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San Jose, California

“These endless ways to San Jose --

ways and ways and ways and ways that start and end in the heart.”

- excerpt from “Ways and Ways to San Jose” by Al Young

What a way to celebrate my 30th birthday!

We ventured off to Mountain View to tour Google’s campus.

A terrible selfie, but here’s proof at how close I got to the stage!

Tim Cook kicks off WWDC 2017.

Michelle Obama even made an appearance.

The “Bash” – Fall Out Boy, food, drinks and lots of fun!

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Finger Lakes, New York

A fall weekend in the Finger Lakes – Keuka Lake, Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen State Park.

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Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders:

excerpt from “Chicago” by Carl Sanburg

A Weekend in Chicago, Illinois

The iconic Bean

Taking in the Chicago Jazz Festival in Hyde Park

Lou Malnati's, the best Chicago deep dish pizza deep dish pizza

Me too!

Views of Lake Michigan

Terracotta Warriors exhibit at the Field Museum

Enjoying giant margaritas at Tarascas

Buddy Guy’s Legends blues club. And yes, Buddy Guy was sitting at the bar.

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Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Playa Grande

Fish tacos and Pilsen with a view

La Marejada – the cutest boutique hotel where we stayed for the week.

Canoe trip down Tamarindo Estuary

Howler monkeys in the trees during our jaunt down the estuary

Pescado

Howler monkeys stopped by for a visit at our hotel

Walk on the beach for sunset

Beach beer

Anteater, or oso hormiguero, spotted during dinner.

Back in Baltimore.

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St. Croix vibes

Any mention of the US Virgin Islands conjures up a Caribbean island fantasy – white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters, sipping cocktails from pineapple cups. People go to get away from stress and relax. But relaxing can be hard when many of the beaches are filled with trash and seaweed, like St. Croix. It also didn’t help to have a three-year-old nephew determined (kind of like an organized crime) to be difficult all vacation long.

With the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, the US Virgin Islands are composed of three islands – St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. St. Thomas is the bustling, all-inclusive-style island, the busiest and most cosmopolitan of the three islands. St. John is a nature-lover’s haven, as more than two-thirds of the island is protected as a national park. St. Croix, often called the “big island,” is the largest of the three islands and serves as the history-rich, cultural capital. And now I can say I’ve been to all three.

After traveling to all three of the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix is probably my least favorite. The island was experiencing a severe drought during our visit, and everything was extremely brown and dry. Limited greenery, few flowers, palms falling over and dying, trash-filled beaches and seaweed washed ashore on nearly every beach didn’t make the place very attractive. Don’t get me wrong. Not everywhere on the island was like this. Check out some of the highlights in the pictures below:

The beautiful: Frederiksted beaches

The west side of the island is home to the most beautiful sandy beaches on St. Croix. The Frederiksted side of the island is known for having calm water and is ideal for snorkeling. You know the movie Shawshank Redemption? The film nominated for seven Academy Awards? At the end, ex-cons Andy and Red are reunited on a paradise-like beach in Mexico. Except the scene was actually shot at Sandy Point on the southwest end of St. Croix. This should explain a lot.

The bloody: Sailing trip to Buck Island

On the positive side, we had a blast when we sailed out to Buck Island with Buck Island Charters and Captain Carl at the helm of Teroro II, a 42’ trimaran. Buck Island was first established as a protected area by the U.S. Government in 1948. Later, Buck Island Reef National Monument was created in 1961 by John F. Kennedy, preserving the 167-acre island and its surrounding reefs. Around the island is an underwater snorkel trail where we found an elkhorn coral barrier reef, over 250 fish species, as well as spotted eagle rays, sharks and turtles. In fact, quite a few members of our crew got cut up and bloodied by the coral. Thank goodness we didn’t see any sharks! Sadly, Hurricane Hugo destroyed almost 100% of the south barrier reef and much of the nesting areas for the turtles was eroded. The pristine white beach was one the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Well worth the sailing trip out there.

The bizarre: Famous beer-drinking pigs

After an afternoon of sun and sand on the beautiful west-side of the island, we made our way deep into the rainforest to the Mt. Pelter Domino Club. Here for a small price you can watch pigs drink straight from cans of non-alcoholic beer. You simply wave a can of beer around, and they hop on their stall door in excitement. Or in my dad’s case, he propped the beer he was drinking on the edge of the stall and pig name almost sucked down the real thing.

St. Croix is certainly no Hawaii. Comparing the two is quite laughable, in fact. The people were friendly and there were a few beautiful spots, but overall I left unimpressed with this Virgin Island.

Have you traveled to St. Croix? What did you think of the island?

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The magic of the Pacific Northwest is hard to capture with words. From breathtaking cliffs butting up against the glassy ocean to lush, deep forests of mysterious, vibrant ecosystems, my experience there was a truly unforgettable adventure.

Traveling to Oregon and Washington in early September 2014, I jammed our trip with adventures EVERY day. Yes, every waking hour was spent venturing off into a different region of Northern Oregon, and it was amazing. Incredibly busy, but still amazing.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel to the Pacific Northwest, the only decision you need to make is where to go first. Seriously. You need to go explore the beauty found in this special corner of the world for yourself. I promise you will not regret it.

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Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach, or as I lovingly referred to it “Goonies Beach,” is known for Haystack Rock. Near Haystack Rock are the Needles, two tall rocks that rise straight from the water. 

The beach is beautiful and expansive. The water is biting cold like much of the Pacific coast. The views are grand and pleasing.

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Oneonta Gorge Trail

If you want a unique hiking experience to view some falls along the Gorge, this hike is for you. We climbed over slippery felled logs and waded up to our chests in bone-chilling water to reach the Lower Oneonta Falls. Since we had made it that far without breaking a bone or our cameras, why not go swimming in the bone-chilling water, right? Well, as nuts as it sounds, that’s what we did. We dove in under the waterfalls, I lost my contact for half a second and ended up freezing cold. I imagine if you hike earlier in the day when the sun is higher in the sky, it’s probably not as chilly. The fresh water is probably even refreshing after a sweaty hike.

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Portland, Oregon

We enjoyed a brewery bike tour of Portland. It was a great way to get a feel for the city and enjoy some delicious beers at the same time. It’s incredible how bike-friendly the city of Portland is.

Crystal Hotel and Ballroom was originally built as Cotillion Hall in 1914 as a ballroom, where dances were held through the Depression. Situated on the edge of the Pearl District, the main ballroom features a mechanical “floating” dance floor. On the first floor is Zeus Café, a restaurant/bar owned by McMenamins.

Green Dragon Pub

We made our way to Clyde Common for happy hour after the bike tour.

Deschutes Brewery

Rogue Brewery

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Mt. Hood, Oregon

Meet Mt. Hood. As the highest mountain in Oregon (11,249 feet above sea level) and the fourth highest in the Cascade Mountain Range, Mt. Hood is actually a dormant volcano with its last minor eruption occurring in 1907.

To start off our trip, we spent most of the day exploring and hiking the trails around Trillium Lake, named for a genus of flowers found in the area called Trilliums. The best part about Trillium Lake was the great view of Mt. Hood from nearly every spot near the lake.

Timberline Lodge Ski Area has the only year-round ski season in North America. Except, of course, for the week we visited. Timberline Lodge is nestled at 6,000 feet, just below the Palmer Glacier, one of Mt. Hood’s 12 named glaciers and snowfields.

Somehow a quick stop turned into us hiking 1,000 ft up the Mt. Hood to about 7,000 ft, or the current glacier point. We were wearing shorts, and the sun was preparing to set. Despite the cold, incredibly steep ascent and all my complaining, the view was incredible on top of Mt. Hood. Not only could you see the glacier up close and personal, but the view from the top of Mt. Hood as the sun set was breathtaking.

Everything around us was cast with the red glow of the sun. It looked like we were on Mars.

If you’ve ever watched The Shining, Timberline Lodge is where all the aerial shots in the opening scene of the movie come from. We’re not talking about the maze, just the lodge and its surroundings. We couldn’t not take a look around at this landmark.

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Columbia River Gorge

“A highway of poetry and drama”

On our second day in Oregon, we hit the Gorge. The Columbia River Gorge is an 80-mile marvel, composed of waterfalls and basalt cliffs rising up to 4,000 ft. The Columbia River forms most of the border between Washington and Oregon and empties into the Pacific Ocean. And in 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition used the Columbia River Gorge route to reach the Pacific.

Our first stop was Vista House at Crown Point, offering stunning views of the Gorge. The Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as the Columbia River Highway. The octagon-shaped building was designed to be a place of refreshment and enjoyment of the Columbia Gorge.

Western view of Columbia River

Eastern view of Columbia River

Of the 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, Multnomah Falls is grandmama of them all. At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is the second tallest year-round waterfall in the U.S. The hike is a bit tough as there’s a lot of climbing and it’s incredibly steep. It’s 1.2 miles to the top with 11 switchbacks zigzagging to the top. For me, enduring the mental and physical challenge and making it out the other end was very worth it.

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Mount St. Helens, Washington

On our third day in Oregon, we woke up early and made the three hour drive from the Swedish Stuga to Mount St. Helens. We followed I-5 all the way along the Columbia River into Bigfoot Country. And, yes, there were signs. 

The drive was long, and 504 was windy, really windy. We made a few stops before ending up at Johnston Ridge Observatory, including Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center overlooking a field where elk usually roam. Of course, no elk to be seen for us.

On the morning of May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens erupted, killing 57 people. The eruption, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, was notorious for violent and deadly devastation. The pyroclastic flow busted out flattening vegetation and creating lahars, or volcanic mudflows (a mixture of ice, snow and water). The plume of ash traveled east at an average speed of 60 miles per hour, reaching Idaho by noon.

While the volcano used to be a beautiful symmetrical cone at about 9,600 feet above sea level, the eruption removed the upper 1,300 feet of its summit. Now, what’s left of Mount St. Helens is a horseshoe-shaped crater and surrounding barren wasteland. It’s slowly healing, with flowers growing amid the rock. But frankly, it looks a lot like an magnificently eerie moonscape. 

Today, many people travel to Mount St. Helens to climb its rugged terrain. A climbing permit is required for anyone hiking about 4,800 feet. We ventured off and did a some hiking ourselves. Nothing that required a permit. But if you’re afraid of heights, you probably shouldn't travel off this beaten path. 

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Welcome to the Swedish Stuga

I parked our rental car at the end of the long private road. The car doors slammed, echoing through the valley. The sound of a small stream rushed, and I met the smell of dampened earth and tentative darkness. Something rustled in the leaf litter. We exchanged tired, apprehensive looks concealed by the night shadows. Our adventure in Oregon had already begun.

I walked across the grated steel, pedestrian footbridge clasping our luggage. A faint glow shined from the hillside, guiding us toward the Swedish Stuga. After following a short dirt trail, I stumbled on rock stairs. Ascending the hillside, a warm flagstone patio greeted me, leading inside.

Our home for the next few days was the cozy Swedish Stuga with cathedral ceilings and wood-burning fireplace. With my weary bare feet dragging on the softwood, old-growth Douglas Fir floors, I dropped my bags and retired to bed. I was too exhausted from our full day of travel to notice or appreciate all its beauty just yet.

Neither of us stirred until late morning. I slept in, thinking the large windows and the bright light would wake me. Once I fed myself coffee and cooked breakfast, my curiosity allowed me to wander the property. I found moss-laden, felled trees, tiny waterfalls, a swing hung between trees and a rusty iron chandelier dangling from the trees. Inside the Stuga was an antique claw-foot tub with a view, a grand selection of old books and a shower lined by a river rock floor. Surrounded by 24 private acres of wilderness, the magic was never-ending.

The Swedish Stuga is a place for relaxation, nature and nostalgia. Stuga is the Swedish word for cottage or a small house. It’s a building used for holidays and serves as a vacation house in Sweden, mostly along the coast or outside big cities.

Traditional stugas built of wood are painted with Swedish falun red paint. The kitchen and living room are often joined and feature a fireplace. Most stugas only contain 1 or 2 small bedrooms allowing for better heat circulation.

Up until the end of World War II, only a few wealthy Swedish families could afford vacation houses. Many of these former vacation homes converted into permanent homes over the years.

Inspired by time spent in Sweden with his family, the owner built the Swedish Stuga near Mt. Hood, Oregon with the simple elegance of small country homes in mind. I am so happy he did. It was a joy to spend time in this magical home.

Here are the rest of the photos of the Swedish Stuga:

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Visiting Topsail Island, North Carolina

I realize it’s been a few weeks since we’ve returned from our trip to North Topsail Beach on Topsail Island, North Carolina. But better late than never, right?

We spent most of our days playing in the waves, lying on the beach, reading books and enjoying each others’ company. It was the perfect way to relax, recharge and take a break from the workplace. The ocean has a way of shrinking all of life’s problems. Standing along the shoreline, I’ve always felt a strong sense of home and clarity. The waves help get me back to me.

I mostly want to share all the photos we took at the beach. The landscape was breathtaking and peaceful.

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Paris in a day

Anyone who’s been to Paris knows one day is nowhere near enough time to experience the City of Lights. With so many sights, smells and croissants to eat, it’s hard imagine even a week would suffice, let alone 24 hours. Nevertheless, my friends and I managed to squeeze a lot into our one day in Paris. Here’s what we managed to accomplish in our one day in Paris:

Climbed the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed its views over lunch

We discovered the symbol known around the world, the Eiffel Tower, is quite delightful as a backdrop.

Explored the Musée du Louvre

The largest art museum in the world and home to the most famous painted women, like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, deserves a full day to explore itself.

Toured the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris

The finest example of French Gothic architecture contrasted with stunning stained glass windows is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

Caught a glimpse of Hôtel de Ville

Trying to navigate our way to the Metro, we caught a brief look at Hôtel de Ville, housing the city’s local administration – basically, Paris’s city hall.

Rode down the Seine River on a river boat

A river boat cruise down the Seine River. What a beautiful way to get around the city!

Accosted on the Métro

Everyone has a metro story. It just so happened that our metro story occurred while we were on the Paris Métro.

Visited La Défense

As the eccentric helmsman to our Métro ride, I somehow managed to land us at La Défense instead of the Arc de Triomphe. Grande Arche de La Défense and the Arc de Triomphe are almost the same thing, right?

Strolled along Champs-Élysées

One the most famous streets in the world, Champs-Élysées is also home to the most expensive real estate in the world.

Ate real French macaroons

Macaroons were pretty far off my radar when it came to what I wanted to experience in Paris, but thanks to my friend Jenny, we enjoyed REAL French macaroons from Ladurée.

Snapped photos of the iconic Arc de Triomphe

Getting there was a mess, but I’m glad we made it to the Roman-inspired Arc de Triomphe. The biggest and tallest triumphal arch in the world was commissioned by Napoléon to honor his victories.

Don’t worry, Paris. I will be back to see the rest of your beauteous city one day! Next time I hope to see La Sainte Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, Sacre Coeur Basilica and enjoy a charming dinner in Paris, the City of Lights.

There are a few moments from my Europe trip I never got around to sharing. This is me trying to play catch up.

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Enchanted by picturesque Bruges

Bustling with horse-drawn carriages and open-air restaurants, the historic Markt marks the center of Bruges. Here we took a break from the tour, ate lunch and meandered around the city for some time.What’s not to love about Bruges?

Often referred to as The Venice of the North, this northern city gets this nickname from the multiple canals weaving around the cobblestone streets. During the Middle Ages, Bruges was the most important trading center in northwest Europe, and it’s almost as though the city is suspended in that time. The enchanting beauty and medieval history of the city is staggering, although admittedly it’s a bit Disney-esque and touristy. But Bruges still makes for a worthwhile travel destination.

Getting around in Bruges

Driving is strongly discouraged within the city. In fact, our tour-bus had to park outside of the city. Luckily, the city is so compact, and it was only a short five minute walk into the city. You’ll find people enjoy the city by traveling on foot, by scooter, by bicycle, by boat and even by horse-drawn carriage. This seems to be a huge advantage for the small city allowing it to maintain its historic charm and avoid the trash and graffiti that plague most European cities.

Begijnhof of Bruges

Surrounded by walls and secluded from the town by a gate, the Begijnhof once housed a Catholic order of single and widowed women. With white-washed cottages surrounded a tranquil sea of grass and trees, the sight forces your mind into meditation mode. At one point during the early 20th century, there were over 1,500 begijnhoven in Belgium. Today, the Begijnhof of Bruges is one of the few still remaining and now home to Benedictine nuns.

The famous Church of Our Lady

The tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world, the Church of Our Lady stands at 122 meters. The highlight of the gothic church is Michelangelo’s famous Madonna and Child. At the time, I didn’t think it was worth the euros to see the painting. Now, I’m kicking myself for not sucking it up and paying up.

Markt of Bruges

Bustling with horse-drawn carriages and open-air restaurants, the historic Markt marks the center of Bruges. Here we took a break from the tour, ate lunch and meandered around the city for some time.

Bats in the Belfry

Another hard to miss landmark, the city’s famous 13th-century belfry looms over city and particularly, the main square, Markt, at 83 meters. Nestled atop the tower lies a manually operated 47-bell carillon regularly clanging across the city. I wonder how many bats are up there.

Chocolate shops and waffles

Wander down Kathelijnestraat and reach out an arm. You’ll probably touch at least ten different chocolate shops in one reach. With nearly 50 chocolate shops, the city is a mecca for chocolate lovers. Pair your chocolate with its many waffle shops, or a waffle truck, and you’re set.

Unexpected poetry sighting

The languorous canals and medieval architecture of Bruges were without a doubt enchanting. But my favorite find in Bruges was bit more discreet: several lines of poetry found on the ceiling of a walkway. It beautifully captures the wealth of culture in Bruges and the city’s many dimensions. If it weren’t for my friend Lindsay pointing it out (and commanding me to take a picture), I probably would have completely missed it.

On the ceiling in multiple languages were these words:

“In their ring, the canals of Bruges embrace each tint and tongue. These gates are open to every road and the kindly sea welcomes all travelers. He who crosses our thrones today knows he is linked to countless others. –Jan van der Hoeven”

Have you been to Bruges? What was your favorite part about the city?

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Hawaii’s most active volcano

I had all these expectations before visiting Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. How big the crater would be, what the air would smell like, what types of vegetation would surround the volcano. Once I finally made it there, I realized I was completely off.

Peering over the edge into Halema’uma’u Crater, I was rendered mute by an overwhelming wave of awe. Steam rising from the vents, a sulphuric rotten-eggs odor seeping into the air, native Hawaiians offering gifts to honor Pele, the goddess of the volcano. Everywhere I looked there was something even more exquisite than the last. Looking down all you see is desolate beauty – a giant crater filled with a lake of lava that eventually drained away. Further into the distance within a gaping hole rests Kilauea, one of the most active volcano in the world. Experiencing the sheer power of a volcano and what it was capable of doing to its surrounding was incredible.

Expect to devote an entire day exploring Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, or at least consider it will take that long to get there, explore and drive back. Plan your visit right, or return once it gets dark to see the luminous glow of the lava resting inside Kilauea. Also, bring warm clothes. It gets incredibly windy and cold after the sun dips below the mountains. Luckily I came prepared with a jacket.

Before we trekked our way to the volcano that morning, we made a pit stop at one of the black sand beaches on the island, Punalu’u Beach. Here we found a broken down bus of antsy tourists and a few friendly sea turtles. Definitely a day for the books!