Finding direction and purpose from travel and culture
We've been trying to plan a trip to Japan for several years now. This fall the stars aligned and we are actually making it happen! Brian visited Japan in 2014 for work, traveling to Tokyo, Kyoto, Utsunomiya, and Nagoya. He came back raving about the experience—the architecture, the cuisine, the hospitality, and the efficiency and …
Continue reading Planning to Visit Japan
Ever since we hiked the Old Robe Canyon Trail and learned about the ghost town of Monte Cristo we've been wanting to hike to it. The trailhead is a good hour plus from our house and the hike is more than eight miles-- not accounting for time to actually explore the site itself-- so we …
Continue reading Washington Hikes: Monte Cristo
We met my parents in Spokane for the weekend and stayed at an incredible spot called the Historic Davenport Hotel. The hotel is in a great location—within walking distance of everything we wanted to do—has parking just across the street, and has some great amenities and history that ended up making it a destination unto …
Continue reading Places to Stay in Spokane: Historic Davenport Hotel
There are so many things to learn when you move somewhere new, and among them is the geography. I'm guessing many people have heard of Long Beach. I certainly had. I just assumed that when people here in Washington were referring to it, they meant the one in California. In my defense, a ton of people …
Continue reading Hikes and History of Long Beach, Washington
Did you know the United Parcel Service (UPS) was founded in Seattle's Pioneer Square in 1907 by two teenagers? That it was known as the American Messenger Co. until 1919 when its headquarters relocated to California? Me either! Not until my mom stumbled upon an 'only in your state' article that featured a few historical gems …
Continue reading Seattle’s UPS Waterfall Garden Park
When we planned our week-long trip to Hawaii, we spent a lot of time narrowing down the islands we would visit and the list of things we wanted to do, trying to be reasonable about what we would be able to enjoy in just a few short days. From the beginning of our planning, the …
Continue reading Hawaii: Oahu’s Pearl Harbor
When we moved to Washington, we committed to exploring the Pacific Northwest and making the most of our access to places, things and experiences unique to this part of the country and world. We wanted to really get to know this area while remaining open to seeing where life and our careers take us. As part of …
Continue reading Aloha, Hawaii!
We spent a lovely long weekend in Yakima Valley for our anniversary, tasting incredible wine, eating amazing food, and exploring a new part of Washington. On Saturday we had an entire day of wine tasting planned in the Rattlesnake Hills wine region and knew we would need some other activities to break up all our winery visits. …
Continue reading Learning Railroad History in Toppenish, Washington
As I researched things to do in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany in preparation for our trip, the city of Lubeck seemingly always topped the lists of 'top places to see' and 'the best day trips from Hamburg.' Only a 45-minute train ride from Hamburg, this city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987-- the first time …
Continue reading Germany: Day Trip to Lubeck
Yesterday I had the privilege of taking part in a historic event-- the 40th Anniversary of the Kent State University shootings that took place May 4, 1970. I didn't learn much about the era, protests, war or music until high school, and I learned a great deal in a very meaningful way during college. Kent …
Continue reading 40th Anniversary of the Kent State Shootings
Finding direction and purpose from travel and culture
Finding direction and purpose from travel and culture
Finding direction and purpose from travel and culture
