Category: Usa

Hidden Gem: The Hood Canal, Washington USA

10/10/2016

We finally visited the Pacific Northwest last month and I'm in love. My favorite spot was along peaceful shores of the Hood Canal - a fjord located on the Olympic Peninsula about an hour outside of Seattle. We spent four tranquil days kayaking through smooth waters, eating massive oysters washed ashore on our backyard beach, hiking in the rainforest, and watching our toddler search for otters, seals, heron and bears (of the wooden variety).

Team B at the Hood Canal

I feel a little guilty writing about the Hood Canal because it's truly a hidden gem. Most people we met were local and when we told them we were from Boston, they responded, surprised, and asked us how we heard about the canal all the way "out east".

The truth is I had never heard of the Hood Canal until last year, when guest blogger Elizabeth raved about her family vacation there. After reading her story, Chris and I immediately added it to our 2016 travel list.

We rented a fantastic house on VRBO called Once Upon a Tide. This house had everything - a private beach with endless amounts of oysters, a kayak, SUP, a lovely deck, fire pit, BBQ, cozy living room overlooking the canal, comfortable beds and even a boat house with a ping pong table. The owners even left us a bottle of the local wine to enjoy.

Once Upon a Tide, Tahuya, Hood Canal House Rental Picture

Hood canal house rental, once upon a tide, fire pit , tahuya Picture

Hood canal house rental, once upon a tide , tahuya Picture

Hood canal house rental, once upon a tide , tahuya PicturePicture

Hood canal house rental, once upon a tide , tahuya, oysters, Picture

We enjoyed grilled Hamma Hamma Oysters and Washington State wine on our deck while watching the seals play in the canal. So relaxing!

My son LOVED the little details of the house like this little wooden bear that he hugged every time he stepped through the front door. There was a also a mimi moose chair inside that he hugged about 10x a day and ample games and toys in the living room closet.

Unlike east coast beach houses in places like Cape Cod, the Hood Canal is much more reasonably priced and there are no crazy crowds (at least when we were there during Labor Day week). It was the quietest, most peaceful place I've ever been in the USA.

Sunset on our stretch of the canal.

Every day incorporated a different adventure - hiking in Olympic National park, lunch at the stunning Alderbrook Resort (the only really nice resort along the canal), or oysters al fresco at Hamma Hamma (they sell their oysters to Island Creek Oysters in Boston - one of our nicer seafood restaurants).

Olympic National Park, Staircase Trails, Baby Hiking, Osprey Baby Backpack, Picture

We hiked the easier trails along the Staircase area of Olympic National Park. We are huge Osprey backpack fans. We used them for our trip around the world and they are still in amazing condition so we purchased the Osprey baby pack and LOVE it.

I've added this to a the list of tall people problems:)

Olympic National Park, Lack Cushman, Picture

Beautiful Lake Cushman

Olympic National Park, Alderbrook Resort, Washington Resorts, Hood Canal Hotel, Picture

Alderbrook Resort - the only fancy resort in the area. Beautiful property and friendly staff. This would be a great spot for a destination wedding.

Painting en plein air at the Alderbrook Resort. I could spend a week (or more) doing this every single day.

Kayak Hood Cancal, Baby Kayak, Hood Canal Activities, Once Upon a Tide, Picture

B and I taking a spin in the kayak at our home rental (Once Upon a Tide) . The house provided adults sized life vests, we brought B's life vest from home. The were barely any waves and I stayed in the shallow water near the shore while B was in the kayak. He loved it.

This was the perfect family getaway because of the beautiful destination, cozy house rental (ideal for a toddler who wants to run around and explore), outdoor activities, animals (we watched seals playing from our dining room) and delicious food from the market. The other special thing about the Hood Canal was it's tranquility. It was so quiet, which was incredibly welcome after a chaotic summer of work and events. Not only was this place tranquil but it was also very spiritual. It's hard to explain - maybe it was a combo of the beauty and silence - but I felt closer to nature and myself here. I haven't felt this way since biking through the mountains of Yangshuo China or stargazing on Heron Island, Australia. If you seek a quiet destination, quality family time and variety of outdoor activities, definitely check out the Hood Canal!

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Photo Friday: Happy 4th of July!

7/3/2015

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In honor of Independence Day, here are some of my favorite summertime photos from the USA. I hope everyone enjoys their freedom this weekend and celebrates our beautiful country in the company of friends and family.

Bon voyage!
Eva & Chris

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The Vermont Cheese Trail

4/30/2015

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Attention cheese lovers! Vermont should hold high rank on your travel bucket list. With 45 different cheese makers scattered across this small state, you'll surely find a new favorite snack at one of these farms nestled in New England's mountains.

In early April, Chris and I decided to embark on an impromptu self-guided tour of Vermont's cheese trail. For years we have enjoyed Vermont cheeses sold at local markets in Boston, but we have never ventured out on the cheese trail to taste freshly made cheese directly from the source.

The Vermont Cheese Trail map along with some pamphlets we picked up along the way. You can print your own map here or see it in Google Maps:

I quickly learned two lessons from our cheese tour experience:

1) Early April is not the best time to go. Many of the cheese makers are closed for the season and the weather is unpredictable. The first day was sunny and a balmy 70 degrees F. The second day was freezing,windy and snowy. Early May might have been a better choice.

2) Going on a cheese tour while pregnant can be a bit...well...tortuous. Much of the cheese is freshly made with raw milk - a no-no food for pregnancy. Luckily there were a couple of options made with pasteurized milk so I could partake in sampling. A tip for the pregnant ladies: you can eat raw milk cheese as long as you heat it up. So bring on the grilled cheese!

During our two day tour, we visited three cheese makers:

We would have been able to squeeze in two more had we planned our trip beforehand and called ahead to arrange a time at those creameries that are appointment only. But this was a last minute get-in-the-car-and-go trip so c'est la vie!

Not only is it fun to taste the cheese, but the drive through Vermont is beautiful and each property has a really fascinating history. Here is a brief recap of each:

Plymouth Artisan Cheeses: Presidential Roots

Operating for 124 years, it's the second oldest cheese factory in the USA.
The factory was founded by the father of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the USA.
The factory's location has not changed since it's inception in 1890. There is a little museum above the shop where you can see the original cheese making equipment.
Here we purchased the Sage & Herbs cheese and two bags of our favorite almonds from The Mapled Nut, a Vermont owned gourmet nut company. These almonds are so good that we finished them in a matter of minutes!

The charming and tiny town of Plymouth, VT. It's the birthplace and childhood home of USA President Calvin Coolidge and long time home to Plymouth Artisan Cheese. The former President is buried across the street.

Above the store is an exhibit of old fashioned cheese making tools and the history of the factory.

Old fashioned Cheese presses, Plymouth Artisan Cheese

Vermont Cheesemakers, Plymouth Artisan Cheese

Present day cheese factory. Unfortunately, they weren't making cheese while we were there.

The Mapled Nut, Gourmet Nuts, Vermont Brands, Vermont food

Our favorite snack -The Mapled Nut gourmet almonds! I also loved the unique design of each cheese label.

Cabot Creamery Cooperative: Strength in Numbers

Cabot isn't just one cheese maker, it's actually a cooperative of over 1,000 dairy farm families!
In the early 20th century, there was an excess supply of milk so farmers from the Cabot region joined forces and combined their extra milk to make butter under the Rosedale brand name.
Although the number of Vermont dairy farms shrank in the mid 60's, Cabot retained hundreds of members supplying milk to make their increasingly popular cheddar cheeses.
We sampled all the cheeses on display at the Visitor's Center just outside of Stowe and our favorites were the horseradish cheese and the chipotle cheese. I love the horseradish cheese so much that I've begun purchasing it regularly at my grocery store in Cambridge.

Chris sampling various Cabot cheeses at the shop. There had to be at least 20 different types!

Three cheers for pasteurized cheese! We purchased the horseradish (my favorite) and chipotle cheeses.

Shelburne Farms: A Vanderbilt Legacy

Situated along Lake Champlain, just south of Burlington, this 1,400 acre working farm is a National Historic Landmark.
In the late 1800's, Lila Vanderbilt Webb (Cornelius'' granddaughter) and her husband acquired this land and hired the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to develop it (the same Olmsted that designed New York's Central Park).
The farm is MASSIVE and consists of several stunning buildings designed by R.H. Robertson.
During the summer, visitors can stay at The Inn at Shelburne Farms. It's seasonal because heat was never installed at this summer "house".
The farm is currently a non-profit organization that helps educators and children learn about sustainable living and farming.
While the highlight of this visit was definitely touring the grounds (even in the brutal snow and wind), the cheese was also very good. Here we purchased a 6 month aged cheddar and a horseradish mustard that pairs nicely with Chris' sautéed brussel sprouts.

The Shelburne Farms tasting room and shop. The woman working here was very helpful and knowledgeable, but too shy to pose behind the counter for the picture.

This is the Farm Barn - home to the bakery, cheese making facilities administrative offices, an elementary school, the children's farm and more. It's the most spectacular barn I've ever seen!

Shelburn Farms, Inn at Shelburn, Lake Champlain

The backyard of the Inn, facing a frozen Lake Champlain. I'm looking forward to coming back here when the lake has thawed and everything is green.

This concludes our very first experience on the Vermont Cheese Trail. There are still 42 more cheesemakers to visit so I know we'll be back on the trail again soon.

If you are curious about where we stayed, we played it by ear knowing it was shoulder season in Vermont and demand would be low. We ended up getting a deal via Priceline at The Essex Resort just outside of Burlington. We booked the room on our phone a few hours before checking in. Our room was very cozy and comfortable and we were only about 20 minutes from Burlington where we spent the evening and dined at Church & Maine. Check out more photos from Burlington here.

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Live Like A Local, Boston: Marissa

3/15/2015

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Last week, I featured a list of Boston recommendations from local ladies Lisa & Jen as a part of our Live LIke a Local, Boston series. Today I have the pleasure of introducing Marissa - my favorite coffee & tea connoisseur, fellow traveler, and Rachel Bilson doppelganger.

Marissa
Boston native; food and fitness enthusiast; loves to maximize life at all times!

Favorite Local Shop: Gifted in the South End for you guessed it, gifts; also David's Tea in the South End for fun, seasonal teas.

Favorite Restaurant: It's so hard to pick just one! A favorite that is always fantastic is Island Creek Oyster. My favorite NEW restaurant to the Boston scene is Bastille Kitchen in Fort Point - especially the short rib wellington!

Favorite Place To Work Out: Equinox--one stop shop for cardio, barre, spin, etc.

Best Photo Opp: Walking home at sunset over the Mass Ave bridge.

Favorite Day Trip: Ogunquit, Maine

What I Love Most About Boston: The seasons, walkability, and proximity to Cape Cod.

Where To go For Seafood: Island Creek, Row 34 or B&G Oyster; If you're ever on the Cape you must get the giant lobster roll at The Raw Bar in Mashpee.

Best Juice Bar: Jugos at Back Bay Station: it's a hidden gem and they make the best juices.

Grab a Drink At: Drink in Fort Point for custom mixed cocktails. Tell them the ingredients you typically enjoy and their bartenders will surprise you with a new concoction!

Where I Go For Cheap Eats: Sweet Green for a fresh salad.

I've added Marissa's recommendations to the Live Like a Local Boston interactive map. Enjoy!

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Live Like A Local, Boston: Jen

3/11/2015

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Earlier this week, I introduced the Live Like a Local series with Lisa who shared fabulous Boston tips like hiking trails near the city and where/when to find $1 oysters. Today I have the pleasure of introducing Jen - an artsy marathon runner and and bonafide ass-kicker (no joke, I've seen her at MMA class!).

Jen

Craft Ninja, Wanderer, Non-runner who happens to run marathons

Where to Go for Seafood: Island Creek Oyster in Kenmore Square (from brunch to late night eats, everything is perfection!)

Favorite Place to Workout: Redline Fight Sports in Central Square. Redline is an MMA gym that makes you feel empowered (and like a badass!) without feeling intimidated.

Where I Go for Cheap Eats: Veggie Galaxy in Central Square has GIANT, delicious vegan/vegetarian meals and desserts for a steal!

Best Photo Opp in Boston: Anywhere in Beacon Hill, more accurately, at the top of Acorn Street, or Louisburg Square in the springtime when the wisteria are creeping up the beautiful brownstones.

On a Rainy/Snowy Day I Like to: Go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Boston has so many fantastic museums and galleries but this former private residence is a complete jewel! Gardner was a woman far ahead of her time and her story, as well as the story of the museum as a whole is fascinating. I could visit every day and still spot something I've never seen before.

Favorite Local Shop: December Thieves in the South End and on Charles St. Thoughtfully curated jewelry, small home goods, accessories, and curiosities from around the globe.

Favorite Restaurant: I'm hesitant to share because it's my hidden gem! Euno in the North End is a tiny Italian eatery that is romantic, cozy, and everything is completely fresh and homemade. I adore this restaurant! Shhh! Don't tell anyone ;)

Most Peaceful Spot: I walk my dog to a tiny dock that sits at the finish line of the Head of the Charles Regatta on the Boston side of the Charles River. For hours we will dangle our respective paws and legs over the edge and watch rowers, geese, and ducks glide by on the river. Really, anywhere along the Charles is a piece of heaven amidst a bustling city but this little dock is my sanctuary.

What I Love Most About Boston: I am always enchanted by Boston's rich history and how the old nestles quite comfortably with the modern. From its architecture; The Old State House, built in 1710, to the LEED certified Fraunhofer Center in the Seaport District, where some of the world's leading sustainable technologies are developed, to its residents; young co-eds coexisting with Boston Brahmins whose pedigrees date back to the Mayflower, Boston is a study of a beautiful dichotomy set against an even more beautiful backdrop.

Best Insider Tip for Visitors: Despite being packed with colleges and a zillion districts and neighborhoods, Boston is a very small city. If you have the better part of an afternoon, a walk throughout the whole city is completely doable and a great way to see the area. Take time to wander on foot and stumble upon things that are off the beaten path of Faneuil Hall and Newbury St. Grab a map, snacks, and a camera and make a day of seeing the sights that are outdoors!

Check out Jen and Lisa's recommendations on our interactive map:

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Live Like a Local: Lisa's Boston

3/9/2015

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In just a few weeks hundreds of female travelers will be visiting Boston for Go Girl Network's annual Women In Travel Summit (or WITS). Experienced and enthusiastic adventurers will gather to share stories, tips, and advice. Being a travel junkie myself, I'm looking forward to meeting these women and hope to come away with new inspiration.

Some of the best travel experiences result from a local guide, especially when it's a friend (new or old) since we often share similar tastes and interests. Since the conference is in my home base of Boston, I reached out to a handful of Boston's local ladies and asked them about their favorite things to do in the city. These women are seasoned travelers and truly enjoy everything this city has to offer so I think they make great virtual guides. First up is Lisa:

Lisa Shen
Graduate Student, Mom, Enthusiastic Omnivore, City Biker

Favorite Local Shop
Looks in Harvard Square

Where I Go for a Cup of Joe
Darwin's LTD in Harvard Square has the best coffee

Favorite Restaurant
Rialto in Harvard Square and any of Barbara Lynch's restaurants: No. 9 Park, Sportello, B&G Oyster, The Butcher Shop, Menton

Boston Band on My Playlist
Guster or Aerosmith

Favorite Place to Work Out
Running along the Charles River

Most Peaceful Spot
Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Hiking in the Fells or the Blue Hills

Best Photo Opp in Boston
Anywhere on the Charles River (take a Duck Tour or rent a sailboat to get to the middle)

Favorite Day Trip
The north shore beaches like Crane's Beach in Ipswich or Singing Beach in Manchester. Or Salem for the Peabody-Essex Museum, history, and witchcraft.

Favorite Dive Bar
The BHP (Beacon Hill Pub) or The Sevens

On a Rainy/Snowy Day, I Like To...
Go to a movie at The Common or one of the new Deluxe Movie Theaters in Dedham or Chestnut Hill; also shopping at the Natick Mall

Where I Go For Cheap Eats
The Asian food court at the Porter Exchange

Grab a Drink At
Marliave

What I Love Most About Boston:
Boston/Cambridge is mostly flat, so it's incredibly walkable and bike-able.

Where to Go For Seafood:
Row 34, Legal Harborside, or many restaurants in Chinatown (e.g. East Ocean City)

Insider Tip for Visitors:
Many fabulous restaurants offer $1 oysters on off nights (e.g. Mondays) or off times (4-6 p.m.), such as Rialto, Marliave, Les Zygomates, etc.

THANK YOU for sharing your recommendations, Lisa! I especially love her tip on $1 oyster happy hour! Check out Lisa's recommendations on our Live LIke a Local interactive map:

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Why Bostonians Secretly Love Blizzards

2/17/2015

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I know, I know - not another article about the damn snow! But many of us can't help but look at picture after picture of the Goliath sized snow piles lining the streets of Boston. With over six feet of snow in three weeks and icicles the size of Godzilla's teeth threatening to impale us upon exiting our homes, I feel like the movie Frozen was really about Boston, not some medieval nordic hamlet.

Harvard University yesterday. Could this be Elsa's handiwork (or "Elser" as they call her here)? Perhaps she's a Yalie?

While we complain about the snow often here in New England, I think that we secretly like it for the following reasons:

7 Reasons Why Bostonians Secretly Like Blizzards

1) We get an outpouring of sympathy from around the world for the bad traffic, train delays, shoveling and the impending floods on the horizon. Being a city full of Gen Ys, we revel in the attention.

2) At the same time, we get to reject said sympathy and brag about how tough we are. I've heard all three of the following statements in the last two weeks – verbatim:

"I shoveled 10 tons of snow this afternoon. It's good exercise for the back".
"I went for my 11-mile marathon training run the morning of Juno. It was actually refreshing".
"I can't believe they canceled school for just a foot of snow. What a bunch of pansies!"

I'm not kidding. Verbatim.

3) There is a tacit understanding that Bostonians can save their street parking space with whatever piece of junk they happen to have lying around. If someone moves your chair/cone/walker and takes your space, you are entitled to slash their tires or, in Jamaica Plain, you just shovel the snow back onto the "thief's" car. Either way, there is some satisfaction to be had.

Better not move that walker or Gramps will shove his cane in your tailpipe.

4) We get full license to berate anyone on social media posting pictures of sunshine, beaches and palm trees. There has been a virtual blizzard of "GFYs" on Facebook over the last two weeks.

5) New micro economies are springing up. We are already taking bets on when the snow will melt and enterprising high school and college kids are using their youthful brawn to earn extra cash by charging local residents a hefty fee for shoveling out their cars.

6) We get to ski. In the city. Pretty freaking cool.

7) It gives us something to talk about. Because, let's be honest, nothing else is happening here in February.

And with that, here are a few of my favorite neighborhood blizzard pics:

Forget about snow-covered cars - this HOUSE is almost completely buried!

Free parking for anyone with a shovel!

Walking down my sidewalk after the last storm.

This face makes 6 feet of snow look cute.

Here are a few shots of Cambridge, MA from the @beyondvoyage Instagram gallery:

St. Petersburg, Russia? Nope, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Buried in my office during Juno.

Deadly icicles near Harvard.

They may cause a lot of chaos, but blizzards can be incredibly peaceful and beautiful.

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Top 5 Things To Do in Oahu, Hawaii

1/5/2015

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Hanna Mak, Guest Blogger

I'm thrilled to introduce Beyond Voyage's first guest blogger, Hanna, who will be sharing a series of articles about her recent visit to Oahu, Hawaii. After hearing about Hanna's Hawaiian adventures, Oahu has moved several levels up on my bucket list!

~ Eva

Hi there! My name is Hanna. You may know me from an earlier Beyond Voyage blog post: Dancing Over Boston with the Makenbrocks . To quickly recap, my husband, Steve and I got married in March 2014. We decided to wait a little bit before we went on our honeymoon to Hawaii. This gave us the time to research and plan everything we wanted to do. To round out our wedding celebrations, we’ve decided to document our trip here. So without further ado, here are our top five recommendations if you ever find yourself in Oahu!

1. Bring Your Hiking Shoes!

Or sneakers or any sturdy shoes that have a good grip. Hawaii boasts plenty of hiking trails and waterfalls, many of which are free to get into or charge a very low admission price.

We hiked Diamond Head, an inactive volcanic vent, and one of Oahu’s most popular landmarks.

View from Diamond Head trail

The hike is 0.8 miles (1.3 km) up and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours to complete depending on your fitness level and your pace. Once up there, you can see Waikiki and expansive views of the Pacific.

Gorgeous ocean views from Diamond Head!

Just make sure you go earlier in the day and bring water. The park opens at 6 AM and is much cooler in the morning. We went at 8 AM and it was already starting to get very warm. Admittance is $1 per person on foot or $5 per car if you’re driving (cash only).

We also suggest you hike Manoa Falls on the same day. This trail is also 0.8 miles long (1.3 km) through a lush rainforest. The flora here is amazing with lots of banyan trees and beautiful plants that are so big, you feel like you’re back in prehistoric times.

One of many massive Bird of Paradise flowers.

Steve (who is over 6 feet tall) walking through a Banyan tree.

In my opinion, Manoa Falls trail is slightly more difficult than Diamond Head. The last five minutes of the trail requires climbing over wet, muddy and very slippery boulders, but this is what you’re greeted with when you come to the end:

It’s best to climb Manoa Falls after Diamond Head since the rainforest will provide a canopy for shade and tropical rains that will cool you off. Do bring water and perhaps a snack for when you get to the end. If you’re doing both hikes without eating in between, you’ll get hungry when you get to the top. Admission is free if you walk in or $5 for parking. If you are prone to bug bites, bring some bug spray just in case.

2. Zipline On The North Shore

Hawaii is more than just aquatic adventures. If heights don’t bother you, then try ziplining at CLIMBWORKS at Keana Farms on the North Shore.

Keana Farms is an actual working farm where they grow all sorts of goodies like papayas and apple bananas. As we went through each line, the team taught us a lot about the rich culture of the land and of course, how to zipline (and not to zipline):

This is how NOT to zipline...until you get to the end!

We had such a blast going through all of the lines, learning to zip upside down (it wasn’t that hard!) and even rappelling (it’s very scary to jump off platforms).

3. Take A Helicopter Ride...Doors Optional

If you’re REALLY fearless with heights, let’s step it up a notch, shall we? Try a helicopter ride with the doors off. That’s right, no doors!

Steve and me with Bob, our pilot, AFTER we safely landed.

This provides the best views and photo ops (no glare from the windows). It can take you to places you physically can’t get to anymore such as Sacred Falls:

Because of a major accident in 1999, Sacred Falls has been banned for hikers. The same holds true for the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven). With its dizzying heights and sometimes vertical ascent, this stairway is also closed to the public and guarded at the entrance. The only (safe and legal) way to see both is via helicopter.

The Haiku Stairs (or Stairway to Heaven) can only be seen via helicopter.

4. Ride in Underwater...Scooters?

I have a secret, I can’t swim. As a non-swimmer, it’s very difficult to find things to do when you go on an island vacation. Everything is all about the water, all of the time. For instance: swim in the ocean (can’t), go surfing (definitely can’t), snorkel (I freak out if my feet can’t touch the bottom) or learn to dive (this is downright impossible).

So of course what should one do if one can’t swim? Find aquatic activities that don’t require any actual swimming of course! Meet BOB (Breathing Observation Bubble), an underwater scooter that has a built-in helmet that is filled with air supplied by an oxygen tank:

Meet BOB - taking non-swimmers to new depths!

BOB allows non-swimmers and swimmers alike to go down to a max of 30 feet. This allows everyone to see all of the wildlife in their natural habitat without the need to go diving. Each scooter is manned by an electric motor that allows you to steer through the water. For any non-swimmers interested, the BOB sits within the water the whole time. To get on one, the crew brings the BOB closer to the boat, you grab the edge of the helmet, hold your breath and duck inside the water and into the helmet. Your guide holds onto you the whole time. This was the scariest part for me but once I was in, I was good to go.

One word of caution, it may feel a little claustrophobic inside with your head in the helmet and the rest of your body in the water. The water pressure can also get to your ears if you can’t pop them but if you can, it’s an awesome ride with all of the tropical fish and turtles.

We spotted this stunning giant sea turtle from our BOB.

Make sure you bring motion sickness remedies with you. We took Dramamine and shared it with several others on the boat. The currents were strong that day, so even people who normally don’t get seasick felt nauseous.

5. Go Shark Diving

So how do I top each adventure I’ve just had? The obvious answer is to dive with sharks. Surprisingly this can be enjoyed by a non-swimmer as well.

So how does it work? We booked a trip with Hawaii Shark Encounters in the North Shore. This is where most of the sharks are located off Oahu. A small boat takes you about three miles offshore. A cage is set in the water. The cage has bars inside that you can hold onto. You can stand on the railings and hold onto the bars so you never need to know how to swim. The crew provides a snorkel mask for everyone. Just like the BOB adventure, the scariest thing was ducking my head in the water with the snorkel mask. Encountering the sharks was the easy part!

Our cage with Hawaii Shark Encounters

So how do the sharks know to come over? It’s actually the sound of the boat that entices the sharks to come. That’s because it reminds them of fishing boats that often throw leftover chum into the water after a fishing trip. So when the sharks hear a boat, they think “buffet.” Don’t worry, once they see you, they realize it’s not time to eat but rather time to get to know humans a bit better. They won’t try to eat you (unless you want to stick your arm out) because you’re not tasty to them. They much prefer stinky fish heads.

When you’re down there, you’ll see smaller species of sharks such as the Sandbar and Galapagos. They range about 5-7 feet in length:

The sharks, up close and personal.

On a rare occasion you may see a tiger shark. Great Whites are not known to come here, they prefer much murkier and colder waters of Massachusetts and South Africa.

We tried our our very hardest to get a shark selfie but the closest we could get was my foot and Steve’s knee in the photo:

Attempt at a shark selfie

If you decide to do this tour, we suggest you go as early as possible. We did the 6 AM tour and while it sounds super early, it wasn't that bad because we were waking up as if we were on US East Coast time. The water is less choppy early in the morning which helps a lot for seasickness. Just make sure you add an hour of drive time if you’re staying in Honolulu.

We crammed all of this into seven days so it was an action-packed vacation. If you do stay in Oahu longer, you can do all of this at a much more leisurely pace with some lazy beach and pool days in between. And of course, no vacation would be complete without lots of food. Stay tuned for my next post where I take you on a food tour of Oahu!

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Birthday Weekend In New York City (Part 1)

12/22/2014

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It had been over two years since I last set foot in Manhattan. I'm well acquainted with Manhattan, but we've historically had a very professional relationship. I used to travel to NYC often for my previous job, which basically meant working at my office in Chelsea all day followed by an occasional dinner and/or drinks in Chelsea, only to return to my hotel to work again in - you guessed it - Chelsea. Two jobs ago, I worked in mid-town three days a week and, during college, I spent a summer working right across from Grand Central station. It's been a long time since I've visited NYC simply to wander around.

When Chris asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I asked if we could go to NYC without any plans. I just wanted to walk around, see the holiday decorations and maybe stop by a few attractions I've never visited. We were there from Thursday - Saturday and luckily had sunny (albeit cold) weather. Here is what I did:

Thursday:
- Arrived by noon. Lunched with a friend in Grand Central.
- NY Public Library
- Bryant Park Ice Rink & Christmas Tents
- Rockefeller Plaza & Saks 5th Avenue

Friday:
- Breakfast bagels from Ess-a-Bagel
- Walked through Central Park to the Guggenheim
- Walked from Midtown to NoLita (area north of Little Italy), strolled through shops
- Dinner at Il Buco (fabulous rustic ambiance, wonderful service, and tasty small plates)
- After-dinner stroll through Little Italy

Saturday:
- Brooklyn & Ground Zero/Freedom Tower (More on this soon!)

Hotel: The Tuscany
We stayed in mid-town at The Tuscany hotel and I can't say enough good things about this place. It was reasonably-priced (for New York), the location was fabulous (39th between Park & Lex), the staff was super friendly, and our room was fabulous- particularly the view from our balcony!

[Pictured Above] We had a perfect view of the Empire State Building from the balcony along our room at The Tuscany.

It was the perfect low-key, unplanned weekend I had hoped for. Here are a few pictures from my adventures in Manhattan on Thursday & Friday:

New York Public Library

I saw more people reading phones than books at the New York Public Library. I was a little underwhelmed by the library since half the rooms with stacks were off limits but I enjoyed the beautiful paintings on the upper floor.

I adore this black and gold building along Bryant Park. Gorgeous!

Christmas in New York - there is nothing else like it!

Sorry Dunkies,, but the NYC delis serve the best bagels. I had to wait in a long line at Ess-a-Bagel on Friday morning, but it was worth it (and the owner passes out free samples while you wait)! I had a whole wheat bagel and cream cheese while Chris enjoyed an egg, bacon & cheese bagel. The bagels were fantastic. The coffee, on the other hand, was almost undrinkable.

Cold, but sunny day in Central Park.

Site of my very first business lunch.

Frank Lloyd Wright's spectacular Guggenheim Museum. My favorite piece - Light Ballet - was part of the Zero exhibit. I watched it, mesmerized, for a whole ten minutes.

The cozy, rustic interior of Il Buco on Bond Street - perfect for a cold December evening. Since it was my birthday, our waiter surprised me with a panna cotta drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Chili pepper wreath at Il Buco. I'm stealing this idea next Christmas!

LIttle Italy goes all out during Christmas - lights everywhere!

Stay tuned for more NYC adventures and photos - including Brooklyn and the Freedom Tower!

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Fall Photo Run: Boston's Charles River

10/27/2014

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Running is one of the best ways to stay in shape while traveling because you kill two birds with one stone: see new sights while getting some much needed cardio.

Boston is a running town, famous for its challenging marathon and endless stream of people running along the Charles river in the most brutal of weather conditions. Fall is the best season to see this city by foot. Crisp, cool air makes for ideal running conditions and vibrant foliage reflecting on the river provides a lovely distraction.

I recently took my phone along on a six mile loop around the Charles, stopping along the way to snap some pictures. Here are some of the highlights. I hope you enjoy them, and if they inspire you enough to plan a trip here next fall, don't forget to visit my Boston page for a few tips!