Leg three of our May 2018 European Trip was a stop in Lake Como. (You can also view posts on stop one and two.) Adam and I spent two weeks in Italy on our honeymoon and it quickly became our favorite place to travel. On that trip we visited Florence, Rome, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. It was incredible and a recap of it is on my blog to-do list! We realized how much we wanted to go back to explore more of the country we had yet to see.
There are multiple towns and options for lodging, but we decided to stay in Varenna. Bellagio is the well-known glitzier and more touristy town that is just a quick ferry ride away, but we liked the idea of Varenna being a little quieter and filled with more locals. We rented an Airbnb with beautiful lake views. The lake is stunning and from Varenna we could look up and see the snow-covered Swiss Alps.
We roamed through the town square and purchased the essentials, which in Italy always means a bottle of Barolo.
That evening, we ventured off to diner at II
Cavatappi for delicious pasta and grabbed drinks along the
waterfront before calling it a night.
Our taxi driver suggested a hike up to Castle of Vezio
so we decided to do it first thing the following
morning. The first 30 minutes of the walk felt like it was
straight up hill (and it was!) but the destination was worth being a sweaty
mess. Castle of Vezio is an ancient military outpost of medieval
origin erected to defend and control the lake and the surrounding villages. At least that’s how Google described it, so I’ll
go with it. As you can see, the views from the estate surrounding the castle are
breathtaking.
We walked back into town and hopped onto the ferry to Bellagio. I now understand why Vegas named a casino after this glitzy destination. Bellagio has a presence much larger than its actual size. As soon as I saw Hotel Villa Serbellonio from the water, I was a little jealous that we weren’t staying at the resort, but quickly realized this would be the perfect excuse to come back.
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the bars and boutiques of town before heading back to Varenna.
We had a great evening for dinner at Ristorante
La Vista; it was an ideal spot to watch the sunset.
My only regret about Lake Como is that we didn’t have more
time. I had no idea how much I would love
the area and want to extend our stay. Now that I have a taste for the surroundings,
I would like to go back and visit more of the lakefront towns. It would be easy to spend three or four full
days just around the lake.
Venice
From Lake Como we took a train back to Milan and headed to Venice. I went to Venice with a lot of expectations. I’d seen the gondolas and heard how romantic the city was and I couldn’t wait to explore it. Adam and I made the decision to walk to our Airbnb and instead of romance, I felt sweaty and claustrophobic. There were a lot of tourist and dodging them while carrying my bag up and down the stairs over the canals was not exactly the best start to the visit. When we finally climbed the four flights of stairs to our Airbnb, I realized the rooftop wasn’t over the canal as it had looked in the pictures, the toilet had an unsettling sway when you attempted to sit on it and the bathtub was more of a quarter of a bathtub than a full tub or shower. The picture doesn’t do it justice; I swear the sides of it were 3 ft tall which was a fun little challenge for my short legs. I was really tempted to Google and see if the JW Marriott still had rooms available. =) Venice and I were off to a rocky start.
We slowly made our way through the massive crowds and knocked
out a couple of the touristy sights including St. Mark’s Square.
We grabbed a drink and watched the cruise ships leave Venice
while someone chain smoked next to me. I
took a deep breath, closed my itchy eyes and hoped the next day was better. In that moment, I know I’m not supposed to
say this, but I hated Venice.
I really wanted to be a good sport as Adam seemed to be
enjoying the city and luckily dinner helped to snap me out of my funk. Osteria
Alle Testiere lived up to the hype and was well worth the reservation we’d
made a few months in advance. The food was delicious, and the restaurant had a
lively atmosphere.
I woke up the next morning determined that I was going to find an area of Venice that clicked for me. I went for a walk through the neighborhood and it was gloriously quiet. I let myself just wander and get a little bit lost without checking Google Maps which was exhilarating. I stopped for gelato and then (shh…) stopped for it again about an hour into my walk! By the time I got back to our place, I felt like a different person.
Adam and I mapped out a day that allowed us to explore while avoiding most of the main stops for tourists. We walked up to a café that had two little window seats and stopped by for a cocktail. I was instantly in love with the place. And as luck would have it, I kept finding more places to fall in love with along our way. This version of Venice felt like a completely different city than the over-crowded place I had visited the day before.
We stopped at Sina Centurion Palace for drinks and spent the better part of the afternoon enjoying the views before grabbing a private water taxi back to our place. I figured, I’d given up a posh hotel with an adult size tub; we could splurge on a water taxi.
Post dinner, we figured a trip on a gondola was the perfect way to end our visit. With the cruise ship tourist gone, it was a peaceful ride through the canals.
The next morning, we took another water taxi to the
airport. I’m sure there are other places
in the world where this is common practice, but it was my first time having a
boat as my airport transportation and it was a fun way to arrive!
By the time I sat in my seat ready for our flight back home,
I had a different opinion of Venice. As
I looked back through my pictures, I realized there were a lot of hidden gems
off the beaten path and I was grateful I had an opportunity to discover them. With all the places I love in Italy, I’m not
sure I’ll make it back to Venice but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it without giving
it a chance. But if there is a next
time, I’m staying in a hotel. =)
May 2018 European Trip, Part Two –After a quick flight we
landed in the beautiful city of Prague, the capital city of the Czech
Republic. (In a previous post, I
recapped our trip to Krakow. You can find that post here.) I’d seen
many pictures of Prague’s red tile roofs, but it is even more extraordinary to
see them in person.
From the airport we headed straight to the Aria Hotel. While only a five-minute walk from the Charles Bridge, the Aria Hotel is located just down the street from the US embassy, away from all the hustle and bustle of the tourist below. Being music junkies, Adam and I loved the musical theme of the hotel. Each room is dedicated to a musician and musical artworks are found throughout the hotel. I’m also a sucker for a hotel that stocks its room with good products and the Molton Brown bottles were a pleasant surprise
While the hotel, looks fairly average from the street, gorgeous gardens are a hidden gem located on the opposite side of the property.
Once settled, we joined the throngs
of tourist headed down to the Charles Bridge
on our way to the Old
Town Square. This part of the journey can feel a
bit overwhelming. There streets are
lined with stores and cafes and often this leads to backups along the
route. But with a little bit of patience
and determination, you make it beyond the tight quarters into the square. Similar to what we discovered in Krakow, the
square was a great place to grab a quick beer or bite while deciding what
landmark to tackle first.
We started with the St.
Nicholas Church in Old Town .
This 18th century Baroque style church is beautiful on the
inside and worth a stop.
During our visit, the Prague Astronomical clock
was being renovated. Adam and I were a
bit amused at the number of people who took video of a video playing
demonstrating how the clock operates.
We did climb the Old Town
Hall Tower and the views of the square were more
than worth it! (The tower also has an
elevator for those who don’t want or are unable to walk to the top.)
Upon wrapping up our tour of the tower, we stopped in the Black Angel Bar
in U prince Hotel. It’s located in the basement of the hotel and lets off a
secretive vibe. The cocktail menu is unique and even peaked the interest of my
beer loving husband. No pictures to
prove it however as photography is not allowed adding to the mystic of the
location.
The weather Gods continued to bless us as we had a perfect
evening to enjoy dinner on the rooftop of our hotel at the CODA Restaurant.
It was fun to sip a glass of wine while overlooking all of what we’d seen in Day
One while looking forward to sights we were scheduled to see on Day Two.
After dinner we ventured down the road and we stopped in the perfect little nook of a wine bar, U Stare Studny Wine Bar.
After a glass, we head back up to the street and headed over to J.J. Murphy’s Irish Pub. I was honestly feeling a little tired and ready to call it a night, but J.J.’s quickly changed my mind. Some people were locals; some were tourist, but everyone was friendly, and it felt like a neighborhood pub we’d visited many times before. If Ireland taught me anything, it is never underestimate the fun to be had in an Irish Pub!
The next morning, we set out to see the Prague Castle. We started our adventure by walking through the beautiful Gardens below Prague Castle before heading up the hill.
Castle is a bit of a misnomer; I would call it more of a compound. There are numerous palaces and a few churches/cathedrals to explore in this UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to as early as the 10th century. We started with a tour of Lobkowicz Palace. While the building itself has an impressive history, the art collection was what really drew my attention. It is listed as the largest privately-owned art collection in the Czech Republic.
Pay special attention in the Music Archive Room where you can see works from Handel, Mozart and Beethoven!
With as many gorgeous cathedrals as there are to see in Europe,
you would think they would begin to blend together but I’m always in awe with
each new one I visit. St. Vitus
Cathedral was no exception; the stained glass was incredible.
While not as grand in stature, St.
George’s Basilica was more
than worth the stop when learning the basilica was founded in 920!
After finishing our Palace tour, we walked over to the Lennon Wall. I loved the idea of seeing the wall and
knowing it is constantly changing with new designs and artwork. The version of the wall you see is specific
to just that visit.
For our last meal in Prague, we visited Restaurant Mlynec. I really liked the overall vibe to the restaurant
and it was a delicious end to our stay! On our way back
to the hotel we took the opportunity to swing by J.J. Murphy’s one last time
before retiring for the night to pack for our next stop, Lake Como!
Hello from Norway!
I’d love to take credit for thinking of the idea for this picture, but I
must give all the credit to Adam. Being
in a pool with snow covered mountains in the background might be a once in a
lifetime shot for me! Now a little more
on our trip to Norway…and by a little, I mean a lot!
Adam mentioned a few years back that he would like to go to Norway to see the Fjords. My first thought was that it sounded a little cold for vacation. But knowing he never steers me wrong, I started to do a little research and before long I was hooked on the idea. We knew that some of locations we wanted to visit would be easier to see by boat, so we began to investigate booking a cruise. Adam and I had never done a cruise before and thinking of some cruise stereotypes, we weren’t sure we were sold. We really like to control our own schedules when traveling and like to go off the beaten path, not always seeing the strictly tourist sights. But after a bit a research, we realized a Viking cruise might be the perfect fit. The size of the ship is smaller than a standard cruise leading to a less crowded experience and we were able to book planned excursions while also leaving time for individual exploring. Around last Labor Day, Viking was running a great sale, so we booked it!
Bergren, Norway
We started off the trip in Bergen,
Norway. Our cruise wasn’t
scheduled to leave till Sunday evening but just in case we ran into any travel
delays, we booked a flight into Bergen Friday afternoon. (Nothing worse than
starting off a vacation stressed you will miss a connection!)
Bergen is on the west coast of Norway and has a population of around 280,000. It is one of the rainiest cities in Europe; on average they have rain 300 days of the year, so we were well prepared for exploring with at least some sprinkles. As luck would have it, we managed to have more sun than rain while sightseeing. It also helps that Bergen is so charming, you don’t even mind getting a little wet.
We wanted to stay on the mountainside, so we could take in the views and get a bit more of a local feel. It was about a 20-minute walk into town, but the walk was steep! I used this as an excuse to stop often and take pictures.
Thanks to the rain, the flowers throughout town are incredible and vibrant.
On our first day of exploring, we did knock out a few touristy sights like walking through the fish market and having drinks in front on the old wharf, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Eating and drinking in Norway is pricey. There is no good way around it, so it’s best
to know that going in. Our first night
we lucked into finding a recommendation for Munken Bistro. Peruvian food may not be the first thing you
think of when you think of Norway, but the bistro is a cozy little place with
very friendly staff and delicious food. It was my favorite meal in Bergen. I did the El Pescetariano tasting menu and
Adam did the El Classico and we definitely shared bites of both. Leaving dinner after 10:30PM felt a little
strange as it was still light outside. This time of year, Norway has so much daylight.
The more north, the later the sun would set, and it was back up at around
4:30AM.
The following morning, we were ready to continue our
explorations and found a cute local coffee shop on our walk down into
town.
One of the museums Adam wanted to visit was closed for renovations
so we swung by the Bergenhus Fortress and Rosenkrantz
Tower. I was clearly
entertained by the props we were able to try on.
We grabbed some Italian style pizza at De Stefano before
heading over to Scruffy
Murphy’s for a Guinness. Well
a Guinness for Adam, I stuck to the weak stuff.
=)
The light sprinkles of the morning gave way to sunshine in
the afternoon, so we headed up the Floibanen Funicular. From
there, we were rewarded with beautiful views of Bergen looking out from Mount Floyen.
That evening most of the city was wrapped up in the
Champions League championship game between Liverpool and Tottenham. Adam really likes soccer, so he was pretty
excited about the buzz throughout the city.
Even though I’m a football gal and not a futbol gal, it was still fun to
be a part of it. Most of the pubs were
packed so we landed at Dark & Stormy cocktail bar.
Their patio was one of our favorite spots in Bergen!
The Cruise
The next morning we did a small bit of sightseeing before boarding our cruise ship, the Viking Jupiter.
We thought we might briefly check out the boat and potentially do some more sightseeing after we dropped off our bags and settled in. At least that was the plan until we stepped onto the ship.
The Jupiter is absolutely gorgeous. They handed us a class of champagne; a beautiful string quartet was playing, and I instantly knew I wasn’t getting off the boat until the next day. Adam and I must have spent a good hour and half just walking around the ship, taking it all in. If I had my doubts about a cruise, I didn’t have them anymore. I was a little nervous going in as I had heard that we would be quite young in terms of the average Viking guest (which being considered “young” doesn’t happen often over 40!) and that was true, but it didn’t matter. We still felt very welcome. I can also honestly say the food and drinks available on the Jupiter far exceeded our expectations. We had a few nights of specialty reservations in the restaurants and a few open nights in the World Café and each meal was delicious. A buffet that features king crab is a hard one not to like!
Flam, Norway
Arriving in Flam, we started off our day on a trip with Fjord Safari. It was quite nice to have the excursion arranged by Viking without much planning on our part. We took our tour on a RIB boat with our guide, Freddy. Freddy was not only knowledgeable but also hilarious and provided so much interesting information about the area.
We sailed through the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord on our trip and even got up close and personal with a waterfall. And by that, I mean he drove us right into it!
One of the fascinating facts Freddy mentioned was that typically the water surrounding the fjords is as deep as the peaks are tall. This peak is 600 meters!
After stopping by for a local beer at Ægir microbrewery , we headed up to see the Stegastein Viewpoint. The weather was incredible for taking in the views of the fjords below.
We snuck in our fjord pics at the outdoor pool before settling in for an Italian dinner.
Stavanger
The next morning, we woke up in the town of Stavanger. It is the 3rd largest city in
Norway and its population growth was fueled by the oil industry and the
offshore drilling that began in the 70s.
There is plenty to see in Stavanger to fill a full day or two but since
we had limited time, we chose to do to a Pulpit Rock cruise. We again lucked out with the weather and had
a great ride out to the fjords. From pictures, seeing Pulpit
Rock from up top looks spectacular, but it is a 6-hour hike to reach
it and we didn’t have time to complete the hike while in port. Instead, we
opted for the cruise. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to view it
from the water, but honestly it just kind of looked like a big rock to me. =) To get the full experience, I think this
one would be best from the hike.
I instantly loved the town of Stavanger. We started off touring Gamle Stavanger, a neighborhood of wooden houses that have been restored from the 1800s. We followed up by walking through the shopping district and grabbing a drink along the harbor.
Of any of the places we visited, I wish we had a bit more time in Stavanger. There are some interesting museums including the Petroleum museum and I would love to go back and complete the Pulpit Rock hike. While looking into the area I also discovered The Flørli stairs. It is a wooden staircase consisting of 4,444 steps! I think that one might be a bit too adventurous for me but looks fascinating for those interested in checking it out.
Oslo
Since I typically love to explore cities, I was excited to get to Oslo. It was also nice to know we had an overnight stay. We felt free to make our own plans throughout the visit. We typically do a lot of planning before our trips, but ironically, we quickly had become accustomed to the cruise doing a lot of planning for us, so we decided what to see in Oslo on the fly. Since our ship was docked by the Akershus Fortress, we started there and also toured the Resistance Museum, dedicated to Norwegian efforts against the Nazis in World War II. After touring Auschwitz, my interest has peaked in learning more about WW II and the museum was well worth the visit.
Up next, we visited City Hall. Now
this may not be a common stop in most locations, but the City Hall in Oslo felt
more like small palace than a government building.
We tried to visit the National
Gallery in the National Museum but unfortunately it was temporarily closed while
they complete construction on the new museum slated to open in 2020. It looks like it will be in incredible space.
A great reason to go back!
Prior to dinner, we grabbed a quick drink in an area of the city called, Barcode. This area was completed in 2016
and consists of 12 different high-rise buildings, each with a very distinct architectural
style. I was really taken with the design
and the modern feel of the neighborhood.
Adam’s birthday was in May and to surprise him, I booked a dinner at Maaemo. He is not big on just collecting
‘stuff’, how I wish I could say the same
=), but he is a foodie and I thought this would be a fun experience while
in Oslo. The dinner was delicious and
very creative in terms of presentation, but the added bonus was touring the
kitchen!
Thanks to the extra hours of daylight we were able to explore the opera
house before heading back to the ship. I
love that you are encouraged to walk on the roof!
Keeping on the architecture theme, the following morning, we explored the
neighborhood of Aker Brygge. If I ever lived in Oslo, this
would be where I would want to live.
There are shops and cafes right along the water and each condo building
has its own unique architectural design. It retained its industrial feel while also
feeling very modern, much like the Barcode neighborhood did to me the evening
before. In addition to access to the marina, the Aker Brygge neighborhood also
features a city beach.
That evening, we had an opportunity to attend a concert featuring Andrea Bocelli. His voice was so incredible in
person and we couldn’t have asked for a better end to our stay in Oslo.
Skagen, Denmark
The next morning, we woke up in Skagen Denmark. Skagen is a quaint port/resort town on the
tip of Denmark. Our first stop was to Råbjerg
Mile, the migrating dune. Due to harsh winds in the area, this dune
moves about 49 feet a year!
After spending an afternoon strolling through the shops in
town, we landed at the Skagen Bryghus. It was a beautiful afternoon; a live band was
playing, and we postponed any of the other items on our sightseeing list to sit
and enjoy. Sometimes that is best part of vacation!
That evening we sat out on our balcony for an incredible sunset. It was beautiful and it felt as if it lasted for hours. There is an old saying about “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight”. So, we went to sleep blissfully unaware….
Of the angry seas, we would face the next day. =) We were out to sea for 36 hours heading to
Amsterdam and it was quite windy out on the water with up to 10-12ft waves!! It was an interesting sensation but not one
that stopped us from getting massages and enjoying one last delicious meal at the
Chef’s Table.
Amsterdam
We made it to Amsterdam earlier the next morning. We said goodbye to the wonderful crew of the Jupiter and set off to explore. Adam had been to Amsterdam on a few occasions for work, but this was my first trip. I must admit since this fell on our last full day, I didn’t really do a lot of planning ahead of time. Unfortunately a few of the museums we wanted to visit that day, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House were sold out. My suggestion to anyone going is to make sure you plan and secure tickets early! Lucky for us, the weather was beautiful, so we spent the day walking around the city; and walk we did. We racked up 32,000 steps!
There is some irony to this as Amsterdam is the city of bicycles. I couldn’t get over the number of bikes I saw so I looked it up and they estimate there are 880,000 bikes in Amsterdam!
We spent the morning in the Vondelpark and I got a kick
out of watching plenty dogs stroll along essentially walking themselves!
We stopped for lunch at The Seafood Bar . The restaurant had the look and feel of a place you might find in Charleston. We opted for a mix grill option, so we had an opportunity to try a little bit of everything.
Throughout the walk, I was on search for The Bulldog and yes, I know this is a pot shop. That didn’t stop me from buying some bulldog swag. The next natural question is, “Does anything stop me from buying bulldog swag?” So far, the answer to that is, “Nope”.
We had our last dinner at Ron Gastrobar Oriental. The dim sum was incredible, and I loved the presentation of the 1,000-chili fish.
I’m not sure if it was because so much of the trip was
prearranged and so we didn’t have to spend as much time packing up and moving
by airplanes and trains or just the more laid-back pace of the places we
visited, but this trip felt very relaxing. It felt like the perfect amount of
time. Norway is a beautiful country to
explore and a cruise was an ideal way to see some of the more remote
locations. I could definitely see us on another
cruise in the future!
Adam and I were married in Charleston in October 2015. When looking for the perfect spot, we knew we wanted to do a destination wedding, but we also wanted to make sure it would be a fun location where our guests could hang out and catch up outside of wedding activities. Adam and his family traveled to Charleston for family vacations, so it was already near and dear to his heart. My parents enjoy vacations they can take by car rather than plane, so Charleston was also doable in that regard from Ohio. Match those factors with the opportunity to work with best, wedding planner of all time (thank you, Lauren!) and Charleston just felt like the right place for us.
But there was an important piece missing at our wedding, Mabel. I was really torn about whether to bring her. In the end, we decided there might be too much going on and she would likely be happier at her second favorite place to home, The City Dog Daycare. (Seriously, I don’t know what we would do without them!!) But it was still on my list to take Mabel to Charleston, so she could see this place that had become so special to us.
We
decided to drive down for the week of Thanksgiving with Adam’s family meeting
us for the holiday. We rented a dog
friendly house on Sullivan’s island and loaded our gal up for the drive. Luckily, being a bulldog, sleep is one of
Mabel’s favorite pastimes, so she was a rockstar on the drive.
The
moment we got her on the boardwalk to the beach her little legs and chubby
little behind just took off. It was like
she knew something amazing was waiting for her over the dunes.
Needless to say, Mabel loved Charleston just as much as Adam and I do. We joked that she’s very confused as to why we live where we do when we could live at the beach. (Same Mabel, same.) It may sound silly to people who aren’t “dog people” but of all the trips I’ve been lucky enough to take, in some ways this one was my favorite because she was able to attend.
I think I took 100 hundred pics of her on the beach but each one felt like I was capturing a different moment. Each day, we would both walk home happy and content.
While we had never stayed on Sullivan’s before, Adam and I
have spent quite a bit of time on the island.
The beaches are so peaceful and there is no better way to spend an
afternoon than walking along the beach and dreaming about what gorgeous house
we’ll buy in retirement. Just don’t
ruin the dream by looking at the actual prices…
There may be 200 hundred delicious restaurants in Charleston
but my top three always still include Obstinate Daughter. Years ago, I had shishito peppers here for
the first time before they were a popular restaurant appetizer and I was
hooked. I’ve been in love with this
place ever since. The pizzas are delicious,
but the pastas are equally good. If you
go, always pay attention to the special. It is usually something worth checking
out. Another notable feature of OD is
that it is very family friendly.
In the mood for BBQ? You are in luck with Home Team BBQ located right in the heart of Sullivan’s. We are also partial to Dunleavy’s Pub. Adam loves a good Irish bar and we stopped in here the night the Cubs won and made it to the World Series! That’s a good enough excuse to go back the next time I need a little sports luck!
One day while Adam was out golfing, I treated myself to a
day of shopping along King St. and lunch at the Citrus Club
on top of the Dewberry Hotel.
Even in the gray November skies, the view was spectacular.
We also fit in our first trip to the Angel Oak Tree. The size of this tree is so incredible in
person and it is estimated to be 400-500 years old!
We split our return drive into two days and stopped in
Wytheville VA for a night. We stayed at
the Bolling
Wilson Hotel which was an adorable little hotel that caters to our
four-legged friends. Mabel even got a
little welcome bag when we checked in. I would definitely recommend it!
Interested in learning more about Charleston? We head back at least once a year so check out my other Charleston related posts including my list of favorites!
If you asked my closest friends if I was a “Great Outdoors kind of gal”, I expect you would get the same response; a hearty laugh. So when one of my best friends moved to Alaska, I was very excited to visit her but a little unsure as to what to expect. (Is there a Target?!?) As it turns out, Alaska’s natural beauty was even better than I imagined. I’m looking forward to sharing a brief recap of our trip!
Going to Alaska really felt as if we were going overseas
with about a seven-hour flight from Chicago.
Our friends were nice enough to pick us up from the airport and take us
back to their home in Eagle River, a suburb just outside of Anchorage. There I ate up all the truly Alaska stories I
could like seeing bears in your driveway!
Alaska’s terrain is vast and one of the best ways to see it
is by air. Lucky for us, my friend’s
husband is a pilot in the Air Force and has his own plane we could use for
sightseeing. I must admit this was the
smallest plane I’d ever been in, but I figured if the government trusted him to
fly the really fancy, expensive kind, I was in good hands. =)
It was crazy to think that just 30 minutes or so outside of Anchorage, there was this much to see! The blue/gray lakes were the first thing to catch my eye followed shortly thereafter by the glaciers and crevasses. What’s a crevasse, you ask? Let’s be honest, I had no clue until I saw them, but they are the massive cracks in glaciers that form due to various stressors as the glaciers moves. Another thing that fascinated me was the color. Some of the glaciers were so blue. I researched this one too and in short, glacier ice is dense ice that absorbs every other color of the spectrum except blue.
I had been joking that all I wanted to see in Alaska was a
moose; from a safe, no ability to crush me distance. On this flight I got my
wish!
After my trusty pilot brought me back down, it was Adam’s turn to take a ride up above the scenery.
In the interim, my friend and I went to a reindeer farm. Every time I look at these pictures I still laugh. Their mouths were like little suction cups and they got a bit aggressive if you held onto the food too long. I mean, I couldn’t have looked more like a city dweller if I tried!
Knowing the way to Adam’s heart, our friends suggested we
stop by a local brewery on the way back home. As you’ll soon see, there are more than a few
Alaska breweries worth checking out!
Since we were visiting in August, it was easy to lose track of time as dusk doesn’t really occur until almost 11pm! It was great to have such a long first day to catch up even if we were all a little tired the next.
The next day we explored downtown Anchorage a bit more before heading up to the Flattop Mountain trail. Stopping for lunch, we came across one of our favorite things about eating in Alaska, the king crab! Ordering it in the Midwest is always a splurge but in Alaska it seems to be everywhere, is delicious and so much cheaper!
Once properly fueled, we headed to Flattop Mountain. Per the website, Flattop is Alaska’s most visited peak. The trail is 1.5 miles and 1,350 vertical feet to the top. Uneven trails and heights do make me nervous. I made it a good way up, but when I saw this sign I decided that although I was not a young child or a pet, that was as far as I was going to go.
The trail up to the top was steep and very rocky but Adam did climb it. When he got to the top he was rewarded with great views and a hilarious message left by some other tourists. I don’t think they’ll be leveraging my Columbus Favorites list! =)
The next day, Adam and I made an overnight trip to Seward. On our way, thanks to our friends’ suggestion, we stopped in a great little ski town, Girdwood. Even outside of skiing season, it is worth a visit. While there we hit up, you guessed it, another brewery. Girdwood Brewing Company was a favorite with beautiful views and the coziest merchandise around. Adam picked up a t-shirt and I bought a hoodie that we still wear regularly to this day. Post beers, we also stopped at Chair 5 for some delicious pizza.
The drive to Seward was a gorgeous one. Again, there is just so much natural beauty. And there are stretches along the drive where you have no cell service. To an iPhone junkie like me this is a wee bit anxiety inducing and yet so freeing.
Lost Lake
Right outside of Seward we stopped at the Kenai Fjords National Park to see Exit Glacier. The first time I saw a glacier up close was on our trip to New Zealand. (Post coming soon! I promise.) Leading into it I was excited, but in person I was really blown away by the sheer size. So, for the glaciers in Seward, I was a bit better prepared as to what to expect. Again, Exit didn’t disappoint.
It fascinating to learn so much about the history of the glacier and how its changes over time. It was stunning to see how much the Exit Glacier had decreased in size as you can see in the pictures below.
A glacier is one feature of nature, where I don’t think pictures really do it justice. Sometimes, they look just rocky and dirty but in person I really find them quite beautiful and almost magical in a way.
After stopping at the glacier, we made it the rest of the way to Seward. We stayed at the 360 Hotel; it was a good home base for exploring Seward and for catching our scheduled tour the next morning. Whenever we go on a trip, I keep my eye out for my favorite reminder of home, a bulldog. And low and behold I saw one in Seward. I of course talked to it giddily through the fence and as with most bulldogs it was utterly unimpressed and continued to snooze.
The next morning, we headed out on a cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park with Major Marine Tours. There are numerous types of cruises you can take from 3.5 hours to 8.5 hours. In general, the longer the cruise, the more active tidewater glaciers and wildlife you’ll see. My advice would be to pack warm and waterproof clothes for the trip. Even if the weather is perfect in port, you will have stretches on the open ocean and it can still be quite rainy and cold the closer you get to the glaciers. The tidewater glaciers on the water are impressive to see as you can actually here them making noise as they move. On our trip, we did experience an engine failure, so we had to turn around and head back sooner than scheduled. This isn’t as scary as it sounds as there was still an engine running but it did require us to move a slower through the open ocean which lead to a bit of a choppy ride. The tour company was more than accommodating and offered us a full refund.
Up next was a trip to town of Talkeetna. This was my favorite town in Alaska. Talkeetna is often a stop on the way to climbing Denali as the check-in Mountaineering Ranger Station is located within the town.
I think the best story to summarize Talkeetna is one regarding their politics. Now, I promise this isn’t the sort of story you’re forced to see on Facebook. This is a good one. For 20 years, the mayor of this town was Stubbs, the cat. Don’t believe me? Here you go. After Stubbs passing in 2017, he was replaced by Denali, the now mayor cat. While I myself am a dog person, (I’m sure that is a bit obvious at this point) I did appreciate this cat’s vibe. I mean a dog would stop, want everyone to pet him/her and would never make it around town in an efficient manner. Not this cat, he came in and hopped up on the bar while the bartender filled a martini glass of catnip. He finished it and left. Now, I know that marijuana is legal in Alaska and you might be curious as to how I came up with this story =) but alas, I have picture evidence.
As I mentioned, one of the biggest draws to Talkeetna is a chance to see Denali even if you aren’t planning on climbing it. But Denali is often difficult to see due to changing weather patterns around the mountain. In fact, statistics show that 7 out of 10 days the peak is out of sight due to clouds. One way to ensure we would see it was to fly. So, we decided to take a sightseeing trip with K2 Aviation.
The views were incredible from the sky. At one point, the pilot pointed out what
looked like a small avalanche on the side of the mountain. As it turns out, this was the equivalent of avalanche
the size of a 60-story building! It’s hard to put it into scale even when
seeing it with your own eyes.
While in Talkeetna, we stayed in Denali Fireside Cabins &
Suites which are very cozy and perfectly located to explore!
While I may never be a natural feeding reindeer, I did feel
very home in all of Alaska’s beauty. The
only thing better than seeing it with Adam was the opportunity to share the
trip and memories with such good friends!
When a coworker asked me how I was spending a 4-day weekend
and I answered I was going to Ireland, I received a bit of a quizzical
look. Which in all fairness, I guess it
does seem a little strange. But in July of 2017, I did just that. I boarded a flight
from Chicago to the Shannon Airport for three days in Galway, Ireland. Adam had been in Galway for the week attending
a work conference and I joined him for a bit of sightseeing before heading back
together. Previously, Adam had traveled
to various locations in Ireland for both work and vacation and thought I would
enjoy the area surrounding Galway. After
visiting, I can see why!
Landing in Ireland
When people think of Ireland, I think they think of a few
stereotypical things, shamrocks, the color green and of course, Guinness. When
I think of Ireland I now add one other item to that list, laughter. I’ve never
laughed so much on any trip or heck even a few trips combined. It was about an hour and half drive from the
airport to Galway and even with a small bit of jet lag my driver had me in
stiches the entire ride. As luck would
have it, (pun intended) the charm of the Irish wasn’t limited to my first
interaction.
We stayed at the Galway Bay Hotel. It has a fantastic location along the Saltway promenade and is only about a 20-25-minute walk into Galway.
Along our walk we passed plenty of charming houses and places to grab a pint. It does seem as if you can truly grab a glass of Guinness just about anywhere in Galway!
Galway is also a college town leading to a youthful vibe
throughout the city. There are often
musical performers playing at various locations along Quay
Street. Even Adam couldn’t resist
the music when a young lady pulled him out to dance. This I promise you is something that would
not happen in the US. But that’s my
favorite thing about Galway, no one takes themselves too seriously. They crack
jokes at their own expense and sometimes at others but in a lighthearted
way.
So, about the weather…. well our first two days it wasn’t
great. There was a brisk breeze and on and off rain which, as it turns out, is
the perfect recipe to spend time indoors checking out additional pubs! Did I mention that are a lot of places to
grab a Guinness? Each pub seemed to have
the perfect little nook to add to its charm.
And many of the pubs are also filled with live music so you can enjoy
the party even in the rain.
We wrapped up the evening of the second day with a delicious
meal at Ard Bia at Nimmos. It sits right outside of the Spanish Arch in
an 18th century custom house. There is so much charm on the inside
of the restaurant and our meal lived up the expectations and reviews. Make sure to grab a reservation to ensure you
get a seat!
On our last day, we scheduled a trip to the Cliffs of Moher. As luck would have it, (I can’t stop!) the
skies were a gorgeous blue. We boarded a
bus for the excursion and yet again, we had the funniest driver. At one point we had to slow down behind a
pack of bicyclists that weren’t exactly moving at a record speed. He kept making jokes over the loud speaker about
being behind the Tour de France. And it was that sort of quirky side commentary
repeatedly; I remember Adam and I laughing so much throughout the drive.
The Cliffs were beautiful that day and we decided to take a boat trip to see them from the water before heading up top.
Here is a funny thing about travel, you often learn interesting facts about your spouse too. Adam learned very early on, that I don’t like down escalators. (Yes, this is strange. No, I have no idea why I’m afraid of them.) On this trip I learned that Adam gets seasick. The boat went out on the open Atlantic and even on the calm day, it was a bit of a rocky ride. At one point I looked over at Adam and his lips were WHITE. I had no idea that this sort of thing makes him sick! He claims it only happened one other time and it is true, we’ve been out on other boats with no issues but this was not one of those times. He made it back to shore in one piece and luckily felt good as new as soon as his feet hit solid ground.
The views from the top of the Cliffs were remarkable. I do have to admit I did scratch my head a
few times as I saw how close some people got to the edge just for the perfect
selfie. I accepted their beauty from a
safe distance!
When we arrived back to town, it seemed as if everyone was
out enjoying the day. There were people
everywhere taking advantage of the beautiful weather.
We finished the day with a meal a little outside of town at O’Grady’s on the Pier. This restaurant specializes in serving fresh seafood
caught daily. We sat and watched the sunset over Galway Bay while enjoying
desert.
Our departure the next morning was brutally early. I was looking forward to getting some sleep
in the car on the way back to the airport.
But again, we had the best driver!
He had me laughing the entire ride and I never slept a wink. He was talking about his daughters watching
US reality TVs shows and it gave me a chuckle thinking of how crazy we must
seem to the rest of the world if that’s their impression of the States. It was the fastest hour and a half drive of
my life and it wasn’t even 6:00AM!
While the trip was short and sweet, I fell in love with the
Irish people. In addition to being
hilarious, they are so welcoming. Even
walking through the wind and rain is worth it for some pints and some laughs in
Galway.
As part of a trip to Singapore and Thailand, Adam and I spent a few days in Phuket. On a lot of our trips, we try to fit in multiple destination stops and this one was no exception. While this is great in terms of what we are able to see, it does require us to do a bit of research to ensure we prioritize absolute Must-Dos. For this trip, we knew we wanted to do a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands and tour the Elephant Sanctuary but there are tons of options to easily fill up a whole week in and around Phuket if you decide to stay a bit longer. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand with about 600,000 permanent residents. There are multiple regions to stay within Phuket and we chose to stay north by Mai Khoa Beach. I wish I could say I had some insider info on why we chose our location and hotel but it was really a bit of luck. We looked at a lot of online reviews and decided on the Renaissance.
Another bit of research we did prior to booking was ensuring that we would be able to organize transportation for our excursions easily from the hotel. This way we could relax when we arrived and not have to worry about arranging rentals.
Once we dropped our bags in our room, we promptly headed down to the beach. The hotel property sits right on Mai Khoa Beach so we had easy access to explore. Mai Khoa Beach is gorgeous and is so massive that you almost feel as if you have it to yourself.
A hidden gem right off the property of the Renaissance is Micky Monkey Beach Bar. While the hotel still charges US prices for cocktails, Micky’s provides cold beers and koozies all for about the equivalent of $2.00. From there, we grabbed the beach chairs they had set up along the sand and enjoyed the sunset.
The next morning, we got up before dawn to take a sunrise
cruise to the Phi Phi Islands. Pictures
of the Phi Phi’s are all over Instagram and Pinterest with water so blue/green it
looks photoshopped.
We arranged our tour through Simba Tours and they were
incredible. There are only about
12 total passengers on the boat so your tour never feels overcrowded. I’ve done a lot of sunset cruises before
but taking a speedboat out to the islands while the sun was coming up was
something else entirely. I would
have been content if they turned the boat around after the sunrise but luckily
that was just the start!
We started off having breakfast on Koh Mai Pai (Bamboo Island). It was very peaceful as there was only one other boat on the island at that time of the morning. We really felt as if we had the island to ourselves to explore.
As we got closer to Koh Phi Phi Le, I started to see that “photoshopped
water”. Seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe how incredibly vivid the
water color truly is in person.
Our next stop was Maya Bay. This cove became popular as “The Beach” was filmed here in
2000. Unlike the first island,
Maya Bay was incredibly crowded and ironically our crew told us the crowds only
grew throughout the day, as more cruises take place in the afternoon. There were rumors at the time that Maya
Bay would be closed to tourist to let the eco system recover and that indeed
did happen right after our visit. As
of now, it will be closed for two more years. While I’m sure that is a disappointment to anyone visiting in
the near future, I’m happy they are taking the proper steps to protect such a
beautiful site. I can honestly say
while I am glad we had the chance to see it, it was my least favorite stop due
to the overcrowding. There is so
much beauty to see in the Phi Phi’s, even if you skip Maya Bay, it is well
worth the trip!
Luckily, Maya Bay isn’t the only sight to see on Koh Phi Phi Le. Lo Sama Bay sits on the opposite side of the island from Maya Bay and it features a massive limestone island within its bay.
But my favorite of all was the Pileh Lagoon. This is a popular place for snorkeling with its calm, crystal clear waters. I’ll admit, I’m not usually a huge fan of swimming when I can see fish, but this place was so gorgeous, I knew I would always regret it if I didn’t jump in and try it out.
Last but not
least we stopped by Monkey Beach on Ko Phi Phi Don islands and we did indeed
see monkeys!
This was such a fun day trip! Simba offers multiple excursions and I would absolutely
recommend them.
On our final full day in Phuket, we toured the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. I did research to ensure we were
visiting a place that treated elephants in an ethical manner but I still knew
very little in regard to the treatment of elephants in Thailand and other areas
of the world. We started off
watching a documentary on the abuse elephants endure at the hands of
humans. I try not to preach about
what others should do during travel but I feel very strongly about stating as
clear as I can; DO NOT RIDE ELEPHANTS.
In order for an elephant to allow a human to ride it, they’ve spent
years being abused and fear eventually breaks their will and they submit. They are often taken away from their
mothers at an early age to begin this process. In addition although they may seem like large and powerful creatures,
any weight over 50lbs can be very painful on their vertebrae. I cried watching the documentary and
vowed to do what I could to spread the message. So there you have it…
Ok now that I have my rant out of my system, on to the best
part of the sanctuary, the elephants!
The elephants here were all rescued from various trekking tours, the
logging industry and circus vendors around Thailand. They range in age from mid-30s to late 70s and at the time
of our visit, almost all were ladies.
The sanctuary is the perfect atmosphere that allows them to lead free
lives where they can roam, bathe and eat when they like. And one thing they like to eat is
watermelon! You can feed it whole to an elephant! One aspect I found so fascinating
was that each elephant has a designated human that looks after him/her. Even after abuse, they do learn to
trust again and form an unbreakable bond with this individual. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity
to see these gentle giants up close and to know that they have a place where
they can be at peace. I would definitely
recommend visiting.
Post our trip to the sanctuary; we had just enough time to
come back the beach for the perfect Thai massage followed by another beautiful
sunset at Micky’s.
And just like that, our time in Phuket flew by! Up next, we hopped a flight to Ko Samui, where we spent a few days relaxing
and taking in the sights. I can’t
wait to share my Ko Samui recap in a future post!
Question: What do Krakow, Prague, Lake Como and Venice have in common?
Answer:Absolutely nothing except we combined them all into one trip!
That is one of my favorite aspects to European travel; it is
so easy to explore multiple countries all within a limited timeframe.
For this post, I’m going to focus on the first stop of our
trip, Krakow. Visiting Krakow,
Poland was on my wish list for a long time. My grandpa and I were very close. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but his parents
immigrated from Poland. My grandpa
passed away when I was 16 after a short battle with lung cancer. At that age, I
never stopped to think about all the questions I wanted to ask him about our
history. It was important to me to
make this trip at some point to honor him. I did a bit of research and with the help of family, I
believe my great-grandparents were from an area just outside of Krakow. Krakow was an easy choice as it also
just seemed like a fun city to explore.
It has a vibrant art scene and lively college community.
We stayed at a cute little Hotel Indigo right in the heart of the city. A hotel with great bathroom tile always scores extra points with me!
After settling in, we headed over to the Main Square which is still surrounded by a medieval wall that makes you feel as if you are stepping back in time. But not too far back in time, as you’ll quickly see a coffee shop and McDonalds. =)
Our first stop was to St. Mary’s Basilica on the Town Square. The inside of the church is gorgeous, and its history is just as remarkable. Krakow was heavily damaged during World War II. The Nazis took over the city and, in the process, they stole the church altar. It was recovered after the war and sent back to Krakow. In fact, there are still stolen art pieces that were never returned.
After touring the church, we went to the Square to get what every Polish girl must eat while in Poland, perogies! It was $3.00 for six perogies and holy molly were they good. I told Adam we could cancel our dinner reservations and eat them at every meal for the rest of our trip! Ha!
We then wandered around the vendors throughout the Square and through Cloth Hall. This is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or two to take home.
We walked from the Square to the Wawel Castle and Cathedral. It is a massive complex that sits on
top of a hill with beautiful views of Krakow. There is plenty of history to
discover here and an old legend you can explore for yourself. The Dragon’s Den sits on the
western slope of Wawel hill. As
the legend goes, a dragon used to live within this cave terrorizing the people
of Krakow until a dragon slayer came long to destroy him. Very Polish Game of Thrones, if you
will.
We had the perfect day for sightseeing and enjoyed the walk
along the Vistula River. We worked
up a thirst and stopped at a bar off the Square with a familiar face. Naturally the Bulldog Bar was
a must do. If there is a
restaurant or bar in a city, and it features a bulldog, there is a 100% chance
I will stop by for a visit.
The following day we toured the MOCAK and Schindler’s
Factory. While I was familiar with
the history of the museum, I was fascinated by the great detail the museum paid
to the invasion of Poland and how it was savagely impacted by World War II. It
is a somber museum to visit but I think it is an absolute must while in Krakow.
After a heavy morning, we decided to lighten things up by doing some sightseeing in the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz. While rich with history, this is a bustling modern hub of the city. You will find quaint cafes and even food trucks during your visit.
I stumbled upon a jewelry store, Blazko and met Grzegorz Blazko, the artist himself. I was instantly draw to his pieces and picked up a ring I now wear daily. It still catches my attention from time to time and I like to think my Grandpa would be happy to know I keep a piece of Poland with me. After exploring, we ate a more traditional Polish meal at Starka. Growing up, Polish food was a little adventurous for my palate but as adult I really enjoyed everything we tried. There was so much flavor in each dish and at Starka and Krakow in general, everything is very reasonably priced!
As we were planning our trip, we knew we would be very close
to Auschwitz. It felt like a place
we needed to visit even though we knew it would be a very sad day. For me personally, I don’t feel like I
can share pictures of Auschwitz and Birkenau and give them the proper
reflection and respect they deserve.
In fact, I took very few pictures while I was there. I don’t need them. Certain images I can see clearly as
soon as I close my eyes.
I believe this quote sums up my feelings on the experience. (ADD
PIC) I left being more determined than ever to stand up to anyone regardless of
their position or power who thrives off spreading division and hate. It was a very powerful day.
There was a bright spot to the trip, our driver Andrew Durman. Andrew caught the attention of Rick Steves and I can see why. Andrew was a driving encyclopedia of Polish history. He also specializes in genealogy work. Upon learning my maiden name was Wisniewski, he brought me a bottle of Polish alcohol bearing the same name and even a homemade version made by his wife.
Andrew has a great sense of humor and a kind heart underneath. He kept telling Adam that he had landed a beautiful Polish girl so maybe that’s why I liked him! For a day, I felt like I almost got my Grandpa back. We even still email from time to time. My one regret is I didn’t take a picture of the three of us together; hopefully someday I’ll have the chance to see Andrew again. If you find yourself in Krakow or a surrounding region, a day with Andrew is a day you’ll cherish.
That evening we had dinner at Trzy Rybki in Hotel Starry. It is right off the Main Square with beautiful rooftop views of Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica. The bread basket alone at Trzy Rybki was enough to make me a fan!
Post dinner we headed up to the rooftop for an after-dinner cocktail. I swung into the restroom telling Adam I would meet him on the patio. When I went to leave the restroom, I tried to open the door and I heard a sound almost as if something had fallen inside the door. The problem was, the door did not open. Now this is one of the things you don’t think about sometimes when traveling internationally. At home, I would have text Adam to say “Um, hey I’m stuck.” But with no cell phone service, that wasn’t an option. It felt like an hour, but it was likely only about 10 minutes before they came to look for me. They had to literally chisel away at the door to get me out! =) The tumbler broke off inside the door and it was a really thick door! We had a good laugh about that one the rest of the trip.
Grateful for the man with the chisel!!
We fit quite a bit in to two and half days in Krakow and I
enjoyed every minute of it. Well
maybe not those minutes trapped in the bathroom. =)
I grew up about an hour south of Detroit. I remember when I was little it was
always so exciting to go up and visit; it felt like this huge city to me. Everyone is aware of the tough times
Detroit went through but I’m happy to see the life and sense of excitement returning
to such a special place. We made a
trip to check out the progress and growth Labor Day
weekend and I already can’t wait to go back.
We stayed at the Detroit Foundation Hotel. How often to you get to stay in an old firehouse? I loved everything about this place. Its modern finishes pair so well with the history of the building.
The old garage has been turned into a beautiful, light filled restaurant, The Apparatus Room. This place was packed our entire stay. Make sure you save a little time to grab a drink at the bar and take it all in.
Early morning snapshot before all the activity . =)
The hotel is within walking distance of Woodward Ave., so we walked over to check out the Labor Day Jazz Festival and all the redevelopment taking place along this stretch of downtown. The new Shinola Hotel was still under construction while we were there, but you could already tell this was going to be a terrific addition to the area. I definitely want to go back and check it out. I’m a major fan of this brand’s watches and leather accessories so I like the idea of expanding the concept to a hotel.
No trip for us is complete without taking in a few breweries
and Detroit provides plenty of options.
Atwater, Batch Brewing, Brew Detroit, were a few of our favorites.
Speaking of favorites, let’s talk about the Detroit restaurant
scene. I can’t choose one because
every place we tried was delicious.
Detroit’s restaurants are cool enough that they don’t have to try to
compare to a Chicago or New York but if it wanted to, they can more than hold
their own.
I was lucky enough to read an article about Shewolf and snagged a reservation before
our trip. I am so glad I did! They make their pasta in house and if
their goal is to bring the flavors of Italy to the Midwest, they nail it. They also have one of the most
impressive Italian wine selections I’ve seen outside of Italy itself! I love Italian wines and was a bit
intimated when I first reviewed the list, but our server was more than helpful
in helping me select the perfect glass.
On Sunday, we walked over to Corktown for brunch at Lady of the House. When you walk in you notice it is
decorated like the perfect take on your grandmother’s house but with a Notorious
BIG quote to greet you. Sold! Our brunch was fantastic and I can see
why this place is receiving some of the national
press it does.
Selden
Standard – Make sure you grab a reservation to be guaranteed a seat at this
Detroit staple. My favorite
feature of this restaurant is that the dishes are meant to be shared so you
have an opportunity to try quite a bit depending on the size of your
party. Adam and I had a tough time
choosing; we wanted it all!
I need to make a trip back because I really wanted to check out Detroit Denim but unfortunately, they were closed when I was in town. All their products are made in house at their factory in downtown Detroit. And if that’s not enough to intrigue you, swing by the Eastern Market, try your luck at a casino or catch a Tigers, Red Wings or Lions game depending on the season! You don’t have to ask me twice, I only have nice things to say about Detroit.
This year I turned the big 4-0. To celebrate, we met one of my best friends in Maui. Adam and I had been to Maui for the first time in November 2016 and we were excited to have the chance to go back. Hawaii is not always the easiest trip to make from the Midwest, but it sure is worth it. There is so much natural beauty and a peacefulness that greets you the moment you step off the plane. When we landed there was just the slightest sprinkle but we kept the top down on our convertible anyway. Yep, we definitely looked like tourists, but it was 78 degrees in Hawaii and about 30 degrees back home; a little rain couldn’t stop us!
On both of our trips we’ve stayed in the Kapalua area. Kapalua has a very unique feel compared to the rest of the island. There are towering pine trees and a little less of the tourist hustle and bustle which is always something Adam and I are drawn to during our travel. The trade winds can sometimes be a bit more of an issue here. You may have a bit more wind or even a little rain. To us, the light risk is more than worth the beautiful reward. Luckily, that is a remarkable thing about Maui; just drive 15 minutes and you’ll likely find sun. On our first trip, we stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. The Ritz is a gorgeous property with every last amenity you can dream of. If you are coming with a family, this is an ideal place to stay. Thanks to Adam’s work travel we were able to work some Marriott Bonvoy points into our trip as the Ritz can be a bit of a splurge.
On our last trip, we rented a condo in Kapalua Bay Villas Resort. Staying in the condo helped us to feel a more local vibe. Plus, how could you beat the views?!?
Even if you are staying in a different area of Maui, there are a few Must Do’s in Kapalua. Each morning, we would go for walk along the Kapalua costal trail and grab a coffee. The views along this trail are breathtaking and if you are there during whale watching season (January to March is the best time), you can often watch the whales right from the shore.
It might not look like much, but I promise that was a right after a whale breach!
Another favorite is Merriman’s. It is a beautiful place to take in the sunset while enjoying a cocktail. As luck would have it, they run a great happy hour special. Stay around after the sun goes down to enjoy a delicious dinner. Adam and I become ‘regulars’ at happy hour during our stays. Try my favorite No Ka Ol cocktail and enjoy!
A few other Kapalua places to explore:
Sansei Restaurant – full disclosure, Sansei is located in what looks like a strip mall so from the outside, it doesn’t look like what you would maybe think of, when you think of Maui, but the sushi is delicious! There are plenty of other options for non-sushi eaters and the restaurant is also family friendly. This is a great one to book post sunset.
Burger Shack – After walking the coastal trail, you can walk down the hill on the Ritz grounds to the Burger Shack. Nothing fancy here, just the basics but a quick place to have a casual bite. I had the mahi mahi burger on my last trip and I definitely recommend it!
Cane and Canoe – Cane and Canoe is located in the Montage Kapalua Bay. The grounds are beautiful, and it is worth eating dinner a little early to catch the sunset.
Postcards To Mabel 