City girl. Traveling soul. Always hungry.
New Year’s Eve is a tricky holiday for us. Katie absolutely loves it - toss together glitter and fireworks with bubbles and a clean slate, and you've got a literal perfect holiday. No stressing over gifts. Celebrate with 2 people or 200. It's socially acceptable to get champagne drunk and hug strangers. Or kiss them.... Continue Reading →
We didn’t have nearly enough time in Sintra, a town described to us as a “fairy tale”. After parking in a tiny lot and underestimating the walk to our hotel (steep hills…very steep), we only had a few hours of daytime left to explore. We set off for Palacio da Pena which required a 30-minute... Continue Reading →
We arrived in Porto, to the bustle of a “big” city again, a feeling that always hits as a bit of a surprise after traveling through little towns. The vibe though was more relaxed than Lisbon – a little more easy going and cool. We stayed at Guest House Douro because it’s where we were... Continue Reading →
Lucerne was the final city of our trip – a busy urban spot that hugs a massive lake. The train station in Lucerne was vast and sweeping, with sky high ceilings and hundreds of people rushing past us. It was a complete change from the tiny town of Grindelwald, and for a minute I forgot... Continue Reading →
God, it’s been hard to get myself to stop and write. I kept waiting to feel the “pause” I need to get those thoughts out, but it comes fewer and farther between. The goal in Sedona was to spend as much of our time hiking as we could, which was an ideal activity for my... Continue Reading →
On the road again…we took the scenic route on our way to Prescott by starting in Wickenburg and driving Route 89 up through a series of sharp switchbacks and hills. Our small SUV lurched forward with a bit of struggle, but persevered. I regretted gulping down that extra-large coffee as my stomach swerved along with... Continue Reading →
We woke up after a flurried New Years Eve in a lodge in Tucson. I had that moment of “where am I” as I opened my eyes…but I quickly settled, remembering that I was somewhere different than yesterday. My 30-something body struggles to stay up late these days, even for a ball drop (through a... Continue Reading →
Not far from Vancouver is Vancouver Island, home to the quaint town of Victoria and the Butchart Gardens. Victoria is a hugely popular tourist destination, with harborside restaurants, museums, pubs, and the vast British Columbia Parliament Buildings. Overly ambitious as usual, we figured it would be easy-peasy to take a day trip to Victoria during... Continue Reading →
We landed in Vancouver early in the morning. Our hotel was right in downtown inside the bustle of sky rises and adjusting back to the energy of the city was going to take time. My mind was still wandering through the swirling mountains and hills of Banff. Too early to check in, we set off... Continue Reading →
It was unfortunate that we only had one night in Jasper. There were nearby hikes, scenic roads, and ghost towns that we never had a chance to explore. We had to head down south again, back to Calgary, to fly to Vancouver early the next morning. We had originally planned to drive from Jasper through... Continue Reading →
Chaos & Coffee Beans 