We LOVE the Hilo side of the Big Island. We usually stay closer down toward Pahoa or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park when we visit, but on a recent trip we wanted to base out of Hilo to be closer to the waterfalls and gardens we love. Luckily, we found a great... Read more
After months of trying to decide what epic adventure we'd take for Buddy's 40th, our friend and neighbor mentioned they were going to take a trip to Australia soon since it was fully open for travel again. And it clicked … we'd go see the astonishing wonder of... Read more
Now that we are allowed to move about in New Zealand again, us tourists turned temporary residents all ask each other the same question: “Where did you end up during lockdown?” While some were at hostels sharing rooms and meals with other backpackers, we... Read more
When you find out you'll be near one of the only castles in the country, isn't the logical next step to find out if you can stay there? Yea, I thought so. That's how we ended up staying in an iconic New Zealand castle with amazing views and even more impressive... Read more
Sometimes being extra spontaneous on a trip can really come back to bite you. Other times, it leads to unexpected places you would have never discovered had you not been forced to make a detour. That's how we discovered Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary outside Rotorua and... Read more
No matter how much we love a relaxing beach vacay or fun city stay, the mountains are always ringing us up and begging us to come visit. So, after a short paddle sesh on the north coast and a house sit in Christchurch, we set our sights on the rest of New Zealand's... Read more
Trying to decide on a first destination in a place with hundreds of amazing options is a challenge. Luckily, we were celebrating my birthday a few days after landing in Auckland and I only wanted one thing: sunshine. GLORIOUS SUNSHINE! After six weeks of winter in... Read more
We don't always plan to splurge for birthdays and other special occasions … but when we do, we tend to really go all out (like learning to cook in Rome or hot air ballooning over Colorado Springs). So, when we decided to go to New Zealand for my big 3-0, I... Read more
If you have ever looked into Dubrovnik, or Croatia for that matter, I'm sure you have seen the photos of Dubrovnik Old Town from above. These photos are often taken on Mount Srd Dubrovnik, the hill where Fort Imperial sits. You can see the fort as well as a large... Read more
One of the most beloved features of a long-term European vacation is the ability to experience so many different cultures, languages, foods, and history during one trip. There are also many beautiful, unique cities that haven't been hit as hard by tourism –... Read more