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!

Iceland’s Far North : Husavik and Northern Coast

June 19, 2015

On our recent trip to Iceland in May, we traveled the farthest North we’ve ever been on the globe. In fact, we drove up around the third most Northern peninsula on the island of Iceland, rounding the corner up past Husavik and taking in sea views from high up on the cliffs for miles. The air was so crisp up there, we could see the coastline of Iceland as it went West to the West Fjords and East towards mainland Europe and Scandinavia. The cliffs sprawled against the wild ocean and we spent a few hours just driving the ring road exploring the area and wandering through the cute little fishing town of Husavik. Iceland’s far North feels so different from the South and I’m so glad we got to experience it. It actually reminded us a lot of Scotland or Northern Ireland, the rugged coastlines and the coastal view. The nature is more wild up there, it’s more raw and rugged and the coastline views are simply stunning.

Headed to Iceland?

See all our Iceland content here.

Where to Stay in Iceland

Travel Tips : Packing for Iceland

June 18, 2015

Packing for Iceland can be a hard thing to do. It’s fairly cold most of the year and even if the sun comes out, the weather can change really quickly so you need to be prepared for any weather that might come your way. It’s also a country that is very remote, so many of the things you should pack will be unique to Iceland. Our trip at the end of May proved to be hard to pack for, since there was still a lot of snow on the ground and rain was forecasted for most of our time there. The highs were somewhere in the 30’s most days while there, but in Iceland, the temperature usually feels a good 5-10 degrees cooler than what it says, so prepare yourself and your wardrobe for that. I’ll be doing a Travel Style post in the days to come, but for now, here’s some of the top things to remember when packing for your trip to Iceland!

What not to forget when packing for your trip to Iceland:

1. Hand Warmers

I brought with me 2 small hand warmer packets, which are liquid when not activated and then just snap to create warmth. They were small enough to bring through airport security in my carryon but packed a lot of warmth when I needed them. I actually only used them the morning we spent at Godafoss, but I was so glad to have them.

2. Layers!

When packing your wardrobe for your trip to Iceland, pack lots of layers! Even at the end of May, I was wearing leggings under my jeans and multiple layers on top because of the chill in the air. So pack lots of scarves, multiple pairs of warm socks and things you can wear to stay warm and then take off it you need, like hats or ear muffs.

3. Lots of Camera Memory and Extra Batteries

You’ll be taking lots of photos in Iceland so bring lots of memory. You’ll also notice all your batteries dying faster than normal there… it’s due to the cold temperatures, so bring extras!

4. Snacks

If you’re driving around Iceland (like we did), you’ll want lots of snacks as often there are hours between towns and even then, you can’t bank on them being open. We brought with us granola bars and small snacks and then also bought more in Reykjavik before leaving for the North. You want to make sure if nothing is open, you have something to eat on your way to your destination.

5. Comfortable Clothes

When we were packing for Iceland, I really didn’t want to take my purse since most of the time we would be in the car or out exploring the countryside. I opted to bring a backpack instead of my usual handbag and it was such a good decision. It was so much easier to head out exploring with only my backpack, so make sure to bring comfortable clothing items that you aren’t going to worry about. Iceland is not a place for your designer wardrobe, bring clothes that are ok to get dirty and that are easy to use.

6. Boots

I brought my rubber wellies with me on this trip and I was so glad I did. There were lots of spots that were either wet, snowy or muddy and it was great to not have to worry about my converse getting too dirty or soaked through. Boots will be your lifesaver as you climb over rocks or through water in Iceland.

Traveling to Iceland?

See all of my posts on the country!

Exploring Godafoss : Dawn at the Waterfall of the Gods

June 17, 2015

There are some moments when traveling that you remember as moments where you changed. Moments that blow all the “normal” traveling moments out of the water, moments and places that you’ll never forget. Moments that you can still picture that view in front of you and the feeling you had there… our morning at Godafoss was one of those moments for me. Probably in my top 10 moments while traveling, we woke up really early (like 3am early) and jumped in our car in Akureyri, driving the incredibly beautiful half hour to Godafoss in the early dawn light of the Midnight sun.

Dawn at the Waterfall of the Gods was a special memory; a morning that we spent totally alone with this incredible waterfall and Icelandic landscape. I sat taking it all in as Nick took photos, feeling cold but totally in awe of my surroundings. I get asked a lot if I have to wait a while sometimes while Nick gets some of his beautiful photographs while we travel and while yes, I do, I also love that time because it’s usually in incredible places around the globe and it’s in those moments that I get to just sit and take everything in around me. This was one of those moments.

The sky was just opening up, the water rushing down boulders and cliffs, the air cold but making us feel alive, our dawn at the Waterfall of the Gods will forever be etched into my memory. If you’re in the North of Iceland, don’t miss this incredible sight and if you can, go at dawn, you’ll thank me later.

Tips for Visiting Godafoss:

-Go at dawn. You’ll have it all to yourself and the sky in this part of the country is incredible that time of day.

-The viewpoint area has a parking lot, but if you go to the other side (where the little buildings are), there is a new gravel parking lot that has better access to the trails down to the base where we were.

-Plan to spend some time here. We were here about 2 hours for Nick to get all the shots he wanted. If you’ll get cold (like I do), bring hand warmers.

Traveling to Iceland?

See all of my posts on the country!

Akureyri : Iceland’s Northern City

June 15, 2015

Nicknamed “the capital of the North,” Iceland’s second largest city of Akureyri was a definite stop for us while exploring the North of Iceland. When we scheduled our trip, we knew we wanted a couple days up North and Akureyri looked (and ended up being) the perfect stopping place. With a decent amount of hotels, it was easy to find lodging here and on top of that, the town is gorgeous, set among snow capped mountains and sitting on an incredibly long fjord of sparkling blue water.

It was really interesting to see the town that follows Reykjavik in size as Iceland’s Northern city and it turned out to be a really cute little Icelandic town, complete with lots of restaurants and bright Scandinavian architecture. It’s also really close to a lot of sites to see in the North, including Husavik and Godafoss (posts coming later this week on both!). All in all, while it was small, we really enjoyed seeing this cute little Northern Icelandic city!

Tips for Akureyri:

-For amazing views of the city across the fjord, head further on Highway 1 across the water. There is a viewpoint about 10 minutes past the city that has amazing views (like in the top photo).

-Wander the main street of town; it’s filled with restaurants and cute little shops selling Icelandic souvenirs.

Traveling to Iceland?

See all of my posts on the country!

Where to Stay in Iceland

Snow, Mountain Passes and Fjords : Driving North in Iceland

June 12, 2015

After leaving the Kirkjufell and the Snæfellsnes peninsula, we headed back East to connect to Highway 1, which would ultimately take us up to Akureyri, our next stop on our Icelandic road trip. Our top thing on this second trip to Iceland was to see the North of the country which we didn’t get to see last trip, since it was the dead of Winter. So as we headed back to the main highway and then up North into Iceland’s countryside, we loved seeing a different side of the island.

The drive was long (we drove a total of 12 hours this day and about 1000 miles including our time on the Snæfellsnes peninsula) but getting to see so much of the country was so great. Iceland’s landscape literally changes every 10 miles or so, going from lava fields covered in moss one minute to prairie like plains the next, followed by snowy mountains looking very ominous with low lying clouds to bright blue sky and rolling hills. We loved seeing the changes and the way the country looks as you head North. I would highly recommend this drive to anyone wanting to see more of Iceland, though be sure to check the weather before making the trek up North as it can change quickly.

We stopped along the side of the road to snap photos of fjords spilling into the country with bright blue water, ominous snow clouds gathering over mountain passes and views for miles as we peaked over certain spots in the road. The drive is long but so incredibly beautiful!

Tips for Driving North in Iceland:

-Don’t forget to follow my tips on driving in Iceland, many of them were necessary on this drive!

-Bring food… there really isn’t much along many parts of this drive, so bring snacks!

-Check the weather ahead of time as you do go through a few mountain passes.

Headed to Iceland?

See all our Iceland content here.

Where to Stay in Iceland

4 Ways to Travel More this Summer

1. Take advantage of holidays.

2. Explore your own backyard.

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

4. Use points and miles to cut cost.

I Hear Your Voice in All the World’s Noise

5 Reasons to Visit Iceland

Endless and Stunning Waterfalls

The Stunning and Diverse Landscape

The Happy and Kind Locals

The Icelandic Horses

Serene and Surreal Moments

Headed to Iceland?

What to Wear in Iceland in May

What I Packed for Iceland in May:

What I Wore:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Color, Design and Quirks : Reykjavik

Don’t Miss in Reykjavik:

Iceland’s Far North : Husavik and Northern Coast

Headed to Iceland?

Travel Tips : Packing for Iceland

What not to forget when packing for your trip to Iceland:

Exploring Godafoss : Dawn at the Waterfall of the Gods

Tips for Visiting Godafoss:

Akureyri : Iceland’s Northern City

Tips for Akureyri:

Snow, Mountain Passes and Fjords : Driving North in Iceland

Tips for Driving North in Iceland:

Headed to Iceland?

Travel

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Favorite Destinations

Travel Reviews

1. Take advantage of holidays.

2. Explore your own backyard.

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

4. Use points and miles to cut cost.

Endless and Stunning Waterfalls

The Stunning and Diverse Landscape

The Happy and Kind Locals

The Icelandic Horses

Serene and Surreal Moments

Headed to Iceland?

What I Packed for Iceland in May:

What I Wore:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Don’t Miss in Reykjavik:

Headed to Iceland?

What not to forget when packing for your trip to Iceland:

Tips for Visiting Godafoss:

Tips for Akureyri:

Tips for Driving North in Iceland:

Headed to Iceland?

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