Every few years, Andy and I take a couple weeks off work and venture off on a big trip. While I have a huge list of new places to visit, for our trip this year, I wanted nothing more than to return to an old favorite - the Big Island of Hawaii! Usually when Andy and I go on a vacation, I have every day planned out months in advance. Apparently the laid-back nature of Hawaii is contagious, because for this trip, other than loose plans to go hiking a couple times, and one restaurant we absolutely had to visit, I made no plans at all. Over our 12 nights on the island, we decided to spend 7 at the same condo south of Kailua-Kona we'd stayed in on our last visit, 3 nights at a tiny cottage near Volcanoes National Park I'd found on Airbnb, and our last night at an historic Japanese hotel in Captain Cook.
Read moreMeerkerk Gardens
I've always enjoyed meandering through a large garden. Growing up on books like The Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland, and the work of Beatrix Potter, they've always had a rather magical appeal. After years of vaguely talking about Meerkerk Gardens on Whidbey Island, on an overcast morning this spring Andy and I finally made the trip. The entrance to the gardens is through a picturesque stone hut, and when we arrived, since the garden staff hadn't arrived yet for the day, we left our $5 admission fee in a small kiosk by the entrance.
Read moreRoad Trip: Newport
I spent many summer weeks of my childhood on the Oregon coast. My family went on nearly annual trips to the coast, usually renting a vacation house in the Yachats area and spending a week or two exploring the beaches, tidepools, and lighthouses of the central coast. Since adulthood, I hadn't been further south than Canon Beach - another city that I love and must return to soon! We had planned this trip to Newport for my 30th birthday last year, but an emergency led us to cancel at the last minute. This year, nothing was going to stop us from finally making the trip!
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