A morning ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge and a short video

My husband asked to sleep in, but I asked for moody ocean views, so instead, we woke up at 5:30am, and headed down to the ferry landing for an early boarding time. We made our way onto the top deck to enjoy the ocean wind

Weekend getaway guide to Seattle, WA

Prior to this trip, I had only been to Seattle for a couple of hours, which my husband (my boyfriend at the time) and I mainly spent wandering around Pike Place Market. This time around, I knew I wanted to do some prior research to

Gardens and Green Spaces in Portland

There are several green spaces in Portland that allow for exploration, long walks, and the enjoyment of being surrounded by nature. All are child friendly as well, which I appreciate, especially as we anticipate the arrival of our

Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, WA

If you're looking for somewhere to go to escape the unexpected rain or drizzle that can be all too familiar in the Pacific Northwest, the Conservatory, at Volunteer Park in Seattle, is a perfect place to go. With a low admission

Japanese Garden in Seattle

Tucked away in the Madison Park Neighborhood of Seattle is the 3.5 acre Japanese garden. It is surrounded by luscious and looming trees creating that feeling of separation from the outside world, and providing the opportunity

Oregon Lavender Farm and a 31 Week Baby Bump

About a 40 minute drive east of Portland is an expansive field of purple. Every year the public is invited to the Oregon Lavender Farm to take home bundles of fresh lavender that they can pick themselves. It is $3 for a single

Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin, TX

This past April my husband and I took a somewhat spur of the moment weekend trip to Austin, Texas. It was our second time there, so we revisited the places we really enjoyed eating at (Dolce Neve, Seventh Flag Coffee, Figure 8

A Day Guide to Downtown San Diego, CA: Things to do

San Diego may be a beach town, but it also hosts several cities within the city that each have their own personal character. For this day guide, I focus primarily on a list of things to do and restaurants and coffee shops to enjoy in

A Day Guide to Houston, Texas: Things to do

I realize that living in Houston for a little over a year does not make me an expert on the local scene. But if you just so happen to be visiting Houston for the day and are the type of person who loves coffee, books, art, and good food,

A Day Guide to San Antonio, Texas: Things to do

In early January, my husband and I decided to hit the road early on a Saturday morning for a three hour drive to San Antonio, home of the Alamo and the famous Riverwalk. Although we had both been to San Antonio once, it

Vlog: A Weekend Getaway Guide to New Orleans

For a moment I felt a bit like Ignatius, from John Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces, as I stood in the middle of the French Quarter, of course without the floppy green hat to draw unwanted attention my way. Instead, I

Lafeyette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans

One of my favorite activities while in New Orleans, was exploring the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. Since we visited a little after they had opened the gates, it was really quiet, and only a few other passersby ventured through. I was

French Quarter Wanderings - What I Wore

I love being in the presence of architecture with character, details, history, and charm. Therefore, it may sound as no surprise when I say that the French Quarter in New Orleans kept me in utter awe of the pastel colored buildings,

My Top 5 Favorite Houston Coffee Shops

What is the secret that coffee shops use to lure us into their glass doors and cause us to make weekend plans with them in mind? Is it the mellow indie folk or jazz music playing a volume under conversational tone, or the smell of

A cabin in the forest - Lake Arrowhead, California

The car weaved left and right, as it followed the curvature of the winding road, up the mountain and through the forest to a green roofed cabin. We each stepped out of the car, the 50 degree air feeling fresh and cold against our

An Outdoor Boston Bookstore and May's Book List

Nestled on the corner of West Street and Washington Street is a cozy three story building housing a plethora of used books known as Brattle Book Shop. Before making your way into the old building, you will want to peruse through

Boston through the lens of history, archictecture, and cafes - a weekend getaway

I used to think cobblestone streets were only found in Europe and rows of townhouses were only dreamy in the city of Montreal. That was until I set foot in the city of Boston. Strewn with brick homes and a rich history, Boston

The Grandeur of the Boston Public Library and April's book list

As you enter the lobby your eyes are immediately drawn to the grand staircase and the light coming in from the three large windows. The sound of your foot steps echo along the floor as you near the top of the steps. It's a rather quiet

Boston window scenes

The scenery of architecture in Boston was so incredible to me that I found myself drawn to its city views from various window locations, such as at a metro stop, in the library, our hotel room, and a bookstore. There was never a

Museum walks and a bit about impressionism

It was 2 minutes before 3pm, so we got off the bench in the lobby and walked towards the sign, "Tours Start Here". A small group began to form around a petite lady, in her 70's, as she continued to ask those close by, in her sweet