Heading to Peru this week! And I found a great, smoke-free Vegas hotel
I love what's happening in our world and with our friends right now. This week I'm sharing both our Peru itinerary AND awesome shout outs about some incredible people in our lives. Life is great!
So March is flying by, right? I have to say though, it's been fun and I have no complaints. I've really noticed a shift in how I see being busy and life events happening when I'm in the zone of just going with the flow and saying yes to the things that bring me joy. Huge difference this year over last. But I have things to share about what's happening now!
Thanks for following along on the adventure, and I promise there are some really cool things coming soon. I feel a good change on the horizon when it comes to our blog, the podcast and the things we have planned for our family. Oh!! Don’t forget to leave us questions to talk about on the podcast.
We're off to PERU!
That's right! I haven't talked a ton about it, but we're heading to Peru this week. Wednesday we fly off to Lima to begin two weeks of adventures. I've been working with my pal Karilyn to make sure we have a good plan for our first experience in a country that's new to all of us and I feel really confident. Even though I may be a professional traveler (I mean, it's what I'm paid to do) there are things that still just break my brain.
Example: understanding logical time/distance from point A to point B, and then planning to make the things we want to do actually for into our itinerary. Also, my brain is all about the fun and activities, not the “what if” of traveling in a new place. That was also really helpful to get advice from Karilyn about everything from altitude sickness to spending money, transportation to finding guides.
And now we're all set! So here's our rough itinerary, and we're staying in super cool hotels and lodging as we go:
Fly to Lima and explore for a few days
Fly to Cusco then head to Ollaytantambo to experience the Sacred Valley
Take the dome train to Aguas Calientes and stay in an eco lodge in the forest
Sunrise experience at Machu Picchu (circuit 4) then train back to Ollaytantambo
Explore Cusco and relax
Fly back to Lima and get a rental car for a drive to Paracas where we have another unique stay, this time on the beach
Visit the national park to see penguins and blue footed boobies, the dunes and more, then head back to Lima for the crown jewel of the trip…
Fly to Iquitos and be picked up and transported up the Amazon to stay in a jungle treehouse for five days!
It's been a lot of work to get all the things coordinated, but it's going to be beyond unforgettable. The kids have actively had a hand in research and planning, so this trip is just as much they're doing as ours. We'll post updates as we go!
Unique Las Vegas Adventure
Last week I went to Las Vegas without the family. Yes, it was for work, but it was fun work! I started my visit by getting to hang out with friends that happened to be in Vegas too (apparently I had four different friend groups there at the same time 🤦🏽♂️), so some friends taught me some gambling things, other friends took me to Cirque du Soleil “O” at the Bellagio, and other friends just wandered vintage Vegas with me. Say what you will about Vegas, and I have a lot to say, but it's a place that brings friends together. There is so much to do that's NOT gambling that you can have myriad fun experiences.
I also took a tour OUT of Las Vegas with MaxTour Vegas to visit the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon National Park, drive Route 66, hike Antelope Canyon and more. I had a great driver (Justin) and he told us all kinds of stories and history of the Southwest and Las Vegas. The sights were awesome, and I loved the experience of getting a road trip that 1.) I didn't have to plan and 2.) somebody else drove. Such a great weekend adventure!
The main reason I went to Las Vegas was actually to experience a new attraction on the Strip: Flyover Las Vegas. Located across from New York New York, Flyover is a collection of films shot in first-person fish eye and projected on a spherical screen while you're seated in a flying contraption. Think “Soarin’ Over…” but covering the American West, Canadian Rockies, Iceland… I didn't understand the value to having me and a few others come out to try the new Flyover in Vegas, but now I get it. It's more than the Soarin' experience. There's a storytelling elements, a themed cocktail element, and it's a great alternative activity on the Strip. Super fun and I’m glad I said yes to trying it out.
Where I Stayed in Las Vegas
Most people arrive in a city and have a single home base for the duration of their stay, and I for sure prefer that when I'm traveling with the whole family, but when I'm in my own I didn't care, so I stayed in three different Las Vegas hotels: Mandalay Bay, Park MGM and New York New York. I'll be writing about each one on the blog, but here are my initial thoughts on case your looking to book something soon.
Mandalay Bay - It's pretty, there are TONS of food options and activities, and the rims are very nice. I got upgraded to a penthouse suite for no good reason and it was absolutely baller. I loved the Shark Reef aquarium at the hotel, and the Retro restaurant was one of my favorite meals in Las Vegas. The downside: smokey and located at the END of the Strip. There was a tram that helped with the location, but still far. Good room deals sometimes though (check here)
Park MGM - I had not idea about the Park MGM at all and now it's my favorite Las Vegas hotel. It's very park-like, both in decor and with the benches and vibe. The wallpaper has birds hidden in it, and the lobby feels like it's under a huge beautiful tree. Primrose was a wonderful dining spot, there's a Lady Gaga museum, Eataly is awesome, and then the best part: it's 100% non-smoking! That makes such a huge difference in the breathing experience, and I love NOT smelling gross. Good deals when there’s not a show at the Dolby Theater.
New York New York - This is a fun place to stay and really takes the cake for food options that aren't too fancy or high brow. The pool was nice with lots of space, and there's a roller coaster (rough though). The location was good, as it's next to Park MGM and Flyover, but it's farther down the Strip than I would've wanted. Something funny about NYNY was actually the hotel hallways. OMG, you exit the elevators and then make fifteen zigzags to get to your room. All in all though, I think NYNY is a good LV option.
Exciting Life Happenings
There's so much going on so the time with everyone, which is always good to keep in mind. You know, the whole thing about you never know the battles others are facing… but that also means there are also wonderful things happening in friends and family's lives. I wanted to give a few quick shout outs to some of my close friends that have been on fire with life.
First up, my pal Angie got to release her book last week. She was met with fanfare and cake, having a wonderful book launch signing. Her memoir, Flirting With Disaster, launched as a top Amazon pick and her community has had her on blast (listen to our podcast episode together here!). THIS is how I want to show up for and see others show up for the people in our lives. Signed copies available at San Marco Books in Jacksonville. Signing event in Salt Lake City April 12. Also, check out Angie as she hosts the Traveling With AAA podcast as well!
Second, my bff Kelly led her first destination retreat for women and it was a success. Kelly and Bri (another pal) brought a group of women to the Big Island of Hawaii for a week of connection, exploring and wellness. From massage and somatic dance to fresh food and snorkeling, they led they're group though a week of full and healing. That's an amazing thing to put together, to lead, and to just to make yourself available to others in such an intimate way. Bravo!
Lastly, a huge shout out to Kate, another bff and my podcast co-host. She is just such a driving force for good and eternal hope for humanity. Even though I'm all about joy and giving people the space to do their thing, I'm really a downer about life some days. Kate manages to keep people's point of view, intentions, and traumas in mind when I get down, and I appreciate that. Also, she has been so fun to record the next session of the podcast with. We're rolling with Let Me Ask You This and it's such a refreshing style of recording. I love it. Check out all the podcast episodes here!
Our Alaska UnCruise Sailing - June
There are still a few spots left on our UnCruise sailing out of Juneau in June. We'll be on the Frontier Legacy ship doing a round trip expedition full of kayaking, wildlife watching, nature education and beautiful views. We're excited to be back with our captain and bartender from our Hawaii UnCruise sailing, and hopefully we'll see more familiar faces. If you want to be one of those familiar faces, you can book using our discount code (TWODADS500) and join us! You also can just book whatever itinerary sounds awesome for you. We're eyeing the Baja itinerary for this fall too, so just putting that out there…
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about or just want to understand what an UnCruise is, we’ve got an article all about the unique experience we had on our first one. You can also read about our specific Hawaii UnCruise we did in February. It was so awesome, I’m not sure how Alaska will be able to surpass it, but our minds are open and we’re excited.
Latest Travel Tips on the Blog
If you've been following along for a while, you may have seen a gazillion hotel reviews from us because I love to write about the places we stay. I feel like hotel reviews are one of the most important types of travel articles because 1.) how you sleep and unwind during busy travel days is important and 2.) hotels are one of the biggest costs in travel.
With that, here's the latest resort review: the Royal Kona Resort!
Anyone who's been to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island has seen the Royal Kona if you've walked along the sea wall or gone out on a boat. It's the huge, vintage hotel out on the point that looks like a ship. Anyways, it's been open for 56 years and currently undergoing a major reno, but still is a cool place to stay.
I'd love for you to take a look at the article and save it for later when you're planning a trip to Hawaii. It's a great option for families with both a good luau AND a private cove you simply won't believe. Check it out!
That's all I have for now. The last few weeks have been so busy and the next three are going to be wild. I won't have another update outside of Instagram/Facebook/TikTok until April 14. Keep us in your thoughts as we adventure to the Andes and Amazon, and thank you for being here for the journey! ♥️