5 days and it was cozy, adventurous, delicious, and memorable. There’s a lot more to do here… I am thinking we need to plan a long weekend to Galena, then hit Dubuque, then try Lake Bluff (a recommendation from someone we met). Dubuque has a few places to go hiking, like the Mines of Spain, and it would be nice to hit the wineries we missed, as well as go to the local museum here. We are so glad we traveled to Dubuque… we find that one adventure always leads to another. I’m sure we’ll be back 🙂

#GoAdventure

Heather and Nate

Madrid, Spain: Rose Gardens, Palace Architecture, and an Egyptian Temple

Heather Heiking

no comments

December 5, 2021

When I envisioned Madrid, I pictured a large city like maybe Chicago or New York. And in fact it was a big city, but I was pleasantly surprised to find beautiful gardens and, oddly enough, an egyptian pyramid! Turns out, this was Nate’s first choice as a proposal location… it was quite amazing and with beautiful surroundings. It was closed the day we were going to be in Madrid so he had to come up with a plan B, which was just as amazing (a sailboat charter in Barcelona). I wish we could have stayed more days in Madrid…I could have easily explored more areas of the city. The time we spent there, however, we took full advantage. The food is exceptional…and the environment is something you really have to pause and soak in. The pictures I took don’t do it justice, but they do give you an idea of what is was like.

This was our last stop on our Spanish whirlwind adventure, and I hope that one day we go back to experience more of it!! Here are my top places to see while in Madrid!

Over 4000 roses in this stunning botanical garden

1. The El Retiro Rose Gardens

I remember we were just out for a walk, and somehow found ourselves at the El Retiro Rose Gardens. This large botanical garden is home to 4000 roses and was built in 1915. It was a lovely stroll on the most gorgeous weather day! This place is certainly worth a visit, if only to inhale that rosy smell and relax for a moment…

Madrid Palace
The Royal Palace of Madrid

2. Palacio Real De Madrid

The royal palace of Madrid. This was fascinating. Nate loves castles and palaces so he booked us on a tour of this overwhelmingly ginormous architectural monument where each room has a different design theme (and quite elaborate!) Block out a few hours for this tour… We grabbed a coffee and scone right before.

There were some rooms we weren’t allowed to take pictures, but these give you an idea of just how grand the interior was
My name in… Spanish???

We only wish we could have seen the entire palace, a large portion of it was closed to the public. This palace happens to be the largest in Western Europe with 3,418 rooms. This palace has seen a lot of Spanish history. The draw for me, however, was the interior and those beautiful rooms! Again, it needs to be seen in person, pictures don’t do it justice. A wonderful tour and a top recommendation from both of us! Here is a link to a skip-the-line tour of the Palace interior…

To see this kind of musical and dancing talent was the highlight of my day

3. Flamenco Dance

This was my FAVORITE thing during our adventure in Madrid!!! I.loved.this. So entertaining, and just an overall captivating experience! After you watch this video, I hope you’ll agree!! When we are anywhere, it’s important to me to truly take in the culture. Flamenco dancing is a combination of song, dance and guitar. It has mysterious roots, from what I’ve read, believed to have been brought into Spain from northwest India. Flamenco song is all about deep emotion.The dancer then interprets the song. The dance involves intricate footwork and the women wear gorgeous ruffled dresses. We had to see one for ourselves…it did not disappoint! If interested in adding a cultural dance experience to your trip agenda, here is a link to the show we did…

The Temple of Debod

4. The Temple of Debod

An Egyptian temple quietly rests in the city of Madrid. It was dismantled and then rebuilt in the Parque de la Montaña. The story behind why it is in Madrid is interesting. Spain apparently helped save numerous archeological sites and existing architecture that were at risk of being destroyed by a new dam and its water resevoir. As a Thank You, Egypt donated the temple to Spain in 1968.

We were able to go inside the temple and see the ancient writings on the walls (which I love) and then go upstairs where we could see built-to-scale replicas of the temple and the surrounding temples from where they took it. If you’d like to learn more about the temple, I thought this site was great for more information…

Madrid is a beautiful BEAUTIFUL city, I’m currently going through pictures with the goal of printing a few for our newly remodeled basement! It’s hard to choose, everywhere we went was stunning. We did a few more Spanish things but I think I’ll save those places for another post!

Who knows what international travel will look like in 2022. We are hoping that things normalize and that borders don’t re-close. We miss being able to see other countries and experience the culture. We had originally planned a trip back to Spain for our honeymoon but decided to adventure to Hawaii instead. But, going overseas is still something like I’d like to do next year and not losing hope just yet!! We are in need of a really great bottle of Spanish Red 🙂

If you are thinking of Spanish travel next year, or any year, I hope that this post gives you some agenda ideas!!

As always, travel safe (and if you’re going to Spain, take a minute to learn the train system in advance!!)

#GoAdventure

Heather and Nate

Turo: Fancy Car Rentals without the Fancy Tax

Heather Heiking

no comments

November 21, 2021

We love fancy cars, we hate paying for them. I call the act of over-paying ‘the fancy tax.’ The fancy tax is all around us…expensive clothes, expensive gear, expensive dinners, expensive trips, expensive cars, expensive expensive!! We either choose to pay it, or we don’t. On occasion when we’ve traveled, we’ve rented a luxury car at an extremely crazy price. I hate over paying for anything and this usually makes me want to throw up when I sign the bill. And, on top of that, I generally don’t love the car rental experience…waiting in line, not getting the car you thought you were getting, possibly paying $10 a gallon for gas if you forget to top it off before you return it (which happens to all of us). And now, because of the ripple effect caused by a paralyzing pandemic, we are all faced with rental car shortages and paying way too much. We heard stories about how people were traveling to Hawaii and there were no car rentals available, which is a necessity when you travel to Hawaii. So, people were renting U-Hauls and driving those around for cheap. This was enough to convince me to NOT go there, not exactly my idea of awesome.

Our most recent Turo experience… a red Mustang

Introducing Turo. Turo has quickly become my preferred method of renting cars when we travel. If it’s a personal trip, I really don’t foresee using an airport car rental place again. Turo is a wonderful concept…. car owners rent out their cars, just like VRBO or AirBNB. Brilliant! No car shortage there! We use Turo to get our fancy car fix when we go somewhere…and the prices are either very affordable OR they are simply the same price as you would pay for a basic car! There’s plenty of regular cars for prices lower than any car rental company offering. But, if you want to rent a Mercedes convertible for a few days, or a Porsche 911, or a fiercely red Mustang, Turo’s got it 🙂 Actually, they’ve literally got everything…if renting a vintage car is your thing, you can find it on Turo.

Turo: A Car Sharing Company

For me, price matters…. but, the BEST part is that the car owner brings the car to you!!! No waiting in line for an hour, no 10-15 minutes at the car rental counter filling out paperwork, everything is online before your trip. They simply meet you at the airport, or a meet-up spot, and hand you the keys. Travel bliss. I will throw some caution here: not every car owner delivers to an airport, so make sure that you look for that once you’ve picked your car.

“Travel shouldn’t break the bank, we all deserve to see the world at an affordable price…”

I have a perfect scenario of why Turo is car rental magic. We recently went to Willamette Valley for 5 amazing days in wine country. You absolutely need a rental car to get around. I looked into various car rental offerings and we were looking at around $900 total for a basic 4-door sedan, no frills, and a very average interior. And if we downgraded a bit it wasn’t much less. If we wanted to rent a luxury car, it was going to be $1500. Ridiculous. I then searched on Turo and found a 2019 2-door Mustang for $60/a day. YES!!! Also, no crazy taxes either which can sometimes be just as much as the car rental price. Again, out of control and I just simply refuse. For us, part of the fun when we travel is to drive around in an awesomely luxurious and fun car. Turo makes this possible.

We walked out of baggage claim and there it was…. Have you ever waited an hour in line for a rental car??? Miserable.

We are traveling to Hawaii soon and my biggest concern was the rental car situation. Turo has come to our rescue 🙂 Our experiences have always been wonderful. I recently told my parents to try this out as they travel monthly. From Honda Accords to SUVs, to fast, sporty luxury cars….Turo has it. I can’t say enough good things about having OPTIONS, and I can’t wait to see who else comes along in the car-rental-by-owner space. Competition means better selections, better prices, and happy customers!

I can only offer my own personal experiences and nothing is risk-free. You are dealing with individual car owners and I suppose there’s always risk involved with that. We’ve never had an issue and if anything, the car owners were super accommodating. We had a flight come in an hour late and the car owner and I were in constant communication that day, he was right there waiting for us when we walked out of the airport. If you try Turo on your next getaway, we hope you have a wonderful experience 🙂

Travel far and wide…And maybe get there in some style!!

P.S. the best way to see wine country is in a Mustang 🙂 Especially when it matches your dress…

#GoAdventure!

Heather and Nate

Breckenridge: A Sleigh Ride and a Sky Full of Stars

Heather Heiking

no comments

November 8, 2021

This wintery wonderland more widely known as Breckenridge, Colorado, was the perfect January escape….to more snow and cold. BUT, it’s Breckenridge… an adorable Colorado town with great food, coffee shops, skiing (of course), ice sculptures, and snowmobiling! We also squeezed in a sleigh ride under the stars and a dinner with live music at the end. Do you love winter and snow activities?? Then grab your long underwear, over-priced winter gloves and ski goggles…it’s time to plan a very long weekend to Breckenridge, Colorado!!

1. Skiing

The skiing in Breckenridge draws big crowds. The mountain is overwhelmingly beautiful. They have every type of run, from beginner to super crazy ‘death wish’… and everything in between. I spent the entire day in ski class, which was really great. The instructors were very patient with my giraffe legs trying to find balance and direction. In the end, I learned very little and my tiny body has yet to forgive me for the torture I inflicted. But, I was glad I did it. Skiing isn’t easy….it LOOKS effortless. But truly, it is a new way of learning how to balance and move your body, almost like learning another language. It takes patience and commitment, and a desire to ski. I do hope to be a decent skier one day 🙂 So, the torture continues!

Breckenridge is just beautiful. This was my first experience at a ski resort and it did not disappoint. We had a studio VRBO just across the street from the ski hill which was very convenient. I planned for one full day of skiing. At the end of the day, we both hurt. Nate is a MUCH better skier than me. He was also hurting and funny enough, came to find ME to say it was probably time to go. He found me on the ground after sloppily falling down a medium-sized hill…I looked up and said “sounds good.”

If you are already a good skiier, you will love this place. It looks so fun, and so EASY! An effortless glide down a snowy hill with a graceful stop at the end is my goal.

This January, I am venturing out again on my skis…I hope to come away from the experience feeling triumphant! We’ll see??

Buy your lift tickets here for the Breckenridge Ski Resort

When I see these pics, I think…Well, I look good skiing…and that counts for something 🙂

2. Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is my jam. If I could do this every winter guaranteed, I’d block out an entire month where all we did was snowmobile. I actually grew up with neighbors who had 3 snowmobiles. They would bring them out every winter when the snow was nice and thick. We would all take turns taking them back behind our house where there was a large farm field just PERFECT for snowmobiles. I loved those winters. They have a special place in my heart. I also remember when I was finally old enough to take one out all by myself!! I.love.it. I’m not a cold weather person, but put me on a snowmobile and I’m out there all day long.

The beginning of our tour… getting educated on safety before we head up the mountain

This was my most favorite part of the trip. I booked a snowmobile tour that actually took us up a mountain. The view is burned into my brain forever. And then, the tour guide takes us to a bowl (literally a snow covered bowl shape in the mountain) and it was crazy awesome/terrifying! You almost feel like you are driving sideways on the walls of this bowl… worth every penny. We got some great action shots….

If interested, here are some snowmobile tours to consider… looks like the pandemic has strangled a few of them regarding reservations and such. But I know that eventually these places will be going full throttle soon enough…

Good Times Adventures (love the name!)

Breckenridge Snowmobiling (this one has snowmobiling and zip lining together!)

Colorado Snowmobile

I’m not a cold weather person, nor do I look forward to snow and dealing with it, but…I had a moment on top of this mountain and it was pretty great. I embraced the cold and the snow…it was wonderful
This tour was worth every penny…. exhilarating, to say the least

3. Sleigh Ride

I don’t know why, but my heart skips a beat when I hear ‘sleigh ride’….it seems so storybook and wonderful, all cuddled up with a big blanket while a horse with jingling bells around its neck is taking you through white sparkly snow drifts and you’re surrounded by thick pine trees…the air smells amazing and the night sky is full of stars. This was also a tour I couldn’t pass up.

waiting to board our giant sleigh!

I recommend the sleigh ride excursion….this one came with dinner and live music. We sat at a large table and got to know everyone around us. People come from all over to ski at Breckenridge and it was a real treat to have conversations with everyone. A must do!

Here’s a link on sleigh rides in Breckenridge…. https://gobreck.com/seasons/winter-spring/breckenridge-sleigh-rides. We did the Sleigh Ride with Dinner, complete with hot cocoa and lots of snuggling under a blanket (with Nate)…amazing.

In conclusion, I’ll warn the interested traveler that this is not a cheap getaway. I think it’s important to be honest about how much it costs to go certain places. Skiing is pricey, the snowmobile rentals were mucho dollars, and then lodging there in the winter is, well, a lot, but we also stayed in Breckenridge….we could have stayed outside of it. You can find deals (we did VRBO), but be prepared to spend more than you’d like. Eating out three meals a day also adds up. Our tiny rental had a kitchen, we just didn’t have time to hit up the grocery store for a few items. But, what you financially throw down balances out nicely with the ambiance and the beautiful snow. We even got to walk through an ice sculpture contest that had one more day left on display before they dismantled it.

Looks like the International Ice Sculpture championship is Jan and Feb of 2022! I only wish we could have seen them being built…the final sculptures were incredible. If interested in learning more, click here and read all about how people come from all over the world to participate ICE SCULPTURE AMAZINGNESS

It was a lovely getaway and I’m sure we’ll do it again, but maybe a different Colorado destination next time! I picked Breckenridge for the beer…. yep. Breckenridge Brewery sells an oatmeal stout that I love love love. I have Aspen and Telluride on my list for future winter adventures…

We had such a wonderful time… this was the BEST winter getaway we have ever had

Travel far and wide, and be sure to try something you’ve never done before while you’re there! For me, it was skiing…and here I am planning to do it all over again in Dubuque 🙂

#GoAdventure

Heather and Nate

Asheville for Foodies: A Love Affair with Good Eats

Heather Heiking

no comments

October 10, 2021

I love to eat out. I think mostly because I covet the break I get when someone else is doing the cooking 🙂 I love trying new food, new flavors, new cocktails, all of it. When we go anywhere, the restaurant list is a dedicated evening strategy session… we take it very seriously. Our list of Asheville restaurants took us 2 days to figure out. Five restaurants and four #GoThere recommendations…Are you ready to book some reservations??

Our List of Asheville Foodie Experiences:

Honest reviews only! I am no food critic, just a suburban mom of 4 who truly enjoys food cooked by others….such a treat! I believe in telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth…and if I recommend it, I stand behind it. So, here we go:

1. Biscuit Head

Their tagline is “Put Some South in Your Mouth”….and I was sold. These biscuits aren’t JUST biscuits…they come smothered with amazing gravies – 5 gravies to choose from, actually. It was hard to decide which ones we wanted. They have a laundry list of delicious sides like Fried Chicken, Sriracha Maple Sausage, and Fried Green Tomatoes….is your mouth watering yet?? This is my Food, and the South are my people. I am happiest when we are vacationing in the South eating all day long. This was a foodie experience, one that I hope to do again in the near future. The menu is simple and perfect…I hope you can plan a delicious breakfast or lunch with a plate full of their homemade biscuits and finger-lickin’ toppings and sides. There was more food than we could eat…we also ordered quite a bit to sample as much as possible. My favorites were the fried green tomatoes and the biscuits with the Espresso Red Eye Gravy 🙂 Biscuit Head has multiple locations in Asheville….We need some of these in Illinois! #GoThere

2. Tupelo Honey

tupelo honey

Anytime we are in the South and there is a Tupelo Honey close by, we go…. and here’s why. The menu is superb. If you are looking for thick french toast, smothered in bacon pieces and candied walnuts, oh…and smothered in maple syrup and dripping with butter, and maybe stuffed with cream cheese, with a side of fried chicken and buttermilk waffles…Tupelo is your place. I know that’s a lot (of food), but my point is…you can do that here 🙂 It’s all good, so why not order what you want? We have been known to order an extra entree just because we HAVE to. This menu does not disappoint. My first experience with Tupelo Honey was in Atlanta and I’ve been hypnotized by its foodie-greatness ever since. We had breakfast in Asheville on Valentines Day here, it.was.wonderful. We ordered all the things…. cheesy grits, southern-style eggs benedict, blueberry pancakes. Be sure to make a reservation, even for breakfast…We’re not the only humans who think this place is spectacular! #GoThere

3. Jargon

Amazing. I’ll just start with that. Jargon is very cute but small inside. You should definitely make a reservation well in advance to get a table. We went in February of 2021 and it was full. The vibe there was lively and full of energy, everyone was having a great time. The bar was tiny, but made exceptional drinks!! Their chef promotes using local seasonal ingredients, so what was on the menu last week may not be this week. I love restaurants like this, you know that what you’re getting was hand-crafted and FRESH. We enjoyed a few shareables, some delicious cocktails, and then our entrees. Excellent meal and excellent service. #GoThere

4. The Lobster Trap

EXCEPTIONAL

We have a thing for seafood, and a super huge thing for lobster. I was blown away by the food we ordered. A lot of places offer seafood on their menu, but not everyone knows how to cook it. Lobster Trap was one of the best seafood dinners I have ever had. Nate and I started with a dozen oysters. Then…we both ordered lobster, crab and scallops served on a big, wooden cutting board. It was grilled to perfection. I’m pretty sure we ate without speaking, the food was that good. The kitchen is open, too, which is very cool to see everyone grilling and plating food. Great atmosphere, great food. It is pricey, so know that before booking. I personally felt like it was worth the expense. Total satisfaction. Don’t we look happy?? 🙂 🙂 🙂 #GoThere

5. Rhubarb

This restaurant is located in downtown Asheville. It boasts a farm-to-table dining experience. Rhubarb was the only restaurant we weren’t thrilled about afterwards. The menu looked great, and the ambience inside was also nice. This place also had a small menu like Jargon which I prefer. Do a few things exceptionally well vs. trying to do everything sub par. Fresh ingredients and creative food combinations are what you’ll find here. What was disappointing for us was the texture and flavor, or lack of flavor, with the food. The two appetizers we ordered were heavy with bread, which we didn’t realize when we ordered. For us, not ideal as we don’t ever want to fill up so that we don’t find our dinner appetizing. Overall though, the flavor was just ok. We were both left thinking “well, we tried it.” I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to someone planning a food-cation to Asheville. I think their menu changes often so the food we ordered is likely no more. And, not to say someone who eats there next week couldn’t have an amazing flavorful experience, we just didn’t when we were there. Worth checking out though, the farm-to-table concept is one that gets me every time!

We are always looking for recommendations, too! So please comment below if there is a hidden gem in Asheville we should know about. We will certainly be back, it’s only an hour and 20 minute flight for us.

If you are planning a getaway to Asheville, we hope this blog post gives you some insight on what restaurants to check out!

Again, we aren’t food experts by any means, we just appreciate a fabulous meal! When we escape to some place new, our time is limited and we have to make our meals count.

Travel safe and EAT WELL

Heather and Nate

#GoAdventure!

Portland, Maine: Lobster, Fancy Drinks, Island Biking and Lighthouses

Heather Heiking

no comments

September 19, 2021

If there is an ideal time to go to Portland, Maine, it is during Lobster season 🙂 I told Nate it had always been a dream of mine to go when Lobster is more common than chicken…he replied “book it.” He’s an easy sell 🙂

We spent 4 nights and 5 days in this beautiful seaside town and it did not disappoint. Perfect weather, too! There was so much to do here I had a hard time deciding what NOT to do…if only we had stayed a few more days. What we did do was wonderful, we still talk about it today. So, here are 4 things we did that I think anyone planning a trip to Portland should consider!! I stand behind these 100%…Enjoy!!

1. Lobster Season:

Yep, we each had 2 lobsters, corn, and coleslaw…. perfection

Yes, you can enjoy Portland all spring and summer…but why not go there when lobster is bountiful and practically being sold on every corner??? Peak lobster season is between late June and December, but I read that it was IDEAL to go in August/September. Fisherman in Maine are lobstering all year round, but the fall seems to be when hard and soft-shell lobsters are available. Now, even though Lobster is falling from the sky, that doesn’t mean it is cheap.

there are no words…. just eat it and enjoy

Warning: a lobster roll, although fabulous, is $24 for the small one. Yeppers. So bring some green and gorge on the most delicious lobster roll you’ve ever put in your mouth… (that’s what she said…right Nate? 🙂 )

Everywhere we dined we had lobster. It’s just not the same eating lobster at home so we made sure we had our fill. We also dined on oysters and mussels… something I think I’ll blog about later! The food in Portland is exceptional, and we were told that it has become a foodie destination due to the quality of dining and chefs in the area.

2. Fancy Drinks!

The best damn cocktail I’ve ever had!!

This has become a travel tradition for us. We really lucked out and stumbled upon a place called Vena’s Fizz House. I see on their website that they are temporarily closed. Here’s hoping they open back up so that the world can enjoy these delicious cocktails! I am a subscriber to their newsletter and they regularly send delicious drink recipes featuring their unique products. We are HUGE fans of Vena’s!!! Have yourself a lobster roll at a fabulous restaurant and then head over to Vena’s for the best drink you’ve ever had!

3. Island Biking:

We love a good bike ride. So much so that we almost always book a biking tour wherever we travel. Nate bought me my first bike years ago and we’ve been riding together ever since. The tour we booked in Portland was great… and it ended up being private! Just us and the owner of the tour company out for a 4 hour bike ride with lunch. Summer Feet is the tour company and we did the Pedal Peaks Island tour, which was perfect.

This beautiful little island is only accessible by ferry. It is a popular destination for kayaking and biking, and swimming!! You can go swimming at Sandy and Centennial beaches. Our tour guide took us to Cairn Beach, very rocky but stunning. It would make a PERFECT spot to propose 🙂 Or, just have a quiet moment to thing about….everything 🙂 Just you and the ocean.

Steele Battery art

The coolest part of the tour? We went to Steele Battery, which is an old World War II military fortification. 

It was overgrown with nature, but featured some pretty amazing artwork! It was completed in 1942 and is the largest battery anywhere in the United States. Nate really loved this part of our adventure. After the battery, we toured the museum on the island and had a fabulous fish-n-chips lunch. A great way to spend the morning!

4. Lighthouses

Portland Head Light

We had to see the famous Portland Head Light lighthouse. I had to know if it was as beautiful in person as it is in all the pictures, paintings, prints, etc. Yes, it was.

This lighthouse is in Cape Elizabeth in Fort Williams park. It is positioned at the entrance of a main shipping channel into Portland harbor. The lighthouse is automated today and maintained immaculately. Such a beautiful spot if your thing is lighthouses. We didn’t do the tour (we had a plane to catch) but we did explore the grounds. So glad we did!

If you like to explore, the park surrounding the lighthouse is beautiful!!

We loved Portland, Maine. We actually spent a day in Camden that I’ll blog about later! And the food….it deserves it’s own foodie-post as well. We hope you can carve out a few days to visit Portland, we can’t wait to go back and do more of the coastline…

Travel safe, and live adventurously!

Heather and Nate

#GoAdventure

Blog at WordPress.com.