Traveling IRL: January Insights
Missed ya the last two months while I was busy baking and reading :) but I’m back and am aiming to get out a monthly insights newsletter along with some of my other travel stories tips.
In November and December, I laid low in Oregon, did A LOT of baking, finished book number 31 to surpass my goal of 30 books for the year, and went on a few local adventures.
I finally saw Wicked and tried my first espresso martini — loved them both! Went snowboarding for the first time this year, celebrated my dogs adoptaversary and birthday, went on a fun wintery hike, and took a quick weekend trip up to Seattle to watch the Vikings play the Seahawks. (SPORTS) Tried a few new Portland restaurants and planned the last few items for the first trip of 2025 — Hawaii!
So while I technically laid low, I realize I was actually busier than I thought. Highlights were definitely the winter hike to Tamanawas Falls and getting out to the mountain to go snowboarding. I finally bought some Yaktraks for winter hiking!
As this is a January insight, it would be remiss not to include a few snippets from Hawaii. It was absolutely the right move to head to Hawaii during the first week of 2025—the sunny beach life was spot of joy in the midst of the gray season in Oregon.
Part of the reason for the trip to Hawaii was to celebrate my dad’s retirement! He and my mom were already planning a trip so we thought it would be fun to meet up.
5 days on Maui was just enough time to get a taste of the island life and upon landing at PDX I already thought, “When can I go back?”
Truly, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t really know what to expect, but now I can see why it’s a place that people go back to over and over again. Maybe I’ll be one of those people.
More on Hawaii in a separate post, but just wanted to pop in with a monthly insight before the month gets away from me!
Travel planning for 2025 is in full swing — the only trip that is actually on the books is a California road trip with my bestie, otherwise I have some loose plans to head to Portugal in September and to finally see the European Christmas markets in France and Germany next December.
xx
Hawai'i is absolutely beautiful. I've only been once, and it was only for a week, but I would love to go back one day.