Tag: Vacation

• Walnut Canyon National Monument

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 15, 2018

  Raise your hand if you know the difference between a national park and a national monument. In simple terms, a national park is an area that is set apart for use by the public, typically because of the scenic, inspirational, or recreational value. A national monument on the other hand has pieces of history that need to be preserved such as fossil sites, ruins, or military forts.

  

  Knowing the difference between the two can help give us an idea of what to expect when visiting America’s parks. I recently took a trip to Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff, Arizona and took a step back through time. What made this location a National Monument were the preserved cliff dwellings that are over 800 years old.

  

  View from afar.

  The Island Trail is the trail you’ll want to walk first, a quick one mile out and back loop taking you along a flat path to view 25 cliff dwelling rooms. The elevation of this park is near 7000′ providing expansive views of the surroundings cliffs.

  There is also a short trail that walks the rim of the below cliff, providing a view from the other side. It’s a small park, one you can easily see all of within two hours, but one that showcases an amazing part of human history.

  

  

  While you don’t need to be in great shape for this adventure, you’ll want to be mobile. In order to access the Island Trail you must descend a set of steps 185 ft down from the visitors center. It’s well worth the stair master burn though, there’s no better way to experience the dwellings.

  

  I absolutely love taking a step back in time to see how people lived before America was so privileged. I couldn’t help but wonder what these people did to pass time, you know without technology and the unnecessary distractions we have today. I try hard to spend some of my time without distractions, but I admit it’s difficult.

  One of the reasons I enjoy living a minimalistic life is because I crave the simplicity that accompanies it. I’m not saying these people had a simple life, they worked damn hard to survive, but the contrast of lifestyles couldn’t be more different. I think our survival goal is the same today as it was back then, but the approach is so vastly different.

  

  Some of the dwellings were open like the above photo, and some were more enclosed with small doors and a small hole to allow smoke to exit the rocks. Each “apartment” like dwelling was connected to the neighbor next door. I imagine these people living like families, raising their children together and hunting for food together.

  The smoke stains on the walls brought my imagination to life. Did they have parties together? Did they keep isolated? Did they live a happy life?

  

  Tiny door.

  

  Tiny window.

  

  It’s no secret that often times those with less appreciate life more than those with excess. Those with less have a knack for making themselves happy without inanimate objects. When living in cliff walls I assume the focus of each day was where the next meal was going to come from, where the fresh water source was, and what to do in the event of an attack.

  I’m incredibly thankful for the life I have, but it’s good to have reminders like this, that the roof over my head evolved from something like a cliff dwelling. Eventually the people that lived in these cliffs moved onto new dwellings, naturally following the path of change.

  

  

  Time is valuable. Figuring out how to be content with idle time is a blessing I think a lot of us could benefit from. Myself included. Sitting in silence, not needing a distraction, and of course spending time with others. Surviving is a necessity, but how we do so is sometimes a choice. This choice is personalized, and no one way is wrong or right, but perhaps we can all learn something from those that live with less.

  Q: What’s your favorite national monument, and why?

  

  | 30 Comments Tagged Arizona, National Monument, Vacation, Walnut Canyon

• Arizona Ascents

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 11, 2018

  I’m currently on an extended vacation visiting my family in Arizona, and although I miss the greenery of my home state, I’ve taken advantage of the sunshine and dry hiking weather. Every time I visit Arizona I make it a point to hike a popular trail near Phoenix called Piestewa Peak, formerly known as Squaw Peak.

  

  Compared to the trails in Washington where I live, this trail would be considered small. The elevation is small, and the distance is short, but the gain happens quickly. The climb kicked my butt this time around, but I did make it to the summit quicker than I had in the past. I normally hike this with family, but this time I went solo.

  It took me 45 minutes to get to the top, rested for a few, and back down for a RT total of an hour and 40 minutes. Ish…

  

  One thing that sets this hike aside from what I’m used to is the uneven terrain. My preference for a trail is one that has a steady and smooth incline. The rocks, and stones make Piestewa Peak more difficult because it requires more energy to step up onto. This hike also requires more mental attention, I find myself thinking of my next step before I even take it.

  Sometimes, when the path has a rock-less option I take that path.

  

  To the right.

  I find it difficult to make the brown and dusty landscape look pretty, but that’s because my preference is always green. I was able to capture a few good shots before the dust completely engulfed the valley below, it was incredibly windy this day.

  The wind was so bad I had to stop a few times to blink the dust out of my eyes. 

  

  This windy afternoon was the precursor to a “storm” that was coming. Hours later rain was falling from the sky like a flock of seagulls towards a loaf of bread. When I come to Arizona the weather is mostly consistent, and rarely deviates from sunshine. This day was completely unpredictable starting with sun, moving to wind, and ending with rain and thunder.

  The perfect metaphor for life, nothing is predictable. 

  

  Learning to expect the unexpected has helped me cope when things don’t go as planned. How boring would life be if everything followed a schedule, or if we never let go of control to simply trust the process? This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t plan for things, but rather evaluate how we react when things don’t go as planned.

  I wasn’t expecting overcast on this hike, but I welcomed it with open arms. I wasn’t expecting to feel like I was going to die on this hike, but I accepted the challenge to whip myself back into shape. I wasn’t expecting rain in Arizona, but I sucked in the smell of it like a brand new vacuum.

  There is something magical about the smell of warm rain. 

  

  Rain is invigorating. Cleaning the air and washing away dirt, it feels like a fresh start.

  It would be remiss of me not to update those of you that haven’t heard the latest on my cat. He is recovering amazingly well after his surgery, and will get his final evaluation on Saturday. He will also get to take off his cone of shame, and get his stitches removed.

  He has been given a fresh start.

  The little Houdini escaped the cone multiple times, is eating like a full grown grizzly, and is successfully urinating. I’d say he’s well on his way. Thank you again to those that helped this process. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as he undergoes one more procedure when I get back home.

  

  Q: How do you react when things don’t go as planned? Meditation has helped me to react less aggressively. 

  

  | 23 Comments Tagged Arizona, Cat, Desert, Hiking, Solo Hike, Squaw Peak, Vacation

• McKinley Explorer Rail Car – Denali to Anchorage

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 29, 2017

  Alaska is a big state. Getting from Denali to Anchorage and vice versa is a 233 mile trek, and for some perspective on just how far that is, when I drive from Seattle to Portland it’s “only” 173 miles. Alaska is big. The airport we were to fly home out of was in Anchorage, and in order to get there we spent 8 hours on board the McKinley Explorer Rail Car.

  I felt like I was an extra character in the Polar Express. 

  

  

  Up until this point we were placed on motor coaches in order to get around, and I tell ya what, not being stuck on a bus with the permeating smells of a lavatory was like finding snow on Christmas morning. Not to mention extra leg room, and options to walk around.

  Oh, and did I mention a better view?

  

  View from my seat.

  

  

  When visiting Alaska, a train ride of some sort is a must. I’m glad this was the train we were able to ride, and although 8 hours is a long time to be on any type of transportation, the train provided a handful of options to make the ride more comfortable.

  The train was separated into multiple different sections, but if you wanted to visit another car, or find your way to the caboose for a better view, you were able to walk about freely. I enjoyed being able to walk a bit and stand outside whenever I felt stagnant.

  

  Caboose view.

  

  Each car had a personal guide, providing information of the local surroundings as well as suggestions for prime photo spots. There’s a shop on board should you wish to purchase any last minute souvenirs, and the bathrooms are downstairs below the seating area.

  Yea, this train was two levels. Too legit to quit.

  

  

  The lower level also had a small restaurant, because who doesn’t get hungry in an 8 hour time span? We chose to visit the lower eating area for breakfast, while some chose to visit for lunch. The lower area doesn’t have the dome like windows, but you can still see your surroundings outside.

  

  Upper level dome.

  

  Lower level dining.

  This ride was quite enjoyable, and provided more views of Alaska I would not have seen had I traveled to Anchorage by motor coach. The train took us through back country landscape soaking up the final fall colors. Fall in Alaska happens quick, within one week we watched the leaves turn from red, to yellow, to falling off the trees.

  As with everything else, this train ride was 100% set up by Holland America, and was included in our cruise package. Before arrival in Denali we were given a packet with our travel information regarding everything land based. Badda boom, badda bing.

  Like a science.

  

  8 hours later we arrived in Anchorage, and were shuttled to our hotel, where we would spend one night before departure. Anchorage was like any other big city, but smaller. This was the only location I felt “meh” about. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Anchorage, although I ate the second best meal of the trip at Humpy’s. First place still goes to Skagway.

  

  

  There was limited time for exploring the morning we flew home, just enough to walk around a bit, find some legit wall art, and in the words of Dale Cooper I did find myself a damn fine cup of coffee. I lost all my morals at Dark House Coffee and ate myself a vegan/gluten free muffin with my coffee. I paid for it later, but it was worth it.

  #eatlocal 

  

  

  

  And just like that, our trip to Alaska was complete. I cannot recommend an Alaskan cruise enough, and this is coming from someone originally uninterested in the idea of any kind of cruise. Sometimes it’s nice to let others do the work for you. If you’re on the fence about embarking on an adventure like this, in the words of Nike – just do it.

  Q: Where is your next adventure? I’m off to Arizona for two weeks, and we’ll be back to current time blog posts! 

  

  | 19 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Holland America, Vacation

• Denali National Park

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 26, 2017

  There are multiple options for cruise packages these days, and what you choose depends on what the overall goal for your vacation is. Most packages have similar stops along the way, but the land portions are different. Our goal was to visit Denali National Park. In my dad’s words, “if we’re going all the way to Alaska, I want to see Denali.”

  Wise words, from a wise man.

  

  As mentioned in my last post, we spent two nights at the Princess Wilderness Lodge. Our first day/night was spent around the lodge, and our second day was spent driving through Denali National Park. For 8 hours. Should you visit in your own vehicle it’s not likely you’ll get passed a certain check point without a permit, but when you hop aboard the magic school bus it’s full steam ahead.

  But seriously, we rode a legit school bus. 

  

  The space was cramped, the Australian woman behind me was sick, but we were able to get out and use the bathroom/explore every couple hours. There were no complaints because I was in Alaska. For food we were given a snack pack, although I didn’t eat anything inside because #autoimmuneprobs.

  I fueled my stomach with amazing views and even better company. 

  

  

  The weather ranged from sunny and blue, to cloudy and rain, to below freezing and snow. It was even more unpredictable than my home state of Washington. I loved every minute. Except when we got out and it was below freezing. I bought a hat on the cruise ship (and a jacket) that was a Godsend, but I was still frozen.

  My dad and I spent time getting to know each other on this trip, and I was able to teach him how to take a proper selfie. He then became the selfie king, which was good because I never take selfies.

  

  Selfies aside, we saw a wide range of wildlife on this tour. Denali National Park has over 6 million acres of protected land, and I’ve never felt so small in my life. Amazing how easily we could have been swallowed by these mountains with even the slightest amount of careless disrespect.

  Either the mountains, or a grizzly bear.

  

  

  

  This bear was right next to the road, and I immediately took back all the unkind things I thought about the cramped bus. I was thankful for the large hunk of steel to separate me and the grizzly. He didn’t seem too phased by us anyway. With 6 million acres, seeing a grizzly isn’t all that common, but we lucked out.

  We also saw tons of dall sheep, caribou, and a handful of moose. 

  

  All critters aside, the vast open landscape was what captured my soul. The locals say it’s hit or miss to actually see Mt. Denali due to the changing weather, and for us it was a miss. The clouds covered the spot where Denali should be visible, but there was plenty of beauty to make up for the hiding peak of Denali.

  

  

  Of all the places we visited this was the only spot I would have liked to see in the summer months opposed to the fall. There are trails for hikers all over the park, and I’m not a big snow fan. Looks like I’ll have to go back and cover some land by foot.

  Although, I’m not sure I want to run into a bear. 

  

  Alaska is truly a wonder, and is a place you have to see for yourself to appreciate all the beauty.

  Q: Have you ever seen a bear in its natural habitat? 

  

  | 24 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Holland America, Vacation

• Glacier Bay National Park

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 14, 2017

  I’ve been to a handful of National Parks in my existence, but never had I been to one only accessible by boat or plane. Glacier Bay National Park is a highlighted experience through the inside passage of Alaska with many of its visitors arriving by boat.

  

  

  We obviously arrived by boat, and this full day of adventure was experienced from the comfort of our cruise ship. The ship sailed into this passage in the morning, and spent a large chunk of the day slowly moving throughout the park.

  A prime example of how life is often best when we slow down and enjoy the journey.

  

  The history of this park stems back to the late 1700’s, where Captain George Vancouver first created a rough map of the bay. Next up was John Muir, a more familiar name to me, arriving by canoe to study the glaciers. Muir eventually changed America’s perspective of Alaska from a cold daunting place to one of enchanting beauty.

  I’d say his description was on point, the beauty was enough to give a Disney princess a run for her money. 

  

  

  Muir arrived in Alaska attempting to prove that his beloved Yosemite Valley was indeed formed by ice many years prior. Today the park is home to a variety of plants and wildlife, with 11 sea reaching glaciers. The remote vastness of this land is one you must see for yourself to truly experience.

  While we stayed on the cruise ship, this park has the option to disembark and explore by foot as well. 

  

  

  

  For our trip, a park ranger came aboard our ship (without our ship even stopping) to provide us with narrated history as we sailed along. The big ticket item of this adventure was spending an hour sitting in front of Margerie Glacier.

  The large walls of the surrounding mountains provided such a quiet environment that we could hear the ice calving off of Margerie from miles away.

  

  

  This was probably the coldest day of the trip, and if you plan to visit in September like I did be sure to bring a warm jacket! You can view the park inside, but it’s not the same as standing on the bow of the ship and soaking it all in.

  

  

  I did retreat indoors occasionally, spending some time sitting in my favorite area of the ship watching the cold world outside pass me by. I’d quickly make my way back outside once I was thawed to see the vibrant blue colors of the glacial meltwater.

  

  My favorite area. Daily classical concerts.

  

  

  The color of the water is such a deep arctic blue a photograph cannot convey the image quite like the memory burned into my brain. Pieces of floating ice bob like apples in a bucket of water on a sunny fall afternoon. Otters swim round and you wonder how anything could live in water so cold.

  

  Many years ago people also lived at the bases of these glaciers. My poor blood circulation would surely kill me if I had to live on ice. Thankful for the indoor reprieve whenever I pleased, this sailing through Glacier Bay is one I’ll not soon forget. Perhaps someday I’ll return by plane in the warmer months and conquer a hike or two!

  Q: Would you rather visit in the heat or cold? 

  

  | 28 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Holland America, National Park, Vacation

• 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

• The Latin Quarter, Galway

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

  Galway. Oh Galway. Multiple songs have been written referencing this quaint Irish town, and when you visit the cobblestone streets you understand why. The city is on the coast, with long stretches of beach. I’m not a beach fan usually, but even the beaches in Ireland are unique.

  The real attraction in this town is known as The Latin Quarter, where Galway comes alive. With shops and restaurants around every corner you’ll want to spend an entire day here. And that’s just what we did.

  

  

  Where to stay: Abbeylee B&B. The hosts of this B&B were wonderful. The bedrooms were clean and felt like home. And the breakfast. Yup. The location was perfect, just a 35 minute walk to The Latin Quarter.

  We stayed here two nights, and I met the most adorable American couple that was on their honeymoon. We became instant friends. Have I mentioned how much I love traveling? Those that travel have unique spirits, and it’s easy to make new friends this way.

  

  

  With a belly full of a traditional Irish breakfast, we took the beach path to the heart of the city. Walking into the entrance of The Latin Quarter is something I cannot put into words. Any thoughts, worries, or unpleasant emotions are quickly erased and replaced by feelings of joy, excitement, and enthrallment.

  Not that I was worried or upset at all on this trip, but you get the idea. 

  

  

  I can still hear the sounds reverberating off the stone walls. Musicians played everywhere you turned. Galway made you feel like nothing was impossible, that as long as you believed it, you could be whoever you wanted.

  Spoiler alert: this is actually how life works, we just get so caught up in thinking we “can’t” and where our minds go, we follow. 

  

  

  It was here in Galway we had planned to spend an evening at a local pub to be serenaded by the sounds of the locals. It was here I decided I wasn’t living my life the way I wanted. It was here I fell so deeply in love with a culture that was not my own, but that I longed to be a part of.

  It was here that I gave myself a permanent reminder of my first trip abroad, a trip that broke my soul and rebuilt it into something new.

  

  

  Our tattoo artists name was Charlie, and he was equal parts rigid as he was sweet. His lady friend worked alongside him and she had a strong resemblance to Anne Heche in Six Days, Seven Nights.

  They were adorable, and not in the sickly kind of way. 

  The original plan was to get a four leaf clover. Because we’re basic. Alas, Anne Heche schooled us on Irish culture and advised the clover was not native to Ireland, but the shamrock was. So shamrock it was. I didn’t even need a Guinness before being inked.

  

  

  Thanks Charlie, I hope you and Anne Heche live happily ever after. 

  Where to eat: The Kings Head is the oldest pub in the area, racking up over 800 years of existence. We ate lunch here and also spent the final stretch of our day here listening to local Irish men sing American songs. Go figure. I’ll never hear Ring of Fire the same again.

  Nothing like grown men referencing explosive diarrhea through a Johnny Cash song.

  

  

  I was on a mission to find the best mushy peas in Ireland.

  Fat Freddy’s Restaurant -I didn’t come to Ireland planning to find good pizza, but I assure you I found it. As always, potatoes as a topping is a must.

  

  

  

  Murphy’s Ice Cream – I can’t remember the last time I had “real” ice cream, but #wheninGalway. In all honesty this was a bit much for me, and I realized I might have been going a wee far with eating all the things I typically avoid, but for the sake of transparency I’ll share it.

  What sold me was the fact that they hand make the ice cream nearby, and one of the flavors showcases sea salt from the Dingle peninsula. When you can see the cows roaming free and grazing on grass it makes the decision of taking a lick much easier. Alas I’m becoming an expert at the whole, “listen to your body” concept.

  Body said no mas ice cream.

  

  Sitting in this city, surrounded by people from all over the world I felt at peace. These are the moments and memories that stick with you forever. Besides, even if I tried to forget I’m reminded every time I put on socks and see my tattoo.

  I smile every time.

  

  Travel Tip: When wandering a larger city (think Dublin, Galway, Cork) go into a pub if you need to use the toilet. Otherwise you will likely be charged around 20 cent. 

  

  | 48 Comments Tagged Galway, Ireland, The Latin Quarter, Vacation

• 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

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