Photo Credit: The Palms
Miami, Florida
After decades of traveling, I was finally going on my first cruise. The ship went out of Miami and since I decided to come in the night before, I was excited to find a hotel that would really wow me. The Palms Hotel & Spa was the perfect place to call home for the night! Since it is in the heart of South Beach, the location cannot be beat.
Marginal Way
Marginal Way, in Ogunquit, is a mile and a quarter long piece of heaven that needs to be experienced. This paved path gets its name from being the margin between the crashing waves of the sea and the tranquil land of this quaint seaside town in Maine.
Photo Credit: Marriott
After a long, cold winter (did I mention LONG?) my thirteen-year-old daughter and I couldn’t wait to get our toes in the sand. We were on our first solo mom/daughter trip outside of the US, and Aruba was the perfect destination for our stay. There are several Marriott hotels on the island and we couldn’t choose which to stay at so we decided to stay at two of them because they were right near each other.
Two years ago we had our last family vacation before the pandemic had us shelter in our homes. It was the most amazing trip to Portugal. We began our trip in one of my favorite towns…Cascais. Cascais, Portugal, is a pristine beach town located 30 minutes from Lisbon. The town’s main focus is…of course…its beaches. If you follow the crowd, most likely they will be headed towards the water. The locals are pleasant and want to share their town with you, so take some time to people watch, eat some local fish, and enjoy this stunning coastal town. So now…onto my favorite things to do in Cascais, Portugal.
A beautiful 20-minute walk from the center of town are the cliffs of Boca do Inferno (Mouth of Hell). Stare in awe at the aggressive beauty of the ocean against these cliffs. On calmer days you will see men fishing from the rocks. It is fun to see them professionally avoiding the huge waves. There is a visitor’s platform and they say the best time to visit is at sunset. I think it would be amazing to watch it when the ocean is rough. There are a few café’s there, and it’s a great place to get a gelato.
It is winter here in New Hampshire and by February I start to get a little sick of the cold. I have to admit, it sometimes takes a little urging to get me to throw on some snow pants and go outside, but I am always happy I did. We have so much fun during winter and make some great memories. It always helps to look back at our winter bucket list 2022 for inspiration. Take a peek at what we want to get done this winter.
Go snowshoeing in the fields across the street
Spa night (mani/pedi, facials, hot oil treatments)
Go ice fishing (and actually catch a fish)
Board game night
Go tubing at the mountain
Salem, Massachusetts is a fun place for a family getaway. It has it all…entertainment, history, shopping, and great restaurants. If your kids are too young for anything involving witches, there is still a ton of things to do. Here is an itinerary for A Perfect Weekend in Salem, Massachusetts.
DAY 1
Your first stop in Salem is to the House of Seven Gables. This historic home, built in 1668, is best known today as the setting of world-renowned American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel. Take a guided 45-minute group tour through this seaside home. Never read the book? Don’t worry…most visitors haven’t. It’s a wonderful way to get a glimpse of what Salem was like at that time period.
(Read all about our time HERE.)
Now it’s time to check into your home for the next 2 nights…the historic Hawthorne Hotel. Established in 1925, it is rumored to be one of the most haunted hotels in America. (Although I never saw anything spooky while I was there.) The Hawthorne is a piece of Salem’s history and it has a classy, yet welcoming, feel to it.
(Salem, Massachusetts)
As I was packing for my night away, my daughter came in to tell me she just watched a YouTube video and the Hawthorne Hotel was one of the most haunted hotels in America. I told her, “As long as the ghost isn’t saying ‘Mom. Mom. Mom’ a hundred times a day they were more than welcome to stay with me!” Spoiler alert…I didn’t see any ghosts, but I did experience a relaxing, comfortable stay in this gorgeous historic hotel in Salem, Massachusetts.
When I pulled up to the Hawthorne, I was impressed by how grand it was. The brick building has an impressive presence as it looms over the corner of the block. The navy blue awnings, golden eagle, and colorful mums welcome you in.
Here’s a recap of the 2021
Happy Shopping!!
These days, wellness should be a number one priority in everyone’s lives. A little bit of self-care each day can make a huge difference. So how can you help spread this awareness? Give the gift of wellness through these books. Give them alone, or paired with some accessories. In fact, give some to yourself to prepare you for the new year. Hello…New Year’s Resolutions are just around the corner! Here are 20 amazing books about wellness.
By: Jen Sincero
You Are a Badass: In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you’ve never made before.
By: Elizabeth Gilbert
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear: Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.
When it’s time to start planning a vacation the first question I ask myself is, ‘When do we want to go?’ The time I most love to travel is late spring. We’ve done a mid-May vacation for the past few years and I just love everything about it. Summer may be a more convenient time to travel but I think pulling the kids out of school for 5 days is worth the trouble. Here are a few reasons I love to travel during off-season and but also a few reasons you may not want to.
Who doesn’t love to save money when traveling? And let’s admit it…we all love to stay in nice places. Traveling during off-season lets you save money while staying at a place you may not be able to afford during high season. There’s also a better chance of getting upgrades since most hotels won’t be at full capacity.
Airfare can cost an arm and a leg so I’ll jump at any chance for a deal. It’s amazing how different the prices can be to fly to the exact location. High season usually means high prices.
