Have you been waiting for what seems like forever to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon? Is the time finally here? For many Americans, the Grand Canyon is a bucket-list, once in a lifetime vacation. I can remember being fascinated by the idea of going to the Grand Canyon at a young age when my grandparents fulfilled their own dream of heading there on a road trip. If you are going to go for it, you want your vacation to go perfectly. That’s why it is best to start preparing in advance for your ... Read More
travel
Everything You Need to Know about Hong Kong Disneyland
We couldn't visit Hong Kong without spending some time at Hong Kong Disneyland. The last time Scott and I were there was in 2006, just a few months after the park opened. The park was pretty empty back then--both from people and attractions. I can remember feeling like we walked through twenty minutes of nothing to get from one ride to the next. I was looking forward to visiting both because I spent a year being disappointed by Disneyland Paris and I wanted to see how the Hong Park had grown. ... Read More
Keep the Beach Where it Belongs with the Tesalate Sand-Free Towel
I was 17 before I saw the ocean for the first time. It was the summer before my senior year of high school and my grandfather took us on a holiday to Emerald Isle, North Carolina. I. was. smitten. I loved the beach. I loved lounging on the sand and playing in the waves. Part of our move to New Zealand was to be near our favourite beach in the world so that the girls could experience life by the water. We go to Mount Maunganui regularly (even now that it's winter). Even if the water is too cold, ... Read More
A Sentimental Visit to Butler’s Chocolate Factory
It would be difficult to visit Ireland and not see boxes of Butler's chocolates. There are cafes scattered around the country and boxes of their chocolates can be found in train stations, airports, and gift shops. Our first exposure to Butler's, though, was in New Zealand way back in 2006. A new cafe opened in our local mall that specialized in chocolates and hot drinks. The flavours were intriguing and they had the best mocha. Getting a box of Butler's became a special treat for us and we said ... Read More
Where to Get American Food in Edinburgh
I LOVED our time in Edinburgh and was sad to leave. We had moved there intending to stay but it turned into a less than two year home. Reasons happen and we're pretty good at rolling with the punches but it still hits me that we're not currently on vacation and heading home to Scotland soon. The funny thing with me and expat life is that for the most part, I'm perfectly fine with having left the States. I miss my friends because we all know that I'm much better at staying in touch when I see ... Read More
Six Reasons to Take a Road Trip Instead of Flying
There are several reasons to take a road trip instead of flying, but for me it mostly comes down to three things: budget, timeline, and preference (I'm of course talking about those trips where driving is a possibility in the first place!). If you’re on a tight budget, a road trip is going to win almost every single time. However, if you’re on a strict timeline and not as strict of a budget, flying is probably a better option! There are some flights that are cheaper than driving solo (say, ... Read More