a year in travel stories and photos

Looking back 2012 was a big year for us. There are still so many places on our must see list but I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to mark off a few this year and make some truly wonderful memories. Here are a few of my favorite travel moments from 2012 –

In January we escaped the brutal Chicago winter and landed off the coast of Mexico. We stayed at a beautiful resort in the Riviera Maya where we sipped pina coladas, ate fresh fruit and had our fill of the most delicious empanadas. We lounged in the sun and soaked in the pool. We took long walks on the beach at sunset and made a promise we would come back someday. We celebrated our first anniversary window shopping and wine tasting in Galena. We ate popcorn and made a list of all the things we wanted to do in our second year of marriage.

We spent ten days running around the desert with our best friends. We took a hot air balloon ride, drank too many John Daly’s and bought Indian pottery in Scottsdale. We hiked the Grand Canyon, watched the sun rise, ate lunch on the bank of the Colorado River and spent the night at the historic El Tovar hotel. We woke up to looming red rocks all around us in Sedona, drank prickly pear cactus juice cocktails and watched the sun set. We explored ruins, wine tasted and stared at the stars for hours wishing this trip would never end.

I flew down to Miami with my mom and my sister for our second annual girls weekend. We made breakfast every morning, ate lunches by the pool and drank all the peach bellinis we could. We sunbathed. We took naps when it rained. We stayed up late watching movies and slept in every morning. Returning home I felt rested and rejuvenated.

We rented a house in Michigan at the end of summer. We took long boat rides and ate corn on the cob. We stayed up all night playing card games and made s’mores around the bonfire. We took naps on the porch. I realized getting out of the city was exactly what I needed.

In September, we spent time in Tampa with family. We rode roller coasters. We ate lobster and drove to Clearwater for the day. I loved the way the ocean air felt.

Sharing these photos and stories makes me happier than I can say. I’d really like to thank you for following along with me this year. Twenty twelve was so good to us. I’m not sure yet where 2013 will take us but I know we won’t stay idle for long.