The best way to explore an off-beat destination

Stately old homes. Sprawling plantations. Oaks dripping in Spanish Moss. And more American history than you can shake a stick at. This is the Old South. For those not familiar with the various regions of the U.S. (and, let's face it, even those of us who are could use a refresher every now and then), the “Old South” refers to the Southern states that were a part of the original 13 colonies. These generally include Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. And, for a week, I was road tripping through this region of America. I'll be writing about my adventures and the beautiful cities and cool attractions I visited in upcoming posts, but for now I wanted to share some of the highlights of this weeklong southern road trip in photos. Williamsburg My sister and I began our journey in Virginia's “Historic Triangle,” kicking off with a day in Williamsburg, where we were transported back to the colonies in the year 1779. Horse and...

From Milwaukee – October 2009 Ehhhhhhh…. 6 months. Gone. Seriously. What HAPPENED? I  blacked out. I must have. Last thing I remember is putting my home of 6+ years on the market. Now I’m sitting on a cafe patio in Vancouver (in February) scratching my head trying to figure out how I got here. Chicago – October 2009 Chi City Usually at this time of year I look back at the past 12 months and reflect on the good times had and prepare for what’s to come. Right now I’m having a hard time piecing that together. The last 6 months have been an absolute blur. Did I really pose with a statue of the Fonz in Milwaukee? Was i really there when Erin’s father landed a 48 lbs lake trout on Great Slave Lake? The Millers? Did I have the swine flu?? Do I really own this amazing new place in Vancouver? Did I really get hit on by a tranny in Seattle?? What the eff is going on?? I blacked out and now I can’t really recall any of this. The Millers October ...

Barking sea lions. Salty air. Waves crashing on critter-filled tidepools. Rolling hills dusted with bright orange poppies and intersected with redwood-filled valleys. Driving Pacific Coast Highway is the most beautiful road trip in the entire world. Sure, as a born-and-raised Californian I’m definitely biased, but also – it’s true.  Our favorite way to spend a weekend is to hop into a car and head down the Pacific Coast Highway, sea breeze whipping Lia’s hair into my mouth somehow, cheap sunglasses glinting in the sun, singing along to our Driving in California Playlist, and stopping every few minutes to take in the view. It’s one of the best parts of living here, and as Lia likes to say, we fell in love on long drives down Highway One. Today, we’ve poured that love into creating the ideal 10-day California Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary, full of the best stops along Highway One. Our itinerary covers all of our favo...