Napa Valley & San Fran

Napa continues to be one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited and I plan to continue to visit for the rest of my life. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the country, and if you’re a wine lover like me it makes for a great hobby/trip! To get to the region, you must fly into San Francisco so it’s a great opportunity to check out the city for a few days and also relax in Wine Country.

I went with my family a few years ago, and we started off our trip by grabbing a rental car from the airport and heading straight over to our hotel in Napa! We stayed at the Westin Verasa Napa, which I would highly reccommend! This was actually one of the only hotels that had multi room suites which could fit everyone. The grounds at the Westin are very well-kept, and it’s in a great location walking distance to downtown Napa. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sfonw-the-westin-verasa-napa/

Downtown Napa is super cute and very walkable! Staying somewhere near is very convenient to be able to walk to dinner/shops. There are tons of restaurants and wineries north of Napa in the neighboring cities, however I didn’t think those areas were as walkable, so i’m glad we stayed where we did! As for exploring the region and visiting the vineyards, I would definitely reccommend getting a driver. We had one that took us to about 3 vineyards a day plus a stop for lunch, and it made things a lot easier!

Vineyards we visited:

Domaine Chandon – This was the first place we visited, and one of the best! The facility is super nice, and champagne flights; what more could you want! https://www.chandon.com/

Bell Wine Cellars – This is a small family run winery, and was one of our favorites! The tours are small and very informative, and all of the wine was phenomenal! We loved it so much, we ended up buying 2 cases! http://www.bellwine.com/

Robert Mondavi Winery – This is a very large winery with a really impressive tour! This wine is more well known, but I’d definitely reccommend the tour and tasting here! https://www.robertmondaviwinery.com/

Sterling Vineyards– This winery has great views and a beautiful facility as well! The actual building is up high on a hill, so you take an aerial tram to get up to the top, which was pretty cool! https://www.sterlingvineyards.com/

Domaine Carneros – This was another one of my favorite stops! This estate specializes in sparkling wine, and is a great spot to do a wine flight, get a cheese board, and soak in some beautiful views! https://www.domainecarneros.com/

Wine Country Restaurant Recommendations:

San Francisco

After a few nights in Napa Valley, we headed back over to San Francisco. On the drive over, we stopped at Muir Woods National Monument. This is on the way back to San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a park area with some redwood trees, and definitely worth stopping at on the drive back. We also stopped at Lookout Station to get pictures in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Once we got into San Francisco, we checked in at the Intercontinental San Francisco. It’s in a great spot right in the center of everything! We were able to walk to a lot of attractions for sure. Some of my favorite things we did in the city were: driving down Lombard St (the zig zag street), seeing the Painted Ladies (Full House), walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and trying the clam chowder, and walking to the top of Coit Tower. One thing we had planned to do was take the ferry to Alcatraz, but it was sold out! I would reccommend booking this tour in advance online!

San Fran Restaurant Recommendations:

One thing to note about San Francisco, is it’s super chilly! We went in August, and ended up wearing a jacket almsot everyday, especially at night. Out of both stops on the trip I definitely favor Napa and really any of wine country because of all the natural beauty of the region, however San Fran is a great place to check out as well, with lot’s to do!

Chicago, IL

gate of the clouds mary lovell

Chicago is a great spot for a weekend trip! There’s lots to do, and it’s pretty affordable for a weekend getaway! We basically just went to drink and eat out, and to see Phantom of the Opera!

Where we stayed: Hotel ECM2, Autograph Collection

Hotel ECM2 was seriously cool! The theme of this hotel was “Where Art meets Science”. This was the case for all of the trendy decor. They also have these 2 little robots, that deliver items to your room upon request. We got a real kick out of this! i love staying at Autograph Collection hotels because they are all so unique and give off the boutique hotel vibe. https://hotelemc2.com/

Where we ate:

RPM Italian– This place was amazing all around! Everything we ordered was phenomenal and the ambiance inside is A+. We got the Provolone Stuffed Peppers, Short Rib Bolognese, Lobster Ravioli, and Tiramisu for dessert with Espresso Martinis and loved all of it! http://rpmrestaurants.com/rpmitalian/chicago/

Cabra Cevicheria – This place is so cute with lots of greenery and tropical vibes! We got the Salmon Hash, Goat Empanadas, Quinoa & Tuna Salad — all of which were so unique and delicous! https://www.cabrachicago.com/

Beatnik – This was one of our favorite spots for sure! The atmosphere is awesome, and everything we ordered was fabulous. Here we got the Cinnamon Roll, the Smoked Burrata & Avocado Toast, and the Bulogi Fried Rice. https://www.beatnikchicago.com/

Time Out Market – This is a food hall with a combo of all the best restaurants in the city! It’s a great spot if you’re wanting to get a taste of multiple genres of food! https://www.timeoutmarket.com/chicago/

Phantom of the Opera at Cadillac Palace Theatre

We decided to book a show to check out while we were in Chicago. The great thing about this city, is there are tons of Broadway show options, and several different theaters. We ended up booking Phantom of the Opera, and really enjoyed the show! We are not big theater people so this was a nice change in activity. Cadillac Palace Theatre was beautiful as well! http://cadillacpalacetheatre.com/

As you can see, we basically just ate our way through Chicago! We visited some cool bars as well – one of the coolest being the Signature Room on 95th. This was on the 95th floor of the Hancock building and has some amazing views of the entire city. The best part – there’s no charge to get up there! The drinks are expensive, but definitely worth it for the view!

One other thing I would recommend is the Starbuck’s Reserve Roastery. It is the largest Starbuck’s in the world! Go in the morning, as the line seemed to be a lot shorter. And honestly, if you are short on time, I wouldn’t say this is a must do. It’s basically just a glorified coffee shop rising 4 stories- nothing super special or worth a long wait.

Cabo San Lucas

We planned a quick trip to Cabo last January right after New Years. It was so cold in Nashville, and I just needed a tropical getaway. This was the perfect time to go! Prices were so high during Christmas and New Years, but if you wait to go a few days into January there are some great deals! Cabo was actually pretty dead in January, but the weather was perfect so I’d say it’s the ideal time to go!

Where we stayed: Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort

This resort was one of the most well kept, and luxurious resorts I’ve been too! I loved the style of the decor, and it offered all of the usual luxury amenities! We honestly didn’t leave the resort much at all- as I feel like we had everything we needed at our fingertips! This was truly the best place to relax by the pool and hit up the spa. https://www.hiltonloscabos.com/

Sailing Trip to see El Arco

This was such a fun tour! I’m a sucker for any type of boat trip, and this one was phenomenal! It was a small group tour, with about 6 people total. We just cruised around on the boat, and of course went to El Arco, the picturesque arch that attracts tourists. The boat was open bar, and a fresh prepared lunch on the way back. Definitely a worthwhile activity to fill the day! https://www.cabosailing.com

Taxis were actually pretty expensive in Cabo, and they don’t have uber. So this was the only time we left the resort. The harbor where the boat is docked was near downtown Cabo, so we used that opportunity to walk around the town and grab some dinner.

Iceland

After all of the people I had seen taking amazing trips to Iceland, I knew I had to go! This was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever ventured to. It literally feels like you’re in a snow globe or on another planet. It’s truly unbelievable!

I would definitely recommend renting a car. We were unsure of doing this at first, but ended up being so glad we did! We were nervous to drive on the Icy terrain, however there is not much traffic or chaos on the roads of Iceland so we were good to go! So right when we landed, we grabbed our rental car and got started on the Golden Circle!

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a driving route near Reykjavik with many scenic stops along the way. The roads are 2 lane the whole route, and it seems the only drivers out there are other tourists as well. Also – side note there are lots of horses you will pass on the road, and they are all super friendly. There’s lots of good information on the Golden Circle and how to plan for the drive here: https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/top-9-detours-on-the-golden-circle

The Blue Lagoon

This is definitely a must do activity when in Iceland. One thing I was surprised by, was the cost. It is pricey, however definitely worth it. Tickets are $99, which includes all day admission into the Hot Spring, as well as one beverage. The lagoon is huge, and very spread out. There are several spots to get drinks, and there is a booth with silica mud masks for your face. There are also a few saunas! https://www.bluelagoon.com/

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

This is another beautiful stop in Iceland, which I’ll be honest – we didn’t make it all the way to. HOWEVER, the road to get here is absolutely stunning with so many pretty spots along the way. The thing about Iceland is all the main attractions are pretty spread out, and a good drive from Reykjavik. But literally all of the countryside of Iceland is beautiful and there are great spots to explore all over the country. Here are some pics from our drive!

Where we stayed: Swan House

Our hotel was cute, in a great location, and very affordable! This was a small boutique hotel, but very trendy and covered all of our needs. https://www.swanhouse.is/

Pablo Discobar

This was one of our favorite spots! It’s a Latin American restaurant and the top floor is a cozy bar, which turns into a nightclub on most nights. The nightlife in Iceland is hit or miss depending on the night, but this place tends to draw a big crowd most nights of the week! https://www.instagram.com/pablodiscobarreykjavik/

We flew over on WOW Air. Interestingly enough, the airline actually wen’t bankrupt and closed all operations, including canceling all flights the day after we got back into the states. We were literally on one of the last flights out of Iceland. I actually really liked WOW Air’s product – it was budget airline, but much nicer than many of the other budget airlines I’ve been on.

I would go back to Iceland in a heartbeat. To fully see everything you must spend at least a week here! We did a Northern Lights tour one of the nights and never got to see the lights, so I’ve totally got to go back to see them! Before going to Iceland, I did not really understand how the Northern Lights formed, and I thought it was just a normal occurrence every night. They actually only show up under the most perfect circumstances. The weather and sky have to be very clear, and they are better seen far out in the middle of nowhere. The tour we did was sort of a bust, as we took a bus out somewhere far away and basically just waited for several hours in hopes of seeing the lights. The best time of the year to see them is from late September to late March.

Portland, Oregon

Portland has been on my bucket list for a while, and I finally marked it off last October. We went for a 3 day weekend, and I found myself wishing I had more time there. It’s a great weekend, or week long trip because it’s very versatile! On one hand you’ve got the big city life, yet you’ve also got several beautiful destinations within an hour drive time of the city!

Willamette Valley

Willamette Valley was one of my main draws to wanting to go to Portland. I love wine, and it is the Pinot Noir region of the West Coast. I found a wine tour on Viator (which I honestly use all the time for tours when visiting different areas). There are tons of wine tour options, all of them relatively inexpensive – ours picked us up from our hotel and drove us out to 3 different vineyards. Since we were drinking and unfamiliar with the area, it was great to have a knowledgeable driver who could get us there safely while educating us on the region. It actually rained the day we did the wine tour, which is not too uncommon, but the rain was light enough we were still able to enjoy the vineyards!

https://elkcove.com/

Multnomah Falls

We rented a rental car for the day to explore the outskirts of Portland and this was a great outdoorsy stop. There are so many great overlooks and hiking spots around here as well!

Where we stayed: AC Hotel Downtown Portland

I love staying at AC Hotels because they are always in a good location and have all the modern and trendy touches! This hotel in particular was in a great spot, within walking distance from a lot of good restaurants and shops.

Where to go in Portland:

I always do research before any of my trips, and these are some of the places that we tried, that I really enjoyed!

Tusk – Great dinner spot for Middle Eastern cuisine. Very cute inside, and a charming patio! Near other bars/restaurants as well! https://www.tuskpdx.com/

Besaw’s – Really great brunch spot with a historic atmosphere! https://www.besaws.com/

Nostrana – Great Italian spot we went for dinner https://nostrana.com/

Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen – This was right behind our hotel. Very casual but cool spot for amazing Vietnamese food! https://luclackitchen.com/

Departure Restaurant + Lounge – Swanky rooftop dinner spot. We came here for drinks after dinner! https://departureportland.com/

Sidecar 11 – Cozy Whiskey bar on one of my favorite streets, Mississippi Ave! (I’m from Mississippi so we had to visit this trendy area). There are tons of bars and cute shops on this street, it’s a must do area! P.S. This place has a great happy hour! http://sidecarpdx.com/

Breweries – Can’t go to Portland without checking out the beer scene!

  • Ecliptic Brewing
  • Deschutes Brewing
  • Stormbreaker Brewing
  • Modern Times – Belmont Fermentorium
  • Culmination Brewing

Maui

When in doubt, go to Hawaii! I cannot say enough good things about Maui. This island has the most picturesque views everywhere you turn, and there are endless things to do. And not to mention, the weather is perfect year round, so you can truly go anytime!

Where we stayed: Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott

Our resort was great! It was huge and had 3 different pools on the property, as well as several dining options. We stayed in Wailea Beach which is a very nice area of Maui with lots of upscale resorts and golf courses. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnmmc-wailea-beach-resort-marriott-maui/

Sail & Snorkel trip to Molokini Crater

We prebooked this tour through Viator prior to our trip! We met early that morning at the harbor about 15 miles from our resort to board the Four Winds catamaran. Coffee and pastries were included upon boarding and the trip to get to Molokini Crater took about 45 minutes. We snorkled for about 1 hour, then burgers and drinks were provided on the way back home. One thing I loved about this tour, is that they have an underwater photographer on board, who snorkels with the guest and gets photos which are for sale at the end of the trip! https://www.fourwindsmaui.com/

Road to Hana

This was one of my favorite things we did on the trip! Hana is a town in Maui, and the road to get there is super scenic and beautiful. Along the way there are tons of waterfalls, streams, and overlooks that are all picture perfect. This road is an authentic look at Hawaii aside from all the hotels and tourism.

We rented a jeep for the day and got started early that morning. Definitely stop and get snacks for the car ride, as this is an all day adventure. Stops for restaurants / bathroom breaks are also limited, so I suggest having your route planned in advance.

Zipline Tour

We did a zipline tour as well, and this was another great outdoor activity and a good opportunity to see more great views of Maui!

Also, luaus are a MUST! There are many to choose from, so you can just choose one close to where you’re staying! Most of them have a traditional Hawaiian buffet style dinner and a Luau show. Maui was such an amazing destination, and I cannot express how much there is to do there. There were many other tours we wanted to do, but just didn’t have the time for. We stayed five nights, however I wish we would have had an extra night or two.

Amsterdam, Brussels, & Paris

3 European Cities, 1 Trip = The Ultimate Girls Trip

AMSTERDAM

This was the first stop on our trip- and I have to say it is to this day one of my favorite places I’ve visited yet! It could not be more charming! Lots of cute little coffee shops, boutiques, surrounded by rich history and canals!

Where we stayed: The Alfred Hotel

https://www.thealfredhotel.com/

Unicorn Bowl at Pluk Amsterdam

http://www.pluk-amsterdam.com/en/

Dinner at Mama Kelly Amsterdam

We did lots of walking in Amsterdam, however there are Ubers. Many people in the city get around by bike – which if you know me at all, I don’t do well on bikes haha! We did do a ferry boat tour on the canal and this was a fun day activity! We were only there for 2.5 days, and it’s definitely a place I wish I would have had more time!

Brussels

From Amsterdam, we then took the train to Brussels. We were only here for a day (we came early in the morning and then headed to Paris that night by train). I must say I was happy with our decision to only stay in Brussels for the day, as we didn’t really have much planned.

We did a beer tasting to try out Belgium Blonde

Paris

We headed to Paris by train after our day in Brussels! I had previously heard Paris was overrated, however I truly loved the city. There’s so much to do and something for everyone!

Breakfast at Peonies

http://www.peonies-paris.com/

Our first day we did a hop on hop off bus tour- which was awesome and such a great way to see all of the city in one day! They are super affordable, and you can just buy a pass the day of on the bus. There are also tons of bus tour options.

Notre Dame de Paris

Definitely recommend visiting! It’s free to get in and there is so much history.

Lavomatic Speakeasy

This was seriously the coolest place! It’s a laundromat speakeasy where you open the door to one of the machines then head up the stairs to the bar.

Another great restaurant that I really enjoyed, was Lou Lou Friendly Diner. It’s super cute, and has the best food. We went for brunch and I had an amazing eggs benedict. Paris has TONS of cute & trendy restaurants, many of them you will stumble upon while walking around exploring.

Reims & Veuve Clicquot

We took a daytrip to Reims, France otherwise known as the champagne region to visit Veuve Clicquot. TGhis was a great trip, and a quick and easy train ride away. Be careful that you go to the correct train station, as this train departs out of the smaller train station for local France locations.

The city of Reims is charming and lovely, and the tour and tasting at Veuve Clicquot is top notch!

https://www.veuveclicquot.com/en-us/visit-our-cellars

One last recommendation, is to check out all of the designer stores. The original Louis Vuitton store is in Paris and is amazing. And it is actually cheaper to buy over there! I would also recommend getting macaroons at Laduree. They have so many flavors, and they are all delish!

Paris is great and i’m already thinking about when I can go back! There is so much to do. You truly need at least 4 days to see it all.

a little bit about me…

Hi! My name is Mary and I’m a travel seeker to the core. I decided to start this blog as way to share all of my travels & trip details and hopefully inspire others! There is so MUCH to see in this world, and the excitement of visiting new places is what drives me.

I live in Nashville, TN and can’t get enough of country music and the growing food scene here. I love to plan, and i’m always thinking about the next trip I can set up. And I’m good at planning on a budget..because who doesn’t love a great travel deal!