Around the World, Around the Web
For this month’s installment of Around the World, Around the Web, the links are focused on tips for where to stay, eat, drink, shop, and play in 9 Southern cities + 1 rural resort.
A Charming Chattanooga Stay at the “Tremont Treehouse”
The Treemont Treehouse is a quaint, historic home with updated finishes, making it equal parts charming and comfortable. It has cute and quirky decorations all throughout the house–I could’ve spent hours inspecting the shelves!
Around the World, Around the Web
Around the World, Around the Web is a monthly list of travel-related links for wanderlust inspiration. This month’s theme is Christmas in July, because it’s time to start planning a Christmas trip!
Chicago Travel Guide
I’ve heard it’s hard to beat Chicago on a sunny summer day, and if our recent trip is any indication, then I totally agree. A stroll along the Riverwalk, down the Lakefront Trail, or through Millennium Park shows the city’s masterful marriage of nature and architecture. There are activities suited for all ages and budgets, including pro sports games, boat tours, shopping, and my activity of choice: eating. From Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza to artful fine dining to trendy food halls, there’s something for everyone.
When Love Transcends a Language Barrier
In March of this year, I traveled to the northeastern coast of Brazil with my husband’s family. We didn’t embark on nearly 20 hours of travel (each way) for an off-the-beaten-path, exotic vacation. We went because there were two church communities in Fortaleza, Brazil that loved my late mother-in-law so much that they wanted to honor her life; and they wanted us to be there.
SoCal Luxury at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel
The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is situated on a dramatic stretch of California coastline that reminds me of the Italian Riviera. The sprawling property is perched above a wide beach dotted with umbrellas. The landscape is lush, the weather is ideal, and thoughtful details abound.
A Few Stops in Los Angeles
Over Memorial Day weekend, we had less than 24 hours in LA, but it was enough to find a few places that I loved. From seasonally-inspired small plates in Beverly Hills to an address forever marked in pop culture history, here are a few stops I’d recommend:
Wanderlust Wednesday – Hotel Points
Wanderlust Wednesday is a series that shows my behind the scenes travel planning. Today I’m talking about how to use hotel points and how we planned a South American trip for next fall around points.
Quito Travel Guide
Quito is often used as a quick stop on the way to the Galápagos Islands, but it’s an underrated destination itself. I read the New York Times’ piece “36 Hours in Quito,” and I was instantly hooked on the idea of traveling to the Ecuadorean capital. There are inexpensive, direct flights from Atlanta, everything is cheap, there is great hiking nearby, and Ecuador produces CHOCOLATE.
A Brazilian Beach Bed & Breakfast
A little over a decade ago, owners Janneke and Roel Wetters left their Dutch homeland to travel the world. After two years of globetrotting, they settled in Cumbuco and began work on what would become the 0031 Boutique Hotel.
What was once a sandy lot is now a veritable oasis nestled in Cumbuco’s sand dunes, just a few minutes walk from the beach. The gated compound is filled with lush landscaping, a central pool and lounge area, and Mediterranean-style villas.
Wanderlust Wednesday – Travel Accessories
I’ve been mulling over the idea of starting a series or two for my blog as a way to add some continuity to an otherwise broad spectrum of posts. It’s partly for the reader’s sake to know what’s coming, and it’s partly to give me some framework to stay on track. I’m starting with Wanderlust Wednesday; the idea is to share some of the behind the scenes of how and why I travel the way I do. For this first installment, I’m talking about some of my favorite travel accessories.
Revisiting Costa Rican Paradise at the Andaz Papagayo
Last year, we uncharacteristically booked a long weekend trip to Costa Rica with only one week’s notice. (We’re usually planners.) This year, we uncharacteristically decided to go back to the Andaz Papagayo. (We usually like to try new places.) But getting a big, beautiful room in paradise for $75/night is hard to beat. As holders of the Chase Hyatt Visa card, we each get a free category 1-4 night every year. The card’s $75 annual fee is totally worth it when you can redeem the free night on a hotel like the Andaz Papagayo, which would’ve cost us $500 + resort fees per night had we booked it normally. Our third night was a mere 15,000 Hyatt points, which is a steal relative to the value.