2024: A Year in Review
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2024: A Year in Review

This intro is always so hard to write. How do I summarize my feelings on an entire year in just a single paragraph? This year was… a mixed bag. The world around me continues to feel so turbulent and chaotic and I think that instability has drawn me inwards more than usual. Typically I find sanctuary in travel. It is the activity that most gets me outside my head and into my body. When my world feels confusing – travel makes sense. But in 2024, I found more respite in ritual. In weekly rhythms. In familiar places. In deeper bonds. When my enthusiasm for travel began to slip later in the year, I knew that I had to regroup and refocus. And so as I turn the page to 2025, I still see travel (I’m boarding a flight to Hawaii in 24 hours) but with more intentionality perhaps. I don’t do stillness very well but maybe I can practice presence. Wherever I go, there I am.

Some places I found myself this past year…

Bowen Island, BC (January)

I began the year with the most restorative and transformational weekend in the woods on nearby Bowen Island. I had wanted to do a yoga retreat for years and finally found the ideal fit for me at Nectar Yoga Retreat. The deluxe cottage and common spaces were tranquil and gorgeous with delicious shared breakfasts prepared each morning as well as morning and evening yoga classes in a geodesic dome heated by a wood fire. During our unscheduled time we went for nature walks and explored the nearby village of Snug Cove. Could anything be cozier? Not only did I find stillness and rest but I also awakened my desire for movement. Moving my body each day felt incredible and it inspired me to do more of it. When I returned home I committed to moving my body weekly through yoga, pilates, and barre classes – something that I’ve truly learned to love this year.

Halfmoon Bay, BC (January)

My book club’s annual ritual of creating our own retreat each year continued to the Sunshine Coast during a rare winter snowstorm. We braved the weather and literally hauled our bags up a steep snow covered hill to our cozy cabin in Halfmoon Bay. We played games, ate snacks and I think we even squeezed in some book chatter.

Bellingham, WA (February)

My first international trip of the year was to nearby Bellingham as my partner had a much anticipated NEXUS interview in Blaine. We decided to turn it into a getaway and found a gorgeous rental outside the city that allowed us the opportunity to check out all the cute small towns in the area, including Fairhaven and Edison as well as Whatcom State Park. It’s an area that I know I’ll return to again and again.

Ottawa, ON (February)

The first of two work trips to Ottawa this calendar year – found me arriving to 15°C temperatures that suddenly dropped to -10°C over night. I was staying in a different part of the city than usual – and while not close to any of the usual tourist haunts, I instead braved the very icy pathways to walk along the Rideau river. In retrospect this was probably unwise as I definitely fell a couple of times and cracked my 14 year old boots wide open… but I managed to make it home mostly unscathed and lightened my luggage by one pair of shoes.

Palm Springs, CA (March)

After a long, cold winter… it was time for a spring break trip down south. My bestie Joy and I ventured to Palm Springs for a fabulous girls weekend. We stayed at the most instagrammable boutique hotel – Fleur Noire. We ate delicious food and drank yummy cocktails on patios that weren’t quite as warm as I hoped. Hung out by the pool when the wind wasn’t knocking over the umbrellas. Spent a day hiking in Joshua Tree National Park. And rented bikes to explore all the cute mid-century neighbourhoods. I loved this weekend and will forever find excuses to squeeze a California trip into my annual travel plans.

Métis Crossing, AB (April)

For my annual girls weekend with my university besties, we chose a place close to Rachel’s home in St. Albert and decided to check out the Lodge at Métis Crossing in Smoky Lake, Alberta. I’ve been loving more Indigenous tourism experiences in Canada and was very excited for the opportunity to learn more about Métis culture. We stayed for two nights in our very own geodesic skywatching dome which we booked as an all-inclusive package with all our meals and 3 different signature experiences: Meet the Métis, Through the eye of the Hunter and Visions, Hopes and Dreams Wildlife Tour. We loved all 3 experiences and especially learning to fire bow and arrows (we were surprisingly good at it!) and getting to drive through herds of wild horses, elk and buffalo. The hospitality and the quality of our stay cannot be over-stated. I would whole-heartedly recommend a visit to anyone!

Asheville, NC (May)

We loved Asheville. What a cool city. Dubbed the Portland of the East – we spent our long weekend trying to visit as many breweries in the Brewery capital of the US as possible. Nestled in the foothills of Apalachia, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville offers stunning natural beauty, excellent BBQ, and a brimming art scene. We visited the stunning Biltmore Estate and did a small parkway hike but mostly just spent our time day drinking with friends Megan and Joe (and 9-month-old Sophie in tow). We were heart-broken to hear about the catastrophic flooding that hit this area just a few months after our trip and hope that people will be able to rebuild and return to such an awesome corner of the world.

Osoyoos, BC (May)

After two-consecutive years visiting our beloved Naramata Bench, we decided to redo our 2021 trip to Osoyoos that was derailed due to debilitating wildfire smoke. This time, moving our trip to the safety of spring secured us stunning clear skies and summer-like temps to kick off the season. We also brought sister and brother in law along for their first Okanagan wine trip! We stayed at Sprit Ridge resort which was the perfect spot to unwind lakeside after full days of wine touring and desert wandering. We even got our adrenaline up after nearly walking into the path of a rattlesnake – my first IRL encounter after a lifetime of visiting this area.

Pender Island, BC (June)

No BC summer is truly complete without a trip to the Gulf Islands. We were so happy to be back on Pender to do nothing new – simply visiting our favourite spots and enjoy the relaxation that only island time can provide. Rinse. Wash. Repeat… Forever.

Helsinki, Mäntyharju and Turku, Finland (July)

And… we’re back! We intended to return to Finland sooner than we did but the pandemic had other plans and so 6 years after our first visit we returned – this time for a classic Finnish summer experience at our dear friends new mökki (or cabin) that they just renovated into an idyllic escape from the city. We enjoyed epic bedtime sunsets marvelling at the midnight sun. The classic ritual of sauna followed by lake swims. Picking wild blueberries and strawberries to turn into crumble. In addition to our cabin time, we spent a few days revisiting Helsinki as well as a first time visit to Turku – a city that we quickly learned to love. The oldest city in Finland and former capital is brimming with history and charm. We enjoyed the daulity of terrace cocktails outside Turku Cathedral and Finnish rock music outside Turku castle. The new and old live together and it just works. Thanks for another beautiful trip Finland!

Stockholm, Sweden (July)

Is everyone sleeping on Stockholm or was it just me? I really didn’t have Stockholm on my radar. Of course I knew about it and wanted to visit someday but I had no idea that it had so much to offer from a tourism standpoint. It may be the most beautiful city in Europe – there I said it. It’s clean. It’s colourful. It’s surrounded by water. It’s old and also new. It’s got neighbourhoods and islands. It has a royal family complete with a daily changing of the guard and totally bomb marching band. It has so many great museums – we only made it to 3 – Vasa Museum, ABBA Museum and the SpiritMuseum (Museum of Swedish Drinking Culture). Even the metro system is beautiful with its 100 stations turned into an art gallery of murals. Definitely could spend a whole week here and not run out of new things to do and explore.

Ottawa, ON (September)

Ottawa round 2 was actually my 4th trip to the city but first time seeing the city without snow… and oh what a feeling! The city is so beautiful and alive in the summer – take me back! This time not only did I get to enjoy bopping around the city without freezing, but also got to hang out with my conference friends, which made the city come alive in a whole new way. Can’t wait to be back again soon!

Las Vegas, NV (September)

What happens in Vegas! So about once every 10 years, some forces pull me to Vegas and this time it was our first couples trip with friends Patrick and Natasha. Vegas is a polarizing city and while not my favourite place to go – I firmly believe that there is something for everyone. We chose to stay on The Strip at The Treasure Island Resort as 2/4 of our crew were Vegas first-timers. With that in mind, we definitely checked off some obligatory Vegas experiences – slot machines ✓ pool party ✓ Fat Tuesday ✓ My favourite experience of the trip kind of surprised me actually as I’d somehow avoided it until now. We ended up splurging on a cabana rental (mostly to guarantee us shade from the 41°C temps) at the pool and I had the best time drinking pina coladas with strangers and a DJ. I’m sure this experience varies wildly but the vibes at our hotel were chill and I was mostly just loving the diversity of faces at the pool. We were definitely on the younger end of the crowd and I loved seeing so many middle aged folks partying it up. Definitely not the rager that I’d imagined. I’ve probably had my fill of ciagarette filled casinos and overpriced cocktails for the next ten years or so… but who knows… if the right residency pops up or someone wants to take me to F1, I may be back again sooner than later.

Thunder Bay, ON (October)

The death of a beloved grandmother and matriarch of my partner’s family meant an unexpected trip to Thunder Bay and an opportunity to connect with many extended family members. Grief is deeply complicated but there was a lot of beauty in the shared memories and traditions that meant so much to mummo like sauna/swim at the family camp. I hope to be able to spend more time here in the years to come.

New York City, NY (November)

Autumn in New York just hits different. My cousin and I were trying hard to time our trip for peak foliage and I think we nailed it – just look at Central Park! Also – the weather could not have been more perfect. Blue bird skies and 15°C (including 25°C for both arrival and departure days) made for optimal 25,000 step days. This trip we stayed in Williamsburg (my first time to Brooklyn) and I loved it. The lack of cars, the boutique shops, the skyline views! Since we’d both been to NYC before, we decided to prioritize shows and our most favourite spots – no mandatory sightseeing for us! We ended up seeing three shows: Comedy Cellar, Cabaret, and Suffs. All super fun and different. We also got to take in the fan fare of the NYC marathon and let me tell you – the city was a vibe. If you can swing it, do try to be in town for this. Getting around was not easy but the energy was electric. We also did some classic new york activities like walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and drinking at the Plaza Hotel. The greatest city in the world? Yes.

2024: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 3 (1 new one!) – USA / Finland / Sweden

States Visited: 5 – Washington / California / North Carolina / Nevada / New York

Provinces Visited: 4 – British Columbia / Ontario / Alberta / Manitoba

Plane Rides Taken: 18 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Ferries Taken: 7

Airports Visited: 14 (YVR, PSP, YOW, YEG, ATL, ASH, YYZ, YUL, HEL, ARL, LAS, YQT, YWG, EWR)

Kilometres Flown in 2024: 64,035

Beds Slept In: 18. Of those, 8 were hotels, 5 were vacation rentals, 2 were staying with friends/family, 1 was a cabin, one was a geodesic dome, and one was my own bed!

Peaks and Parks: A Colorado Road Trip
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Peaks and Parks: A Colorado Road Trip

In fall 2022, my trusty travel buddy Megan and I reunited after nearly three years of separation due to pandemic and travel restrictions. Megan, fresh off the incredible achievement of visiting all 50 U.S. states (I know… amazing!), was already onto her next big goal: visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks. While I may not share that same bucket-list dream, I’m more than happy to tag along when the itinerary is as enticing as the one she proposed in Colorado—a state I had yet to visit.

Although I’d spent time in the Canadian Rockies, I’d never explored their American counterparts and was eager to experience the natural wonders they had to offer. I thought I knew what to expect, but I couldn’t have imagined just how diverse and breathtaking the landscapes would be—truly, no hyperbole, jaw-dropping. With an ambitious plan, a rental car, and five days to pack in as much as possible, we set off from Denver with nine Taylor Swift albums on shuffle.

Stop 1: Frisco

Our first stop was Frisco, a charming mountain town that doubled as a chance to reconnect with one of Megan’s friends, Katarina, who had recently moved to a stunning house in nearby Silverthorne. It was the perfect way to ease into our adventure, blending beautiful scenery with the warmth of good company.

Dinner with a Vue in Dillon, CO

As we drove into town, we started to catch glimpses of Colorado’s famous golden aspen trees—a hint of the breathtaking autumn landscapes that would accompany us throughout the trip. After stretching our legs and enjoying some of Katarina’s generous hospitality, we headed to dinner at Vue Rooftop in Dillon – the highlight being panoramic views over the Reservoir. We definitely could have stayed longer but we still had a 2 hour drive to make it to our first hotel of the trip and braving those mountain roads in the dark was about to prove more difficult then we had prepared for.

Stop 2: Aspen / Maroon Bells

Aspen was next on the list, but getting to this famous mountain town took a heavy toll on our nerves. As we climbed higher in elevation, the roads became treacherous, with snowy conditions and barely any lighting to guide us. Megan, the hero behind the wheel, white-knuckled it the entire way, hugging the taillights of the vehicle in front of us as if they were a lifeline. By the time we arrived at the Aspen Meadows Resort, we were exhausted but relieved to check into our massive hotel room and get some much-needed rest. The property itself looked incredible, but we had little time to explore—our itinerary was calling.

The real star of this stop was Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in the U.S., and they certainly lived up to the hype. Access to the park is tightly controlled, so we were glad to have done our research and secured an 8:15 AM shuttle from the Welcome Center in town. Our early start paid off as we arrived before the bulk of the crowds and set off on the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop for a quick 45-minute hike.

We were awe-struck from the moment we stepped onto the trail. The iconic twin peaks reflected perfectly in the calm lake, surrounded by a sea of golden aspens. As if the scene couldn’t get more magical, we lucked into a moose sighting almost immediately. Three moose gracefully waded into the lake, their silhouettes framed by the majestic mountains behind them. It felt like nature had staged the moment just for us.

A perfect postcard moment complete with three moose in the foreground.

The rangers quickly reminded us to keep our distance, so we admired them from afar before continuing to soak in the scenery. Frolicking among the aspens (because how could we not?) felt like stepping into a nature lover’s playground. It was the kind of beauty that stops you in your tracks and makes you forget about everything else.

The titular Maroon Bells painting the hills with colour.

As much as we wanted to linger, I already warned you about our ambitious itinerary—Maroon Bells was just the beginning of a very packed day.

Stop 3: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

If you’ve never heard of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, you’re not alone—it’s one of Colorado’s lesser-known gems. To be honest, I went in with low to nonexistent expectations. Sure, it’s a National Park, but could it really compete with the likes of the Rockies or Mesa Verde? Turns out that it’s a very worthy addition to any Colorado road trip itinerary.

The drive to the canyon, which we estimated would take about three hours, stretched a little longer because we couldn’t resist stopping to capture the stunning autumn scenery. Golden aspens lined the roads like something out of a movie, and the vibrant foliage was pure magic under the bright Colorado sun. Fall is truly the optimal time to visit this state, and every turn seemed to prove it.

You can’t tell me you would’t pull over for these views…

When we finally arrived at Black Canyon, we were met with sheer cliffs plunging thousands of feet into the Gunnison River below, so steep and narrow that parts of the canyon barely see sunlight. It was rugged, dramatic, and awe-inspiring in a way that no photo could fully convey. But that didn’t stop us from trying.

Painted Wall

We spent the afternoon exploring viewpoints along the South Rim Drive, each one offering a unique perspective on the canyon’s scale and beauty. Painted Wall View was a standout, featuring Colorado’s tallest cliff, streaked with light-colored rock formations that looked like brushstrokes on a dark canvas. Even on a weekend, the park was blissfully quiet. Parking was a breeze, and we had many of the viewpoints and short trails almost to ourselves. It felt like discovering a secret that only a few people knew about—a reminder of why I love road trips like this.

We were quite exhausted after our full day of activity so luckily our motel in Montrose was only 20 minutes away.

Stop 4: Telluride

The next morning, we were back on the road early for another three-hour drive south to our next National Park. But Megan, ever the persuasive adventurer, convinced me to make a detour to Telluride—and thank goodness she did. This town is pure mountain magic, oozing charm and character at every turn.

We started with a coffee stop at High Alpine Coffee, a delightful café tucked inside a bookshop. It was the perfect place to soak up the small-town vibe, and I could already tell that I’d need to come back someday—preferably in the winter, when the snow transforms it into a real life snow globe. After a quick wander down the main street, we reluctantly peeled ourselves away to continue the drive.

Coffee from High Alpine
Telluride, Co

What followed was a stretch of road so breathtaking it was almost overwhelming. Somehow, the views managed to outdo the day before. Around every bend, the scenery shifted into something even more stunning, and I was constantly pulling over onto the shoulder so we could jump out and snap yet another photo. Golden aspens framed dramatic mountain vistas, and the light seemed to glow in that perfect way only autumn can deliver. It was an adrenaline rush of beauty—if that’s even a thing. What’s that saying about it being the journey not the destination?

This is just the side of the road !!!!

Stop 5: Mesa Verde National Park

Fortunately, our next destination was about to be truly epic. Mesa Verde National Park, renowned for its ancient cliff dwellings, offered a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans. As we arrived, the warm and sunny weather felt like a welcome change from the alpine chill we’d left behind. It wasn’t just a shift in temperature—it was a complete shift in atmosphere. Immediately, we felt transported to another time and place.

We began our visit with a view of Spruce Tree House from above, marveling at its intricate construction nestled into the cliff face. A short walk brought us closer to this remarkable structure, giving us our first taste of the ingenuity required to thrive in such a rugged environment.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park

The highlight of our time at Mesa Verde was a pre-booked guided tour of Cliff Palace, the park’s largest and most famous dwelling. Climbing ladders and squeezing through narrow stone passageways, we explored an 800-year-old settlement built into the rock. Standing inside those ancient walls, I couldn’t help but marvel at the resilience and resourcefulness of the people who called this place home.

Mesa Verde wasn’t just a history lesson—it was a profound reminder of the deep connection between Indigenous people and the land, and the ingenuity it took to survive in such an inhospitable place. Walking in the footsteps of the Ancestral Puebloans felt humbling and awe-inspiring.

Determined to make the most of our visit, we squeezed in one more brief walk at Soda Canyon before driving back through the park to our accommodation for the night at the Far View Lodge. Staying right inside the park gave us a chance to soak in the serene surroundings, and our cozy room was the perfect retreat after a full day of exploration.

As the day began to wind down, we laced up our boots one last time for a sunset hike at Point Lookout. The wind picked up, and clouds rolled dramatically over the landscape, creating an atmospheric finale to an incredible day. Back at the Far View Lounge, we capped the evening with a delicious dinner and a glass of wine, toasting to the incredible day we’d been lucky enough to experience.

Stop 6: Great Sand Dunes National Park

Just when we thought Colorado couldn’t get any more diverse, we arrived at Great Sand Dunes National Park. After another long morning of driving across what felt like the entire state, the towering dunes finally came into view, rising dramatically against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Yet again, we were stepping into another world.

Great Sand Dunes National Park in the distance

Too chicken to rent sandboards (maybe next time), we decided to tackle Star Dune, the tallest in the park at a staggering 750 feet (225 meters). Hiking in sand proved to be a novel and humbling experience, with each step sinking back almost as far as we’d climbed. But there’s something magical about carving your own path across a landscape this wild and untouched. Although difficult, it was quite possibly the most enjoyable hike I’ve ever done. And the view from the top made every challenging step worthwhile: waves of golden dunes stretching endlessly into the horizon, with the rugged mountains standing sentinel in the distance.

And while I wouldn’t exactly call myself an influencer, I couldn’t resist packing my flowiest skirt in my backpack for a dramatic photo shoot at the summit. Was it extra? Maybe. Did it pay off? I think so.

The descent was another adventure altogether. Slipping, sliding, and laughing our way down the steep dunes was as exhilarating as it was terrifying. By the time we made it back to solid ground, we were thoroughly dusted with sand but grinning from ear to ear. Luckily, our second National Park accommodation of the trip, the Great Sand Dunes Lodge, offered the perfect place to regroup. With a patio overlooking the dunes, we were able to relax and soak in the surreal landscape a little longer.

But our day wasn’t over just yet. After all that hiking and driving, our weary bodies were crying out for some well-earned relaxation. A short drive brought us to nearby Hooper, where we capped off the day with an evening of luxury at the Hot Springs nestled in a lush greenhouse. The warm, soothing waters melted away every last ache and made for an absolutely perfect end to our final full travel day.

Stop 7: Garden of the Gods / Colorado Springs

The final day of our trip was mostly dedicated to driving back to Denver to catch our flights home. But we couldn’t resist squeezing in one last stop to experience yet another of Colorado’s completely unique landscapes. Our journey concluded in Colorado Springs at the Garden of the Gods, where massive red rock formations jut out of the earth like ancient sculptures.

This was easily the busiest park of our trip, which made sense given its location right in the heart of the city. With limited time, we had to be strategic about where to explore. We made a beeline for Balanced Rock, an iconic formation that felt like a natural balancing act defying gravity. From there, we hit the Siamese Twins Loop Trail and Ridge Loop Trail, both short hikes that packed in plenty of stunning views and photo-worthy moments.

After a quick two hours soaking in this final masterpiece of Colorado’s diverse landscapes, it was time to head to the airport. Dropping off the car, we tallied up the miles—over 1,000 in just five whirlwind days. As we boarded our flights home, we couldn’t help but marvel at everything we’d seen and accomplished, already dreaming of the next adventure… little did we know at the time, 2023 would bring not one, but two epic road trips our way.

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2023: A Year in Review

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Seattle, WA (January)

Visiting the famous Pike Place market

2023 began exactly the way I like it… travelling. It wasn’t the first time I rung in the New Year in Seattle but it was the chillest. Visiting the city with my cousin Teri-Lynn and her family meant an evening on the couch drinking champagne which honestly, was quite a delight after the two previous years hibernating at home. On the first day of the year, I also got to show my crew my favourite spots in the city – the Chihuly Glass museum and the view from Kerry Park. There are few things I enjoy more than playing tour guide.

Blaine, WA (January)

Book club girls getaway!

Santiago, Chile (March)

The view from Terraza Bellavista

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (March)

Valle de la Luna

Uyuni, Bolivia (March)

Fun and games on the Salt Flats

Portland, OR (April)

Peak bloom

Leavenworth, WA (April)

Bavaria in our own backyard

Ottawa, ON (April)

Parliament Hill in Canada’s capital

Whidbey Island, WA (April)

Girls Weekend!

Bowen Island, BC (April)

Surprise weekend courtesy of Guess Where Trips

Sunshine Coast, BC (May)

Quiet weekend on the coast

Naramata, BC (May)

Annual wine pilgrimage to the Okanagan

Verona, Italy (June)

Wine tasting in Valpolicella

Dolomites, Italy (June)

Seceda

Lake Garda, Italy (June)

Lake Como, Italy (June)

Milan, Italy (June)

Oregon (July)

Seattle, WA (July)

In our Eras Era

Tofino, BC (August)

Los Angeles, California (October)

Winnipeg, MB (November)

2023: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 4 (2 new ones!) – USA / Chile / Bolivia / Italy

States Visited: 3 – Washington / Oregon / California

Provinces Visited: 3 – British Columbia / Ontario / Manitoba

Plane Rides Taken: 10 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Ferries Taken: 10

Airports Visited: 12 (YVR, MSP, ATL, SCL, CJC, SEA, YOW, LHR, VCE, MXP, LAX, YWG)

Kilometres Flown in 2023: 56,678

Beds Slept In: 21. Of those, 10 were hotels, 3 were cabins, 2 were vacation rentals, 2 were staying with friends/family, 1 was a winery, 1 was a light house, 1 was a geodesic dome, and one was my own bed!

2022: A Year in Review
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2022: A Year in Review

2022… The Year we got back to normal… ACTUALLY! I mean it’s not exactly like the before times but we’ve found a new normal and it’s one I can live with… especially if it means I get to travel again. This year was one of my best if not THEE best year of my life so far. I don’t know if the fact that it followed two of the worst years overinflated its position or if maybe it’s my new perspective on life. Maybe it’s just the new meds. Whatever it is… the universe was clearly saying YES to me in 2022 and I hope I can take these positive vibes and contentedness into 2023 because I got big plans!

Tofino, BC (February)

After multiple failed attempts to visit Tofino in 2020 and 2021… the classic adage “Third times the charm” rang true for us as we finally made it to Tofino for our 4th anniversary. Even the rainy weather couldn’t dampen our spirits because Tofino is just that good. We loved exploring the expansive and empty beaches, and then warming up back at our cabin’s private hot tub and sauna! We even spotted orca whales from our back deck on our very first morning. Third times the charm indeed.

Salt Spring Island, BC (March)

The first weekend of spring brought an opportunity to sneak away to Salt Spring for a little babymoon for my bestie Joy. At 6 months pregnant, Joy was able to climb Mt Erskine (pictured above) so that we could enjoy some stunning views of the gulf islands. We also enjoyed a deluxe spa experience tucked away in the woods at Solace Organic Spa. Nothing is as restorative as time in the Gulf.

Jasper, AB (April)

After an unfortunate hiatus in both 2020 and 2021 (yes, this is a theme), my annual girls weekend was back and better than ever in 2022. Me and my university friends Crystal and Rachel reunited in Jasper for a luxurious weekend at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. We stayed in a lake front chalet and had picture perfect weather providing us stunning views of the mountains including from the top of the gondola! The highlight of the weekend was visiting Maligne Canyon where the spring temperatures revealed pathways still frozen solid with ice making for a treacherous slide along the river. We laughed to beat back our fear of bruising our butts as we clung for dear life to the safety fence. It was more adrenaline then we budgeted for but a great memory in the end given that we all made it back in one piece.

Winnipeg, BC (May)

After over 4 years of dating, I finally brought my boyfriend to meet the rest of my family in Winnipeg and to meet my cousin’s brand new baby Max! It was a family filled weekend with some classic sightseeing thrown in for good measure. We visited a super fun brewery called Kilter, my cousin’s delicious ice cream shop Fête, and the ever popular Forks. And we squeezed in some baby-free time with an afternoon at the Thermea spa and dinner at Harth. I experience something new every time I visit and this year was no exception.

Squamish, BC (June)

During the nearly 2 years of travel restrictions, Squamish became a bit of an oasis for us. Just a one hour drive from the city, it was a much needed haven from the confines of isolation. Being in the mountains was healing and restorative and even now that we’ve returned to more regular travel… something about Squamish still pulls us back. This time it was a quick two night getaway for Markus’ birthday and a ride up the recently re-opened sea-to-sky gondola although this time we had to use more imagination to enjoy the view. It’s okay though… we know we’ll be back.

Naramata, BC (July)

Well folks… it finally happened. After dozens of wine tours all over the world… I finally joined a wine club. Markus and I are officially subscribed to Therapy Winery and I couldn’t think of a better fit. Naramata is the best part of the Okanagan. It’s far enough from Kelowna to keep away the throngs of visitors but also home to some of the oldest vines in the region. We discovered some of our new favourite wineries (clearly) and a spot that we plan to return to every year for our annual restock.

Pender Island (August)

The Gulf Islands have a healing impact on me. For the past 10 years, I’ve been coming to this sleepy paradise to forget about the real world for a few days or weeks… this time a long weekend in the middle of summer. You’d expect to find people everywhere with views this stunning but as is typical here, it felt like we had Pender all to ourselves. We hiked and explored beaches, visited the cidery and winery that are way better than you’d expect, and relaxed like it was our job. It was heaven. As always.

Victoria, BC (August)

Victoria is a regular fixture on my annual roundup… but this time we arrived in style. We took our chances with a standby flight on harbour air and pinched ourselves at our good fortune to have such a sunny evening to soar across the Salish Sea. Our objective for the weekend was to visit our good friends Stefi & Ken in their new digs and eat and drink. And that’s just what we did.

Nova Scotia (September)

After years of short trips, we finally committed to a two week vacation and settled on a bucket-list worthy destination. Inspired by my new job, we crafted an iconic Canadian itinerary – finally taking me to the Atlantic Provinces for a two-week, 3 province road trip. Our first stop was Halifax where I celebrated my birthday and enjoyed perfect September weather – stretching out the final days of summer. We visited the must-see fishing villages of Peggy’s Cove and Lunenberg along with a stop in wine country (obviously), learned about Acadian history and culture in Grand Pre and finished off the first week with three days touring the famed Cabot Trail. We ran into some stormy weather but nothing like what was coming our way in the days to come…

Prince Edward Island (September)

Prince Edward Island had a lot to live up to. I’ve been dreaming of visiting the home of Anne of Green Gables since I was a young girl ferociously devouring every word LM Montgomery had to say about this little island on the East Coast of Canada. But even with the bar set sky high, I couldn’t have prepared myself for how much I’d love our 4 days here. It was such a welcome respite from city life and so uniquely beautiful. It felt like the whole province got together to sign a petition to keep their yard and home in pristine condition. It almost felt like we were living in a real world movie set. I was most impressed by the massive empty red sand beaches and delicious seafood – with the highlight being our Fireworks Feast at the Inn at Bay Fortune with Chef Michael Smith. I love a culinary experience that is also a travel experience – what could be better?

New Brunswick (September)

About a week into our Maritimes trip we started to hear about this hurricane down in the Caribbean. You may have heard of her… Fiona. I wasn’t too concerned because we were in Canada and as a West Coaster, we don’t really get a lot of serious storms. But as the days passed, we started to get increasingly concerned as the path was pointing straight at us. On our final day in PEI we made the decision to change our flights to come home 2 days early and beat the storm’s arrival.

Turned out to be the right call because Hurricane Fiona was the costliest and most intense tropical cyclone to hit Canada on record. What that meant for our travels is we had 1 day to see as much of New Brunswick as possible.

So we raced across the Confederation Bridge and headed straight for Hopewell Rocks. We started with low tide to walk on the ocean floor before checking into our accommodations inside a Lighthouse! The next morning we returned to see the area we had previously wandered completely submerged. The extreme tidal range in the Bay of Fundy has carved some incredible sea stacks along the coast that definitely live up to the icon status. We hope to return someday without the hurricane.

Colorado (October)

After a very unfortunate 3 year hiatus, 2022 brought back my girls trip tradition with travel Bestie Megan! We picked up her national park bucket list project and hit 3 in 4 days on the road through Colorado. I truly could not have prepared for how beyond amazing this trip was – some of the best scenery I’ve ever seen and I’ve got the camera roll to prove it. From Aspen to Mesa Verde to the Great Sand Dunes, every day brought an entirely new landscape. And driving through the Rockies during peak foliage is a must. 11/10 would recommend.

Hawaii (November)

Aloha! After Markus’ first trip to Hawaii in 2021, he quickly fell for my favourite place on earth and was easily convinced to visit again for a quick 4 day escape in the fall. When I say this trip was perfect – I mean it. The weather. The car rental (upgrade to a convertible mustang). The price tag (thanks for the free accommodations mom & dad). Nothing brings me joy like walking off the airplane and feeling the warm tropical air. Can’t wait to go back!

Seattle (December)

To cap off the year, we drive across the border to sister city Seattle for the first time since the before times. This time with my cousin and her sweet fam from Winnipeg who hadn’t really ever been before. I played tour guide taking them to the classic spots: Pike Place, Pioneer Square, the Space Needle… and introduced them to my favourite art museum – The Chihuly Glass Museum. We had a very chill weekend – spending most of our time in the very cool Capitol Hill neighbourhood and rung in the New Year with champagne on the couch. Happy to be on the go again for one of my favourite holidays!

2022: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 1 (USA – still haven’t left North America since 2019, but I’m feeling okay about it.)

States Visited: 3 (1 new one) – Colorado / Hawaii / Washington

Provinces Visited: 6 (3 new ones) – British Columbia / Alberta / Manitoba / Nova Scotia / Prince Edward Island / New Brunswick

Plane Rides Taken: 12 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Ferries Taken: 6

Airports Visited: 9 (YVR, YEG, YWG, CXH, YWH, YHZ, YYC, DEN, KOA)

Kilometres Flown in 2022: 16,609

Beds Slept In: 21. Of those, 10 were hotels, 3 were cabins, 2 were vacation rentals, 2 were staying with friends/family, 1 was a winery, 1 was a light house, 1 was a geodesic dome, and one was my own bed!

Winterlude: A Canadian Rite of Passage
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Winterlude: A Canadian Rite of Passage

The last trip I took before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded my travel plans for the next 21 months… was to Ottawa for a little family reunion with my brother and his family. At the time he was living in Waterloo, Ontario and neither of us had ever visited Canada’s capital… so we decided to make the most of their proximity and I flew out to join them for the Family Day long weekend.

Having grown up on the West Coast, I’m not acclimatized to the typical Canadian winters that the rest of the country experiences but I did my best to dress for the -15°C temperatures and was determined to tough it out. And to my delight I held up rather well for our outdoor activities.

The Highlights

Skating on the Rideau Canal

We really weren’t sure if the weather would be cold enough (I can’t believe I’m even saying that) to be able to skate on the Rideau Canal but we were super lucky and had ideal conditions to check off this iconic Canadian activity. My brother is actually a very good skater from his childhood hockey days and it was really fun to get back on the ice with him. I ended up pushing my niece for most of the time in her little sled which I low-key loved because it definitely kept me balanced when those uneven bumps came out of nowhere. We also made sure to grab a famous Beaver Tail and Hot Apple Cider to enjoy from one of the convenient snack huts on the ice.

Visiting Parliament

I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy visiting parliament as much as I did. The one hour tour was actually a really interesting peak inside our government. I especially enjoyed getting to visit the interim House of Commons that has been constructed inside the courtyard at the centre of the West Block, which even has a glass roof sealing it off from the outside but still allowing lots of natural light. Architecturally, it was really unique and interesting and I’ve read that it’s quite eco-friendly too.

Crossing the Border to Gatineau

Ottawa is actually just across the river/bridge from Quebec, and when combined with neighbouring Gatineau, form the National Capital Region. We took advantage of the beautiful sunny day to visit the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques-Cartier Park and enjoy the family friendly activities like snow tubing and interactive ice sculptures. This was definitely the trip highlight for my niece, if her squeals could tell the story.

Looking back…

I didn’t realize it at the time, but after this trip I wouldn’t get to see my family for a year and a half due to pandemic travel restrictions. And while that time of separation was heartbreaking, I was so grateful that I had made the extra effort to visit them in Ontario one last time before they moved back to BC. Among many lessons the pandemic has taught me, one that always rises to the top is to make the most of every opportunity. You never know when your time with loved ones will be cut short or taken away and I will never regret making these memories.

So, thanks Ottawa, I’ll always remember you.

2021: A Year in Review
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2021: A Year in Review

The year we returned to normal… or not so much. I really hoped 2021 would be better than 2020, but in most ways it was worse. Heat domes, forest fires, catastrophic floods, atmospheric rivers, and a very cold, white Christmas… this year was wild and that’s not even counting the COVID roller coaster. But, this year will be well documented by the annals of history, and I’m here to remember the highlights – the travels both near and far (but mostly near) that gave me joy in dark times. And towards the end of the year a trip that felt like the first real glimmer of what life was like before.

  1. Squamish, BC (May)
Brandywine Falls

It’s pretty wild to think that I went nearly a full 5 months of 2021 without leaving Vancouver, and our first trip of the year was still in our health region (as per the COVID restrictions at the time). We were supposed to be on a ferry to Tofino but instead we drove one hour up the sea to sky highway to the mountains for 2 nights away from the city. We had perfect spring weather on the drive up, which enabled us to visit some epic waterfalls and take a lovely evening walk on an abandoned golf course outside our hotel. It was my first time staying overnight in Squamish rather than just passing through on my way to Whistler and I really enjoyed the quiet and calm. It’s such an easy getaway from Vancouver that I think we will make this a regular trip.

2. Sunshine Coast, BC (July)

Chatterbox Falls

Our first “big” trip of the year (lol) involved taking a short 45 minute ferry to Gibsons, and then driving up the Sunshine Coast to a gorgeous chalet outside Madeira Park. We spent 3 blissful days away from it all and checked off another item from my BC Bucket List – swiwelát (commonly known as Princess Louisa Inlet). We made the day trip by boat from Egmont up the Jervis Inlet to the opening of this magical 6km fjord. Surrounding my cascading waterfalls and massive granite walls, it’s impossible not to feel awestruck by the beauty. At the end of the fjord we disembarked to explore the small park area and visit Chatterbox Falls tumbling down the cliff directly into the waters below. We were able to scramble over the rocks and stand in the spray of the falls with no one else around – a true rarity at the majority of falls in the area. It was a truly memorable weekend and one that reminded me just how lucky I am to live, work and play on the land of the Coast Salish people.

3. Oliver, BC (August)

Burrowing Owl Winery

2021 truly was not kind in the natural disaster department. Our summer season was a bit of a trainwreck to be honest. We had an incredibly hot start to the summer with record breaking temperatures in June caused by a heat dome – which I had never even heard of before. The heat combined with drought also led to a worse than usual fire season which ravaged the Okanagan region for weeks getting dangerously close to major urban centres. We probably shouldn’t have continued with our trip to Oliver in August, but with the fires mostly moving in the other direction and evacuation orders lifted we decided to go for it all in the name of wine. Unfortunately, the smoke that filled the valley measured over 500 the entire long weekend so we spent most of our days hiding indoors to protect our lungs. We did manage to visit a record number of wineries and buy two full boxes of wine so the trip was still a success – but next summer we’re definitely planning our wine trip earlier in the season. Fire sucks. Climate change sucks.

4. Whistler, BC (September)

Whistler Train Wreck

Fully vaccinated and ready to hit the road – Whistler called my name three times in fall 2021 after missing it completely in 2020. The first trip was with visiting cousin, Teri-Lynn and her husband Chad. We ended up with a rainy labour day weekend which didn’t allow for the best sightseeing but we found ways to stay entertained. We tried axe throwing, enjoyed Cows ice cream and walked around the village a few times. I finally got around to hiking to the Whistler Train Wreck, on the land of the St̓át̓imc Tmicw (St’at’imc), Lil’wat and Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish). In all my years of visiting Whistler, I shockingly had never even heard of this easy and popular hike. The story goes that a train derailed in 1956 when a freighter heading south from Lillooet came into on an area under track repair with just a little too much speed. Now you can find 7 graffitied boxcars in the middle of the forest, which is just about the most instagrammable thing I’ve ever heard of.

5. Harrison Hot Springs, BC (September)

Harrison Lake

Towards the end of September, I was able to wrangle my partner, his 3 sisters and their spouses to take our first ever couple’s trip. No small feat. We chose a spacious vacation rental near Harrison Lake and enjoyed a gorgeous end to the summer season. This was our first indoor family time in nearly a year due to COVID restrictions so we were really just overjoyed to be in each other’s company.

6. Victoria, BC (October)

Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria

With two of my best friends living in Victoria, it’s a staple in my travel rotation and is truly always a delight. This time we got an amazing deal on a harbour view hotel suite and got to enjoy brunch at Nourish and gorgeous walks by the water including Fisherman’s Wharf (pictured above) which I didn’t even know existed and found so cute and charming. This trip was really just a friendship tour including visits with both friends as well as well as my partner’s cousins. I’m sure we will be back again soon!

7. Whistler (November)

Green Lake

One of my return trips to Whistler later in the fall was a lovely retreat weekend with 12 ladies – some friends, some strangers – but all friends by the end. We stayed in a huge vacation rental taking time to reflect and vision, taking mindful silent walks to the lake pictured above and eating the most delicious plant-based food. I left filling so full of connection – something sorely missing in the preceding two years.

8. Hawaii (December)

Waipi’o Valley

What can I even say here. Hawaii is my happy place. This was my 6th trip to the Hawaiian islands and 2nd trip to the Big Island but it truly felt like the very first time. After 655 days in British Columbia. And 655 days since my last flight. And 721 days since I left Canada. I did it! We took the tests. We got the shots. We conquered our anxiety. And made it to PARADISE! My parents spoiled me and my brother my taking us and our families to Hawaii for a beautiful week in the sun and surf. I got to spend quality time with my 4 year old niece, playing in the waves and the pool, and making memories to keep us warm all winter long. This was one of the best trips of my life, truly refreshing and relaxing and so so lifegiving. For the first time in a long time the COVID woes seemed far away. With 95% of our activities outside, the world felt limitless and I started to remember carefree days gone by. Hawaii never disappoints but after staying so close to home for so long, I saw this island I love with new appreciation.

Final Thoughts…

This post is going up later than intended… but January was pretty crummy so we’re saying that 2022 starts in February. I have a new found calm and peace. And as I think about the uncertain future, I have hope. I’ve been gleefully travel planning again and have some pretty exciting adventures planned for 2022.

2021: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 1 (USA – which feels like a major accomplishment)

States Visited: 1 (Hawaii)

Provinces Visited: 1 – British Columbia

Plane Rides Taken: 2 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Ferries Taken: 4

Airports Visited: 2 (YVR, KOA)

Kilometres Flown in 2021: 8,768

Beds Slept In: 13. Of those, 6 were vacation rentals, 5 were hotels, 1 was staying with family, and one was my own bed!

Trips Cancelled: 2 – Tofino (May) / Disneyland (December)

Photo Essay: Exploring Tallinn’s Old Town
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Photo Essay: Exploring Tallinn’s Old Town

There’s nothing I love more than a day trip. It’s one of my favourite ways to travel and explore. All of the adventure of visiting a new place, with none of the hassles of luggage or accommodations.

On my last Euro trip back in 2018, I was thrilled to learn that Estonia was a very reasonable three hour ferry ride away from our base in Helsinki.

The ferry ride itself was an event as the only seating we could find was in the theatre where we were “treated” to some electro polka music and the dancing skills of a few elderly couples who were clearly travelling for the express purpose of showing off their moves. We also learned that the route was popular with Finns looking to stock up on cheap booze, many with empty suitcases in tow.

Once we arrived in the capital, Tallinn, we spent the day grabbing an authentic (we assume) lunch of flaming sausages and wandering the cobblestone streets of old town. The weather cooperated almost all day allowing us to explore the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe with relatively low crowds.

If you ever find yourself in Helsinki – a day trip to Tallinn is a must. But I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

2020: A Year in Review
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2020: A Year in Review

I debated not doing a “year in review” post this year for obvious reasons… but I believe that reflection is an important part of growth and that even in a year of sadness, grief, depression, and loss, there are moments… and people worth celebrating. While this blog is a place for me to catalogue my travels, it is more than simply sharing vacation photos. For me travel is how I stay connected to friends and family all over the world. Travel is what gives me hope and inspiration for my daily life. It is how I heal and learn and grow. So even in a year that most of us would like to forget ever happened… I choose to remember the opportunities I had in the past 12 months to make memories and see new places with those I love. I may not have left my home country… and barely even left my home province, but I know that I’m lucky to call this part of the world home. If I had to be stuck anywhere, I’m glad it was here.

1. Vancouver Staycation (January)

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A week in Argentina: The perfect spontaneous trip
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A week in Argentina: The perfect spontaneous trip

I am a planner through and through and I typically research future travel destinations scrupulously for months in advance, noting every detail from the most delicious restaurants to transit instructions and the best neighbourhoods to stay. However, 2019 had something different in mind.

After months of careful planning a bucket list trip to visit the Bolivian Salt Flats and the Atacama desert in Chile – civil unrest broke out in not one, but BOTH countries. Riots in Santiago (our first stop) and political upheaval in Bolivia a mere 3 weeks prior to departure caused us to make the painful decision to cancel our trip. With the time already booked off work and the desire for adventure still burning, my frequent travel buddy Megan and I decided to switch to… Argentina!

We’d both always wanted to go and although we didn’t quite have enough time to see everything (only 7 nights), we figured it was the best way to salvage our flights to Santiago. In exactly 2 days, we were able to cancel and rebook everything for our new destination, and we may have ended up with an even better trip than we originally planned.

We barely had time to get excited as it was so last minute, but let me assure you that this trip was every bit as bucket-list worthy as Bolivia. We split our time between three destinations and in an order that continued to build, furthering our excitement as the week progressed.

Days 1-3: Buenos Aires

We still flew to Santiago (to use our original flights) but then met up at the airport and connected to EZE arriving in the afternoon of Day 1. We were both leaving winter weather behind, and couldn’t wait to feel the summer sun of South America. Our first day was about getting fresh air and fighting jet lag, which we did by visiting the prettiest book store in the world (El Ateneo Grand Splendid) and getting patio tapas and drinks in Retiro.

On our second day we took an Uber to San Telmo for the famed Sunday market, which was every bit as adorable as we’d hoped. We found an instagram hot spot (alley of umbrellas) as well as the best coffee around (Coffee Town) before moving on to check out the Parque Lezama followed by a free walking tour of the city centre. Our guide explained more about the history and politics of BA including the famous Evita Peron. In the evening we grabbed drinks at Floreria Atlantico, a bar ranked in the top 50 worldwide. We expected the drinks to be super pricey but they were actually very reasonable. And in true Argentian style we had steak and Malbec for dinner at a spot next door.

On our third and final day in Buenos Aires, we explored more of the beautiful Recoleta neighbourhood starting with the Floralis Generica, a sculpture made of steel and aluminum located in Plaza de las Naciones Unidas. We then wandered through what some may call the world’s best cemetery, where the graves are as unique as the stories of its residents. We ended the day with one of my favourite activities of the whole trip – high tea on the patio of the 5 star Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt. We sipped champagne while overlooking the luxurious patio gardens, feeling truly spoiled, while somehow managing not to break the bank.

Days 4-5: Iguazu Falls

We arrived in the tourist town of Puerto Iguazu in mid-afternoon, just in time to spent the afternoon sipping cocktails on our rooftop pool overlooking the border jungles of both Argentina and Brazil. After walking over 20,000 steps a day in Buenos Aires, our feet were in need of an afternoon off. But, the main event happened the next morning when we arrived at the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls.

We hired a taxi to drive us to the park entrance in time for the opening. Our first stop was to grab tickets for the tram from Estacion Central to Estacion Garganta. We strategically planned to start at the closest lookout to the falls and work our way back throughout the morning. This strategy allowed us to beat the huge crowds that would form throughout the day. After we got off the train we enjoyed crossing the walkways over stretches of the river ultimately leading us to Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) where the spray from the massive falls had us soaking wet in seconds.

The rest of the day was spent wandering down the other trails to various lookout points offering us stunning views at every turn. The size of the park with its many trails allows the visitors to spread out, meaning that we often found ourselves alone at lookout points, ensuring we could take as many photos as we liked – and we certainly did. After about 4 hours at the park, we felt like we’d seen (and walked) as much as we could so we headed back to the hotel for lunch (steak and malbec, again!) and another relaxing afternoon by the pool.

Day 2 in Iguazu was quite the adventure… our mission to check out the Brazilian side of the falls and make it back across the border in time for our flight. We started the day once again with a taxi who was tasked with also helping us cross the border. With passports in tow, we arrived at the nearby border to go inside for our stamps (yay!), and a swift seamless crossing. Our taxi driver left us at the Parques das Aves to enjoy touring a mostly empty bird park while we waited for our HELICOPTER! That’s right, we splurged on a 10 minute, short but sweet, helicopter over the falls.

After flying overhead it was finally time to get up close and personal. The Brazilian side of the falls is much smaller but the walkways take you right under the thundering falls. We had arrived later at the park so we were caught up in the throngs of people walking along the one pathway, but it was still worth it to see, hear, and feel the falls all around us. Truly unforgettable… and now I finally understand why Eleanor Roosevelt said “Poor Niagara.”

Days 6-7: Mendoza

After spending two days chasing the most epic waterfalls we’ve ever seen, we wondering what could possibly top it. Cue the wine! If you don’t know anything about Mendoza, all you need to know is that it is Argentina’s top wine region and home of the Malbec, which not so coincidentally happens to be my favourite wine. On our last full day in Argentina we booked the most incredible wine tour that I’ve ever experienced, and after tours in the Hunter Valley, Marlborough, Stellenbosch, Okanagan, and Napa Valley, that’s saying something.

Our small group Wine Tour of Valle De Uco with Trout & Wine picked us up from our hotel and drove us by air conditioned van to our first stop, Familia Blanco, a small, modern, family winery where they rolled out the red carpet for both our tour and tasting with the owner.

Then we continued on to Bodega Passionate Wines, which is an old style winery that has been completely revamped to give a very modern, bohemian aesthetic – plus the outdoor tasting setup was divine!

And the final stop of the day was Bodega Andeluna with stunning views of the Andes Mountains in the distance and a exquisite 6 course lunch paired with 6 wines! And all of the pours throughout the day were very generous… worth every penny to be wined and dined in such beautiful locations.

Summary

We could not have had a better trip in Argentina. We know that there are many things we didn’t have time to do and regions we didn’t have time to see, but that just means I’ll have to return… Patagonia still calls me!

Something we learned while travelling in Argentina, is that it really helps to come with cash. We ran into many empty ATM machines and the ones that did have cash had incredibly low allowances so we always felt cash poor and struggled to pay with credit card in some places. But overall the experience was very positive and we were able to get around easily. All of our regional, budget flights were on time which was a relief after some of the scary reviews we read online.

Argentina is a beautiful, diverse, interesting and affordable country to visit and I will most certainly be back.

Kauai: Getaway on the Garden Island
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Kauai: Getaway on the Garden Island

It’s no secret on this blog that the Hawaiian Islands are near and dear to my heart. To me, Hawaii is perfection and I’ll never get tired of visiting. It also happens to be the most convenient tropical destination to get to from my home in Vancouver… which means that I’m often able to squeeze in quick trips without dipping into my vacation time.

Most recently, I was able to “convince” my frequent travel buddy, Mindy, into a 4 night adventure on Kauai, my 4th island in the chain. We did our research in advance and knew that the relatively small island would be easy enough to explore in a short trip and the Easter long weekend gave us the perfect opening in our work schedules to make it happen.

Dreams Come True – Helicopter Tour

Sunshine Helicopters

Loving our front row seats!

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View of the Na Pali Coast

We were able to secure free accommodation on the island thanks to Mindy’s loyalty points so we agreed that we could splurge on a 1 hour helicopter tour of the island, checking off a big bucket list item for Mindy (her first time). Our pre-research paid off as we were able to book seats in the front on Sunshine Helicopters, giving us an unobstructed view! If we were going to spend the money, we wanted to make sure it was worth it.

And luckily, the weather cooperated too, which was a legitimate concern considering Kauai is home to one of the wettest places on earth, Mount Waialeale.

Waimea Canyon

One place we definitely wanted to visit was Waimea Canyon, also known as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” What we didn’t anticipate was feeling so lazy that we seriously considered just driving to the lookout and calling it a day. Fortunately, we were able to pump ourselves up and decided to tackle the popular 4 mile Canyon Trail and we were so glad we did! The moderate hike offered panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges and even the Waipoo waterfall. This is a must-see if you ever find yourself on Kauai.

Exploring the North Shore

Kilauea Lighthouse

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Hanalei Bay

A key to enjoying the Hawaiian islands is to rent a car. This time we splurged and rented a Jeep to give us the classic top down experience. One day we ventured to the Northern side of the island to check out Hanalei Bay, the Princeville Resort and the Kilauea Lighthouse. We did some classic hotel gate crashing when we couldn’t get a table at the Princeville Resort’s famed restaurant and explored Hanalei’s gorgeous sandy beach. It’s a beautiful side of the island and well worth exploring.

Pro tip: Make sure to apply sunscreen regularly if you’re going to drive around in a jeep – we definitely got crispy without even realizing it.

Best Beaches

Shipwreck Beach

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Brennecke’s Beach

Of course, no trip to Hawaii would be complete without some solid beach time. We set our sights on two spots – Shipwreck Beach (for sunset) and Brennecke’s beach (for surf). We attempted to enjoy a sunset at Shipwreck Beach, but unfortunately the clouds rolled in, making it a little lackluster. However, we did accidentally end up crashing a wedding on the beach instead, which was a lovely distraction.

We also visited Brennecke’s beach during the day to play in the waves, which ended up being so large that we stayed pretty close to shore. The rip currents in Hawaii are not to be underestimated so we erred on the side of caution. But, it was still a fun way to beat the heat!

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This was also the trip where I learned my Hawaiian name, which part of me really wanted to adopt permanently, but for now, aloha from Wikelani :)

An Over-the-top Stopover in Dubai
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An Over-the-top Stopover in Dubai

Dubai is an opulent, extreme, chaotic, futuristic, traditional, one-of-a-kind destination that I had personally been dreaming of visiting for over a decade. When I finally got the chance to visit on a 4 night stopover on route to South Africa, I was beyond excited to finally experience this adult Disneyland for myself.

As a total travel nerd, I was also pretty excited about finally flying on Emirates airlines, which is consistently ranked as one of the top airlines worldwide. My 15 hour flight from Seattle to Dubai was fine, all things considered, but it definitely doesn’t take the top spot on my personal airline list (Air New Zealand, be still my heart).

When I finally made it to Dubai, I headed straight to my luxury 5 star hotel which was way cheaper than the Vancouver hotels I’m used to. That really is one of the major pulls to Dubai for so many… this affordable luxury in such an exotic setting. I mean waking up to an infinity pool with sea views… not too shabby.

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I hit the beach early to beat the heat and the crowds and enjoyed near solitude until 10:30am. In mid-March the water was still chillier than I expected considering how warm it gets during the day but it was the perfect setting to relax and get set for somer serious adventuring.

After the beach it was time to move on to my next activity… Dubai Miracle Garden.

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Honestly, this was a bit of an impulse decision because I hadn’t really planned to trek out of downtown. Picture a theme park of flowers and you’re starting to get a sense of the incredible Miracle Garden with over 150 million blooms arranged in every way imaginable and some that I never would have dreamed such as the Guinness World Record floral sculpture of an Airbus A380. Again, the travel nerd in me thought it was pretty cool to see such a massive aircraft up close and personal. The park was not overly crowded and I was able to find lots of quiet spaces to enjoy the scenery.

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After my time at the gardens, I had just enough time for a quick change at the hotel and then I was off to the desert to go dune bashing (riding over the sand in a 4×4) and for a sunset dinner at a Bedouin camp complete with henna tattoos, BBQ dinner and entertainment. The thrill seeker in me absolutely loved riding over the dunes and I’m really happy I didn’t research the safety record in advance. I’m sure it was totally fine. The evening entertainment was honestly a bit tired and the food was nothing to write home about, but I ended up befriending a couple on my tour and they shared a bottle of champagne with me so all and all, a fun time!

For my second full-day in Dubai, I opted to take a day trip to nearby Abu Dhabi. It was hard to imagine a more opulent city… dripping with wealth at every turn.

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The main highlight of the day was visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque which can accommodate over 40,000 worshippers. The main prayer hall is even said to have the world’s largest carpet. The mosque was one of the most stunning buildings that I have ever seen, and I felt so fortunate to be allowed to enter such a sacred place.

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For my final full day in Dubai, it was finally time to see the big sights – The Burj al Arab Hotel, Burj Khalifa, which currently holds the record for World’s tallest building, and the Dubai Mall.

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I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend the money to go to the top of the Burj – it seemed very touristy and I’d already been to the top of so many tall buildings. But, it is currently the tallest building in the world, so carpe diem! It was pretty crazy being that high up and seeing all the other massive skyscrapers looking so tiny below. And the best part, was the Bellagio style fountain and light show that happens in front (and on) the tower every evening. Definitely worth waiting around for.

Some final thoughts…

In conclusion, I’m glad that I went to Dubai. It was impressive AF and truly unlike any other place I’ve ever been. But that being said, I found Dubai to be overwhelming and not in a good way. The heat, the flashy wealth, the sterile streets. Wandering around the mall seeing stores overly staffed, knowing that many of the workers are far from home and family. A place that is seemingly every culture and no culture all at once. A place where intolerance still runs rampant. It was all a bit too much and I can think of so many more authentic places to visit with the precious time that I have. And so, I think it was one and done for me and the UAE.

 

 

2019: A Year in Review
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2019: A Year in Review

2019 was a transition year for me, which meant that travel for personal interest had to take more of a backseat. I started a new job at the end of February and prioritized visiting friends and family over my travel bucket list. That being said, I still managed to squeeze in some restful escapes and exciting adventures – including my highly anticipated return to South America (the continent that launched my blog) after nearly a decade pursuing other regions. It feels fitting to bookend the 2010s the way it started so as always, I’ve captured the highlights of the past year in the list below.

1. San Diego, California (February)

It doesn’t take much to encourage me to book a quick weekend getaway to Southern California but when I found out that my boyfriend had never been, we used a cold snap as the perfect excuse to fly south for the winter. My friend Jennie hosted as per usual and we spent our days introducing Markus to Coronado, La Jolla, Liberty Station, Pacific Beach… oh and all the craft beer and tacos!

2. Kauai (April)

My friend Mindy and I may have fallen into a slight travel rut as of late, but who really cares when that rut is Hawaii! This time we maximized a 4-day long weekend and a couple of red-eye flights to explore my 4th Hawaiian island, Kauai! The amount of time we had was perfect since this island is much smaller than some of the others. We rented a car and drove all over the island – soaking up the beaches and hiking the gorgeous Waimea Canyon. I’m sure we’ll be back again soon.

3. Toronto, Ontario (May)

For someone who has travelled to 38 countries on 6 continents, it came as quite a surprise to many that I’d never been to my home country’s largest city. But, when my brother moved to nearby Waterloo in 2017 it felt like time to finally make the journey East. We spent 3 days exploring cool neighbourhoods like Queen West and Kensington Market, took in a showing of the fantastic and very Canadian musical Come From Away as well as an obligatory trip to the top of the CN Tower. I had very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable Toronto was to visit and if our paths cross again, I won’t be too disappointed.

4. Point Roberts, Washington (June)

For this year’s annual girls trip, we decided to stay close to home as we had a stowaway in the form of Crystal’s 4 month old baby, Jack. But, we still wanted to go somewhere new and seeing as none of us had ever visited the odd little American exclave of Point Roberts. Only accessible by land from Canada, Point Roberts is a sleepy little town, with one grocery store and a handful of restaurants. It was the perfect place for us to get away from the city and enjoy the quiet woods and beaches.

5. Kelowna, British Columbia (June)

I typically try to get to Kelowna at least once during the summer. It’s somewhere I’ve been going since I was a child and there’s something about boating on the lake that brings back so much nostalgia. Now as an adult, I love exploring the plethora of excellent wineries in the area and this trip was no different. I’ve previously visited the wineries in West Kelowna, Summerland, and Naramata and now added Grey Monk, Arrowleaf, and Ex Nihilo in Lake Country to the list. The weekend actually ended up being a bit of a family reunion with my cousins from Portland making the trip up with their new baby in tow. I always feel so lucky that my cousins are some of my most favourite people!

6. Pender Island, British Columbia (July)

To me, there is no place more tranquil and restorative than the Gulf Islands off the coast of Vancouver Island. When I found out that my boyfriend spent summers on Pender Island as a child, I knew that we had to plan a getaway for him to show me his favourite spots. We stayed in the most adorable little cabin complete with an outdoor bathtub overlooking the ocean and spent lots of time reading books and sipping wine on the patio. I stayed on brand with a visit to the local winery, Sea Star and checked out lots of different coves and beaches. It was everything I love about summer and I’m already planning a return trip in 2020.

7. Winnipeg, Manitoba (September)

I’m on a bit of a hot streak with trips to Winnipeg having recently visited in both 2017 and 2018. This time, I snuck in a long weekend with my best cousin, Teri-Lynn to capstone the summer. We visited her new ice cream store, Fête,  which was still under construction at the time, but I did get to taste test all her latest creations. We also tried to burn off some of the calories by hiking in the Pinawa Dam Provincial Park, which was a beautiful little oasis that I had no idea existed. I also made it back to the Forks, which is touristy but always a fun stop for snacks and shopping. Winnipeg and I have a bit of a love/hate relationship and I’m sure I’ll be back again soon.

8. Raleigh, North Carolina (October)

My second-ever trip to North Carolina had me re-visiting Greensboro for my travel bestie Megan’s wedding and a little side trip to check out nearby Raleigh. While the city itself left me a little underwhelmed, we did enjoy the craft beer scene, southern comfort food, and the unseasonably warm weather. The 25°C temps in mid-October saw us renting a canoe to float around William B Umstead State Park in near isolation. While it may not have been thrilling, it was relaxing, and sometimes that’s enough.

9. Buenos Aires, Argentina (December)

I didn’t expect to be writing about Argentina in 2019 but here I am. Due to some dramatic events in South America, my travel bestie, Megan and I, ended up cancelling our intended trip to Chile/Bolivia a mere 3 weeks before departure and re-scheduled to nearby Argentina. While originally disappointed and honestly quite stressed about the change of plans, we both agreed that we may have ended up with an even better trip in the end. We spent 3 days soaking up the affordable luxury and warm summer sun in Buenos Aires exploring markets, eating steak, drinking Malbec, strolling through cemeteries, and wandering through parks. It was a great teaser for what was still to come.

10. Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil (December)

Our second stop on our whirlwind tour of Argentina was a major bucket list highlight. I’ve always loved waterfalls and Iguazu Falls is arguable the most impressive in the world. We viewed the falls from every possible vantage point, including both the Argentinian and Brazilian side (which yes, did involve some new passport stamps) and by helicopter. Iguazu was awe-inspiring at every turn and certainly warranted two days of exploring to do it justice. We coupled that with some rooftop pool hangs at our hotel and a last-minute visit to the Parques de Aves to see all the tropical birds including my very first toucan! Add this to your Must See list.

11. Mendoza, Argentina (December)

If there is one thing that you should know about me by now, it is that I love wine. And there is nothing that I love more than a wine tour in a new country. It also, just so happens that Malbec is my favourite type of wine, and Argentina is the king of Malbec… so you can imagine how much I loved exploring Argentina’s Uco Valley wine region during a full day tour with Trout and Wine. I’ve done a lot of tours in my day, both self-guided and professional, and I can without a doubt say that this was the best wine tour that I’ve ever been on. The three stops we made were all educational, unique, picture perfect, and very VERY generous with the pours. We even enjoyed a 6 course lunch with paired wines at our third stop (all-inclusive)! And Mendoza is an adorable little city with great night life as well. I can’t think of a better way to end the decade… more bliss in the 20s please!

2019: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 3 (2 new ones) –  USA / Argentina / Brazil

States Visited: 4 – California / Hawaii / Washington / North Carolina

Provinces Visited: 3 – British Columbia / Ontario / Manitoba

Plane Rides Taken: 14 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Airports Visited: 13 (YVR, BLI, SAN, LIH, YYZ, YWG, SEA, RDU, MEX, SCL, EZE, IGR, MDZ)

Kilometres Flown in 2019: 55,933

Beds Slept In: 14. Of those, 5 were Airbnb rentals, 4 were hotels, 4 were crashing with family or friends, and one was my own bed!

The Ultimate Bucket List Trip: My African Safari

Going on an African wildlife safari is something that I’ve been dreaming about for longer than I can remember. My mother grew up on the African continent, so I’ve been hearing  tales of the wonders since I was a child and I’ve always longed to experience it for myself. But, the right opportunity or travel partner never seemed to come along. So, I decided to go on my own, which while not the economical choice, was immeasurably worth it!

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I started in Cape Town, South Africa where some lovely friends offered to host me in the Mother City. From there, I flew to Hoedspruit, located deep in the African Bush where I had booked a 4-day all-inclusive safari at the Vuyani Safari Lodge. I could not have been happier with my choice, which was not made lightly. The research that went into choosing the right safari company was extensive and exhausting. But, what ultimately guided my final choice was (1) price, (2) location, and (3) size.

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I wanted an intimate safari experience, but I also wanted to meet people since I was travelling alone. During my time at Vuyani, many parties came and went, but there was typically no more than 20 at a time, which is the perfect size for lively chats over our shared meals. I lucked out and arrived the same day as a lovely young couple from Norway. We became fast friends and spent the majority of our time together, to the point where people thought we actually came together. To my surprise, they also got engaged during the trip and just got married this past summer!

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New Friends – Magnus & Mona

As a solo traveller, I also needed to be mindful of budget. I knew that going on a safari could be a once in a lifetime experience, so I didn’t necessarily want to cheap out, but I also knew that I’d be paying more for my experience. Vuyani really struck the balance of  luxury and value – I felt pampered beyond compare, but still didn’t break the bank. From the moment I was picked up at the nearby airport to the moment I hugged the staff goodbye, I received world class service. Every time I left my room, someone was offering me a beverage or asking if I needed anything. They fed us extremely well with buffet breakfast and lunch and a 3-course dinner every night plus drinks/snacks in-room and in the lodge whenever we wanted. I also got to sleep in a bed surrounded by mosquito nets, which was always a fantasy of mine.

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Living the life I was born to live

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Infinity Pool in the Bush

I also considered the type of experience I wanted and ultimately went with a small private game reserve. The benefits of this were that we had way more freedom with where our drivers could take us including getting out of the vehicle and “off-roading” in pursuit of hard to find animals. We also had the privacy to explore our reserve without other tourists. Some of the limitations of a smaller reserve meant that we typically saw smaller groups of animals (think 8 elephants instead of 50) and some animals (like buffalo) were not present at our reserve.

 

 

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Now, I wasn’t fully prepared to sacrifice seeing the “Big 5” so I also chose a reserve that was conveniently located only a couple of hours from Kruger National Park. I was able to take a day trip there to see the buffalo and so much more. We had to leave at 3:30am to squeeze in the entire day trip, but it was well worth it. I was able to complete my Big 5 bingo by finally seeing the buffalo and also got to see a herd of elephants at the watering hole at the same time as hippos and crocodiles. Plus, we also got to see a giraffe and her newborn calf. With the combination of the day trip and my time at Vuyani, I had a perfect safari experience.

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What does a typical day on safari look like?

  • 5:00am – Wake up
  • 5:15am – Coffee
  • 5:30am – Morning Game Drive
  • 8:30am – Breakfast
  • 9:30am –  Free-time (Nap / Pool-time)
  • 1:30pm – Lunch
  • 5:00pm – Afternoon Game Drive (with Sundowner or “Happy Hour” in the bush)
  • 8:00pm – Dinner
  • 9:30pm – Bedtime

Now you may be wondering if 4 days was long enough? And, I would say that yes, it was just enough. But, I also lucked out with perfect weather and was fortunate to see all the key animals early in my safari. It may be best to book a couple extra days (if you can) to ensure that you’re able to see everything you want. I certainly would have loved to stay longer if I had the time and budget to do so. I made new friends, lived the life of luxury, and had the most incredible wildlife experience of my life! This was by far the best travel activity that I’ve ever done.

2018: A Year in Review
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2018: A Year in Review

We didn’t realize we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun. – Winnie the Pooh

Even numbered years have historically been good to me and 2018 was no exception. I travelled to seven countries on four continents, visited friends and family all over the world, got a promotion at work, and spent another year living in my favourite place on earth. In my typical fashion, I’ve recounted the big travel highlights below in chronological order.

1. Nashville, Tennessee (January)

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I kick started 2018 with my bestie Joy in sub zero Nashville. We bar hopped and ate really good food and danced our way into the new year at a Y2K themed party.

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (March)

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I’ve been fascinated with the Vegas of the Middle East for over a decade, since I saw a TV special on the building of the famed “7-star” Burj al Arab hotel (pictured above). Over the years, the city only gets more impressive as it seemingly breaks every record in the book.

3. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (March)

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Abu Dhabi wasn’t really on my radar until I learned of the stunningly beautiful Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The city takes luxury to the next level and felt even wealthier than Dubai, which was hard to imagine.

4. Cape Town, South Africa (March)

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South Africa has topped my bucket list for years and with dear friends recently moved back to Cape Town, the time was finally right for a visit. I spent about a week in total in Cape Town exploring everything from Cable Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, Boulder’s Bay to the V&A Waterfront. I could easily have spent a month in the Mother City, flitting between beaches and wine farms.

5. Stellenbosch, South Africa (March)

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My dream day trip from Cape Town to the famed Stellenbosch wine region where my hosts Debbie and Theran took me to multiple wineries for tastings of cheese, chocolate, and yes, all the wine! I couldn’t get over the cheap prices and wished I could’ve brought home an entire case.

6. Hoedspruit, South Africa (March)

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During my trip to South Africa, I finally lived out my biggest bucket list activity to date – an African safari! Since, I was travelling solo for most of this trip, the price was more expensive than it needed to be, but still worth every penny. It is the best thing I’ve ever done while travelling and something that every single person should do before they die! I plan to write a more detailed post about this trip at a later date. But, in short is was four days of all-inclusive luxury, sunshine, and the Big 5!

7. Napa, California (May)

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For our 10 year friendaversary, my group of university girlfriends and I upgraded our annual girls weekend and flew down to Napa for ALL the wine. We couldn’t have picked a more picturesque place to celebrate our amazing friendships that have seen us through marriages, pregnancies, career changes, and all the ups and downs of life. I’m forever grateful to be doing life with this crew!

8. Cannon Beach, Oregon (June)

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In June, I made my 7th trip to Oregon with a new travel buddy in tow. My boyfriend, Markus, and I made our inaugural trip together one for the books by visiting the beautiful coastal towns of Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach on our way to spend a few awesome days with my cousins in Portland. We fit in some of the usual tourist trappings like Powell’s Books and Washington Park, but added in the Edgefield Brewfest to really get us into the spirit. Every time I go to Portland is better than the last… What can I say? I’m a PNW girl through and through.

9. Kelowna, BC (September)

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For the second year in a row, my cousin, Teri-Lynn, flew out from Winnipeg for the long weekend and we drove straight to wine country! (are you sensing a theme here?) I love the Okanagan Valley and was thrilled to finally be checking out the Naramata Bench. We managed to squeeze in stops at Legend Distilling, Lake Breeze, Van Westen, Ruby Blues, Sumac Ridge, Mission Hill, and Quail’s Gate. Some we visited for the wine, and others for the view. Either way, this is one of my favourite places to go every summer!

10. Helsinki, Finland (September)

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A trip to Europe wasn’t originally in the plans for 2018, but when my Finnish boyfriend decided to visit the mother land for his first visit, I couldn’t resist the urge to tag along and visit friends Kathrin and Kristof. We had an incredible five days soaking up the food (munkki and karjalan piirakka were faves!), sauna culture, and beautiful natural surroundings. I know that this will be a place we come back to again and again!

11. Tallinn, Estonia (September)

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We were stoked to learn that the gorgeous historic city of Tallinn is just a 3 hour ferry ride from Helsinki. We decided to spend a day wandering the old town, which I cannot recommend enough. It was straight out of a fairy tale and far less touristy than other old towns I’ve seen throughout Europe. The Baltic countries are quickly climbing up my destination list as I seek to combat overtourism with less popular destinations.

12. Copenhagen, Denmark (September)

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Now, Copenhagen certainly is a popular city, and one I’ve had my sights on for years now. However, travelling in late September helped us to avoid the summertime crowds and really enjoy the city at our own pace. We LOVED Copenhagen and can’t think of a reason why any person wouldn’t want to go there. Again, a more detailed post is yet to come, but our favourite spots were Nyhavn (pictured above), the hipster bars in Norrebro, Reffen, Freetown Christiania, and Kastellet.

13. Winnipeg, Manitoba (October)

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I often spend Thanksgiving away from my friends and family but this year, we all made the trek to Winnipeg to celebrate my grandpa’s 80th birthday. It was so nice to be all together, which is becoming less and less common. And it also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the fall colours at Fort Whyte Alive even if it meant digging out my winter coat far earlier than I would have preferred.

14. Whistler, BC (October)

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Whistler is one of my favourite places on Earth and since it is both an incredibly popular winter and summer tourist destination, I like to visit in the off-season. This year I went with a group of friends in late October, one of the most beautiful times to go in my opinion. The weather couldn’t have been better, still allowing us to go for a classic walk around Lost Lake as well as sit on a patio outside, but without all the crowds.

15. Mexico City, Mexico (November)

My last big trip of the year, was my annual girls trip with go-to travel buddy Megan. This was our 7th trip together since we met in Vietnam back in 2014 and our 6th country. We had the BEST time exploring the impressive Teotihuacan pyramids, the beautiful parks in Condesa and the fascinating Casa Azul. I could easily see myself returning to Mexico City for the cheap and delicious food, year-round perfect weather, and picturesque neighbourhoods. I didn’t sign up for beginner Spanish next year for nothing.

2018: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 7 (5 new ones) –  USA / United Arab Emirates / South Africa / Finland / Estonia / Denmark / Mexico

States Visited: 4 – Tennessee / Washington / California / Oregon

Provinces Visited: 3 – British Columbia / Manitoba / Alberta

Plane Rides Taken: 15 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Airports Visited: 15 (BNA, SEA, DXB, CPT, HDS, YVR, SFO, PDX, LHR, HEL, CPH, YYC, YWG, YYZ, MEX)

Kilometres Flown in 2018: 82,957

Beds Slept In: 16. Of those, 5 were hotels, 5 were crashing with family or friends, 4 were Airbnb rentals, 1 was a safari lodge, and one was my own bed!

Big Adventure on the Big Island
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Big Adventure on the Big Island

“Where are you going on vacation?”

“Hawaii”

“Oh! Which island?”

“Hawaii”

“So, like Honolulu?”

“No, like the Big Island. It’s called Hawaii.”

“…”

I had some version of this conversation at least a dozen times prior to my recent Hawaii vacation. It’s incredible to me that a place as popular and touristy as Hawaii can still have parts unknown. And the Big Island is one of those places that hasn’t officially entered the mainstream.

Since this was my fourth trip to the Rainbow State, I was looking for a new experience that could bring both adventure and relaxation. I wanted to enjoy the Hawaii I know and love and yet still see something new. The Big Island ended up being the perfect solution.

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Even though it is far and away the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, it only contains 13% of the population. The lack of people made me feel like I was exploring uncharted territory, which was far from the truth but still exciting.

Location Location Location

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Fairmont Orchid Hotel

Unsurprisingly, where you stay can have a major impact on how enjoyable of a vacation you end up having. This is especially true on any Hawaiian island where trade winds cause substantial rainfall on their north and east flanks during the colder, winter months.

For our mid December trip, we opted to stay on the Kohala Coast which is super sunny year round and granted us a rain-free stay at our Mauna Lani resort. The scenery was more volcanic than tropical, but the tradeoff was worthwhile for sunny skies and close proximity to some of the best beaches on the island. You’re going to want to rent a car anyway to properly explore the island, so you may as well stay as dry as possible.

Greenwell Farms

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I absolutely love coffee and have fallen in love with the Kona varietals over the last few years. It is consistently ranked among the very best coffee in the world. Unfortunately for me, it is also one of the most expensive coffees in the world. But, that did not stop us from making a visit to Greenwell Farms. After sampling a wide assortment of fresh brews, we met our guide for a free tour of the farm, showing us every stage in the coffee-making process. Delicious and educational – not to be missed!

Kealakekua Bay

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Located just an hour south of our home base in Puako is Kealakekua Bay. This spot is significant because the first documented European to reach the Hawaiian Islands, Captain James Cook, was killed there in 1779. The site is now marked by a white obelisk. But, our reason for visiting was for the brilliant waters filled with coral and schools of tropical fish. The bay is a marine life conservation district perfect for snorkeling so we boarded a late afternoon cruise on a 45 foot trimaran with Sea Paradise and even got a lucky sighting of the famed spinner dolphins on our way back.

Lili’uokalani Gardens

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Lili’uokalani Gardens

No trip to the Big Island would be complete without a visit to Hilo. In addition to being the largest city and capital, it also holds the title of fourth wettest city in America. We timed our day trip to the eastern side of the island carefully so as to enjoy beautiful blue skies as we explored the Japanese themed Lili’uokalani Gardens and famed Banyan Drive.

Akaka Falls

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Akaka Falls

The main reason for our trip to the Eastern side was really to chase all the waterfalls (sorry TLC). We started at Akaka Falls State Park where we hiked a short and pleasant loop through lush rainforest (perks of all that precipitation) to see the towering 442 ft Akaka Falls.

Umauma Falls

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Umauma Falls

Next up was Umauma Falls which is only accessible through the Umauma Experience. The most popular activity here is ziplining but you can also just drive up to view the falls and walk through the gardens, which is what we did. The riverwalk is beautifully manicured and we didn’t see another person the entire time, although it’s important to note that early December is not peak season.

Mauna Kea Beach

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Mauna Kea Beach

Not too far from our villa is the one of the prettiest white sand beaches in all of Hawaii. We set off to arrive early in the day to secure one of the 40 coveted visitor parking spots. With boogie boards in tow we set up camp for a perfect morning of sunbathing, napping, and playing in the waves. Can you believe that at 30 I’d never boogie boarded before? Better late than never.

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Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co

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We made a very important fuel stop at the “Nut House” prior to getting our hike on in the Pololu Valley. We tasted as many free samples of both sweet and savoury macadamia nuts as we wanted before inevitably purchasing our favourites – Coconut glazed, Kona Coffee glazed and the traditional lightly salted.

Pololu Valley

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In the Northern Kohala Coast are some gorgeous valleys that we were very excited to check out. You can drive right up to the stunning Pololu Valley Overlook, where we also opted to hike down the steep cliffs to check out the Black Sand beach below. The view definitely got better as we descended so it is worth going at least part of the way down.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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Halemaumau Crater at Kilauea Summit

It’s crazy to think that a mere 5 months after these photographs were taken, a surge in volcanic activity has now led to the crater in the photo above doubling in size. The fissures and lava flows from this most recent eruption have destroyed over 700 homes and displaced more than 2000 people in the surrounding communities. I imagine that tourism in the area has changed some now that the park has re-opened, but visiting one of the most active volcanoes in the world should still be at the top of your Hawaii to-do list.

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Kilauea Iki Trail

Our favourite activity at the park was one of our first stops on the Crater Rim Drive. We hiked around the rim of the Kilauea Iki overlook and down through the crater below. In 1959 it was a seething lava lake, but today it is a dry lava field a mile long and 3,000 feet across. We opted to hike along the rim first before descending into the crater as this makes the ascent much easier on the return. The desolate landscape reminded me of scenes from Lord of the Rings – vast and foreboding. However, the resurgence of life was also stunning to behold.

Kiholo Bay

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The best thing we did in all of Hawaii was probably our visit to Kiholo Bay which we affectionately call Turtle Island. With no real signage or path, this picturesque bay is a true hidden gem. We parked by mile marker 82 along Hwy 19 and carried our picnic supplies through the bush on foot for about 20 minutes. The bay is filled with a series of calm, turquoise tidepools making it the perfect place to spot sea turtles. We spent the afternoon observing and swimming with turtles… so yeah, it was worth the effort.

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Waipi’o Valley Lookout

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My personal favourite view on the island is the Waipi’o Valley. Waterfalls tumbling down steep tropical cliffs into the crashing ocean waves below… what’s not to love. Once again, this is an easy one as you can drive right to the lookout. The facilities are quite nice so it’s also a great spot for a picnic.

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It’s hard to believe we packed so many activities into just one week. This trip to Hawaii was the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. I absolutely loved having a car rental and getting to explore with it. We ate delicious food which I didn’t even touch on in this blog, but if you go, you have to try the malasadas from Tex Drive-in, Shave Ice, Kona coffee, Hamakua macademia nuts, pancakes with coconut syrup, and at least one Mai Tai. There’s so much to see and do that the island warrants multiple visits. I for one, can’t wait for my next trip to the Aloha State.

Gone Country? New Year’s Eve in Nashville
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Gone Country? New Year’s Eve in Nashville

Hello again friends! Did you miss me? It’s already half way through 2018 and I’m just now getting to the long overdue retelling of my most recent New Year’s Eve festivities. Despite the shameful lack of blogging, I have been to some amazing destinations this year and I’m ready to make up for lost time.

I kicked off 2018, with my favourite travel tradition of celebrating the start of the year in a new city. Five years in and still going strong! In 2014, I set the bar high with a fun-filled night on the streets of New Orleans. In 2015, I partied Catalan style at the Plaza de España in Barcelona. I danced my way into 2016 at a glitzy party under the Seattle Space Needle. And last year, I used my one “cheat” year to celebrate in my beloved Vancouver, where I’d actually never spent NYE.

This year, I ventured to a new city and even a new state… Nashville, Tennessee. Now, it’s no secret that I’m not much of a country girl, but even I was drawn in by the allure of Music City. When my friend Joy suggested it as a possible option, I jumped at the chance to join her for 5 days of bar hopping, thrift shopping, and BBQ eating. Sounds tough right?

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Our timing was not ideal because we happened to catch Nashville in the middle of a ridiculous cold snap, which hit lows of -17°C. My poor West Coast body struggled to deal with the harsh conditions meaning that we whimped out big time on the outdoor NYE party we’d planned to attend. Lucky for us, our back up was my 13 year old self’s dream come true, a Y2K themed party with an amazing house band playing hits from the early 2000s. It was like high school all over again but without the friend drama or homework.

 

We also managed to check out some touristy attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame. While still not exactly my cup of tea, I did geek out over the Shania Twain exhibit. I still remember all of her over-the-top costumes from watching every single music video she ever made.

The best meal we had was a family style lunch at Monell’s in Germantown. We joined a table full of strangers for an all you can eat Southern meal complete with fried catfish, chicken fried steak, okra, grits, green beans, cornbread, biscuits, sweet tea, lemonade, and peach cobbler for dessert. My mouth is watering just thinking of those delicious calories.

Other highlights include watching a movie at a theatre with reclining seats, snagging the last table at a secret Absinthe bar, and attending Sunday morning gospel hour at famed honky tonk, Robert’s Western World.

If you get the chance to visit Nashville, I promise that there’s something for everyone. The people are friendly. The food is delicious. And the music will have you tapping your feet to songs you never thought you’d enjoy.

 

2017: A Year in Review
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2017: A Year in Review

Well, if I’m being honest, I’m very glad that 2017 is over. Every day it seemed like some new tragedy threatened to turn the world upside down and personally, it was one of the most challenging yet. I had some incredible highs, including the birth of my niece Ronen, who is the light of my life already. And lived out some of my biggest travel dreams, which filled me up in ways that I could not have imagined. And yet the last 6 months have been some of the darkest and most stressful, forcing me to face some harsh realities.

But, like always, travel continues to be my constant in a sea of confusion. It never ceases to root me in who I am and what is important. I already have some incredible plans for 2018 and so I step confidently into this new year with the knowledge that things can get better and that I am still #blessed beyond what even makes sense to me. With that being said, here is a look back on my travel adventures during the past 365 days.

1. Glacier, Washington (January)

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My first trip of 2017 took place in early January where I journeyed to Mt. Baker with a group of wonderful people to celebrate my friend Mindy’s birthday. We rented two cabins, cooked delicious meals, played games, went snow shoeing, built fires, and made some great memories.

2. San Diego, California (February)

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Just as the winter weather was really starting to get to me, I made my annual trip to San Diego to visit Jennie. We did all my favourite things like eating fish tacos, walking on the beach, and dining al fresco. I even took myself on a solo day trip to Coronado Island, which always makes me feel like I’ve gone back in time to a 50s movie. Cali you are bliss!

3. New Zealand (March)

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I attempted to summarize my epic, bucket-list trip to NZ but I still don’t think I’ve truly found the words. I got to visit my favourite locations from the Lord of the Rings, fly in a helicopter to the top of a glacier, swing over 100m through a canyon, cruise through Milford Sound, roll down a hill in a ball filled with water (i.e. zorb) – New Zealand you were too much!

4. Seattle, Washington (April)

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Less than two weeks after returning from New Zealand, I was back to traveling. I love Seattle and make several trips each year. This time it was with first-timer, Erica. We wandered around Pike Place Market, restaurant hopped in Capitol Hill (including an Alec Baldwin sighting!) and checked out the skyline from Kerry Park. Always a good time, and I know I’ll be back.

5. Squamish, BC (May)

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Our fourth annual girls getaway was another huge success. We had perfect spring weather, yet again! I’m not even surprised at this point… We rented a house in Squamish on a quiet acreage in the mountains, perfect for quiet evenings sipping wine and catching up on our busy lives. This year we had a male party crasher, four-month baby Atticus. He put up with us like a champ and joined us on our venture up the Sea to Sky gondola for stunning views of Howe Sound. I’m so grateful to have such wonderful women in my life who keep investing in our friendship. I’m a lucky girl!

6. Victoria, BC (May)

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For Mother’s Day this year, my family made a weekend getaway to Victoria. We had a massive two-bedroom suite overlooking the inner harbour, which totally gave me a Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2 kind of moment. We spent our days eating good food, strolling through downtown and visiting Butchart Gardens, which I described as Disneyland for flower enthusiasts.

7. Portland, Oregon (July)

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My fourth trip to Portland and this city just keeps getting better. I hadn’t visited in summer before and was thrilled at how beautiful the city looks when it’s green and filled with fresh roses. This trip included wine tasting in nearby Carlton, which boasts the most tastings rooms per capita in the US, a backyard barbecue, ice cream from Salt & Straw, aerial tramway views, and a Bob Saget comedy show. I can’t wait to come back!

8. Winnipeg, Manitoba (July)

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It had been a couple years since my last trip to Winnipeg and this time it was to celebrate the nuptials of my beautiful cousin, Erin. I made it just in time for the bachelorette party and was able to squeeze in a full day at the fantastic Folk Music Festival, a trip to the Thermea spa, as well as heaps of quality time with family.

9. Austin, Texas (August)

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My only work trip of the year took me to Austin, Texas for a conference, which I extended through the weekend to enjoy the sights. I was really taken by this city, although I definitely wouldn’t recommend it during the summer – the heat down south is no joke. That aside, the food, music, and weird vibes make it a fascinating place to visit.

10. Summerland, BC (September)

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I had a milestone birthday this year… the big 3-0… and decided to use it as an excuse to take a trip. My cousin Teri-Lynn flew in for the weekend to join me and friends Erica and Sara for wine tasting in the Okanagan. I couldn’t think of a better way to turn the page to a new decade in my life story than relaxing with good friends in a beautiful place.

11. Arizona (October)

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The surprise travel highlight of the year was my four-day road trip in Arizona with go-to travel buddy Megan. We managed to visit some of the most jaw dropping sights I’ve ever seen in our short getaway – namely Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. However, it was the adorable town of Sedona that really captured my attention. I can’t wait to return for a whole week in the red rock desert oasis.

12. Hawai’i (December)

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What can I even say about Hawaii that hasn’t been said? It’s perfection and I will absolutely never get sick of visiting. This was my fourth trip to the state but my first time on the Big Island. I spent a luxurious week playing and adventuring with Mindy who joined me on this pre-Christmas vacation. We hiked across an active volcano, boogie boarded at one of the top beaches in the country, snorkelled, toured a coffee farm, hiked through the jungle, and hung out in a bay full of sea turtles. Mahalo!

13. Nashville, Tennessee (December)

To cap off the year, I am continuing with my goal of celebrating New Year’s in a new city each year: 2014 in New Orleans, 2015 in Barcelona, 2016 in Seattle, 2017 in Vancouver and now I am about to ring in the start of 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. My friend Joy and I have been immersing ourselves in local living and trying our best to keep warm in the freezing temperatures. We have tickets to a Y2K themed party that we’re hoping brings all the nostalgia and good times to carry us into the new year with positivity and purpose!

2017: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 2 (1 new one) –  USA / New Zealand

States Visited: 7 (1 new one) – Washington / California / Oregon / Texas / Arizona / Hawaii / Tennessee

Provinces Visited: 2 – British Columbia / Manitoba

Plane Rides Taken: 15 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Airports Visited: 16 (YVR, BLI, SEA, SAN, AKL, SYD, CHC, WLG, YXX, YWG, LAX, SFO, AUS, PHX, KOA, BNA)

Kilometres Flown in 2017: 61, 485

Beds Slept In: 23. Of those, 8 were hostels, 7 were hotels, 4 were crashing with family or friends, 2 were Airbnb rentals, one was a cabin, one was a condo rental, and one was my own bed!

What are your favourite travel memories of 2017?

What are you looking forward to most in the new year?

Bucket List: An Arizona Road Trip
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Bucket List: An Arizona Road Trip

Why it took me so long to explore Arizona… I’ll never know! This has to be the most underrated state in America. I know that’s a big claim, but I’ve seen some very impressive sights and I still found myself awestruck and truly at a loss for words. I was completely blown away by the natural wonders we saw on our four day road trip. I really just can’t say enough good things and if you call North America home – then this absolutely must be on your 2018 travel list.

As per usual, I crammed as much activity as humanly possible into my long weekend getaway. Joined by one of my tried and true travel buddies, Megan, we were on a mission to do some major bucket list checking.

Phoenix

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We started off in Phoenix, somewhere that I had actually been once before as a child. Megan had some work obligations, which she quickly wrapped up so that we could “play” in the desert. I’m definitely a Pacific Northwest girl through and through and prefer the evergreen trees and mountains to the cactus and red sand of the Southwest. That being said, I truly love seeing a landscape that is so unlike what I’m used to… and the palm trees never cease to make me smile. We visited two parks in our one afternoon – Papago to check out the famed Hole in the Rock and the Sonoran Preserve to see some massive cacti up close and personal.

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Sedona

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Our second day was as perfect a travel day as any I could have dreamed. We left our Phoenix hotel bright and early at 7am to make the two(ish) hour drive to Sedona, which ended up being one of my new favourite places on earth. The photos don’t do it justice, but the scenery is jaw dropping and the town could not be more adorable with its coordinated terracotta buildings. Our main activity was to hike Devil’s Bridge, a fun and easy hike with a major pay off. My phone is still full of photos that I refuse to delete.

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Grand Canyon

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After Sedona, I could have gone home and called the trip a success but we still had the biggest bucket list item yet to come. We ate a delicious patio lunch and then got back on the road to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We arrived at 4pm and quickly started our rim walk, trying to soak up as much daylight as possible. This place was so magnificent that I couldn’t fully comprehend what my eyes were seeing. We were also thrilled that most of the rim was unfenced, allowing us to crawl out onto every cliff we dared. I’d really do almost anything for a good photo.

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Lake Powell

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After watching the sun set over the Grand Canyon (pinch me!) we still had to drive several hours up to the Utah Border and the little town of Page. Arriving in pitch black, we were thrilled to wake up to the beautiful Lake Powell. Our resort was a little oasis in the middle of nowhere and the perfect launching pad to explore a couple more big-time sights.

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Horseshoe Bend

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Again, we had trouble photographing the incredible Horseshoe Bend but we had a great time scrambling around just the same. I’d love to come back with a drone someday…

Antelope Canyon

After Horseshoe Bend we made our way to Upper Antelope Canyon for a guided tour, which is required as the canyon is on Navajo land. I have to be honest that the tour was not a pleasant or comfortable experience. We were herded like cattle through the tight walkways and yelled at almost continually to keep moving. We were instructed that we could take photo (no videos) on the way in only and on the way out we would be made to put our cameras away. Megan and I were highly stressed trying to capture photos with people everywhere and the pressure of constantly having to keep moving. Not exactly an experience I’d like to repeat. That being said, we got some epic photos and the canyon was stunning. I can’t imagine what it was like fifteen years ago before social media and the Internet turned it into what it is today.

Our last day was spent making the five hour drive back down to Phoenix with a couple rest stops along the way, that also proved to be quite scenic. It was a weekend that I won’t soon forget. If you haven’t taken the time to explore Arizona yet, make it a priority. It is the most high value trip I’ve taken yet – affordable and worthy of any highlight reel.

The Weirdly Wonderful Austin
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The Weirdly Wonderful Austin

Before I visited Austin, I knew just a few things about the Texas capital. I’d heard that it had good food, good music, and was just a little bit strange. After spending nearly a week  in the live music capital of the world I can clearly say that Austin is weird in all of the best ways.

The Bat Bridge

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When I casually mentioned to a colleague that I was heading to Austin, her first question was “are you going to see the bats?” Not exactly what I was expecting to hear but I’m glad I didn’t miss this major tourist attraction. Every evening from March to October, 1.5 million bats emerge from the underside of the Congress Avenue Bridge. We got to see this phenomenon for ourselves from our perch on that very bridge and marvelled at the sight of the bats rapidly migrating east, devouring ten to twenty thousand pounds of insects on their way. I can think of a few cities (ahem… Winnipeg) who could use their own bat colony.

The Cathedral of Junk

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In very atypical Whitney style, I didn’t really research the Cathedral of Junk before heading to the location on my GPS. I fully expected to find a paid attraction and quickly realized that I was very wrong after walking down a residential street to find said attraction was really just in some guy’s backyard. We hadn’t made an appointment but lucked out that the owner/artist was home and willing to let us explore his backyard for a five dollar donation. What we discovered beyond the fence was a three-story structure of the most random things you can imagine, including a BC license plate (pictured below). If it wasn’t so scorching hot (summer in Texas is no joke) we could have stayed for hours, checking out all the hidden gems. I can honestly say that in all my travels, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

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The Broken Spoke

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It’s no secret that I’m a city girl with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. But, when in Texas, it only seems appropriate to embrace a little southern comfort. For me that meant checking out the most famous honky tonk in Texas. The Broken Spoke hasn’t changed in 50 years and remains one of the last truly authentic dance halls in the state. I had the privilege of getting a two-step lesson from the owner’s 60 year old daughter Terri, a fire-cracker of a woman. With daisy duke shorts, platinum blonde extensions, and no filter, Terri made the evening highly entertaining even for a non-country fan like me.

Street Art

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Austin has a great street art scene, including the famous Graffiti Park where you can leave your own mark on the city. But, the one tag that I really needed to find was the Greetings from Austin sign. The photo is as basic as it comes but I really don’t care.

Duck Adventures

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Mindy and I have a history with big bus tours. We were bored one day while visiting Zagreb, Croatia and ended up spending the whole afternoon on a hop-on hop-off bus. The tour guide wasn’t very interesting and our bus was practically empty so we ended up making our own fun by waving at the locals who gave us hilarious reactions. Ever since then, we’ve had a soft spot for the overly touristy tours. So when we saw that Austin had one of those Duck Adventure tours where the bus also turns into a boat, we knew we had to give it a try. We got our very own duck whistles, which felt very Austin as we quacked our way around town. Unfortunately, the relentless humidity was also very Austin and made it nearly impossible to pay attention to anything but our sweaty bodies. Have I mentioned that Texas in the summer is not for the faint of heart?

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Austin has a lot to offer and I would highly recommend it. We accomplished so much in a long weekend of sightseeing. We ate voodoo donuts, listened to live jazz, drank $1 mimosas, toured the state capital, stayed in a haunted hotel from the 1800s and ate a lot of fried food. I would definitely make a repeat visit in the future… just not in August.

20 photos from 12 days touring New Zealand
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20 photos from 12 days touring New Zealand

How do I begin to write about a trip that was a non-stop highlight reel? I can’t pick a favourite. I can’t sum it up in a quick, casual, water cooler conversation. This past March I spent 12 days touring New Zealand’s South Island with Haka Tours and the Young Adventuress, Liz Carlson. It was both everything and nothing like I thought it would be. While on one hand, it reminded me so much of my beloved British Columbia, it still felt new and exciting and unknown.

It’s taken me months to get around to writing this post because I want to do it justice. I want my words to somehow translate how epic and amazing and beautiful New Zealand is… but I can’t. The words don’t fit the picture.

So here is my attempt to caption my way through the archives of my photo library.

Christchurch

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Our tour started in Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. This photo showcases an art installation memorializing the tragic earthquake of 2011 that took 185 lives. Six years later the city is still rebuilding. Even though actual ruins still take up portions of downtown, the people continue to preserver. They are resilient and creative – hope is alive and well.

Lake Tekapo

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The Church of the Good Shepherd

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I don’t have the skills to take a photo like the one above, but I needed you to see what the stars looked like that night in Lake Tekapo. Seeing the milky way for the first time is a moment that I will never forget. This is what zero light pollution looks like and I want so much more of that in my life.

Lake Pukaki

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Another lovely lake where our group took a few moments to marvel and throw stones. It also just so happens to be the filming location for Laketown of the Hobbit trilogy. No big deal… Middle Earth is just everywhere. Casual.

Waitiri Creek Wines, Central Otago

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I knew this trip was going to be a raging success when we made an impromptu stop at a winery for an afternoon tasting on our way into Queenstown. That’s what’s so great about Haka Tours – we had the ability to tailor our day by the weather and the interests of the group. Wine is definitely one of my number one interests. This is me in my happy place!

Queenstown

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We rocked into Queenstown in the late afternoon with just enough late summer daylight to take a quick trip up the gondola to see the view. This ski town / adventure capital reminded me a lot of Whistler and that is a very good thing. Whistler has always been one of my favourite local spots and Queenstown did not disappoint.

Milford Sound

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It rains over 300 days a year in Milford Sound, a fiord on the South Island’s wild, west coast. So colour me surprised when we ended up with a stunning blue bird day for our afternoon boat cruise. The weather worked overtime to cooperate with our late summer travel itinerary – how lucky am I?

Te Anau

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We made a brief stop in Te Anau on our way back from Fiordland National Park and I was delighted to find these adorable shiraffes (err… llamas) hanging out right beside our bus. I could have watched them all day.

Shotover Canyon

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It’s no secret that I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I’ve already checked the big ticket items off my bucket list – bungee jumping, paragliding, skydiving. So when I got to Queenstown – The Adventure Capital of the World – I was looking for something new to try. Enter the Canyon Swing, a 200m swing with a 60m vertical freefall. Sure, why not launch myself off a cliff? I opted to use the slide and these crazy guys in the photo did their very best to psych me out. It was exhilarating and I even considered jumping again right away.

Wanaka

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A quick search of #thatwanakatree on social media will reveal thousands upon thousands of photos of a very famous willow tree. New Zealand’s most photographed tree rose in popularity over the past few years thanks to instagram, of course. It’s become a bit of a cliche over the years but you have to admit, it looks pretty cool.

Tauparikaka Marine Reserve

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Our first glimpse of the ocean after a week in the mountains felt like coming home. Back in Vancouver, I live by the sea and don’t go a single day without it. Call me spoiled, but now that I know salty air and crashing waves, I can’t be away from it for long.

Fox Glacier

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Driving into the village of Fox Glacier reminded me so much of my hometown in the Fraser Valley. Green farmland surrounded by snowy mountains – that’s where I grew up. Again the weather couldn’t have possibly been better – we knew we were lucky when our guides were freaking out at the views.

Franz Josef

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The coolest thing I did in New Zealand was heli hiking on the Franz Josef Glacier. Just six kilometres from the village centre, this glacier descends from the top of the Southern Alps into the rainforest close to sea level. It was a completely surreal experience to be enjoying hot, subtropical temperatures one moment and walking on a glacier just a short helicopter ride later.

Hokitika Gorge

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My favourite “rest stop” of the trip was at the Hokitika Gorge. My jaw dropped when I saw the turquoise waters. Special thanks to my photographer, Shannon Sproul, and the rest of my haka crew for patiently waiting for me to get this solo shot on the rock. I think I maybe yelled at a few of you… #sorrynotsorry

Punakaiki Valley

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I was mildly obsessed with horses for a solid three years in elementary school so when I had the chance to do some riding in Punakaiki, I didn’t let a little rain slow me down. My horse Appy always had to be in front of the pack, which suited me just fine. I loved that we got to ride through the river and along the beach – basically fulfilling all my girlhood fantasies!

Pancake Rocks

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For a town of 100 people, Punakaiki has a surprising amount to offer. The major attraction is this limestone landscape of pancake-shaped rock formations, blowholes and surge pools. I’ve never seen anything quite like it and would probably have never made it here if it wasn’t for Haka Tours. Have I mentioned how much I loved this tour?

Cape Foulwind

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An awful name for a place with such incredible scenery. During our hourlong walk along the Tasman Sea, we marvelled at the epic waves crashing on the rocks and the adorable seal colony playing in the surf. Not a bad spot to stretch our legs.

Abel Tasman National Park

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New Zealand has nine Great Walks and I got to do one of them – the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Great Walks are premier tracks that pass through diverse and spectacular scenery – and bonus, they are well formed and easy to follow. I opted to travel by boat to Anchorage and walk the 12.4 km back to our campsite in Marahau. Along the way I experienced crescent-shaped coves of golden sand and turquoise waters of the Tasman Bay.

Marahau

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We had a mostly overcast day of tramping in Abel Tasman but the sky finally started to clear back in Marahau, which provided some lovely views at low tide. The sunset that appeared shortly after this photo was taken was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen and I didn’t have my camera. Rookie move! You’ll have to take my word for it.

Nelson

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Nelson is an odd little city on the tip top of the South Island, but I really liked this part with cobblestone streets and palm trees because it reminded me of Spain. This was my view as we drank aperol spritz at 11:00am… don’t judge me, I take vacations very seriously.

Cloudy Bay Vineyards, Blenheim

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And because day drinking is like a part-time job for me, we visited yet another winery, this time in the Marlborough region. We enjoyed a tasting and a leisurely afternoon lazing around on the gorgeous grounds. They absolutely had to force me back on the bus after this one.

There are so many more stories and photos that I’d love to share from my time in NZ but I’ll restrain myself so that this post can actually go live this decade.

The Quest for Rohan
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The Quest for Rohan

Okay lovely readers, if you’re not a Lord of the Rings fan like me, then it’s quite possible that you won’t fully appreciate the magnitude of this post.

But for me, this place… this is why I went to New Zealand.

My favourite film in the LOTR trilogy is The Two Towers which heavily features a fort city called Edoras in the kingdom of Rohan, which is known for being a culture of horsemen. I was spellbound every time the story came back to this magical location and knew that someday I had to see it for myself.

When I started planning my trip, I knew that I was going to try and visit my cousin Dale who happens to live in a small town in Canterbury on the South Island. When I started researching the area I soon realized that Edoras (or Mount Sunday in real life) was located only an hour’s drive away. I didn’t want to put all my hope in actually getting to make it there in person, but to be so close and miss it would have broken my heart.

Fast forward to the day I arrived at the Christchurch Airport… and queue the dreariest, rainiest day you can imagine. I only had a short window (two days) to make the trip to Edoras and I knew that the weather could be a major factor in its success. We waited all day for the rain to subside and it didn’t. I woke up the next morning hoping to see a glimmer of sun, and… nope, still raining. We decided to go for it anyway and wish for the best.

The rain continued for the first half of the drive until we veered off the main highway onto a long, gravel road. To my absolute glee, the clouds started to lift. The drive became a stunning journey into the middle of nowhere (or Middle Earth!). Seriously, we passed some campgrounds and sheep stations and that was about it. I couldn’t even see any power lines.

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And then out of the clouds… I spotted it. EDORAS!!!!

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Is this real life?

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We drove up to the convenient car park and crossed over a series of streams and rivers to reach the base of the mountain. It was an easy 30 minute hike to the top and as soon as we saw the views we wished we had packed a picnic lunch so that we could’ve stayed up there all afternoon. Simply stunning!

IMG_7931IMG_3507IMG_3515IMG_3522At this point in my trip, a mere four days in, I was content. This is what I came to see and everything else would just be icing on the cake. And trust me, there was a lot of icing!

Have you ever travelled to visit a film location?

Are you an LOTR nerd like me?

A Real Life Fairytale in Hobbiton
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A Real Life Fairytale in Hobbiton

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

 

Dreams really do come true!

For 15 years I’ve been telling everyone who would listen to me about my desire to visit the real life Middle Earth… New Zealand. As a lifelong Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan, there was only one top spot on my bucket list and it was firmly reserved for the home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.

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Bag End – The door where it began

Almost immediately after landing in Auckland International Airport, I was on my way to the rolling green pastures of Matamata where the Alexander family sheep farm has been transformed into Hobbiton. Cue major fangirling!

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From re-watching the films and countless hours of behind the scenes footage, I knew that the director of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, Peter Jackson, paid very close attention to Tolkien’s source material in re-creating the world of Middle Earth and specifically the beloved Shire. But, it still blew me away to see real vegetables growing in the gardens and hobbit holes staged as if their tiny owner’s could arrive at any moment. You don’t even need to use your imagination to picture what life in Hobbiton would be like.

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It was evident from the very start of my set tour that love and passion was poured into each intricate detail of the 12 acre movie set. Our guide pointed out the locations of famous scenes, described the filming process, and allowed us heaps of time to take photographs.

The last stop on the tour was the world-famous Green Dragon Inn where we were all invited to sample a specially brewed beverage. Of course I chose beer and eagerly found a spot by the fire to soak in the culmination of such a long awaited dream.

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Before I knew it, we were being ushered out to make room for the next wave of eager tourists but this was really just the start of my Lord of the Rings adventures. I had more locations on my wish list but for that I had to head South… to Edoras.

An Introduction to Bangkok
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An Introduction to Bangkok

Of all the cities in the world that I had yet to visit, I’d probably heard the most about Bangkok. Friends, family, and bloggers a plenty had told stories, shared photos, and broken down all the do’s and don’ts of visiting the Big Mango. Although I’d never set foot in Thailand before, I felt prepared.

  • I was ready for the suffocating humidity thanks to a previous trip to Vietnam.
  • I was armed with a pocketful of Thai currency.
  • Our accommodations were meticulously researched.

But, no amount of research or pre-trip planning can ever truly replace first-hand experience. Especially, since we were visiting during a very unique and tragic time. Just a few weeks prior, the highly beloved King Bhumibol passed away leaving the people of Thailand in a state of mourning. Grieving their king like a family member, the locals were clothed entirely in black, many even traveling far distances to pay their respects.

Upon arrival in Bangkok, my sister-in-law Faith and I queued for a taxi and soon afterwards arrived at our River District digs for the next two nights.

We loved our vantage point on the river because it meant we got to take longboats and ferries on our full day of temple touring. Similarly dressed in black, we set off to visit the newly re-opened Grand Palace.

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We showed up at the palace in a bit of confusion. Everyone was gathering on the sides of the street as if a parade was about to happen. We weren’t sure if we should wait around or not but ultimately we decided to just get our tickets because nobody seemed to know what was going on. And it was at that moment that the skies opened and we experienced a classic Southeast Asian downpour. The rain was so heavy that it bounced off the pavement. We opted to hide and wait, hoping that this would be a short storm. But, after about 45 minutes we gave in and joined the few brave souls slopping around in the puddles.

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We wandered the grounds in eerie solitude, getting a unique opportunity to experience the grandeur and cultural significance of the Grand Palace without the masses. And then as we rounded the corner, we saw hundreds of people huddled under cover in silence, paying their respects. We did our best to enjoy our time but after about an hour of trudging around like a couple of drowned rats, we gave up and high-tailed it into one of the only open buildings we could find – The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. It was actually really cool to see the queen’s wardrobe, which seemed like something you’d picture the British royals wearing. On our way out we almost missed the Activity Room, which would have been a tragedy because they let us play dress up!!

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That was definitely the turning point for the day because from there it just got better. We sought refuge in a restaurant serving up beautifully plated dishes. And I finally got to check eating Pad Thai in Thailand off my bucket list.

We relaxed by the riverfront for a little while longer so that I could enjoy a dessert popsicle inspired by the Thai flag – delicious and very instagrammable :)

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After refilling our tanks we set out for temple #2 and the one that I was most looking forward to seeing – Wat Arun.

We arrived just in time for magic hour and the dreamy light that travel photography dreams are made from. I was absolutely blown away by the immaculate grounds.

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We ended the day back at our hotel with free welcome cocktails by the pool while watching the sunset over the river… oh and an authentic thai massage. I could sure get used to this whole vacation thing. The affordable luxury is one of my favourite things about Bangkok.

Bangkok is a big, noisy, chaotic, exciting city, which is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. But after one full day of barely scratching the surface, I knew that I wanted more. I could easily envision myself coming back again and again with all of the diverse experiences awaiting me.

And with that, we were off to Koh Chang for some much needed R&R but we’d be back again in a few days to take in a totally different neighbourhood, Sukhumvit. There’s nothing like a roof top pool to make you never want to go back to work.

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Our time in Bangkok was brief, but it was enough for me to know that this is my kind of city. I’ll be back… I couldn’t leave if I didn’t believe that.

Have you been to Bangkok? What cities have you visited where you needed more time?

 

 

Departure Lounge: New Zealand
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Departure Lounge: New Zealand

I’m over-the-top excited about my next big travel adventure.

In just 6 weeks I finally get to visit my #1 Dream Destination – N E W  Z E A L A N D !

I am a huge Lord of the Rings nerd and have been obsessed with New Zealand ever since I first saw The Fellowship of the Ring back in 2002. Since then, I’ve learned more about the country through friends, family, and strangers on the Internet and my fascination has only grown. I’ve been told that it is very similar to my beloved BC, which is fantastic because I think I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

With all the traveling that I’ve done over the past 15 years, it’s hard to believe that I haven’t been to New Zealand before. It seems that the two-month window that I’ve been waiting to find in my calendar has yet to appear. So, I’m making the most of the 2.5 weeks available to see as much as possible. I just can’t wait any longer!

I have a jam packed itinerary, which includes visiting friends and family and taking in a tour of the South Island with travel blogger extraordinaire and NZ resident, Liz Carlson, of Young Adventuress. I’m so excited to experience this country with locals and to maybe even pick up some photography tricks from Liz.

I know I won’t be able to check everything off my bucket list this time, so hopefully this is just the beginning.

Itinerary

March 19: Auckland

March 20: Matamata & Rotorua

March 21-22: Orari

March 23: Christchurch & Lake Tekapo

March 24-25: Queenstown

March 26-27: Wanaka

March 28-29: Franz Josef

March 30-31: Punakaiki

April 1-2: Abel Tasman National Park

April 3-4: Wellington

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These are the activities I am most looking forward to:

  • Channeling my inner Baggins in Hobbiton.
  • Zorbing in Rotorua
  • Glacier Hiking at Franz Josef
  • Cruising the awe-inspiring Milford Sound
  • Visiting the WETA studios in Wellington where LOTR came to life!

 

Have you ever been to New Zealand? Any recommendations or travel tips?

2016: A Year in Review
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2016: A Year in Review

Let’s all breathe a collect sigh of relief that 2016 is over. Although, this year wasn’t so terrible for me personally, I know that it was pretty rough for many others. Health scares, miscarriages, terrorist attacks, school stabbings, the fentanyl epidemic, record breaking rain, devastating natural disasters, skyrocketing real estate, the ongoing crisis in Syria, a relentless string of celebrity deaths, and an election season that sucked the life out of everyone. I think I speak for us all when I say, 2016 – good riddance.

But, all that being said, there is still so much of the past 12 months to be grateful for. I made so many new friends and was able to both visit and host friends from far away. It was a transition year for me professionally as I started a fantastic new job in February. As my priorities shifted to spending more time focused on work, this in turn caused a slight dip in my world travels. However, I still managed to maximize weekend getaways and finally hit my milestone 30th country.

As I look back on 2016, I want to remember the good and carry forward a message of hope. There’s still a lot of love and light in the world and nothing teaches that better than travel. So with that being said, here is a look back on my travel adventures during the past 365 days.

1. Seattle, Washington (January)

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I successfully continued my streak of celebrating the new year in a different city for the 3rd year in a row. After a night of feting and fireworks at the Experience Music Project, we began 2016 by exploring Seattle’s Underground City and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. We lucked out with bright blue skies and although I’ve been to Seattle more times than I can remember, this visit was probably my favourite.

2. San Diego, California (February)

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There are few things that I cherish more than my annual trip to San Diego. It is one of my top 10 favourite cities and home to my dear friend Jennie. This trip was extra special as I got to meet her daughter Maggie for the first time. Baby in tow we visited old favourites like La Jolla and Pacific Beach and finally got around to visiting Balboa Park.

3. Victoria, BC (February)

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As I mentioned, I started a new job in February (woo!) and gave myself a week break in between (something I highly recommend). This was the perfect opportunity to tag along with my travel buddy Mindy on a couple of hotel site-visits in our provincial capital. We split our two nights between the Fairmont Empress and the Delta Grand. I got a horrible cold on the way over and it poured rain almost the entire time. But fortunately, I had a great friend and a lovely city to cheer me up.

4. Nanaimo, BC (March)

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I took off for my first business trip with my new job after merely 10 days. With just a 20 minute Harbour Air flight I was in Nanaimo, a commute that would become familiar as I made three additional trips in 2016. I haven’t got the chance to fully explore the area as a tourist but I do love any time I can get on the island. And, I’m a sucker for a seaplane ride, especially when I get to sit up front with the pilot!

5. Calgary / Banff, Alberta (March)

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For Easter weekend, my extended family descended upon Calgary for my cousin Jordan’s wedding. Essentially everybody attending was from out of province, which made it a family reunion of sorts. The wedding itself was at an incredibly picturesque spot in the foothills and it was great to catch up with all my relatives. The trip highlight was definitely when a pack of my cousins and I hit up Mt. Norquay in Banff for a day of skiing. I was thrilled to be back on the slopes after a five year hiatus (how did that happen?) and relieved to know that I hadn’t forgotten how to ski.

6. Bowen Island, BC (April)

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Our third annual girls getaway was yet another huge success. This year we went to nearby Bowen Island, which is quite possibly the easiest and most relaxing city escape for Vancouverites. Just a short half hour ferry ride landed us on a beautiful little island in a quaint cottage with lakes and hiking at our door step. We once again lucked into perfect spring weather and spent most of our time drinking wine and catching up with Rachel, freshly back from 9 months in Quebec. Four years post-university and we’re still going strong.

7. Montreal, Quebec (May)

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This year I decided to see more of my home country. That may have had something to do with the exchange rate, but mostly because Canada is amazing. On the top of my list was Montreal, where I wouldn’t have to break out my grade school French but could still get a major dose of culture. I met up with my friend Katie, who recently moved to Ontario, and checked ourselves into an adorable apartment near Le Plateau. The summer temperatures and festival atmosphere made for a super fun weekend. We ate poutine and bagels and watched Cirque de Soleil and rode bikes through the Old Town at night. It was a great intro to Quebec and I look forward to exploring more of the province in the future.

8. North Cascades National Park, Washington (July)

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This year’s annual camping trip occurred over the Canada Day long weekend at a super secret camp ground in the states. Thanks to my expert camper friends we enjoyed a quiet weekend floating on a mostly deserted lake with warm but not hot weather. Basically just eating and playing board games and sitting around a camp fire. We also may or may not have decorated our tents with Canadian flags and paraded through the campground with face tattoos. Yup – we are those people.

9. Whistler, BC (July)

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It wouldn’t be summer in the Pacific Northwest if I didn’t take a trip to Whistler, and lucky for my bank account, this time it was for work. The sunny weather only lasted one evening but it was still fun to run around in the forest with our senior manager group – who knew accountants were so competitive? It also didn’t hurt that we were staying at the Westin. #workperks

10. Kelowna, BC (August)


One of my favourite summer traditions is heading to Kelowna with all my extended family. I have several Aunt’s and Uncle’s who have places on the Lake and between them we have two boats. So this past August I spent 2 days wakeboarding and wine tasting with my pack of 20 something cousins. It was fantastic! I’m continually thankful for a family that I actually really like to hang out with.

11. Chicago, Illinois (September)

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I cannot for the life of me figure out why Chicago doesn’t get more buzz. It’s such a fantastic city. Great food and entertainment in a gorgeous setting on Lake Michigan. My first trip to the windy city was with my perennial travel buddy Mindy. We took a red eye flight and made the most of the Labour Day long weekend. We crammed in everything from deep dish pizza to the famed architecture boat tour to comedy at Second City. If it wasn’t for the winters, I could totally see myself living in Chi-town one day.

12. New York City, New York (October)

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After nearly nine years, I finally made it back to New York City. This time in early autumn, which I think is probably the most perfect time to visit the Big Apple. Once again accompanied by Mindy, we conquered a giant portion of our NYC bucket list. My most memorable activities were visiting the 9/11 Museum and attending the off-broadway show Sleep No More. Seriously, you must experience this show! But what surprised me the most was how overwhelmed I felt by the crowds. I’m a total city girl and usually love the hustle and bustle, but NYC took it out of me. I found myself craving nature and some quiet time in the park. I guess that’s why Vancouver is the perfect city for me.

13. Taiwan (November)

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Taiwan was an unexpected surprise stopover on route to Thailand. We had a full day to explore, which was made even easier by the free half-day tours offered at the Taipei airport. We visited a temple, and made pastries, and attempted to chat with the locals. It was such a low stress way to kick start our vacation.

14. Thailand (November)

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My 30th country! I was so deliriously happy to be on vacation in a warm, tropical destination. It was made even better by the fact that my sister-in-law tagged along to help me enjoy all the affordable luxuries available in Southeast Asia. Cheap massages and tailors and beer, oh my! I was slightly concerned about visiting Thailand in the wake of their beloved king’s death, but even in mourning, the Thai people blew me away with their kindness and generosity. I know this won’t be my last trip to the Land of Smiles.

15. Portland, Oregon (December)

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Another annual tradition is forming, where I  make the 5 hour drive down the I-5 to visit my cousins in Portland. My only goals for this particular trip were beer and brunch, both easily accomplished within hours of my arrival. Fortunately, the weather gods smiled upon us and we were able to spend the entire day on Sunday adventuring in the Columbia River Gorge, one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon. We stopped for a panorama view at Vista House and at the famous Multnomah Falls for a photo-op and then hiked to Wahclella Falls (pictured above) nearly in solitude. We even had time to drive over the Bridge of the Gods into Washington to stop at the Panther Creek Falls (yes, more waterfalls!) before we ran out of daylight (take that TLC). It’s no wonder that US Congress recognized this area as the largest National Scenic area in America.

16. Vernon, BC (December)

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My final getaway of 2016 was to the stunning Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa in Vernon, BC. My family Christmas celebrations got moved earlier in the month so I was free to grab my girl Erica for a spa getaway that has ruined me for all future spas. The sprawling hotel is perched on a hill overlooking Lake Okanagan and lavished with Swarovski crystal decor. It was luxurious and relaxing and definitely worth the slightly harrowing drive up the Coquihalla highway.

2016: By the Numbers

Countries Visited: 3 (2 new ones) –  USA / Taiwan / Thailand

States Visited: 5 (1 new one) – Washington / California / Illinois / New York / Oregon

Provinces Visited: 3 (1 new one) – British Columbia / Alberta / Quebec

Plane Rides Taken: 15 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Other Modes of Transportation: 8 ferries, 2 buses, and more vehicles than I care to count.

Airports Visited: 12 (YVR, YXX, YYC, YOW, YUL, YYZ, BLI, SAN, ORD, EWR, BKK, TPE)

Kilometres Flown in 2016: 44, 542

Beds Slept In: 21. Of those, 11 were hotels, 5 were crashing with family or friends, 3 were Airbnb rentals, one was a tent, and one was my own bed!

Blog Posts: 14 (eek… I was really lazy on the blogging front this year)

Most Popular Posts:

An Ode to Brisbane

Hello Seattle, Hello 2016!

Montreal Memoire: 3 Days in Canada’s Cultural Capital

The Most Beautiful Beaches in Australia

What are your favourite travel memories of 2016?

What are you looking forward to most in the new year?

Sweet Simplicity on Koh Chang
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Sweet Simplicity on Koh Chang

When I chose Thailand for a weeklong vacation, my only goal was relaxation. I knew that I wouldn’t have enough time to see everything on my wish list so I didn’t even try. Someday when I have more time, I will return to the Land of Smiles to explore all the jungles, beaches, and temples that my heart desires.

In the meantime, I set my sights on Lonely Beach. After a couple of nights in bustling Bangkok, my sister-in-law Faith and I journeyed to the most Eastern edge of Thailand to its second biggest island, Koh Chang.

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Koh Chang is one of the lesser known tourist destinations in Thailand, which was exactly what appealed to me. Quiet. Beautiful. Secluded. The perfect spot for our “sistermoon” and perhaps one of the best kept secrets in Southeast Asia.

Upon arrival at the 3 star Warapura Resort we quickly fell into a blissfully relaxing daily routine. Each morning we woke at our leisure in our private waterfront villa and enjoyed breakfast by the ocean. After sipping on Americanos and lazying around in hammocks, we walked down to the white sand beach.

Once we got to the beach, we rented beach chairs and an umbrella and set up camp for the day. The aptly named Lonely beach was sparsely populated with soft white sand and crystal clear turquoise water as warm as a bath. It was pure heaven and I never wanted to leave. We spent most of our time in the water, taking breaks to quench our thirst with the local Chang beer. It’s a tough life.

 

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After we had our daily fill of Vitamin D we walked back to our home away from home to shower off the salt water and catch up on wifi time. Our location on the western side of the island was ideal for coupling happy hour cocktails with sunset watching each evening. I’ll never tire of fiery skies.

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One of the best things about Thailand is the affordable luxury. Each evening we ordered authentic Thai dishes like pad thai, papaya salad and mango sticky rice for just a few dollars and pampered ourselves with pedicures and massages that would cost 5 times more at home.

I can’t say enough good things about this little slice of paradise and the opportunity to get a week of quality time with my sis. It was short and sweet and simply the best! I’m so glad that I opted for an untraditional vacation destination. It was definitely worth the long flight.

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 What’s the most relaxing vacation you’ve taken? Where should I go next?

Photo Essay: Visiting Taiwan for Free!
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Photo Essay: Visiting Taiwan for Free!

I’ll be honest – Taiwan wasn’t on the top of my travel bucket list but when the cheapest flight to Thailand involved a 15 hour layover in Taipei, we decided to make the most of it.

Lucky for us, the Taoyuan International Airport offers FREE half day tours. That’s right – 100% free. After disembarking and breezing through customs we signed up for the daily morning tour. The itinerary included a stop at the Shou Sin Fang Creativity Wagashi and Cultural Centre, which is essentially a pastry factory (yes please!). We got to make our own pastries (which we quickly devoured) and then roamed the factory sampling as many local cakes and pastries as possible.

Our second stop was at the Zushi Temple in the bustling town of Sanxia, just 22km southwest of Taipei. There we learned about the Taoist religion and participated in some of the religious practices like lighting incense and learning our fortunes (my future looks pretty excellent!). We also got to wander around the beautiful  surroundings, soaking up the sunshine and striking up friendships with the locals.

Although, it was just a taste of what Taiwan has to offer, it was enough to entice me to return some day for a longer visit. Thanks for the memories TPE.

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The Best Things I Ate in NYC
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The Best Things I Ate in NYC

When thinking about travel, food is often a major influencer in where I go. This year has been filled with foodie trips to cities like Montreal and Chicago, but surprisingly my stomach was not a major player in my NYC planning. That was until a few days before departure, when I booked a food tour of Chinatown and Little Italy (more on that to come). That set the tone for the rest of the trip which was all about sampling the local cuisine.

Bagel & Cream Cheese: Absolute Bagels

My favourite bite of the trip was a complete surprise to me. Although, cream cheese icing is one of my guilty pleasures, I have ranked plain cream cheese at the top of my ultimate dislike list. Totally bizarre, I know. But, I was adamant that I would try the top rated Absolute bagels with cream cheese in true New York fashion regardless of my taste buds. My bagel of choice was sesame with a garlic and chive cream cheese and it was BEYOND! I am fully converted now and I can happily enjoy both the sweet and savoury varieties.

Pizza: Lombardi’s

We knew that pizza was a must-eat in NYC, and when we learned that Little Italy was home to the oldest pizzeria in America, we set our sights on Lombardi’s. I can’t say that it was the best pizza of my life but it was certainly tasty and a cool experience too.

Milkshakes: Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

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I saw a blog post about Black Tap’s crazy shakes a few months ago and I really hoped we’d be able to squeeze in a visit. We almost didn’t make it due to the hour long wait (at 2pm on a Wednesday) but we were sure glad we did. This monstrous cookie shake was the perfect send off to fuel us for the flight home. Or at least that’s what I told myself to ignore the sugar coma.

Pork Dumpling: Tasty Dumpling

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 I’m not a huge Chinese food fan. It’s not that I dislike the food, I just like pretty much everything else more. But, I’m always game to try new things and I surprised myself with how much I ended up enjoying these pork dumplings in Chinatown. They are also super cheap so if anyone ever challenges you to eat for under $5 in NYC, this is your spot.

Cannoli: Ferrara Cafe

The way to my heart is surely through the bakery. That’s probably why I’m so fond of Peeta from the Hunger Games. Or something. Well, my happiness metre was off the charts with the cannoli from family-run Ferrara Cafe. The century old pasticceria was so delicious that we came back again a couple days later. Just doing my part to eat local.

Cheesecake: Junior’s

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One of my all-time favourite desserts is cheesecake so you know I had to make a trip to the NYC restaurant claiming to serve the The World’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake. Upon review, it was definitely an excellent cheesecake but I could have done without the strawberry “goop” on top. Due to the popularity, the cheesecake did have a manufactured feel that I could have done without. I prefer a cake that looks and tastes like it was made by my grandmother.

I know that I missed so many amazing New York restaurants.
What should I add to my list for the next trip?
The Best Free Things to do in New York
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The Best Free Things to do in New York

It’s no secret that New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But, on my recent trip to the Empire State, I was pleasantly surprised by all the fantastic and FREE activities to enjoy in the Big Apple.

Central Park

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Central Park is undoubtedly the most famous park in the entire world, and an important check on every NYC bucket list. Countless movies and TV shows have been filmed in this iconic spot which makes it all the more exhilarating to explore. It was surreal to see the Bow Bridge (pictured above) in real life. It felt oddly familiar from all the times I’d seen it before on the screen. New York is like that, familiar and foreign all at once.

Staten Island Ferry

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The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of hope and freedom to many immigrants who moved to America throughout the centuries. Tourists can pay to tour both Liberty Island and Ellis Island but the ferry to Staten Island is 100% free. The quick 25 minute ride through the harbour offers a perfect viewing point to get that coveted photograph of Lady Liberty in all her splendour as well as scenic shots of downtown Manhattan from the water.

The High Line

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The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side. It is also one of the newer additions to NYC and wasn’t around on my inaugural trip back in 2007, which put it at the top of my list this time around. It’s the perfect place for a Sunday stroll with gardens, city views, and little restaurants along the way.

Grand Central Station

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Grand Central is the largest railway station in the world and the 6th most visited tourist attraction in the world according to Travel + Leisure magazine. After experiencing the size and grandeur of this historic building for myself, it’s no wonder so many choose to spend their precious New York minutes here.

The Brooklyn Bridge

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This NYC trip was dedicated to Manhattan but I’ve decided that my next trip will be based in Brooklyn. So as a teaser of coming attractions, we walked from Battery Park along the East River to the famed Brooklyn bridge. I love that the architects planned for an elevated pedestrian walkway to truly enjoy the experience.

New York Public Library

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I’ve always loved libraries. It completely blows my mind that there can be so many books in the world and I will read such a small fraction. When I heard that the Rose Reading Room in the NYPL was finally re-opening to the public after over two years of restorations, I was thrilled with my trip timing. This particular room is the length of two city blocks and holds about 52,000 books. Words really can’t describe it.

9/11 Memorial

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September 11, 2001 is a day that I and the majority of people around the world will never forget. It was my 14th birthday. I was wearing a blue skirt and a yellow shirt and I heard the news from my carpool on the way to school. I remember sitting in shock during Social Studies as footage of the planes crashing played on repeat. It was horrifying and surreal and a life changing day in history. I am not American but I too felt violated that day. I have many American friends and family members so this tragedy felt personal to me too. If it could happen in New York, it could happen anywhere.

I was finally able to visit the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero and the emotional 9/11 Museum last week. I was on the brink of tears for the better part of two hours while I re-watched the footage and listened to the testimonies of survivors. I was most affected by the voice mail recordings of the plane passengers in the moments before they lost their lives. The words of love for their family members were so beautiful and heart-wrenching. I cannot fathom the depth of that pain. But rather than living in fear or anger, I want to commemorate the lives lost by choosing peace, and hope, and love.

Take the time to visit the 9/11 Memorial and pay the extra to visit the museum. It’s worth it.

Riverside Park

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I am a self-delcared city girl and not one to shy away from crowds. But, after a few chaotic days in New York City, I was ready to retreat. Enter – Riverside Park. This lovely oasis on the Upper West Side was a convenient spot to savour our breakfast bagels and to enjoy some peace and quiet. You can tell that this is a local haunt and not somewhere frequented by tourists. I could have happily wandered for hours.

Charging Bull

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The Charging Bull, more commonly known as the Wall Street bull is the photographed art piece in the city and a symbol of the Financial District. Good luck getting a shot without strangers photo-bombing in the background.

Now what did I miss? What is your favourite free activity in New York?

 

A Weekenders Guide to Chicago
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A Weekenders Guide to Chicago

“My first day in Chicago, September 4, 1983. I set foot in this city, and just walking down the street, it was like roots, like the motherland. I knew I belonged here.” — Oprah Winfrey

I’ve had the Windy City in my sights for several years now. When I announced that I had finally booked a trip to the architectural mecca, friends, colleagues, and casual acquaintances couldn’t stop singing its praises. As my wish list of food, sights and shows continued to grow with every passing conversation my only concern was how to fit it all in.

With merely a long weekend to spare, my trusty travel partner, Mindy, and I wasted no time in hitting as many of the cultural and foodie hot spots as possible. Good thing I’m basically an expert at the weekend getaway by now.

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We landed at O’Hare International on Saturday morning after a red-eye flight and made a bee-line for the famed Millennium Park with a brief detour past Navy Pier. On our way we passed by Giordano’s and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finally try the much anticipated Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

We ordered a small cheese and pepperoni stuffed deep dish, which was intended to serve 1-2 people. We were hungry and barely finished half. This stuff is no joke. It was delicious but also not something I’m prepared to eat again anytime soon. Sorry Chicago, but I still prefer New York style.

Next on our agenda was the world-famous Chicago Bean. I’ve been to my fair share of monuments and tourist sites over the years and I was dumb-struck by the sheer magnitude of the crowd. In retrospect, visiting on a sunny, Saturday afternoon on a long weekend in summer probably wasn’t the best strategy for people-free photos. The public sculpture is actually titled Cloud Gate and certainly earns its popularity with its very cool reflective and distorting abilities.

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After visiting the bean, we decided to continue exploring Millenium park. We ended up stumbling across Buckingham fountain which I had never heard of before but turned out to be one of the most impressive fountains I’ve seen. And unlike the bean, it was nearly devoid of crowds while offering both stunning lake views and skyline vistas. My favourite surprise of the trip!

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From there the only place to top what we’d already seen was to shoot for the sky. So that’s exactly what we did at the Observation deck on the 94th Floor of 360 Chicago. The adrenaline junkie in me couldn’t resist trying out the TILT which essentially involves standing in a window that tilts outwards over the skyline. It wasn’t nearly as scary as the squealing girls riding beside would have you believe. But, if heights aren’t your thing then consider yourself warned.

We also made sure to time our visit so that we would be able to take in golden hour and sunset and even splurged for cocktails – now that’s what I call Happy Hour!

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Believe it or not, we managed to fit all of those activities into Day 1 after a red-eye flight. Needless to say, we were ready to call it a night by 9:00pm. We woke up well-rested and ready to take on another jam-packed day.

We kicked off round two with the much touted Architecture Boat Tour. Nearly every single person I spoke with about my upcoming trip to Chicago recommended this tour specifically so we knew that it needed to happen. The people were not wrong. After boarding our open air vessel and toasting with a morning mimosa, we spent the next 90 minutes in the very good hands of the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The tour expertly guided us down all three branches of the Chicago river showcasing more than 50 skyscrapers, bascule bridges, and historic sites along the way. Informative and stunning – this was a trip highlight.

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Our next foodie goal was sampling an authentic Chicago-style hot dog. Our vendor of choice was Portillo’s which is known for the local delicacy. This “restaurant” could not be more American if it was located in the White House itself. The americana memorabilia and frenzy of calorie consumption was almost too much to handle but we soldiered on. I wasn’t sure if I could truly enjoy a hot dog without ketchup but the Chicago-original delivered.

In case you’re curious, the ingredients of this particular style dog include yellow mustard, chopped white onions, relish, dill pickle spear, sliced tomato, pickled peppers, a dash of celery salt on a poppy seed bun.

We had just enough time to Uber from downtown to Old Town to see a show by the legendary improv company – Second City. This is the same place where famed comedians Bill Murray, Tina Fey, and Steve Carrell got their starts. The performers we saw had some very big shoes to fill and they delivered a fantastic show of sketch and improv that lived up to its title Fast, Loud, and Funny. 

We took the scenic way home along the beach to dip our toes in Lake Michigan. I still can’t believe that it’s a lake and not the ocean. This is a seriously photogenic city and so much more than just the home of Oprah and Obama.

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As the weekend drew to a close we knew we hadn’t seen it all. With more time I would have loved to check out a jazz club and taken in a Cubs game at Wrigley field. But, I always like to leave a few activities still on the table because then I know I’ll have to come back again. I’m not finished with the Windy City yet.

 

Bowen Island: The Perfect VanCity Escape
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Bowen Island: The Perfect VanCity Escape

I’ve made it a personal mission to visit as many of the lovely islands off the coast of Vancouver as humanly possible. So far that list includes Galiano, Keats, Salt Spring, Thetis, Vancouver Island and most recently Bowen. Each island offers something similar and at the same time unique.

And of all the islands I’ve visited so far, the one that is the obvious choice for best day trip from Vancouver is… Bowen Island.

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A couple of months back, I organized my third annual spring getaway with my university girlfriends. Now that we are all settled with careers and busy lives, I know that we all look forward to our quiet weekends away to relax and refresh.

What makes Bowen Island the perfect retreat from city life?

Proximity

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Bowen is conveniently located in the Howe Sound just a short 30-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Many people even make a daily commute to the mainland for work or school. We were all able to put in a full-day of work before heading to the ferry terminal, knowing that departures left nearly every hour. Exactly the type of stress-free travel that I’m looking for after a busy week.

Serenity

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Within seconds of disembarking at Snug Cove, I could feel the calmness settling in. The Sunshine Coast is quiet and tranquil and full of natural beauty. It’s almost hard to believe that a place like this exists merely an hour away (door to door) from my big city life.

Our itinerary for the weekend was pretty simple: Spend time outdoors, enjoy good food, and be together. We chose an adorable cottage in the woods off of Airbnb and opted to make all of our meals at home. Even though the island is quite populated and definitely no hidden gem, it still felt at times like we were on our own. Stillness can be hard to come by in our tech-filled world, so I seek nature to ground me as often as possible.

Activity

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Although I keep touting relaxation and the “lack” of activity, there actually are quite a few things to do on the island. Our group enjoyed visiting the shops in the small town of Snug Cove (so adorable!) and wandering along the seaside boardwalk. The stunning views of Howe Sound always remind me of the fjords in Norway (or at least what I imagine they would like… that one is still on the bucket list for now).

We also did a short hike right from the main ferry dock to Dorman Point where we admired the arbutus-strewn plateau and tried to sneak a peak of the mainland. We wrapped up the day with a leisurely stroll around Killarney Lake, which is another popular area within reasonable walking distance from the main pier.

 

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We ended up spending two nights on Bowen Island but we all agreed that it would be just as easy to do a day trip if you want to save on accommodation expenses. I’m glad we took our time to savour the delicious spring weather and island vibes, but sometimes a day away is all you need to recharge your batteries.

Montreal Memoire: 3 Days in Canada’s Cultural Capital
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Montreal Memoire: 3 Days in Canada’s Cultural Capital

For someone who has visited over 300 cities across 6 continents, I’ve sadly seen very little of my own country by comparison. When the Canadian dollar started to tank towards the end of last year, I decided that 2016 would be the year of Canada. I called up my friend Katie in Toronto and organized a long weekend in Montreal, a city I’ve wanted to visit for years. It would be the first time in Quebec for us both. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but as it turns out, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.

I took a red-eye flight, arriving in Montreal early Saturday morning. After waking Katie up in our adorable Airbnb apartment and enjoying a wake-up coffee on our lovely terrace, we set off to to explore.

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Feeling fresh on no sleep – Take that jet lag!

Lachine Canal

We didn’t intentionally go looking for the canal but somehow I’m always drawn to the water. When we stumbled across the Lachine Canal we decided to take advantage of the warm weather and stroll along the path to the Old Port. Along the way we discovered that the park is also a National Historic Site and the third most beautiful urban circuit in the world as ranked by Time magazine in 2009.

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Vieux Port

After walking the canal we ended up in the Old Port which is by far the most touristy part of Montreal. We strolled the cobblestone streets, visited the stunning Notre Dame cathedral, and spontaneously bought tickets to the latest Cirque du Soleil show, Luzia. We simply couldn’t pass the opportunity to see Cirque in the place where it originated. It was a fantastic Mexican inspired production that wowed me even as a long-time fan. We even had the privilege of running into several of the star performers later the next day when they were casually doing back flips in the street. When in Montreal…

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I’ve already written about all the delicious food that we ate in Montreal but my favourite location was certainly Chez Suzette. We had a lovely spot in the window where we could enjoy our crepes and some epic people watching. Basically the perfect setting for our 10 year friendaversary celebration!

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Mont Royal

On Day 2 my main objective was to visit the Mont Royal park, which I didn’t realize is actually a large volcanic hill/small mountain. I heard that there was a great viewpoint, which should have tipped me off that we would have a climb ahead of us to reach the Chalet. It was well worth the effort for the views and subsequent relaxing in the park.

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Parc Jean Drapeau

The rest of our day was a bit haphazard. We had a plan to check out the first day of the Piknic Électronik, an EDM festival that happens every Sunday throughout the summer at Parc Jean Drapeau. However, by the time we got there, the line to buy tickets was so long that we figured we wouldn’t make it inside by closing. So, instead we opted to try out the much touted bike share and get ourselves some Bixis. We rode around the park and then ultimately decided to find our way back to the Old Port. A lot easier said than done considering the lack of bike lanes and the steep incline to the bridge. We made it across though and were rewarded again with some lovely views of the city.

Along the way we made friends with Samantha from LA and the three of us spent the rest of the evening riding through the city, searching for night life, and making friends with locals. It was one of those spontaneous nights that made me feel fully alive, like this is what it means to be young and adventurous and free.

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We ended our trip on Monday with a relaxing walk through our neighbourhood to a local Polish bakery.

Montreal is completely unique to any city I’ve ever been before. The history and language made it feel slightly European, while still maintaining a distinctly Canadian feel. The people were so friendly and the city was notably vibrant and energetic.

At the end of any trip, I’m always wishing for at least one more day. But, even though I didn’t scratch every item off my wish-list, I had a truly memorable starter weekend in Montreal. I have a feeling that I’ll be back. Until next time… À bientôt Montréal! 

 

The Best Food I ate in Montreal
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The Best Food I ate in Montreal

One weekend in Montreal was in no way enough time to experience all of the culinary delicacies and amazing restaurants in this city. But… I did the best that I could and these are some of the dishes that topped my list.

Caution: Photos below may induce hunger.

Poutine: La Banquise and Les Folies

When I mentioned to friends in conversation that I was planning a trip to Montreal, the first thing they recommended was poutine. And La Banquise came up again and again as the go-to spot. This place has been creating legendary poutine creations since the 1980’s and offers no less than 30 different types. We struggled to decide but eventually opted to share two: (1) La Reggae: ground beef, guacamole, diced tomatoes & hot peppers and (2) L’Astérix: smoked meat, mushrooms, sour cream & pepper sauce (both pictured above left).

 

And no weekend getaway would be complete without brunch so in true Montreal form, I ordered La Voisine de Poutine at Les Folies, basically breakfast poutine. Mais oui!

 

Crêpes: Chez Suzette

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Since Montreal is in the French speaking part of Canada, it is also a great place to try French-inspired cuisine. I indulged my sweet tooth with La Rougemont, which is a sweet crêpe with apples, cinnamon, ice cream, and almonds served with 100% pure Quebec maple sirop. This may have been my dinner and I’m not mad about it.

Avo Yo Toast: Buck 15 Espresso Bar

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 I’m pretty sure that the Avocado Toast craze is not a “Montreal thing” but I was plenty delighted to see it on the menu at Buck 15. This unassuming coffee shop had a beautifully curated breakfast menu that made me want to return every day just so I could try them all.

Bagels: Fairmount 

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I didn’t know this before I visited Montreal, but apparently the city has its own critically acclaimed style. In contrast to the New York-style bagel, the Montreal bagel is smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole, and is always baked in a wood-fired oven. I was under strict orders to head to Fairmount, which claims to have the best bagels in the world. I don’t know that I’ve sampled enough bagels in my life to have a firm opinion but I definitely liked what I tasted. I recommend the Chocolate Chip and the Sesame Seed.

 

On this trip we also enjoyed Sangria, Smoked Meat sandwiches, and delicious French pastries. I can’t wait to return so that I can add to my list – what do you recommend?

 

Mastering the Weekend Getaway
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Mastering the Weekend Getaway

Things have been quieter than usual on the blogging front these days… mostly because I started a new job (yeah!!) and am focusing on my home life. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been traveling. Since February, I’ve squeezed in trips to San Diego, Victoria, Calgary, Bowen Island, and this weekend I’m flying to Montreal for my first-ever trip to Quebec!

I know that I’ll never have as many vacation days as I would like but I’m not going to let that stop me from achieving my travel goals. And my key to success is the Weekend Getaway. I’ve briefly written about this before when I explained How I Travel the World with a Full-time Job but I feel like it’s time for a more detailed analysis.

Here are my tips for Mastering the Weekend Getaway

1. Explore your Own Backyard

I am spoiled because I live in the ridiculously good-looking Pacific Northwest with a plethora of gorgeous islands, lakes, and mountains to explore. But no matter where you live, I’m certain that there are places worth exploring nearby. I am slowly working my way through a lengthy list of local wonders and weekends are the perfect way to start checking them off. It doesn’t even feel like a sacrifice to spend time close to home rather than in more exotic destinations. I want to see the world and that includes my home province. It’s also SO easy to pack a small bag for two nights and scoot out of the city on a Friday evening.

Vancouver Skyline

From City…

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To relaxation in an hour

2. Don’t be afraid of the Red Eye

I may not suffer from jet lag when I travel, but sleeping on planes is not one of my strengths. For this reason, I’ve always been intimidated by the red-eye flight. But, I tried one back in 2014 on route to Boston for a long weekend and it was really great. Not only did I avoid a night of accommodation expenses, but I gained an entire day in the city. It was so successful that I used it again in 2015 to fly home from Maui, heading straight from the airport to work to save a vacation day. Might seem extreme but it’s a small price to pay for a weekend in paradise!

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Hello Paradise!

3. Have a Plan but Don’t Plan too Much

I’m a planner by nature so coming up with a detailed trip itinerary actually brings me joy. However, restrained planning is actually key to making a weekend getaway successful. If you jam pack too much activity into a short amount of time, it can leave you exhausted. On the flip side, no planning can mean that you end up in a town where everything closes at 5pm and you have nothing but bad cable TV for company.

I like to do my research and then come up with a couple of things that I really want to do while factoring in relaxation and exploration time. There is nothing worse then returning to work on Monday morning, needing a weekend to recover from your weekend. Have a goal for your trip and make choices that will help you achieve it. If the goal is relaxation, choose a location that is easy to get to and a little bit off the grid. If your goal is adventure, plan a road trip or visit an action-packed city.

 

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Lazy days in Snug Cove

 

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Always something new to see in Seattle

 

Getting out of town for a long weekend or even a mere two nights may not seem like enough time to see much, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. Every weekend away has been worth the effort and has truly made it possible for me to travel the world while maintaining a full-time job.

My office is closing early and I’m off on yet another red-eye flight tonight. Tomorrow I will wake up in Montreal! Bring on the poutine!

Where are you going to explore on a weekend getaway?

 

Back to California: The San Diego Obsession
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Back to California: The San Diego Obsession

Contrary to popular belief… I am not moving to San Diego, as much as I may wish otherwise. After my annual pilgrimage to America’s Finest City last month, I reflected once again on why I fall more in love with California living each time I visit.

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There are some very obvious advantages: Near constant sunshine, + 25 ºC weather in February, an abundance of delicious Mexican food (mmm… fish tacos!), palm trees and beaches as far as the eye can see… I could go on and on.

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I love the laid back lifestyle and I love that after six visits, I am still discovering (and re-discovering) favourite places, eateries, and activities.

Balboa Park

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I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to finally explore Balboa Park. If you want to get technical, I did visit the famous San Diego Zoo back in 2009 which is located in the area of Balboa Park. But, I have never spent time touring the park itself, which is gigantic and lovely. I could have easily spent the entire day marveling at the Spanish architecture, watching street performers, and admiring the manicured gardens. I’m already itching to return.

Pacific Beach Boardwalk

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There is something so lovely about returning to the same familiar spot year after year. My best friend Jennie just so happens to live in Pacific Beach, and the first thing we do every time I visit is take a walk down to the PB Boardwalk. This area is quintessential California. You’ve got surfers, roller skaters, cyclists, and everyone from retirees to families on vacation. I love the endless beach, the waves crashing on the outstretched pier, the palm tree lined sidewalks… This never gets old.

La Jolla

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No trip to San Diego would be complete without brunch and a stroll along the cliffs in La Jolla. There’s always a new place to sample or an angle that I haven’t photographed yet (although that seems impossible!). There’s just something soothing and revitalizing about this seaside community that instantly relaxes me. These are the moments that I store up and savour to keep me going long after I’ve returned home.

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 Do you have a favourite state?

Do you ever return to the same place again and again?

 

 

The Most Beautiful Beaches in Australia
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The Most Beautiful Beaches in Australia

With more than 10,000 beaches around its shores, Australia leads the way when it comes to incredible sand and surf. Now in my all too brief three weeks down under, I didn’t see nearly enough of them to formulate a comprehensive review. But, I was so blown away by both the quantity and quality of the beaches I did see that I had to share some of my favourites.

Wategos Beach, Byron Bay, NSW

IMG_5132This isn’t the main beach in Byron Bay but it is quite a lovely little slice of paradise. I stumbled upon this spot on my walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and I couldn’t help taking a pit stop. Surfers and sun worshippers alike could be spotted frolicking in the waves – the relaxing vibes were contagious!

Tugun Beach, Gold Coast, NSW

IMG_5157There is nothing I love more than beach photography and I always get a twinge of excitement when I spot a lifeguard tower. This massive, pristine, and virtually deserted beach was not on my itinerary. In fact, this was really just a bathroom break on our way from Byron Bay to Brisbane… not too shabby.

Noosa North Shore, Sunshine Coast, QLD

IMG_5181When I hear the word “camping” this view is not what immediately springs to mind. But THIS is camping in Australia! Across the river from Noosa Heads and Noosaville is Noosa North Shore – a long stretch of white sand, dunes and beautiful coastline, and the gateway to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island and Great Sandy National Park. Only accessible by a short two minute ferry this site is most suitable for experienced campers… so clearly not me. Good thing I had a crew of Aussies to show me the ropes!

Rainbow Beach, Wide Bay, QLD

IMG_5242Ahhh Rainbow Beach!!!! Doing the Great Beach Drive was the coolest thing I did in Australia. It was an adrenaline filled ride mixing one part terror (at getting stuck or swept into the ocean) and two parts amazing! Why don’t the highways at home look like this?!

Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW

IMG_5471This may have been the most crowded beach I saw in Australia but it is certainly popular for a reason. Just minutes away from downtown Sydney, this gorgeous stretch of beach is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. If I ever move here this would be my Saturday hangout for sure!

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, QLD

IMG_2620And last, but CERTAINLY not least… Whitehaven Beach! This is the #1 rated beach in Australia and frequently rated in the top five beaches in the WORLD!! This immaculate stretch of heaven on Whitsunday Island was the highlight of my time in the Great Barrier Reef. The water was like a bath, the sand was silky smooth, squeaking between my toes, and as you can tell, not crowded in the slightest. It was like a dream! Take me back please!

I’m always on the hunt for fantastic beaches… Where are some of your favourites?

Leave a Comment Below.

 

There’s Something about Sydney
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There’s Something about Sydney

It’s always an interesting experience to visit a city that is super famous. The first time that I visited both Paris and New York I kept feeling like somehow I’d been there before. This isn’t surprising considering how many movies are filmed in both cities, yet still the familiarity was surreal.

I’ve been hearing about Sydney for years and especially how much I was going to love it. Often compared to my beloved Vancouver, I had high expectations for my first visit. And although many of the sites were exactly how I imagined, the city as a whole was completely different.

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Sydney from above

For starters, Sydney is BIG. Think NYC big. With a population of over 4 million people, the CBD was always buzzing with activity. Instantly I decided that Sydney was no Vancouver. The comparisons do make sense of course – harbour city, new city, multicultural city… but the vibe is 100% Australian.

I think I hit the nail on the head when I decided that Sydney is New York on vacation. If NYC could just absorb some of the Aussie chill and spend more time at the beach, then they’d be on the same page. That’s my theory anyways.

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The ever busy Circular Quay

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Bondi Beach

I was able to spend six full days in Sydney and opted to stay in an Airbnb rental in the convenient suburb of Waterloo. My hosts were fantastic (Hi Wayne & Sasha!) and I got a real sense of what life would be like if I lived in Sydney (read: Expensive).

I am not kidding. I thought that rent in Vancouver was pricey but Sydney is next-level ridiculous. Just check out this cost of living analysis noting that renting a 900 sq ft furnished place in a “normal” area would cost AU $3,328 per month (essentially the equivalent in CAD). Now I understand why expat friends of mine had 6 room mates in a 2 bedroom apartment. Yikes! And that’s not the only thing that’s expensive… pretty much everything costs more: coffee, alcohol, gelato… only my travel/life essentials!

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Views like this don’t come cheap (Sydney Harbour Bridge)

Cost aside, I loved my time in Sydney. I bought an OPAL card and figured out the transit system with ease. I walked a ton. I visited beaches and museums. Climbed bridges and rode ferries. I went on a free, 3 hour walking tour of the city with a tour guide that looked like a petite version of Jessica Jones. It was FANTASTIC! Probably the best tour I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a lot of tours in my travels so that’s saying something.

I never got tired of wandering around Circular Quay or Hyde Park or The Rocks. I could easily spend countless hours listening to the street buskers or people watching on the Opera House steps or photographing this city from every angle. It’s magical.

 

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The Rocks (oldest part of Sydney)

I got to soak up many of the activities that are especially lovely during the summer months, like enjoying refreshing drinks at the most epic beer garden in the world (The Opera Bar), wandering through outdoor markets, and  reveling in the Saturday night Firework spectacular in Darling Harbour.

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Check out these crowds – The Opera Bar is the place to be any night of the week!

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Darling Harbour

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Fireworks and a Ferris Wheel

Even though Sydney is conceivably the furthest destination I could possibly visit, I know that I will be back someday. Australia will not and can not be a one-time trip for me. There’s just something about the land down under that has captured my heart.

Have you ever been to Sydney? What were your impressions of this world-class city?

Leave a comment below.

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An Ode to Brisbane
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An Ode to Brisbane

Summer. The high point of the entire year. A magical time when the weight of winter evaporates with the smell of barbecued meat and the emergence of freckled tans.

I always feel lighter in the summer. Floating through the streets in sun dresses and flip flops. Making my best effort to live off ice cream cones and watermelon wedges.

It’s the time of year when social butterflies are in top form. Organizing camping trips, firework viewing parties, patio drinks, and late night beach walks. Summer brings everyone out of hiding.

I dream of summer. I savour the memories and store them up for the dark days of January.

But last year, I skipped summer. Not intentionally. OF COURSE! Circumstance took hold of those all-too-brief months and I sadly watched the days slip by, paralyzed to stop them.

When the leaves started to change colour and I realized that summer had passed me by…  I panicked. The stress and frustration of an uprooted and chaos-filled season had left me beaten down and tired. I wasn’t prepared for autumn, for winter, for any of it.

So instead of succumbing to the gloom, I chased summer. I traveled to the opposite corner of the globe and found exactly what my soul needed most.

In Brisbane, I found contentment.

In riverside walks with no destination.

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By lounging poolside on a weekday morning.

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During giggle filled hikes and quick dips in watering holes.

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On top of lookouts with the sun slowing setting.

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When my two favourite seasons collided like a dream.

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When I couldn’t be sure if it was the exercise or the view stealing my breath.

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It was in the little moments of sweet nothingness. In the camaraderie of new and old friends. In the relaxed vibe of the locals.

In a city often skipped over, I found everything I was looking for. Brisbane you brought me back to life. I will forever be grateful.

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Hello Seattle, Hello 2016!
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Hello Seattle, Hello 2016!

Happy New Year! I couldn’t be more thrilled to be writing these words in 2016. It just sounds good to say, doesn’t it? 2015 was a wild year but it ended on a beautiful high that has carried me blissfully into yet another January.

For the third year in a row, I have continued my favourite travel tradition of celebrating the start of the year in a new city. In 2014, I set the bar high with a fun-filled night on the streets of New Orleans. In 2015, I partied Catalan style at the Plaza de España in Barcelona. And this year, I welcomed 2016 in Seattle, a city that is near and dear to my heart.

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My partner in crime for this edition of NYE is a regular on the blog – my good friend Mindy. Neither of us had ever gone to a fancy New Years party so we decided to go all out this year. We got tickets to the largest bash in the city at the Experience Music Project (EMP) museum and a room at an adorable boutique hotel downtown.

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The event was fantastic! Not only did we get to tour the exhibits of the museum (which included set pieces from LOTR, Star Wars, Princess Bride, and beyond) but it also included amazing cover bands, a live comedy theatre, and prime viewing of the Space Needle’s fireworks show. It was so much fun that I almost want to break my rule and celebrate there again next year… almost.

 

But the good times didn’t stop after the clock struck midnight.

Outside of the lower mainland where I was born and raised, Seattle is the city that I’ve visited the most frequently. But, I rarely get to be a tourist as I’m usually in town for something specific: cheering on my Seahawks, attending a concert, shopping, or heading to the airport. So, this time I made a conscious effort to soak up a different side of Seattle.

 

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EMP Museum

Underground City Tour

Several friends had recently raved about the Seattle Underground City Tour and I have to echo their praise. The comical beginnings of the “Emerald City” lend itself perfectly for a joke-filled tour of the subterranean passages that once made up the main streets of pioneer square. We learned a lot more than we ever wanted to know about early sewage systems and how The Great Seattle Fire of 1889 was maybe the best thing to ever happen to the city. I won’t spoil it all here, but I definitely recommend you take the tour yourself.

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Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum

I’ve never thought too much about how glass was made. Well, except for that scene in Sweet Home Alabama with the lightning. But, honestly, I had no idea what to expect when we decided to visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum located in the Seattle Center. I was completely blown away by the truly incredible works of art created by glass blowing (see what I did there?). Inspired by the Venetians and created by Dave Chihuly, the exhibits were whimsical, vibrant, stunning, and awe-inspiring. We even got to watch a live demo from a couple of professional glass blowers and I was seriously impressed by their skill and patience. Usually I am intimidated by this sort of thing, but glass blowing is so cool that it makes me want to pick up a new hobby. Good thing I don’t make New Year’s resolutions…

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Boeing Factory Tour – The Future of Flight

I love everything to do with aviation. I love airports. I love airplanes. I love flying (even when I hate it, I love it). I’ve not-so-secretly always wanted to be a flight attendant. So when I found out that you could actually tour the factory where these dream machines come to life – I was sold. And while it was definitely cool to see the largest building in the world by volume, the tour left me a bit underwhelmed.

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The factory is actually located just 30 minutes north of Seattle in Everett, Washington, which made it a logical pit stop on our journey home. Perhaps it had something to do with visiting the site on a holiday weekend when less action was happening (a whopping 35,000 work at this location) or maybe we just got a below-average tour guide but the whole thing was kind of whomp whomp. I was hoping to hear some stories or get more up close and personal with the planes when really all I heard was a lot of statistics which flew in one ear and out the other. The one thing I do remember is that you could fit all of Disneyland and a 12 acre parking lot inside the factory. So there’s that.

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All in all, I had an amazing three days in Seattle. After dozens of visits, I still have more to explore, which is a tried and true sign of a world-class city in my opinion. 2016 is off to a fantastic start!

How did you celebrate the new year? Have you ever found a city that continues to excite after multiple visits?

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2015: A Year in Review
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2015: A Year in Review

How do I even begin to describe the past year? Chaotic. Exhausting. Incredible. It was chock-a-block full of highs and lows. I rode the wave of awesome that was 2014 through the first few months until things took a turn in April when work stress started to take a toll on me. Then when an apartment flood hit in July – my life felt like it was spiraling out of control. The one constant in my roller coaster year was travel, in epic proportions. Travel is my source of inspiration, energy, excitement, and joy. So I squeezed more travel into 12 months than I thought was humanly possible. And you know what… it saved me. I closed out 2015 with a self-care trip to Australia and now as 2016 approaches… I feel rejuvenated and completely at peace. Here’s a look back at my crazy year!

1. Barcelona, Spain (January)

I couldn’t have been more delighted to kick off 2015 in one of my new favourite cities, Barcelona! This wasn’t my first time in the Catalonian capital but it was certainly my best. Gaudi, tapas, magical fountains… What’s not to love? My travel BFF Megan and I celebrated in true spanish style with Cava, a dozen grapes, and thousands of new friends at the Plaça d’Espanya! Feliz Ano Nuevo!

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Park Guell

2. Amsterdam, Netherlands (January)

On my way home from Spain I ended up with a 5-hour layover in Amsterdam… just enough time to get out of the airport and take a Sunday morning stroll through the quiet cobblestone streets and picturesque canals. It was the perfect way to stretch my legs and re-visit a city that I quite enjoy!

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3. San Diego, California (February)

One of my favourite winter haunts is Southern California. And the city that calls me back time and time again is San Diego. This visit took me back to some favourite spots like Coronado Island and introduced me to some new neighbourhoods like the Gaslamp District. I can’t wait to return again next winter!

Gaslamp Quarter: The Historic Heart of San Diego

Gaslamp Quarter: The Historic Heart of San Diego

4. Portland, Oregon (March)

When my cousin Jordan and his wife Emily relocated to Portland last year, I knew that many trips were in my future. After all, it’s only a 6 hour drive from Vancouver. I had mixed feelings after my first visit in 2014 but my second trip convinced me that Portland really is worth the hype. I’m a firm believer in the weekend getaway and now I’ve got PDX fixed in my GPS. This trip was made even better by yet another reunion with my friend Megan. We just keep meeting up all over the world – and I love it!

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5. Maui, Hawaii (April)

This year I convinced my best friend Katie to do something a little bit crazy… Go to Maui for the weekend! The Easter long weekend to be more specific. I had both Good Friday and Easter Monday off work so we flew out Thursday evening and took the red-eye back on Monday night. I came straight to work from the airport and didn’t use even one vacation day for my island escape. Now, that’s how you travel the world with a full time job! I had been to Oahu before but this was my first time to Maui – a place that I have quickly dubbed PARADISE ON EARTH! I will be back, that I know for sure.

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6. Cultus Lake, BC (April)

This spring I spent a weekend revisiting one of my favourite childhood haunts. Cultus Lake was a frequent stomping ground for my family back in the day and also the spot where I attended summer camp as a kid. It holds so many wonderful memories of learning to canoe and building sand castles and playing capture the flag in the forest. And on a weekend retreat with friends, it was a calming and restorative respite from the city life.

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7. Halfmoon Bay, BC (May)

Our second annual girls weekend was a roaring success. Last year we visited the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Northwest Washington and had a really lovely time. This year we ventured to my new favourite local getaway – the Sunshine Coast. We rented a gorgeous cabin from Airbnb right on Secret Cove in Halfmoon Bay and spent a blissful spring weekend of tranquility and quality girl time. Everything about this weekend was perfection!

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8. Salt Spring Island, BC (May)

At the last minute I decided to join in on a surprise birthday trip to Salt Spring Island to celebrate my friend Sarah. Her husband rented a house for a group of friends and we had a very relaxing weekend visiting breweries, wineries, cheese farms, and beaches. I already had a second trip planned for later in the summer so it was really just a teaser of coming attractions. I just can’t get enough of the Gulf Islands!

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9. Greece (June)

Me and #TeamTravel kickstarted our European summer adventure in Athens, Greece before checking into a villa on Santorini for the island escape that dreams are made of. I could use every superlative in the dictionary and still fall short of describing how much I love Santorini. It’s ridiculous and y’all just need to go. Now.

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10. Turkey (June/July)

With just over a week in Turkey we were able to visit some of the most impressive natural wonders and ancient ruins I’ve ever seen from Ephesus to Pamukkale to my trip highlight – Riding a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia! I sincerely hope I get to return someday because this country has so much more to offer.

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11. Whistler, BC (July)

This year, my annual summer retreat to beautiful Whistler village was a little different than usual. Instead of calm walks by the lake and shopping in the village, I joined a group of 11 ladies to celebrate my friend Crystal’s upcoming marriage. No matter the season or the occasion, Whistler never disappoints and this was no exception. Hands down, the best Bachelorette party I’ve ever attended.

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12. Oregon Coast (July)

In mid-July I ended up having a major personal crisis when an apartment leak forced me to temporary relocate for 3 months. I won’t get into the painful saga here but know that it was rough. Mere days after the initial destruction, I was fortunately able to escape the chaos with some of my favourite people (read: cousins) and hideaway in the sleepy town of Gearhart on the Oregon Coast… something that has been on my bucket list for far too long. It was exactly what I needed in that moment and I’m so glad I have such an amazing family that I get to call friends.

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13. Golden Ears Provincial Park, BC (August)

I’m a self-proclaimed city girl. I like civilization, amenities, and the hustle, bustle of crowded streets. It’s so exciting to me! That being said, I definitely enjoy nature A LOT. I’m just not going to win any outdoor woman of the year contests any time soon. Camping doesn’t sit near the top of my to-do list pretty much ever, but if it is well organized and with great people, then I do enjoy the experience. This year, I even agreed to camp on a rainy, chilly weekend so feel free to praise me in the comments. Really, it was just an excuse to play games, drink wine, and listen to all the Taylor Swift.

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14. Salt Spring Island, BC (August)

My second trip to Salt Spring Island (this year!) occurred on the very same weekend as a massive windstorm. Fortunately the Gulf islands didn’t get hit quite as bad as Metro Vancouver where over 500,000 people lost power. We rode out the storm by touring the local wineries, visiting a pretty fantastic farmer’s market, and even testing out some paddle boats (not to be confused with SUP – I’m talking old-school, peddle-with-your-feet boats). This weekend was so much more than the activities though. It was quality time with the most important women in my life: my mom, my sister-in-law, and my cousin/BFF who came all the way from Winnipeg to join in on our annual girls weekend. Thanks ladies – Let’s do it again next year!

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15. Alaska (September)

This was the most relaxing vacation of my entire life and couldn’t have come at a better time! I was completely mentally and physically burned out from a ridiculously stressful summer when my parents offered to take my siblings and I on an Alaskan cruise. YES PLEASE! While cruising isn’t exactly my preferred way of travel, in this situation, it was exactly what the doctor ordered. I wasn’t bothered by the higher than average age demographic or the less than stimulating onboard activities because all I wanted to do was eat good food and nap as much as humanly possible. And during the few hours each day that I could muster up the energy, we planned some awesome adventures in the incredible Alaskan wilderness: Dog sledding, helicopters, mountain biking, train riding, bear watching, glaciers, and so much more! Thanks Mom and Dad!

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16. Keats Island, BC (September)

I still wasn’t back to normal as September came to a close. And even though binge watching HGTV was the only activity of any interest to me; I knew that a dose of travel could be just the thing to snap me back to life. So I joined some lovely friends for a quiet and reflective weekend on the incredibly beautiful Keats Island just off the Sunshine Coast. There was nothing much to do and that was perfect. Just panoramic sea views and forest walks. Time slowed down and the important things came into focus.

IMG_469017. Greensboro, North Carolina (October)

I had no idea what to expect when I decided to spend a long weekend in North Carolina. Thanks to a couple of perfect weather days and peak autumn foliage, I was pleasantly surprised by just how beautiful this part of the world truly is. It didn’t hurt that I was once again reunited with my travel bestie Megan. She is always a fantastic host!

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18. Australia (December)

Australia… how much do I love thee? Let me count the ways! I still have so much to write about my time down under but for now just know that it was the BEST! This trip was somewhat spontaneous (for me) and came about after some soul searching. I realized that I was completely depleted and really needed to take a step back from my life. I requested a leave of absence from my 9-5 and booked a flight to the other side of the world. I split my time between visiting an old friend and embarking on my first true solo travel adventure and it was EVERYTHING! I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with Australia. It is different enough to be interesting, yet similar enough to be comfortable. And those beaches… I mean… the rest of the world should just give up. Now that I’m back home and feeling like a new and improved version of myself, I have a brand new dilemma too… how do I return down under? And for longer?!!

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19. Seattle, Washington (December)

To cap off this crazy year, I am continuing with my goal of celebrating New Year’s in a new city each year: 2014 started in New Orleans, I kicked off 2015 in Barcelona, and now I am about to ring in the start of 2016 in Seattle. My friend Mindy and I are going all out with fancy party tickets and a couple nights in a boutique hotel. I can’t wait to get dressed up and be a tourist in a city that feels a lot like home to me. I hope you follow my adventures into the new year!

 

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2015 By the Numbers:

Countries Visited: 6 (2 new ones) –  Spain / Netherlands / USA / Greece / Turkey / Australia

States Visited: 6 (2 new ones) – California / Oregon / Hawaii / Alaska / Washington / North Carolina

Plane Rides Taken: 15 one way flights (I count a flight as a flight regardless of how many segments or layovers it has).

Other Modes of Transportation: 11 ferries, 1 cruise ship, and more vehicles than I care to count.

Airports Visited: 18 (YVR, BCN, AMS, SAN, LAX, ORD, GSO, OGG, ZRH, ATH, BJV, ASR, IST, YYZ, SYD, BNE, PPP, HTI)

Kilometres Flown in 2015: 71,324

Beds Slept In: 28. Of those, 7 were hotels, 6 were Airbnb apartment rentals, 5 were house rentals, 4 were crashing with family or friends, 2 were in a lodge, one was a cruise ship cabin, one was a tent, and one was my own bed!

Blog Posts: 51

Most Popular:

Packing Hacks: The 10 Items I Always Bring Traveling

How to Travel the World when you have a Full-time Job

Everything you need to know about Packing Cubes

My Top 6 Favourite Travel Moments

What are your favourite moments of 2015? What are you looking forward to most in the new year?

Sailing Adventure in the Whitsundays
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Sailing Adventure in the Whitsundays

When I was researching where I wanted to visit during my all too short 3 weeks in Australia, I came across a destination that I’d never heard about before… the Whitsunday islands. Now you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that this tropical paradise was not only the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, but also home to Australia’s #1 rated (and top 5 in the world) beach. Sign me up!

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I decided to spend three nights in Airlie Beach, a backpacker resort town that serves as a launching pad for all the water excursions you could ask for. I had heard amazing things about the full day sailing trip offered by Cruise Whitsundays so I booked it and crossed my fingers for good weather. And I lucked out big time. I really couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

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I have always loved sailing and spending time on the water, but this was my first full day of real, solo travel and I worried… Would I have fun all by myself? Well, it turns out that I didn’t even have to cross that bridge. Before I boarded my vessel for the day, I made fast friends with a Scottish girl named Lorna who was also travelling solo. Yeah!

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Introducing the Camira… purple enough for you?

Our itinerary for the day included sailing aboard the Camira, one of the world’s fastest commercial sailing catamarans, snorkelling at Dumbell reef, a leisurely afternoon at Whitehaven Beach, and a gourmet BBQ lunch with open bar. Hello Heaven!

I happened to be traveling during stinger season (Nov – May) so in order to prevent painful stings from the prevalent Box Jellyfish and Irakanji stingers we all wore stinger suits when snorkelling. I didn’t mind. I kind of felt like Cat Woman. The coral was quite colourful and I got to see a few Dory’s swimming around. Lorna even spotted a turtle.

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And then finally it was time for the main event: Whitehaven Beach!!!!! We knew it was going to be good when we could see the glistening white sand sparkling way off in the distance. The crystal clear waters and pristine silica sand stretch over 7km along Whitsunday Island, the largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays. The sand is so white that it never gets hot and so fine that it actually squeaks when you walk. You can even use the sand to polish your jewellery… trust me, we tested it.

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It’s easy to see why it is the most photographed beach in Australia and has been named the South Pacific’s Best Beach by the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. I think it’s time for me to update my list of favourite beaches.

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Everything about this day was perfect, well almost everything. I made a new friend. The crew were incredibly efficient yet highly personable (that’s a killer combo). I got to snorkel, sail, and suntan and finally set foot on my namesake (Whitney means White Island). The only downside was that despite my very best efforts to reapply and cover-up early, I burnt. I knew I would but still hoped I wouldn’t. That Australian sun is no joke.

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Blissfully unaware of my scorched flesh.

Australia has been completely knocking my socks off. I wish I had so many more months left to explore all of the awe-inspiring sights that this country has to offer. One thing is for certain, I will be back.

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Whitehaven_beach

City Girl Goes Camping: The Australian Edition
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City Girl Goes Camping: The Australian Edition

Camping is such an odd experience. If aliens were to visit earth and observe people vacating their perfectly comfortable and amenity filled houses to temporarily sleep in canvas sacks in the wilderness, I’m going to bet that they would be confused. I do it and I don’t even get it. Clearly, I am a city girl.

Even so, when my Australian hostess suggested that we spend a weekend camping on the Sunshine Coast – I agreed. I wanted to experience an authentic summer in Queensland… and the locals go camping.

Kyle, Veronica, and I left the creature comforts of Brisbane before noon on Friday to make the two hour drive to Noosa North Shore before peak hour (read: rush hour). We had booked a campsite right on the beach because Australia.

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This is camping in Queensland.

The weather forecast for the weekend wasn’t looking ideal but rainy camping can be fun right? Sure, except that we hadn’t exactly planned for a windstorm too, which is what greeted us upon arrival. We should have known we were in for a rough night when all the other camping parties were set up in massive trailers with tarps secured. Then we realized that one of our tents was completely busted. Excellent.

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It took us ages us to set up our ridiculous make-shift tent village as we began getting pelted with rain from every angle. Another friend showed up later to provide a much needed tarp. We made do. And fortunately we had a full esky (read: cooler) of alcohol and Settlers of Catan to pass the time. Just before bed our whole tent structure gave up. The boys assured me it would be fine… or in Australian… She be right mate. I was skeptical.

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The next morning we woke to light drizzle and decided to move our campsite to a more sheltered forest section – this was a very good decision. We moved our gear and then ditched camp life for Noosaville where I got to try SUP for the first time. Then we wandered around Noosa for a bit, visited the beach area, and went searching for koalas to no avail. I guess I’ll have to settle for the heaps of wild kangaroos back at camp. They really are as prevalent as deer in Canada.

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Our evening consisted of more relaxing and eating and drinking and Catan. Lots of Catan. On our final day the sun finally returned as we were packing up. But, we had one more adventure in store – The Great Beach Drive.

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If you happen to find yourself in Queensland any you are able to hook yourself up with a 4 wheel drive then I highly recommend that you try driving on the 50km stretch of beach from Noosa to Rainbow Beach. I have never done anything quite like this before and I probably never will again. If you can manage a high clearance vehicle that would also be a wise idea because we definitely got stuck, twice. Fortunately, Aussies are super friendly and helpful and we quickly got towed out on both occasions. The journey was exhilarating and terrifying and just plain cool. Thanks for driving Kyle – you’re a champ!

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Rainbow Beach is also just a stunning stretch of coastline with gorgeous cliffs and the Carlo Sand Blow. Named by Captain Cook after one of his deck crew named Carlo, the unique “moonscape” sand mass covers over 15 hectares and overlooks the towering coloured sands. If you don’t go camping or do the beach drive, then you should find another reason to visit. Australia has so much to offer.

 

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I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to travel with locals for part of my Australian adventure. I was able to do things and see things that I never would have known about or had the guts to do on my own. I may not be the best camper in the world but I love having friends that push me outside my comfort zone. I will never stop needing that.

What is one of your most unique travel experiences? Leave a comment below.

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The Great Beach Drive

Postcards from Byron Bay
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Postcards from Byron Bay

In my parent’s dining room is a framed photograph from their visit to Australia back in 2012. The photo is of a lighthouse in Byron Bay and I was instructed, in no uncertain terms, that I HAD to go there myself. Today I did just that.

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Byron Bay is a laid back, hippie mecca on the Eastern coast of Australia. It has beautiful beaches, but then, that isn’t a very distinguishing feature in this part of the world. The main standout in BB is the flourishing surf culture and the chill vibe. You can’t help but feel relaxed with all the barefooted backpackers hanging about. It’s a wonder how anyone actually gets any work done in a town so easy going.

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After some mandatory pool and beach time, my hostess extraordinaire, Veronica, and I made sure to follow my parent’s orders – to the lighthouse.

 

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The century-old Cape Byron Light House is located on the Eastern most point of mainland Australia. We walked the popular 3.7km loop through rainforest and across cliff tops with views that had us stopping at every lookout. It was everything my parents promised it would be.

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I was able to fill my camera with souvenirs to keep me warm during the rainy winters. As per usual, I’m glad I listened to my travel expert mother’s advice.

Have you ever visited a place that fully lived up to the hype?

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Byron Bay Light House

How to Survive Long-Haul Air Travel
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How to Survive Long-Haul Air Travel

I’ve taken a lot of International flights over the years, some of them, very long. I’ve already documented the best flight of my life when I got upgraded to business class on British Airways from London to Seattle. But, that was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Every other time, I’ve flown in economy, which can sometimes feel like a cattle car in the 1860s. But, even still, I love air travel.

I’m posting this just as I’m about to head to YVR International airport (aka the happiest place on earth!) where I am about to board the longest nonstop flight that I’ve ever taken – 15 hours and 40 minutes! This got me to thinking about the ways in which a fresh air loving, long-walk taking, yoga practicing person manages to make this experience bearable, and dare I say it, enjoyable.

Here are my survival tips for Long-Haul Air Travel

1.Plan Your Entertainment

International travel is definitely easier because most planes these days provide a personal TV with dozens of movies, TV series, and games to get you through the sleepless hours in the middle of the night. I for one, LOVE movies and see this as the perfect opportunity to catch up on films that I missed throughout the year. But even a binge watcher like me, may need a break from 15 hours of constant streaming.

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So, I also make sure to curate my iPhone music to include my go-to travel playlists and load a few e-books onto my Kobo Aura (my new must-have travel accessory). I often treat myself to a magazine as well, which pretty much only happens when I fly these days.

2.Prepare Your Snacks

Now this is going to go against all of my previous advice on How to Avoid Jet Lag but seriously, you cannot depend on airplane food. Nobody wants to be stuck in a little box in the sky with your hunger needs left in the complete control of a cost-cutting airline. I’ve been so thankful in the past for my stash of snacks on many an overnight flight when I had no idea when the next meal was being served. I also love using air travel as an excuse to dig into some of my favourite treats… it doesn’t count when you’re on vacation right?!

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3.Dress for Success

When I travel domestically, I usually dress exactly the same way that I would at home. Sometimes I even kick it up a notch because I just love the 1960s era when air travel was this glamourous, special occasion where people brought out their finest fashions. But, when it comes to international travel, I dress as comfortably as humanly possible short of wearing my pajamas. Some key wardrobe staples are long scarves that can also serve as blankets and wearing LAYERS. I find that most airplanes are sweltering hot during boarding and freezing cold during mid-flight. No matter what my destination, I pack extra socks and a warm sweater. Extra clothes can also turn into make-shift pillows in a pinch.

Scarf or Blanket?

Scarf or Blanket?

4. Reserve Your Preferred Seat

Maybe you’re a crazy person who enjoys sitting in the middle seat of the middle row of a 3 – 4- 3 formation, but I am not. I scored a window seat for this flight, which is absolutely necessary if I’m going to get any sleep at all.

We are smiling but we really wish we were not in the middle row.

We are smiling but we really wish we were not in the middle row.

5. Drink Water

It’s so important to take care of yourself while travelling. Your body is going to be confused and your immune system is going to be put through the ringer. The best thing that you can do during a long travel day is stay hydrated with clear fluids and avoid alcohol and caffeine. That glass of wine at take-off might help you nod off quickly but it can seriously interfere with your crucial REM sleep. And I don’t think I have to tell you why coffee is a bad idea. I’m guilty of enjoying a pre-trip Americano on the regular but then I have travel super powers. For those of you who struggle with jet lag, avoid the stimulants and stick to water.

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6. Take Preemptive Cold Remedies

Unfortunately, I often get sick on airplanes. All of those germs being recirculated endlessly just breaks me down, even though I like to think that I have a pretty solid immune system. My cold remedy of choice is Oil of Oregano. I pop these suckers like candy before, during, and after all air travel to prevent or lessen the potential cold symptoms. Whatever you find helpful is what I recommend… but don’t mess around. Nothing ruins a trip more than being sick.

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What did I miss? How do you prepare for a long-haul flight?

Why I didn’t Quit my Job to Travel the World… (yet)
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Why I didn’t Quit my Job to Travel the World… (yet)

Spoiler Alert: I am obsessed with travel.

I spend most of my waking hours planning and plotting future travel and while I am unconscious, my dreams are filled with far flung and exotic locales. I have a giant scratch map of the world above my office computer so while I am answering calls about training programs, career progression, e-learning software, and what to expect at an upcoming conference – you can be sure that I am simultaneously memorizing the layout of Africa.

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Uganda – photo credit: Katie Smith

I do my very best to travel as much as possible. However, there is a defined limit to my adventures. I have a full-time, fixed location job. So then, one may wonder Why don’t you quit your job to travel? That’s a fair question. Many travel bloggers do travel full-time and live a mostly nomadic existence. They find ways to make money online through freelance work, blogging, or virtual employment. While this is immensely appealing for obvious reasons, it is something that I have considered, and decided against.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An, Vietnam

I have dipped my toes into the pool of long-term travel once before. I spent 8 months in Europe from September 2005 to May 2006. It was a dream come true! I fell madly in-love with Europe and I keep going back. But, even during those months abroad, I made a home-base, twice in fact. I spent 3 months in a sleepy mountain village in Austria and 3 months on the beach in Spain. Even though I am a go-go person who finds it exhilarating to wake up in a new bed every few days, I also find it exhausting.

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Schladming, Austria

I know that perpetual motion would get me so much closer to my travel goals but I worry that it might suck the life out of me along the way. You see, I never want to take travel for granted. I want to be able to savour each experience for what it is and not let comparison or fatigue steal my joy. During my prior forays into long-term travel, I found it near impossible to be wonderstruck every day, even in the presence of greatness. I was unable to maintain the energy and travel stamina required to truly appreciate the incredible things I was seeing every day. My solution to this issue has been taking shorter trips more frequently. Yes, this way of travel does cost more money. I deal.

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Athens, Greece

I’ve also managed to create quite a beautiful and inspiring home base in a city that has become my favourite place on earth. I love my neighborhood, my apartment, my social network… and most of the time I cannot imagine ever moving away for good. I love throwing together a quick duffel and taking off for a weekend getaway. I love the tingly feeling I get when I land at YVR airport. I love the familiarity of a city that fits me like a glove. This is home for me and I really like having a home.

Vancouver Skyline

Vancouver Skyline

All that being said… I never say never. I have fallen in love with several cities that I absolutely could see myself living in one day – I’m looking at you Barcelona, Paris, San Diego and Vienna. And if I fall in love with Australia next month… I may try to take advantage of some youth visa opportunities that are expiring shortly. Who knows?

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Barcelona, Spain

The fact of the matter is that there is no right or wrong way to travel. I have tried out many different strategies over the years and this is what works for me right now. That could change tomorrow but the one thing that remains the same is that I travel. I do it because I don’t know how not to.

What’s your preferred way of travel?

Do you have insatiable wanderlust like me?

Leave a comment below.

When travel isn’t so glamourous…
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When travel isn’t so glamourous…

I write for many reasons and sometimes no reason at all. I’ve always written. I guess that makes me a writer. On this particular blog, I most often describe my travels in a positive, if not downright glorious, light. I love it and I want others to love it too. So it makes complete sense to wax poetic and shine a spotlight on the absolute joy that is travel.

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Goreme, Turkey

Except that travel isn’t always glamourous, or fun, or life changing…

I recently had a conversation with a friend and fellow traveller where I brought up the idea of authenticity. I questioned my habits and wondered if I am doing the world (ie. my readers) a disservice by filtering my experiences? Is it disingenuous to only paint part of the picture?

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Pilot Mountain State Park, North Carolina

I recently wrote about North Carolina, which was surprisingly beautiful. A very underrated state in my opinion. At least in autumn. In the Appalachians. But, what I didn’t write about was the 18 hour travel debacle that ensued when my flight home was delayed two hours, resulting in a multitude of missed connections, frantic rescheduling, lengthy layovers, and very little sleep. Oh… and I was late for work. Is that how I want to remember my trip? Of course not. But, it is the very real possibility when traveling. Things can go epically wrong and ruin even the best laid plans.

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Bogota, Colombia

I have on occasion written about past travel disasters because they often make for some pretty good stories. But, most of the time I try to highlight the positives. I am so very grateful for my life and the choices and good fortune that have enabled me to live so many of my dreams. So then, I wonder, where is the line?

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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

To truly live honestly, I want to refocus my efforts on storytelling. As much as I love top ten lists or quick guides to 48 hours in a new hip city… really anyone can write about that stuff. But, no one can tell my story like me. No one can write about the people that I meet on the road or my feelings about a new culture. Only I can tell my story. And for better or worse, I am going to tell it.

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Dubrovnik, Croatia

I don’t want to remember my life through rose coloured glasses when my eyes see 20/20 just fine. I know that travel can handle the truth. The struggle is real and it’s worth it.

Departure Lounge: Australia
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Departure Lounge: Australia

I have a very exciting travel announcement that I just couldn’t wait any longer to share.

In just 6 weeks I will be flying to my 6th continent – A U S T R A L I A !

I’m pretty over the moon about it especially considering I only booked my flight 2 weeks ago. This is about as last minute as I get. Australia has always been somewhere I wanted to visit but it became a MUST-SEE destination after I watched that weeklong Oprah special back in 2010. Now, granted, I won’t be traveling like Oprah (although I am incorporating a bit of business class air travel… teehee!) but I still have some epic plans in the works.

It’s taken me a lot longer than I expected to finally get around to visiting the land down under. I was waiting for a huge chunk of time off to make the 12,400 km journey worthwhile. But, with a longstanding invite from my high school friend and recent Aussie citizen, Veronica, and an approved leave of absence from work – the timing was just about perfect. I know that it will be impossible to see and do everything on my Australian bucket list in just 3 weeks… So I’m not even going to try. This continent is nearly the size of the continental USA – a country that will take my entire life to explore thoroughly. In the same way, Australia will definitely require some repeat visits.

So for my first adventure in OZ, I’m basing my travels on the East Coast and focusing mainly on Queensland where my friend lives. After some time exploring the greater Brisbane area, I will venture onward (solo) to the Whitsunday islands (I mean, it’s basically named after me) before ending up in Sydney – a city, I’m told, is quite reminiscent of my beloved Vancouver. It’s going to be good!

Itinerary

Dec 6 – 15: Brisbane, Queensland

Dec 15-18: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

Dec 18-24: Sydney, New South Wales

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These are the activities I am most looking forward to:

  • Learning to Surf at Manly Beach
  • Wine tasting in the Hunter Valley
  • Sailing, Snorkeling, and Sunbathing at Australia’s #1 rated Whitehaven Beach
  • Getting up close and personal with koalas, kangaroos, and dingos… Oh my!
  • Seeing the famed sights of Sydney and pretending to be in an episode of Dance Academy (lol)

Have you ever been to Australia? Any recommendations or travel tips?

Hello Autumn: Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway
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Hello Autumn: Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway

Living on the West Coast is the best. I love our mild winters, idyllic summers, and laid back style. But, one thing the Pacific Northwest is lacking in a big way is fall colours. I’ve never really understood the autumn obsession and that is likely because it’s not really a thing in my part of the world. I started to understand it better when I travelled to New England last November and got to enjoy the tale end of the beautiful red, orange, and gold.

So, this year I decided to make a return trip to the East Coast but this time to North Carolina. The main purpose of my visit was to visit my travel bestie Megan who recently relocated to Greensboro. But, the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway was a close second. We spent two days exploring the area and I was blown away by the incredible pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. Who knew North Carolina was such a stunner!

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We lucked out with picture perfect blue skies, warm but not too hot weather, and PEAK FOLIAGE! The hiking couldn’t have been better, well, except for the crowded trails. It seems like everybody else at the same idea for their Sunday afternoons. But can you blame them?

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We spent about 6 hours driving, stopping, and hiking on the parkway. The highlight was definitely our scramble up the muddy trail on Rough Ridge where we saw the best colours of the day and found many rocky summits to perch on.

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We also pulled off to enjoy the overlook of the Linn Cove Viaduct, which was built to protect the fragile slopes of Grandfather Mountain.

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And we ended our day at the Linville Falls. We hiked to several vantage points in the Gorge where we were able to get some very impressive views of the two cascading falls descending nearly 2,000 feet.

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After such a wildly successful day, we definitely weren’t done exploring. So on a much quieter Monday, we ventured out to a different, but equally majestic spot, Pilot Mountain State Park. The foliage wasn’t quite as vibrant but the views were just as epic and it often felt like we were the only two people on the trails. We viewed the big pinnacle and even got to circle under the cliffs.

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I wasn’t sure what to expect when I committed myself to a weekend in North Carolina but I was very impressed by the natural beauty. Nature lovers take note. This state is not to be overlooked.

Keats Island: The most beautiful place you’ve never heard of
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Keats Island: The most beautiful place you’ve never heard of

This past weekend I took a much needed break from the rat race and retreated to the deliciously isolated and epically beautiful Keats Island. Where you ask? Well don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of it before. Keats is a teeny tiny island sandwiched between Gibsons and Bowen Island in the Howe Sound off Vancouver’s coast. In fact, you can’t even access it by ferry. My group chartered a small water taxi to get there. Now that may sound like a lot of work but like hiking, most things that take effort have a pay off.

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See what I mean?

I could not have asked for better weather for this first weekend of fall. And the panoramic views from our hideaway at Barnabus Landing had me swooning.

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Now if you’re looking for loads of activities or shopping or restaurants then you’ve come to the wrong island. Keats is a residential community and aside from a few cleared fields, it’s mostly forest. But, if you’re looking for solitude and relaxation (like me) then it couldn’t be more perfect. I went for a lovely hike in the woods and even found a sandy beach piled with driftwood but other than that… it was a reading and journaling and lounging in the sun kind of Saturday.

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Whenever I find a place this beautiful, I wonder, could I live here? Part of me never wants to leave. But then I think of the long, wet winters with nothing to do and I remember that I’m a city girl at heart. The few locals who live on the island year round will most definitely own their own boat, and fortunately the town of Gibsons on the mainland is very close, but that’s still quite a stretch for me.

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Fortunately, I can have the best of both worlds. Travel is a way to visit these places and try on a different way of life, even if only for a weekend. I get to explore a new destination and then return home, to a place that always fits me like a glove.

Could you live on a remote island or go off the grid?

Into the Wild: Bear Spotting at the Alaskan Rainforest Sanctuary
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Into the Wild: Bear Spotting at the Alaskan Rainforest Sanctuary

For the better part of a week in the notoriously wet coast of Alaska, we had enjoyed cloudy but dry skies. All of our guides told us that we had really lucked out with the weather, which can throw a wrench in even the best laid plans. So, when we arrived in our final port of call, Ketchikan, I had a moment of dread when I saw that our luck had finally run out. It wasn’t really unexpected though as Ketchikan is one of the wettest places on earth with 150-200 inches of annual rainfall.

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And in truth, wouldn’t you be a bit disappointed to visit one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world and NOT experience some rain. That’s what I told myself anyway. So, we disembarked from our ship and eagerly explored the bustling town with so many claims to fame. Ketchikan is Alaska’s first city, the totem pole capital of the world, and the salmon capital of the world. That last one is very important because where there are salmon, you will find BEARS. And bears is what we were looking for.

Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island which boasts a population of nearly 15,000 black bears. That’s a ratio of 2 bears for every one human inhabitant. With stats like that, I was really liking our odds of getting up close and personal with our furry friends. To give us the best possible chance, we drove about 20 minutes outside the city to the 40 acre Alaskan Rainforest Sanctuary where our bear guide Zoe led us into the picturesque Herring Cove. They don’t guarantee you will see bears but we timed our visit at the end of the annual salmon run so our chances were pretty good. We certainly didn’t expect to spot our first bears within MINUTES of starting down the one-mile trail.

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There was almost no point in our two hour visit that we were not watching female black bears and their cubs fishing for salmon or climbing through the Tongass forest. It was unbelievable! I’m not certain of how many bears we saw but it was in the double digits for sure!

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It’s important to note that these bears are completely wild and living in their natural habitat. We were able to observe these creatures safely from elevated viewing platforms and suspension bridges that leave a minimal impact on the environment. What a thrill to see these bears outside of the confines of a cage! It may be more expensive and difficult but viewing animals in the wild is worth every penny. I have made a personal choice to prioritize animal welfare by supporting sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres, while avoiding institutions that exploit animals for entertainment. I just don’t believe in captivity unless it’s absolutely necessary.

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In addition to viewing the bears (which was more than enough!), we also got to visit the Alaska Raptor Center’s aviary exhibits which included a hawk, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. Each of the birds at the centre is unable to survive in the wild or being rehabilitated so that they can be released.

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We ended our day with a walkthrough an historic sawmill where a Native master totem-pole carver was putting the final touches on his latest creation. Nature, History, and Culture of Alaska all in one afternoon!

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Oh and remember that rain I was complaining about… well the rain stopped right about the time we arrived at the Herring Cove. And it turns out black bears tend to hide when the sun comes out so the misty skies were actually a blessing in disguise.

What’s the coolest animal experience you’ve ever had? Leave a comment below.