• Travel

    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…

  • Travel

    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…

  • Travel

    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…

  • Travel

    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…

  • Lifestyle

    A Visit to a Christmas Tree Farm

    It’s Christmas time again and I couldn’t be more excited! I’m the type of person who must wait to start celebrating Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but that begins the moment Thanksgiving is over. I start pulling out all the decorations on Black Friday and this year we went to get our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. If you’re in the Seattle area and are looking for a place to cut your own tree, this post is for you! We’ve chosen Trinity Tree Farm for our Christmas tree in 2019 and 2021 (no tree last year when I was on the east coast for the whole month). This farm is located in Issaquah and…

  • Travel

    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…

  • Skyline of Seattle, WA from Kerry Park
    Travel

    5 Things to Do on Your First Visit to Seattle

    If you’re planning an upcoming trip to the Emerald City, you may be wondering about the must-dos and sees. Below, I’ve listed 5 things to do on your first visit to Seattle! In November of 2018, I began my move to Seattle, WA from Greenville, SC. I’d only visited the city once before. In high school, I spent 3 days in the city, and then 7 years passed between my visit and move. After that amount of time, it felt like a brand new place for me, so I wanted to play tourist again and get to know the city I was about to call home. Since moving here, I’ve had a few…