Weekend Trips From Seattle That Feel Like a Real Vacation

One of the best things about living in the Seattle area is that you don't have to board a plane or take a week off work to feel like you've escaped. Some of my favorite vacations have happened less than three hours from home. The moment you step onto a ferry, watch the skyline disappear behind you, or settle into a waterfront cabin, it feels like you've traveled much farther than you actually have.

Weekend trips have become one of my favorite ways to travel. They're easy to fit into a busy schedule, they don't require months of planning, and they remind me that adventure doesn't always have to mean crossing an ocean. Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. 

Whether you're craving a relaxing spa weekend, charming coastal towns, fresh seafood, beach walks, or island hopping, these destinations offer the perfect reset. Each one has its own personality, but they all share one thing in common—they make you feel like you're on a true vacation.

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Vancouver, Washington: One of the Best Easy Weekend Trips from Seattle

If you're looking for an easy Pacific Northwest getaway, Vancouver, Washington might just be one of the most overlooked destinations in the whole region! Located just across the Columbia River from Portland, this charming city offers a walkable downtown, a beautiful waterfront, fantastic restaurants, and plenty of local character.
For travelers searching for weekend trips from Seattle or Tacoma, or even a day trip, Vancouver, WA delivers the perfect mix of convenience and charm! It's close enough for a spontaneous getaway but full enough of things to do that you can easily spend an entire weekend away exploring.
Between browsing vintage shops, walking along the waterfront, eating your way through local restaurants, and discovering the city's history, Vancouver is the kind of Pacific Northwest destination that gives you that off the beaten path feel. You'll leave feeling like you chipped away at one of those spots that no one else knows about, so get out there and enjoy it before anyone catches on!
Here's how to plan the perfect Vancouver, Washington getaway.

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Visiting Vancouver Canada in the Winter: A Complete Guide to a Cozy, Festive, and Surprisingly Easy City Escape

Vancouver in the winter has a kind of magic that sneaks up on you. It's crisp but not freezing, festive without being chaotic, and bursting with gorgeous views even when the clouds roll in. It's the kind of winter getaway where you can park your car once, explore world-class neighborhoods on foot, warm up with incredible food, and hop between Christmas markets, museums, gardens, and waterfront views all in the same day! And the US dollar goes far right now giving you a discount on everything you buy.
Whether you're planning a long weekend, a family trip, or a midweek escape, this guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Vancouver in the winter, including where to stay, what to do, how to get around, and can't miss seasonal experiences.

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A Couple's Review of Secrets Playa Mujeres Resort in Cancun, Mexico

I love a good resort vacation and I love traveling the world. But the one vacation that actually feels like a vacation to us is a trip to an all-inclusive resort. We started sneaking away as a couple when the kids were much smaller for a few days here and there. We even brought our kids to a few all inclusive resorts where they quickly became a favorite for our family. Unlimited drinks, food and a beautiful beach, what more could you ask for? We realized it had been about five years since the last time we went to an all inclusive resort {thank you global pandemic}, and my husband was insistent that we stay at the Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort. Because I can be happy at a Motel 6 or hanging in a hammock on the beach, my husband's standards and desires typically come into play in our resort selection. Just because my standards are different, doesn't mean that I don't have opinions! As someone who has stayed at more than a dozen all inclusive resorts in more than five countries, this is the review you are going to want to read before you book!

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Circle the Emerald Isle in 15 Days! The Best Self-Driving Ireland Itinerary. Part 2 Exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Welcome back to part 2 of Circle the Emerald Island in 15 Days! This is the PERFECT self-driving Ireland itinerary. If you missed part 1 of the trip, we started in Dublin and headed on a counterclockwise tour around the island. We've already explored Northern Ireland and the Antrim Coast and dipped our toes in the Wild Atlantic Way. We will continue exploring Ireland, with this portion focusing on some of the most beautiful rugged coastline and including some outdoor adventure. This part of the trip includes more charming towns and villages as we continue to immerse ourselves in the local Irish culture and hospitality. 

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Circle the Emerald Isle in 15 Days! The Best Self-Driving Ireland Itinerary. Part 1: Northern Ireland and the Antrim Coast

You know the beloved quote by travel lovers, "I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list!" This sums up how we embrace travel, especially as we are getting older. As a couple, we want to make sure we fully embrace each of the areas we are travelling to because there are so many places on our list, that we want to make sure we see them all, and we don't just scratch the surface with our travels; we want to feel like we really saw them. I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland a few years ago with a travel writers group, and I fell in love with the island in the short time I was there. The diversity of the country, the incredible people, the wonderful food and the tumultuous history, had me wanting to dive in and get back to Ireland to explore it the way we like to explore a place, thoroughly and slowly embracing every moment.  My biggest fear was that we had only scheduled 15 days to self-drive the whole island, and I wasn't sure that would allow for us to really immerse ourselves in the culture and not just be bouncing around, but we quickly found that it was the absolute perfect amount of time! 
We put hours upon hours of planning every portion of our Ireland itinerary. We found that there were some items that were major hits, and a few that we could have skipped, but overall, it's an itinerary we wanted to share because it was absolutely perfect! Of course, there were a few things we would have changed and those will be noted in the itinerary, but overall, we patted ourselves on the back for our planning! We left Ireland having experienced the food, the culture, making friends with the people and slowly exploring the popular and not so popular spots. If I never get the opportunity to travel back to Ireland, I left feeling like I really got a good taste of the country and to me, that's the most perfect ending to any trip. So come along with me as I share the perfect 15-day self-driving itinerary of Ireland.

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Exploring Africa: The Pros and Cons of Booking a Private Safari

Africa feels like home to me. I've been to several countries, immersed myself in local issues, learned more about rich cultural heritage, and experienced breathtaking wildlife and incredible landscapes. Africa has always been a dream destination for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike, and for good reason! What better way to experience the raw beauty of this continent than embarking on a safari? While group safaris are a popular choice for many travelers, we recently opted for an alternative that promises a more personalized and intimate experience- booking a private safari. I'm going to dive deep into the pros and cons of opting for a private safari so that you can make the best decision as you embark on exploring Africa.

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The Pros and Cons of Going on Safari to East Africa During the Rainy Season

Going to Africa is a bucket list trip for many! You could read on and on about when you should go to Africa, but sometimes your schedule {like ours!} dictates when you are actually available to travel. Most travelers choose to visit during the dry season, which is usually the end of June to the end of October. After we booked our trip and before we traveled I got sucked into blog post after blog post and article after article telling me why November was a horrible time to visit Africa! I got nervous and started tempering my expectations. After taking a three-week-long trip to East Africa in November, where we went on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, trekked gorillas in Uganda, went to Ngorongoro Crater, and made our way through Serengeti National Park before ending our trip with relaxation in Zanzibar, I started a running list of the pros and cons of visiting East Africa on safari in November. The pros list was surprisingly longer than I anticipated and this was the post I was hoping to read before our trip. Since I didn't find an honest report {outside of the ones that said don't book the trip!}, I am sharing our experience here in the hope that it will help you too!

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Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for a Gorilla Trekking Bucket List Trip in Africa

Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows you to observe and interact with endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. As an animal lover, who likes nothing more than seeing animals in the wild, this was an item on the bucket list I couldn't wait to experience. I had traveled to Africa twice before and in preparation for my third trip, I knew I wanted to add gorilla trekking to my experience. I was not disappointed! Travelers can take part in the unique adventure in three different African countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Each destination offers its own set of attractions and challenges, and I'll do my best to help educate you so that you can choose the one that works best with your preferences and travel goals. I'll also share a few things I wish I had known and some things that really worked well for us on our gorilla trekking experience. If you've got gorilla trekking on your bucket list too, or if you've never even considered it, keep reading!

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Cheap Date Ideas for Couples Who Don't Need a Babysitter Anymore!

The moment you’ve been long waiting for as parents have finally arrived. Your kids are old enough that they don’t need a sitter! But after ten or so years of having to work around a babysitter, you might be a little short on ideas for what you should do with your newly found freedom as parents. If you are looking for some fabulous budget-friendly date ideas that you can do when you don’t have to worry about a sitter, here are some of my favorite ideas.

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Vacation Destination Ideas for Milestone Anniversary Trips

Regardless of the anniversary milestone, and no matter how many years or decades it’s been since you said “I do,” a trip gives you the perfect opportunity to celebrate this important milestone in your relationship as a married couple. A romantic getaway is an ideal opportunity for you to relive your honeymoon 20+ years later or get some much-needed downtime with your spouse for once. It might even be the first trip you take together as a couple since having a family. Here are some of my favorite vacation destinations for milestone anniversaries.

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Doing Good in Downtown Seattle

This time of year gets extra busy, so why not set aside 24 hours for a couples getaway? It's also the time of giving, so why not make the most of both and book an evening at the Charter Hotel Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton and give back to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with the Hilton Legacy Package.  I love being downtown and I love giving back, and we have all been affected by cancer in some way, so why not support this amazing partnership and enjoy your time in Seattle being pampered AND doing good.

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