beaches - Brooke Loves Travel

April 13, 2019May 18, 2020

Caribbean

Last April, we took a cruise around the Caribbean with family. My parents had never been on a cruise before, so this made it all the more enjoyable. We sailed on a Celebrity Cruise ship, and I highly recommend upgrading to Aqua Class, if you do. This allows for less crowded dining halls, larger staterooms, and other added benefits and services that we all thoroughly enjoyed. Our cruise made four stops. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather throughout the week. It was definitely a good idea to travel before the heat waves started moving in and hurricane season began.

February 13, 2019February 7, 2020

Sydney, Australia

In 2019, Brian and I joined family on a two week New Zealand cruise. This is a large part of what prompted our decision to take a year to travel full-time. We wanted to be able to see as much of that part of the world as possible. Therefore, we planned a six week stay in Australia and New Zealand. We truly loved just about everything in Australia. I often say that of all the places we have visited, this is the one place I could see myself living (if only it were not so far away!). The countries are quite clean, the people very friendly, the wildlife amazing, and the food delicious. It was also inspiring to see how they work together as a community to keep their space nice and help to make it better. It has been devastating to watch the impact that the current wildfires are having on this beautiful space and their incredible wildlife. As I write this, my thoughts are entirely with those affected by the fires. Although far, I hope to return one day in the not so distant future.

August 1, 2018February 6, 2020

Big Island of Hawaii

Although not as populated or touristy as some of the other islands in Hawaii, the Big Island remains our favorite Hawaiian destination. We choose to stay near Waikoloa Beach on the Kona side. We love the low traffic volume and abundant sunshine it offers. There are many beach days to be had on this side of the island, while only a 2 hour drive to the Hilo side takes you to the lush rainforest-like views and volcano. We have family that has a house on the island, and are so grateful to be able to stay here during our visits!

July 6, 2018July 24, 2020

Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

This is a wonderful beach community along the East Coast. In our opinion, it is quieter, cleaner, and more family friendly than other beaches we have visited in the Carolinas, so it just depends on what you are looking for. Our families have both been going here on family vacations since we were young. We are fortunate that now we have family living down there and can visit the island whenever we are able!

June 18, 2018February 6, 2020

Mediterranean

Following Rome, we took a train via Trenitalia transport to Venice. (This is a good way to see the Italian countryside and is much less stressful than flying.) From Venice, we were taking a Mediterranean cruise with family. It was planned for five stops, but we were unable to make our fifth and final stop (Dubrovnik, Croatia) due to weather. We were looking forward to a Game of Thrones excursion here so were disappointed and now have to return! However, the places we did see were gorgeous and, like other parts of Europe, very historical. Throughout the journey, I found it quite difficult to comprehend just how extensive these towns’ and villages’ pasts are.

Tidbit: Cruises are a great way to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, especially if it is your first time visiting. However, if you are looking to spend more time in certain areas, cruises may not be the way to go. They do allow you to explore many places and perhaps help you find ones you wish to return to for a longer trip in the future.

January 19, 2018February 6, 2020

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel is a small city by the sea on the Monterey Peninsula. Brian and I discovered this town eight years ago when we first moved to California from Virginia. It was our first real weekend getaway on the west coast, and has remained a favorite ever sense. We love the small town vibe, being outside the hustle and bustle of Monterey, and the wide selection of farm-to-table restaurants and fine wine choices. We go at least twice a year and have so many fond memories, including getting engaged at Point Lobos.