Tag: travelnotes

Christmas in California

It’s me!!! Gosh guys, I’m sorry I’ve been so MIA lately. I have been taking a lot of time off of social media and as much I miss writing and sharing life with everyone, it has been such a needed break. I honestly just felt like I had to get caught up on life. I have had so many things that I’ve needed and wanted to do, and I feel like unplugging gave me some time to finally do that.

Anyway, if you follow along on Instagram you probably noticed that we did Christmas in California this year. It was my first Christmas away from my family, which is funny because although I’m from San Diego, my sister and parents are all up in Portland now. Tyson has family down in Temecula though, so that is where we were for the holiday.

We did all my favorite California things on this trip:

Disneyland
Beach
Mexican food
A night at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Golden Spoon on the regular
In-N-Out as much as possible
Ice skating outside
Wine tasting
Shopping
Sunbathing

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!

!function(doc,s,id){ var e, p, cb; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e = doc.createElement(s); e.id = id; cb = new Date().getTime().toString(); p = ‘//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js?cb=1498935606834?cb=’ + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === ‘object’){ if(doc.readyState === ‘complete’){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, ‘script’, ‘shopsensewidget-script’); //shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/#/?options=%7B%22widgetId%22%3A%225957f536be7a443e429a9c4f%22%2C%22version%22%3A1%2C%22pid%22%3A%22uid3881-33682859-68%22%2C%22size%22%3A200%2C%22columns%22%3A3%2C%22rows%22%3A1%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fapi.shopstyle.com%2Fapi%2Fv2%22%2C%22iframeHeight%22%3A275%2C%22iframeWidth%22%3A705%7D

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.

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: Seattle (lovebirds edition)

Jetting up to Seattle for a quick overnighter is one of my favorite dates. I actually find Seattle to be super romantic! Maybe because I associate it with cozy weather and good food (aka- my romance recipe), but it really does set up a great a date vibe.

Since I’m not much of a big city person (and neither is Tyson), rather than staying right downtown, we prefer to stay on the outskirts, specifically in Ballard! It just such a cute area.

Here is my go-to itinerary for a quick stay in Seattle:

1. Stay at Hotel Ballard: Hands down, my favorite hotel up there. It is smaller, quaint and on one of my favorite streets. It’s the perfect “date night” spot, in my opinion. Not to mention, by staying there you have access to the best gym: the Olympic Athletic Club. I’m not a stickler about going to the gym on vacation, but when you see this place, you will want to workout! Trust me.

2. Discovery Park: Spend a morning taking in the beautiful views hiking around the park. Give yourself at least a few hours to explore and enjoy.

3. Pikes Place Market: We like to head here on our way back to Portland, just in case we decide to pick up any seafood and flowers, which normally always happens.

4. Seafood Dinner: Grab a great seafood dinner at either Ray’s Boathouse (all about the view) or Rockcreek Seafood and Spirits (more of a Seattle-living feel).

5. Drink Coffee Like a Local: Seattle takes their coffee seriously, that’s for sure. Head on over to La Marzocco, Victrola or Slate Coffee.

6. Shop: Spend some time walking around Ballard, Downtown, Belltown or Capitol Hill. We love supporting the local-made shopping in Seattle.

7. Grab Lunch: I personally love downtown for lunch. I recommend either the cozy and cute, London Plane or grabbing some clam chowder at Pikes Place Market.

I’m on the hunt for a new great restaurant to try up there so please send me any recommendations. Preferably in the Ballard or Fremont area!

xx

Road Trip (Part Two): Park City and Boise

I’m almost in tears just writing this, because honestly- as I recap our road trip, I keep thinking about how the best part of it all was having so much time with Parker. This was the first solid chunk of time I’ve been able to spend with him since I was on my (very short) maternity leave. I had two weeks straight (TWO STRAIGHT!) with him. Full days! And it was heaven. He’s honestly just so much fun and I’ve never loved something so dang much in my entire life. I don’t know how else to describe it, but I’m going to wipe my tears now and pull myself together (hashtag momlife?).

Okay, okay, back to the road trip…

Thanks to a cooperating kiddo, we decided that rather than driving up back up the California route, we’d drive up through Nevada, Utah, Boise and then back to home Portland. Whew!

Tyson and I had been wanting to see Park City, Utah and that is exactly what we did. We drove straight from Temecula, CA to Park City, UT with only ONE stop in St. George. At this point we were basically professional road trippers, so the one-stop on a 10 hour drive just felt like the “advanced” thing to do. Only natural…

When we arrive to our hotel, The Chateaux in Park City, we both just did a big “sighhhhhh.” It felt so great to be there not only because we were so wiped out from driving, but because the place was SO beautiful and so cozy.

We rolled out of the car to check in, all while I had a massive water mark on my butt from spilling water in the car and Parker was walking around with a full blowout diaper. I tried to keep my cool and effortlessly cover up my backside with my purse while I was standing at check-in, rather than explain to everyone that I DID NOT pee my pants and it was just water… All while Tyson was unloading the ridiculous amount of luggage that comes with having a kid and wife that is a notorious over-packer.

Anyway, we got settled into our room, headed out to a few Breweries in town and then came RIGHT back to hang out in the room. After so much traveling, sitting in a hotel bed with the fire on while drinking a glass of red wine sounded perfect, so that’s what we did. They even set Parker up with a crib and blanket, so he felt riiiiight at home.

The next morning we packed up our stuff for the millionth time and headed straight for Boise, Idaho to stay with my close friend and her husband. We didn’t get in until late, but since it was our last night of this long road trip, we had to eat our favorite restaurant, Juniper. This place is just the best! And so is Boise for that matter. I’m not quite sure what it is about that place, but Tyson and I love it there.

And….

home.

It’s always nice to be back home.

Road Trip (Part One): San Fransisco and Carmel

Almost two weeks ago we said, what the heck, and drove our way down the west coast. I literally googled “are long car rides a form of torture for toddlers?” And “20 ways to entertain a toddler in the car.” We packed our car with just about all of our belongings and kept Parker entertained with his tablet full of tv shows, a few new books and LeapFrog games. This kid, I tell ya… he was SUCH a champ. We were so dang relieved and so thankful.

We left at 4am so Parker would just go right back to sleep, which he did until about 7:30am. And that tablet, that I swore I would never give my child… LIFESAVER! I take back every comment I previously made about those things. We propped it on the back of the headrest and we suddenly became “one of those” cars with the tv. Whatever! We managed to make only one stop for lunch and gas and then…

First stop, San Fran! Well, more like Tiburon (on the other side of the golden gate bridge). After driving over 10 hours the last thing we wanted was a big city to sleep in. And boy were we right.

Tiburon is SO charming, so relaxed and very quiet. Just what we were hoping for.


We stayed at the Lodge at Tiburon and were greeted at our room with the tastiest cheese plate I’ve had in a long time. I immediately put on the hotel robe and popped open some champagne while I procrastinated on doing anything else. Vacation mode ON. We didn’t even leave the hotel that night. We ate dinner at their restaurant, Tiburon Tavern, and I’m not kidding- that was the best meal I’ve had in a long time! We went all out. I even had a steak, which I haven’t had in a LONG time (I stopped eating cow/pig awhile ago). The waiter gave us a whole rundown on where it came from (just up the road), how it was raised and how they treat their animals. Like straight out of the Portlandia episode, but in the best way possible. We were really impressed and can’t wait to be back.

The next day we drove our way down the coast. We stopped in Santa Cruz to see Tyson’s cousin, and then drove by Capitola. What a cute place!

Then, we finally made it to my favorite town, Carmel.

Carmel is like a storybook. It has always been a family favorite of ours growing up and it proved to be the same, charming town like I remember.

 

We stayed at the Hotel Carmel, which was recently renovated. This is one of the best places I’ve stayed in a long time and I will definitely be back. Quaint, cozy and decorated really well.

We checked in, walked around town, then put Parker down for a nap. The best part about our room was that it was on a lower level right next to their outside fire pit. Our video monitor was able to reach it, so Tyson and I walked outside and had a glass of wine while the little man napped. Major plus!! We ended up ordering takeout that night and eating it in the room, because why the heck not?

The next morning the boys stayed in bed late while I went for a run down to the beach. It felt so refreshing to see the ocean and I soaked up every little bit of alone time I could!

Part two coming soon! Happy Friday everyone!

Healthy Food Guide: Boise

(image from Juniper website)

Boise completely exceeded my expectations. Mark my word, 5 years from now this city will be THE SPOT. Until then, I will continue to enjoy the calm before the storm.

One thing that was pretty impressive to me, and very Portland like, was their dietary options. You can find great vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options just about anywhere. I also really liked their use of fresh produce and meats from local farms; and of course, their seasonal dishes that are everywhere. Go Boise! Which, by the way, is pronounced “boy-see,” I learned that quickly when I kept saying “I love “Boy-Z!” : )

Happy eating!

Best Healthy Breakfast Spots

1. Wild Root Cafe (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): Whatever you do, don’t leave Boise without trying this place, especially if you are a total health nut. I loved the egg dish, Wild Skillet. They use a cashew “cheese” and you can even order the dish with vegan eggs (I just ordered regular, cage-free eggs). Oh, and their avocado toast! I want to eat that every.single.day. Seriously!

2. Fork (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): This spot is a sure bet for brunch. They pride themselves on local, sustainable foods (some they get the same day at the city market!!). They have so many great options and it is a true Northwest fare.

3. Bacon (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): This is the perfect spot to go if you have a healthy foodie AND a meat-eating- ‘don’t really care if it is healthy or not’ foodie. It is a great place to grab brunch with a group and their Bloody Mary’s are the best in town! I ordered The Poser for breakfast, which was a nice, light, egg white dish and it was deeeelicious.

4. Slow by Slow (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): This is the cutest little coffee shop with some great pastries and quick things like granola and tasty, local kombucha.

5. Java (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): A great place for either breakfast or lunch. They’ve got great drinks and super tasty breakfast burritos.

Best Healthy Lunch Spots

1. Bleubird (Gluten-Free Options): This was one of my favorite places for lunch in Boise. They change their menu depending on the season, but I highly recommend the grilled cheese (insert excited emoji). This is great spin on a traditional deli!

2. Boise Co-op (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): This is such an amazing Co-op! If you want to grab something on-the-fly and affordably, you can find just about anything you would want here.

3. Jenny’s Lunch Line (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): You will find some delicious soups, salads and sandwiches made from scratch here. They change their menu monthly too, so it is always fun to see what is new and seasonal here. This place is so yummy!

Best Healthy Dinner Spots

1. Bittercreek (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): I loved this place! It is the perfect spot to go with a group or girls and guys. Everything we ate (and drank) was super tasty. I ordered an Old Fashioned and the veggie burger and was one happy camper!

2. Juniper (Vegan/Gluten-Free Options): The ambiance and decor here is what first sold me, but their menu seals the deal! This is the perfect dinner date spot. They have really good, crafty cocktails and are also extremely food allergy friendly.

3.State & Lemp (Vegan/Vegetarian Options): This is the best spot if you are looking for a culinary experience. This is a reservation-only, prixe fixe menu and features a really beautiful Northwest cuisine. It doesn’t get any fresher than their food. And (bonus), they are extremely accommodating to anyone with dietary restrictions!

4. Barbacoa (Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options): This is a really great dinner option (with a great view). It is a bit on the pricey side, but you get a ton of food, so make sure you go there hungry! I would highly suggest one of their seafood dishes.

ENJOY!

Camping for the Weekend

With all this crap happening in the world, escaping for the weekend was exactly what I needed. I don’t know about you, but I literally can’t seem to think of much else lately. I’ve taken some time away from social media and the news, which has definitely helped. And while doing so, I’ve clung on to spending time with my family (my happiest place) and being outdoors (the runner up).

So without a question, a camping trip seemed like the most logical idea.

And I will say, all is right with the world in the secluded mountains : )

Oregon, you never disappoint.