Tag: Explore

• Bavaria Adventures

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 23, 2019

  Since moving to Europe I’ve been posting mostly about my trips outside of Germany, but life in Bavaria continues to happen in between my travels. Bavaria is a lovely state to live in, and being so close to the alps is a blessing to say the least. Most days after work I am useless and become one with my bed, but sometimes I have the energy to go for a local adventure.

  

  

  One of my local adventures was to a lake near where I live called Eibsee. The word “see” means lake in German. The first time I visited Eibsee was in March, and I’ve since been back a few times. The photos in this post will be from my first trip, hence the snow. I think the snow added a magical look to the surrounding mountains.

  

  Eibsee is one of the more popular places for people to go during the summer, the lake is cold and offers a nice reprieve from the warm summer air, however I prefer walking the 5 mile loop around the lake opposed to swimming. On the backside of the lake there are less people, and less people is always good in my book.

  I seem to get along better with animals.

  

  I took my dad and my step mom here the day they arrived in Germany (after a full day of travel) and put them through the torturous 5 mile loop. The loop itself isn’t difficult, but when you’ve flown halfway across the world and your body is stuck in a timezone 9hours behind it proves to be a bit of a struggle.

  I think they forgave me though, at least after they saw the reflection of the alps in the lake. 

  

  

  Another local adventure I went on was with one of my roommates back in April. The train system in Europe is amazing, and in Bavaria there is a train pass called the Bayern pass which allows you to pay one price and travel all over Bavaria on regional trains as many times in one day as you’d like.

  The more people you add to the ticket the cheaper it gets.

  

  I had been wanting to buy a Bayern pass and take the train to random stops for a while on one of my days off, and my roommate decided to tag along. My end location goal was a town called Kochel, to visit Kochelsee. If you remember the above German lesson you’ll know this meant I wanted to visit the lake in Kochel.

  What can I say, I have a thing for lakes.

  

  Kochel was beautiful, and the walk to the lake brought us through farmlands. Farms speak to my soul on a personal level, and there is something so warm and comforting about a European farm. There is also something warm and comforting about a European cemetery. That sounds really bizarre, but the churches associated with the cemeteries are elaborate and eye-catching, and the energy at these cemeteries is comforting.

  

  We stopped in one other town on this Bayern adventure called Murnau. It was a sunny spring day, and we were enjoying our time outside. We wandered into town, stumbled upon a farmers market, found a church, and then found another cemetery. Go figure.

  

  

  

  We thought about possibly going to Munich after visiting Murnau and Kochel, but traveling is exhausting and we decided to head back to Garmisch after a few hours of exploring. The travel time, waiting for the train, and walking the towns made the time go by quickly and before we knew it the day was almost over.

  

  Each town I’ve visited in Germany has its own beautiful church accompanied by a cemetery. Of all the cemeteries I’ve seen in Bavaria, and Europe as a whole, nothing compares to the cemetery in Partenkirchen near where I live. I discovered this cemetery while riding my bike one day, and had to stop and sit in the gardens for a while.

  It might sound odd to think of a cemetery as a place to meditate, but this place brought a wave of peace to my soul.

  

  Germany is beautiful, and I have officially been living here for seven months now. Time is an odd concept here. Some days I feel like I just got here, and some days I feel like I’ve been here for years. I’m at a place now where it is starting to feel odd when I think about life after Germany.

  I’m halfway through my contract with my job, and I plan to make the most of the second half. It’s not always butterflies and rainbows here, and some days are a struggle, but overall this has been an amazing experience. Just when I think I can’t do it anymore when I have a stressful day at work, I have my weekend and go for an adventure like these, or for a hike and I am reminded why I’m here.

  

  Hometown Church in Garmisch.

  I’m soaking up as much of the summer in Bavaria as I can before the weather starts to turn. It’s been rainy here lately, but I love the rain. It feels like home. Snow on the other hand…I’m not looking forward to when the snow is back in Garmisch. I don’t know how I will fuel my brathendl addiction when I can’t ride my bike to the grillstube…

  

  I love Germany.

  Q: Would you ride a train to random locations for a day?

  

  | 16 Comments Tagged Bavaria, Brittanys Life Abroad, Explore, Garmisch, Germany

• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 18, 2017

  If you’ve ever traveled with me, you’ll know I’m all about cheap hotels. Anything to save a buck that I can better spend on food or adventure. The way I see it, a hotel is a place to sleep after a day of exploration, and unless I’m planning to spend all my time inside (which I never do) I don’t want to spend much more than $70 a night.

  I actually want a camper van to eliminate hotels entirely for more local trips.

  

  The deal with this cruise however, was that I didn’t have a say in where we went after the sea portion of the trip was complete (we were on the cruise ship for seven days, and on land the remaining four. 11 days total for this Alaskan trip.)

  This was the first time I was glad I did not choose the place we stayed upon arrival in Denali, because hot damn the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge rocked my socks. 

  But how did we get there? We departed our cruise ship before the sun rose and drove 8 hours from Seward to Denali, where we would spend the next two days of our trip. Our vacation package included the Denali land tour, where we were able to spend a full day driving through Denali National Park.

  More on that later.

  

  Last night on the ship.

  

  This lodge/hotel/cabin/place I slept and ate and enjoyed a musical made me feel like I was 12 again going to camp. The lodges were scattered at the foot hills of GORGEOUS mountains, and felt like a mini college campus. There were lodges for sleep, lodges for eating, lodges for entertainment, and lodges for shopping.

  My favorite part were the giant trees that enclosed each area, tall enough to make following the path almost like a maze. 

  

  

  If that wasn’t enough, there were plenty of options to go for long walks and soak in the fall colors. Did I mention September was the best time to visit and see these colors? My dad and I were able to spend one morning walking around town and submerging ourselves into the woods.

  The walk to the trail area did not disappoint, the views were once again unreal.

  

  

  

  Our first night staying in the lodge we walked down the road to an area that had a dinner show. The show was informational, sharing the story of the first men to summit Mt. Denali (previously known as Mt. Mckinley.) The show was cute, and the area surrounding the theater was cozy.

  Mt. Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310′. Woof.

  

  

  

  Dining/entertainment area.

  This lodge would be the perfect location to relax and unwind. Plenty of areas to walk and explore, and tranquil enough to spend your time on site. This is the type of location I would spend more than $70 for. It was included in our trip, but if it weren’t I’d gladly shell out the pennies to stay.

  I continued to be amazed by how well planned this trip was. All the connections between land and sea were effortless for us. Literally brain off.

  

  

  The lodge is connected to Princess Cruise ships, which are connected to Holland America, but you don’t have to take a cruise to stay here. They also own nearby railroad systems, but again you don’t have to take a cruise to ride them.

  What a business these cruise companies have created, all owned by Carnival. 

  

  

  

  I would love to come back here one summer and spend a season working. One thing that resonated most with me about Alaska, and a lot of the people I met, is that many people arrive for a few months out of the year to work the summer season.

  This speaks to my nomadic soul so, so loudly. 

  

  I’d happily slang some coffee as a barista in the dining lodge with these views. I can still see the yellow trees. Sometimes I get caught up in the societal schema that dictates what the meaning of success is. I quit my corporate job because I wanted more flexibility to travel, and my idea of success is the experiences I have under my belt – not the size of my paycheck.

  This means I’d be happy to work a seasonal job fit for someone ten years my junior, because the experiences it would provide outweigh the professional world I left. The only schema we should fall prey to are the ones we set for ourselves. I’ll be back here someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.

  Q: Would you rather come in the summer and have sunshine and blue skies, or in the fall with overcast and fall colors? Fall for me, no competition.

  

  | 35 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Hike, Holland America

• Skagway, Alaska

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 11, 2017

  Despite Skagway being the smallest and most desolate of all the ports we stopped at (in my opinion) it was hands down my favorite. Nestled at the base of endless mountains, this tiny town had the most history. Don’t expect to stop here and spend your day wandering the town, you’ll see most all of the central hub in about an hour.

  

  

  

  Getting to land was a bit of an adventure, there were already two ships in port and our ship must have drawn the shortest stick because there wasn’t a spot left for us to port. Instead we got to ride in dinghy boats to the small boat harbor.

  All aboard! 

  

  One of the many things I loved about the cruise ship, is that they offered multiple seminars of information regarding each port.

  Skagway’s history stems back to the Gold Rush era, where in the late 1800’s a set of railroad tracks were built as a means of reaching the gold fields. The tracks are still standing, and are known as The While Pass and Yukon Route. These days, curious minds can ride a train and follow along the route listening to guided tours, which I admit looks and sounds EPIC, but we chose a different option.

  We decided to be our own tour guides, and we rented a car. 

  

  We chose this option for a few reasons: it was cheaper than riding in a bus with a bunch of other people, it was cheaper than a train, it allowed complete flexibility to stop when and where we wanted, and it provided a better view from all angles. We stopped by the local ranger station for a map, learned about some hot stop spots, and were our own tour guides.

  Err, my dad played tour guide and I got to drive. I only scared him a handful of times. 

  

  

  Pitchfork Falls.

  The last time I went for a drive that literally captivated every ounce of my soul was in Ireland. I never thought I’d find another route that came within even a decameter (and all these years I never thought I’d use any of the chemistry I learned) of The Ring of Kerry.

  I struggle to put into words just how enamored I was by the drive, but I’ll try.

  Starting in Alaska, the route slowly climbs upward. We started in overcast with comfortable temps, and almost without warning reached intense fog and temps near freezing. This route takes you into Canada, if you want to go that far, which we did, so be sure to bring your passport. Eventually you’ll come across a plot of land that I can’t describe other than looking like an alien moonscape. 

  

  

  

  Small pockets of lakes surrounded by sunken land and large boulders. I’d never seen anything like it. Visibility was a struggle at times, but thankfully my copilot wore a bright blue jacket.

  

  Where’s Wilson?

  Just as I was worrying whether my hands would ever thaw from the cold, we drove into some sun. In fact, it went from overcast, to snow, to rain, to sun, and then to S U N. The changes of weather were bizarre, and unlike anything I’d ever experienced in such a short period of time.

  At this point, we’d crossed into Canada.

  

  

  This is when the landscape really started to show off.

  

  

  

  

  We decided our turn around would be Emerald Lake, about 74 miles from where we started. We stopped at a small Canadian coffee shop for some local brew, oogled the lake, and turned around to head back. Depending what angle you stand to view the lake, the colors (or colours, it was in Canada after all) are a beautiful green/blue.

  

  

  If you want to see what real fall colors look like, go to Alaska in September and drive the White Pass/Yukon Route. You can thanks me later. Because we rented a car, we were able to also drive around and see Dyea, which was just a hop skip and jump away from Skagway. This area was once a booming town during the Gold Rush, but now it’s mostly deserted.

  History is cool. 

  For dinner we nourished at Skagway Brewing Company, where my dad claims the best beer of the entire trip was served. I claimed it was the best salmon I was served (I’m very particular because #foodsensetivities) and I had zero complaints.

  Disclaimer: I don’t eat much fish normally, but in Alaska I got enough Omega 3’s from salmon to last me the year.

  

  What.A.Day. I spend a lot of my free time day dreaming about past vacations, and this day is at the forefront of my brain space. ❤

  Q: Would you rather rent a car and do it yourself, or ride on a bus and let someone narrate for you?

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Alaska, Explore, Holland America, Vacation

• Juneau, Alaska

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 7, 2017

  Stop number two on the epic Alaskan cruise was the capital city of Juneau! 9/10 times when writing the word capital I have to Google the difference between capitAl and capitOl. A for city, O for building – got it. Until I have to Google again.

  

  

  We had nearly a full day to spend in Juneau, unlike the shorter half day in Ketchikan. This worked well because Juneau is a bit bigger, and we were able to explore more. The weather was overcast, but comfortable most of the day. I admit a good majority of the things we did in Alaska were hot ticket tourist items, but in Juneau we had a nice balance of tourist and local adventures.

  

  First up was a trip on The Blue Bus headed towards Medenhall Glacier. With a nice easy trail allowing for some exploring on foot. For the super adventurous (aka those that want to spend $$$$) there is an option to take a helicopter ride to the glacier and walk around.

  Us peasant folk were happy to save some pennies and view the glacier from a distance.

  

  

  

  

  Small red speck in the center of the water, heading towards the waterfall. Krazy Kayak.

  We spent enough time here to see a porcupine and a brave kayaker. Back on the bus, and back towards town. Next up – a trip up the Mount Roberts Tramway for a better view of the city. I’ll admit I was sold on this view after creepin #Juneau on Insta. I mean, once you see the view you’ll understand. This is a must when visiting Juneau, and it’s right in the heart of the town.

  No excuses to miss this one. 

  

  

  

  

  The funny thing about this tram trip, is that you spend $34 and can ride the tram as many times as you want. We didn’t even utilize a full round trip ticket, because instead of riding the tram back down we hiked back down. Shout out to my dad for being such a trooper, this was HIS idea despite the fact he has a bum knee.

  He wasn’t so jazzed about this idea after we ended up walking over 11 miles for the day. 

  

  Funny story: we got momentarily lost on this trail and I used my spider senses to get us “un-lost.” By this I mean I called the visitors center to ensure we turned right at the fork instead of going straight. Praise Jesus for cell phones. This was the moment we went from tourist to local. Kinda. It took us a bit longer than expected to get back to town, but we made it mostly unscathed.

  The view of the above mountain was more enjoyable once we were back in view of the cruise ship, no longer lost.  

  

  This was a long day, but oh so enjoyable. We saw 11 miles worth of Juneau that I’d confidently say most of our shipmates did not see. Something I will reiterate multiple times in these Alaska posts is that September is an ideal time to visit. The temperatures are lower, but the fall colors are U N R E A L.

  You’ll see this more in my last few posts.

  

  Q: Would you ride the tram multiple times to view the city, or would you hike the trail to the view point? Next time I’ll be hiking both up and down. Grab a map, and find a trail!

  

  | 31 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Hiking, Holland America, Vacation

• Ketchikan, Alaska

  Posted at 6:00 AM by Brittany, on December 4, 2017

  After spending a couple days at sea (departing from Vancouver, B.C.) our first destination was in “Alaska’s first city” of Ketchikan. When I hear the word Ketchikan I’m immediately transported back to my elementary years of binge watching Pokemon before school – gotta catch em’ all. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

  

  The jewelry business in Alaskan cities is prominent, although I didn’t quite understand it. I suppose everyone has their “thing,” but I sure didn’t travel to Alaska to buy diamonds or to stay close to the cruise ship. This might come as a shock, but Alaska is also known for their salmon. I know, I thought all salmon lived in giant warehouses too.

  **Sarcasm**

  The weather was overcast upon arrival, but quickly transitioned to sunny and warm. Perfect conditions to explore. This was the only day of our trip I was able to wear a tshirt. I actually didn’t even bring a jacket with me, because #minimalist. Actually this was a huge mistake, and I was thankful the cruise ship had jackets. 

  

  When I travel I like to get a feel for the city by foot, so we walked around a bit before disembarking on our adventures for the day. We walked along Married Man’s trail, saw the salmon ladder, and into a small area of Ketchikan called Creek Street, also known as the red light district.

  It’s here where some of the oldest buildings reside perched on pilings forming a boardwalk. During prohibition Creek Street was the place to go for smuggled whiskey and prostitutes. “It’s where more men – than fish – went upstream to spawn!!”

  The western feel of the buildings reminded me of Disneyland, I was immediately in heaven. 

  

  

  

  Disney fans, does that not remind you of Frontierland? I mean common. 

  After stretching our legs we were ready for our chosen excursions. When planning a cruise you have the option to book day trips, also known as excursions, ahead of time. We opted for a different approach to our adventures, and didn’t plan a damn thing prior to leaving for our trip.

  For starters, we had no agenda other than “see Alaska.”

  There are so many options it can be overwhelming to choose. Most importantly, and this wasn’t discovered until we were on the trip – there is a chance you’ll miss your appointment times due to unplanned late arrivals into each port. To eliminate the stress of “having to be somewhere at a certain time,” and to have a clear view of all the options – we chose each cities adventures upon arrival.

  

  You’ll wind up paying a bit more if you do it this way, but spending a few more bucks for peace of mind was fine by us. Err, fine by my dad because he paid for everything. Bless his soul. One of our Ketchikan adventures consisted of a drive outside of the city into the rural wilderness with the goal of seeing a bear.

  Spoiler alert: we saw a bear.

  

  Kinda hard to see, bottom right-ish. Black bear.

  I don’t remember the company we went through, but our host was local and a wealth of Alaskan knowledge. I liked our host because he encouraged us to drink out of one of the local streams. My goal of “learn more about each other” with my dad provided him a look into my adventurous spirit. Or as he will tell you, “Brittany’s attempt at contracting giardia.”

  I couldn’t come to Alaska and not drink some of the water.

  

  For our other Ketchikan experience we went suuuuppperrr tourist – The Great Alaska Lumberjack Show. I had secret motives of finding my future husband, because apparently Alaska has way more men than women. My loyal readers know I’m working on manifesting my future lumberjack husband.

  What can I say, my husband will have the ability to build me a tiny house while wearing red flannel and getting wood chips stuck in his beard. 

  

  The show was entertaining, but the boys were much too young and way too beardless.

  For sustenance we nourished our souls with local salmon (I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much salmon then on this trip) while soaking up the sun. According to the locals, Ketchikan accumulates significantly more rain than Seattle. We just happened to be there on the one sunny and hot day of the year. No complaints.

  With bellies full of fresh Alaskan fish, and souls full of wonderful adventure we made our way back to the ship for a night of rest before our next adventure. 

  

  

  Q: Would you rather: whale watch, see bears in their natural habitat, or watch grown men compete in unique sports? The lumberjack show was a legit competition, and some of these guys got college scholarships for lumberjack sports. WHO KNEW!?

  

  | 38 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Holland America, Vacation

• Cruising Through the Last Frontier

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 1, 2017

  If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I went to Alaska *cough ahem* three months ago. If you don’t follow me on Instagram you should, because when I start drowning in real life and neglect this space I’m still active on there. I thought about skipping these recap posts and jumping back into real life, but when I write these travel recaps I get to relive the experiences.

  So let’s just get to it, shall we?

  

  The purpose of this trip to Alaska was to spend some quality time with my dad. As I age, I realize how important strong relationships are. Since I don’t see my dad that often, I wanted to have some one on one time with him so that we could get to know each other better. I thought perhaps I could fly to Arizona and we’d spend a weekend together, and then he suggested an Alaskan cruise.

  I didn’t dare push my idea further, that would have just been rude. 

  

  

  Neither of us had been on a cruise before, so we were fresh meat x2. What they say is true when it comes to cruise ships – endless food, endless entertainment, and just like at the BK lounge, you can have most everything your way. My dad ended up booking through Costco and we traveled with Holland America. I highly recommend Holland America – they were fantastic.

  My party days are behind me, and although it would make for great television to get drunk with my dad, we both preferred being in bed by 8pm.

  

  There are many options for cruise ships these days, but if I had to go on another one I would probably stick with Holland America. They say (and by they I mean the well seasoned cruise travelers) once you pick your cruise company you stick with them. There were a lot of older people on this ship, the kind that are retired and need somewhere to spend their RMD’s, so if this isn’t your cup of tea check out one of the other companies.

  I also appreciated the lack of small children. It was a nice and quiet trip. 

  

  

  Everything was planned for us. Down to a science. It was almost uncomfortable having so little control. But then I remembered all I had to think about was what I wanted for breakfast each day and the discomfort was gone. I was in awe of how well this trip was planned. I now understand the allure of cruises, you can literally shut the problem solving portion of your brain off.

  Breath. Eat. Sleep. Explore. Repeat.

  

  Alaska was unbelievable. Each city we visited will get a separate post, but the landscape is nearly indescribable. It was like my home state of Washington, but on steroids. The pace of life was so much slower and calmer, there are less people, and more mountains. The prices you pay for living in darkness half the year I suppose.

  I could totally do it. 

  

  The most enjoyable moments on the ship were the many miles walked around the outer deck. Similar to a track, four laps on the deck was equal to a mile. There’s a gym on board too, but for a scenic walk my dad and I often opted for the outdoor laps. The landscape of Alaska while sailing through the inner passages were breathtaking.

  

  

  Alaska is a must see for any travel lovers out there, and while I usually opt for a “plan it yourself” kind of vacation, I cannot deny the ease of going on a cruise. 10/10. The proceeding posts will break down each city in more detail, but this precursor was to briefly highlight the ship itself.

  Oh, and my favorite added touch?

  

  Each night a new creature on my bed. I refuse to admit how much I squealed whenever I saw what they made. Skills on skills on skills.

  Q: Have you ever been on a cruise?

  

  | 53 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Travel

• Playing Catch-up

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 10, 2017

  Well. Although I’ve been home from Ireland for over a month now, ya’ll have no idea what I’ve been up to eh? I wanted to knock out all the Ireland recaps (to keep them in order #OCD) before adjusting back to real life. Real life isn’t nearly as exciting, but I’ll do my best to conjure up a readable post.

  • First and foremost, I said the most difficult goodbye of my entire life. 

  

  

  There are literally no words to describe the magnitude of pain that takes hold of your entire being when you loose a pet. My beautiful kidney disease fighting cat made it 20 long years. I miss him everyday. He is running free in the sky and his legacy lives on forever. Seriously…his hair will be sure of that.

  • I‘ve gone on a handful of hikes. I made a summer goal to hike at least once a week. This isn’t usually too difficult for me. 

  

  

  

  

  

  • I worked. And made more changes in regards to work. Always changing.

  

  • I spent alone time at the beach. Working on this whole processing emotions thing without using my drugs of choice (sugar and caffeine.) 

  

  

  • I spent the 3rd & 4th of July being extra social. It was good for my soul.

  

  • I started running again. Sorta. I can only manage 2-3 miles and my pace is slow as molasses. But it’s a start. 

  

  • I solidified plans for my next adventure. September can’t come soon enough. Any guesses?

  

  • I started school again. Nine more months people. Nine.More.Months. 

  Q: American friends, how’d you spend your 4th? Non American friends, who wants to let me crash on their couch so I can travel to your country? I’m a very tidy house guest and I’ll give you an excuse to tour your area. It’s a win win. Actually this goes for my American friends too. 😉

  

  | 67 Comments Tagged America, ASU, Cruise, Explore, Fourth of July, Hiking, Running, Seattle

• Trinity College / Guinness Storehouse

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 8, 2017

  While gallivanting around Dublin, it was unavoidable to partake in some of the popular tourist activities you can find in the city. I like to live a life of balance, and this comes into play in all areas – including explorations.

  When exploring new places I like to balance tourist activities with hidden spots discovered from the locals. 

  

  On this day we did just that – wandered the city visiting big ticket places like Trinity College and the Guinness factory, as well as visiting a hidden gem. On this day I logged just under 20 miles of movement (I did squeeze in a short run, but most of this was from walking. I love vacations).

  This post will cover the former.

  

  

  Why Trinity College? Well initially because the Google said it would be a must see. I wasn’t enthralled by The Book of Kells (sorry), but the library was like something out of a fairy tale. Beauty and the beast to be exact.

  

  

  Rows and rows of old historical books, guarded by ancient philosophers. It was like stepping into a time warp. I tried asking one of the statues for a book on mail order husbands, but he didn’t deliver. Owell, looks like I have to return to find my Irish soul mate.

  

  

  

  If you’re not keen on wandering a hall full of old books (but you really should) the campus alone is simply gorgeous. I find college campuses to have a unique beauty. Of course they are slightly more enjoyable when I’m not an actual student, but they are lovely nonetheless.

  

  

  

  After wandering the campus for a bit, it was time to get drunk on dark, sweet smelling, smooth and balanced Irish made beer. And by get drunk I mean take one tiny sip from the sensory rooms free sample.

  Why the Guinness Storehouse? Because nothing says Ireland more than drinking beer in a pub on a Monday night (seriously, weekdays are just as busy as weekends out on the town) and every lad and lass will be drinking a Guinness.

  Hometown pride.

  

  

  We had a brief moment of, “eh – do we really want to go? Neither of us drink beer?” But oh boy O’berto I’m so glad we didn’t skip. This was a great experience for anyone. Even kids, just don’t give them your beer. Or maybe do. I don’t judge.

  The tour goes through a series of self guided levels showcasing the brewing process, the history, the passion in the product, but the coolest by far was the sensory room. I’m not a beer drinker, but the sensory room tickled my food/drink/science loving soul.

  Plus, free samples. 

  

  Of which I didn’t even finish. 🙂

  You walk into a room that smells like sweet candy mixed with cocoa. Here you learn how to properly “taste the beer” and although I don’t care much for the flavor, I appreciated the art and science of it all. We all have a niche, mine just happens to be the science of coffee.

  

  The storehouse is huge, and we spent a solid couple hours here (not including our post touring feast in one of the onsite restaurants, where our adorably kind waiter sold my friend on the Guinness infused cheese sauce.)

  Your ticket comes with a free pint of beer, but neither of us partook.

  

  Despite passing on the free beer, we still went to the Gravity Bar on the very top level. From here you’re met with a panoramic view of the city. It was beautiful. I was able to locate the spire in the city center, and realized just how far we walked.

  Or maybe it just felt far because I had to ask five people for directions on the way there. Regardless, this satisfied my travel tip from the previous post. I loved asking for directions.

  

  After hours of exploring the inner city tourist attractions, it was time to venture to the outskirts of Dublin. My next post will share why I believe it’s imperative to ask the locals where to explore.

  Travel tip: Wear comfortable shoes. The best way to explore Dublin is by foot. 

  

  | 40 Comments Tagged Explore, Ireland, Vacation

• Lena Lake – Getting My Feet Wet

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 19, 2017

  Lately my hiking adventures have taken me places I’ve already been before. There’s nothing wrong with this, but I have missed the excitement that comes with seeing a new trail for the first time. When I go on solo hikes I prefer going to trails I am familiar with, but sometimes a hike with a friend is what the soul needs.

  

  My favorite way to catch up with friends is by submerging ourselves in the woods. Jessica and I headed to the Olympic Mountains a couple weeks ago and hiked our way to Lena Lake. This trail is popular, due it its gentle elevation gain (only 1300′) and beautiful lake, but I was jazzed to find it wasn’t overly packed.

  

  The hike is 7.2 miles RT, and thanks to the ease of the climb it only took us about three hours. I enjoyed the hike so much I went back the following weekend for a solo hike. What I love most about the Olympic Mountains is that even when you find yourself at a popular trail, you are fully submerged in the woods and can go miles without seeing anyone else.

  

  These are a common find in the Olympics. Not sure what the story is. 

  

  I was amazed to find how much the trail changed in one week. When Jessica and I went there was water covering nearly 80% of the trail. I was fortunate for my waterproof shoes, although they gave me a gnarly blister. Nothing a bunch of ferns can’t help.

  

  When I went back for my solo adventure the water was nearly gone, and the areas of rushing rapids had completely dried up. This makes me so excited for summer hikes. The perfect trail for getting back in hiking shape, this trail allowed me to get my feet wet literally and metaphorically.

  

  

  This is from the first hike, on the second hike all that water was GONE. Like magic.

  The first half of the trail brought us on a winding series of switch backs. The colors of green were so intensely vibrant and lush, thanks to our long and wet winter here in Washington. I was in awe of the freshness they provided the air, my lungs couldn’t get enough.

  

  Once we passed this bridge (which I was obsessed with) the switchbacks became less prominent as we climbed closer and closer to the lake. A handful of people were at the lake each time I went, and when I’m on a solo hike the sight of other humans is appreciated.

  The first trip to the lake we found snow atop the far off trees. 

  

  

  

  The following week the snow was nearly gone. Seven days later, seven days closer to summer, seven days worth of higher temperatures. Above photos are the first week, below shot is the following week.

  

  Oh look, no snow! 

  Jessica and I spent a solid chunk of time at the lake while we waited for her Jet Boil to heat some water. While we waited, we made friends with the locals. I’ve only ever had a Grey Jay close to my hands once, and there was an apple core between us.

  

  This time, I tried to let them land on my palm, but I panicked and they flew off. The result was an extremely flattering photo of me. We can’t all be modern day Snow White’s.

  Maybe next time. 

  

  I felt the talons wrap around my fingers, and I impulsively screamed. I had no control over the sounds. Or this face.

  

  This hike was great, definitely one to add to the list for all types of hikers. Perfect balance of nature and sweat. I’ll be back for both solo and accompanied hikes. For real adventure seekers, the trail continues onto Upper Lena Lake, a 14 mile RT (3900′ gain) trail, as well as to The Brothers, a 13.2 RT (6050′ gain – woof) trail.

  Next time I go I’d like to camp at Upper Lena. Stay tuned for that adventure. 

  

  

  Q: Would you let a Gray Jay land on your hand? 

  

  | 56 Comments Tagged Explore, Gray Jay, Hike, Lena Lake, Olympic Mountains

• Tumwater Falls Park, Olympia WA

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 10, 2017

  When I have too much free time I get antsy. While I’m much better at just “being” than I was a year ago, sometimes an adventure is all that will do. For the times I want to get away, but don’t want to fully submerge myself in the woods, I find local (or semi local) places to explore.

  

  Last week an adventure took me to Olympia, the capitol of Washington and a city I spent a lot of time in a handful of years ago. It’s about an hour away from me, and I quite enjoy this city thanks to its low key vibes and its lake. I love the lake, I’ve run many miles around the lake.

  

  

  While this most recent trip did take me on a loop around the lake, up close and personal with the capitol building, and gave me a hug in a mug from a local coffee shop, the highlight was wandering around Tumwater Falls Park, a not so hidden park just a hop skip and a jump away from the lake.

  

  The falls you see upon entering the park aren’t filled with Hawaii like blue waters, the water looks like it was urinated in by a flock of seagulls, but the sounds of the rush are soothing. The park takes you on a .5 mile loop which I walked twice. It takes about 20-30 minutes depending on where and how long you stop.

  No rush here, it’s all about soaking in the beauty. 

  

  

  The trail takes you right alongside the rushing rapids, if you close your eyes and sink deep into your imagination it’s almost like being on the Grizzly River Run at California Adventure. You know, minus actually being in the water.

  

  

  My favorite part of this trail was a spot at the lower falls, where the loop brings you towards the other side of the trail. This spot brings you to a view of the old Olympia brewery, which apparently made the best beer in 1906. They claim “it’s the water” but I’m hoping they don’t mean the water in the falls.

  

  

  Brewery peaking over the trees.

  This lower fall area brought me up close and personal with a spot that gave me nostalgia from my Niagara Falls trip last summer. Not nearly as miraculous, but baby feels were still there.

  

  

  I also found a tree forest that spoke to my inner 12 year old. 

  

  While this spot is popular on the weekends I’m sure, I was able to go on a weekday and only encountered a handful of other people. It’s right next to the road so you wont be submerged by any means, but it’s still a nice escape for a walk. My favorite spots were the mini waterfalls along the way.

  

  

  If you’re anything like me and get hungry every 87582735 seconds there is a restaurant overlooking the main falls area. Or, there is a picnic area to eat your own food. Options people, options.

  

  Restaurant upper left.

  Just the nature boost my soul needed.

  Q: What’s your go to when you’re feeling bored? I try to read more, but my tried and true is getting outside. 

  

  | 59 Comments Tagged Explore, Olympia, PNW, Waterfall

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