Our traveling style is very DIY and falls somewhere just above staying in a hostel (we usually don't do shared rooms any more) and well below luxury resorts (we most likely would never choose on our own to stay at an all-inclusive resort) We prefer unique and memorable experiences over expensive chain hotels or group tours. We also love to be outdoors, so we always try to incorporate camping, hiking, or any outdoor activity into our travels. I would consider us to have a pretty high threshold for getting dirty -- we are comfortable backpacking to remote locations and staying in a very rustic setting with or without indoor plumbing. Our favorite accommodations and activities allow us to interact with local culture, integrate nature, cook local food for ourselves, and meet local people.
When planning a trip we like to focus on a few places we MUST visit -- museums, landmarks, restaurants etc. -- then loosely schedule our time around those things preferring to save money on lodging when we can to spend on other activities (like food). Typically we book-end our trips with a nice(r) motel/hotel and restaurant, then look for unique and interesting budget lodging/eats in between. Bonus points if either of those things have an amazing view.
We were both raised in Texas, lived in San Francisco, moved to Northern Virginia/DC area and now currently live in South Korea. Most of our excursions take place around these locations.
Please note this is an ongoing work in progress.
When planning a trip we like to focus on a few places we MUST visit -- museums, landmarks, restaurants etc. -- then loosely schedule our time around those things preferring to save money on lodging when we can to spend on other activities (like food). Typically we book-end our trips with a nice(r) motel/hotel and restaurant, then look for unique and interesting budget lodging/eats in between. Bonus points if either of those things have an amazing view.
We were both raised in Texas, lived in San Francisco, moved to Northern Virginia/DC area and now currently live in South Korea. Most of our excursions take place around these locations.
Please note this is an ongoing work in progress.
EASTERN U.S.
washington d.c. / virginia / maryland / west virginia / delaware / new jersey / new york / Rhode Island / TENNESSEE / GEORGIA / MAINE
getaways * camping * weekend trips * road trips
eatsAnnies Bannanies (Rehoboth Beach - DE)
Oh! Taisho Izakaya - Lower East Side, NYC Black Sheep (Richmond, VA) The Roosevelt (Richmond, VA) Jordan House Pond (Acadia NP - ME) Thurston's Lobster Pound (Bernard, ME) Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream (Bar Harbor, ME) North, (Providence, RI) Birch Restaurant (Providence, RI) |
arts / history / culture / KITSCH |
western U.S.
texas / California / alaska / nevada / arizona / new mexico / utah
GETAWAYS * CAMPING * WEEKEND TRIPS * road trips
campingWonder Lake Campground (Denali NP - AK)
Mendenhall Glacier Campground (Juneau, AK) Riley Creek Campground (Denali NP - AK) Angel Island - Environmental Camping - (CA) Manresa State Park - Beach Camping (CA) Julia Pfieffer Burns SP - Environmental Camping - (CA) Mono Hot Springs (CA) Sly Park Recreational Area (CA) Samuel P. Taylor SP (CA) Russian Gulch SP (CA) Shaver Lake (CA) Emerald Bay SP (Tahoe, CA) Kennedy Meadows (Sequoia, CA) Lodgepole Campground (Sequoia NP, CA) Bishop Creek Campground (CA) Oak Bottom Campground (Whiskeytown, CA) |
CABINS / LODGES / unique places to stayShrine of St. Therese - Modern + Rustic Cabins (Juneau, AK)
Glacier Bay Lodge (Gustavus, AK) Bright Angel Lodge (Grand Canyon NP - AZ) Sea Ranch (CA) Steep Ravine (CA) Bearpaw High Sierra Camp (Sequoia NP - CA) Thunderbird Motel (Marfa, TX) Point Montara Lighthouse (CA) Big Basin - Rustic Cabins (CA) Camp Curry - Tent Cabins - (Yosemite NP, CA) |
hikingExit Glacier (AK)
Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau, AK) Bartlett Cove (Glacier Bay NP, AK) Reflection Pond (Denali NP, AK) Bearpaw Meadows (Sequoia NP - CA) Half Dome (Yosemite NP - CA) Panorama Trail (Yosemite NP - CA) Yosemite Falls Trail (Yosemite NP - CA) Sentinel Dome Trail (Yosemite NP- CA) Stinson Beach (Muir Woods, CA) Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls (Point Reyes National Seashore, CA) |
outdoor funMoose River -Canoeing (AK)
Badger Pass - Moonlight Snowshoeing (Yosemite NP, CA) Alaska Raptor Center (Sitka, AK) Glacier Bay National Park - Wildlife Boat Tour (AK) Kenai Peninsula Road Trip (AK) Denali Bus Tour (Denali NP, AK) Picking Wild Alaskan Blueberries (Denali NP, AK) Mono Lake, (Mono Lake, CA) June Lake (CA) |
eats |
arts / history / culture / KITSCHPalm Springs Drive in (Palm Springs, CA)
Sitka National Historic Park (Sitka, AK) Igloo City (Cantwell, AK) Alaska State Fair (Palmer, AK) Vikingsholm (Tahoe, CA) Hearst Castle (San Simeon, CA) |
pacific islands
hawaii
camping * diving * snorkeling * hiking * road trips
camping |
CABINS / LODGES |
canada
vancouver
* biking * UNIQUE LODGING * eats
eats |
outdoor fun |
caribbean
puerto rico / bahamas
* CAMPING * unique lodging * Beaches * hiking
camping |
CABINS / LODGES / UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY |
central + south america
costa rica / peru
* CAMPING * UNIQUE LODGING * BEACHES * hiking
camping |
CABINS / LODGES / UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY |
africa
south africa
* CAMPING * UNIQUE LODGING * BEACHES * hiking * road trips * off the beaten track
camping |
CABINS / LODGES / UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY |
new zealand
* CAMPING * UNIQUE LODGING * BEACHES * hiking
rv camping |
CABINS / LODGES / UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY |