Maui Travel Guide

Maui Travel Guide

I once wondered if the long travel days to get to the Hawaiian islands were really worth it. I’m now lucky enough to know that they are, in fact, worth it. The lush island of Maui offers a diversity of experiences that will suit the tastes of many different travelers. Adventure seekers can find strenuous hikes, cliffs to jump, and massive waves to surf. Sun worshipers can soak up the Hawaiian rays from a number of postcard-worthy beaches. Wildlife lovers can see whales, sea turtles, dolphins, and tropical fish galore from a boat, paddle board, or up close with snorkeling or diving gear.

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Year in Review

Year in Review

In spite of the personal, national, and global turmoil, there was still a lot of good in 2016. It was one hell of a travel year for us, including awe-inspiring hikes, beautiful golf courses, and some incredible meals. We were overwhelmed with love and support from friends and family. I continued to find my way professionally as a photographer, cooking class teacher, and blogger. And I launched this new blog! Those are the parts I want to focus on and remember, so I’ve put together this “year in review” to record some of the highlights. I mostly did this for myself as a practice in gratitude, but I’ll also consider it my Christmas card substitute. Lord knows I don’t have my life together enough to get real ones in the mail.

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Camogli to San Fruttuoso to Portofino Hike

Camogli to San Fruttuoso to Portofino Hike

This was everything we wanted in a hike: we virtually had the trail to ourselves (we passed only 6 other hikers in total), it was a great workout, and the views were nothing short of breathtaking.

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Camogli Travel Guide

Camogli Travel Guide

The brightly painted town of Camogli (pronounced CAH-mol-yee) is nestled into the hillside of the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Cinque Terre, on the edge of the Portofino peninsula. This fishing village-turned-vacation-town is not super well known among American travelers and is mostly filled with tourists from Italy and neighboring countries.

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When should I use my frequent flier miles?

When should I use my frequent flier miles?

When’s the right time to use those coveted miles? Spoiler alert: there isn’t one right answer. The main consideration is the cents per point value of award tickets, but there are a variety of other factors to consider:

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Luxury Retreat at the Andaz Papagayo, Costa Rica

Luxury Retreat at the Andaz Papagayo, Costa Rica

Arrival at the Andaz Papagayo is a wonderfully unique experience. First you’re dropped off at the open air lobby that overlooks the Culebra Bay and greeted with fresh fruit juice (in our case, pineapple juice flecked with mint). A receptionist checks you in on a tablet, then you’re whisked away to your room in a golf cart.

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