Here you will find an archived weblog of my food, travel, and creative pursuits which I kept from 2010-2016. Please note both that the travel information contained here may outdated and that these logs were created on a prior version of this website and may not yet be optimized for the current version. If you’re looking for specific content, use the search field below! <3
I've heard fantastic things about Port Townsend ever since moving to Seattle almost five years ago. Everything from the cute town to the great adventures to be had at Fort Worden State Park - where An Officer and A Gentleman was filmed. Now, having visited, I can say it was absolutely lovely - although, frankly I think that had a whole lot to do with where we stayed.
Read MoreIf you haven't heard of Tofino and love beautiful places with overwhelming amounts of awesome things to see and do, you're in luck. Located on British Columbia's Vancouver Island, Tofino is a dream - well actually, it's exactly what I've always pictured in my head when I think of Peter Pan's Neverland.
Read MoreFor any surfer, a pilgrimage to Praia do Norte - just north of Nazaré is a must if you find yourself visiting Portugal. Not only is the site of Garrett McNamara's ridiculously epic ride down an estimated 100 foot wave (I'm sure even the non-surfers among you have seen the pictures) - it's also just the most beautiful beach I've maybe ever been to.
Read MoreWhen I play the memories from our first week in Portugal back in my head, it all feels so distant. I struggled quite a lot that week, especially with my inability to carry out the full plans for filming our two week road trip adventure. There were so many moments where my body just wasn't having it and I'd have to nap in the car in some beautiful location instead of getting the shots I wanted.
Read MoreFor the first time in my travels, I found every guidebook purchased for this trip almost entirely useless. Perhaps their only positive contribution was to guide us to a spot we wouldn’t find interesting, so we would then be forced to go explore on our own. It was a fascinating set up for what has become one of my favorite travel adventures yet.
Read MoreOn our second night in Portugal, we ventured down to Praia da Adraga to watch the sunset - our very first over the Atlantic Ocean. These few hours we spent beach combing and shooting photos were the first indication that golden hour has an entirely new degree in Portugal. The photos you'll see in this post don't have their saturation levels raised - in fact they're just barely edited at all. This is what golden hour really looks like in Portugal.
Read MoreIn January 2012, while researching for our trip to Northern Spain, the GOOP newsletter arrived in my inbox with some details about visiting Portugal for a film festival. As I scrolled down, I noticed a small entry about an eco-friendly bed and breakfast named Colina Flora. Following the link to their website, I was immediately enchanted and suddenly Portugal had made it on to my travel wish list. So you could say that Colina Flora was the initial impetus for our two-week trip to Portugal this year.
Read MoreThis question stops me in my tracks each time I hear it upon my return from one of my “magical” adventures – as my day job co-workers refer to them. Trying to summarize a two-week experience driving over 1,600 kilometers around most of Portugal into a concise reply seems utterly challenging at first.
Read MoreThe Harmony Trail was an unexpected short hike which made an excellent addition to our unexpected day at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. At just under two miles round trip it's a relatively easy hike down to to the edge of Spirit Lake. The history of what happened to Spirit Lake during the 1980 eruption is simply fascinating and of all the points of interest in the park - this one captures my mind the most.
Read MoreAs I started packing for the trip about a week prior to take-off, I found myself packing in an entirely new way than in the past. Specifically, I've been packing based on what my travel essentials are versus what I think I'll need for every single day of the trip. Instead of planning each outfit to wear, I just bring my best tried and tested travel gear. It's been remarkably less stressful to pack this way since it's just a matter of bringing the best of the best.
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