Tag: getaways

The Wellhaus Travel Guide: Oahu

Oahuuuuu! What an amazing place. I mean, any part of Hawaii is amazing, but Oahu is such a fun experience. It definitely has a little bit for everyone: city, beautiful beaches, shopping, hiking, surf, great food, did I mention beautiful beaches? I always made it a point to avoid that island because it was the most crowded, but I’m really glad we finally went because it’s easy to get away from the crowds and find a sweet little slice of paradise.

We actually stayed at the Four Seasons in Ko Olina for most of our trip and can I just say… WORTH IT. We chose this spot because (one) you can never go wrong with a Four Seasons hotel and (two) it was right next to the Disney resort Aulani. Maybe I shouldn’t divulge this, but staying at the Four Seasons AWAY from the craziness with all the kiddos, but being right next door and popping in to visit Mickey + Minnie was genius. After about 15 minutes there I couldn’t wait to get back to our more peaceful spot. I know many people love Aulani and rave about it, but I just don’t love doing vacation that way. I will say, we did end up going to their luau though and that was truly amazing! One of the absolute best luau’s I’ve been to, especially if you have kiddos!

A few other perks of the Four Seasons Ko Olina:

-Babysitting on site
-Complimentary yoga, pilates, etc. classes in the AM
-A few separate pools (an adult pool + a kiddo pool)
-Your own private little bay area
-Complimentary paddle boards, snorkels and other pool/beach items
-An amazing kids center (kids 5 and up get to go to their day camps)

All in all, that place is definitely ideal for pure relaxation. It was amazing as a family, and I could imagine it equally as amazing just as a couple or going for a girls trip. You honestly just can’t go wrong there.

Ok, I’ll stop rambling about how much I loved it! Onto the full travel guide…



OAHU TRAVEL GUIDE

Where to stay:

Four Seasons Ko Olina (luxury + relaxing + very fam friendly)
Turtle Bay Resort (relaxing + very fam friendly)
The Laylow (for a trendy, fun downtown stay)
Moana Surfrider (fam friendly)

Where to sightsee:

North Shore
Diamond Head
Waimea Bay/Waimea Falls
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
Kaneohe Sandbar
Pearl Harbor
Waikiki



Where to eat:

The Sunrise Shack
Mina’s Fish House for Happy Hour
Seven Brothers Burgers
The Beet Box Cafe
Haleiwa Bowls
The Street Social House
Monkeypod Kitchen
Hideout at Laylow

Where to shop:

Olive&Oliver
Owens & Co.
Guava Shop
Kailua General Store
Patagonia Hawaii
Paiko Hawaii

Where to snap some great photos:

Waimea Bay
The Sunrise Shack
Diamond Head
Kaneohe Sandbar
The Laylow
The Surfjack
Lanikai Beach
The Royal Hawaiian
Haiku Stairs
Kualoa Ranch

Where to get active:

Waimea Bay (snorkling)
North Shore (surfing)
Haiku Stairs
Turtle Bay (kayak, stand up paddle, snorkel)
Ko Olina (stand up paddle)
Just about anywhere (yogaaaa)

Couples Getaway: Cannon Beach, OR

When the forecast was showing 68 degrees and clear skies on the coast, Tyson and I changed all of our plans and booked a hotel.

Everyone has a specific Oregon beachtown that they love, but to me, you just can’t beat Cannon Beach. It’s quaint, quiet and clean and has so much beach to play around on.

This was the first time we’ve done the beach together without Parker. While I definitely had my moments of wishing Parker was there with us, playing around in the sand, it was such a great, quick getaway as a couple. And… so needed.


So, let’s jump right in! Today I’m sharing my couples getaway itinerary in Cannon Beach, OR. Enjoy!!

DAY ONE

12pm – Arrive to Cannon Beach and head straight to the Wayfarer for a nice lunch or grab Crepes at Crepe Neptune and take them straight to the beach.

2pm – Check into the Stephanie Inn. Make sure to pay the extra money for the oceanfront room. In the end, it is WELL worth it.

3pm – Crack open a bottle of wine that you brought or head to the Inn’s happy hour downstairs that is all complimentary. Sit on your deck, sip some wine and don’t worry about a thing, just enjoy.

5pm – Take a nice beach walk together as the crowds start to disappear.

6pm – Order room service for dinner just in time to watch the sunset from your deck.

8pm – Head to the Warren House Pub to play some pool and listen to good music.

9pm – Make your way back to the hotel for their signature “nightcaps” down in the lobby.

9:30pm – Ask the front desk for a s’mores kit and head outside to the beach to eat.

10:30pm – Lights out! Don’t forget to keep the windows all open so you can fall asleep listening to the ocean. And if it’s a clear night, make sure to look up at the stars.

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DAY TWO

8am – Goooood morning! Hopefully you had a chance to fully relax and get a good night’s sleep. Put some comfy clothes on and head down to the breakfast area. At the Stephanie Inn, breakfast is included in your stay. I’d highly suggest asking for a tray so you can load up your yummy food and bring it straight to the room. Once again, eat on the deck. Also… feel free to ask the front desk for some champagne if you feel like the morning calls for mimosas!

11am – After you are done eating and getting ready for the day, ask the front desk for access to their beach cruisers and take the bikes for a ride right on the sand. If you are checking out this day, you can leave your bags at the front.

12pm – Ride the bikes straight to either Pelican Brewing or Public Coast Brewing to enjoy some local caught fish and chips and a taste of Cannon Beaches great beer.

1pm – Take the bikes back to the hotel and head back home.

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Need any other local tips? Email me at thewellhaus@gmail.com and ask away!

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Getaway: Kirkland, WA

A couple of weeks ago Tyson and I took a solo trip up to Kirkland, WA for a quick overnight getaway. Tyson is up in Seattle quite a bit for work, so any chance I get, I try to tag along. I love me some Seattle! 

This trip we took was so needed! Between moving houses and my business growing so quickly, everything just feels like a LOT lately. When I start to feel a bit burnt out, I always like to plan a quick getaway. It’s my recharge! And staying in Kirkland and at the Woodmark Hotel couldn’t have been a better place to do this. 
__________________________________________________

Where to Eat:


Where to Stay:


Things to do:
-Rent kayaks (free for hotel guests at the Woodmark)
-Rent a boat
-Grab lunch downtown
-Run/walk along the waterfront

Key Travel Notes:
-Boating, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding
-Tons of healthy food options
-Only 20 minutes from downtown Seattle 
-Great shopping close by 
-Romantic 
-Good place for kids


We headed up to Seattle on a Monday. I dropped Tyson off at work near downtown and then went straight to a coffee shop to get some work done for a bit. After working for awhile, I decided to head towards the hotel, making a pit stop for lunch in downtown Kirkland. I ate at Homegrown, which was delicious. I’m such a sucker for a good sandwich and this place has their sandwiches down (and gluten free options, which is great).

After grabbing some lunch and getting some more work done, I went to check in at the Woodmark and was greeted by a glass of champagne (yes please!). This hotel is honestly the cutest. I feel like I am the pickiest person when it comes to hotels. I just love a place that has some charm to it, and this place completely did.

So, I enjoyed my champagne, headed to the room and unpacked my things while I waited for Tyson to get back to the hotel after work. Our room was overlooking the water, and can I just say, spend the extra money for the water view!! We even had a small balcony, so we were able to open the doors and hear the water crash on the rocks. I felt so relaxed that I even took a nap (and I don’t even know how to nap usually!).

Once Tyson got back, we headed out for a walk around the waterfront of the hotel and grabbed dinner at Le Grand, right next to the hotel. We ordered just about everything off of the menu because my idea of a great vacation, always includes great food. ; )

After dinner, we walked around a bit more, and then headed back to the hotel. We had BIG plans to watch a movie, or go grab more drinks downstairs at the bar, but the reality was that we both fell asleep before 9pm and slept like babies.

So wild, I know…

The next day was spent working out and then on the water. I can’t get over how beautiful it is up there in the summertime!


Until next time, Kirkland! We had such a blast!

Pronghorn Resort (Bend, OR)

Key Travel Notes:

-Golfing  
 -Great pool
 -Great spa   
-Healthy food options
-Great for family  
-Romantic  
                  -Relaxing                    
 -Great for being active (gym, tennis courts, trails)
____________________________________________________

I have been having some major withdrawals from our mini-vacation! I honestly can’t even remember the last time I was able to relax as much as I did the other week at Pronghorn.

Although we only spent two nights there, it felt like a true, week-long vacation. The obvious is that the setting and location of the resort is just beautiful. It’s the type of place you go to and don’t really venture anywhere else. We had big plans to go other places around Bend, but we had so much to do there and we really didn’t want to do anything else but stay and play.

We basically lived at the pool. If you have a kiddo that isn’t quite swimming yet, their pool is ideal. Parker won’t spend very long at a pool because he doesn’t love using floaties yet. They have a walk-in, shallow area, that was perfect for him to play around in. They also have a small waterslide and a ton of fun pool toys. The setup there makes it really easy to hang around a pool (for both adults and the kiddos). Not to mention, they have some really tasty (and healthy!) food and drink options.

I would say that the other major highlight, is the driving range. Obviously, their golf course is one of the best in the U.S. (which my husband was able to play), but they also have a beautiful driving range that you can walk up to and hit balls at, anytime. This was a real hit! Especially for Parker and Tyson.

The other part I loved about staying there, was the room we were in. We had one of their townhouse type rooms that included a master bedroom and a loft. You also have a full kitchen, living room and outdoor patio with a fire pit. I linked the video to our room above because as you will see, it was awesome. I love having a kitchen when we travel because it makes you feel a little more at home. It also makes it so much easier if you are traveling with a kiddo.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but like I said, this was just such a relaxing place! I have been working my butt off lately, putting in some really long days, so I really needed something like this. Every time we take a vacation, especially a relaxing, family one, I’m reminded of how important it is.

We can’t wait to be back soon, Pronghorn!

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Getaway: Coeur d’Alene, ID

We had the best trip to Coeur d’Alene! It’s such an easy trip from where we live in Portland. We left in the morning, got there by lunch and had just enough time to settle into our rental for the few days and head to the grocery store.

We had debated whether or not to stay lakeside on the outskirts of town or stay in the middle of town, walking distance to everything. We opted to stay right in town and we loved being there! I will say however, now that I’ve been there, you can’t really go wrong with either. Next time we go we will probably try and do a lakefront property.

Coeur d’Alene is the type of place you want to go to if you don’t feel like doing much. When I think of the town, I think of: family time, relaxation, biking, bbqing, lake time, drinks and board games at night. It’s your typical relaxing lake vacation.



Coeur d’Alene To-Do:
-Rent a house. We used VRBO to rent ours and really, this is the best way to get relaxed and make yourself at home in this town.
-Rent a boat! This is WELL worth it, I promise you! Nothing compares to seeing the beautiful lake by boat. We rented a pontoon boat from KJ Watersports. 
-Have lunch at the CDA resort. We all loved our food at Dockside. They have a really great variety of food and drinks. Make sure to order a Huckleberry Crush cocktail : )
-Bike the Hiawatha trail. There are some great guided tours you can do on this trail.
-Grab food at Crafted. This little gastropub is one of the trendier spots in CDA. It’s a great, casual spot to eat.
-Golf. Obviously the CDA resorts golf course is world famous for it’s floating hole. There are some great courses all over however, if golfing is your thing.
-Hike any of the trails. Tubbs Hill is a nice little hike close to town.
-Don’t leave town without a famous, Hudson’s hamburger.
Until next time, CDA! Thanks for the great memories. 

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Northwest Spring Travel Spots

It’s that time to come alive again!

Spring is one of my favorite times to road trip in the Northwest. Everything is green again, the flowers are blooming and you feel like a new person because you know that consecutive days of sunshine and good times are just around the corner.

So, pack your bags and take a trip to one of these great towns:

1. Bend, OR: Bend is one of my favorite spots because it is warmer weather and sunshine in the spring, but you still get to see the snow covered mountains in the background. This is a perfect spot for some hiking, biking and great food.

2. Bellingham, WA: You will not be disappointed with Bellingham in the spring. It’s as colorful and beautiful as ever. Breaks of sunshine combined with mild temps make this an ideal getaway this time of year. Live music, whale watching, biking, or island hopping- Bellingham pretty much has it all.

3. Ashland, OR: I always love a trip to Ashland. The laid back town is full of arts, music and great food. If you are looking for a quaint town with a great community feel, this is your place. And If you can, take the long way to Ashland (coming from the North) and see Crater Lake on your way down. It’s well worth the added miles!

4. Diablo Lake, WA: If you are looking for a great day trip from Seattle or to go somewhere and camp, the turquoise waters of Diablo Lake is a must. If you are like me and like cooler temps when hiking, catching this on a sunny day in the spring is the way to go. If you are also into fishing, May is a great time to head there.


5. Boise, ID: Mild temps and beautiful blooms this time of year make Boise a great spot to visit. Boise is a great spot for a small city feel. Anything from stand up paddle boarding to hiking and biking, this city really has it all.

6. Cannon Beach, OR: I feel like this just a go-to anytime we head to the coast, but it’s for good reason! This charming town is a great place to visit in the spring when you aren’t dealing with the summer crowds. For a small town, there is no shortage of stuff to do. Hike Ecola State Park, stroll the shops, and take a nice drive up and down the coast… enjoy all the beauty of the Oregon Coast.

Getaway: Mission Beach

Happy Tuesday! We have been soaking up all of the sunshine down here in San Diego and dang it feels so, so good. We have been spending time all over Southern California, but last week we spent a few days in Mission Bay at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa on Mission Bay. Let me just say, this place was exactly what I was hoping for.

First of all, the location is possibly the best in San Diego. The resort is situated right on the bay; a few minutes from Old Town and Sea World and just outside of downtown, so you really get to experience the beauty of San Diego. We had all of these things we wanted to do in the area, but once we got there, we honestly didn’t want to leave!

Jumpsuit: Asos | Earrings: Nordstrom Rack 

From great food and poolside cocktails to bayside morning runs and stand up paddle boarding, why would you leave?? When traveling kiddo, this exactly the type of place you want to go to. You have everything you need.

I’m sure many parents can relate, but coordinating a bunch of plans with a toddler can get a little tricky. Lately when we travel, we’ve been opting to get room service for dinner and we go somewhere for lunch when Parker’s mood is a better bet! Room service for dinner is obviously a pricey way to go, but I’m convinced that it is SO worth it.

The Hilton’s room service was amazing. We were able to sit on the patio and eat our dinner while watching the sunset, drinking a bottle of wine and snacking on a cheese plate. Take me back!!

Traveling with a kiddo is definitely not the easiest thing to do. It takes a LOT of teamwork, a lot of coordination and a lot of patience. I will say though, the more we have traveled, the easier it has become. And I strongly stand by the importance of taking family trips! It’s good for the soul and great for the memories.

Until next time, Mission Bay. You were so much fun and we can’t wait to get back there. x

 

Dockside in Seattle

Happy Wednesday! Hope you are having a great week so far. This past weekend we headed up to Seattle for the night and can I just tell you how great it felt to get out of the house!? I’ve been sick with flu and then got another virus right after that turned to a sinus infection. Parker had a virus and THEN Tyson had some sort of stomach bug. It has just been the pits, so getting some sunshine and fresh air felt as nourishing as ever.

Tyson had a photo shoot on Sunday up there, so we packed up the car and convinced Oma (Tyson’s mom) to come up with us to enjoy the weekend. My favorite hotel was booked, so we decided to try another hotel outside of downtown in Kirkland. We stayed at the Woodmark Hotel and Still Spa and absolutely loved it. We were greeted with clear skies, champagne at check in, and a room overlooking Lake Washington. We are already planning a summer trip back up there so we can enjoy the lake and stand up paddle board when it is warmer!

Speaking of warmer- I’m so ready, Spring! I just did a big ASOS haul and I’m dying to wear everything. I also did my quarterly shopping for Parker and I can’t wait to dress him! Oh, and also get him a haircut… LOL. I’ve been putting off cutting his crazy daily bed head to see how it grows out, but we officially have to cut it. See my wild hair man below for reference ; )

Jeans: Asos | Hat: Urban Outfitters (old) | Jean Jacket: Old Navy | Shoes: H&M (old) | Neck Scarf: Urban Outfitters


Until next time, Seattle. As always, you were a blast!

Have a great week, everyone! x

A Weekend Away: The Oregon Coast

Last week Tyson and I, along with my sister and her fiance, all stayed at the cutest little house in Arch Cape. The weather forecast was rainy and stormy, so we packed the car up with board games, blankets and some good books. If you haven’t been to the Oregon coast in stormy weather, I highly suggest it!

We bundled up in the house, listened to music, played games, made some fancy cheese plates, and lit one of my sisters candles. Her “earthly dwellings” candle was a perfect fit to our night. And naturally, when you are in such a cute house, you take photos of everything. Like candles and dogs and such…

The next morning we woke up to a big break in the clouds and some sunshine and spent the morning drinking mimosa’s and walking along the beach…


The Oregon coast is always a good idea.

Until next time! x