England 2015 – Day 1: Boston to London

Laura Irwin
Iconic London Phone Booth
Iconic London Phone Booth

“There’s no rest for the weary.”  Or so the saying goes.  In this case, there’s no rest for the jet-lagged.  After very little sleep (more like a few winks) on last night’s overnight flight from Boston, I arrived in London excited and ready to go.  That lasted for about 10 minutes.  Or the time it took to get from my gate to the “UK Border” sign at immigration (I love that sign!).  Exhaustion set in hard and fast.  Determined to beat it, I quickly made my way to the Underground ticket booth and discovered that my Oyster card from my visit two years ago was not only still active, it still had money on it!  The 45 minute tube ride from Heathrow left me outside Pimlico station, where the cool air and crisp breeze perked me right back up.  I made my way to my nearby hotel and took advantage of the Executive Lounge to grab a Diet Coke and some enormous marshmallows.  Completely random, but coupled with the warm Doubletree cookie and hot shower, I was good to go.

Continue reading →

America’s Finest City – San Diego, California

Laura Irwin

The city of San Diego conjures up visions of palm trees, long sand beaches, and endless sunny days.  But San Diego is more than just iconic California sunshine.  Filled with history and fortunate to have a year-round temperate climate, the city makes for a great, relaxing vacation destination in any season.  With so much to do in San Diego, one could easily spend a couple of weeks and not see everything the area has to offer.  San Diego has the unique appeal of having a little something for everyone.  From beaches to theme parks to a vibrant downtown, everyone can find something to enjoy in the far southwest corner of the United States….

February Vacation 2013 277
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Continue reading →

Taking a Bite Out of The Big Apple

Laura Irwin

When a local photo group planned a day trip to New York City, I was all set for a day of fun and photos in one of America’s most iconic cities.  I booked a round trip ticket on Amtrak from Boston to New York City, and planned to meet the group in the city.  Unfortunately, the group trip was canceled several days prior to the excursion, and I was left with two choices: either cancel my reservation and stay home, or spend a day exploring the Big Apple on my own.  I chose the latter, and had a great time finding my way around the city and exploring all that makes New York City such a unique place.  So what does one do for a day in New York?  Read on, and discover how you can see some of the best of the Big Apple in a short amount of time.

Continue reading →

Waterfall Wonderland – The Columbia River Gorge

Laura Irwin
Wahclella Falls

No trip to Oregon would be complete without a visit to the Columbia River Gorge.  The gorge is a deep canyon, formed by the Columbia River, which extends over 80 miles from the Cascade Range in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west.  Most visitors choose to visit the roughly 60-mile stretch between Portland and Hood River, which also encompasses the Historic Columbia River Highway.  One of the main attractions in the gorge is the sheer volume of waterfalls (more than 90 on the Oregon side alone), many of which are easily accessible to visitors.   For most visitors, a visit to the Gorge begins and ends in Portland, and the trip is often a day trip which includes a stop at Mt. Hood and a drive through the famous Hood River Fruit Loop.  However, to really do justice to the area, at least one full day is recommended in order to have time for a few short hikes and not feel rushed while visiting the Gorge’s many attractions.  This suggested route begins in Hood River and ends in Portland, but can easily be adapted to reverse direction or as part of a single-day trip.

Continue reading →

The Central Oregon Coast – Yachats and Cape Perpetua

Laura Irwin
Rocky Coastline – Yachats, Oregon

While the northern Oregon coast tends to attract day trippers and weekenders from Portland, the central Oregon coast is a bit more removed from the big cities and has a much more laid-back feel.  But spend a few days along the central Oregon coast, and you’ll find it has a charm and character all its own.  Yachats (pronounced “yah-hawts”) is a perfect base for exploring the central Oregon coast.  There are several small inns and hotels along the coast in this area, and while not “built up”, the town is large enough to have several quality restaurants and shops.  Best of all, Yachats is just a short drive from Cape Perpetua, a true gem of the Oregon coast.

Continue reading →

From Astoria to Pacific City – Exploring the Northern Oregon Coast

Laura Irwin
Haystack Rock at Sunset – Cannon Beach, Oregon

“…the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed,                        in front of a boundless ocean…”  -William Clark

Where can you find rugged coastlines, secluded beaches, and stunning vistas, all in one area?  If your answer involved the Oregon coast, you’re correct!  The Oregon coast has long been known as one of America’s most beautiful and scenic coastlines, and it’s easy to see why.  Around every bend, there is seemingly one beautiful vista after another.  Add to this the fact that the majority of the Oregon coast is comprised of small coastal villages scattered amidst miles of beaches, and you have the perfect recipe for a seaside vacation.

Continue reading →

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

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →