The Salkantay Trek

As soon as we chose Peru as our honeymoon destination, we knew that we would have to see Machu Picchu. A little initial research showed us that we would want to trek to this world wonder. The views, solitude, and variety drew us to the Salkantay Trek.

Sacred Valley Skylodge

Since we visited Peru as our honeymoon, we decided to splurge a little for one night. We booked a night in Natura Vive's skylodge, a suspended pod on the side of the mountain. The climb up, restaurant quality meals, transparent room, and zipline back down made for a once in a lifetime experience.

Sacred Valley Tour

Staying in Cusco puts you about a two hour drive from the Sacred Valley. We booked a tour through Llama Path for $25 USD per person for the full day. Overall, it was a day well spent at the ruins in Pisac and Ollantaytambo. 

Grab a Bite in Cusco

I really love finding great restaurants when we travel. So many countries have amazing food for much cheaper than what we would pay in the US. Normally, I just mention a few great places to eat among other articles. However, the food in Cusco is just THAT good. I needed a separate article just to rave about a few of our favorite stops.

Four course meal at Green Point

Ride the Dunes in Huacachina

About an hour and a half east of Paracas sits the little oasis town of Huacachina. After some research, we chose the Banana's Adventure hostel for our single night in Huacachina. In addition to hiking the dunes and enjoying some Peruvian mixed drinks, we spent our time dune buggying, sandboarding, and just relaxing by the pool in the woven hammocks. 

Biking the Paracas National Reserve

If you search for things to do in Paracas, Peru, the top two activities are seeing the Ballestas Islands via boat and biking the Paracas National Reserve. We woke up before 6am to squeeze in the second one on our last morning in Paracas thanks to our enthusiastic Airbnb host who highly recommended the trip. Although we started biking before the sun rose, we had a great ride around the hilly terrain down to the coast and back. 

Boat Tour of the Ballestas Islands

When we stopped in Paracas during our honeymoon in Peru, we knew we wanted to see the Ballestas Islands. We'd heard about the abundant marine life thriving on the coast, uninhibited by people. Our boat tour brought us right up to the sea lions, pelicans, and even close to some penguins!

Peru Itinerary

Almost a full year after our wedding, we finally got to enjoy our honeymoon in Peru! Two full weeks in August (Peru's winter) of exploring the capital, the coast, and of course the mountains ending with an unforgettable stop at Machu Picchu. Here is a general overview of everything we covered. 

Why I Slept in a Hammock for a Week

I had an amazing experience studying Spanish for one week with the Na'atik Language and Culture Institute in Felipe Carillo Puerto, Mexico. Since John has limited vacation time and isn't as interested in learning Spanish as I am, this was a solo trip for me. This small Mayan town about 3 hours south of Cancun offers genuine hospitality with smiling locals and authentic Mexican cuisine along with endless opportunities to practice speaking Spanish (or Mayan if you'd rather!).

Snæfellsnes Peninsula Road Trip

Iceland offers endless road trip opportunities. During our first visit, we road tripped around the Ring Road. Our second drive was much shorter but still full of spectacular stops along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Try Some Mole in Puebla

If you're like us, after a few days in a big city it's time for a break. We chose to escape by visiting the little city of Puebla. In our short visit, we tried authentic mole, enjoyed the nightlife, and visited the forts from Cinco de Mayo.

Nevado de Toluca

Hiking near Mexico City? Count us in! Our journey to Nevado de Toluca was hands down the most memorable part of our trip. The scenery felt other worldly with breathtaking views of dormant volcanoes and crater lakes.

Teotihuacan

Just an hour bus ride from Mexico City, Teotihuacan offers hours of exploration around pyramids almost 2,000 years old. We were astonished by the great condition of the ruins and the freedom to climb a vast majority of the pyramids. At only 70 pesos ($3.50) a person to enter the park, this is a destination that shouldn't be missed!

Pyramid of the Moon

Making the Most of Mexico City

When Americans think of vacationing in Mexico, they imagine sitting on a beach surrounded by crystal clear waters with a cerveza in hand. While this is one great option when your planning your next Spring Break trip, I encourage you to consider a more unique experience. As the largest Spanish speaking city in the world with a population of 21.2 million people, it can be intimidating to book your vacation here. But, if you're willing to learn a few Spanish phrases and navigate the city streets, you can experience all the amazing sites this place has to offer.

El Palacio de Bellas Artes

The Priest

If your just itching to go uphill forever, and by forever I mean for 3,100 ft, get out and climb the Priest. Starting from the Tye River parking lot about 5 miles east of Crabtree Falls, you can get a whole week's workout in without boring yourself at the gym. We summit this mountain very regularly to train for more strenuous hikes abroad. I love the solitude and the challenge. 

Three Ridges

I love hiking in Virginia. We are lucky to live around a two hour drive away from some great hikes along the Blue Ridge. While I would like to be a little closer, I also know that there are a lot of people who can't drive to the mountains for a day or weekend hike. If you live in Virginia or get the chance to visit and are looking for a challenging hike, head on over to the AT. Our favorite loop is Three Ridges.

The Mischievous Monkeys at Manuel Antonio

You know those stock photos in picture frames and screen savers that show beaches so perfect they look fake? That is Manuel Antonio. Since it's a national park, the beach is protected and maintained. I can't describe the color of the ocean. When you get in, you can still see your feet as if you're in a saltwater pool. Take your camera, SUNSCREEN, and watch out for the monkeys!

Rafting the Rios of Costa Rica

If you want to go white water rafting, the Pacuare River is almost as good as it gets. Rated as one of the top five white water rafting rivers in the world, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try it out during our time in Costa Rica. We booked our three day expedition through Rios Tropicales in March 2012. Everything from the bus to pick us up to the afternoon cocktail was a wonderful experience.

Why Everyone Should Hike Lagauvegur

Iceland has become a major tourist destination and it’s easy to see why. With cheap flights thanks to Wow Air, I recommend that every traveler checks out the unbelievable scenery that this picturesque country has to offer.

The Lagauvegur trek covers about 50 miles from the southern coast to the glacial inland. It’s a great way to see the country’s beauty and take in the vastness of the landscapes. We hiked in July 2016.

The Ring Road: The Ultimate Road Trip

Iceland is about the size of Virginia and the ring road circles the entire country, hugging the coast in most areas. Taking the ring road around the country is an excellent way to experience the varied scenery and countless natural wonders. If you have the opportunity to travel to Iceland, I highly recommend this road trip. We went in August 2015.

About Me

Welcome to My Blog!


Thanks for stopping by. My husband and I love to travel and particularly like to find active outdoor activities to experience foreign places. Here you'll find where we went, what we did, and how we made it happen. I hope I can inspire you to adventure to some of the places we've been!