An Epic Road Trip Through New Zealand’s North Island

Expect: Hobbits, Maori Monkey Carvings, Heart Stopping Sunsets and ADVENTURE!

Itinerary: We began this trip with one week exploring the glorious South Island, followed by five days exploring the North Island.

Visit Family in Auckland:

Brad’s family was not yet home from work when we arrived, so after flying in from the South Island, we picked up our rental car and went straight to the nearest beach! We stopped off for apps at a restaurant around the corner with an outdoor patio. It was great fun catching up with Brad’s family, hearing about their life in NZ, meeting their adorable girls/ pugs, watching rugby and snacking on apps and cocktails at a low-key open air restaurant across from the beach.

Pretty much my expression the entire trip

Snack break

Matamata: AKA HOBBITON!!!

First stop – The Shire! I was basically raised on The Lord of the Rings, so of course, of course, I had long been dreaming of visiting Hobbiton and was wildly excited. It was an amazing, magical, day. We frolicked around pretending to be a part of Middle Earth the entire day. We chilled in front of Bilbo’s stoop, held Gandalf’s cane and even had a drink at The Green Dragon!

Brad Chilling In Hobbiton — Brad, just looking at home everywhere!

Brie Hobbiton — I’M GOING ON AN ADVENTURE!

Brie and Brad Toasting The Green Dragon — Toasting in the Green Dragon!

Taupo: (Toe-paw) Note: You are pretty much guaranteed to mispronounce every New Zealand City name on your first try. It’s a rite of passage.

We had great fun in this lakeside town. The sunsets over the lake were dazzling, bright bursts of fushia, fire orange and red.

Maori Monkey Sculpture: We rented kayaks for the afternoon and paddled to the Maori monkey sculpture, which was pretty fantastic. One note – this should be a fairly easy paddle, however it was super windy on the day we went, so we had to paddle extra hard to beat the wind before it really picked up and finished the three hour trip in half that amount of time. I thought I was going to collapse after and could not get warm. Paddling is not a sport for the faint of heart! Brad had to legit carry me into the bathtub at our hotel, where we proceeded to eat a cheese plate, in the bath. I highly recommend this.

Maori Monkey Sculpture Tuapo — Maori Monkey Sculpture

Brie Paddling Maori Monkey Sculpture_InPixio — We made it!

ALSO – the McDonalds in Australia and NZ have frozen Fanta slushies for less then $1 and they are delightful! You can mix a choice of like 11 flavors and I was completely obsessed with them. I had that in the bath as well.

Eats: New Zealand has great Indian food, and we found a delicious place in Taupo for dinner, Master of India. By the last evening, we were pretty exhausted. We had been traveling for a month and just finished our grueling (well, at least for me) paddle. After the cheese plate bubble bath, we grabbed some fast food and feasted in bed while watching World War Z. (I am always in the mood for World War Z, BTW). It was a great, relaxed end to our trip 🙂

Indian Food Tuapo — To die for Indian food!

I loved, LOVED New Zealand and would return in a heartbeat. I often find my mind wandering to the majestic sprawling, New Zealand landscape, or hiking Mount Cook, or lounging on the shores of Lake Wanaka, or sipping rosé in the Queenstown harbour. New Zealand has a way of working itself into your heart and taking root. The next time, we will most likely spend a few days in Auckland to visit Brad’s family, and take some time to explore the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula, then head to the South Island for heart stopping vistas, and hiking galore!

An Epic Road Trip Through New Zealand’s South Island

I often find my mind wandering to thoughts of gorgeous New Zealand and when I think about our summer in the South Island, I think about heart stopping views, expansive never ending vistas at every turn, towering snow capped mountains, aquamarine lakes, golden meadows underneath crystal clear blue skys, hikes, delicious piping hot pies, cheeses, wines and Kiwi good humor. I would return to New Zealand in a heart beat.

Hiking Mount Cook, New Zealand — Mount Cook

The South Island Itinerary:

Day 1-2 Arthur’s Pass: Brad has family in Christchurch, so we began our trip visiting them. It was wonderful to hear about their lives in NZ and to catch up. Then we headed to Arthur’s pass. This part of the South Island is where the fun truly begins for your road trip extravaganza. One of the most amazing things about the South Island is that there are vast stretches of road where there are simply no people at all! You can get out of your car and wander. It’s gobsmacking!

Arthur's Pass NZ — Literally, not another soul around

Arthur's Pass, Hike — Getting some serious Isle of Skye vibes during our Arthur’s Pass hike!

Day 3-5 Mount Cook via Tekapo

Glittering Lake Tekapo, NZ — Turquoise Lake Tekapo

Hiking Mount Cook: The Hooker Valley track at Mount Hook is one of the most gorgeous hikes I have ever taken. Every bend uncovers a stunning alpine vista – snow capped mountains! Golden meadows! Rushing rivers and glacial lakes! And, considering it’s relatively flat and well maintained the entire way, this hike provides an unbelievable effort vs. rewards ratio. The hike took us about 3 1/2 hours past two swinging bridges, to the Hooker Glacier lake.

Hiking Mount Cook - South Island NZ — I mean….c’mon.

20190316_171151 — So many swinging bridges!

I get super motion sick, so had to time crossing these bridges when there weren’t many people plunking their way along, making the bridge swing. At one point I tried to “jog” lightly, to try and avoid the swinging motion. I do not recommend this tactic.

We stayed at Twizel, at a holiday park. Budget lodging is not easy to find in NZ, but holiday parks are a great option. We got an ensuite room and walked to Fishtail – the most delicious Indian place for dinner. We saw lots of family lounging at the picnic tables and using the grills. It looked fun.

Day 5-6 Wanaka

I loved Wanaka. Wanaka has a Lake Tahoe vibe going on – gorgeous, laid back, holiday feel. We began our days by grabbing flat whites at Patagonia Chocolates (why is coffee so good in NZ?!) and spent leisurely mornings strolling along the lakefront. An absolute must is hiking to Rippon Winery, the most gorgeous winery I have ever seen, for stellar Gamay Noirs, Sav Blancs, and drop dead gorgeous views.

We hiked about an hour on a gentle winding path along the lake, the last third of the hike uphill to reach this gem.

Brie and Brad Rippon! — RIPPON WINERY!!! Whaaaat?!

20190317_144357 — Glorious views on all sides

After basking in the splendor of the sweeping views over the lake, we did some sunbathing on the lakeshore. We took our bottle and sat on the banks of Lake Wanaka, sipping our refreshing and fruity Gamay as the day turned to twilight.

Brad convinced me to go horse back riding in Otago, and while I was hesitant at first, it turned out to be great fun. In California when you go horseback riding as a beginner, maybe, maaaybe, you trot. In New Zealand, you RUN!

This was a gorgeous trip. The landscape was stunning, we saw tons of deer under the bright blue sky and the instructor topped off the trip with a drink at a rustic gold mining bar.

Day 7-8 Queenstown

The adventure capital of New Zealand is a total dazzler. We spent our time in Queenstown taking in the most spectacular views, picnicking lakeside, hiking, and indulging in the fresh seafood and Kiwi wine at the bustling harbor. We easily could have spent more time here.

We headed to Bob’s Cove for a picnic with fruit. creamy cheeses, and stunning views. We spent a leisurely afternoon enjoying the wine and fruit, sunbathing and going for refreshing swims.

20190321_150615 — Can’t beat Kiwi picnics! (This is our Gamay from Rippon Winery :D)

20190319_161416 — How’s this for a view?

Queenstown is 100% Lord of The Rings territory. I KNOW this is the Road to Gondor. Take your time driving the winding roads, jumping out for LOTRs photo ops.

In the evening, we headed down to the harbor for some divine New Zealand rosé, and unbeatable views. We also really liked lounging and sipping drinks on the docked boat turned bar Perky’s.

IMG-20190419-155347-769 — Queenstown harbor – NZ roses are my new favorite!

Note – I don’t have a picture of this, but I was sitting at the harbor watching the playful ducks and devouring my Fergburger, when I noticed some pretty large shapes undulating underwater and realized they were massive eels! I pointed them out to Brad. It was clear the ducks did NOT care for them either. About two minutes later other people began to notice them and we heard them gasping.

Milford Sound – If you have the time, check out Milford Sound. Take a picnic and cruise the NZ fjords. The cruise takes you past cascading waterfalls, rainbows glittering over deep green water, and lazy seals lounging on the rocks. We took a tour, the trip is 3 hours each way, so it is an investment, but a gorgeous experience if you have the time. Who knows when we will make it to Norway, so couldn’t resist the opportunity to cruise the fjords!

New Zealand Eats:

Pies, just non stop pies and cheese boards, and seafood and great, budget friendly wine. I especially enjoyed the rosé and gamays. New Zealand also has great Indian food. I especially loved the rich, creamy, butter chicken pies, and the savory breakfast pies. We enjoyed the lakeside restaurants in Wanaka for sunset and really liked Erik’s Food Truck for fish & chips in Queenstown. We loved taking our piping hot meal and savoring it while the sunset over Lake Wakatipu.

Farlie Bakehouse — Brad looking cool as AF. Aside: So. Many. Pies!

Fish and Chips Wanaka — Fish and Chips + Shrimp and Chips at Lake Wanaka

Where to stay: As New Zealand was part of our final hurrah, long way around, one month trip, returning from Germany (we also visited Bali and Australia), we tried to stay in budget friendly lodgings, which is possible to find in NZ if you really do your research. We stayed at an array of hotels and parks. Holiday Parks are also a great option in NZ.

Next up on the blog – Road Tripping NZ’s North Island – Hobbiton, here we come!

How to Spend a Perfect Holiday in Rhodes

I love Greece. It is one of my most favorite countries in Europe, and exotic Rhodes, located on the southern Aegean just off the western coast of Turkey is my favorite Greek island. Two summers ago, we went to Rhodes for the last part of our six week European vacation, and it was the perfect end to the trip. Dazzling Rhodes Town enchants with its medieval Old Town, beautiful beaches, romantic tavernas, and welcoming Greek charm.

To Do:

Rent a scooter: This is by far the best way to get around Rhodes Town, and the most fun. We rented a scooter in town, at Thomas Rentals and had a wonderful time driving along the coast to beaches. Note: it can be very warm in August. but I will say I got one of the best tans of my life 😊

Explore the Old Town: Stroll around the gorgeous medieval Old Town and lose yourself in the labyrinthine cobblestone streets. Explore the Street of the Knights, and the castle ruins. Choose one of the many, wildly romantic restaurants for your meals. We spent many leisurely meals sitting at outside cafes, enjoying the sultry evening weather, sipping Greek wines, and sampling garlic prawns, spanikopita, Greek salads with salty blocks of feta and luscious, rich baklava.

Love that bougainvillea

Exploring Old Town

Visit Mandraki Harbour

The harbor at twilight was absolutely magical. Strolling around the Rhodes Old Town harbour, felt like I was in another time, another world. The castles ruins have almost a middle eastern feel. Old Town Rhodes is known to be one of the best preserved, most extensive medieval towns in all of Europe. Wander the maze of alleyways and allow yourself to be transported to medieval Greece.

Brie Old Town Rhodes Castle Sunset — Pretending to be a courtier in Medieval Rhodes.

Kalithea Springs

We hopped on our scooter and headed to this gorgeous thermal springs early one morning for a bite and a refreshing swim. Advice: Get there early and reserve a sunbed with shade. Though this was a beautiful, peaceful place we didn’t arrive early enough to snag a chair, so we headed to the main beach for the rest of the day.

Beach time:

Our fav beach was Tsambiki – an epic swathe of white sand, dotted by umbrellas, surrounded by beautiful beach tavernas. We spent several languorous afternoons swimming in the sea, reading, lounging in our sun chairs, gobbling Greek salads and sipping mojitos. There’s also a huge diving board that Brad had a great time leaping off.

Rustic beach taverna, Tsambiki Beach — Rustic beach taverna

Tsambiki Beach, Rhodes — Where Brad could be found most of the day!

Of course, we headed to the Rhodes Old Town beach to catch the sunset over the water, but as you can note from the pictures it was insanely windy! I almost didn’t make it. My advice would be to stroll the harbor at sunset for some breathing taking pictures, the light just glows. And then head to Lindos for the most exquisite sunsets.

Unbelievable Sunset Rhodes Town Beach — Rhodes Town sunset ❤

Where to eat:

Mama Sofias: Our friend Evren suggested this place emphatically. We had the shrimp saganaki (shrimp in tomato, onion, & garlic sauce), moussaka, Greek salad and baklava. Sipped a crisp Greek white. This place has a lovely view of the old town clocktower. Was fun and immensely romantic.

Hermes: Relaxed place, with a local vibe. This place served huge portions and was very budget friendly. We had chicken pita wraps, served with all the fixings – tomatoes, onions, lettuce, fries and tzakiki, plus Greek white wines and baklava, of course 😊 Enjoyed it so much we went twice!

After dinner we went for hookah and cocktails at Senses. The setting was incredibly picturesque with a view of the old ruins, and we loved the balmy weather.

Rooftop View Old Town Rhodes — View from our pension

Where to Stay: We stayed at Minos Pension. Great location in the old town about a five minute walk to shops, restaurants and sights. Our favorite part was the pretty rooftop bar. Had our breakfasts there every morning – frothy cappuccinos and a goblet full of creamy, Greek yogurt topped with toasted pecans, drizzled with Greek honey infused with vanilla and sprinkled with cinnamon. We ate this each morning on our rooftop terrace overlooking the Old Town. Typically I rather hate Greek yogurt and force myself to eat it for the probiotics and protein. However, this was delicious and I could not stop thinking about it. Note: Bar staff does not speak English, but we managed to get along fine. Stepping off the airplane at the Rhodes airport, we saw one of the most fabulous sunsets, setting over the Aegean. I think Rhodes was giving us a welcome show!

How to Spend a Wonderful Four Days in Lindos Greece

(Spoiler: It’s not difficult!)

Two summers ago, we went to Rhodes, Greece for the last part of our six week European vacation, and it was the perfect end to the trip. Lindos, Greece is a glorious, Greek fairytale of a village. Dominated by a view of the Acropolis set on a cyprus covered hill, the old town is filled with roof top restaurants glittering with twinkly lights, and white washed homes covered in cascading magenta bougainvillea leading to the aquamarine sea. This place is, quite simply, a dream.

When I think about our time in Lindos, I think of crystal clear turquoise water, balmy afternoons spent at St. Paul’s Bay or Palace Beach, heart stopping sunsets and leisurely afternoons spent lounging at beachside tavernas feasting on Greek delicacies.

To Do/Our Favorites:

The beaches! The beaches in Lindos are heart stoppingly beautiful and the water is both crystalline and wait for it, bathtub temperature.

St. Paul’s Bay: We spent our days alternating between lounging in the beach chairs, swimming in the sparkling turquoise bay and eating at Dimitries, a beachside taverna on the water serving fresh Greek food with unbelievable views.

Our first glimpse of St. Paul’s Bay stopped our hearts

Out menu each day: warm pita dusted with oregano and spread with olive oil, homemade creamy tzatziki and hummus, fresh Greek salads topped with salty blocks of feta and chilled Greek white wine 😍 We also ate as much baklava as we could get our hands on! I could eat Greek food all day, everyday.

Possibly, one of my most favorite lunchtime views!

We took the scooter around sunset for spectacular panoramic views over St. Paul’s Bay. Bring a bottle of wine because believe me, you will want to cheers your partner, or even the night, in honor of such a magical place.

Stopped for sunset views before dinner in town 😀

Palace Beach: Gorgeous beach with Acropolis views. Sun chairs – 10 euros for two. Several beach bars and tavernas dotting the shore. Paddle boarding was gorgeous here as well. For lunch, choose whichever beach taverna suits your fancy. We picked the ones with the best views. I liked that Palace Beach was relatively uncrowded and therefore had a more relaxed vibe.

20180818-193221 — Loved lazing on my sun lounger and gazing at the Acropolis

We typically stayed on the beach until quite late, returned home for a little rest and relaxation, then headed out around 8pm for a leisurely rooftop dinner and a couple glasses of white wine. OR, we went down to Palace Beach to stroll along the sand during sunset. Virtually no one else was around, and we had the beach to ourselves. We walked though the glass like, crystal clear, warm water, as the sun set pink and violet and turquoise around us.

20180818-193602 — How is that indigo sunset?!

Note: On the scooter ride to Palace beach, keep an eye out for the adorable, floppy eared donkeys, just waiting to come over and say hello.

Explore the Old Town: Lindo’s ancient cobblestoned old town is an absolute dream. We loved the bright pink bougainvillea, white washed homes and magical rooftop restaurants.

Where to eat: Pick from one of the many, gorgeous rooftop restaurants for an almost impossibly romantic evening meal. Our favorites were: Kalypso, Mythos and Dionysos.

At one point during the meal, Brad and I just sat in silence, sipping our wine and gazing at the Acropolis lit up at night. “How did you find this place?” Brad breathed in wonder.

How to get around: Scooter is by far the most fun way to get around Lindos. Plus you’re rewarded with stunning vistas and donkeys at every turn! We rented a scooter in town for a pretty minimal price and loved riding it to the beaches.

Where to stay: We stayed at Lambis Studios, a resort with sweeping views just up the hill from the Old Town.

Brad loves a good sunrise, and so hopped on the scooter one morning for the sun rising over St. Paul’s Bay. I was happy as a clam in my bed, but the pictures were fantastic, so if you can rouse your ass out of bed, I would recommend this.

GETTING THERE

We spent the first part of our week in Rhodes Town, and then took a bus to Lindos. The bus is a quick hour ride south of Rhodes Town.

Lindos, Rhodes is one of my most favorite places in Europe. It is, quite simply enchanting. For the ultimate relaxing, peaceful, romantic as all get out vacation full of ancient history and a joyous culture you can’t go wrong with Greece.

The Best of La Fortuna: Volcanoes, Thermal Baths and Wildlife Galore

Tropical, lush, and teeming with wildlife – Costa Rica is one of my most favorite places in the world. Brad and I recently returned from two weeks in Costa Rica – one week in La Fortuna and one in the Osa Peninsula and it was a perfect tropical getaway.

La Fortuna is a small town northwest of the capital, San Jose. Located in the valley of the volcano Arenal and surrounded by jungle, filled with tropical birds and sloths lounging languidly in the trees, La Fortuna is like a jungle fairytale come to life.

Cabin, Rancho Cerro Azul — Our beautiful jungle cabin

Where to stay: Rancho Cerro Del Azul. This place was wonderful, a total jungle paradise. The property backs up into the jungle and has tons of wildlife. We loved walking the private hiking trail to the La Fortuna river and looking for monkeys. Great deck and hammock. Beautiful high ceiling wooden cabin. Great breakfast in open air cafe overlooking the jungle. Great coffee, good pancakes, loved the jungle sounds. Very pretty bar and lovely, friendly staff.

How To Spend Your Days in La Fortuna:

Wake up early to make the most of your days in La Fortuna and watch the jungle come alive! In the early morning and again at twilight, the jungle around Rancho Cerro Azul bursts into life – bright green parrots soar through the skies, toucans pause in trees outside your deck singing their high pitched songs, and howler monkeys shriek their presence with their deep throaty calls. Sometimes we jetted off into the jungle, binoculars in hand to find the howler monkeys.

La Fortuna River

Searching for the howlersss

Head to an early breakfast for great coffee and more wildlife viewing. We had breakfast most mornings at our hotel’s restaurant Ginger, overlooking the jungle. The pancakes, fresh fruit and strong, rich, coffee were my favorite. It was a beautiful start to the day. Breakfast was not included, but was budget friendly.

Jungle Flower, Ginger Restaurant — Jungle flower table setting at breakfast

Because the afternoons can get very warm in La Fortuna, we either did our activities early in the morning, or later in the day. We spent entire afternoons lounging in our hammock, sipping wine and sparkling water, spotting toucans and parrots and a host of other brightly colored tropical birds flit from tree to tree.

Brie Hammock La Fortuna — Wake up, get breakfast, hop in the hammock!

The jungles of Costa Rica are so saturated with color it’s like looking through a filter at a rich technicolor world. Plants and flowers are vibrant greens and reds and neon pinks. Bright yellow and turquoise butterflies flutter through the foliage and parrots soar across azure sky in pairs, landing on the tip top of trees and canoodling. Seriously, parrots cuddle. It’s wonderful. In the evening, on the way back to our cabin after dinner, the air was filled with a rich, fragrant scent from blooming flowers.

Jungle Cabin and Horse, La Fortuna — View from our deck

Visit the hot springs: There are dozens of hot springs to try in La Fortuna, dotting the foot of the volcano. Our favorites are Ecotermales, Tabacon and Paradise.

Waterfall Ecotermales La Fortuna — Beautiful Ecotermales

Ecotermales: a magical, jungle paradise. I often find myself dreaming about this place. Picture: lush pools of increasingly warm temps, glittering waterfalls, stone lounge chairs submerged in the steaming pools and fresh fruit cocktails, all set in an idyllic, jungle oasis. It is the most magical at nighttime, as the jungle sounds come alive, and steam from the natural springs wafts into the night sky.

Rio Cholin: Free natural jungle hot springs. This gem was Brad’s favorite. Just past Tabacon, pay the parking guard two bucks and walk down the road to a series of natural hot springs in the jungle. Take a moment to breathe in the lush surroundings and pretend that you are in a scene from the Swiss Family Robinson! While luxuriating in the waters, we even spotted a massive green iguana enjoying the water himself! Tip: Head to the springs early in the morning to have them all to your yourself.

Brie and Brad Rio Cholin — Natural Hot Springs

Returning from the springs, we ran into this beautiful girl!

This is a pizote, a relative to the raccoon. Pizotes are playful, a little mischievous and completely lovable! We have been in love with them for years, after spotting the resident pizote “Pancho,” at Lomas Del Volcan on our first stay in La Fortuna.

Tabacon: Gorgeous, sprawling, lush hot springs. This place is a splurge, but glorious.

Paradise: This beautiful hot springs is relatively budget friendly and quiet.

Tabacon Hot Springs

Paradise Hot Springs

Tips: Always keep an eye out for wildlife. If you see a tour bus pull over and follow them! We got the best pictures of a beautiful sloth with her baby. Visited her four more times during the trip!

Lomas Del Volcan: The first time we visited La Fortuna, we stayed here at this hotel and thought that it was the most beautiful jungle setting that we had ever seen. Now – it is still lovely, but the owners built a restaurant so the unimpeded view of the volcano from the cafe is blocked.

Pool Lomas Del Volcan — Views from the Lomas Del Volcan pool

Where to Eat: Our favorite place was Tiquicia, a lovely open air restaurant with fresh Costa Rican food, about two minutes from Rancho Cerro Azul. Great cocktails, great mojitos, situated right next to a river. Very friendly, welcoming service. We loved the shrimp ceviche, and the arroz con pollo. We spent several leisurely evenings savoring our meals, sipping our cocktails and listening to the sounds of the jungle. We also liked Chipolte Tex Mex in town for great quesadillas and margaritas for less than 6 bucks. Ginger or Yellow Bark in town was good for laid back breakfasts of french toast and omelets though our favorite breakfasts were at our hotel – the view could not be beat.

Make yourself a dang quesadilla Napoleon!

Artwork at Chipolte Tex Mex

Other things to do in La Fortuna:

Volcano Hike – we went on this and the view is nice, butI would advise to skip it. You can see better views of the volcano and more wildlife at other places.

Zip lining and ATVing – fun! went on our previous trip. Ziplining through the rainforest was my favorite.

Final Word: Go to La Fortuna for the gorgeous jungle hot springs, volcano views, amazing wildlife and to completely and totally disconnect, relax and rejuvenate in a jungle paradise. Laying in my hammock, listening to the howler monkeys, watching tropical birds and kaleidoscopic butterflies flit between the trees and flowers is a memory I will visit often in my dreams. At one point we lounged on our deck during a tropical rainstorm. I hope that you have a chance to visit as well!

More Costa Rica Pics:

Natural Hot Springs!

Pineapple daquiri time!

Can you spot the iguana?

La Fortuna Town

LOVE these signs

Panther Crossing

One Week in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula: A Tropical Jungle Paradise

Known for its exquisite wildlife, lush jungles and secluded beaches, the remote Osa Peninsula has long been calling my name. It’s quite amazing to visit a place that is still relatively untouched, and it made my nature loving, adventure craving heart sing. I cannot recommend it enough.

After our time in Drakes Bay, we headed to the southern pacific coast of the Osa Peninsula, to a Lodge in Puerto Jiminez on the Golfo Dulce. And guys, it was take your breath away incredible. We glimpsed our first view of the beach through the palm trees and laughed with delight.

Iguana Lodge - Veranda — Iguana Lodge, That Veranda 😀

Where to Stay: Iguana Lodge. Set in the heart of the jungle, this eco lodge was wonderful. We loved every second. Amazing wildlife, gorgeous jungle pool and restaurant, delish fresh food, beautiful open air bungalow, thoughtful, eclectic touches everywhere.

This is the type of vacation where the balmy days melt into one another in a haze of sun glittering on sea, squawks of macaws, palm trees swaying, and fresh fruit drinks. There is no need to plan an activity, but rather breathe in your surroundings, enjoy the exquisite wildlife, laze in the hammocks, fully disconnect from real life and enjoy the wildness of the jungle.

How To Spend Your Days in the Osa Peninsula:

The Osa Pensinsula in March is balmy, borderline sweltering. Wake up EARLY each day for sunrise and to spot macaws soaring overhead in pairs. Take a swim if you dare (those waves are big), or gently sway in the brightly colored hammocks with a book and perfect view. Listen to the thundering sound of the howler monkeys call and take off trying to find which tree they are playing in.

Hammock time! Iguana Lodge, Puerto Jiminez — Hammock, ocean, books = happy girl

I’m AWAKE! ME! FOR SUNRISE!

Head to breakfast in the jungle – homemade baked goods and made to order specials are included with your stay at the Iguana Lodge. Try the cinnamon buns, banana muffins and mango scones lightly dusted with glistening crystallized sugar. (These were my absolute favorite). Sample the fresh pineapple and mango, all grown on property, or the made-to-order veggie omelettes.

Pet Cece, the resident massive Irish wolfhound as he pads around the resort on silent feet and rests his massive noggin in your lap, golden eyes staring into your soul.

Brad & CeCe - Iguana Lodge — Brad and CeCe – instant friends

Return to the beach to sway in the hammocks, listen to the waves and read more of your book before the weather gets really warm. Listen for the tell tale squeak of parrots or SQUAWK of the macaws.

Hammock time, Osa Peninsula — Pretty perfect tropical vibes

Take a dip in the sea salt pool, and breathe in the cacophonous jungle sounds. We spent languorous afternoons by the pool, reading books and watching howler monkeys play in the trees.

Pool Iguana Lodge — Spent *a lot* of time lounging around this baby

Head to the the gorgeous, airy, onsite restaurant for fresh seafood and pineapple/mango daiquiris. We just drank them constantly. The view from the restaurant was so staggeringly gorgeous, we spent quite a bit of time enjoying the balmy breeze off the sea, sipping daiquiris and basking in the view. Grab a shrimp salad or avo/orange/hearts of palm salad. Head back to your cabina for books and/or a nap. The afternoon heat this time of year gets so sweltering you will either want to be in the pool, or taking a nap. Probably both.

VIews from the Iguana Lodge — View from the restaurant

The lodge upgraded us to an open air bungalow and we were so thrilled we took full advantage of it! Sit on your deck and listen as the jungle sounds come alive at twilight, like a siren’s call captivating you to drop everything and listen. Macaws squawk in the distance, howler monkeys make their presence known, and on our last evening a troupe of squirrel monkeys stopped by to say hello!

Jungle Casita Iguana Lodge — Our bungalow!

Hammock Jungle Casita Iguana Lodge — You know I’m a sucker for a hammock and deck!

Our Deck, Iguana Lodge — Jungle view and the Nevernight Trilogy ❤

Head to the Beach BBQ Sunset Dinner: Yes this was just as magical as is sounds. We arrived promptly at the beach at 5pm, and chose our candle lit table. We watched pelicans surf the waves. We feasted on pineapple carrot slaw (yesss), sweet potato pepper salad, greens with avo, plums, carmelized onions and candied walnuts. The lodge also served pulled pork and cornbread. As the sky turned from cerulean to violet to pink to yellow, we sipped our Argentinian Sav Blanc, and toasted the Osa Peninsula.

Beach BBQ - Iguana Lodge — Beautiful beach BBQ + veggie heaven sides

Iguana Lodge Bonfire — Bonfire during dinner

Stroll out to the beach and watch the sky fill with stars while an orange moon rises. Yep, I said orange moon. Brad & I love a good star gazing, and the only place I have ever seen stars this amazing was at Young Lakes, Yosemite on a backpacking trip.

Other amazing dinners: Mahi mahi in garlic butter, served with pineapple carrot slaw, fries and a Chilean Sav Blanc. I’m always interested to find out from where different countries import their wines. Costa Rica offered quite a few Argentinean and Chilean wines.

IF YOU GO…

GETTING THERE: We took a 4X4 cab arranged by our hotel from Drake’s Bay to Puerto Jiminez. Most of the road was unpaved and intensely bumpy. For the return trip we took a prop plane to the San Jose Airport that was, let’s just say not for the faint of heart. Thank GOD for my Scopolamine patch. One very cool scene – as we while waiting for our plane we saw about twenty Scarlett Macaws exploding out of the surrounding jungle, squawking and flying overhead. It was absolutely amazing. I like to think they were saying goodbye. It happened so quickly we did not get a video, but I will remember it forever.

GETTING AROUND: The Iguana lodge is so remote that we spent all of our time exploring the beach and surrounding jungle. It was fab. You can take a taxi to town for $15 each way, if you would like. You can also take a tour to Matapalo which is meant to have fabulous wildlife.

Other Pictures from Osa:

Brad, living his best life

Beautiful, perfect, Cece ❤

Brad, Yoga Master

Well, hello!

Final thoughts: The Osa Peninsula is a wondrous, gorgeous, awe inspiring place. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s quite amazing to visit a place that is still relatively untouched, and it made my nature loving, adventure craving heart sing. The Iguana lodge was a special place with it’s almost deserted beach, wildlife, jungle casitas and unique touches, I know that we will visit again again and again. Next up on the blog – One Week in La Fortuna, Costa Rica – Volanoes, hot springs and wildlife galore!

A Long Weekend Getaway to Bavaria

A Roadtrip to Allgäu – the Most Beautiful Part of Germany

Last June, when my mom came to visit us in Germany, we took her on a weekend getaway to my most favorite part of Germany – Bavaria. I cannot recommend this place enough. We are talking sprawling green hills so lush they don’t look real, alpine roses cascading from flower boxes, little lakeside restaurants overlooking crystalline water with waitresses wearing dirndls, fairy tale castles and more beer gardens then you can count.

Beautiful Oberstdorf — Well, hello Bavaria!

We decided to visit Allgäu, because good friends of ours had visited and loved the region. It was a perfect road trip from our town in southern Germany, Esslingen. The easy drive took us about two hours and the area is so gorgeous and full of old fashioned Bavarian charm. Basically, we spent the entire trip gasping at the views, leaping out of the car for photo ops, taking strolls and spending languorous afternoons at cafes in the sunshine.

Beautiful Obersdorf — Seriously, so many ops for gorgeous pictures!

Day 1: We drove to the picaresque town of Oberstdorf, and stopped at the ridiculously beautiful alpine Schwand Hotel for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains covered in pines, a drink and ice cream!

View Alpine Roses — How can this even be real?!

Alpine Hotel — 100% pretending I’m in a scene from the children’s classic Heidi!

The Schwand Hotel, Oberstdorf — The Schwand Hotel

We've got a sundae! — Sundae Bavarian Styles! Yeah, I’m also biting Brad’s face.

From there, we hiked to the Freibergsee Lake about a mile away, and had to stop again when we came upon the alpine lakeside restaurant, for a bite and to take in the idyllic views. The waitresses wear drndyls and the place is full of German merrymakers making the most of their summer holidays. I couldn’t get over how lovely and pristine this place was.

Prost! Alpine Lake Styles — Prost Bavarian styles!

Alpine Lakeside Restaurant - Allgau — I mean….look at this view!

We ordered the most delicious salad (I’m not sure if I have mentioned this before, but southern Germany is NOT known for its tasty salads or veggie meals of any kind really. Honestly, they are non existent, so this was a real win).

Salad at the Freebergsee — OMG this salad – grilled chicken, sauteed mushrooms “fried potato pouches” and a creamy garlic dressing

Day 2: Visit Cinderella’s Castle: AKA Neuschwanstein Castle

Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1886, this castle is said to be the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s castle, and is a total fairy tale come to life. We got our tickets, took a shuttle bus and then walked about ten minutes up to the castle. You can tour the inside if you like, but I think the exterior is the most exciting and the best views are from the hanging bridge, over the valley. The castle, the town, the sweeping views – it is all a Bavarian dream.

20180630-144836 — Oh, just Sleeping Beauty’s Perfect Fairytale Castle Nestled in the Bavarian Alps!

Brie & Brad Neuschwanstein — Pretty Romantic Day!

20180630-154401 — The View on the Walk to the Castle

After visiting the Castle, we strolled around Lake Alpsee, and marveled at the clear azure waters and wildflowers. We also enjoyed a beer and sausage in one of the several cafes in the sunshine 🙂 Well, Brad and mom did. I had a Prosecco, per the usual. I just can’t get on board with beer, guys.

20180630-133437 — Mom & Brad strolling along the Alpsee

Where to stay: We stayed at an adorable AirBnB cottage in the town of Sonthofen, complete with flower boxes, views of the village and a Cuckoo Clock! It actually scared us all to death in the middle of the night, as it was totally LOUD. The room was spacious, comfy and exactly what we were looking for. We even saw a gentleman in town driving his tractor in lederhosen! Siiigh, I love Bavaria 🙂

Where to eat: We found a very yummy little Greek restaurant in town that we really enjoyed. Staff was super friendly. We also liked cafe Bene Kaffee & Laden for frühstück – German breakfast comprised of various cheeses, breads and spreads – butter, jams, etc.

More photos of the fam in Bavaria 😀

Oberstdorf

Lake Alpsee

Neuschwanstein Castle

Nope, no fun to be had here!

Final thoughts: Bavaria is my most favorite part of Germany, and I think the next time we return to Germany, we will visit again coupled with a hiking trip in Switzerland. I first became intrigued with the area, when a friend visited for a wedding and sent me photos. It looked like she had taken photos in front of a green screen – the rolling hills were so impossibly lush and picturesque. She drank hugos, ate Bavarian goodies and I knew I had to visit immediately. It absolutely did not disappoint!

The Best California Wines at Korbel Champagne Cellars

While we’re all stuck at home and practicing social distancing for the foreseeable future, I thought it might be a fun time to write about some delicious and affordable champagne options, because Lord knows, I could certainly use something fizzy and frivolous to elevate my mood right now!

Oh, Korbel Champagne Cellars in Sonoma County 😀 We have been visiting this place for the past seven years, on our way to the Russian River or St. Orres in Gualala. Good friend’s told us about this place, and we haven’t looked back since.

The tastings are free, and as our fav sommeiler once told us, “you get five tastings, but hey, I’m not a math major.” the grounds are gorgeous, the wine room is festive as all get out, and bottles cost about 13 bucks on average.

We always do the tasting because it’s fun, and end up taking home a few bottles of the Sec, the Organic Brut, the Rosé, and usually a red sparkling Rouge for the holidays, because that deep red with shimmering bubbles looks great on your table for Thanksgiving.

The Sec and Organic Brut you can only typically purchase at Korbel Champagne Cellars. If we’re feeling splurgy, we get a slice of the turtle cheesecake at the onside deli, grab a bottle of chilled Sec and sip our bubbles on the patio overlooking the vineyards.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Baby Brie & Brad – first visit to Korbel!

The Sec: This California sparkler is now actually a little too sweet for me, but it was the first sparkling wine I fell in love with. We served it at our wedding so it holds a very special place in my heart. It’s slightly sweet and delicately fruity with excellent bubbles. I recommend serving with orange or pomegranate juice as a mimosa.

The Organic Brut: ( Our new fav) – Light body, dry, with hints of fruit and delicate bubbles.

The Rouge: This dark red sparkling wine is tart and tangy and rich with a dry finish. Perfect for Thanksgiving and gorgeous on the table.

Next on the wine blog – best budget bubbles at Bevmo! I think we can all use some good recommendations for great sippin’ bubbly while we’re stuck in doors for the foreseeable future!

How To Spend a Perfect Weekend Camping in Henry Cowell

California’s Best Camping

I am a camping, wilderness loving, nature-is-my-heart-song, kind of gal. During the summer, Brad and I go on about six camping trips a year, lately a mixture of car camping and backpacking trips. One of my all time favorite places to camp is Henry Cowell in the Santa Cruz mountains. We have our favorite, glorious, campsite, and our schedule down pat. We leave work around 3pm, and we have our tent set up, fire going and bubbles in hand (beer for Brad) to toast by sunset. Summer camping in California is a thing of beauty ❤

Enjoy the jaw dropping, panoramic views.

Set up your camping chairs for maximum visuals, my favorite are the deluxe chairs from Home Depot. I gave these to Brad as a Valentine’s gift, and we have had these babies for about 8 years now. Grab your chilled drink of choice, snacks ( I like to make a deli platter, with cheese, chips and fruit), grab your favorite book and settle down for some intense lounging and soaking in the views.

Hike the Redwood Loop and to The Observation Deck

img_20190708_181231_383 — 100% this is the Godswood

Let the campfire mesmerize you

Hike to the Garden of Eden for a swim

This idyllic hike takes you through the towering redwoods, along a train track, (if you’re lucky you will hear the old steam town train through the trees), to a beautiful swimming spot with ice cold, crystal clear water. The hike lasts about half an hour, to the San Lorenzo river and back. Located off Route 9 in the Henry Cowell Redwoods. For an even more secluded spot, continue down the river

Head to the boardwalk!

At least once a season, we head to the Santa Cruz boardwalk for some sand, swimming, and rides. They also have really fun free nigh time concerts on Fridays and Saturdays. The drive is about 20 minutes from the campsite.

“We got more bounce in California…

Plan your return trip! 😀

More Camping Photos:

Note: I won’t be posting for the next two weeks, because I will be in Costa Rica, (insert haaaapy dance) but expect an epic post about volcanoes and thermal baths in La Fortuna, and wildife galore in the tropical jungle paradise of the Osa Peninsula!

How to Spend a Week In the Gorgeous Gold Coast

A trip to Australia’s dazzling Gold Coast is all about enjoying the balmy, tropical weather – lounging at beaches and lagoons, eating the spectacular seafood at outside patios, and enjoying the wildlife. Last March, we spent time in Sydney, followed by a week at the Gold Coast and completely fell in love with the Land Down Under. The Gold Coast is located south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast.

Highlights:

Beach and lagoon hopping up and down the Gold Coast

Lounging with roos’, visiting koalas and other Aussie critters

Top notch seafood – looking at you king prawns and the pies

Lorikeets flitting from tree to tree and fruit bats swooping through the night sky

A Visit to Carrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

We had the most amazing day lounging with kangaroos, holding koalas and feeding emu at Carrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. I legit dream about it all the time. This place is expansive and we spent several hours observing the creatures. Kangaroos and wallabies hop about with free reign of the park. You can hold a koala – if they aren’t feeling too sleepy. There is a lake filed with giant pelicans, trees filed with chattering jewel colored lorikeets, and skittering fringed lizards can be spotted everywhere. Buy feed at the entrance and feed the ‘roos, as you wander through the park. It’s a magical experience. Turkeys and sacred Ibis roam the grounds. Emu wander around as well, which you can feed (I did, but only after a few fortifying breaths. Emu are intimidating AF.)

Lounging with Kangaroos, Currumbin Gold Coast — I think this should be our new family portrait

Lounging with Kangaroos, Carrumbin, Gold Coast — Kanga conversations. I love this country.

Clever girl...raptors in Carrumbin Animal Reserve — Clever girl…….of COURSE we found the raptor

Koala Carrumbin — Look at this perfect little facer

As we were leaving the reserve to begin our beach hopping, a volunteer at the park suggested we grab some fish & chips at The Beach Shack in Currumbin, and enjoy the expansive views. Great recommendation!

Cotton candy clouds at Currumbin Beach, Gold Coast — Cotton candy clouds at Currumbin Beach – not a bad view for lunch!

Beach hopping:

Spend a few days exploring the beaches and lagoons up and down the Gold Coast! The beaches are varied and gorgeous.

Surfer’s Paradise/Broadbeach

Stroll the promenade and enjoy the sun at Surfer’s Paradise. Enjoy some $5 seafood tacos at Koi in classy Broadbeach, followed by cocktails at one of their many great patio happy hours or at a Surfer’s Paradise beach bar. In Broadbeach during one of our happy hours, lorikeets literally filled the sky. It was was amazing.

Surfer's Paradise, Gold Coast! — Gold Coast baby!!! (That’s right – I will never get over Joey T)

Surfer's Paradise Beach — This beach was gorgeous, but quite windy

Burleigh Heads

Choose a spot anywhere along the water for stunning views of Surfer’s Paradise and some sunshine. Grab a curry chicken pie at one of the delicious bakeries in Burleigh Heads, then a pick a spot to lounge on the grass.

Tallebudgera Beach

Check out Tallebudgera Beach for a swim in the serene, turquoise lagoon surrounded by pines. Spot the lorikeets chattering wildly and flitting about in the trees. This was my favorite beach – the water was so placid and clear, it felt like we in Polynesia! It also had a very local vibe, which I loved.

Tallabudgera Beach, Gold Coast — This stunner of an estuary was a great find!

Turquoise, clear water at Tallebudgera Beach

Are we…are we in Fiji?!?

Pretty much my expression the entire trip

Wildlife

I often find myself day dreaming about lounging on our deck at twilight, watching bright, jewel colored rainbow lorikeets as they swooped from tree to tree in pairs and cockatoos flitting through the sky. Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, the estuary sparkled green and as the sun set, fruit bats filled the sky. We sat watching the birds and taking in the view for ages. Australia is showstopper, through and through.

All The Seafood

We went to the most delicious Asian fusian place in Broadbeach called Mamasan, recommended by some friends who live in Sydney and had one of the best meals of my life. Australian king prawns in a rich green curry with perfectly cooked veggies. Brad and I talk about it all the time. Honestly – I was so enraptured by my meal, I could barely make myself snap one quick pic, before I devoured it.

Australian King Prawns!

Where to stay

We stayed at an AirBnb at Surfer’s Paradise overlooking the estuary. Very comfy, great pool, nice views. Another great option is Broadbeach. More sophisticated vibe, better restaurants, but Surfer’s Paradise has the better beach. Can’t go wrong with either place 🙂

Transport

We had a car, which you will need for the beach-hopping. It’s also the best option to get from the Brisbane airport to the Gold Coast. There is a very nice train running from Broadbeach to Surfer’s Paradise, or you could use Uber.

As you can probably guess, we have already begun planning our next trip to Australia. We are thinking of flying into Brisbane and driving the Great Ocean Road. Brad would like to visit the Barrier Reef as well. I would like to visit Byron Bay, because I am bound and determined to meet Chris Hemsworth.

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(Spoiler: It’s not difficult!)

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How To Spend Your Days in La Fortuna:

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How To Spend Your Days in the Osa Peninsula:

IF YOU GO…

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A Roadtrip to Allgäu – the Most Beautiful Part of Germany

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California’s Best Camping

Enjoy the jaw dropping, panoramic views.

Hike the Redwood Loop and to The Observation Deck

Let the campfire mesmerize you

Hike to the Garden of Eden for a swim

Head to the boardwalk!

Plan your return trip! 😀

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Highlights:

A Visit to Carrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Beach hopping:

Surfer’s Paradise/Broadbeach

Burleigh Heads

Tallebudgera Beach

Wildlife

All The Seafood

Where to stay

Transport

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