Sometimes it’s good to change up your routine. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, the universe aligns to make something truly special possible. My husband and I recently received an opportunity such as this, when our lease expired, he quit his job, and I was granted a sabbatical. With no kids, no mortgage and an insatiable wanderlust, it was time to hit the road: one month from Boston to Portland, OR, […]
It was February in Boston, and that meant it was time to escape to a warmer climate. In the depths of a New England winter, it’s important to get a dose of vitamin D and remember what the sun feels like on your skin, even if it only lasts a week. This year’s destination: Key West. It was our first time in the Florida Keys, and our agenda was limited. […]
I recently visited the Virgin Islands for the first time, specifically St. John. Great trip, beautiful place and a welcome escape from the Boston winter. I have much to share about the trip, but first and foremost: transportation. In trip planning, navigating questions around getting somewhere, renting cars and transportation prices can be challenging. I hope the below will help make St. John trip planning just a bit easier. Getting to St. […]
Traveling to Portland, Oregon anytime soon? If you’re into food, you’re heading to the right place. Chances are you’ve probably already heard about the Portland food scene. I certainly cannot proclaim to know all the neighborhood spots and hidden gems that Portland has to offer, but as a frequent visitor I do have a few favorite spots. Here they are, in no particular order: Andina Located in the trendy Pearl […]
In my 22 years of flying in and out of Portland, OR, I was never aware of the popularity and following enjoyed by, of all things, the carpet at PDX. I was alerted to it by a recent article in the New York Times titled, “It’s Curtains for the Carpet,” (love it) in which I learned that the PDX carpet was being replaced, and many people were, apparently, distraught. According […]
Heading to Costa Rica and debating whether or not to rent a car? If you’re planning to cover a lot of ground and see different parts of the county, a car is definitely the way to go. It gives you the freedom to make your own schedules and not rely on public transportation. It also opens up more hotel and activity options and makes the treks between locations far more pleasant than they […]
I’m a girl with many travel goals: visit all 50 states, see all the continents, road-trip across the country, etc. Earlier this year I added a new one to the list: visit all of the US National Parks. I had been to some on family vacations as a kid, mostly out West, but none of those counted for this undertaking, which also included my boyfriend. The rules of this goal […]
After a 7:00am Tico style breakfast at the hotel we headed out to Sámara for our 8:00am horseback riding tour – a private excursion with a Spanish-only guide and two horses, Pinto for Danny and Andres for me. There are a few tour outfits in town; I booked ours through a site called Anywhere Costa Rica, but offerings seemed similar across the board. The tour lasted two and a half […]
Our first full day on the beach began with my first Tico style breakfast: eggs, rice and beans, cheese and tortillas. The meal was enjoyed in the lobby of our Playa Hermosa hotel, La Finisterra, and was complemented by views of the sparkling Pacific. We arrived in Playa Hermosa on the northern side of the Nicoya Peninsula (there are two Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica – don’t get confused) late […]