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How to be a Traveler at Home!

September 28, 2015

While I often head off on adventures near and far, I also love spending time close to home and exploring my own backyard. Whether you don’t have the resources or the time to head off to an exotic land, you can still be a traveler…at home! All you need to do is find a place in your own area to have an adventure and take it all in. So here’s how to be a traveler in your own backyard.

Research your own area like you would if you were traveling there.

Before we travel to some place new, I do a ton of research. Why not do that for your own area? I bet you’ll find all sorts of things you never even knew were there and activities that would be great to try. Take the time to look into your area how you would if you were a tourist and you’ll find things you never expected to.

Read blogs or buy a guidebook on your home city.

A great way to add to that internet research on your home area, buy a guidebook on your home city or scour blogs for info on people that do travel there as tourists. You’ll see your city from the perspective of a tourist this way and be able to get yourself into that mind set to explore your area with fresh eyes.

Wake up early or stay up late.

One thing Nick and I do a lot when traveling (and hardly ever when home), is to get up for the sunrise or stay up for the sunset. In the scope of our daily lives, we’re too busy to schedule around that, but why not take a weekend and get up to see the sunrise over your home city or stay up to see the sunset over the horizon. It will make you see your home in an entirely new way.

Try a restaurant you’ve never tried.

One thing we do a lot to get out of the rut of routine at home, try a new restaurant. Whether it’s in a new neighborhood you don’t go to often or just a new kind of food you’re not used to, give it a try and you’ll feel like you’re on an exotic adventure.

Photograph your hometown or area.

Nick and I are terrible about really photographing Portland. When we travel, we always have cameras with us, but we rarely do when out and about in Portland because it’s home, we’ve seen everything a million and one times and it’s not new anymore. But a great way to feel like you’re traveling even when at home, take your camera with you and snap as you would if you were traveling. You’ll walk away seeing a totally new side of your own city.

5 Simple Ways to Save for Travel

August 27, 2015

Travel costs money, there’s really no way around that. Even when using credit card points or miles to your advantage (which is fantastic), you still have to have money to spend at your location or on other travel related items. The key to traveling often is being able to save for those trips you want to take and having the cash to pay for them. So if you want to travel more and you’re not sure where to start in terms of saving money, here are 5 simples ways to save for travel to get you going!

Eat at home.

The first thing I look at when I need to save money are my food expenses. Most of the time you can save a lot of money by cooking and eating at home instead of going out to restaurants. Take a look at your schedule and your habits and try to be economical in what types of food you buy at the grocery store and how you eat. This can actually cut a huge amount of money out of your normal budget which can help you save long term.

Share meals or do happy hour when you go out.

One of the things that Nick and I do often when we do end up going out to teat is sharing meals or working it into our schedule to make happy hour where food is a lot cheaper. This saves us a lot of money instead of both ordering full meals.

Sell clothes or extra items.

I’m adamant about going through my closet and apartment every month or two and selling anything laying around that we don’t need or use. I sell clothes almost monthly if I haven’t worn them lately or extra technology that isn’t being used any more. I know this doesn’t sound like you’ll make a ton of extra cash, but you’d be amazed how fast it adds up.

Cut out Coffee.

A huge one for many of us, think about how much money you’re spending on Starbucks or whatever place you frequent for your daily fix. I don’t even have coffee every day (maybe 2-3 times per week) and even that really adds up. Your $4 drink every day ends up being around $20 per week, which ends up being $80 per month, which ends up being almost $1000 per year!!! There’s your airfare right there.

Cut out Alcohol/Desserts.

We have friends that complain a lot about not being able to travel but then will spend $30 at dinner on alcohol and extra things like dessert. If you drink alcohol, look at the cost that is adding to your grocery and restaurant bills. It ends up being a huge amount and something that we spend hardly any money on. It’s all about what’s a priority!

The Best Meals with a View in Honolulu

August 11, 2015

With back to back trips to Hawaii these last couple weeks for work (and a little exploring), I thought we’d do a couple consolidated Hawaii weeks on Land of Marvels! So look forward to finding out all the inside tips you need to know before a trip to the Islands this week!

When you’re heading to Hawaii, one of the things most people look for when picking restaurants is the view. Does it have an ocean view or a marina view or a perfect perch to watch the sun set? There are so many restaurants to choose from in Honolulu, but some are better than other for the view and general ambience of authentic Hawaii. Here’s some of my favorite spots for the best meals with a view in Honolulu!

The Beach House at the Moana Hotel

This spot is a great place for dinner with a view of the Waikiki Beach. It’s also in the Moana Hotel which is designed like an old plantation house, so you sit out on the veranda looking over a giant old tree in the center of the hotel’s courtyard with the beach just yards away.

Mariposa at Ala Moana Shopping Center

For a view out over the Marina and Ala Moana Park, sit on the lanai and enjoy lunch at Mariposa at the Ala Moana mall. The food is outstanding, the view lovely and the ambience, very aloha.

House Without a Key at the Halekulani

One of my favorite spots for dinner, House Without a Key offers a true “Hawaiian” feel. You sit outside, yards from the hotel pool with views out over the ocean. It feels exactly like dining in Waikiki should feel.

Headed to Hawaii?

Check out our Oahu Travel Guide in the Land of Marvels Shop for only $5!

How to Experience Hawaii like a Local

August 10, 2015

Hawaii is one of those places where being a local and a tourist are really different. The tourists spend most of their time on crowded beaches in crowded tourist areas paying high dollar prices for food and entertainment. The locals live a different existence, trying to stay away from the tourist spots and embracing the rest of the island. So if you want to experience the Hawaiian Islands as a local, here’s exactly how to experience Hawaii as a local.

Taste the local food.

From ramen to plate lunches, taste the real local food of the island. Whether you find a plate lunch place serving chicken katsu and mac salad or indulging in local ramen or udon, find a spot away from the tourist areas to try the local flavors. You’ll also pay a lot less than in the tourist spots.

Find a secluded beach.

To really experience the true beauty of Hawaii’s beaches, you’ll want to get out of the tourist spots and head around the island to the various beaches. Sitting on a secluded beach all to yourself is a pretty amazing feeling and you’ll enjoy the experience that much more. I like going early before everyone wakes up which makes you feel even more secluded.

Venture out of Waikiki.

This is hard to do if you don’t have a car, but on Oahu, if you can, venture out of Waikiki. You’ll get a much better sense of the local culture and see the vast landscapes of the island, instead of just the beach and Diamond Head. You’ll get a taste of what Hawaii is really about and you’ll experience the local feel even more.

Get on Island time.

Island time is legitly a real thing. Everything moves slower in Hawaii, due dates are more flexible and people really do go surfing before work. Realize that things don’t move as fast here as they do on the Mainland, so embrace is and just get on Island time when you arrive.

Understand local culture.

Hawaiian culture is vast and there is so much behind the history of the Hawaiian Islands. Do some research before heading to Hawaii to understand the social and political views there so you’re ready to start exploring and honoring the local culture!

Appreciate the beauty of the Islands.

One thing no one can contest is the natural beauty of the Hawaii Islands. Even though I’m not a real beach person and don’t love the heat, can’t say the Hawaiian Islands aren’t beautiful. From mountains to rainforests to coves and lava fields, the Hawaiian Island chain should be appreciated. The locals know their home is beautiful, so be sure to appreciate it while you visit.

Headed to Hawaii?

Check out our Oahu Travel Guide in the Land of Marvels Shop for only $5!

Top 5 Pacific NW Weekend Escapes

July 10, 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!

I love a great weekend escape. Just being able to get away for a couple days, see a change of scenery without having to fly anywhere or spend a ton of time preparing can often be a perfect way to travel without breaking the bank or spending a ton of time away. And the Pacific NW offers some amazing spots for a weekend escape, so if you’re in this part of the world (or even if you want to just visit us), here are my top 5 Pacific NW weekend escapes!

When the weather gets too hot in Portland or we have spectacular winter weather, the locals in Portland head to the beach. Though for us, the Oregon Coast isn’t really “beach” per-say, but instead our coast features gorgeous views and incredibly blue water. We head to Cannon Beach, Seaside, or Astoria for weekend escapes and it’s the perfect spot to cool down, relax and take in the ocean views.

Eastern Oregon is our hot spot for quirky towns like Bend with great food, a lot of character and an “outdoorsy” type feel. Locals will head here for a weekend escape for a desert environment, lots of resorts and lodges to stay at and the perfect blend of artsy and outdoorsy.

Stay at: Sunriver Resort

For coastal beauty in Washington state, the San Juans are the perfect long weekend getaway. Take the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor and look for orcas jumping in and out of the water, wander the town or drive around the island and take in lavender farms and historic lighthouses. This is the West Coast’s version of Cape Cod and it’s perfect for a weekend escape in the Pacific NW.

Stay at: Swinomish Casino and Lodge

If you want to go a little bit international, head up to Vancouver BC, just a quick 2.5 hour drive North of Seattle. You’ll find a lot of culture and tradition in this famous Canadian city, and my favorite time to visit is in the Fall when the trees are changing and the city starts to quiet down after a busy Summer. Spend a weekend here and pretend you went farther out of the country than just a couple hours drive.

Stay at: L’Hermitage Hotel

For a setting with beautiful natural landscapes and great wine, head for a weekend escape to Eastern Washington state. You’ll be sure to spend your weekend here filled with long sunsets sipping a good local wine, while relaxing in a natural environment.

How to be a Traveler at Home!

Research your own area like you would if you were traveling there.