I recently spent an amazing 3 days at Glacier National Park. Hands down this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen and the mountains are truly breathtaking! I flew into Missoula with two of my flight attendant friends and had the adventure of a lifetime. We stayed in the local town of Whitefish about a 30 minute drive from the park. I definitely recommend renting a car to get around the park as the drive into the park during the peak season can take up to an hour.
Our first day at the park we went into the West entrance. The entire East side of the park was closed due to Covid-19. We got up bright and early at 5:30am as we were told the park already starts to get crowded at 7am! From the West entrance we drove into the park about 30 minutes and found parking to take the Avalanche Lake Trail. This trail was about 8 miles round trip and was pretty mild, not difficult, slightly uphill at times. On the trail we saw beautiful scenery. We saw a gorgeous gorge with rushing water and stopped for a photo op. To top if off, the ending to our hike at Avalanche Lake was definitely worth it! We stopped and enjoyed our lunch here and sat by the water. The mountains were absolutely breathtaking. And, just before we arrived at the lake, another hiker had seen a momma and baby grizzly bear! This was my favorite hike as the final destination was the most beautiful spot in the park.
After our hike we went back on the Going the Sun road and drove about an hour up a steep winding pathway and stopped at many places along the road for awesome photo opportunities. One of the best was stopping to see the Jackson Glacier, one of the few left in the park. This is a beautiful scenic drive but make sure during the peak season you have an ample amount of time as this drive took us a few hours!
The second day was filled with all day hiking. We started out early and arrived at the Logan’s Pass Visitor Center only to find that the parking lot was full. So, we drove down a few miles further and were able to find a parking space on the side of the road. Not wanting to have to hike to get to our hike we were actually successful at hitchhiking! Don’t worry we were safe and it was a friendly older couple who offered us a ride, haha. Once we arrived at the Visitor’s Center we took the Hidden Lake Nature Trail. On this trail we saw tons of cool wildlife including marmots and we even saw a mountain goat! This trail was almost all uphill so we had to stop and take a few breaks along the way. The overlook view at the top made the uphill hike worth it and stayed at this spot and admitted the view for at least an hour.
We decided to stop at the overlook and turn back around as we wanted to get in another hike that day. Afterwards we took the Going the Sun Road and stopped at the Sun Point Nature Trail to see a waterfall. We took the short hike to Baring Falls which was the first of 3 gorgeous waterfalls you could see along this trail. We stopped at Baring Falls and had our lunch under the waterfall which was an amazing experience. We really wanted to make it to see the most impressive waterfall but weather and time were not our side so we called it a day and headed back to Whitefish.
Our third day at the park we booked a white water rafting excursion with Glacier Raft Company. This company was right inside the West Entrance of the park. Our raft guide Gavin was very good and I would highly recommend him! Our trip was so much fun! Our raft guide tried to dump us in the water but due to the currents being so calm was unable to, so we jumped into the 50 degree water instead! The raft trip was about 3 hours long and we got to see some beautiful scenery along the way. Since we were still damp from our raft trip we decided to head over to Red Rock where you can jump off a cliff into the crystal clear water. We sunbathed on the rocks and met some amazing people while just hanging out at this spot. It took me several attempts to get up the courage to make the plunge but eventually I was successful! This day was definitely an adventure filled day!
In summation, I definitely feel like I had the experience of a lifetime! It seemed like even though some parts of the park were closed, we still got to see a huge portion of the park and were able to fit a lot in within our 3 days. The only place we didn’t make it to that I wish we had was stopping along Lake McDonald to see the colorful pebbles. We met some really cool people along the way and always felt safe. Everyone we came across was super nice and helpful. I really felt at one with nature and know I’ll have some amazing memories to last a lifetime! Hoping when you visit Glacier National Park that you have just as great an adventure as me!!! Until my next adventure... 💚🏔
The Most Instagrammable Spots in Key West
Want a tropical vacation but don’t want to leave the country? Try Key West Florida! Key West is easy to navigate and has plenty to offer. My friends and I took a girl’s trip and wanted to hit the main highlights within 4 days. Our first day we oriented ourselves around Duval Street. Key West is very hot and humid so make sure you pack lightweight and breathable clothing! Duval Street has many bars, restaurants, and cute little shops. It’s easy to spend half a day exploring this area. Make sure you hit up the Smallest Bar for a delicious and refreshing pineapple drink! Also, a great photo op for IG!
Mallory Square is best seen at sunset! Get there early for a good spot to enjoy watching the sunset over the water! There are many fun street performers to watch and some live music to enjoy. Take some beautiful sunset pics here for your instagram!
The next day we went to see the Hemingway House. We did have to wait in line 30 minutes outside but it was worth it to hear the history on the tour and see all 69 of the adorable polydactyl cats! The house is beautiful and there are many great photo ops here! Gorgeous scenery and definitely a must see spot! Plus admission is only $15!
After the Hemingway House we took a quick 10 minute walk to the Southernmost point of the US! Be prepared to wait outside in the heat! Sunglasses and a sun hat are definitely a must for Key West during the summertime! This is a great photo op and we only had to wait in line 10 minutes to get our pictures.
Make sure to stop by the original Cuban Coffee Queen and take a picture by the Key West postcard mural! The coffee is delicious and makes a great instagram pic! This location is by the Historic Seaport where you can find many other photo opportunities as well.
Our last full day in Key West we booked a snorkeling day trip through Sunset Water Sports. We had a nice ride on a Catamaran and had some beautiful water views. The fish in the reef are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. I saw the most amazing Parrotfish and even saw a shark! My friend had an underwater camera and took this fun picture of me while snorkeling! I definitely recommend a snorkeling trip and there are so many photo opportunities on the boat and in the water!
Key West is such a beautiful place with it’s own unique vibe! I feel like I took so many photos and everywhere I turned I saw beautiful photo spots! Happy instagramming! ✌
24 Hours in Portland
I recently had a 24 hour layover in Portland, Oregon! When I have these long layovers I find that’s it’s nice to get out and explore instead of sitting in the hotel room all day long! That’s one of the perks of this job! Portland is definitely a unique city and I seem to find something new to do every time I visit.
First and most important task of the day... coffee. I did a little research on Pinterest and found some cute little coffee shops unique to the Pacific Northwest area. It was also important that the coffee shop was within walking distance of my hotel as Uber rides can get expensive. I walked to Stumptown Roasters right by the unique Ace Hotel, within the downtown area. The vanilla latte was lovely and the veggie breakfast sandwich was egg-cellent! You can sit in the cute hotel lobby and enjoy sipping your coffee. Great photo spots for Instagram!
Next up... the Burnside shopping district, only a five minute walk from Stumptown Roasters. This is a nice area with cute shops and eateries. Union Way is recommended for local/indie goods, however it is pricey. I actually stopped by the local Buffalo Exchange and was surprised to see some name brand clothing that was stylish and in good condition. Unique clothing pieces too! Burnside also has a great Anthropologie store that has two stories! They had a great selection of clothing and shoes; definitely one of the best stores in the area.
A trip to Burnside shopping district isn’t complete without a stop at Powell’s City of Books. This place really is a city! Rooms and shelves of books that go on and on. Different genres of books you can purchase either new or used. A bookworm’s dream! I definitely found my next read here; The Forgotten Girls, a thriller recommended by the staff. Make sure you take a photo among the shelves of books!
After all the shopping... time for a snack! I walked to Blue Star donuts off Morrison Street which was only an eight minute walk from Burnside. I’d been to Voodoo Donuts before and wanted to try Blue Star. I had the Passion Fruit Buttermilk donut and it was delightful! Sprinkled with pistachio crumbs on top, the taste was so unique and delicious! It was one of the best donuts I have ever had! Blue Star uses unique and fresh ingredients that rivals Voodoo Donuts. I think Blue Star might actually be better than Voodoo, and I’m not the first one to voice this opinion!
Debating on what to wear in Portland? I knew it would be chilly and damp, so I dressed accordingly. I wore tights and a printed maxi skirt (Free People) with my comfy and cozy Airplane Mode sweatshirt (Amazon); perfect for a Flight Attendant! I also wore my combat boots (Schutz) and pink beanie (Primark) to add a pop of color. Make sure you bring an umbrella or a jacket with a hood as it rains on and off all throughout the day. I was lucky and it only rained a few minutes here and there. Fashion tip: if you want to fit in dress as your best hipster self! You can’t go wrong with a beanie, plaid shirt, boots, distressed jeans, or oversized glasses!
I already can’t wait to visit Portland again and discover my next favorite coffee shop! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your next stay in Portland, Oregon!
A Day In The Heart Of Holland
Our last full day in Amsterdam! On today’s agenda we were excited to go on a windmill and countryside day tour. We booked this through a ticket counter (Tours and Tickets) the first day we arrived. There are many locations throughout Amsterdam to buy these types of day tours. I would say this tour was definitely worth the price of 69 Euros (even though our weather was not ideal). We were able to see the countryside and villages that otherwise would have been difficult for us to see on our own.
We met at Central station and met our group at the designated meeting point. Next, we hopped on a bus and listened to an audio guide as we drove through the surreal countryside (geese and sheep included!) First up were the windmills! We went on an extremely foggy and cold day but the pictures still turned out amazing! We walked around the windmills and even went inside of one! Once inside, a guide provided us information on the purpose and use of the windmill today. However, we were only allowed 20 minutes to walk around the town and look at the shops after the primary presentation. I really wished we had more time in this spot since this was the main reason we had booked the tour.
Next up we visited the adorable Volendam village that looked like something right out of a fairytale! The buildings and architecture were so cute and unique! Definitely many photo opportunities here! We went to the Volendam Cheese Factory and watched a quick presentation on how the cheese is made... and the best part? We were able to sample all the different cheeses and jams! They were so tasty! My friend ended up buying a pack of several different cheeses as a souvenir. Just make sure you buy the pasteurized cheese! Otherwise the non pasteurized cheese is illegal in the US and will be confiscated.
After the cheese factory we had about an hour of free time. My friend and I went and explored the village and ate stroopwafel for our lunch haha! Next, we visited a local bakery and watched a demonstration on how the famous stroopwafel are made. And guess who was the baker’s assistant during the demonstration? Yours truly! The stroopwafel are extremely delicious and I recommend that you eat as many as possible and bring some home as gifts.
After the village, we took a quick ferry ride to the cute dutch town of Marken. Here, we walked to a little factory to see how the traditional dutch wooden shoes are made. You can try on the shoes and buy a pair of your own! This was a nice ending to our day and the time for the entire tour was about 5 hours.
Later that evening we made a trip to see the infamous Red Light District. We went fairly early to avoid the crowds. We walked around the main street and saw the women in the windows and went into a shop or two (just for fun!) After hearing about the Red Light District it was interesting to see it in person. It was not at all what I expected! Clean streets with the backdrop of a beautiful canal. I felt very safe here and everywhere else in Amsterdam for that matter. After our long day we were exhausted and hungry! We found a cute dutch place to eat at along the main road near Damrak called Heffer Bar. We ate upstairs and I had a traditional dutch Stamppot (potatoes/kale/smoked sausage) meal. Again, quaint dutch bar with cute traditional decor.
And to end the evening we finally went shopping! Read my next story on the blog for fashion tips and places to shop in Amsterdam!
Day 1
Our first full day in Amsterdam! So exciting! One of my best friends traveled with me and it was definitely the trip of a lifetime! First up we wanted to try and get tickets to see the Anne Frank House as these sell out quick! It is recommended that you buy the tickets 2 months in advance but since we flew standby I was not able to purchase in advance. However, the friendly staff at Hotel Die Port Van Cleve assisted us and we were able to get tickets for the same day! They also assisted us in purchasing tickets for the Rijksmuseum so we did not have to wait in line.
First up was the Rijksmuseum. Getting there was very easy; we purchased tram tickets through the hotel staff and hopped on the tram right outside the hotel near Dam Square. The Rijksmuseum was very impressive yet a little difficult to navigate due to the fact there were so many different floors and wings. We managed to see all the highlights in under 3 hours. We admired the works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Van Gogh, and many other Dutch masters. Make sure you visit the library for a cool photo opportunity!
Next up we headed to the Albert Cuyp Market. This is an absolutely beautiful walk even on an overcast day. Many canal photo opportunities. We had to ask for directions during the short 10 minute walk but the Dutch are very friendly and seemed happy to assist us. On our way to the market we stumbled across this adorable shop/cafe called Blond Amsterdam. Great instagrammable drinks! I ordered hot chocolate with candy and whipped cream! The outdoor market was right around the corner and was almost a mile long! Tons of vendors from clothing to accessories, oils, flowers, and food! Good place to buy affordable souvenirs.
We got lost trying to find a tram station to get to the Anne Frank House. So, we ended up paying for a taxi to take us directly there as we couldn’t miss our time slot! You will want to allow several hours at the Anne Frank House as this is a self guided audio tour. Definitely worth it as the tour provides excellent detailed information on the family and historical era. You are not allowed to take photos inside but you can take a picture of the outside of the house. We had to come back the next day for an outside photo as it was already dark outside at 6pm after we finished the tour.
After our busy day we were starving! We definitely wanted to try the traditional Dutch cuisine and ate at The Pantry which I had discovered online when I was planning our trip. This adorable little restaurant had limited seating but we lucked out since it was a weeknight. The decor is in the traditional Dutch fashion with little dishes and paintings on every inch of the walls. They had all the traditional Dutch dishes including: Hutspot (sausage/meatball & potatoes), Ovendish (beef, cheese, onions, mashed potatoes), and Boerenkoolstamppot (sausage, potatoes, kale), just to name a few. I ordered a three course meal as I wanted to sample different food items. My meal consisted of goat cheese croquettes, ovendish, and mini pancakes for dessert! Everything was delicious! Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for traditional Dutch food. And as is typical in a European dining experience, the chairs and tables are very small and extremely close together, but adds to a nice and cozy vibe!
To end our night we came across a cool beer garden in the Prisengracht district right around the corner from The Pantry. I ordered a delicious fruit beer with cherry flavor. There were lots of beers to choose from and the vibe was very hip, not too noisy. Nice place for conversation and a chill ending to our night!
Hope these highlights of Amsterdam will help you in planning your trip! Stay tuned for Day 2!
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