Category: North America

In late 2017, Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico and Dominica, leaving the large majority of the affected areas totally devastated. San Juan and surrounding communities have begun to bounce back, while the entire island is still struggling with the destruction in the wake of the storm. More than a year later, economists have estimated a$43 billion dollar economic impact, entire communities in southeast Puerto Rico are still struggling with housing and basic infrastructure needs, and nearly 4% of the population has actually left the island in hopes of finding a better quality of life.

When I was invited to travel down to Puerto Rico last month, I confess, I had an initial hesitation — not because I was concerned about my safety, or because I was averse to witnessing the aftermath of Maria, but I thought to myself, “Is this really a trip I want to recommend to my readers and followers right now? Is Puerto Rico ready to support the type of tourism that is needed for them to continue on the road to recovery?” But, then I remembered how eager I was to see San Juan as the thriving community I had heard it to be from friends & family who had visited pre-storm. The stories of community, generosity, and kindness superseded that of worry and devastation. Less than a day later, I confirmed the trip.

A few weeks later, I hopped a direct flight from Boston to San Juan (JetBlue flights are as low as $133 right now) and found myself in Old San Juan, surrounded by color, smiling faces, and countless corners to explore. For the trip, home base was the Hotel El Convento, a renovated convent with a storied past, in the middle of the city. The property boasts cheery yellow walls, exposed mahogany beams, a courtyard perfect for lounging, and welcome drinks that will put even the weariest of travelers in a good mood. Their suites are expansive, and the rooftop plunge pool overlooking the city certainly didn’t hurt either.

On subsequent days during our trip, I also had the pleasure of exploring the Condado Vanderbilt (including a spa appointment that was top notch) and La Concha Resort & Spa. If you’re looking for accommodation situated on the beach, either of these make an enjoyable option. As an added bonus, the Condado Vanderbilt also is home to one of the tastiest dinners on the island courtesy of 1919 Restaurant. Their poolside dining is also quite delicious, giving you an excuse to not move from your beach chair all day long, if you so desire.

Outside of the hotels, dining options abound in San Juan, and I encourage you to put your ‘foodie’ hat on and take part in the many culinary adventures that await.  So many of you kindly reached out to me prior to my trip to recommend tasty spots (thank you!), but the restaurant that kept coming up was Marmalade, and for good reason! Getting a reservation can be tough in the high season, so be sure to plan ahead, but just like many of you, I couldn’t recommend this dining experience highly enough. Don’t leave without trying the white bean soup, and if you are vegan or vegetarian, be prepared for so many options that are rarely found in restaurants of this caliber.

If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key than Marmalade and 1919 for dinner, you can eat your way through all the Puerto Rican classics at Lote 23, a gastronomic oasis located in San Juan’s art and music district known as Santurce. Essentially, you make your rounds from stand to stand eating that proprietor’s prized dish. Send your friends out on a mission to collect what they think the three tastiest items will be (including drinks!), and come together for a smorgasbord that is simply satisfying. Everything I tried was delicious, so you really can’t go wrong!

What would vacation be without a few cocktails? A must have for drinks is Santaella – a local hot spot that hosts a cool crowd even on week nights. Don’t leave without trying the Tamarind Margarita, and one of their many tasty desserts. La Factoría is also an institution that cannot be missed. The multi-room bar has been dubbed one of the world’s top 50 bars, and is  home to the famous Lavender Mule. Have a few for me on your visit, and stay for dancing until the wee hours.

For my final night, I enjoyed a few drinks at La Factoría and made my way back into my comfy bed at the Hotel El Convento before waking up early to wander around Old San Juan with my camera for a few hours. Below, see just handful of about 100 photos that I took, and loved, from my meanderings in this historic part of town.

After just a couple days on-island, it’s clear: Puerto Rico is poised for a serious comeback. San Juan was absolutely thriving, and deserves to make it onto your travel list for 2019. The friendliness of everyone I encountered on my trip has me already craving to go back! I genuinely feel like I’ve made great friends, and was so thankful for all of their guidance and recommendations for a memorable stay in their community.

Have plans to make your way to San Juan or other parts of the island next year? Let me know if the comments.

Earlier this month, I had the distinct pleasure of heading down to Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina to stay at the Montage. If you are unfamiliar with the property, you aren’t alone. It’s a new development over the last couple of years, but they are sure making a splash in lowcountry luxurious style. It’s nestled between Hilton Head and Savannah, meaning you are ripe with opportunity to go explore outside of the 20,000 acre property. But, there is so much to do that it’s hard to imagine a good reason to leave. Below I’m listing a few of my favorite things to do, and I save the best for last, especially if you’re considering this property for your next getaway!

Just Relax
That’s what vacations are meant for, right? Whether you are snoozing on a hammock on one of their private islands deep in the bluff, grabbing a massage or hot sauna session in their beautifully designed spa, or just lounging by their very picturesque pool, you will find yourself saying ‘ahhhh, now this is vacation‘ at every turn. I highly recommend taking advantage of their dry sauna and plunge pool – not a spa amenity you see everywhere!

Hang Out with Nature (and the Animals)
Not only does the Montage team take service and experience very seriously, but conservation and nature is also always top of mind. Take a property tour with one of their local experts, who has likely wrested a gator, saved turtles and spent hours upon hours watching the birds. They have a wealth of knowledge not only about the animals that inhabit the property, but plants as well. My mom likes to joke that I’m a girl who “loves nature per se,” but I honestly found this aspect of the property so interesting, and we even got to see a brand new baby bird! I also went horseback riding, and explored their beautiful stables. I wish I could have ridden longer to be honest, but what can I say, I’m a sucker for horses!

Venture into Bluffton
After an afternoon of shooting on their private complex (one of my favorite activities of the whole trip!), you’ll want to clean yourself up for a night on the town! Right down the road, you have the small town of Bluffton, which is picturesque and boasts an active community. On our night in town, we dined a FARM, which was amazingly delicious! There’s loads of eye-catching architecture, and the community is pretty active as well. Lots of barbecues, live music, and people just getting out and socializing.

Get in (or on) the Water
One of the best parts of the Montage Palmetto Bluff is its proximity to some on-the-water adventures. If you’re looking to go for a swim, take in the winding waterways while being towed in a tube behind one of their motorboats, or manage to wake up early for a sunrise kayak session to see the dolphins, you can do it all here. The water here is super warm – and salty, meaning you could tread with the sun beaming down on you for hours. Take a break with a reprieve in a hammock or on a boat and then jump off the dock and do it all over again. How can you go wrong?

If you’re jonesing to get down to the Montage, you’re in luck. I’ve teamed up with them to make sure that you can have enough time to enjoy all the fun. If you book two nights using the code ‘REGANC‘, you will get your third night free! Talk about #winning! As always, if you have questions about the properties, accommodations, activities – you name it – leave me a note in the comments!

It’s been a few months since I was down south, but as the weather gets colder in Boston, I can’t help but daydream about my trip down to the Ritz Carlton, Lake Oconee resort in August. In desperate need of a good girls weekend this past summer, my friend Abby and I hopped a quick flight down to Atlanta for a #lakelife getaway. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of spending any time down south, I highly recommend it. The food, the people, the nature… it doesn’t get much better. I have friends who actually describe this property as one of their favorite places on Earth, and I can see why.

Abby and I had the pleasure of staying in one of the cottages on the property. These cottages are perfect for a group of your girlfriends or even a family vacation. As expected these cottages are still very much full service — golf carts will chauffeur you to dinner reservations, room service will deliver anything you need at the drop of a hat, and extra special touches like milk & cookies don’t go unnoticed. Hammocks are scattered throughout the property for that cabin in the woods experience. They’re perfect for laying out with a good book and a cup of tea in the morning, or getting a little reprieve from the sun, but still getting to enjoy some fresh air.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the property is their lake-side amenities. The infinity pool is massive and is a perfect spot to commune with friends over a mid-afternoon cocktail (or three). I know what you’re thinking… why hang out in a pool with a lake right there?! Truth be told, the idea of making contact with a fish creeps me out a bit. And the fish only have so many places to go in a lake, compared to the ocean. You know?! Don’t judge! Besides, the infinity pool is so big it could practically be a lake. I swear!

After you’ve done your fair share of sunbathing, choose from a plethora of dining options on the property to get your fill of tasty southern cooking. My favorite restaurant was Georgia’s. They have classics like peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, smoked meats, and fried green tomatoes. There is no chance you will leave hungry!

Outside of the property, you can do some exploring in historic Madison. Our driver humored us and weaved down old streets, so we could see some of the oldest homes in the town. Downtown is super quaint and has a couple great restaurants worth checking out as well. If you drive through, Madison might look familiar. Countless movies and TV shows have been filmed here, like The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, The Accountant, and the 2011 Footloose remake.

If you prefer to stay on property, they have a gazillion activities, including a massive golf course. If golf is your game, there’s no chance you cant get in a few holes while you’re here. Sadly for me, I tend to embarrass myself even at the driving range, so I’ll stick to walking the course like it’s my runway. Other activities include wake boarding, kayaking, tennis, and countless more.

Now that I am this close to booking a ticket back to Georgia, I can safely say this was one of my most memorable weekends this past summer. If you need a luxurious getaway with your significant other, friends, or family, I can’t recommend the Ritz, Lake Oconee enough. If you have any questions about the property, feel free to shoot me an email or send me a DM on Instagram. Happy to answer!

Who else had a whirlwind summer?! In New England, it’s practically a given, and moving into Fall always feels like giving a generous tap on the breaks. Solo travel has always been a good opportunity for me to slow down and press ‘reset’, and that’s exactly what my trip up to Camden, Maine this past weekend was all about. If you followed my Instagram stories, you know I definitely got an ungodly amount of work done, but I also did a little exploring and unplugging, and it brought me back to my days of traveling Asia alone (minus the whole not-speaking-the-same-language-as-everyone-else thing).

The best part? I had a place that felt like home to go back to at the end of the day. Maine is my home state, so I was already getting some good vibes once I crossed the boarder into Vacationland. But, staying at Whitehall was extra special. This quaint spot features an awesome restaurant, Pig + Poet, stylish & cozy corners – perfect for curling up with a book (or laptop in my case), and if the weather is nice, you can kick your feet up on one of the many rocking chairs, or channel your inner cruise deck hero and play some shuffleboard. Seriously, who doesn’t like an adorable inn loaded with charm like this?

I’ve been up to this part of Maine a few times, so I had an unorthodox approach to how I decided where to go – I literally typed ‘lighthouse’ and ‘food’ into Google maps. I ended up at the Owl’s Head Light right at sunset, and then dined at the bar at Rhumb Line. Talk about luck! Between stellar views and tasty cuisine, it ended up being the perfect way to spend the evening.

As the season comes to a close, many of these spots shut down for the winter, but if you find yourself with an open weekend between now and mid-October, I highly recommend pulling the trigger and taking the journey down east. Looking to explore other cute spots? Check out all the different Lark Hotels around New England and California!

You may have heard, but if you haven’t, the Gurney’s you know and love from the Hamptons set down roots in Newport, making for a perfect New England getaway. Last month, I took their team up on the offer to stay for the weekend, and ended up having an awesome time. Between the stunning location, super tasty dining options, and the Gurney’s service we have all come to know and love, it’s sure have you wishing you didn’t have to leave at the end of your stay.

So, where do I begin… obviously with the food, what else?! For our lunch, we plopped down on the patio at The Pineapple Club and indulged in some serious raw bar, and shareable plates – perfect for a brunch or an early start to the weekend. P.S. I definitely recommend the Negroni Fresco to really get your weekend started right. The real star of the culinary show was dinner at Scarpetta. Oh my sweet baby Jesus… I can see why this place is packed to the brim every night. Even if you are down in Newport for a day, this restaurant is a must-visit. Hands down some of the best service, ambiance, and cuisine you’ll find in Newport. I did put my camera away for the evening an didn’t manage to snap pics, but sit down and try it, and trust me when I say, your taste buds will do all the talking for me. Wow.

After dinner, we split a bottle of wine in our room, and caught the notorious Newport sunset from our balcony with a prime view of the Jamestown bridge. Later that night, we made our way over to The Landing, where we inevitably ran into friends and danced to the live band until the wee hours. 

The next day was spent relaxing by the pool. Copper pineapple drinks and friend food abound, making for the perfect Sunday recovery spot… We didn’t stay all day though, as prior to heading to Newport we purchased tickets to Newport Polo – a must if you’re around for a weekend. With a bottle of champagne in one hand and cheesy fries in the other, you could just grab a spot on the lawn and take in the match. This isn’t your typical polo experience. Folks bring oodles of snacks, drinks, and lawn chairs & blankets for the ultimate viewing comfort. To be honest, I didn’t really know what was going on (I’m sure that makes my British family members cringe – sorry guys!), but the point is just to go and hang out and have a good time. Switching gears from horses to horse power, I was super excited to try out Maven – a car sharing app from Chevrolet. I don’t have a car in Boston (for those of you who don’t know, parking is absolutely nuts and impossible in the city), so I needed a way to make it down to Newport in a way that suited my schedule. That’s where Maven comes in. You can borrow cars by the hour or day, which is perfect for those of us who need a flexible schedule for a weekend getaway. Your phone ends up being your key, so once you get within 30 feet or so of your car, you just open the app and you’re on your way. Pro tip: if you are prone to your phone dying, bring an extra battery. A dead phone means no horse power for you. 

If you are in the market for a car sharing service, I highly recommend checking out Maven. They have locations all over, and the service is pretty intuitive. Plus, what other car sharing service has a Cadillac on hand?! Needless to say, this made the drive from Boston to Newport and back pretty fun.

Definitely sad to leave Gurney’s after a fun weekend, but maybe this will inspire your next weekend getaway to Newport! Have any other must-do’s while in this nautical lover’s paradise? Tell me in the comments!

While many believe Cape Cod is only fun between the months of May and September, the real locals know that good times can happen during the less popular travel times, as well. The third weekend in October marks one of the last big weekends in Cape Cod before many store owners start to close their shutters for the winter. Meaning one final hurrah before winter comes. (Insert some sort of ominous Game of Thrones quote here.)

So, how do the locals celebrate? With oysters, of course! I headed down to check out the Wellfleet OysterFest, which is a time-honored tradition encouraging mass consumption of every seafood fanatics favorite aphrodisiac, drinking copious amounts of craft beer, and supporting local artisans. Does it get much better than that? Me thinks not!

The festival attracts vacation home owners, locals, Bostonians, and even a few tourists. And, while it is a big crowd, don’t let that deter you! The festival is all about community, having fun, and enjoying Cape classics — especially chowder, oysters on the half shell, and lobster rolls. So mark the calendar for next year, remember to pack your stretchy pants, and get ready for a fun time with good people, great music, and all of the expected Cape accoutrements.

Although things are definitely slowing down on the Cape and Islands, Fall is a great time to visit a quaint bed and breakfast with a loved one, or schedule a girls’ weekend away. While you won’t be packing your swimsuit any time soon, the draw of a traditional New England weekend away, filled with hot mulled cider and scenery to boot, will keep you cozy and relaxed. Besdies, who wants to be bothered working on their ‘bikini bod’ during the upcoming holiday season? Not I! Need any other excuses to journey to the Cape this Fall? Check out a few other things to do here.