• Playa del Carmen beach sunrise
    Mexico

    Playa del Carmen, a Hurricane, and a Justification to Return

    Hopefully, you read our mini-blog on tips to survive a Hurricane. If so, you are well aware of the fact that this was not the highlight of our trip. Although, with a little humor and a lot of tequila, we look back on Playa del Carmen with a little affection. And a whole lot of complete head shaking. To pick-up where we left off (our Yucatan escapades), we had just gotten through what we refer to as The Dreaded Shakedown by the Yucatan State Policia. We managed to find a restroom after roadside Posole, and had to get to Playa del Carmen for the arrival of my husband. And obliviously…

  • Mexico

    Adventure and Misadventure in the Yucatan Peninsula

    Alternately titled: Beware washed out roads and the dreaded shakedown Goodbye to our Tulum If you read our previous post, you would know that we would hate leaving Tulum.  We fell in love.  We discovered peace and calm and just fell in love with the laid back beach vibe of Tulum. However, we were excited to move on with our Yucatan exploration. Another thing we loved is the inspirational street signs, as in real street signs only with inspirational sayings on them.  “Breathe” on one corner, “If not now, when?” on the road to the beach, “Stay Present”. The signs are part of an art installation called Public Display of…

  • Mexico

    Tulum – So Much More than a Pretty Instagram Picture

    How Tulum went from being “Meh” to “Never Leaving” Tulum, the impossibly dreamy subject of all the coolest social media accounts, was the first of four places we planned to stay on our 10-day trip to Mexico.  We were dying to see these views and experience this idyllic beach town, but would we be disappointed? We had just a few days to make the most of it. This was the sister part of the trip to celebrate Patti’s 50th birthday.  We planned to do all the sisbehaving, woo-woo and girly stuff in Tulum.  Plus hike ruins, and swim cenotes, and cram as much as we could into the first four…

  • Hurricane Zeta pool view
    Mexico

    5 Things You Need to Know to Endure a Category 1 Hurricane

    So you booked a trip during Caribbean Hurricane Season? We thought we were in the clear, but in late October, you can’t be too sure. Follow these tips and you can “comfortably” get through a Category 1! At the moment they declare the state of emergency, they halt all liquor sales.  Our advice, the moment they tell you there is a tropical storm coming up, hit the tequila bar and stock up!  Do not fail to prepare.  You could be stuck, for say 36 hours without power, no TV, no phone chargers; and if you do not heed our advice you will be stuck without alcohol as well. Sister side…

  • Minnesota & Wisconsin

    Bayfield WI and The Apostle Islands – Discover These Hidden Gems

    The Apostle Islands consistently make the list of Best Places to see in the US.  Located at the Southern end of Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands are a group of 21 small islands. All but one island are uninhabited. Therefore, there are tons of hiking and camping opportunities in Bayfield and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  Yes, it’s a National Park, so bring your National Park Pass and National Park passport for this stamp! From Duluth to Bayfield We left Duluth (see previous day’s adventure here) for Bayfield after an amazing breakfast at The Duluth Grill.  Ok, seriously, a little hometown breakfast joint that has a side…

  • Minnesota & Wisconsin

    Exploring Along the Way from St. Paul to Duluth

    St. Paul, Duluth, and some Minnesota countryside I love wake-ups in hotel rooms, soft beds, downy pillows, and hopefully a big fluffy comforter.  All that combined with knowing I don’t have to make that bed always makes for a great day.  Then just throw in getting up for a little early sisbehaving and you have for a recipe for a perfect day. We had decided that two days in Minneapolis (check out previous days one & two) was probably enough and we had more to see and explore. So for day three we were hitting up St. Paul, the gorgeous twin sister of Minneapolis and then heading north to Duluth…

  • Stone Arch Bridge
    Minnesota & Wisconsin

    Minneapolis – Highlights, Fun and Signs of Hope

    Time to Explore Minneapolis After a successful Day 1 in Minneapolis, this is the part where the realization of traveling during a pandemic fully hits us, the search for an open coffee shop. We went on a bit of a quest, unsuccessfully walking to three spots listed as open. At a corner, we were fortunate enough to be stopped by a gentleman who observed our touristy state. He gave us a quick personal story about standing on the balcony during the Foshay Building Grand Opening when he was 3 (Foshay! That’s fun to say). He then told us that if we stand on the opposite street corner it was the…

  • Minnesota & Wisconsin

    Minneapolis – Introduction to a Surprisingly Vibrant City

    Minneapolis – Our first travel adventure during COVID-19 Back in February 2020 I signed up for a yoga training that I had been trying to schedule for over a year. I was so excited to have a weekend available to finally get this training done. However, it was in Minneapolis, not exactly a booming vacation destination from my bucket list. I was going for business reasons though, so flights were booked and Peggy decided she would meet me there to explore “Up North”. Sister Side Note (ssn) – In my comprehensive travel list, part of it came from “The 24 Most Breathtaking Places in the US”. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore…

  • Day Drinking

    Day Drinking – The Boise Cocktail Culture is Strong

    A new series about some of our favorite recommendations in the cities we love. Our first location is Boise, ID. In the time of Covid, when we aren’t able to travel, we have been reminiscing about some of our favorite times in our favorite towns.  The problem with trying to blog about times past is you are completely reliant on memories and not living so much in the present.  With that in mind we decided to base a new series about some of our best memories in cities we love, like Boise! And lucky for you, our best memories involve our favorite hobby, DAY DRINKING. And yes, this will include…

  • Bali

    Getting To Know Bali – A Beginner’s Guide

    The small island of Bali has surprisingly many personalities depending on what you are searching for. Although a small island, Bali has something for everyone, and a certain vibe and feel for each of the towns. Not all towns are created equal in Bali, so before planning your trip, think about what you want to do, what your focus is, and also what will make you miserable (ie, traffic or college kids, old people, or slow service). Sister Side Note (ssn) – Bali really is for everyone! It can be so intimidating when all you see are Instagram Models & Influencers who have the perfect settings and edited images. This…