5 Reasons to Visit Seattle

July 9, 2015

Seattle is just a stones’ throw from Portland and without traffic we can be up there in about two and a half hours. So when we’re looking to get out of the city for a day or a quick overnight, Seattle is a common escape for us. It’s bigger, is on the water and is just overall a fun and very North West city. So if you’re looking for coastal views, a large city and great local seafood, Seattle is the place to be! And here’s 5 reasons to visit Seattle…

One of the things that first brought me to Seattle were the buildings. As a design student in college, we made many a trip up to Seattle to take a look at their famous Library (shown above) and many other buildings in the city like Gehry’s Experience Music Project that are pretty well renowned in the architecture world. The unique flair of Seattle’s architecture is a must see while there.

Everyone knows the Space Needle and as such with the architecture mentioned above, Seattle is full of Landmarks. My favorite view of the Space Needle and other surrounding landmarks in Seattle is from Kerry Park, but I also love the fact that just driving around downtown Seattle you’ll see the Space Needle peaking out from every corner.

One of my absolute favorite things about the Seattle area is the proximity to so many other gorgeous landscapes as well. With the San Juans and Whidbey Island close by, you’re never far from some amazing coastal areas that are a quick car ride away.

In the mood for perusing a local food market? Pike’s Place has got to be one of the most famous markets in the world. With everything from fresh caught seafood to flowers to local vegetables, Pike’s Place a must see in Seattle. I love picking up berries and flowers when we visit to bring home with us.

Seattle has a wealth of shopping and probably would be the best shopping in the Pacific NW. Home to the first Nordstrom, a huge array of downtown shopping spots and my personal fave, Zara, I love to spend a few hours when we visit hitting spots that we don’t have in Portland.

5 of the Most Photogenic Spots in the Pacific NW

July 8, 2015

Since it’s high tourist season in my home city, we’re calling this Pacific North West week here on Land of Marvels! We’ll be posting all about my home city of Portland as well as other great spots around the Pacific North West all week long!

The Pacific North West is a pretty beautiful place and in my opinion, one of the prettiest spots in the whole of the US. It’s often overlooked due to weather or lesser known spots, but it’s for sure to be one of the most photogenic areas you’ll encounter. And because there are so many amazing spots to see and photograph in this area of the world, when you head out this way, here’s a list of 5 of the most photogenic spots in the Pacific NW to be sure to witness with your very own eyes (and camera of course)!

This natural spot outside of Bend, Oregon is pretty spectacular. The color of the rock is a golden hue and as you wander around the viewpoint from above, you’ll see the water snaking around the mountains, rock climbers scaling the sides of it and a high desert landscape that is pretty incredible. (Photo at the top of Smith Rock)

In my opinion, the most beautiful spot on the Oregon Coast, Bandon is remarkable. From long stretches of rocky beach, to cliffs overlooking the roaring ocean, Bandon is simply stunning and incredibly photogenic, whether rain or shine.

A stunning Columbia River running through the gorge walls in Northern Oregon and Southern Washington, just 45 minutes outside of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge is a breathtaking site. Your best views are from driving the I-84 or stopping at the many viewpoints along the old highway that parallels the freeway. You’ll also find a ton of waterfalls along the old highway in this area such as the famous Multnomah Falls.

I think the most stunning part of Washington State, the San Juan Islands which are as far North as Victoria, Canada are incredibly photogenic and stunning in their own right. With orcas swimming past, crystal clear blue water and ferries that weave in and out of one stunning island after another, the San Juans are best during the Summer but are gorgeous all year round.

This famous spot in Southern Oregon is not only beautiful but perfect for photos. Drive the road around the lake to get an angle on each side and take photos of the crater and the little island that floats in the middle of the lake. The water is incredibly blue and surrounded by lush Oregon forests, it’s perfectly photogenic.

5 of the Best Road Trips in the Pacific NW

July 7, 2015

The Pacific North West is a pretty beautiful place, no only in our cities but in the countrysides around Oregon and Washington as well. One of the best ways to take in all the Pacific NW beauty is to road trip around, to just jump in a car and head out somewhere beautiful! There are so many amazing road trips in this area, but if you’re looking to spend your Summer seeing this beautiful area, here are 5 of the best road trips in the Pacific NW!

Two of Oregon’s well known cities for their quirkiness, the trip from Portland to Bend is not only beautiful, it’s breathtaking. You’ll go from green lush forests to high desert and canyons. This 3-4 hour drive can be done a number of ways, my favorite goes past Smith Rock and up North before looping around Mt. Hood and coming into the lushness of Portland.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful, and underrated, coastlines in the world, the Oregon Coast is truly breathtaking at every turn. From cliffs to beaches to roaring seas, you’ll want to pull over again and again while making this drive. From Portland, head West to Cannon Beach, then continue down the coast highway to Bandon. It will be vistas and views like you’ve never seen before.

road trip Seattle to the san Juan islands

The San Juans are beautiful themselves but it’s the drive and ferry to get there that offers even more fantastic views and lovely scenery. Drive North fro Seattle then cut West and you’ll find yourself headed to Anacortes on the coast. From there, catch the ferry to any of the islands (the most popular to Friday Harbor) which will offer incredible sea views as you weave in and out of islands. Then drive around the island, taking in the views like orcas at the Lime Kiln lighthouse or the Lavender farm in the middle of the island. It’s scenic Pacific NW at its best.

Maybe not so much a scenic drive as this one is just fun. You’ll go through so many different landscapes, get to cross a border and spend time in two of the Pacific North West’s favorite cities. Vancouver BC is a whole different thing too since you’re officially in Canada. So if you’re in the mood for some “international” travel, this is the road trip for you.

road trip Portland to eastern washington

For a landscape unlike any other in the region, drive East from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge. Here you’ll find breathtaking vistas over the river, waterfalls galore and incredible scenery. Then head North through Eastern Washington and you’ll find rolling hills, farmland for miles and something entirely different than you’d expect in the Pacific North West. Head toward Washington’s eastern wine country and spend a couple nights, reveling in all the area has to offer.

The Best Inexpensive Destinations in Europe

July 3, 2015

Europe has always been a hot spot for tourists. It’s got everything: amazing history, wonderful architecture, charm everywhere you look and great food. But it can also be pretty expensive, especially in larger cities like London and Paris. And don’t even get me started on how expensive Scandinavia is. So if you’re looking to head to Europe but don’t want to spend as much money as you will in the more expensive spots, here are the best inexpensive destinations in Europe for you to choose from!

Portugal

You’ll be amazed at the cost of things in Portugal! Even in its famous city Lisbon, things were priced really low compared to the other European hubs. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck in this seaside city. And the great thing here is that most of the attractions are free, so you can just wander and take in this edgy city for all it has to offer as well as Lisbon being incredibly charming with cobblestone streets and old buildings just begging to photographed.

Spain

I was blown away by how cheap Spain was compared to it’s neighbor up North, France. A huge dinner of tapas and sangria for 15 euros, ok, I’ll take that! You can eat well and enjoy a great trip in Spain for a lot less than other European hot spots. Particularly as you get out of the main hubs like Barcelona and Madrid, prices really start to go down.

Ireland

While Dublin is still a lot less expensive than its neighbor in the UK, London, where Ireland really shines in price is when you get out of the cities. The little towns in Ireland will offer so much and won’t break the bank. You’ll win in culture and your wallet!

Italy

While the larger cities in Italy like Rome and Milan still command a fairly high price point, when you get into small town Italy, the pricing will noticeably go down. Head to Verona or the little towns scattered throughout Italy and you’ll notice a pretty good price point.

Morocco

Even though it’s not in Europe, Morocco is a popular destination from Europe since it’s so close. Here you’ll find prices really are inexpensive and you can haggle for even lower ones. You’ll get lots of bang for your buck in Morocco and you’ll walk away with a unique experience too.

Travel Tips : How to Find Your Way Around

July 1, 2015

One of the hardest parts of traveling is finding your way around a place you don’t know or have never been to before. It can be a daunting part of your trip when you’re lost or unsure of where you are headed, and believe me, I’ve been there, but there are also a lot of great ways to keep this at a minimum while you travel. Over the years of traveling, I’ve found out the hard way what the best options are for how to find your way around as you’re on your adventure wherever you are in the world!

Use GPS on Your Phone

We always get international data packages on our iPhones when we travel (they are actually pretty reasonable these days) and it’s always worth it. Whether we are driving around the wilderness of Iceland or wandering the streets of Spain, using our phones for directions works really well for us. We tend to use one phone first until we meet the data minimum and then switch to the other person’s phone. Make sure to turn your data off if you don’t want to get charged though!

Also, you can still use GPS without data as long as you let it load before you leave an internet connection. Let your map load before you leave Wifi and you should still be able to follow your GPS marker even without data being turned on. We used this option a ton in Marrakech a few years ago, when we got completely lost in the souk and had no idea which direction to go!

Buy Streetwise Maps for your Destination

I still always travel with hard copy maps as well as my phone and any other digital versions I may have. Sometimes it’s easier and sometimes you don’t want to be flashing your new iPhone 6+ around. I also love having the option of marking up a map with places to go and where our hotel is and such. My personal favorites are Streetwise maps. I stock up on all the destinations we are visiting for a particular trip. I love the size and layout of these maps and they are really well laminated which really helps in rain or other weather.

Just Wander

One of the best ways to get where you need to go is really just to wander. Especially if you know the general direction you should be heading, sometimes you’ll stumble across amazing spots in your destination when you aren’t sure where you’re going. But be safe, don’t wander into areas that you shouldn’t be in or feel uncomfortable.

Ask Directions when Needed

I still ask locals for directions all the time when we travel. Most of the time people are really nice and will help you out. It’s a good idea for this to work to know a little bit of the local language too. I also get asked for directions all the time whether at home in Portland or while traveling, so obviously a lot of people opt for this option. Don’t be afraid to approach someone and just ask nicely. Even if you don’t know the language, point to the spot on your map you’re headed and they can point you in the right direction!

4 Ways to Travel More this Summer

June 30, 2015

Summer is perhaps the busiest travel season of the year. Everyone wants to use the nice weather and kids being out of school to travel, but it can also cause a lot of stress to travel this time of year with crowds and high costs. Luckily, there are still ways to get around the “cons” of traveling in the Summer and still have fantastic trips, so if you’re looking to travel in the next few months, here are 4 ways to travel more this Summer!

1. Take advantage of holidays.

Summer is littered with holidays that create great 3-4 day weekends which work perfectly for a little escape. In the States, both the 4th of July and Labor Day are coming up, so plan ahead and make use of the longer weekends to escape somewhere fun, even if it’s close by where you live!

2. Explore your own backyard.

So many people that want to travel totally write off their own area as a place to explore. But it’s actually such a great place to start! It’s cheaper than buying an expensive plane fare somewhere exotic and it’s easier to do in a smaller period of time. Check out Pinterest for cool spots in your area or google things like “best spots to explore in _________” and I guarantee you’ll find some amazing spots really close to where you live. We have an endless list of spots in the Pacific NW to explore and it’s always fun to explore where you live.

3. Travel to lesser-known or off season spots.

If you do want to jet off somewhere fun for your Summer travels, pick spots that are either off-season in the Summer (i.e. Southern Hemisphere where it’s colder or rainy season in SE Asia) or places that haven’t really taken off yet as tourist hubs like Croatia or Iceland. Often traveling to spots that aren’t as famous as London or Paris in the Summer can help cut back on cost and crowds.

4. Use points and miles to cut cost.

Flights and hotels in the peak Summer time can be really expensive. A great way to cut this cost is to use your points and miles saved up for travel during this season. That way you’ll be able to go where you want without the huge price tags of peak fares.

I Hear Your Voice in All the World’s Noise

June 29, 2015

Today is Nick’s 29th birthday and as I contemplated what to write today, I realized that as we enter our last year in our twenties, I can’t quite believe all we’ve done together. We’ll have been together for 10 years in October this year and in that time, a full decade of my life, we’ve weathered many a storm. We’ve fought through separation and long distance, we’ve fought through the mundane, we’ve weathered family issues and illnesses. We’ve seen each other through career ups and downs, we’ve grown together, we’ve seen the world together and together have had some incredible moments all around the globe. These 10 years have been the hardest but most fulfilling of my life.

I met Nick at 18, he was 19. We were figuring life out as we went, but one thing has stayed true all these years later: we are each other’s worlds. We honestly don’t like to be apart and when that is necessary, a few days away feels like an eternity. Love does that to you, it provides you with a constant partner, a person that is just as much a part of you as your own heart. And no matter how much of the world we’ve seen or the adventures we’ve taken together, which have been many, our every day moments at home, the ones that aren’t really that special, our moments laying on the couch or going to sleep together every night, those are the moments I cherish the most. In our time together over the years, it’s been those tiny insignificant moments that have created the person I am today and the couple we are together and it is those moments that will always propel us forward.

And so today my love, on your 29th birthday, I am so proud of what we’ve done together and where we’re headed. This quote so perfectly describes our love and I know we have so much more in store for us, but may you know, today and always, I love you.

“J’entends ta voix dans tous les bruits du monde.” – Paul Éluard

“I hear your voice in all the world’s noise.”

5 Reasons to Visit Iceland

June 24, 2015

Iceland is a special place. It’s one of those places that has completely changed me as a person and my experiences in this stunning country have developed a long standing love affair with Iceland. I know we’ll be back many times over during our lives and it’s a place that I think of often, reliving incredible moments we’ve had there and remembering the memories from the incredible place that is Iceland. There are way more than 5 reasons to visit Iceland, but if you have to know my top ones… here’s why you should hop on the next plane to Iceland.

Endless and Stunning Waterfalls

Looking for the land of a thousand waterfalls (probably more), Iceland is it. Everywhere you look, whether big or small, Iceland has waterfall after waterfall and they are all incredibly stunning and unique.

The Stunning and Diverse Landscape

Nowhere else in the world that I’ve been has a landscape like Iceland. From fjords to mountains, to valleys and plains, Iceland is so diverse. You can drive for an hour and see every landscape possible on Earth. Let’s just say there is a reason that most sci-fi movies based on other planets film in Iceland, it literally feels like you’re not on Earth anymore.

The Happy and Kind Locals

The locals in Iceland are so proud of their country and their culture. I love learning about their traditions, hearing their stories of elves and trolls and have genuinely loved the locals there on both of our trips.

The Icelandic Horses

They are famous for a reason, but the Icelandic horses are a pretty great reason to head to Iceland immediately. Fluffy, friendly and everywhere, I loved stopping along the side of the road and visiting with the horses that roam all over the country.

Serene and Surreal Moments

Never in my life have I had so many moments where I stood in an incredibly beautiful location and looked out and just felt so connected to the Earth and so small all at once. Iceland has brought out more moments like that in me than I can count and it’s those serene and surreal moments when you might be the only person for miles that really change you. Iceland will change you, for the better.

Headed to Iceland?

See all our Iceland content here.

Where to Stay in Iceland

What to Wear in Iceland in May

June 23, 2015

More What to Wear posts for more destinations here!

When returning to Iceland for the second time, I had somewhat more of an idea of what to pack. But considering we were there in an entirely different season than our last trip, I still looked for ideas online for outfits that would be warm but still somewhat “spring-ey.” I was surprised not to find a lot on packing for Iceland (except for lots of posts on stuff like hiking boots and country-type clothes). But since we weren’t trekking through the wilderness, I wanted outfits that would be comfortable and would go from middle-of-nowhere driving to cityscapes. So if you’re wondering what to pack and still be stylish on your trip to Iceland in the Spring-time, here you go!

What I Packed for Iceland in May:

2 Coats (1 wool and thicker, 1 lighter wind breaker with a hood)

2 Scarves (1 wool and thicker, 1 cotton but still really heavy and thick)

1 pair of Black denim

1 pair of Leggings

1 heavy sweater

1 sweatshirt

1 turtleneck and 1 long sleeved t-shirt

1 pair of Converse

1 pair of rainboots

1 backpack

1 pair of earmuffs and 2 wool hats

1 pair of gloves

What I Wore:

Outfit Details:

Banana Republic wool hat (similar) | Old Banana Republic wool coat (similar) | Old Zara Scarf (Similar) |

Madewell Black Denim | White Converse Low Tops

Outfit Details:

Old Banana Republic wool coat (similar) | Gap wool tunic sweater (similar) | Banana Republic wool scarf (similar) |

White Converse Low Tops | Madewell Black Denim

Outfit Details:

Madewell Black Denim | Banana Republic wool scarf (similar) |

Burberry Rain Boots (Similar) | Ear Muffs | Madewell Jacket (similar)

Outfit Details:

Madewell Black Denim | Old Banana Republic wool coat (similar) |

Old Zara Scarf (Similar) | White Converse Low Tops

Headed to Iceland?

See all of our posts on Iceland here.

Color, Design and Quirks : Reykjavik

June 22, 2015

On this most recent trip to Iceland, we spent about a day and a half in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital and largest city. While last time we based ourselves in Reykjavik, this time we spent only one day and night there at the beginning of our trip and then a half day at the end before flying out. The city is always interesting to visit and has so many unique qualities so we were excited to visit again and spend some time there on this last trip in May.

While Reykjavik isn’t really a large city, it definitely has everything you need. The main downtown area is cute and colorful, with Scandinavian looking architecture and bright colors, filled with little streets of restaurants and shops. Reykjavik is a quirky city too with sculptures here and there and interesting buildings as you wander around. And while we didn’t spend as much time in Reykjavik as we did on our first trip to Iceland, we mentioned numerous times how different it looks and feels in Spring than it did in the middle of Winter previously. Everything felt more alive, brighter and lighter than it did in the snow and darkness of Winter. When traveling to Iceland, Reykjavik definitely holds its own as a spot to visit against the majesty of the countryside. So spend a day or two here (or more!) and enjoy the color, design and quirks of Reykjavik.

Don’t Miss in Reykjavik:

-Check out Cafe Paris or The Laundromat Cafe for breakfast spots.

-Don’t miss pizza at Pizza Royale (Funny story about this place: on our first trip to Iceland we were starving at midnight one night due to jet lag, so we wandered around to find this place and had amazing pizza there. On this second trip, we wanted an early night since we had to get up early to drive North, so we grabbed takeout pizza from here and brought it back to our hotel… so good!)

-Check out buildings like the Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja Church – famous sites in the city.

-Wander around “The Pond” which freezes over in the Winter but is beautiful in the Spring/Summer time with ducks floating along.

Traveling to Iceland?

See all of my posts on the country!

5 Reasons to Visit Seattle

5 of the Most Photogenic Spots in the Pacific NW

5 of the Best Road Trips in the Pacific NW