A few days ago, inspired by this post on Alex in Wanderland (one of my favorite travel bloggers!), I took a quiz to learn “the key to my best life.” The very first question was simple: which of the following…
The Orlando Adventure Begins
In August, I had the pleasure of hosting my younger sister Michelle in Orlando. She visited once before, back in 2013, and I’ve been pestering her to make a comeback ever since. Her impending mission trip (and departure for 18…
Playing Tourist in Orlando
You may have noticed a slight change around here in the past week. Rather than sharing my adventures around the world, I’ve been shedding a little light on my own adopted hometown, Orlando.
A Fitting Goodbye to the Pacific Northwest
One of the things I look forward to most when visiting home is exploring more of the beautiful state parks and hiking trails spread across Washington State. And yet, aside from a brief jaunt down to the beach at Deception…
Tulips and State Parks and Bridges, Oh My!
Oy. It’s officially been a whole month since I last posted. Between hosting two siblings, celebrating birthdays, and some crazy work hours, I’m either too busy or too exhausted to write! I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a…
Seeing Red in Seattle
By now, most of the world knows what happened to Pompeii. The prosperous port city was infamously destroyed in the year 79 A.D., buried under layers of ash from nearby Mount Vesuvius. It was nearly forgotten until its excavation in…
Home Sweet Home
I never understood why anyone would want to live in Washington State. I was bored looking at the same old trees, the same gray drizzle, and the same street I’d lived on my entire life. Our idea of getting away…
The Great Foodie Road Trip
Is there a travel addict out there who doesn’t love the Travel Channel? One of my favorite TV personalities is Anthony Bourdain. Escaping to Rome for some cacio e pepe is one of my favorite ways to unwind after a long…
Trains, Remains & Handcrafted Meals
While Michelle enjoyed her last day with her roommates, Dad and I spent our final day in Provo doing – what else? Driving. I’d read about a beautiful drive named the Provo Canyon Scenic Byway, but figured Dad would not…
A Weekend in the Most Unlikely of Places
A few months ago, I found myself in the most unexpected vacation spot: Provo. Utah. No, it’s not someplace remote or unheard of, but it was the last place on Earth I ever thought I would find myself. See, I…
Saying Goodbye To Chaumont
Our two and a half weeks visiting family in the French village of Chaumont flew by, and suddenly it was time to move on. Excited as I was to see Paris at last, I was not ready to say goodbye…
Hiking, Exploring & Cleaning The Sink
It’s hard to travel on such a small budget. I’ve spent the last few weeks obsessively checking flight schedules and price drops, hoping to jet off to Costa Rica, Norway, or any other destination boasting cheap round trip airfare. At…