Hawai‘i is more than palm trees and sandy beaches — it’s a place with deep roots, living traditions, and a spirit of aloha that you can feel the moment you arrive. This trip wasn’t about “conquering” a bucket list; it was about slowing down, supporting local businesses, and treating the island and its people with the respect they deserve.

Over seven days, we explored O‘ahu’s vibrant food scene, took in breathtaking natural beauty, and learned a little more about the culture that makes these islands so special.

4 Days in Iceland.. Can you do it? YES! Iceland has this way of making you feel small — in the best possible way. The landscapes remind you just how wild and untamed the world can be. And even though we went in 2021, the memories are still vivid: the smell of salt air on the coast, the warmth of a coffee cup in cold hands, and the endless stretch of horizon.

In late April 2023, Michael and I packed five days in Europe with enough adventure to feel like a movie montage — coffee in centuries-old cafés, vineyards tucked into rolling hills, storybook castles, and scenery so beautiful it made you pause mid-step. The trip was part celebration (friends’ wedding), part bucket-list dream (finally visiting Germany), and part reality check — with a family member sick back home, our time was short. So we took what we could get and made every moment count.

Sail away on Virgin Voyages’ Dominican Daze — a 5-night, adults-only cruise from Miami to the Dominican Republic and Bimini. Read our full review of the Valiant Lady, from stunning Caribbean beaches to onboard dining, nightlife, and yes… getting a tattoo at sea.