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Travel Stories for the Curious Adventurer, Est. 2021

Barcelona, Spain: Churches, Sailboats, and the Spanish Siesta

Heather Heiking

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September 9, 2021

When we landed in Barcelona, I felt like I hadn’t slept at all on the 8-ish hour long flight from Chicago. I envy the people who can just seemingly pass out and wake up refreshed and ready to start vacationing. I was a zombie trying to grasp the fact that it was only 2pm Barcelona time. I was instantly revived, however, when we walked up to the street from the train below, into the bright sunlight, and saw the most beautiful church I have ever seen…La Sagrada Familia. It looks like an organic sculpture…absolutely nothing like what I know churches to look like. Most churches these days seem like corporate buildings or warehouses… this church truly stands out in my mind as being a work of art, both outside and in…and inspirational …

We arrived!! And it was more beautiful than I had envisioned…

La Sagrada Familia

A work of art…

If you visit this church, you should do the tour. It explains the visual amazingness when you walk inside. This architectural masterpiece was designed by Antoni Gaudi. Construction began way back in 1882…and is still going. It is unfinished, hence the cranes in my photos. It is always being worked on. His original completed design has yet to be realized, from what we learned. I truly was speechless when we walked inside, I still can’t believe that something this beautiful and creative was built. When you look up at the ceiling, you have to stare at it to soak it in.

It was designed to replicate the scenario of one being in a forest full of trees, and when you look up, you see the canopy of trees above you with bright rays of sunlight shining through. Apparently, Gaudi loved nature and replicated it often in his architecture. This article goes into great detail on HOW he infused nature into his designs, from the spires to the ‘tree branches’ holding up the ceiling….truly fascinating and brilliant. He would have been an interesting person to know! You don’t have to be a religious person to be inspired…the architecture alone is worth seeing in person and being mesmerized by. I feel very lucky to have stood inside this beautiful place.

Sailing the Mediterranean

Looking for peace and quiet?? This is the way to get it… just you and the ocean.

Gorgeous day for a sail…

Nate booked a private sailboat to truly experience the mediterranean…this was a perfect way to see the city (and the sun set!) It was memorable to say the least… the weather was perfect and our Captain even taught Nate a few things about sailing the boat! He then ‘let him drive’ for awhile 🙂 This private experience came with food and champaign…a must-do for any couple or small group. You get to take in the coastline and all the gigantic yachts…I’m pretty sure we saw Dr. Evil’s black tinted-window yacht/space ship/submarine 😉 This experience was wonderful (P.S… Nate also proposed on the sailboat, which made it even more wonderful and a great story to tell our grandkids one day), if interested in researching this for your own Barcelona adventure, click here

For those who aspire to be captain of his own ship, this is the tour for you!

The Siesta

Ah yes, the Spanish siesta. This took a minute to get used to. The siesta is very important…and here’s why. Dinner does not START until 8 or 9pm. Yep…come 5:30pm, I am starving because my mom-clock says it’s time to feed those little animals (kids) and eat. If you try to eat dinner at 5:30/6pm, you won’t be able to. No place is open. That first day in Barcelona was rough…I was starving and there was no where to eat. We finally did find a bakery that sold some rolls to us 🙂 🙂 The only way one can get up early in the morning, have a full couple of hours of sight-seeing and lunch, and then more activity and dinner, is to take a nap. So we did…. every single day. And then we’d get up around 5, do a little more sight-seeing, and then start dinner at 9pm. Most days, we were home at midnight. It’s funny to see families out with their kids at 10pm having dinner….a cultural difference that took some adjusting. So, plan your day with the siesta in mind…you.will.need.it. I remember during our first dinner trying not to fall asleep in my food!! But every day after that was smooth sailing 🙂

Check out our view from our hotel room on the right…amazing to wake up to this in the morning, and from our siesta, hahaha

We flew directly from Chicago to Barcelona, which is ideal. I’m not a fan of connecting flights. Jet lag is rough, it always seems to get the best of me! Just a warning…a quick nap upon arrival might be a good idea, especially since dinner is so late! Definitely hop on the train and explore the city. And, book lots of tours! We always do this because we learn so much from tour guides, and we get to see parts of the city we otherwise wouldn’t have. Make dinner reservations, try a new bottle of spanish wine every night, and have the absolute BEST time!! We loved Spain so much we are planning to go back next summer.

Cheers!!! Safe travels, and we hope you’ve been inspired to adventure to Barcelona in the very near future!!

#GoAdventure!

Heather and Nate

Cheers!!

5 Things To Do in Iceland

Heather Heiking

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September 2, 2021

We had quite the adventure…despite us never seeing the northern lights, which is WHY I booked the trip! Figures. Turns out, January is not a good time to go and see them. One might have better luck in March or April…noted! Despite the disappointment, there was plenty more to do there and more tours to pick from than we had time for. Excellent!!

This trip was a gift to my amazing husband back in early 2020…Iceland was always a mysterious place to me that I very much wanted to see for myself. I booked a few tours and crossed my fingers! I don’t think you can go wrong with whatever you choose to do there, but here is my list of 5 things to do while vacationing in the land of the vikings!

1. Eat Adventurously!

Nate and I did a food tour that took us to a handful of diverse restaurants famous for Icelandic eats… we ate Whale, Puffin, and Fermented Shark. Some people might not be comfortable eating whale, I was a little leary myself. They explained that whale is a primary source of food for people on Iceland, but that the hunting of whale is controlled to make sure populations aren’t wiped out. I imagine whale was crucial in the survival of Icelanders for a time. It is interesting still to this day how they feed everyone there. (side note: apparently, there are green houses that can grow vegetables which is astonishing because it is FREEZING there).

Whale tasted like filet. It was a red steak with an interesting flavor. I tried it, I can’t say that I would eat it again. Would you try it??

We also ate Puffin (looks like a penguin) and fermented shark. I was not a fan. But, when in Rome…! What I did love was the meat stew and the Skyr. Delicious!!! Oh, and there was a pretty tasty hot dog, too!

We recommend you try everything…! Especially the Skyr on the right…

2. See the Tectonic Plates

Walking between the Eurasian and North American Tectonic Plates…how many people can say that??!?

Oh.my.goodness. This was mind blowing…. if you’ve never heard about Tectonic Plates before (Nate had to explain it to me…), the ones in Iceland are the Eurasion Tectonic Plate and the North American Tectonic Plate. Why is this so amazing? Iceland is a place where you can see an actual mid-ocean ridge (two continents) on land. And, you can see them drifting apart. These tectonic plates actually formed Iceland. We traveled to Thingvellir to see them in person. AMAZING. The other cool reason we had to see them?? They were featured in Game of Thrones 🙂 We are planning a summer vacation to Iceland within the next few years to see them again… beautiful greenery and waterfalls, and probably an entirely different experience all together!

Reykjavic Thermal Baths (Bath Houses)

Iceland is pretty unique. It’s the only place I’ve ever heard of that is actually heated by volcanoes. All the hot water for homes is geothermal and endless. They even keep their streets free from ice and snow because of the volcanic-heated water under the ground! Something that was quite the experience was going to a bath house in Reykjavic. I had never been to a public bath house before. And, it was a little odd for me at first…. women and men are separated with two locker/shower rooms. You are required to undress and take a shower before going into the baths located outside. Getting into a large shower room with a lot of other women was…different. Not impossible, but weird. You then put on your bathing suit and go. Once you’re outside (it’s soooooo cold), you melt away in one of the many pools of geothermal hot water. It was quite busy…. lots of families just hanging out…it’s a thing there so we had to try it. If you’re not comfortable with the naked part, skip this adventure. If you’re a ‘caution to the wind’ kinda person, go for it 🙂

The Blue Lagoon

Walking up to the Blue Lagoon…

The Blue Lagoon is Verrrry touristy…be prepared for tons of people coming by the bus loads….but verrrry beautiful 🙂 Its milky blue water is the result of high amounts of silica in the water as it is located in a lava field and geothermally heated. What I found interesting is that the water contains very few organisms and contains no yucky bacteria. We went at night, wishing we had gone during the day. A similar process as the bath houses, you are required to shower before you get into the massive pool. However, they are private showers 🙂 Once you get into the lagoon, you are surrounded by beautiful mountains… it was really something! They have a spa and restaurant that we wish we could have done, but ran out of time.

See a Volcanic Crater

The volcanos are everywhere. Some are active, some are sleeping… when you leave the airport and head into Reykjavic, you actually drive through a lava field that is CRAZY! Black ripples of cooled lava are everywhere…makes you wonder how people sleep at night with so many volcanos around! One of our tours included the Kerid Volcanic Crater (it also included the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle). The crater was interesting, if only to walk around what used to be an active volcano. I highly recommend this tour, worth every penny and a diverse package of Icelandic things!

Bonus: #6 – Do a Museum!

We happened upon two museums and did them both… we are certainly museum people, fascinated with all things that explain culture and history. We did The Settlement Exhibition, which was SUPER cool.. and the National Museum of Iceland. Wonderful experiences. These were just 2 museums out of many… and I’ll bet they are all good. The Settlement Exhibition was built around found Viking ruins. You can see the foundation of a Viking home. For the National Museum, give yourself an uninterrupted couple of hours to see everything and read the history.

Iceland is a wonderful and fascinating place to visit… we hope you plan an adventure here to see everything this beautiful place has to offer!

Safe Travels!! Or, as the Icelanders say… 

örugg ferðalög!!

#GoAdventure!

Heather and Nate

Solvang, California: Little Denmark

Heather Heiking

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August 22, 2021

Looking to vacation in a place that feels like a storybook? Like you’ve gone back in time to a quaint little European village except, you’re in California? Solvang is all of this and more. Quaint, old-world, picturesque, delightful at every turn.

The History of Solvang

You really feel like you’re in an old world town in Europe

“Solvang” is Danish for “Sunny Field” 🙂 A beautiful name for a beautiful little town located in Santa Barbara County. The town was actually founded by a group of Danes back in 1911. It has all my favorite things….cute buildings, antique stores, bakeries, restaurants, and wineries close by! Within the town, you’ll find statues of Hans Christen Anderson and The Little Mermaid. The buildings are designed to reflect a Danish craftsman architecture, one that I personally love.

Take note of the Danish-style churches! They are beautiful inside and out…

Good Danish Eats!

The food is exactly what you would hope for… Danish. From bakeries to restaurants, they cover everything from baked danish treats to the famous Danish hot dog, and creamed herring. We ate at the Bit O’ Denmark Restaurant, which opened in 1963 and serves up traditional Danish cuisine….perfect 🙂 I had the Flaeskesteg, a delicious plate of pork stuffed with prunes and applesauce. If you’re thinking of making this a stop on your California adventure (and you SHOULD!!), here is a list of Danish restaurants to sample….

  1. Solvang Restaurant
  2. Viking Garden Restaurant
  3. Berkholm’s Bakery and Cafe (delicious!)

Soooooo goooooooood……

Wineries

What beautiful scenery…

One of my most favorite ways to relax is going to a winery, doing a tasting, and sitting outside while I just breathe and take in the scenery…it’s wonderful. There are quite a few wineries to choose from right outside of Solvang… Take your pick!!!

  1. Lion’s Peak Vineyards
  2. Sanger Wines
  3. Dascomb Cellars

“Welcome to Solvang, the Danish Capital of America…”

– The Solvang Visitor Guide

A trip to Solvang is a really great long weekend… Go on a Wednesday and come home Sunday. Explore, visit wineries, eat Danish baked-goods, try some sausages and herring, and maybe stop by a festival or two! This little town is the perfect introduction to Denmark, which we plan to visit in 2023! I’m lucky to have my brother living there and we can’t wait to visit 🙂 🙂 🙂 Exploring Copenhagen was something I never thought I’d be doing….Travel is not only freedom and educational, it’s experiencing a ‘dream’ that would otherwise have been filed away in the ‘never gonna happen’ folder. So make your list and GO 🙂

Travel Safe and Go Adventure!

Heather & Nate

We Escaped Our World for Hogwarts

Heather Heiking

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August 3, 2021

We took a magical motorbike (ok….it was an airplane) to Hogwarts. It was last September, and I decided to surprise Nate with a magical getaway for his birthday to a place I had never been to… Universal! 


Flights in September were dirt cheap… I paid $30 round trip for each of us. The resort we stayed in was a Universal property and one of the few that had actually re-opened at that time. It was empty and the rates were crazy reasonable. We stayed 4 nights at Universal’s Endless Summer...I thought the entire resort was really cute and super clean. Our room was huge, 1 King Bed and 2 full size beds! We made a mental note that it would be a great place to take the kids (which we will do once they are old enough to handle the intense Florida heat and the maddening long lines…).


My first impression of entering the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?? I was blown away. It’s like walking into one of the films.

We watched all the Harry Potter movies leading up to our departure… and I’m so glad we did that. All the detail was fresh in my mind. Our favorite experience was Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. This.ride.is.phenomenal. Nate and I think it’s the best ride we’ve ever ridden….exceptional. We took this short video… watching it makes me want to book the first flight BACK to Universal! Hahaha….

This “story coaster” is AMAZING

They call it a “story coaster.” You are on a super fast roller coaster which is Hagrid’s famous motorbike (once owned by Sirius Black) through the forbidden forest (what!!??) going 50 mph with seven awesome launches and one complete (and um, unexpected) drop. Yep, the mechanics alone on this ride are AMAZING. It’s vertical drop track is the cherry on the sundae for this ride… and because we were there throughout the week during a time where people weren’t really going anywhere, we got to ride it 4 times 🙂 🙂 We were two VERY happy muggles!! 

There was no one there!!! The longest we waited was maybe 20 minutes…


We then used our magical wand (thanks to my sister!!) to experience the magical spell castings that were hidden all over the place! This was really fun, and what a great way to engage with the environment and immerse yourself in the story of it all. The wands are pricey…But so fun 🙂 


The down-side at that time was that not every ride was open. Not enough staff and a limited number of people allowed in the park. Saturday rolled around and the park was shockingly packed, though, and they reached their max capacity by noon. I think we rode one ride that day… but it was ok… we had a rockin’ thursday and friday!!!
The food at Universal was actually really good!! Not something I expect at theme parks. We live a minute away from a Six Flags and the food is very sub par. You don’t go there to eat is my philosophy. But at Universal, we dined like kings.

One night we went to this cajun piano bar called Pat O’Brien’s and had the best time I’ve ever had eating dinner.

Pat O’Briens

People would yell out random songs and these two pianists could play them like they’ve been playing these songs their entire life. One of the other days we stopped and had ice cream at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium….we split this colossal sundae…soooo gooood.

Our final night, we left the park early and enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Bigfire. This menu was my kind of menu… filet, fresh fish specials, fancy desserts.

I also have to mention that Universal did a great job with safety measures. Every single ride gave you hand sanitizer, and they were leaving a row empty in front and back of you. Masks were mandatory or they asked you to leave the park. They took the current situation very seriously and we felt good about being there. Thank you Universal Studios for doing your part!

Gringott’s


This was absolutely an adventure, one that I can’t wait to do again! We felt like two 12-year old kids running around an amusement park… and that is good for the soul 🙂 I got to forget, just for a few days, that I’m a mom and step-mom of 4 with a laundry list of responsibilities. I left work-life behind which I welcomed. At the time, I was working a job that was taking a major toll on my well-being and I needed to breathe and separate myself from all of that. That’s the thing about long weekend getaways…. I consider it medicine and way cheaper than a recurring appointment with a therapist. Getting away, adventuring, laughing, eating a meal you didn’t have to make yourself (or clean up afterwards) is worth every penny.

And this guy??? Well, he had the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!!

A successful adventure in the books!


We hope you visit this magical place if you haven’t already!! 

#GoAdventure!!! And tell Gringott we said hello (Escape from Gringott’s was certainly our #2!!)


Heather & Nate

Nuremberg, Germany: Castles, Dungeons, and Red Umbrellas

Heather Heiking

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July 23, 2021

We knew we had to visit Nuremberg…the history there is phenomenal. And, it’s one of those quaint village towns (I call all of them village towns) that still have a beautiful castle standing. Nate loves a good castle… and Germany has no shortage of castles to tour! While in Nuremberg, we decided to hit a few key places… and try to find a German restaurant that serves up the best sausages and beer you’ve ever had in your life… We found it!!!

The Imperial Castle

Imperial Castle of Nuremberg

It was a rainy day, but we didn’t care. When in Europe, you go out and explore anyways!! We embraced the rain, grabbed our umbrellas from the hotel, and took a train to Nuremberg (mine was red :). It made for some great pictures!

The castle was first on our list… it’s quite famous and known to represent the Roman Empire of the German nation. It dates back to 1050 and was ‘the place’ where rulers would congregate and stay. This castle, and the town of Nuremberg, have so much history behind it. It’s a good read if you are interested in visiting! The castle has been restored over the years, thankfully. It’s quite beautiful inside and outside… and the view!!

Medieval Dungeons

It wouldn’t be a trip to Europe without touring a dungeon…ya know? After we toured the Imperial Castle, we walked down the main road to discover Nuremberg’s City Hall. They had a tour of the dungeons below and we couldn’t resist.

These are fascinating… mostly because you can’t imagine another human having to live in spaces like these, and often never getting out. There were 12 dungeon cells and a torture chamber…fascinating, we took lots of pictures. For information regarding the tour we took, this site explains it all.

City Hall Dungeons

Prisoners stayed in these dungeons until their sentence was carried out, and there was no light down there. They had to stay in complete darkness. I was happy to leave and move on to our next destination…. lunch!

Good Eats!

We found a FABULOUS restaurant, The Bratwursthäuslein. We happened upon this restaurant around the City Hall area, they served sausages that were authentic to Nuremberg. It sounded (and looked) perfect, all I wanted was a huge plate of German food. The inside felt like a rustic, old lodge…This place was amazing… sausages, kraut, pretzels, beer, cabbage….My FAVORITE part of travel is the eating!!! I would definitely go back to this restaurant. I truly believe that we probably couldn’t have had a bad meal no matter where we went. So, be adventurous and grab a table anywhere! The food is delicious, homemade, and very inexpensive. I think the smile on Nate’s face says it all… 🍺 Gutes Essen!!!

The best thing ever is a table full of German food

We spent 7 days in Nate’s favorite country, I have so much more to write about!! Future posts, of course 🙂

We hope you #GoAdventure and take some time to explore the city of Nuremberg…rain or shine, it’s quaint, charming, and full of history. It was a wonderful day, from start to finish. And, it’s gorgeous at night!!!

Viel Spaß beim Reisen in Deutschland!!

European travel is still a hot mess right now, so travel safe!

Heather and Nate

Mt. San Jacinto State Park: Breathe in the Pines

Heather Heiking

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July 8, 2021

Do you like immersing yourself with nature and have a ‘thing’ for national parks and state parks? We do, too…! While in Palm Springs, a must-do and must-experience is Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The air smells clean and piney, the breeze is cool and invigorating. If you are the kind of person who gets energized by the mountains and untouched piney landscapes that blanket your surroundings, this is the place for you. The exploring is excellent, AND, you can even camp here! But first, let’s start this blog post with HOW you get there…the Tram.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

First, I have to start by saying that the Palm Springs Aerial Tram is an engineering marvel. It is the largest rotating (yes, we rotated the entire way up and down….) in the world. If heights aren’t your thing, you may want to skip this one. I’m surprised I made up myself! It is tall…It takes you 8,516 feet up to Mountain Station. The tram ride one way is 2.5 miles long. The ride is a smooth one, except when you go over the tops of the towers you sway back and forth for a bit….yikes. The tram launched to the public in 1963 and has since, according to Wikipedia, taken 20 million people to the top of the mountain! It was quite the experience… and what an amazing grand entrance to Mt. San Jacinto State Park!

You can’t beat the view!!! You can see on the left the other tram taking people back down…

Your Destination…The Top of the Mountain

Mt. San Jacinto State Park is a wooded oasis at the top of the mountain. I actually read an article that called it “a pristine wilderness”…. absolutely. It is AMAZING when you get up there, and so much cooler than the desert! We went in May and the weather was perfect. There are hiking trails and camp sites for the truly adventuresome! (as Moira Rose would say…. 🙂 We did one of the hiking trails, unfortunately that’s all we had time for. Nate wanted to keep going and do the trail that led to the very top… but that would have taken another 4 hours. Next time Nate, next time… ❤️

Stunning views from the top of the mountain…

These pictures really don’t do it justice…it’s just beautiful. It’s quiet…all you hear is the breeze and birds. And, when you breathe in the air, it just smells refreshingly clean and piney… we didn’t want to leave. Normally, there are two restaurants open at the top, but they were both closed. We took the tram back down to reality in search of a fabulous Palm Springs lunch!

The Beauty of It All…

This was a wonderful couple of hours and a great way to spend the entire morning. We will certainly be back again, our intention is to spend the entire day up there hiking around the mountainy landscape. Here’s what I love about spending some quiet time surrounded by natural forests…. it is time to clear your head and think. And, take in everything you are seeing and smelling…it FEELS good to be in a place like this! And the fact that it seemed to be smack dab in the middle of a desert with this magical tram taking up into the clouds to get there made it even more special 🙂

We hope you GO ADVENTURE to Mt. San Jacinto State Park… you won’t be disappointed!

Heather and Nate

The Rum Vincent

Heather Heiking

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July 4, 2021

The Rum Vincent cocktail wins for best drink during my surprise Punta Cana birthday getaway! (I turned 40, so….I had a few of these….). There’s something about coconut that I can’t get enough of…which is why I especially love this drink. So delicious and addicting… but again, 2 of these and I am crawling slowly up the stairs trying to remember which bedroom is mine 😂 Looking to unwind, unravel, and untangle the day?? Or just celebrate good company and great conversation? This delicious drink does not disappoint!

Ingredients for a Rum Vincent

Here’s what you need: (makes 2 cocktails)

  • 1/3 cup Coconut Milk (get it in the Thai food aisle)
  • Limes (2)
  • 3 shots Lillet Blanc
  • 5 shots Dark Rum
  • Splash of Grapefruit Juice
  • Splash of half-n-half
  • 1 shot Symple Syrup
  • Ice
  • Martini Shaker

Start with your coconut milk… it’s thick and creamy so I like to layer everything else on top of it

Pour in your shots of Lillet Blanc and Dark Rum. If you’ve never had Lillet Blanc before, it is a delightful wine-based liqueur that is so refreshing! It certainly adds a unique flavor to your drink…I’m currently researching what else I can make with it!

Squeeze your limes and pour it in, along with a splash of grapefruit juice (note: if you are up for making your own grapefruit simple syrup, it truly has the best flavor) and 1 shot of simple syrup

Add a splash of half-n-half and your ice, shake, and pour!

I think this drink would be super delicious by substituting pineapple for the grapefruit…in fact, that was Nate’s request the last time I made it. I might even try mango or muddled strawberry!! Regardless, this drink will ALWAYS remind me of the most wonderful couple of days in Punta Cana, having dinner on the beach, and sipping cocktails.

Drinks in Punta Cana!

Comment below if you tried this recipe! Did it make you feel like you were magically whisked away to some tropical island? I hope so 🙂

#GoAdventure!

Heather and Nate

Cozumel: Part Deux

Heather Heiking

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July 1, 2021

This post is a continuation of Cozumel Part 1. We had such an amazing 5 days it needed two posts! My first post was essentially how we got there and where we stayed. There are many resorts to choose from, but ours, The Occidental, had GOOD FOOD!! Which is really the holy grail when it comes to all-inclusives. We wanted to explore the island, but because we went in January where the pandemic was still very much a crippling force, nothing was really open. Kicking back though has its upside! It forced me to stay put (i’m all over the place otherwise) and take a few deep breaths. This trip was very much a parent-time-out.

We DID do a snorkel excursion though, and I’m so glad we did! Although the ocean was a bit rough, it was an exceptional experience. We saw sea turtles, schools of colorful fish (they came right up to your face!), eels, sea urchins, and sting rays. They actually came pretty close to you as well, which panicked me a bit. The resort had two tour operators running so we simply booked through the concierge. Our snorkel guide had an underwater camera and was doing some crazy dives taking pictures… he snapped this one of us making our way out into the ocean!! And yes, we hold hands everywhere we go… snorkeling is no exception ❤️

This was a perfect last day for us. We spent most of our time sipping drinks and talking, relaxing by the water, and taking beach naps (we’re parents…naps are the BEST!). I think my favorite part was the sand bar where the sting rays hang out…the water was warm and only waist-high. The sting ray’s literally zoom around on the ground very close to your feet! (a little too close…. I was terrified). There was another shallow area full of starfish, which I had never seen before. This was a new experience for me, and one that I recommend to anyone visiting this beautiful island!

The view from the beach is what we took in the most. The sunsets were poetry-inspiring… the sky never looked so colorful. There’s something about a view like this that makes your soul feel at rest. I certainly felt it when I was there, how lucky we both were to be there together.

A quintessential thing to do when taking a few days for yourself is a massage, and the one we did on the beach did not disappoint. The ladies who did our massages were artful and worked out every last bit of tension and anxiety that 2020 had rooted deep in my back. WONDERFUL experience. And, all you hear is the breeze and the waves crashing. I want to go back and just do this one more time…ya know?

If you are looking for a new destination to help you unwind the daily grind and relax, Cozumel is great for that. I was intimidated by the journey getting there (plane, boat, taxi) but everything went smooth and was absolutely worth it. I felt like I started a new year (2021) on the right foot for once! We came home refreshed, recharged, and ready to make this year 1000% better than last year! The food was great, the people who worked at the resort were friendly and warm. I couldn’t have asked for a better couple of days in Mexico!

Ten maravillosas aventuras!!! 🌞

Heather and Nate

#GoAdventure

4 Things to Experience in St. Lucia

Heather Heiking

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June 27, 2021

Beautiful St. Lucia… and island that has way more than 4 things to experience. It really depends though on where you stay on the island. One thing we didn’t get to do was a sailboat excursion around the island… there were just a few where we were staying and we heard that there are LOTS more sailboat tours on the north side (we were on the west side…. close to Soufriere). When we got back, my co-workers had to hear all about it, and the question I got the most was…. “What things did you do that you would recommend?” For me, and where we stayed, there were 4 things that I still talk about today! Here is that list….

Tet Paul Nature Trail: Above the Rainbows!

This was such a great hike and very manageable. Tet Paul Nature Trail is a hillside nature trail that takes you all the way up to a look out where you can see the ocean, rainforest and mountains. It was misting in areas and there were scattered rainbows beneath us… you just don’t forget a site like that. The lookout is a perfect place for a kiss with a picturesque background behind you! We of course took advantage of this ❤️ … You can also see rainbows just floating out there like magic!! This 30 second video shows 2 rainbows hovering over the rainforest… if this doesn’t sell you on doing this hike, nothing will 🙂

Nate took a 360 degree video from the lookout…how many rainbows did you count???

On a clear day, you can see the islands of Martinique and St. Vincent…and when we came down from the lookout, there was a tiny little bar with cold beer as a reward….perfect 🙂 I highly recommend this hike. We loved it so much that we had plans to hike the big mountain, Gros Piton. It would have taken most of the day to hike, and we were certainly game, but the only day we had available the trail was closed. Next time…

Sugar Beach: Swim Between the Mountains

Sugar Beach is actually a luxurious resort that has a beach open to the public. We took a shuttle from our rainforest bungalow resort to the beach to relax for the day. When you arrive, you can either set up a towel or chair on the beach, or you can book an umbrella with two lounge chairs.

It was a wonderful day soaking up the sun at Sugar Beach

We did that and recommend it… we got pina coladas and took in the beauty of the ocean comfortably. We swam in the ocean that is surrounded by mountains which made for a pretty cool experience. Overall, the scenery is gorgeous and worth spending the day there. We had lunch at the resort and made the most of it. I will say that renting the umbrella and chairs from the resort was pricey, but, when in Rome….!

Sulfur Springs Mud Bath

If you’re the kind of person who loves the idea of smearing black mud all over your face and body for its healing properties, do this 🙂 It’s weird at first, but once you get in, it’s very relaxing. We had a lot of fun with it by taking some National Geographic-style photos… you know, cuz we’re explorers immersed in black sludge!

I would do this all over again…and probably will!

You can also drive through a volcano here but we didn’t get the chance to do it. Does this black mud have healing properties? Who knows. We definitely felt like a couple of kids were allowed to get dirty for once! I would suggest the Sulfur Springs Mud Bath as a must-do experience, if only to say you did it!

Soufriere

I of course had to suggest the little town of Soufriere! We explored one day in hopes to find a great hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves amazing Caribbean food (and we did!!)

This seaside town was the original capital of the island. There is a tremendous amount of history here… it was colonized by the French but became a British colony in 1803. There are still many old estates still operating today: The Soufriere Estate, The Rabot Estate, and (drum roll….)….the Fond Doux Estate, which is where we stayed! They still grow and harvest cocoa there which we watched. We also took the tour on how they make chocolate! Definitely adventure through this town, there is so much to take in and photograph…and have an exceptional meal!

If you are thinking of booking a trip to St. Lucia, and will be close to the west side of the island, I hope this list inspires you to experience one or all of these places! You won’t be disappointed…

#GoAdventure!

Heather and Nate

Palm Springs and Tahquitz Canyon

Heather Heiking

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June 22, 2021

The sunshine is the first thing you notice when you land in Palm Springs. It’s a tiny airport, one that is mostly outside! Walking from your gate to the main building is all outdoors…nothing but flowers, cactus and the mountains to take in as you make your way to arrivals.

I love the landscaping in Palm Springs, I call the plant life ‘little pieces of art’

We were staying in a condo downtown Palm Springs where there was literally a huge mountain right next door…it didn’t look real even! Almost like a fake movie set, or maybe the Truman Show. I love love love Palm Springs… the architecture of the homes, the desert, the hummingbirds, the cactus, the hiking and exploring, and the FOOD!!! So good.

The big mountain right next door!

For this blog post, I’m going to focus on the history of Palm Springs and one of my favorite places for an early morning hike… Tahquitz Canyon.

The Legend of Palm Springs: Your Secrets are Safe

A little bit of history…In case you haven’t heard the stories, Palm Springs was “Hollywood’s Playground to the Stars” starting all the way back to the 1930’s. The Palm Springs Racquet Club was a huge draw, and, it is still there today. Palm Springs was just far enough away from Hollywood to be out of the 100-mile reimbursement policies of gossip magazines of the time. This meant that Hollywood stars could escape to Palm Springs, live life how they wanted to and keep all their secrets from being published because no gossip reporter would follow them if their travel expense would not be reimbursed. This ensured privacy and peace for stars like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and many more. It’s really interesting… you should Google it 🙂 Many of the homes have been bought and transformed into boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts.

“Palm Springs was a safe-haven for old Hollywood stars…”

The Legend of Tahquitz Canyon: A Banished Shaman

Tahquitz Canyon is home to Tahquitz Falls. They say it was named by the leader of the Fox Tribe and that it is a place of power. “When you enter, you’re tired and weak, when you leave you are rejuvenated and energized”… it’s a shallow pool of water at the foot of the falls and you can absolutely walk the soft sand up to the waterfall. You do feel good just being there and breathing in and out… it’s calming and beautiful. Nate and I certainly had a moment of serenity that was much deserved!

Tahquitz Falls

The terrain almost looks like you are walking on another planet, one that is nothing but large boulders of granite and mountains all around you.

The temperature was pleasant in the early morning, but know that if you are out there past 10am, it is HOT. We were there in May which I think is the perfect weather month for a place like Palm Springs. We love this hike…it’s not difficult, and it’s just long enough to feel like you got a great workout. It’s a beautiful place, one that, of course, has a legend attached to it…

Legend has it that Tahquitz was the first shaman who was given lots of power, and initially began using his power for good. But in time, he became selfish and used his power for wrong-doing. He used his powers against the Agua Caliente people who lived on that land, and in doing so, they became so angry that they banished him to Tahquitz Canyon, where he is still today, living in a secret cave below Tahquitz Rock. They say you can see him in the night sky as a glowing green ball of light. This story was enough for me to go exploring into the canyon…mystic legends are high on my list of awesome things!

We had a wonderful couple of days, we were actually sad to leave it behind. We had amazing dinners, which I’ll likely blog about later… and we did some walking around and exploring, found a flower-covered courtyard hiding in the center of some buildings and stumbled upon the most super-secret-yet-amazing cocktail bar! Nate discovered this gem and I can’t wait to write about how this place is a must-do…

The most beautiful flower-covered courtyard complete with fountains and lots of bench seating for weary walkers…I couldn’t even tell you how to find it!! It’s like Narnia, I think we must have walked through a wardrobe to get there!

We hope you consider Palm Springs… the main strip is quite action-packed. There are also many quiet and secret places to discover! I recommend getting a VRBO or AirBNB with a pool…it is hotter than blazes and sitting out by the pool while the sun is slowly setting with a bottle of wine is THERAPY for the soul…nothing but mountains, a slight breeze, and warmth ❤️

GO Adventure! And please share your Palm Springs comments as we do plan to go back, might even take the kiddies this time!!!

Heather and Nate

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