Author: Laura Irwin

The City of Roses – Portland, Oregon

Laura Irwin

Portland, Oregon may not seem like a vacation destination, and sure, there’s plenty of beautiful scenery to explore outside the city.  But spend a day in this funky, eclectic city, and you will see why thousands of people give up the dream of blue sky and sun and choose to live with what feels like endless days of overcast skies and clouds.  Portland’s weather is notoriously overcast, but the city has so much to offer, both indoors and out, that it’s easy to understand why so many people choose to call this city home.

Washington Park – International Rose Test Garden

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From Mountaintops to Seashore – A Visit to Santa Barbara, California

Laura Irwin
Santa Barbara, California

With its location a mere 90 miles from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a perfect day trip destination from the L.A. area.  Get an early start to beat the traffic heading to the coast.  I would recommend starting in Santa Monica, and heading north up the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).  The drive along the coast is part of the fun of a day trip to Santa Barbara.  The PCH hugs the coastline for most of the trip from Santa Monica to just south of Oxnard.  Along the way, you will pass numerous turn-outs and state parks/beaches at which to stop.  Many of these charge for parking, so you may want to pick one at which to stop and get a “taste” of the Pacific coast beaches as you make your way to Santa Barbara.  Surfers frequent many of the beaches between Malibu and Santa Barbara, so you will have plenty to see on your way up the coast.  If you’re lucky, you may even see dolphins playing in the water not far from the shore.

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The Los Angeles Zoo

Laura Irwin
Los Angeles Zoo Koala

I admit it.  I’m not a big fan of zoos.  I have nothing against animals; I just don’t enjoy walking around looking at them for hours at a time.  So it came as a surprise to me that I actually enjoyed my afternoon at the Los Angeles Zoo.  Maybe it was the fact that the zoo was well spread-out, or the variety of animals from around the world.  More likely, though, it was the great photo opportunities afforded at this zoo.  I spent about three and a half hours roaming around the zoo on a Saturday afternoon, and could easily have spent a couple more.  Yes, I enjoyed it that much.

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New Hampshire Maple Weekend

Laura Irwin
Mapletree Farm – East Concord, New Hampshire

If you happen to be in northern New England during late February or March, are you in for a treat!  Maple sugaring is a tradition that has been taking place in New England for centuries.  Although the process has evolved over the years to what it is today, generations and generations of New Englanders have been tapping maple trees every spring to create maple syrup.  Maple sugaring is so much a part of the northern New England culture that the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association now has a weekend set aside to celebrate this time honored tradition (Vermont and Maine have similar celebrations).

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Of Sunshine and Seashells – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Laura Irwin

Where can you find miles of white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, and a National Wildlife Refuge, all within a matter of minutes from one another?  If you answered Hilton Head Island, give yourself a pat on the back!  Hilton Head has long been known for its laid-back, relaxed atmosphere and seemingly endless sun-filled days.  But Hilton Head is more than just golf courses and beaches.  Read on to find out more about this island of sunshine and seashells…

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Southern Charm and More – Savannah, Georgia

Laura Irwin

Savannah.  The name alone evokes images of the iconic land of plantation homes and horse-drawn carriages.  But did you know there’s more to Savannah than meets the eye?  Savannah is the second largest container port in the United States (second only to the combined ports of New York and New Jersey).  Visit the waterfront on any given day, and you will see large container ships making their way up the Savannah River from ports around the world.  Savannah has also been the setting for numerous Hollywood films (who can forget “Forrest Gump” and “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”?).  Savannah derives lesser-known notoriety as the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low (founder of the Girl Scouts) and the site of sailing competitions during the 1996 Summer Olympics.

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