Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island-This one is all about a once in a lifetime kind of experience on the remotest island in the world--Easter Island! If ever you find yourself in this beautiful, peaceful place in the world, I highly recommend scheduling a trip to Ahu Tongariki for sunrise.
10 Reasons to Visit Easter Island-It's not just Faraway Friday, it's the farthest Faraway Friday there will ever be! That's because this is all about the exotic and beautiful Easter Island--the remotest island on the planet. That's pretty far away! Here are 10 reasons you should definitely visit this tiny island in the South Pacific.
5 Days on Easter Island-This Throwback Thursday, we're throwin' it way back to last week on Easter Island, Chile! We spent 5 days there, and it was truly a trip of a lifetime. Here is our itinerary... and a few things we would have done differently! We hope this will help you plan your perfect trip to beautiful Easter Island! These days can be arranged in any order that works for you.
What to Eat on Easter Island-It's What I Ate Wednesday! This week it's coming to you from the most remote inhabited island in the world: Easter Island! What does one eat on this remote, South Pacific island? Find out today!
What to Know Before Visiting Easter Island-Easter Island is the most isolated island in the world, but you can see it for yourself! I recently had a chance to visit this mysterious island with my sweet husband for this year's "Trip of a Lifetime," but even with all my travel research strategies I found preparing for this trip a bit tricky.
Tour of the Moai: The Heads of Easter Island-It's Moai Monday! If you've been following along on Facebook or Instagram @quickwhittravel, you know we just got home from a Trip of a Lifetime to Easter Island, Chile! So what are those big heads all about? Do they have bodies? How did they get there? Read on to find out!
Packing for Ladies: Easter Island in Winter-I'm off to Santiago and Easter Island, Chile, today! And let me tell you, this one was a challenge! I'm good at packing, if I do say so myself, but I really don't like it (who does?). When temperatures are in the 30s-60s, I just don't know what to pack.
10 Things to Do in the Galapagos-Our trip to the Galapagos Islands is one of the most epic, most memorable, most exciting trips we've ever taken!
What to Know Before You Visit the Galapagos-I actually gave in and did the best thing ever: I went through a Galapagos tour company. My husband and I never go with tour groups because we like to do our own thing, but this was so different. It's "trip of a lifetime" material!
Our Favorite Animals in the Galapagos-What's the most memorable place you've ever visited? Or the place you want to visit more? For me, it's the Galapagos. I had wanted to visit for years, but it always seemed out of reach. My sweet husband made my dream come true a few years ago, however, and it became one of our favorite trips to date!
What to Eat in the Galapagos-It's What I Ate Wednesday, and this week I'm taking you back to the Galapagos Islands with me! What do they eat on such remote islands? Find out today!
10 Reasons to Visit the Galapagos-This Faraway Friday you're in for a special treat... We're headed to the Galapagos! My sweet husband took me to these mysterious islands for my 30th birthday, and it was a phenomenal trip! Here are 10 reasons you should consider a visit, too.
Where to Swim with Penguins in the Galapagos-Good morning! Today we set out on our last Galapagos adventure: the largest island of Isabela. If you look at a map, you'll notice she looks like a seahorse wearing a wedding dress. And there are penguins!
Where to See Baby Tortoises in the Galapagos-We got ourselves together for Marcos to take us on our next adventure, and our first stop was... A water taxi! Our not-so-favorite. And the seas were rougher than they had been the days prior! Fortunately for us, we only needed to take the water taxi across the port, not out onto the open sea! One can only get to where we were going on a water taxi. There are no roads there, even though it's on the same island!
Exploring Floreana Island, Galapagos-Beautiful Floreana! This day was a very special one. Steve and I got to experience a REAL remote island in the Pacific! We rose early, went down for breakfast at the Galapagos Suites, and before we knew it, we were being picked up by our private guide! His name was Marcos, and he was very knowledgeable about all of the islands!
Galapagos Island Hopping Tour-Welcome back! Friday dawned early for us. That's a nice benefit of being two hours behind where your body thinks you are; you wake up early and get going with your day! We went down for breakfast, and can you believe they had banana cake for breakfast? And coffee, and toast, and granola, and eggs, and fruit! The coffee is really good here. I was expecting it to be too strong, but it seems to be just right!
Day 1 in the Galapagos Islands-Even though people actually live on some of the islands, the whole archipelago is a national park, and you have to pay $100 per person (cash) to visit. Fortunately, we knew that in advance and budgeted for it! We got off the mid-size LAN Airlines plane and onto the tarmac, then walked into the only building on the tiny island of Baltra.
Guam
Romantic Things to Do on Guam-Temperatures are in plummet mode in the northern hemisphere, and if you're like me, you're longing for a tropical getaway! In case you and your honey need some inspiration (or just need to live vicariously through some pictures for a minute or two), I've got your guide to the best romantic things to do on the beautiful, tropical, paradise that is Guam!
Top 10 Things to Do at Tumon Bay-If you're planning a tropical Guamanian getaway, odds are you'll be staying at Tumon Bay! Almost all the hotels are here, and with good reason---it's gorgeous, the waters are calm, and it's walkable to tons of restaurants, shopping, and attractions!
6 Days on Guam-Hafa Adai! That's pronounced like "have a day" and is Chamorro for "Hello!" This Thursday we're throwin' it back to last week and our winter getaway to beautiful Guam, USA! This trip was longer than most of our trips--over six days in one place! I almost didn't know how to handle that much time in one place, but after a few days, we really got into this whole relaxing vacation thing.
What to Eat on Guam-It's What I Ate Wednesday and Guam week! Parrot fish, coconut iced coffee, and SUSHI await! Who's hungry?
The Ultimate Guide to Guam-Steve and I just got home from our second trip to Guam, and we might have loved it more the second time around than the first! This island in the Marianas is a real treasure, and those who visit very quickly adjust to passing showers and island time. So just for you, here are my freshly updated top tips for visiting beautiful Guam, USA!
What to Do on Guam on a Rainy Day-Islands generally get a lot of rain and a lot of sun. Guam actually gets an average of 80-110 inches of rain per year, which is a lot! It rained off and on every day of our trip, but especially on the first day. Instead of being disappointed in the rain on our beach vacation, we found some fun ways to enjoy it anyway! Here are six rainy day activities for your trip.
10 Reasons to Visit Guam-If you've been following my Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages, you know I just got back from the beautiful, tropical island paradise of Guam! I'll be posting some tips and other fun Guam posts next week, but for this Faraway Friday, here are 10 reasons YOU should consider a trip to Guam!
How to Choose the Best Hawaiian Island for You-You're going to Hawaii! Excellent choice. It's my favorite destination in all the world, without a doubt. One of the most overwhelming parts of planning a trip to Hawaii, however, is deciding which island (or islands) to visit.
The Best Places to Eat on Each Hawaiian Island-Each Hawaiian island is absolute paradise, but at the same time, each one is unique to itself. It's no secret that Steve and I have loved our anniversary trips to Hawaii over the years, and we've eaten some delicious things along the way! Here's your ultimate guide to where to eat on each Hawaiian Island!
How to Make the Most of Your Last Day in Hawai’i-You're vacationing in Hawaii! Such fun! So beautiful! How entirely exciting! And you booked the latest flight out to enjoy your trip to the fullest---great idea! We always do that, too. But then you realize you have to check out of your accommodation by 11:00am. Then what?
The Best Foods You Must Try in the Hawaiian Islands-Food is part of every culture---we all have to eat! Hawaii has its very own incredible foods to enjoy, unlike what you can get on the Mainland. Here are some of the best foods to try on your next trip to Hawaii!
The Ultimate Guide to Hawai’i’s Best Adventures-As you may know if you've ever met me, I LOVE Hawaii! I was ready to move there on my first ever trip to the islands for Steve's and my 1st wedding anniversary. Now we've been to five of the six inhabited islands and I am more in love with the culture, people, and food than ever before. If Hawaii's on your short list of places to visit, here are some truly epic experiences to put on your to-do list!
The Best Hawaiian Souvenirs-It's no secret that Steve and I LOVE Hawaii! It's paradise, it's beautiful, it's "trip of a lifetime" material! So of course you'll want to take a little something home to remember your trip and maybe take you back for a moment when you need a little sunshine in your everyday life.
Inter-island Flights on ‘Ohana by Hawaiian: Everything You Need to Know-Aloha! If you're reading this, you're probably planning a trip to Hawaii---woohoo! You'll love it! And whether you're exploring more than one island or connecting to Molokai, you may be flying Hawaiian Airlines or their affiliate, 'Ohana Airlines.
How to Survive the Flight from IAD-HNL on United-We thought it would be great! A non-stop flight from our home airport (IAD) all the way to beautiful, exotic Hawaii (HNL). No worries over missed connections, short layovers, or bad weather in our connecting city to add any stress to our travels. And since it's so long, we'd definitely get a meal, maybe even two! Wrong!
Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit the Hawaiian Islands-I've been posting a lot about Maui lately, since that was our big anniversary trip this year, but I got to thinking that there are a lot of things to know before you visit any Hawaiian island. So, here is the quick run-down of things to know before you visit Hawaii--whichever island or islands you choose!
The Ultimate Bucket List for Visiting the Island of Hawai’i-There are a zillion fantastic things to do and see on Hawaii's Big Island, and it can be hard to pare it all down and fit it all into one vacation! From luaus to lava, from palaces to mountain peaks, there's something on the Big Island for everyone! This handy dandy bucket list has all the best and most unique things the island has to offer, and hopefully it will help you plan your best trip yet.
The Ultimate Ladies’ Guide to Packing for the Island of Hawai’i-The best part of a trip to Hawaii is... Hawaii! The sun, the ocean, the kindness, the food, the aloha---it's the best! But the worst part of a trip to Hawaii is... packing. But never fear!
What to Know Before You Visit the Island of Hawai’i-If you've been following the blog, you know that Hawaii has been on my mind since we visited earlier this month! We had an incredible time, and we highly recommend it for your next vacation or celebratory getaway! There are a few things, however, that are good to know if you've never been before. Many of these apply to the Hawaiian Islands in general, but many are specific to the Big Island. Read on, my friend!
How to Have an Unforgettable Lava Boat Tour-There are a few epic experiences from our travels that really stand out: swimming with penguins and sea lions in the Galapagos, hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, attending an opera at the Sydney Opera House, to name a few. But the sunrise lava boat tour off the coast of Hawaii's Big Island has made its way to the top of our "epic experiences" list!
7 Essential Steps to Plan Your Trip to the Island of Hawai’i-Once I started planning our trip to Hawaii's Big Island, I quickly found myself overwhelmed! Trip planning is something I do often and even enjoy, so I knew if I was overwhelmed, there were probably others out there who feel the same way when planning a Hawaiian getaway. So here you go, folks: your ultimate guide to planning a Big Island getaway!
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Island of Hawaii-The Island of Hawaii has tons of trails. In fact, many of their best beaches and most unique sites are only accessible via hike (or 4 wheel drive + serious skills).We were only able to hit a few around the island in the week we were there, all inherently off the beaten path.
The Best 10 Things to Do in Hilo-this week we're setting our sights on beautiful Hilo, Hawaii! We only spent one day in Hilo, but I wish we'd spent at least one more day--so consider that for your trip! We did hit the highlights in this cute, seaside town, and I've listed them here for you!
The Best Food to Eat on the Island of Hawai’i-It's everyone's favorite: What I Ate Wednesday! Last week we talked about the luau on the Big Island, and this week I'm letting you in on the rest of the Hawaiian goodness! If there’s one thing Hawaiians know how to do, it’s eat well!
Everything You Need to Know about Road Tripping the Island of Hawai’i-Islands are typically small enough to drive around in less than a day. That's why Steve and I like them for anniversary trips--there's only so far you can go, so it's an inherently relaxing place to be. Not so for Hawaii's Big Island! This trip took a little more planning because there is just more to do, see, and explore.
The Best 10 Reasons to Visit the Island of Hawai’i-I had an absolute blast celebrating our third wedding anniversary on the Big Island of Hawaii! We love the state of Hawaii for plenty of reasons, and we recommend that everyone visit at least once in a lifetime. Here are just a few of the things we loved most about the Big Island!
Your First Hawaiian Luau: Everything You Need to Know-Aloha! This What I Ate Wednesday is all about the beautiful, tasty, traditional luau food. My sweet husband and I have been to Hawaii three times now, but this was our first luau experience. And we're bringing you along with us!
The Ultimate List of Royal Sites on the Island of Hawai’i-I would venture to say most mainland Americans never learn about our most recently added state's history. It's a bit of a blemish on our record, to be honest. But this beautiful island chain's history is exciting and intriguing. Hawaii is the only state to have an official royal palace (I'olani Palace on O'ahu), and actually, there are several royal sites across the islands! So here's to Hawai'i's royal family.
The Ultimate Kaua’i Bucket List-Kauai. The colors, the water, the flowers, the rugged cliffs... everything is gorgeous. It's the only place in the world that brought tears to my eyes when I saw its beauty. I can't wait to go back, but until now I'll just share my ultimate Kauai bucket list for you!
What to Know Before You Visit Kaua’i-I'm taking a break from my usual "top 10 reasons to visit" list to bring you some tips for visiting the most beautiful place I've ever been in all the world: Kauai, Hawaii! They don't call it the Garden Isle for nothing. If you're taking a trip Kauai in the near future, read through these tips to help you plan, pack, and make the most of your time!
The Best 10 Reasons to Visit Kaua’i-This Flyaway Friday is all about my favorite island in the world--so far! My sweet husband and I went to Kauai for our second anniversary, and it was the most beautiful, majestic place I've ever seen. Here are a few reasons why!
The Best Food to Eat on Kaua’i-Do you love island life? Island food? Islands in general? Me, too! This What I Ate Wednesday, we're reliving our delightful feast from Hawaii's Garden Island, Kauai!
The Ultimate Mau’i Bucket List-Maui is "trip of a lifetime" material for many, especially those who thrive in a tropical paradise! It's home to some unique scenery and things to do, all of which should go on your Maui trip's bucket list. Here's the best of the best from our trip, which will hopefully inspire you for yours!
Exactly How to Spend 8 Perfect Days on Mau’i-Planning a trip to Maui? That's a great idea! I'm sharing our itinerary with you. We went to Maui from Saturday-Saturday, and I think we did a pretty good job of combining relaxation with excursions and activities. Feel free to use this itinerary for your own trip, or just take the parts you like best!
The Ultimate Men’s Packing List for Mau’i-Packing for my husband is usually very easy. His uniform is a polo and jeans every day of every week, rain or shine, sun or snow. But when we go to Hawaii for our anniversary, I get to have a little more fun with it.
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Hawai’i: Mau’i-It's Maui Monday! One of Steve's and my favorite things to do when we travel is hike, and Hawaii has no shortage of beautiful hikes across each and every island. Maui's nickname is the Valley Isle, so you can imagine the lush green landscape and all the beautiful trails there are to explore. Whether you love mountains, valleys, waterfalls, or beach hikes, Maui has a hike for you! Here are our Maui hiking details.
The Best 10 Reasons to Visit Mau’i-It's Aloha Friday! Let's round out the week with some inspiration for a beautiful, tropical, exotic trip to Maui! Here is our top 10 list of reasons to visit the Valley Isle on your next vacation.
The Best Food Eat on Mau’i-It's What I Ate Wednesday! And this week's food post all about the tropical flavors from the island of Maui, Hawaii. We did a little of everything from grocery shopping to roadside stands to fine dining. There are options for everyone!
What to Know Before You Visit Mau’i-It's Maui Monday! This week I've pulled together my top tips for beautiful Maui, Hawaii. Here is everything you need to know to make the most of your trip and enjoy it to the fullest!
How to Have an Epic Mau’i and Molokai Helicopter Tour-Have you ever flown in a helicopter? This was our first time ever in a helicopter, and we were very excited for the experience! We booked our tour in mid-February, though our flight would be May 2--our fourth anniversary! If you're looking for a memorable way to experience Maui, this is it.
The Ultimate Ladies’ Guide to Packing for a Week on Mau’i-What should you pack for a week on Maui? Bathing suits! And perhaps a few more things. Here is my packing list, complete with photos and Amazon links to help you go carry-on only to beautiful Maui, Hawaii!
The Ultimate Guide to Romantic Mau’i-Islands are inherently relaxing, there's only so far you can go, and there is just something extra romantic about being truly away from it all, separated from real life by a body of water. So, to kick off my Maui blog post series, I'm starting with the most romantic things about our trip to Maui!
The Ultimate Ladies’ Packing List for Molokai, Hawai’i-There are plenty of Hawaii-inspired packing guides out there, but packing for Molokai is different because Molokai is different from all the other Hawaiian islands. It's more rugged, less populated, less "touristy," and by many standards, it's more Hawaiian.
The Ultimate Molokai Bucket List-Molokai is called the "Most Hawaiian Island," and a visit to this beautiful place will help you understand why. Much of the island is untouched by technology, and the slower pace all but forces you to slow down and settle into the spirit of aloha.
Your Ultimate Molokai Travel Guide-Planning our trip to Molokai was a bit of a challenge with so little information out there, so I've taken everything we learned in our planning efforts and compiled it all for you. You're welcome! We hope you have an amazing journey on Hawaii's all-but-forgotten paradise.
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Hawai’i: Molokai-Each island is distinct in its beauty, and every time we hike in the islands, we find ourselves in awe of the waterfalls, mountains, and epic coastal views. So of course Molokai, the "most Hawaiian" island, couldn't help but show off its epic landscapes as well. Here's everything you need to know about hiking on Molokai, Hawaii!
How to Spend the Best 5 Days on Molokai-Aloha from Hawaii's Friendly Isle! We spent our 5th anniversary on Molokai, the "most Hawaiian" and least touristy of the islands. There are plenty of special things about Hawaii and each of its beautiful islands, but we wanted to know more about Molokai's unique history and landscape.
The Ultimate List of Things to Do on Molokai-When I first said I wanted to visit Molokai, my husband said, "Really? What is there to do?" Well, the answer is: a lot! Molokai is known as the "Friendly Isle" and "the most Hawaiian island." It's the 5th largest and one of the least visited Hawaiian Islands, and the locals like it that way.
How to Mail a Coconut from Hawai’i-There are a few things to know about mailing a coconut, but it's the honest truth that you can send one from Hawaii to anywhere in the world! Technically you can send one from any post office, but the Hawaiian post offices have the most experience! I sent one to my family in Tennessee from the Post-a-Nut Post Office in Hoolehua on Molokai, and it was very easy. Here's how in four easy steps!
The Best Places to Eat on Molokai, Hawai’i-Much to our delight and a little to our amazement, everything we ate on Molokai was fabulous! I mean, there aren't that many options, and you're kind of a captive audience, so you'd have to eat at the restaurants around whether they were good or bad. But the restauranteurs on Molokai take great pride in their food, and it shows!
Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit Molokai-Never heard of Molokai? You're not alone! It's one of the lesser-known and less-visited Hawaiian Islands, though people do actually live here! It's called "The Friendly Isle," and because it's relatively untouched by the same tourism as the other islands, it's also called the "most Hawaiian" island.
Lei Making at Molokai Plumeria Farm: Your Ultimate Guide-Steve and I have been to five Hawaiian islands now, and we've done the "Hawaiian" things: a luau, scenic flights, sunning on Waikiki, toured coffee farms, lava peeping, etc. But there was one thing we hadn't really done yet: lei making!
Halawa Valley Cultural Hike, Molokai: Everything You Need to Know-Our recent trip to Molokai was one I will never forget. I had wanted to visit the Friendly Isle for over four years, and the time had finally come! One of the things I was most excited about was the Halawa Valley Cultural Hike.
Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Kalaupapa Peninsula, Molokai-For four years, ever since I read the historical novel Molokai by Alan Brennert, I've wanted to visit Kalaupapa for myself. I couldn't believe I had never heard of this leper colony. I couldn't believe people still got leprosy as recently as 150 years ago. I couldn't believe people still get leprosy. Hawaii has fascinated me for years, but I'd never heard of Kalaupapa or the leprosy colony there.
The Most Fascinating Facts about Molokai, Hawai’i-What?! You've never heard of Molokai? Join the club---there are a lot of people in it! This is the least visited of the main Hawaiian islands, but in spite of that, or perhaps because of that, I have found it to be the most fascinating. Here is a quick list of some of the most fascinating things I learned about Hawaii's "Most Hawaiian" island.
How to Have an Epic Mau’i and Molokai Helicopter Tour-Have you ever flown in a helicopter? This was our first time ever in a helicopter, and we were very excited for the experience! We booked our tour in mid-February, though our flight would be May 2--our fourth anniversary! If you're looking for a memorable way to experience Maui, this is it.
The Ultimate O’ahu Bucket List-Hawaii is an epic, beautiful, friendly, majestic place. Many people dream of going but never make it happen. Others go all out and make it a once in a lifetime trip! We took our first trip to Hawaii together for our first wedding anniversary back in 2015, and we chose O'ahu so we could visit Pearl Harbor and relax on one of the most famous beaches in the world---Waikiki!
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Hawai’i: O’ahu-Hawaii has some of the most beautiful hiking in the world, and Steve and I have been fortunate enough to explore a lot of them on our trips to the islands! With O'ahu being the most populated and most visited of the islands, you won't likely have a trail to yourself here, but you will definitely be rewarded with epic views and lush landscapes.
What to Know Before You Visit O’ahu-I'm dreaming of beautiful Hawaii. I have a few friends planning trips to O'ahu this year, so I decided I need to create some "know before you go" material for this beautiful, historic, iconic island to help them--and perhaps YOU!--plan the perfect O'ahu getaway!
The 10 Best Reasons to Visit O’ahu-My husband and I needed a relaxing trip for our first anniversary, and we decided an island would probably be just the right pace to help us slow down and soak in the happiness of our first year of marriage. This is the trip that convinced us to take an easy-going island trip for our anniversary every year!
The Best Food to Eat on O’ahu-Aloha on this What I Ate Wednesday! This week we're coming at you from O'ahu, Hawaii, where Steve and I spent our first anniversary. This is the tale of the many island delicacies we enjoyed on our trip!