My Solo Trip to Santa Barbara, CA | Day Trips to Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos

Summer is so fleeting in the Northeast, and over time, I’ve learned to do whatever I can to soak up every second of it. Recently, I’ve been setting aside a few extra days off in August to be ocean-side, since that’s my favorite place to be in the warmer months. This year, my plan was to take a long weekend on the Cape, but Josh told me that with all our traveling this year, he was out of vacation days, and I would be flying solo this time around. I was just about to hit “Book Room” for a hotel on the Cape when I thought to myself, Why not go somewhere you haven’t been before? Lately, I’ve had an itch to go somewhere in California, and I began to search for a coastal town that would make for a perfect long-weekend getaway from New York.

Nantucket Day Trip Itinerary & Travel Guide

Nantucket is definitely one of the top things we both love about Cape Cod, and our weekly Summer vacation just isn't complete without spending a day here. We were also lucky enough to go for a few nights last September since it was off-season (meaning we could actually afford a hotel!), and honestly, it was one of my favorite getaways. It's a place that still seems stuck in time, but also provides modern amenities like amazing shopping and restaurants, and has some of the absolute best coastal scenery you can see. To me, Nantucket is magical, and I feel like everyone should visit.

Where to Stay on Cape Cod: A Guide to the Towns and Regions of The Cape

You've decided to visit Cape Cod, and friends, you're in for a real treat. You're excited to walk the amazing coastlines, indulge in lobster rolls, take in beautiful scenery, stop to smell the hydrangeas and witness some stunning sunsets. But you have absolutely no idea where to even begin when it comes to selecting where to stay. I'm hoping to help you out with that today.

I know it can be daunting because the Cape is actually bigger than most people think. It could take you two hours if you base yourself in Falmouth and want to get to Provincetown, which are pretty much the two furthest destination from one another on the Cape. Not that two hours is a huge chunk of time, but when you want to maximize every second of your trip, it could be a bit of a hassle.

The good news is, there really isn't a bad town to stay in on the Cape. Each town has its own charm and atmosphere, and it's really all about deciding on your priorities. And, you really can drive to most places depending on where you stay, so you certainly won't be tied down to just your local surroundings once you settle in. 

Our Typical Cape Cod Itinerary: 1 Week in the Summer

Since starting to visit the Cape years ago, we've kept much of our week-long itinerary the same. When I first took Josh to the Cape after moving back to New York, he just fell in love with it like I did when I was a kid, and we created so many great memories during our first trip together. So we continue to repeat a lot of the same things each year.

My Solo Trip to Whistler, BC

After spending three nights in Vancouver, I was off to Whistler. While researching all the must-see things in Vancouver, taking a drive on the Sea to Sky highway popped up with a suggestion to spend the day in Whistler. The more I looked into Whistler, the more I knew I wanted to spend way more than just an afternoon here, so I decided to split my trip into two parts, and spend half of it in this amazing alpine town.

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.