Consistently listed as one of the "Things to do in Portland", Voodoo Doughnut was calling our names one early Saturday morning. What better way to start our day than with a healthy dosage of frosting and fried dough at this well-marketed tourist spot? Here are a couple of things you should know before heading out:… Continue reading Voodoo Doughnut Put a Spell on Us
I’m not exactly sure when my priorities changed but over the course of our travels Shaun and I have become increasingly concerned with keeping up our standards for sustainable tourism and eco-friendly properties and locations. When we received an invitation to head to Portland with Hostelling International USA to experience Hawthorne Portland Hostel’s 10th Annual… Continue reading Hostels can be Eco-Friendly Too! Sustainable Tourism with Hostelling International
Unlike many world travelers, if you asked Shaun and I what our favorite country has been throughout our traveling "career", it has always been a quick and easy reply - JAPAN. It is the country that we would love to return to and has haunted us every day since July 2008. I had just picked… Continue reading Reaching Photographic Zen at the Portland Japanese Garden
I don’t know when it happened but one day I woke up 30 years old and with the terrifying realization that I like a lot of old lady things. Long gone were the days of seeing Shaun’s metal shows every weekend, spending time at practices, partying hard, and living a “rock star” lifestyle. I woke… Continue reading Fight. Love. Live. The Filoli Mansion and Gardens in Silicon Valley
We’re heading to the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay? I roll my eyes with such fervor I would give a 15 year old girl a run for her money. After a quick google search, this property in particular has won one of the best hotel properties in the world. Can we get any more “bougie” that… Continue reading Hope Renewed at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
For those of you who aren't obsessively following Instagram like I am, I thought that I would bring you them gems that were caught during my recent trip out to Silicon Valley San Mateo County. I can say without a doubt that the fact that there is so much more to Silicon Valley than tech… Continue reading Instagram: Snapshots of Silicon Valley
I can get used to being pleasantly surprised. I've found myself wanting to discover more of my home country and I’m tickled pink every time I find hidden gems and fab destinations in the most random of places. When I was invited by the San Mateo/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to come and check… Continue reading Silicon Valley: Eat, Drink, Sleep, Do
So it is your first time out on the playa. You get there, starry eyed, looking forward to your upcoming life-changing week, and find out that, as a newbie, you have forgotten a gazillion things that would have made your life easy-peasy. We have had a few readers contacting us about advice that we could… Continue reading Must Know Burning Man Tips for Newbies
What do expats, travelers, artists, and humanitarians have in common? You wouldn’t believe it but all these folks hang out at this really rad wine bar in small-town Elgin, Texas - about 30-45 minutes outside Austin. The Owl Wine Bar and Home Goods Store has much more than meets the eye and I was overjoyed… Continue reading The Best Little Wine Bar in Texas
Imagine a community that accepts you wholly and completely. Or one that is a magical, whimsical world full of art and performance. Or maybe a place that you can find music 24 hours a day and people are begging you to come and join in on the fun. That place... is Flipside (our regional Burning… Continue reading Finding My Phoenix at Burning Flipside (A Regional Burning Man Event)
It is a little ironic that the last moments in Mexico we held on to so dearly were in the city that we had so much drama with the last time around - Playa del Carmen. But this time we did it differently. We shopped locally. We ate at family owned restaurants. We stayed at… Continue reading Last Moments in Mexico
We stepped off the sardine can ferry into Cozumel and immediately sighed with relief - until I looked around. We had never had the opportunity to spend any time here and I was a wee bit shocked. This tacky tourist town was exactly what we were trying to avoid. But we were here for one… Continue reading Drifting Away in Cozumel
“Well, if you’re in Plano you HAVE to go and see Southfork Ranch!” I must have made a bewildered face at this point. “You know, where they filmed Dallas?” Oh yeah, THAT show. The show that is aired in 96 countries worldwide. The show that is personally responsible for all the confused looks I receive… Continue reading OYL Cribs: Southfork Ranch from the Show Dallas
“Why are you going to PLANO?!” I had to field this question a million times over by my Austin-enthusiast friends. Why head out to Plano, Texas when you had the opportunity to play at home? Only 30 minutes from most major attractions in the Dallas area and consistently listed as one of the safest and… Continue reading Girls Weekend Getaway in Plano, Texas
The tree-lined highway wizzed past our window as we stared out. “I know where we are!” It is weird when you continue to return to the same part of the world over and over again. We were about to head into our third visit to Tulum, Mexico and it just felt right. We had so… Continue reading Tulum: Third Time Isn’t a Charm
