The Big Island

Yes, I'll fully admit it... I am one of millions of Americans who is obsessed with Hawaii. Growing up on the West Coast, Hawaii seemed never too far out of reach, but just far enough to feel like a tropical escape. If you're planning a trip there this year (and if you're not, you should be) consider the Big Island, AKA Hawai'i.

Mele Kalikimaka

As Nick's dad and stepmom moved here in November, we were pumped to visit for the first time and get some quality family time over Christmas in their new home! They live in Kona, a short drive from the airport, which is convenient to a lot of beaches, state parks, and shopping. Comprised of gorgeous black lava rock, Kona is definitely the "desert" side of the Island — a very different feel from the traditional Hawaiian lush landscape I am accustomed to. Hilo, on the eastern side, embodies those lush jungle vibes... but comes with the rain too. We enjoyed perfect sunshine and stunning sunsets in Kona every night!

Getting There

If you're thinking about a tropical escape to Hawaii this year, I'd actually recommend NOT traveling there for Christmas. While it was a fun time to be in a tropical destination, plane tickets were outrageously expensive. You can find roundtrip flights for under $400 if you're flexible on dates. I recommend setting up price alerts through Kayak or subscribe to Pomelo, which actually regularly sends me great deals on Hawaiian flights! Hawaiian Airlines is definitely the airline you want to fly if you can swing it, as they offer plenty of flexible route options.

This was the third time Nick and I had been to Hawaii together — our first trip was to Kauai over Thanksgiving a few years back, and we also spent a weekend in Honolulu two summers ago. Each visit to Hawaii has proven to be memorable in completely unique ways, and this trip was no different! Unfortunately we were only able to stay for 3 nights due to our work schedule, but it was definitely worth it. We can't wait to go back!

P.S. Thinking about making the move to Hawaii? Nick's dad will be leasing out their home over the summertime! Hit me up!

Heading to the Big Island soon? Here are a few things I highly recommend checking off your list:

Pololu Black Sand Beach

While there are unique beaches dotted all over the Big Island, Pololu is pretty accessible (if you don't mind a short steep hike) with simply stunning views. The tide was high when we visited, but was still gorgeous nevertheless. There are multiple rope swings and tire swings in the area for perfect Instagram photo opps!

Explore State Parks

The Big Island is home to one of the most stunning National Parks in our country — Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, which we'll get to in a moment — but is also dotted with countless mesmerizing state parks. As we road-tripped around the island we stopped at several for body surfing and suntanning. This map shows all the state parks on the island:

Helicopter Ride Above Kīlauea

Kīlauea isn't the largest volcano in Hawaii — that honor is reserved for the mighty Mauna Kea, which was snowcapped when we saw it from the road and is considered to be the tallest mountain on Earth from its base at 33,000ft — but it is the most active. I never in my life thought I'd see lava flowing from a helicopter on Christmas Day, but I can now say I have! This was an incredible and thoughtful surprise from Nick's dad Joe, who had me tricked thinking we were going horseback riding. What an incredible adventure! The tour from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters was called "Circle of Fire Plus Waterfalls" which is exactly what it was! They tell you to arrive super early, which you definitely need to do to get properly situated and watch the mandatory safety video ahead of time. The helicopter ride is just shy of an hour, and aside from featuring an awesome playlist that perfectly coordinates with what you're seeing, it is an incredible way to experience the National Park. Note: the lava is continuously changing. It wasn't pouring into the ocean when we went, but was definitely active inside the crater! Soooo rad!

What Else To Do

As our trip was so short and mostly revolved around family time as opposed to sightseeing or surfing, there is a lot we didn't get to do... which is perfect as we have plenty of reasons to return! Here are some things still on my Big Island Bucket List:

Papakōlea — this green sand beach is one of four in the entire world! I'm told there's no way to access it except for horseback or on foot, so plan accordingly.
Take an ATV tour — one of my favorite ways to explore new places is ATV. Bring your favorite Crocodile Dundee hat and some sunscreen!
Botanical Gardens — while Kauai is the bonafide Garden Isle, Hawai'i boasts stunning botanical gardens worth visiting.
Surf — as Hawai'i is the youngest of all the Hawaiian islands, and still constantly growing, surfing isn't as prominent here as it is on some of the other islands (like Oahu). There are still plenty of great surf spots if you know where to look!

Note: some of the images in this post are from my sister-in-law Marissa's camera.

As I sit here typing on the last day of 2017 I notice our dried out Christmas tree in front of me, hastily purchased from Home Depot a month ago, the ornaments still bravely clinging on. Normally we secure permits from the forest service and cut down our own tree and make it a thing, but this year, spare time is precious and Home Depot trees will have to do.

After a two year frustrating search for the right commercial space to open our coffee business here in Truckee, Nick and I quit our jobs in August and signed a joint lease on a space: half office, half warehouse — and a few months later, GEOGRAPHY CREATIVE and DRINK COFFEE DO STUFF were born. I've never had twins, but I imagine this is what it feels like. We're learning more every day: how to operate the businesses of course, but also continually learning how to support one another better — and most of all, growing more in our relationships with Jesus as we rely on Him in entirely new ways. The businesses are both doing well... we've been so grateful for tremendous community support.

Aside from our new businesses, 2017 also welcomed milestones: selling our first home in Seattle, summiting Mt Whitney, celebrating my sister's first pregnancy, and welcoming a new decade for Nick and I as we both turned 30. I threw him a surprise party in February where friends generously flew in from all over the country to celebrate. Nick also made his TV commercial debut alongside James Corden this year, as he was casted in several national TV spots for Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card. He had a blast filming in the Atacama Desert and Patagonia for two weeks. Here are two of them:

It's been a really, really good year, but also a painful one. We grieved loss and divorce. We underwent countless unseen business frustrations and, at one point, contemplated moving away from Tahoe. We went to marriage counseling, which ended up being successful for us — I mention this as I think it's important to be open about struggle. Marriage isn't something you sit back and let happen; you continually work on it and pour energy into it. As Nick and I head into our 5th anniversary this upcoming year, we are committed to continually learning how to love one another better and make God the center of our lives.

We also traveled a lot of course; this year, I explored more of the US than international travel and couldn't have been happier. This time of year seems to revolve around lists: most liked Instagram photos, resolutions for a fresh start, favorite memory from the past 365 days. I decided to write out a few favorite travel memories from the year. Enjoy!

TOP 10 TRAVEL MOMENTS OF 2017

1. Oysters in the San Juan Islands

In the spring, I traveled to the San Juan Islands with the Filson team and a group of rad ladies from all over the US for what may be one of the coolest press trips I've ever been invited on (see my recap post here). We foraged our own greens for dinner, which were naturally cooked over an open campfire, and learned how to shuck (and then immediately slurp) delicious oysters at Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. I found myself in the Pacific Northwest almost a dozen times this year, each trip memorable in its own way (check out my guide to Seattle here).

2. Sony Kando Trip

As a Sony Alpha photographer, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the first-ever Sony Kando trip in Santa Barbara — a retreat to top all other retreats — alongside some of the most talented and proficient creative humans in the world. Highlights included getting a test run of the new A9, meeting a bonafide wolf, and hearing Cheryl Strayed (author of Wild) speak. I enjoyed spending time with friends and meeting inspiring new ones — can't wait for Kando 2.0!

3. Hallstatt, Austria

Social media has completely changed the way people travel. Seeing a single photo of a beautiful place can inspire an entire trip. The world feels smaller... and larger all at the same time. When Nick and I spent a week in Munich, Salzburg and Prague in February to celebrate our 30th birthdays, I knew I had to visit Hallstatt — the location of the oldest salt mine on earth. On our drive from Hallstatt back to Salzburg we spotted a gondola hanging above the road, and spontaneously decided to pay a fee and take a ride. From that gondola, Nick shot this photo which later made it onto a DRINK COFFEE DO STUFF tee (for sale here)! If you're traveling to Austria in 2018, add Hallstatt to your list. The stunning drive there is almost more jaw-dropping than the town itself. The recap from our trip can be found here.

4. Bone Church Outside of Prague

While in Prague, everyone kept talking about a church made of bones, so we decided to see it for ourselves. Being an hour or so outside of the city, most normal people would book a tour, but we decided to take a train... and got hopelessly lost. Getting off at the wrong stop, we found ourselves in a small village where not a single soul spoke English. Eventually we were able to hail a cab who drove us to the right spot, where we explored an old ossuary decorated with hundreds of human skeletons; even more were being unearthed in an archeological dig right outside. Such a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime experience!

5. Disneyland in May

This almost didn't make my list, as Disneyland isn't exactly out of place in my travels... Nick and I try to go at least once or twice a year. This particular trip, however, was unique as we were in Orange County to see my family for my grandma's 95th birthday, and were gifted tickets from Alaska Airlines. The spontaneous trip that followed was one my favorite Disneyland trips I've ever had: no stress, lots of laughs, and just enjoying one another's company. May is a great time to go as the summer crowds aren't there yet, and the weather is perfect. I especially loved the newly added Beauty and the Beast details around the park (my favorite Disney movie!).

6. Rad Aviation

If my eyes were good enough, I'd get my pilot's license in a second. I had the privilege this year of taking a TON of charter flights: two seaplanes in Seattle, a helicopter ride in Hawaii, and countless "work" flights on a Cirrus belonging to my former boss. There's something pretty magical about flying where you want to go, when you want to go, not worrying about traffic or parking. Aviation has definitely changed the way I view travel!

7. Exploring Utah's State Parks

In June, I enjoyed a trip with a bunch of my travel blogger friends to St. George, Utah where we explored Zion National Park (and summited Observation Point, a gorgeous hike). Lesser known state parks dotted around Zion were the main focus of the trip, however, and were equally as stunning. If you're heading to Zion in 2018, make sure to check out Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (and super photogenic Babylon Arch Trail), Snow Canyon State Park and Yant Flat Cliffs. Utah continues to impress me!

8. Rock Climbing for the first time in... Vegas?!

Last month I spent a couple days exploring the deserts and state parks surrounding Vegas. Between ATVing, hiking, tasting moonshine and rock climbing for the first time at Red Rock Canyon, my viewpoint on Vegas is forever altered. Planning a trip soon? Check out what I did here.

9. Hawaii for Christmas

Nick's dad recently retired on the Big Island, and so of course we had to go visit him for Christmas this year. I have always wanted to spend Christmas in a tropical destination, and Hawaii did not disappoint! My father-in-law Joe surprised us with a helicopter ride above the volcanos and waterfalls littering the island on Christmas Day which may have been the moment my life peaked. Not sure it gets much better than seeing lava flow on Christmas...!

10. White Sands National Monument

Ever have a moment while traveling that just sticks with you? There have been a few of these moments over the course of my life that have made me fall in love with travel again and again — seeing my first Monet painting in person in Spain, looking at the souks in Marrakech, Morocco while smoking hookah with Nick on our honeymoon, kayaking with icebergs in Alaska — and White Sands National Monument definitely makes this list. We enjoyed at sunset to escape the heat and were treated to an epic lightening storm: one of the those memories photos will never do justice.

Wherever 2018 takes you, I hope it involves making memories, living spontaneously and saying yes more than saying no. I'll see you out there. Happy New Year!