We've Been Bit!

I have found that there comes a certain point in your life where if you are not careful you will get bit by the travel bug; for me that particularly happened at the onset of 2013. As I mentioned in a previous post I lived in Mendocino County for a bit. Shortly after moving there I started itching to travel more. I think that living somewhere surrounded by incredible scenery that we got to enjoy every weekend just made me want to seek out other beautiful places. Lucky for me I have a boyfriend who loves to travel and explore by my side and there are many amazing places to visit just in Northern California. We've taken a lot of trips multiple times to local destinations including: Napa, Tahoe, and the Pacific Coast. Also, my boyfriend’s parents live up north in some alluring mountain terrain about 4.5 hours away so each time we visit it’s a nice mini-getaway.

Trying to bring the travel channel to life, I weaseled my way into more little trips by creating a tradition for us every October. For the past two years on either the first or second weekend in October we plan a weekend away for our own little 'Oktoberfest'. The first year we went to a quaint town called Petaluma and enjoyed relaxing, shopping, the Lagunitas Brewery, and a handful of delicious eats. The second year we went to a little town called Murphys. There were only a few things to do there; wine tasting, eat tasty grub, browse little shops, oh and wine tasting. It’s really nice to take the time to slow down, focus on each other and explore an area you haven’t been to before. Sprinkled in-between our many little excursions have been a few big trips that were truly fantastic.

Our first big trip together was to New York, I had been before but at a much younger age. We went to New York to visit friends for an extended 4^th of July weekend in 2013. Overall it was a great visit and we got to swim in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time together as well; refreshing to say the least. The first day we arrived we visited Central Park, Time Square, Wall Street, and went on a champagne cruise to see the Statue of Liberty and the surrounding areas. For the actual 4th we took the train out to their other condo in New Jersey for fireworks and a beach day at the Atlantic Ocean. We rounded out the trip with a pool party one day, the 9/11 Memorial, a late dinner at Tao and a quick visit to McSorely's. Looking back we have decided that our trip was entirely too short at just four full days. 

When I ended my project and moved back we decided it was completely necessary to celebrate and take a trip, we chose Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was absolutely beautiful and it was so nice to unwind and spend time together. We spent our time breathing easy while clocking lots of poolside hours, bay snorkeling, paddle boarding, and taking multiple boat rides. A necessary stop we made on the trip was to The Office, a restaurant and bar on the beach near the marina. Our resort was all-inclusive; I urge you to choose this option if you like to eat and drink as much as one can, so that was a huge plus for us. Additionally, we had exceptional views of the famous landmark, the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. Living in separate places for the year prior was hard naturally but it made our time alone memorable and special.

Just a couple months ago we escaped to Cancun, Mexico. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort again, highly endorsed, again if you especially enjoy eating and drinking. The view from our balcony alone was stunning. It was by far the best vacation I have ever been on and undoubtedly some of the best days of my life. So many moments were remarkably breathtaking and I think about going back almost every day; thankfully I’m not alone in that so if I play my cards right we'll make it back one day. While there we enjoyed much needed sunshine and cocktails while pool and ocean-side. Along with our time spent motionless we took a catamaran sailing trip, went snorkeling, had lunch on the beach, and rented a golf cart to cruise around Isla Mujeres. Also, we made a pit stop at the Soggy Peso while on Isla Mujeres; which is a must for anyone who ventures there. 

This summer we already have travel arrangements booked to go to Vancouver, Canada for a long weekend for my cousin’s wedding and some quality exploring. I can’t wait to go back since I have not been there since the summer of 2006. What I can remember from my previous trips up there was that it was clean, lush, and splendid! From my experience thus far I've determined that it’s extremely important to travel while you're younger before you start a family since there's a chance you may not be able to in the future. So at this point in my life I am absolutely trying to make the most of it!

Bon Voyage. Au Revoir. Ciao.