Author Archives: Wendy

Ski Trip Part One: Packing

View from Hyatt Escala Lodge at Park City, Utah

View from Hyatt Escala Lodge at Park City, Utah

by Wendy
I went skiing for the first time in high school. My family drove to the Smoky Mountains for a couple of days during Christmas break. Half of us slid down an icy hill without ski poles and falling on our rear to stop while the others went ice skating. It wasn’t pretty, but the VHS tape sure was hilarious. Anyway, I went maybe a handful of times since then to spots a few hours away. While I gradually learned to use poles, wedge to stop, ski off the chair lift without crashing and keep my balance, I still would not describe myself as a skier. But I married a skiing enthusiast, so away to Park City, Utah we go. My first trip to Utah and first attempt at skiing west of the Mississippi! Of course one of my first questions was: could I pack for this getaway using a carry-on bag only?
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The Art of Paying the Check in Spain

By Wendy
American visitors can be surprised by how long it takes to get the bill after eating in Spain (or France and some other European countries). If you’re sitting down at a table and served by a waiter or waitress, you’ll almost always have to ask for la cuenta por favor – they don’t just bring it when it looks like you’re about finished eating. And even when you ask, it could be awhile. Relax and get used to this, because you will likely run into it. And you’ll quickly see how this endearing custom of lingering at the table to enjoy food, drinks and good company, is very addictive and fun. Continue reading →

Spain for one week: Itinerary #3

by Wendy
This is part 3 of my series on one week itineraries (nine days counting both weekends) in Spain. The third Spain trip took place in 2013 and was very special, since my parents were going with us! They had never been before, so we designed an itinerary with them in mind. This evolved over several conversations as we researched logistics and available hotels. We debated including Cadaques, or exploring Rioja, but thought we’d have to skip the Andalusia region as a result. A week itinerary does require some very tough choices! So we ultimately decided to include Madrid (again, easy to fly into and all-around all-star city), keep Andalusia but visit Cordoba (a new city for me and Jack), Valencia (must-see Spanish coast and another new city for me and Jack), Barcelona (Gaudi of course), then back to Madrid for the weekend. Continue reading →

Spain for one week: Itinerary #1

by Wendy
Lots of us have limited vacation days at our jobs, or restrictions on how many days we can take off at one time. I’ve heard friends say it’s not worth it to go to Europe for one week. I strongly disagree! There are many wonderful itineraries you can put together for a one week trip (really 9 days, if you count both weekends).

In a series of upcoming posts, I’m going to write about three different and equally awesome week-long vacations my husband and I took in Spain. We spent a lot of time researching and considering different routes and destinations, so I wanted to share a summary of our results with you. Continue reading →

Keep Cute and Carry-On

By Wendy, April and Sunny

We are obsessed with 1) packing light and 2) keeping it cute enough on trips so we’re not worried about what we are wearing at the time. If you’ve never cringed your way through vacation photos, we need you to share your secrets in the comments section. For everyone else, we’ll share tips from time to time on stylish travel favorites that we pack in our carry-on. Continue reading →