I’ve been dying to go back to Austin since the summer of 2019 when I first visited. The only thing I could think was love at first sight. It was truly heavenly. For Thanksgiving, I knew I could get a few days off around work and jumped at the opportunity to head back and visit …
“Returning Home from Abroad: Tears and a Big Reunion” is part of a month-long series I am doing on my readjustment into the US after living in New Zealand for 2 years during Covid-19. I had a pretty big weekend. I moved continents and countries. I left New Zealand and went long-distance with my boyfriend …
This weekend, I headed out to Aspiring National Park for a much-anticipated backpacking trip. I have been wanting to go camping in the backcountry since arriving in New Zealand, which was unfortunately in winter. Due to my strange hospitality job schedule and the excessive amounts of winter rain, I never got around to it. But …
Wellington is an upbeat, young and hip city. After spending time in Auckland, which was more globally-minded and posh, Wellington was a breath of fresh air. From diverse food and street art to sweeping city views and terraced landscaping, Wellington had character. On our way down, we stopped at Lake Taupo for coffee and saw …
Well, today may have been our most insane adventure yet. From going caving in the middle of winter to see glow worms, to meeting a friend-of-a-friend, who owns a coffee shop in a 9,000 person town in rural New Zealand, I am not sure which part was more shocking! So, Waitomo, NZ, 2 hours south …
The journey from Santa Barbara, CA to New Zealand was surprisingly short and sweet. After getting 6 hours of sleep on the plane and watching a man storm down the aisle having a meltdown because his wife moved seats away from him (think Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids but less funny and more concerning), the 13-hour …
Half Dome is the ultimate Yosemite day hike – the one you can’t die without doing, and the one you’re most likely to die while doing. Yosemite Day Hikes Last week, Nick, Ben and I hiked Half Dome. Half Dome is a dome-shaped rock in Yosemite National Park- famous for its unique shape and its …
On my road trip across the United States, I stopped at Lower Antelope Canyon. After spending the night at Lake Powell in Utah (see this adventure here), Nick and I woke up bright and early and headed out to Lower Antelope Canyon in Arizona. The only way to visit the canyon is to go through …
This January I had the chance to visit a friend in Lausanne and travel to Montreux, Switzerland for a few days. I was able to go up to hot springs at the base of the alps- it was such an incredible experience. This is Lake Geneva.