Road Trip.The World (2024)

13/05/2023

Our first 2 years as husband & wife flew by in the blink of an eye, here’s to a lifetime of anniversaries to go 💛

28/04/2023

If Dan’s taking close-ups of flowers it’s safe to say we’re vibing with the location 💜

These are the top 3 places we’ve been to in Indonesia through flower photos 👇🏼

1️⃣ Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Easily the most beautiful rice terraces in Bali and also the biggest! If you walk just a few minutes from the main paved path you can have huge parts of the terraces all to yourself and they are all super photogenic 😍

Top tip: be sure to wear comfy shoes you wouldn’t mind getting muddy 🥾

2️⃣ Ulu Danu Beratan Temple

This Balinese temple has more things to do than any other one we’ve visited in all of Southeast Asia! Other than the beautiful lakefront temple there is a bunny and owl petting zoo, lovely expansive gardens, a Bali gate you can put on traditional Balinese attire and take photos in front of, and other small attractions.

Top tip: stop in their on-site restaurant and try some luwak coffee ☕️ made from coffee beans found in the droppings (yup, that’s right 💩) of the Indonesian civet cat which you can also see in-person at their petting zoo!

3️⃣ Mt. Bromo

On the eastern part of the island of Java you can find this active volcano standing at 2,329 meters tall. Climb to the top and stand on the rim looking directly into the massive crater 🌋

Top tip: you can hike to the crater of Mt. Bromo for free if you go to the village of Cemoro Lawang where your accommodations will be and use the secret passage next to the hotel Cemara Indah. You get inside the hotel parking lot and go right, down to the pathway that leads you to the Sea of Sand. Not only free (you will avoid the cost of booking a tour and paying the national park entry fee) but also a shortcut.

📌 SAVE for your next trip to beautiful Indonesia 😄🇮🇩

13/04/2023

Our favorite excursion of Nusa Penida was visiting the famous Diamond Beach 💎

This beach gets its name from the diamond-shaped limestone cliff jutting out of the sea 😍

In addition to admiring the views from the top, you can do the 10 minute climb down to the beach. Just be aware that at the end of this short hike some rock climbing involving rope will be necessary 🧗🏼‍♂️

Also, swimming is not permitted as well as pretty impossible because of the rocks but it’s still worth going down in our opinion!

Side note- many of Nusa Penida’s beaches are extremely polluted, this one is a lot better than others since it is somewhat maintained and more difficult to access. There is still trash that washes up on the beach closer to the cliffs so just be aware that, sadly, the beaches on this island are not as pristine as you would expect them to be.

02/04/2023

Something about watching the sunrise after hiking to the top of a volcano makes you want to jump for joy 🤩

Fun fact- the most acidic lake in the world is in the crater of Mt Ijen located on the island of Java in Indonesia! To reach the top it takes about 2 hours of hiking at a very steep incline and a 2am wake up call ⏰

To say that the view at the end is worth it is an understatement 💙

Don’t forget your gas mask to protect from the sulfur air causing the overwhelming smell of rotten eggs 😷

22/03/2023

Swipe to find out why this place is called Pig Island ➡️🐽

Located 20 minutes off the coast of Koh Samui in Thailand, Koh Mat Sum (aka Pig Island), came to be when a few pigs were rescued from market and set free to roam the island. Of course, they multiplied and now there are about a dozen of them!

A Pig Island day trip by longtail boat is one of the best things to do from Koh Samui 💙

📌 SAVE for your next visit to Thailand 🇹🇭

11/03/2023

Soaking in the palm tree views on our favorite Thai island 😍🌴

Koh Tao completely exceeded our expectations in every way- from the food, marine life, beaches, and amazing vibes 💙

We still have a few islands left to visit on our trip but this one’s gonna be hard to beat!

Which island in Thailand is your favorite?

03/03/2023

The biggest highlight of our trip to Krabi was taking a longtail boat to Railay Beach and spending the day there 🧡

Thought it’s located on the mainland, this beach is only accessible by boat due to the high limestone cliffs cutting off land access.

We recommend visiting on your own rather than on a tour so you can take your time to really explore! A few things you can do here are rock climb, kayak, hike, bar hop, and chill on the beach 🏖️

To get to Railay from Ao Nang go to the Longtail Boat Service Club where they charge 100 baht per person each way until 6pm. If you want to get back after 6 you can catch another boat at Railay Beach for 150 baht until midnight.

📌 SAVE for your next visit to Krabi & follow for more Thailand travel recommendations 🇹🇭

25/02/2023

Temple hopping is one of the best things to do in Chiang Rai 💛

All of these temples were at the top of our Thailand bucket list!

We visited Wat Huay Pla Klang, White Temple, and Blue Temple (not pictured).

❗️HONEST DISCLAIMER ⬇️

These temples are all beautiful and the photo ops are amazing but we did not want to spend more than 10 minutes at any of them.

This experience felt extremely touristy and inauthentic as there is not very much to do other than take photos while being surrounded by a TON of other tourists doing the same thing.

This is just not ideal for adventure travelers like us who live for getting immersed in culture and going off the beaten path.

We recommend visiting some more low key temples in Chiang Rai in addition to these!

Our job is to be completely transparent with you guys about all of our experiences and not sugar coat something just because we got good pictures out of it.

By no means are we saying to skip these temples- we just want you to have the realistic expectations that we didn’t have 😊 and if you don’t feel the same way as we do about these temples that is 100% okay! Everyone likes to travel differently and has their own unique lens!

Have you visited any of these temples? Drop your experience in the comments so fellow travelers can learn from it ❤️

14/02/2023

Who needs a selfie stick when you have an elephant trunk? 🤳🏻🐘😂

This full-day elephant jungle expedition is one of the best experiences in the Chiang Mai area and was truly an unforgettable adventure!

After hiking through the jungle, we prepared a Thai picnic by a waterfall using only the natural resources around us- our guide showed us how to carve cutlery from bamboo we found and how to make fire 🔥

We then swam and played with the elephants in the Mae Wang river after which we helped to prepare their food and fed them!

To get back we sailed down the river on a bamboo raft and wrapped up the day enjoying happy hour with the elephants 🍹

Book this ethical tour with The Chai Lai Orchid Echo Lodge, you can even get a bungalow here and spend the night if you book far enough in advance!

📌 SAVE for your next trip to Thailand

26/01/2023

9 years ago we were just a couple of high school kids falling in love, now we’re married to our best friend and getting ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime ❤️

Here’s to our anniversary and continuing to fall more in love with each other every day 🥰

20/01/2023

We explored Antelope Canyon WITHOUT a tour, here’s how you can too ⬇️

Antelope Canyon is easily the most famous slot canyon in the USA! Because it is on protected Navajo land, tours are required for both the lower and upper parts of the canyon. This means being wedged in a tiny slot canyon with dozens of people.

BUT what most people don’t know is that you can also kayak or jet ski to a portion of Antelope Canyon and hike there on your own.

There are several kayak and jet ski rental shops in the town of Page. After picking up your rental and receiving directions you will drive to the Lake Powell Boat Launch and start the journey to Antelope Canyon!

If you’re kayaking you will need to allocate the whole day as the trip is roughly 2 hours each way.

But the beautiful canyon views on the way there make it all worth it. There’s something so serene about kayaking through a canyon.

Once you reach Antelope Canyon, park your kayak/jet ski and start exploring this natural masterpiece 😍

11/01/2023

Some of the best things in life are the result of taking a risk that terrifies you.

These photos were shot on a mountain overlook in North Carolina which we had hiked to for our engagement photoshoot.

No one could have predicted that when we reached the top we would get hit with crazy 30 mph winds!

During this shoot we were freezing and afraid of being blown off the mountain altogether, which is why we held on to each other so tightly in the second shot 😂

But we laughed through the fear and the photos turned out incredible because our smiles were authentic, expressing genuine emotion.

As we embark on the journey of traveling full-time, the idea of moving out of our apartment and taking a one-way flight to Thailand in just 3 weeks feels remarkably similar to standing on that ledge.

Nonetheless, we know that the result will be something beautiful.

The very best things in life come to you when you step out of your comfort zone and we can’t wait to take this leap of faith! (figuratively of course 😜)

03/01/2023

The best college town in America, and also the place where Dan grew up, is beautiful Princeton, New Jersey!

We’ve visited every Ivy League University in the Holy Trinity, Harvard, Princeton & Yale, and in our (entirely biased) opinions- Princeton has the most to do, the best food, and the most stunning campus 😍

Here are our favorite places to visit when we’re in Dan’s hometown, all of these spots can be visited on a walk around the main campus and into town:

1. Princeton University Chapel- this is the third largest college chapel in the world, designed in a signature Collegiate Gothic style and the center of spirituality on campus for many denominations- it is truly something to see.

2. Prospect House & Garden- the most beautiful gardens in Princeton are located right on campus and aren’t known by most visitors. Prospect House itself is a reception facility for faculty designed with Italian architecture but it is surrounded by a lush five-acre garden that is absolutely enchanting to explore!

3. Princeton University Art Museum- with a collection that dates back to 1755 and has grown to include more than 112,000 works spanning the globe, this is one of the leading university art museums in the country.

4. Nassau Hall- It's impossible to miss Nassau Hall. Fronted by a lush Green and massive iron gates, this architectural masterpiece is home to Princeton University's administrative offices. Just look for all of the prospective students staring up at the building in awe.

5. Lindt Chocolate Shop- stop in here to sample some delicious chocolate and on a chilly day even ask them to turn any of their dozens of flavors into a yummy cup of hot chocolate that you can walk around town sipping.

6. Hoagie Haven- If you’re looking for a taste of college life, this is it. Going back to the early 70's, Hoagie Haven was the first to serve up huge hoagies in the Princeton area and has been a favorite for university students ever since! Our favorite sandwich? The Sanchez- made with chicken cutlets, cheese, mozzarella sticks, fries, and Sanchez sauce!

Would you visit this college town?

23/12/2022

The best sunrise hike in Zion National Park 😍

Canyon Overlook is a 1 mile out-and-back trail and is considered a moderately challenging route, it takes about half an hour to complete.

This is the shortest hike in the park to get you to a viewpoint above the canyon, making it perfect for sunrise because you won’t have to start too early and climb while it’s completely dark.

Have you ever visited Zion or is it your travel bucket list? 🧡

13/12/2022

As cliché as it may be, sunsets in Santorini just hit different 😍

Every day of our trip we got to take in stunning sunset views, a few of which are the most beautiful we’ve ever seen 🧡

Some things really are famous for a reason!

What’s one thing you’ve experienced in your travels that lived up to the hype?

05/12/2022

San Francisco is one of our favorite cities in the U.S., known for its beautiful architecture, diverse neighborhoods, and iconic sights ❤️

If you’re limited on time when you visit, here’s how you can spend one perfect day in this amazing city ⬇️

1. Start the day at Battery Spencer, the best viewpoint of the Golden Gate bridge as you can see 😍

2. Check out Ghirardelli Square’s chocolate shop, stores, & restaurants.

3. Drive through Lombard Street, famously known as the most crooked street in the world!

4. Visit SF’s Chinatown, one of the oldest in the U.S. It is a fun place to visit with bustling streets, lots of vendors, dim sum joints, tea shops, and a bunch of unique stores.

5. Go for a ride on one of the city’s cable cars. The yellow and red trolleys are everywhere and are fun to hop on and hop off.

6. Stroll around Pier 39 & Fisherman’s Wharf. Take in the views of the bay and sea lions that love to hang out by the pier. See the sunset and have dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants!

📌 SAVE for your next visit to Golden Gate City 🌁

29/11/2022

How beautiful is this spot in Sedona 😍

Cathedral Rock is one of seven vortex hikes in the area and is said to be the most powerful! A vortex is believed to be a rare place on earth where energy enters or projects out of the planet’s core. Places with these energy spirals include Stonehenge, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and Sedona’s Red Rocks.

To reach this vortex, you’ll need to hike to the Saddle of Cathedral Rock, which is only about three-quarters of a mile, but rises more than 650 feet in elevation in that short span- making it a moderate hike.

Unfortunately when we set out for this hike we forgot to bring water and decided since it’s so short we would be totally fine without it- we were wrong!

Be sure to stay hydrated and bring a tripod with you to take lots of pictures at one of Sedona’s most photogenic spots!

Have you ever been to an energy vortex? 🌀

18/11/2022

📸 How to get photos like this on your next visit to Santorini ⬇️

This Greek island is famous for its flying dress photo shoots against the background of blue domed churches and the caldera 😍

To get these iconic photos on your next visit be sure to do the following:

1. Research photographers specializing in these photo shoots, you can find them by looking up “Santorini flying dress photo shoot” on Instagram; or, the way that we booked our photographer, is searching Airbnb Experiences in Santorini, this is the way we recommend as there are several photographers that will have reviews, availability, and pricing readily available for you to look over and compare.

2. Make sure the cost of the dress rental is included in the price and that you are offered a selection of colors to choose from.

3. Verify that the cost includes the flyer of the dress. That’s right, these dresses don’t just effortlessly blow in the breeze like you (and we) thought. In all of the photos you see there is a person standing under the dress throwing it up into the air. When we first booked our shoot the photographer did not tell us about the need for the assistant to fly the dress until the day before our photoshoot so we had to shell out 50 extra euros to pay her separately.

4. Many photographers will give you the option of shooting in the villages of Oia or Imerovigli. Both have views of the caldera and both have blue domed churches but Imerovigli is significantly less busy. We had a great experience shooting there with minimal interruptions and hardly anyone else around.

5. Try to schedule your photoshoot for as early in the morning as possible. Depending on which time of year you visit, once the sun is beating down on you while wearing that big, heavy dress it can get much hotter than you would expect.

Above all, do your research and go with a credible photographer who’s style resonates with you and you will love the results!

📌 SAVE for your next trip to Santorini 🇬🇷

08/11/2022

The best photos are always the hardest to capture 📸

For these shots we hiked 4 miles out & back at sunset and photographed as quickly as possible with the pressure of losing the light while the line of people waiting impatiently behind us grew 😅 then we hiked back in the dark and even saw a wild animal watching us from the bushes 😳

But once we saw the final product it was all worth it 😍 especially once we were safely back in the car 😂

Comment a time when you had to put the effort in to get an amazing shot 🧡

31/10/2022

Happy birthday to the most incredible husband in the world 🎉🥳

I just can’t believe you’re a quarter of a century old today! You are the most perfect partner and best friend any girl could ever dream of finding.

I’m so lucky to have been a part of the past 9 years of your life and can’t wait to see all of the many milestones you will continue to achieve 🤩

Hoping this year is everything you dream it to be and your best one yet! Love you with all of my heart my Halloween baby 🎃🧡

27/10/2022

Big Sur is one of our favorite stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway 🤩

Here are some of the best stops you should make on your next California Hwy 1 road trip from north to south ⬇️

1. San Francisco
2. Half Moon Bay
3. Rockey Creek Bridge
4. Lunch at Big Sur River Inn
5. Pfeiffer Beach
6. McWay Falls
7. Elephant Seal Vista Point

📌 SAVE for your next California road trip

19/10/2022

We hiked to one of Yosemite’s most popular sunset spots and the view was breathtaking 😍

📍Taft Point is a 2.2 mile out and back hike that takes about 1 hour to complete, but give yourself more time to really soak in the sunset!

We consider this hike relatively easy as it’s not too steep and a pretty short distance. The trailhead is located along Glacier Point Road, there are plenty of signs so don’t worry about missing it.

It can be crowded so we recommend getting to Taft Point at least 30 minutes before sunset to scope out the perfect spot! And remember it will take you half an hour to get to the viewpoint so arrive at the trailhead 1 hour prior to sunset at the minimum.

Taft Point was the highlight of our road trip to Yosemite and we hope this inspires you to visit 🧡

10/10/2022

Did you know that you could do a wine tasting at this castle in Napa Valley? 😍

Inspired by 13th century Tuscan architecture, this winery has all the elements of an authentic medieval castle: a moat, drawbridge, five towers, high defensive ramparts, courtyards, stables, an armory, and even a torture chamber. There are 107 rooms in total!

Not only is this the most beautiful winery we’ve ever visited, but their wines are incredible! A tasting includes your choice of 5 Italian-style wines, be sure to make reservations in advance!

Will you be visiting this winery on your next trip to Napa? 🍷

Road Trip.The World