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An Autumn Weekend in Victoria, B.C.
I recently spent a wonderful weekend in the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia. This was my first international trip in a while, so I was excited to christen my new passport! My mom and grandma were in town and this quick voyage up to Canada made for a great time for all of us. I booked our trip through the FRS Clipper, which couldn’t have been easier. They offer a variety of packages from Seattle to Victoria and the San Juan Islands for any length and itinerary. I chose the Seattle to Victoria Overnight Package and bundled our hotel and an excursion with it. Booking was super smooth and they took care…
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My Mini Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
The Pacific Coast Highway is one of America’s most iconic drives, winding its way all the way up the west coast from San Diego to San Francisco. The drive offers a slower-paced way of seeing some of California’s most famous beach towns and beautiful coastline. Recently, my mom and I drove the portion of the PCH between Long Beach and San Diego. While I’d love to eventually do the whole thing, this made for a great day trip and allowed for several stops. Here are my favorite places and sights from the drive! Long Beach This beach outside of LA was our starting point. I spent two nights here which gave me some…
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A 1-Day Road Trip Up Washington’s Original Scenic Byway
As winter comes to an end and the days start to get longer, many of us start to get the itch to venture out of our winter hibernation. This day trip itinerary is the perfect remedy for that urge to explore! I started from Seattle, but you could be coming from anywhere or add this onto a longer trip to get in some extra sights. You’ll need a car and some hiking boots! Chuckanut Drive Chuckanut Drive is Washington’s original scenic byway. This road spans 24 miles of cliffs, coastline, and spectacular views of the San Juan Islands and Samish Bay. It’s been compared to California’s Big Sur because of its winding nature…
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A Winter Weekend in Leavenworth
Nestled in the Cascade Mountains of Washington is the charming and magical town of Leavenworth. What makes this place so special is that the entire town is built and decorated to look just like a Bavarian village in Germany. Leavenworth is a popular destination for Seattleites due to its various shops, German food and beer, and proximity to a host of outdoor activities and recreation. One of the best times of the year to visit Leavenworth is in the winter. The town is decked out in boughs of holly and dazzling lights and there are festivities like sledding down the hill in town, skiing and tubing at the public slope outside town, winter…
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Visitor’s Guide to the Grand Strand
The Grand Strand of South Carolina includes miles of sandy beach along the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Georgetown up to North Myrtle. This part of the coast boasts some of the best beaches, seafood, and resorts in the country, and each beach offers something a little different for everyone. My family traditions mean that I’ve spent most of my vacations along the southern part of the Grand Strand. Here, things are more laid back and slow. There are fewer high-rise hotels and flashy neon lights, but more natural beauty, history, and authenticity. My family has spent a week or two in Litchfield Beach every summer since before I was born. The area has…
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Visiting the Lavender Fields in Sequim, WA
Have you ever dreamed of visiting the rolling purple fields of lavender in Provence, France? I have too, but unfortunately it hasn’t been in the cards for me yet. However, did you know you can get a similar experience right here in Washington state? The Sequim Valley is located on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula and is home to about a dozen lavender farms. The valley sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains which makes the area the perfect climate for growing sun-loving lavender. There are about a dozen farms here that grow the beautiful purple flowers, and each summer the town of Sequim holds a Lavender Festival and…
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Cherry Blossom Season in Seattle
The beginning of spring in Seattle is marked by the thousands of cherry trees lining streets and parks bursting into bloom. Cherry trees are very special to the city of Seattle, symbolizing the city’s history of friendship with Japan. Seeing the snowy white and pink blossoms is one of my favorite parts of spring in Seattle, and every year people flock from all over to see them. In this post I’ll share the best places to experience cherry blossom season in Seattle! A Gift of A Thousand Cherry Trees Seattle’s history with cherry trees began with the arrival of 2,000 trees gifted to the United States by the City of Tokyo, Japan in…
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My Favorite Washington Vacation Rentals
One of my favorite things about WA state is how much there is to explore! While I’ve done my share of day trips, sometimes you have to make a weekend of it if you want to go further and explore some of the more remote parts of the state. I’m a big fan of browsing through AirBnB and VRBO to find cute cabins and cottages for little trips away from the city. Here I’ve compiled a list of all my favorite Washington vacation rentals that I’ve stayed in! Little Elk Cabin Ashford, WA This adorable little cabin is located just outside the Longmire entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. My family and I…
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Christmas at Biltmore: A Visitor’s Guide
Nowhere does Christmas quite like Biltmore. This 1890s chateau-inspired mansion goes all out for the holidays, bedecking every inch of its 175,000 square feet in garlands, lights, and Christmas trees. If you’re looking for the best time to visit this historic estate, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better time of year than at Christmas. Here is my visitor’s guide to Christmas at Biltmore! About The Estate The Biltmore Estate is located right outside of Asheville, North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains. Built in the 1890s by George Vanderbilt, this sprawling home overlooks 8,000 acres of forest and farmland. Architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the home in the French Renaissance style and…
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4 Days in Las Vegas
“Viva Las Vegas, with your neon flashin’…” Elvis Presley In May 2019, two of my best friends got married and chose to have a destination wedding in America’s party capital: Las Vegas, Nevada! We spent 4 days in Las Vegas and had a blast in this playground of a city. Everyone who attended had a great time. It was a long weekend of reuniting with friends, going out on The Strip, and exploring what Vegas has to offer. Before this trip, I’d only spent one night in Vegas when I was in high school on a family vacation. Being only 16 at the time, I have to admit that I didn’t really get…
