If you’re visiting Seattle and looking for a natural escape, a day trip to Snoqualmie Falls is something you simply must do. Just a short drive from the city, this majestic 268-foot waterfall is an incredibly beautiful wonder to experience.

Nearly 10 years after my first visit to the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, I revisit to see their centralized collection of over 30,000 works spanning 5,000 years of history. I will always love to see the work of Mark Rothko anywhere and more recently Georgia O'Keefe, but I also love to see local artists featured in their hometown museum and of course the ever-provocative work of Black artists.

When you’re in a city for two weeks, of course you have to eat, so why not choose great food? Before my family and I arrived in Seattle, we heard from various people that seafood and Asian cuisine were the way to go, so we found plenty of restaurants that offered both, but we also discovered restaurants that offered other cuisines that were just as tasty.

Seattle is brimming with locally made goods and internationally sourced items. Pike Place Market is the most ideal place for tourists to shop for artisan items, but you will also find shops all over the city and surrounding islands like Bainbridge that sell stunning, one of a kind pieces.

Luray Caverns, a natural wonder and one of Virginia’s great treasures, features incredible stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. Highlights include the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which produces music by tapping on natural formations, and the Dream Lake, a mirror-like pool that so perfectly reflects the formations above. To me, the caverns are a reminder that you don’t have to travel far to experience something extraordinary.

In 2018, on my second-ever solo trip, I found myself at Candlefish in Atlanta for a candle making class. Although this location has since closed, Candlefish still welcomes crafters in Charleston and Boston to create something meaningful with your their two hands. For $60, you'll spend an hour and a half with experienced chandlers who will walk you through the process of fragrance blending.

Each year, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) transforms into a breathtaking display of fine art and vibrant blooms during the Fine Arts and Flowers Biennial. This unique event, which began in 1987, invites floral artists to create stunning arrangements inspired by the museum’s permanent art collection. The result? A treasure hunt of bursting colors.

When it comes to the best fried chicken wings and fries in Richmond, my go-to spot is Manchu, a New Orleans original that recently opened its second location right here in Virginia’s capital, more specifically the Northside neighborhood.

I know many good spots in my city, but I’ll be the first to say I don’t know them all. I was introduced to Birdie’s over the summer and had been hearing great things about it. Looking for Christmas-y things to do, I was surprised to find that Birdie’s creates an annual pop-up called The Evergreen that transforms the space into a winter wonderland with extravagant decorations that are sure to bring you holiday cheer.

If I’m going to stay somewhere for any amount of time that is not my home, then I need to make sure I have home-level comfort. Naturally, I’m very active on vacations, so my accommodations are where I rest and rejuvenate to be ready for whatever I may have planned over the course of the trip.

Discover how to find the perfect balance between thrilling adventures and rejuvenating self-care. Incorporating wellness and mindful activities into your itinerary can be the difference between a fulfilling trip and returning home having experienced burnout. This guide is your go-to resource for maintaining balance and joy while you travel.

One thing I know for sure is that there is no shortage of things to do and see or places to eat in Los Angeles. From hiking Griffith Observatory to cheering the LA Rams on to shopping at Melrose Ave, The Grove, or Rodeo Drive, there’s something for in the city for everybody.

Food in the Caribbean can be attributed to the fusion of many different cultures. Often heavy on the spices and sourced locally, the food is rich, hearty, and I would even say made with love. There are dishes found in each respective location that are very similar, save a couple ingredients and often named differently. Here are some unique Caribbean foods and dishes you'll want to try.

Backdropped by volcanos and sitting almost directly atop tectonic plates, Antigua is compassed and enchanting where everything you see feels like picture inside of picture inside of picture. No more than a simple overlay of grids, this colonial town is easy to navigate and charming enough to be drawn into exploring every nook and cranny. More than anything, I found myself in awe at the natural beauty of Guatemalan people and amazed at reclamation after disaster.

If you look up things to do in Guatemala, Chichicastenango Market will undoubtedly come up, as it’s one of the biggest and most beautiful markets in Central America. It has long been a trading post and place of value for the Mayan people and represents a sort of all-encompassing independence from the way they sell their goods to the way they practice a religion that was once punishable to the way that what truly is everyday and mundane for natives seems both requisite and monumental to outsiders.

From beautiful Spanish architecture to dreamy castles to historical shanty town La Perla, San Juan is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever been. As you bask in incredible weather and devour some of the best food you’ll ever have, you can also experience a profound merging of the old and new world right here in San Juan.

Good Hotel is a former private mansion and sustainable property in central city Antigua that began as a charitable organization years ago and evolved into several properties in different countries. While I fell in love with the design of the property, I also knew I wanted to stay because I greatly appreciated that the chain invests in the local community in a number of ways.

It’s always important to know about the cuisine and good food spots when you visit somewhere new so I try to always list a few options for you. Here are five restaurants in Tulum, Mexico ranging from touristy to traditional, low cost to high cost, and small cafe vibes to beach view vibes.

Tulum is actually an incredible place for versatility if you like that on your vacations. There are shopping and pedestrian walking/biking areas, beautiful beaches, and exhilarating jungle excursions. You might enjoy time ziplining into crystalline water or swinging upside down through trees– whatever floats your boat (literally), you can probably find it here.

Cartagena, Columbia is a beautiful city that you can easily get swept away in because there is so much to see. Because it has become such a tourist location there are many ways you can go about seeing everything- walking tours, horse and carriage tours, boat trips, or some combination of all of those.