Note that any of the photos seen here can be downloaded (Full-Resolution) or purchased at the Prints/Online Store.
~~ France 2023 ~~
In October of 2023, we visited France for the first time, it did NOT disappoint. Through all of our travels thus far I think that this trip definitely over-delivered on my expectations. Traveling to a foreign country is obviously stressful, but France is extremely accommodating in that sense. If you aren't wanting to get out of the city I recommend just taking public transit everywhere. The Metro in Paris is by far the best I've seen yet. As long as your staying in an Arrondissement and fairly close to a Metro station you can be anywhere in the city in around 20 minutes or so. You'll definitely want to go with the Navigo Easy pass for your time there. Anyhow, our itinerary consisted of 4 nights in Paris followed by leaving the city via rental car and traveling to the Loire Valley and Normandy area for two nights each. We were very nervous about driving in the area, however it was surprisingly not too bad. The only thing that I remember being a real struggle is that most roadways have low speed limits and spacing can get a bit tight depending on where your heading.
We stayed in the 14th Arrondissement of Paris, a quieter, more local part of the city. I will admit, our first time getting to our little apartment in the city was a little sketchy as it was very late and not the best lit being a local spot. However, one of my best memories was walking down to a little local pub, AUX 100 Kilos at around midnight and getting my first ever crème brûlée (in my life). It was mind blowing that we got a full meal and sat in a pub full of people after midnight with no issue. This is Paris, it is never a bad time to go sit and have a coffee, treat, or get a drink with friends. Socializing is the top priority. At least, that was our experience. Also, people always ask me, "How rude were they?", and I always have to tell them not at all, they weren't rude, they were true-to-self. What I mean is that certain accommodations that travelers from the U.S. or maybe even other parts of Europe are used to aren't normal here. You can't just go adding protein to your meal because thats what you like, you will be told "no, thats not how it is served". This isn't people being rude to me, its being true to their culture and personally thats what I travel to experience. I will say though, don't expect your personal space to be your own on the Metro ;).
The rest of our time in Paris consisted of seeing Sainte-Chapelle, Eiffel Tower, rue Cler, Palais Garnier, the Palace of Versailles., and obviously the Louvre. While absolutely all are worth seeing, we thought that the best visit was the Palace of Versailles. This was actually one of our very first destinations after that night at the pub. Note that we were also able to access Versailles via Metro/Train for very cheap. The amount of architectural detail and history at Versaillles is staggering. Walking through is really is walking in the footsteps of so many historical figures. After that a trip to Rue Cler and then the Eiffel Tower are obviously a must. I will always remember having a gentleman set Mariah and I up a table street-side when he seen us looking over the Pizza menu. We ate dinner on the street with the top of the Eiffel tower just visible over the building next to us.
~~ Seattle - 2023 ~~
In May of 2023 we traveled to Seattle just to get a break. This was just a quick vacation that was short and sweet (5 days). This was our second trip the the area. We left our hometown of Houston on Wednesday night and traveled all the way to Camano Island, WA that same day. It was a late night but was well worth it. This trip consisted of seeing the beautiful tulip fields in the Mount Vernon area, visiting some of our favorite farmers markets, traveling to the Northern Cascade mountain range twice, and going to the amazing Pike Place Market. Below you can see just some of the few highlights of the trip.
~~ Recommendations ~~
If you're anything like us and like the beautiful nature over the city scene we recommend spending no more than a day or two in the city. I recommend going to see Pike Place Market Downtown and maybe hitting the Starbucks Roastery if you a coffee fan. After that, GET OUT. There are too many beautiful nature scenes in WA to be stuck in the city too long. I highly recommend Snoqualmie Falls, the Northern Cascades, and the area west Mount Vernon Area in general has some beautiful idyllic little farms an sights to see. One of our favorite farmers markets and overall area is just west of Mount Vernon; give Snowgoose Produce a visit if you do decide to go through the area for an ice cream and plenty of local honey, produce, and goods. We also highly recommend Stilly's Diner just North of Seattle in Arlington, WA. I think we had one of the best breakfasts we've ever had there.
~~ Kauai, Hawaii - 2022 ~~
In October 2022 we visited Kauai for our Honeymoon! It was a once in a lifetime experience that I highly recommend. Kauai is a very special place and I think that the sense of culture can be found a bit more potent here than in the other parts of Hawaii. It's a small island but packs a hell of a punch.
~~ Recommendations ~~
You MUST see the Napali Coast. If you are going here, it's probably already on the top of the list but just in case, I'm telling you again. I recommend taking a boat tour of the coast and if you have the money to splurge, a helicopter tour of this area might just change your life (Jack Harter Helicopter Tours was excellent and knowledgeable of the area). This area was the set of many famous movies such as Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean. We stayed on the East side of the island and it served as a good point to explore North to Hanalei and South to Waimea.
