I love looking up at the stars. I’m still one of those people who find the brightest star in the sky and make a wish. I can still see Pinocchio playing in my head when I do it 🙂 I also make wishes when I find random pennies…I suppose I love the idea of wishes coming true. The sky is quite beautiful when you can clearly see it. Nate says he wants to be on one of those rocket ships that take people into space. As much as I love looking up, I say, let’s just admire it from here ❤️
Nothing sparks some deep thinking and question-asking like a clear night and a sky full of stars. I have been pleasantly surprised by a few places we have ventured to as they had the most beautiful starry sky! Here are three of those places for the avid stargazer and life-contemplator :
Breckenridge: Snow and Stars…
Breckenridge, Colorado was surprisingly beautiful at night! We vacationed there in early January to take advantage of all that beautiful snow and the resulting wintery excursions. One night in particular, we did a sleigh ride through a piney forest. I looked up and couldn’t believe how many stars!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many stars in the sky. Nate said we were at a higher elevation, and it was a crystal clear night. It was magical.
If you are looking into Breckenridge for a winter escape, this site has a lot of great tours and information! We were only there for 4 nights, but we could have stayed longer.
2. Punta Cana: Beach Stargazing
After this beautiful sunset faded, the moon came out and WOW…I felt like I could reach up and touch it. We were walking on the beach as the stars came out. A pitch black sky that far south tends to bring out every single star in the universe. It was wonderful. I only wish we had taken a picture, but I’m certain it wouldn’t have captured the beauty and depth of the night sky. Again, the stars were very clear and deep. I’ve read that the best stargazing in the Dominican Republic is at the Parque Nacional Valle Nuevo, where you can actually see the Milky Way! We have to go back. This trip was a birthday getaway and designed to be lazy and relaxing. But, next time we go, we’re going to explore the terrain, national parks, snorkeling and beaches!
3. Aruba: A View from the Water
I visited this beautiful island a few years ago and I still remember the sunset sailing tour that sailed under the stars. Now there’s a great way to stargaze…on a boat! At the time, I remember wondering if I’d actually see a shooting star. I’ve only seen 2 in my lifetime. My sister says there is a place on the big island of Hawaii where the stargazing is phenomenal, you see tons of shooting stars…it’s on our list 🙂 Aruba was another tropical sky that became the perfect shade of black that makes every star a sparkling diamond. I find that the Caribbean consistently offers stars at night, which is wonderful and not something we typically get here in the Chicago suburbs. If you are looking to vacation in Aruba, amongst all the adventurous offerings, I recommend a sunset tour on the water. You’ll never forget the sound of the water, the shimmery sky above you, and the feeling of peace it brings you…
Happy Stargazing (and don’t forget to make a wish…)
I remember when I never went anywhere…I was scared to go out there and do things I’ve never done before. My normal routine was to go to work, go home, rinse and repeat. It was a routine I established later in college. The idea of booking a flight gave me extreme anxiety, and I had no idea how to plan a trip, book a hotel room, and worse…I had no one to go anywhere with. My twenties were a bumpy road, one I walked alone. Not only was I terrified to adventure out, but I was mortified at the idea of getting close to people. I had no idea how to have a relationship with anyone, my fear of rejection played a big part in just staying home. I remember being invited to go on a road trip…I said No. I remember being asked to go to a concert…I declined. I remember being asked to visit with old friends in the city… I was scared to drive that far. Those were lonely days that seemed to blend into each other, one day to the next, with nothing notably special or amazing, and it was my fault. It was the life I knew. My anxiety kept me close to home. It also kept me in a self-created jail cell where I was never going to become my best self or live my best life.
My career, thank goodness, forced me to travel, and often. My first big work trip was Disney, we had a big conference there and I did all of the marketing pre-show and onsite. I still have a cinderella coffee mug that I bought on my first day there 🙂 My second big work trip: Germany. Now this one scared the sh*t out of me… not only was I going to another country, I had to fly home by myself and there was a dreaded connection in Munich!!! It seemed overwhelming…the very thought of venturing OUT of the country made me want to throw up. I remember when I landed back in Chicago, I had the world’s worst migraine and I could barely stand, I was that stressed out by all of it. The trip was amazing once I got there, but man…. getting home was a challenge.
“My Career, thank goodness, forced me to travel, and often…”
I survived the trip. And, I did really enjoy it!! It was in this moment that I realized…I loved to travel. And this fear that kept me home all the time…and never trying new things…I had to face it. And I did. I worked hard over the next few years to get over my fear of adventuring to new places. I also went through some personal things that left me full of anxiety all over again….man, you go forward 10 steps only to fall back 30. Travel helped me overcome all of it. For two decades, my family and close friends have helped pull me out of a hole they probably had no idea I was in… here are some memorable pics from those travels!
A New Life Full of Adventure
Fast forward to today… My life couldn’t be more different than those 20-something years. I travel the world with the most amazing partner and person I’ve ever met 🙂 Nate is fearless, and that’s the perfect person to travel to new places with. We try everything together. We’ve taken trains, plains, and automobiles in other countries and never have I felt more safe… We love to explore, find amazing restaurants and order everything on the menu, and, just being together. We have a lot of fun…as you can see 🙂
I traveled in my previous life before Nate, but with him, we travel and explore constantly. We do have 4 kids so we try to include them in our adventures as much as possible. And we ALWAYS tell them our travel stories in hopes that they will grow up to be adventurers, too! And…try new foods (one day….it will happen!)
Getting Married…The Ultimate Adventure??
In a little over 60 days, Nate and I get married ❤️ I remember when I started our wedding website, it gave me a countdown of 600 days! Which made me laugh…that seemed like a VERY long ways away. We’ve been engaged for 2 years and in August, we will have transitioned to the next big chapter, husband and wife. With marriage, there was no rush, only enjoying each other and our kids. I was married before, and never saw myself getting married again. But, here I am wearing a GORGEOUS ball gown of a dress (go big or go home, right?) and walking down the aisle in 2 months 🙂 Life is so unpredictable, there’s no way you can plan from one day to the next. And, it certainly keeps you on your toes! The ultimate adventure. It has been a long road, one that I cherish every moment of. We took the slow-and-steady road and decided it was best for us, and the kids especially, that we live life to the fullest and leisurely cross the finish line calmly, cautiously, whole-heartedly, patiently….and holding hands. With him, I can breathe and be my true self. He knows all of my dark corners, and is still here. I am grateful for this man, he was the missing ingredient for me to live my best life.
Travel for us is meaningful on so many levels. We continue to plan future trips, long weekends, or day excursions…something I don’t think we’ll ever stop doing. Some of our best memories are on these trips…they connect us and remind us that there’s something really great about experiencing something new, like a new country or a new island, together.
The Reward? Feeling Alive
I am lucky. I could have chosen to let my fear and anxiety take over and rule the rest of my life…and that’s not living. That would have, however, been easier. But instead, I overcame it, booked that flight, built relationships with people, ate foods I never would have eaten before, done every excursion possible while traveling, and I get to travel ‘the road in front of me’ with my person…this man who loves my cooking, who loves to explore, who loves sharing his passions with me, who thinks i’m hilarious, who thinks I’m smart, who says Thank You every morning for the coffee I make, who loves my kids, and who literally shines sunlight on everything he touches…and today I am living the life I dreamed of. Everything falls into place.
Travel is a big part of both our hearts. We have a handful of trips left for 2021 and are already booking some very exciting things for 2022! I’m very particular about travel…I need a diverse portfolio of trips ranging from islands to other countries, to a state I’ve never been to, to local things. It’s going to be a good line-up!
Writing about our travels may just end up being a literal book of adventures…a digital documentation of our life together. If life is what you make it, we plan to make it an adventure, always ❤️ ❤️ Through good times and bad. I am thankful for my 20’s…it reminds me of how much I have changed and how far I have come.
Here’s to travel being a blessing to those who pursue it…
It was an early Sunday morning city tour that brought us to the Church of Hallgrímskirkja. The road that led up to the church was quite unique and painted in rainbow colors. You couldn’t help but follow it… 🌈 ❤️
It brought you to the front door which was majestic, to say the least. We were meeting there in front of the church to do a city tour, which is the best way to see any new city, in my opinion. As we were waiting for our guide to arrive, Nate and I decided to go into the church. We were fortunate enough to see choir practice before the day officially began. The video clip below is what we captured…
This beautiful singing is a sound I will never forget, and we just happened to be there waiting on our tour guide…we would have completely missed it, otherwise. Talk about being somewhere at the right moment to hear something like this…It’s a little over a minute long, but absolutely worth hearing! It still gives me goosebumps…I truly believe we were meant to hear this. We had traveled so far, to experience this on a whim, unplanned, was a gift.
I have never heard anything so beautiful. I am not a publicly religious person, I keep my thoughts and beliefs to myself as they are deeply personal and I like to keep them that way. I will say this… this moved me to where I didn’t want to leave. It is amazing to me that humans can make sounds this lovely and emotionally moving. And this was just practice for them! What a talented group of individuals who happened to be singing as we were waiting to begin our busy day. I feel lucky to have been there and to have heard it in person.
This church is something that should be seen, if only for its architecture. The church was commissioned in 1937 and sits on a hilltop in Reykjavic. The designer of the church tried to mimic mountains and glaciers…very appropriate seeing as that is what surrounds Iceland and makes up their textured landscape. The church took 41 years to build and comes with a statue out front of Leif Erikson the explorer. I only wish we could have toured the entire church! But, that was not a part of the tour….
Our tour took us throughout the streets of Reykjavic which was really helpful navigating the city on our own later. In fact, if I could do it all over again, I’d book the city tour FIRST. It’s not a huge city and is absolutely walkable. We had a tiny apartment close to the Sun Voyager sculpture, which is really beautiful as it sits overlooking the icy water and mountains. It was designed to be an ode to the sun, it almost looks like its ready to set sail and explore at any moment. The sculpture was unveiled on the cities birthday in 1990.
Just one of the many things we did on our adventure in Iceland! So much history, we certainly toured a few museums and took in the culture as much as possible, but that is for a different blog post!
Iceland is a great experience and one that felt like a once in a lifetime trip for us…except I think it’s going to be a twice in a lifetime trip, we plan to do a summer version. The days are long, the waterfalls are unfrozen, and the beaches are ready for people to explore. I can’t wait!!!
GO ADVENTURE while you have your health and can take voyages like this one, you won’t regret seeing Iceland…
Trying a new fancy drink wherever we go is now a part of our travel routine. This actually started during our trip to Portland, Maine. We found this corner bar that only made specialty drinks and we ended up going there every single night until we left. We really look forward to trying new cocktails…and if we love them enough, we try to replicate them at home! Which is ALSO something we really enjoy… when the kids aren’t here, we make a delicious cocktail, make something insanely delectable like King Crab Leg dinner (and roasted asparagus…yum), and have the best night ever 🙂 🙂
The drink featured here comes from Tempe, Arizona! The Herbalist is a refreshingly zesty, yet minty, cocktail made with Elderflower Liqueur. Once you try Elderflower Liqueur, it will be your new favorite drink ingredient….and it smells as good as it tastes. Warning: we had two of these each the other night, and I don’t remember how I got to bed…SO…one is enough for me! It didn’t take me long to replicate this drink…I hope you love it as much as we do.
“Once you try Elderflower Liqueur, it will be your new favorite drink ingredient…”
The Herbalist
Ingredients for two martini-style cocktails:
4 shots Elderflower Liqueur
3 shots of your favorite Gin (we chose Gray Whale)
Juice 2 large limes (if they are tiny, better make it 3)
Fresh Mint
1 shot of Simple Syrup
Ice and a martini shaker
Muddler
Martini Shaker Strainer (we like little bits of mint, but you may want to strain it for a clean finish)
First Step: Muddle your handful of fresh mint…it smells SO good….
Next: Juice your limes and add it
Then: add your Gin and Elderflower Liqueur
Finally: add your simple syrup, a decent amount of ice, and shake!
This drink is perfect for summer, and is definitely a keeper! If you make this, be sure to comment! AND, share this drink with a friend…
Nate told me to expect a very quaint, small town village type of feel for Seville…and that it was known for growing orange trees. He ALSO mentioned that Seville was the location for a Game of Thrones scene! The Alcázar in Game of Thrones which was the set for the Palace and Water Gardens of Dorne. So if there are any Game-of-Thronies reading this, this is a very cool place to vacation and a must-see for your list.
Seville, or Sevilla, has a fascinating past. It was a small city that, in 1503, became the center for commerce between Spain and ‘the new world’ and became the site for the main holdings of silver and gold from the Americas. It became the richest city in Spain in the 16th century. For the art buff, some famous painters and sculptors came from Seville, including Diego Velázquez, a 17th century painter who is recognized as one of the world’s most important artists.
We spent two nights and a morning in Seville as it was a part of our multi-day spanish adventure. Our hotel was the most romantic, boutique hotel… Hotel Casa 1800 Seville. Just beautiful… you walk in and the foyer takes your breath away.
I didn’t feel like I was staying in a hotel, I felt like I was living in an old spanish movie surrounded by stone and wrought iron. And our hotel room? I didn’t want to leave it… it had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard with floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Yep. Amazing.
It was very tucked away but in a great central location. The eating area had a fridge stocked full of waters and afternoon treats! We looked forward to recharging mid-day and taking a necessary spanish siesta… dinner starts at 9pm and goes till the late late hours so you will need to rest and relax!
The Food Tour
Whenever we go somewhere that is known for food, we book a food tour. You also get a lot of history and great conversation with people in your tour group! We really enjoyed this one… we sampled traditional spanish food and wine, and made some friends who had just traveled from Portugal (and sold us on taking a vacation there!)
The food was exactly what I expected… delicious and very unique. We went to multiple restaurants and our travel guide filled us in on some local culture and famous locations, like The Royal Alcázar…
The Royal Alcázar
This royal palace traces back to the year 712. Walking through it was quite the experience…you’ve never seen such elaborate tile work or plaster. This is where Game of Thrones shot their scenes in Dorne. From what I recall, those scenes were mostly in the gardens. I got sucked in like a lot of people…. it was a really great story and so well done! (We shall not speak of the last season….). When we traveled here, Nate and I were binge-watching all of it, so it was pretty awesome that we were standing where the cast had been.
This palace has been impeccably maintained so that we (us tourists) can walk its corridors today and see just how magnificent this palace truly was. The gardens are also quite remarkable, we took LOTS of pictures! We walked hand-in-hand through the gardens and around the perimeter of the property, a wonderful memory.
Seville was such a beautiful place. Of the three places we flew to (Seville, Madrid and Barcelona), Seville was my favorite.
If you travel to Spain, it’ll be hard to choose WHERE to go and WHAT to see…it’s all so exciting! If you do choose Seville, I hope this post helps you create the perfect trip full of great food and tours. In fact, here is a helpful link on tours and things…
We have some family in other countries, and travel out and back again is sounding promising!! We can’t wait… We still have Paris, Copenhagen, San Sebastian, and Iceland during the summer months on our list. Let’s hope that international travel resumes like the olden days! We are ready to ADVENTURE over the ocean and into Europe again soon…
My partner-in-crime is so good to me. For my birthday this year, he surprised me with a long weekend away to Asheville, NC. I had been there before, but experiencing places with Nate is like experiencing them for the first time… so exciting and memorable. He spoiled me on this trip… we ate at fabulous restaurants and had the cutest VRBO with a roaring fireplace and HUGE bathroom (I have a thing about bathrooms…).
My birthday is the day after Valentines Day… one might say that’s awesome, and it is! Our first night, we bought a couple bottles of red, turned on that fireplace, and had the most wonderful evening 🙂
When you think of Asheville, you probably think of the Biltmore...but there is so much more than that! You are literally surrounded by mountains, wineries, and adventuresome things. For this adventure, I didn’t want the trip to be hiking or biking up a mountain, but rather, a relaxing sight-seeing weekend with 5-star restaurants. Food is usually my top priority 🙂
We certainly did the Biltmore, it is worth seeing…if only to wrap your brain around the fact that George Vanderbilt had this home built when he was in his early 30’s…pretty astounding. It puts my cute little townhome (which I bought when I was 30) to shame!
The rooms are dazzling… it is, in itself, almost a monument representing a very different time. The architecture is mind-blowing, as well as the gardens and room interiors. I toured the Biltmore a decade ago, but seeing it again was like a brand new experience.
Afterwards, we went to the winery on property. FABULOUS. Every single wine we tasted was excellent, and that never happens. Because we went during the later stages of the pandemic and travel freeze, no one was there and we had a really great experience because of it! The Biltmore is a tourist must-do with usually long lines. We never waited in a single line…
The food was amazing. I think I’ll save my recommendations on restaurants for a different post! Truly, it deserves its own audience… the food was excellent. But, I will give you a preview of one of my meals…. my birthday dinner!!
River Arts District
We stumbled upon the River Arts District searching for a coffee house…it’s sort of a tradition for us to find local coffee grind and brews! This area was obviously an old industrial area converted to various businesses and is located next to the French Broad River. All of the buildings are covered in murals…it’s like walking through an art museum.
This entire place screams Instagram. So much talent! Every mural was so unique, truly a must-see if you are fascinated with art and murals. This area is home to numerous artists who showcase their art galleries, jewelry, pottery, glass and metal artwork, and more.
Blue Ridge Parkway
We absolutely took advantage of our beautiful surroundings, rented a car and drove the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a bit overcast when we did it, but stunning views none-the-less.
The parkway spans 469 miles…we obviously didn’t drive all of it. We took a scenic drive for about an hour or so and then went back to Asheville.
This trip was a wonderful gift… and so romantic 🙂
If you are looking for a really fun long weekend with wineries, hiking, beautiful mountains, exceptional dinners and various sights to see, Asheville is perfect. It was only an hour and a half flight from Chicago… we will definitely be going back to do all of the OTHER things we just didn’t have time to do!!
We hope you GO ADVENTURE to Asheville, and please tell us about the amazing things you experienced!!
Cozumel looked like paradise in all of the pictures I saw online. I started looking at resorts and was hooked… we had to go there. It seemed daunting, however, getting to the island. Direct flights were quite pricey from O’Hare Airport. However, flights into Cancun were dirt cheap! There was only one catch: you have to then take a ferry to the Island which was a 30 minute cab ride away. I’m lazy when it comes to travel…the less stuff I have to do to get to where I want to go, the better. Thankfully, Nate is like a walking compass and fearless when it comes to taking a train, then a boat, then a bus, then a scooter, than a short 5 mile walk… he’s the best travel companion a girl could ask for 🙂
I booked the flight direct into Cancun and then purchased ferry tickets when we got to the boat.
On our way to the big yellow ferry!
I had read that the rates could be different, some lower and some higher, depending on where you bought them. There were other companies trying to sell ferry tickets, I recommend buying them directly from the ferry office. Tickets were cheap, about $15 a person one way.
We arrived to the ferry early so we did something we try to never do… eat at a commercial chain restaurant. We diligently try to eat at local establishments to get the best cultural foodie experience, however, Senor Frogs was right on the water and right in front of the ferry entrance. The views from the seating area sucked us in! And, we were pleasantly surprised with the food, it was really good!!! All I wanted was fresh ceviche and a big margarita… check and check!! I proudly wore my ballon crown as I sipped a big glass of ‘relaxation’…
The full experience… and the ceviche was EXCELLENT
It was a lovely 1 hour boat ride to Cozumel! We sat on the top deck to get the best views…of course.
The view from the top deck was stunning… you could see Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Cozumel off in the distance
There are taxis lined up when you get off the ferry, we took one to our resort which was around $20 (bring cash!).
There are so many resorts to choose from…. I was specifically looking for all-inclusive as I didn’t want to find restaurants during a time when I knew most restaurants would still be closed (January, 2021, still very immersed in the residual effects of the pandemic). The Occidental was the resort I chose.
I took this from the pool entrance…. just blue water as far as you can see
The pictures were enough to convince me, and the rates were very reasonable. The gardens surrounding and inter-woven throughout the property were immaculate. And, lots of wildlife.
yep, that’s a strange ‘thing’ behind me…. we called it the ant eater/raccoon
I had a feeling the guest count would be underwhelming, and I was right. It felt like it was just us at the resort most nights. We had the whole beach to ourselves! The food was excellent for an all-inclusive… I don’t know about you, but my experiences with all-inclusive’s has been sub-par food. The best food is certainly elsewhere in the local restaurants…however, The Occidental did a great job.
Because we knew that things were still closed due to the pandemic, we opted to stay at the resort. Normally, we are adventuring all over the place. But, we did really enjoy just relaxing… we ate a fabulous breakfast every morning, we then went to the beach for most of the day while sipping delicious cocktails (tip: ask for a double shot!!) Nate spoiled me with a massage by the sea which was worth every penny… I had a huge knot in my right shoulder area named ‘2020’ and she worked that thing right out! I felt like a brand new person 🙂
There is something magical about swimming in clear blue water. It is truly an exhale moment when your feet are in the sand, your wading in crystal clear ocean, the sky is perfectly blue, and there’s no noise except the waves.
This right here is why we travel…finding serenity.
There was a constant breeze on the island which just added to this outstanding experience. My sister and her husband joined us on this excursion to Mexico and we had the ABSOLUTE BEST TIME, I’m so glad we went even though everything around us was still uncertain. We needed to put the past year behind us and do a major reset on our well-being. To make this trip even more special, I received a job offer while on the plane-ride over… so unexpected and such an incredible moment… it truly felt like life was back on track and only wonderful things were ahead. A sense of renewal and hope like I had never felt…. Cozumel was a gift.
Total bliss…
We spent 4 nights and 5 days on Cozumel… much more to write about!!
Germany is Nate’s ‘soul country’, and what I mean by that is…he is in love with it. He is pulled there in many ways that I admire… he loves the food, the culture, the language, the architecture, and the cars 🙂 When he asked me to join him on a German adventure, touring multiple cities and spending hours and hours on trains to get there, I said YES!!!! For this post, I’ll focus on Kronberg and Heidelberg.
We took the train to Kronberg from Darmstadt. This was the cutest little town! Complete with a castle right in the middle appropriately named Kronberg Castle. It is defined as a middle-ages rock castle…. perfect!! Take a minute to read about here, they have pictures of the interior….
Kronberg Castle
I WISH it had been open so I could have seen it in person. Unfortunately, it was closed at the time. This castle and the grounds date back to the 12th century, it’s astounding that it is still standing (insert ‘they don’t make’em like they used to’ here) 🙂 The town is built around the castle and is full of restaurants and shops. It was a pleasant walk around town and highly recommend.
We then walked to the Schlosshotel Kronberg which looked like it was out of a storybook. And, in fact, it kind of was.
This is a beautiful hotel that we will absolutely stay at next time…
It was built between 1889 and 1893 for the German Empress Victoria, who lived there till 1901. Absolutely beautiful grounds surrounded the hotel…um, why aren’t we staying HERE?? I vowed that next time we visit Germany, staying at this hotel was a must.
One last picture before we head out to Frankfurt
We then took yet another train to Frankfurt to catch our tour departing for Heidelberg! Heidelberg is quite an experience…again, very storybook-esque. But then, Germany is just one of those countries where every town looks that way! Very romantic and majestically old.
We did a tour from Frankfurt that drove us to Heidelberg for a few hours. The first place we went to was Heidelberg Castle, built on a hillside over-looking the town. It was quite impressive. This castle dates back to the 16th century.
(left) standing in the courtyard of the castle… (right) the castle on the hill lit up at night
It has seen better days…there are areas that look like old castle ruins, and there are other areas that look cared for and repaired. But, that’s what makes it so fascinating, right? The history behind the ruins. There’s actually an interesting museum inside one of the buildings there focused on pharmacy, herbs, old-school medicine, and such. The view from the balcony is a must-do 🙂 The sun was just peaking through the sky when we got this picture… looks ethereal.
The balcony from Heidelberg Caste…I think the sky was trying to tell us something
Germany is a beautiful country. We went to many other places, look for future blogs featuring The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, our trip to the little town of Rothenburg, and Nurnberg!
We encourage you to explore this great planet we live on… we are always so grateful during and after a trip. One place we use to stay on top of cheap international airfares is Scott’s Cheap Flights. Set up an account and get alerts, I have seen airfare to London for $200 round trip….seriously. When the deals happen, be ready to book and get out there and experience a beautiful new place!
Beautiful Phoenix. The mythical bird “phoenix” symbolizes the sun, burning, and being born again. Ironically, this feeling of being refreshed and born again is exactly how I feel when I’m there. It’s super hot, like being on fire….but I love it, and then I come home completely refreshed! It is a place you go when you want to feel warm and loved by the mountains. There are places in Arizona that literally seem to re-set your entire being.
Arizona has a very special place in my heart and I finally got to share it with Nate. He himself is now officially hooked! We recently went for a few days and had the most wonderful, sun-filled, warm and breezy adventure! We traveled to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Payson, and Sedona. But for this blog, I’ll focus on Phoenix.
What stands out in my mind when I think of Phoenix is the cactus, or, as we learned, the Saguaro cactus. It is the icon for cactus and one we all recognize. It is a thing of beauty…it grows about 70 years before it can grow its first arm and can hold up to 200 gallons of water for safe-keeping. It is so resilient, it can survive in the hottest of temperatures with absolutely no rainfall and thrive! Its defense against the harsh desert includes the prickly needles to keep it safe from predators, and when birds do manage to poke a hole in it to make a nest, it grows a thick black scab that becomes a steel door. It.is.fascinating.
I am in love with the Saguaro Cactus…we were lucky enough to be there when they actually sprout flowers!
The best way to see the beautiful cactus all over Phoenix is to hike one of the deserts close by, and for us, it was the Sonoran Desert. I booked a tour with Mad Desert Trekking and it was EXCEPTIONAL. We had a Friday evening available and saw that they offered a sunset hike through the Sonoran and I jumped at the chance. It did not disappoint! Matt, our guide, was a rock star.
The sunset as we finished our 5-mile hike
Not only did he take us on a gorgeous, wildlife-filled 5 mile hike, he was also a wealth of knowledge. I love it when you get history and fun facts when you are touring a new place. He explained the various plants we encountered on our journey and told stories about his experiences (which have been all over the world). The Sonoran is also covered in the lovable (not-so-lovable) Teddy Bear cactus, or Cholla cactus. It almost looks fluffy, translating to harmless…but it is NOT. They actually call it the Teddy Bear of Death!
The ever-dangerous Teddy Bear cactus…you never EVER want to brush up against one of these!
He also paused at great locations and took pictures for us! Which, of course, we are thankful 🙂
That’s Phoenix down below, with the mountains behind it, the views were amazing!
We saw a pack of coyotes emerging from their den as the sun started to set, it was time for hunting. These pictures really don’t do it justice, it needs to be experienced. If you are looking for that true Arizona experience, and looking to maybe reset your mind and soul, go on a sunset hike 🙂 It’s incredible.
Our home away from home was a lovely VRBO, 2-bedroom condo, that was perfectly placed close to the airport and the surrounding towns. It was such a deal, too! I have honestly done both, stayed at a 5-star resort and paid a treasure chest full of gold to do it (it’s expensive)… I prefer the VRBO experience much better. Ours was a steal at $56/a night. I told Nate, at that price, it’s cheaper to be somewhere else than in our own home! VRBO’s are great…Not just because some are reasonably priced, but because you get so much space and a kitchen and have all the amenities you would have at a resort without the hefty price tag.
Red Rox Villas
In closing, do make the most of your Phoenix experience, and I hope you go there! There’s so much to see in drivable proximity to Phoenix that the trip has the potential to be action-packed. It really depends on your idea of a great vacation. Do your research and fill your days with the local culture and outdoor activities…or, go to a spa (a must-do on my Arizona travel list) and relax by the pool.
We encourage you to get out of your bubble (we all have one) and see the world!
As we approached the island, the first thing I noticed was the massive rainbow that we were about to fly right under. The island of St. Lucia was covered in misty clouds and a fine rain-shower, producing a beautiful rainbow…what a wonderful greeting and first impression for me, a first-time visitor. As we circled the island preparing to land, I saw even more smaller rainbows. And throughout my stay, I saw many more…especially from Tet Paul, one of the mid-sized hiking mountains on the southern end. Beautiful to say the least…and anyone who knows me well knows that I have kind of a thing for rainbows. Going to this island was meant to be.
Gorgeous view, I took this while hiking in the rainforest
We decided to stay on the southern end of the island as the northern part was very touristy, from what I’ve been told. We opted for a private cabin in the rainforest, on a resort built on a still-functioning cocoa plantation. The Fond Doux Planation and Resort was exactly what I was looking for…
Our bungalow surrounded by rainforest, butterflies, and cocoa plants…they make chocolate on the plantation!
The resort was extremely rustic, tucked away in the well-cared for grounds of the plantation surrounded by flowers, tropical forest and cocoa plants. I didn’t want to stay in a modern resort, I wanted to feel like I was sleeping under the trees with all the sounds of the island. This resort did not disappoint. It was SO authentic, we even woke up on our last morning to an island visitor, cozied up on the ceiling of our cabin…a tarantula (yes, apparently they ARE real and love spending time with vacationers). I’ll be honest, the tarantula was the size of a small dog. Yep. The staff quickly removed our guest…what else can you expect when staying in the rainforest?? I appreciated the authenticity! Not to mention the hummingbirds, butterflies, banana trees, cocoa plants and waterfalls. Oh, and their daily breakfast was AMAZING…why does island food taste so good? You can’t be a picky eater, you have to embrace foreign dishes! Everything tasted great…
Highly recommend an ATV tour. Such a great way to SEE the island. There are so many places you just can’t get to… like historic abandoned buildings and secluded beaches. This tour had all of that.
We have a fondness for ATV tours anytime we travel…such a great way to see the terrain
If you visit the southern end of the island you have to swim between the cliffs at Sugar Beach.
I had the privilege of swimming in this beautiful area on my birthday. It was amazing to be floating in clear water, on a gorgeous island day, on a white sandy beach, drinking a pina colada on my actual birthday….best day ever.
Sugar Beach was lovely… we swam in between the two mountains and drank pina coladas…a perfect day if you ask me! The only thing that could have made it better is a sailboat ride…next time!
Go hiking!!! This island has a lot to see, and if you are a nature lover, you must check out the trails. It’s quite a workout…DO IT! You might see a rainbow at the top. We didn’t have enough time to climb the Pitons, it is at the top of our list for our next visit…
Ah yes… an invigorating hike up the mountain!! A must-do on the south end of the Island
Don’t skimp on dinner! It’s worth it…
Have a romantic dinner at a fabulous restaurant. We had dinner at the majestic Dasheene Restaurant located at the Ladera Resort.
You look out over the sea and the Piton mountains. It is pricey, but so incredible… if you can go to see the sun set while you are dining, it is truly unforgettable. My birthday dinner was at Boucan by Hotel Chocolat. Almost everything was infused with cocoa, and so very yummy. And, the view here was unforgettable as well! If you go, don’t forget to start out with a chocolate martini…
The most romantic dinner with unforgettable views… it was quite a happy birthday!
All I can say is “go there!” We wished we could have stayed a few more days, we never made it to the north side of the island, but…that is also the best reason to go back! Definitely rent a car…that’s the ideal way to get around unless you plan on staying put at the resort. So much to see, though, so make the most of it! This is one beautiful place surrounded by ocean, and I can’t wait to plan our next adventure there. We are eye-balling Jade Mountain…um, incredible!!!
Happy travels!! And on to the next amazing experience….
Welcome to our Book of Adventures 