Our 2021 Best of Travel Awards

Little Sister – Our Savannah (post here) photo shoot.  As a surprise for Peggy I booked us a sisbehaving photo shoot complete with mimosas and dress ups.  Or glow ups…  haha.  But I ended up looking like Slash from GnR so I guess that really didn’t turn out.

Big Sister – Patti breaking her face on a scooter.  We haven’t written about this one, but on Thanksgiving night, we were in downtown Seattle, it was raining and we were trying to get to dinner or a bar.  Shocking, I know.  We rented scooters to get from A to B.  A block and a half into the journey, Patti mistakes the throttle for the brake and encounters a wall.  8 stitches to the forehead, 2 to the inside lip and the night was over.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – Patti thinks this is funny and is not offended.

Little Sister –  We called it an early night on our last night in Savannah. Our photo shoot pictures were ready (see moment above) and we knew we couldn’t look at them with other people around so we headed back to the hotel. Sitting in bed, uncontrollably giggling at our own absurdness. Me looking like Slash, Peggy looking very awkward like a pregnant Stevie Nicks. The level of laughter that this brought was unforgettable.

Big Sister – On our first Seattle Day Drinking adventure, being completely hammered and going to find Luke Wilson (Seahawks player).  He had checked in “nearby” at White Swan Public House.  Ubers, sushi and a stalking mission that I barely remember but we did have a great giggle the next day.

Little Sister – Second Beach in La Push, WA. I distinctly remember telling Peggy that if I have to hike down to the beach, I’M NOT GOING. And yet, there we were, step by step, uphill and down. And not even regretting a moment once we hit the beach. The Washington State coast is spectacular. Even in an overcast, grey, rainy day, simply breathtaking.

Big Sister – The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (post here). There is good reason this is on bucket lists. The fields are absolutely & overwhelmingly beautiful. We had the perfect day of tiptoeing through the tulips. Rows upon rows of vivid color!

Little Sister – Happiest of all happy accidents while on Tybee Island. It was cold, miserable and definitely tourist off season. We decided that we needed sushi. The bartender at The Driftaway Cafe had recommended Raw Ingredients in Tybee. Now, being total sushi snobs, we were not prepared to be impressed by sushi in Georgia. We were wrong. Probably among the best sushi we have ever had. Fresh seafood, fantastic menu options (create your own roll, burrito or bowl) and amazing service. The Flamingo Roll remains one of my favorite presentations and the create-your-own option means we crushed it!

Big Sister – Pork Belly & Bourbon Doughnut Sliders at Ordinary Pub in Savannah. This is self explanatory – pork belly slow cooked in bourbon and Dr. Pepper, sandwiched between glazed donut holes with a maple & bourbon dipping sauce. Shut up and take me back there now.

Little Sister – Funky Brunch Cafe in Savannah. I love bright, cheerful atmospheres and their slightly retro decor drew me in even before I saw the tabletop pancake griddles. The breakfast surf & turf should never not be on a menu.

Big Sister – Toulouse Petit in Seattle. This gets my vote for best brunch because of the trifecta – food, cocktails, atmosphere. It has all of these plus their famous beignets. This is my fried oyster and bacon benedict which I paired with a Madam Toulouse – grapefruit vodka, peach puree and sparkling wine.

Little Sister – Buckley’s Pub in Belltown. The <Self-titled> Rise and Screw. A couple of these too many and not only do you not remember the name of it, but you tend to smash your face into a wall and think it’s funny (see above). Rise Nitro Coldbrew, Screwball peanut butter whiskey and whipped cream.

Big Sister – Dreamland Diner in the Fremont neighborhood, Seattle. The passionfruit whiskey sour was that memorable; of ALL the drinking we did this year, this stands out.

Little Sister – Bangrak Market in Seattle (post here). Prior to leaving our hotel, we had seen several TikToks that listed Bangrak as a Must-See in Seattle. It did not fit into our plans, but nonetheless, there we were walking right by it and had to stop. The menu is flatout amazing Thai Street food, fried, steamed, grilled, and curried, all based on fantastic street food fare Thailand. AND, the cute little overworked host gifted us this amazing Sparkler garnished bowl-o-shots. We cannot wait to go back!!!

Big Sister – Raw Ingredients on Tybee Island. We covered it pretty well above in the Best Bite category but this one warrants the overall award.

Little Sister – Alley Cat Lounge in Savannah. This was my Savannah obsessive gotta do bar. It took forever to find, until we realized Alley Cat = in the alley. Speakeasy vibe, prohibition era feel, and pages of cocktails created by their own bartenders. Eclectic, for sure, and definitely an experience for your alcohol adventures.

Big Sister – We haven’t completed this blog post yet, but LOVED Next Door Gastropub in Port Angeles, WA. Patti had searched this one out for our trip to the Olympic Peninsula and it was a gem! We had to eat at the bar because it was so crowded but that turned out to be our lucky move. Amazing, fresh food specials, fabulous drinks, awesome bartender and lots of friendly, chatty locals. They have a “Pay it Forward” wall where you can leave money for others to have a drink. Genius! We left a round for the staff!

Patti – Tierra de Suenos, Costa Rica. This was the chosen location of my 2021 yoga retreat with Chubby Chick Yoga. Cottages set back in a very tropical, nature setting. A 5 min walk from our own little beach area. Sloths and fantastic food round out the experience. And Tierra de Suenos is a full experience on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It was paradise!

Big Sister – Juan de Fuca cottages in Sequim, WA. These sweet little cottages were a complete and happy surprise! The view was magnificent and it was a cozy, homey retreat to come back to in the evenings after a cold & rainy day on the Olympic Peninsula.

Little Sister – Creepy Crawl Haunted Ghost Tour in Savannah. Honestly, a ghost tour is not something I would have done if my sister hadn’t made me. But she swore it was awesome. And it was Freaking Awesome. Our guide was a fantastic story teller, no gimmicks, no costumes, just great history, ghost stories, and stops at multiple pubs. I STILL get creeped out at some of the stories (and they are all true-“ish”).

Big Sister – Snorkeling & fishing in Costa Rica. Any day on the water is well spent but when you are boating to a private beach on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, it is just heaven. Add in some snorkeling, some fishing and you have a perfect day.

Little Sister – Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. I was not a fan of spending my one day in San Jose at a museum, but it was only $11 and we had a few hours to kill. I was wrong, I fully admit it. Their museum was amazing. I learned so much about the history of Costa Rica, the displays were fantastic, and it tells you so much about the culture of the people and the entire country. And, a butterfly exhibit too!

Big Sister – Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. Although this was not a sister trip, I couldn’t do a best-of list without mentioning it. Hands down the best memorial experience I’ve ever been to. It is completely immersive and emotional, somber and yet conveys so much hope of the city. Incredible experience.

Little Sister – Starfish Beach in Bocas del Toro. Sadly, this was supposed to be a sister trip, but Peggy had to rush off for the birth of our little baby Beckham and missed Panama completely. We hired a local tour company, negotiated a shortened sight seeing tour just out to Starfish Beach. It was a beautiful, remote destination, away from crowds. Starfish all over, and beach bars serving fresh caught lobster and Tiki drinks. It was everything I wanted, only without my sister.

Big Sister – Olympic National Park. Having spent most of our lives in Washington State, there is NO excuse for not having visited the Olympic National Park. But we hadn’t. Shameful. And while a weekend isn’t long enough to see all that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer, we made the most of it. We went to Hoh Rainforest, Forks, La Push beaches, and Lake Crescent. We weren’t able to get to Hurricane Ridge or Sol Duc Falls but it is still on our list.

Little Sister – Costa Rica. We did the Caribbean side of Costa Rica for a week long yoga retreat. I fell in love. The beaches were beautiful, the lush tropical jungle, sloths, and warm friendly locals. We hit a little of everything: local culture, food, drinks, beach, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, Kayaking, and waterfalls.

Big Sister – Savannah, Georgia. There is a reason that Savannah consistently makes the list of best places for a Girls Trip. The city is full of fun, food, drinks, museums, architecture and potential for shenanigans. One of our favorite weekends to date and I would be willing to bet we will be back soon.