Blog Travel

There’s something romantic about Puerto Rico.  The cobblestone streets bordered by brightly colored buildings.  The architecture that makes you feel like you might be in Europe.  The prickly heat that can quickly turn into buckets of water falling from the sky, but only for long enough for the two of you to duck into a bar to dry off and share a sangria and a laugh.  The sandy beaches and warm water that beckon you in for a swim.  Puerto Rico is most definitely a romantic destination for couples. If you plan on staying in Old San Juan, the most romantic hotel is Hotel El Convento , across Plaza de las Monjas (Nun’s Square) from the Catedral de San Juan Bautista.  The Hotel El Convento first opened in 1651 as a Carmelite convent.  The convent fell into disrepair in the early 1900s, serving as a store, a dance hall, and then a flophouse, but was restored and opened as a hotel in 1962.  This beautiful Puerto Rico hotel is decorated in the Spani...

On our quest for weekend getaway destinations, we discovered a pretty little place that may not be on your radar if you don’t live in the Virginia area.  Prince William County is a great Virginia weekend getaway destination.  Coming from the west coast, we devoted a four-day weekend to this pretty little piece of Northern Virginia.  Prince William County works either as a Virginia weekend vacation or as a side trip from Washington, D.C.  Prince William County has small town charm, Civil War history, and gorgeous landscapes.  Its relaxed pace and open spaces make it easy to forget the most powerful city in America is just a short drive away. Discover Two Important Civil War Battlefields A big draw for travelers from across the country is the east coast’s Civil War Battlefields.  Prince William County offers travelers a two-for-one special with Manassas National Battlefield Park .  Two important Civil War battles were fought here, both of which were vi...

Mendocino Photo courtesy Visit Mendocino County We recently attended the San Diego Travel & Adventure Show for some travel inspiration.  Since we work full-time, we’re always looking for fun new California weekend getaways to provide us with a little bit of vacation without having to take time off.  The travel show had an aisle-and-a-half of cities and counties from all over the state, providing us with lots of ideas.  Even though we have lived in California our entire lives, we are always amazed by the wealth of vacation opportunities this great state has to offer, many of which we still haven’t experienced. Related: Travel Tips and Inspiration from the San Diego Travel & Adventure Show Weekend Getaways in Southern California City of Ventura Ventura Pier Photo Credit: Harold Litwiler, Poppy Big Oak Photography via Compfight cc The City of Ventura is a classic and casual coastal California weekend getaway destination.  Ventura Harbor offers boutiques, shops...

During our Virginia weekend getaway in Prince William County, located in Northern Virginia less than an hour’s drive away from Washington, D.C., we spent a lot of time outdoors because it was fall and the leaves were just starting to turn color.  There are a number of outdoor things to do in Northern Virginia.  Since we were visiting for a long weekend, we couldn’t visit them all, but we did get to visit three great places for outdoor activities in Northern Virginia where we were able to hike, enjoy the scenery, and learn a little history as well. Bull Run Mountains Conservancy The Bull Run Mountains are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains mountain range in Northern Virginia.  The Bull Run Mountains are protected by the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy, which offers walking trails and educational programs.  (To learn more about their public programs, visit their website .) We love old buildings and history, so our first stop during our visit to the Bull Run Mountains w...