My Solo Trip to Vancouver, BC

Vancouver hasn't been a destination on my mind for very long, but a few years ago, I saw photos of the Capilano Suspension Bridge on Instagram and immediately had to know where it was. It just seemed magical. I, of course, quickly found out it was in Vancouver, and the more I researched the Canadian Pacific Northwest, the more I was drawn to it. I was so curious about this diverse city that also seemed to have endless possibilities for hiking, waterfalls and suspension bridges - I just had to see and experience it for myself. It all worked out so serendipitously because I wanted to go during off-peak season, and I happened to have a relatively slower schedule at work in early June. Before I knew it, I was booking flights to the other side of North America for my very first solo adventure. 

At Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Photo by Dylaina Gollub Photography

Day Trip to Charleston, SC (& How it Compares to Savannah)

On our very last day of our Bahamas/the South vacation, we spent a day wandering through Charleston. We debated quite a bit if we should have cut our time in Savannah short to spend at least a night (or two) in Charleston. But when it was all said and done, with the time we had for our trip, we planned everything perfectly. Three nights in Savannah was just what we needed for a more relaxing getaway, and tackling Charleston in one day made for the perfect end to a rather amazing vacation.

Tybee Island, GA Day Trip Travel Guide

With Tybee Island only being about 30 minutes from Savannah, we knew we wanted to spend an afternoon there since, you know, we love our coastal towns! The drive was a very easy 30 minutes from our hotel in Savannah, and we really enjoyed our time on Tybee. It was so nice to get a taste of a Southern East Coast destination because it felt a little more like home to us, while also giving us a taste of its own unique flair. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I'd sum up Tybee by saying it's a mix of Eastern Coastal and the South with a touch of Atlantic City or Jersey Shore mixed it? I'm not even sure if I'm hitting the nail on the head, but we loved the bright colors, the serene shoreline and laid-back beach vibe. And the palm trees reminded us we weren't quite home. It was so fun to experience the atmosphere, and if you're in Savannah, it's definitely worth a visit.

Savannah, GA Travel Guide

It's no secret that I'm in love with New England, but I will tell you, Savannah gave it a run for its money. We immediately fell in love with it after a few minutes of walking around. Everything from the architecture, the Spanish moss trees, the little parks everywhere, the cobblestones, the restaurants, the vibe - it all amazed us so much, and we always had a smile on our faces. Our time in Savannah was nothing short of perfect, which is saying a lot because we had just come from the Bahamas!

Eleuthera, Bahamas Travel Guide

Even though we were staying on Spanish Wells, a smaller island off the coast of Eleuthera, we didn't want to miss out on the fun things to do on the main island. So we decided to take a water taxi over and rent a car for the day to explore the sites.

Eleuthera isn't exactly a small island - it's over 100 miles long, so there are quite a few beaches to choose from, sites to take in, restaurants to visit and so many things to explore. Packing it all into one day is impossible. We made a list of our "must-see" things, picked a local beach to visit, had a lovely lunch and spent a really nice day on this beautiful island.

Harbour Island, Bahamas: Day Trip Travel Guide

I will admit, another reason we chose to stay on Eleuthera during our Bahamas vacation was its proximity to Harbour Island. I had seen this little island pop up on travel guides for the Caribbean, and whenever I saw photos of the famous Pink Sand Beach, my heart fluttered. It seemed to be too good to be true, and I wanted to see it for myself. We couldn't afford to stay on Harbour Island (it tends to be pretty pricey with mostly upscale/luxury hotels), but we did head over for a day trip, and we really loved it.

Bahamas Travel Guide: Spanish Wells, Eleuthera

We're back from our stay in the Bahamas, and I kind of can't believe that I even got to type that. I never thought I'd get to see the bright turquoise ocean water of the Bahamas with my own eyes because honestly, this wasn't a destination that was on our radar for very long, nor was it a priority. But after a few pretty intense Northeast winters, we were ready for a tropical getaway somewhere that would be equal parts adventurous, colorful and relaxing, and Eleuthera in the Bahamas was the perfect fit.

Yes, I got badly burned on our first day (go me!). Josh called me a rock lobster the whole trip
because my shoulders were bright red. Friends, be smart and apply extra sunscreen when in the Caribbean
and closer to the equator. 

We ended up going to The Bahamas because we basically just said, "Let's find the most affordable AirBnB in the Caribbean that's closest to the beach in a place we haven't been to before," and we found it in the Bahamas. While beginning our research, we found a lot of places in the Bahamas that were actually rather affordable for being so close to the water. I quickly realized, too, that I had absolutely no idea just how many islands were in the Bahamas (700! Seriously!). So we picked a few listings that seemed ideal, and chose one on Eleuthera because we had read online that it was quieter, had a more chill vibe and wasn't quite as packed with tourists as Nassau/Paradise Island. Plus, the beautiful pink sand beaches were really hard to resist. But, we also wanted the option for a few excursions and access to some restaurants in case we felt like we needed a break from laying around the beach all day. Eleuthera just seemed to have everything we were looking for, and the listing we found also seemed perfect.

Our Farmhouse Pottery Wheel Workshop Experience

For Christmas, Josh got me such an amazing gift - a wheel workshop session for us both at Farmhouse Pottery. I've been so in love with this little special boutique for a few years, and their simple and clean aesthetic is something I really appreciate. On top of that, since everything is made in New England in one of my favorite Vermont towns, I especially love that I get to help support the business, which was started by a husband and wife team that felt passionate about creating beautiful pottery pieces.

I'm going to start by saying, if you're even just thinking about doing a wheel workshop at Farmhouse Pottery, just do it. It's not the most inexpensive thing you'll ever do, but you get to keep the pieces you make, share a great experience with someone, learn a few things about a new skill and also talk to true artisans. To me, it was more than worth it just for the experience alone.

How To Have the Perfect Winter Getaway in Woodstock, VT

One of my favorite Christmas gifts from Josh to date was a wheel workshop session at Farmhouse Pottery, which led us to Woodstock, VT for a winter weekend getaway. And even after more than a year, I still consider it to be one of the most storybook-perfect places we've visited.

If you're looking to escape to a quintessential small town with great restaurants, beautiful scenery, adorable shops and cafes, Woodstock should be high on your list. While we were walking around the town, we really got that Hallmark movie vibe, and also, felt a really strong sense of community. It quickly became one of our favorite places, if not our actual favorite, town in Vermont to visit, and we're itching to go back.

Until we can make it back, though, I'm so happy to share our recommendations for a perfect long weekend in Vermont.

Two Days in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Last summer, we visited Cape Breton Nova Scotia as part of our Prince Edward Island trip, which you can read about here, and we absolutely loved it. I said it in our PEI post, and I'll say it again, the Canadian Maritimes such an underrated part of the world. I'm shocked that it's not a more popular travel destination because there's so much natural beauty everywhere. Our biggest regret was not having more time to explore Nova Scotia, and we both hope to get back to experience the entire province, with our top wish list destinations being Halifax, Peggy's Cove and Luenburg.

Until then, the amazing memories from this trip will have to suffice! And it's a good thing we have so many. Here's our trip recap.

Lake Placid Travel Guide for Fall & Winter

I'm not sure why it took us so long to explore Lake Placid, especially since it's only about two hours from our house, but we've been twice in the past 5 months because we loved it so much. The first time we went, we visited in October for a cozy fall foliage weekend, and were hit with quite a bit of snow (quickly turning our fall getaway into what felt like an Apres Ski, without the ski, getaway). And most recently, we visited in February to be in the thick of winter celebrations.

Lake Placid is a charming little town in the Adirondacks full of things to do, and also, a great place to do absolutely nothing if you prefer a bit of relaxation and pampering. And that's what we love about it so much. We don't stay right in the town, but an AirBnB on the outskirts that's hidden in the woods and perfectly cozy, which gives us the best of both worlds. But there are so many options for accommodation right in town that would allow you to walk to all the shops, restaurants and sights, including hotels, condos and upscale inns - you really have your pick when it comes to finding the right place to stay.

We've crammed a lot into our two visits to Lake Placid and I'm excited to share our top things to do while in the area.

Prince Edward Island North Shore Travel Guide

Visiting Prince Edward Island had been a dream vacation for me for years. Growing up reading the Anne of Green Gables books, watching Avonlea every Sunday night with my mom and sister and watching the Anne movies with my grandma when we would have sleepovers on her pull out couch, I would often daydream about what it would be like to actually see the island, the red sand beaches and vast, rolling hills of farmland. In the summer of 2018, we finally made it happen.