For this first time in a while, we didn’t add any new countries or US states to our list in 2024. We spent the year focusing on places out west that we wanted to explore for the first time or keep getting to know – I’m looking at you Hawaii.
We went into this year with two trips planned, one to the southern California and one to Hawaii. At the start of the year, I was still working my corporate job. I didn’t have the time or extra mental brain power to plan a trip to a new country.
The thought of spending hours researching felt too daunting and made me not want to plan anything – which I normally love doing. But, we knew having a trip on the calendar would give us something to look forward to. And, at the end of a long and stressful day at work, planning something fun was my way of adding joy to a hard day.
We kept gravitating toward destinations that felt familiar and easy – places we’d already visited (and loved) and could plan with minimal effort. For the trips we had planned, the requirements were:
- Good weather.
- Good food.
- Walkable and easy to get around
- Needed nothing more than booking flights, accommodations, and transportation.
Scoring great flight deals also played a big role in deciding where to go – shoutout to Flights From Home and Going for making it so easy!
For each trip I’m sharing when we went, where we stayed, a restaurant we loved, a planning tip, and a moment of joy. Let’s get into it!
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Sunny San Diego
Our first trip of the year brought us to San Diego, California. This was a no brainer after finding a flight deal from SLC to SAN for 14K Delta Skymiles.
Having been there before, we felt like a a four-day weekend would scratch the getaway itch. And provide a much-needed break from winter temperatures in Utah.
We absolutely love San Diego – it’s one of those places where the list of things to do feels endless. Yet, it’s so laid-back, there’s no pressure to be constantly on the move. Getting around the city is a breeze, and this time, we chose to stay in Little Italy. With its vibrant restaurant scene, cozy coffee spots, walkable streets, and stunning ocean views, it was the perfect home base for our trip.
San Diego Trip Recap
When we traveled | Late January |
Where we stayed | Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown What we thought: The hotel has a great roof top patio and bar, easy walkability to restaurants and the ocean. |
Restaurant we loved | Why we loved it: You can’t go to San Diego and not eat tacos – or at least you shouldn’t. We wanted to try some place new, and Oscar’s came highly recommended. It didn’t disappoint – the taco sizes were generous, the salsas were flavorful and had just the spice level we were looking for. |
Planning tip | San Diego has an amazing food scene. Plan in your budget to be able to experience as many places as you can and make reservations to popular places before you go. |
Moment of joy | While we were waiting for our departing flight to de-ice, I got a text from my aunt in Minnesota. She had sent a picture of a flight map showing the plane over Salt Lake City and a note with, “Hello from above!” I figured they were headed to California too, and I was right! They were on a quick work trip to Orange County and could meet us for dinner in San Diego. The timing was perfect since we missed them at Christmas, and we had an awesome meal at Buon Appetito. So funny how timing happens, sometimes! |
Happiest in Hawaii
Our first time to the Big Island was in December 2022 for a wedding. While there, we absolutely fell in love with the Kailua-Kona area. The week flew by with wedding activities and we didn’t get to explore much more than where we were staying. We had been not-so-patiently waiting for when we could return!
Planning for for this to be our big trip for the year, we wanted plenty of time to adventure around the whole island. And adventure we did – spending 10 wonderful days there.
By the end of our vacation, I turned to Dan and said something I’d never said before: “This has been my favorite trip we’ve ever taken.” That’s a bold statement coming from someone who’s never been able to choose a favorite. But looking back, I realized this trip was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it most. My heart is truly happiest in Hawaii. The people, the food, the weather, and the beauty of Hawaiian culture—there’s just so much to leave you in awe. This trip reaffirmed all of that for me, and that’s what made it so special.
Each day, we left for an adventure in the morning. We would make it back with enough time to relax at the pool in the afternoon and watch the sunset before heading to dinner. From a day trip to Hilo for the best Poke, to exploring Volcano National Park, it was a perfect balance of exploration and relaxation.
Big Island Trip Recap #1
When we traveled | Late April to early May |
Where we stayed | What we thought: With a prime location, its close to restaurants, shopping and has scenic views of the ocean and sunsets. This resort embraces an island-inspired aesthetic that enhances its Hawaiian charm. |
Restaurants we loved | Suisan Fish Market in Hilo, Shaka Tacoz in Kona, and Punalu’u Bakery in Na’alehu. Why we loved them: The absolute best poke can be found at Suisan in Hilo – fresh fish, generous samples, and flavors that are out of this world. Shaka Tacoz Ono Fish Tacos are a must on every Big Island trip, and they’ve become our tradition for both the first and last lunch of every visit. And don’t miss Punalu’u Bakery on your way to Volcano National Park—choose from a variety of malasada flavors and prepare to be in fresh dough heaven! |
Planning tip | Book your accommodations early. Places fill up fast and finding good options becomes more limited the longer you wait. |
Moment of joy | We were amazed at all the different climates and landscapes that you get to experience on an island that is only 93 miles wide and 222 miles long. From the abundance of goats along the highway to Hilo, to the black sand beach, there was always something new to experience around each corner. |
Minnesota in May
Having both grown up in Minnesota and where we spent most of our adult life living, we always have a reason to go back and visit. This was a little bit of a dual purpose trip. Dan was heading out on a Boundary Water’s Canoe (BWCA) trip and I got to have a low key week, with minimal planning required.
I debated whether to include this one because there isn’t much to report, but now that we live far away from our friends and and family, making trips back to see everyone is something we prioritize at least twice during the year. It was wonderful to catch up with our loved ones and to also be in person with co-workers. Eating at places that we can only find in Minnesota was also a highlight – Basil Wings at Lat 14 are a MUST!
Summer Road trip to colorado
Do you ever find yourself randomly on Airbnb or Vrbo just to see what cool spots might be available? No, just me? Cool, cool.
Well, my random evening vacation rental search led us on a summer road trip to Colorado. Since moving out to Utah in 2022, we’ve made it to all the neighboring states, except Colorado. We visited Denver in 2016 and have been wanting to check out the west side of the state, now that it’s within a 4-hour drive from where we live.
Keeping my search options open (no dates – just general area and price per night), I stumbled upon The Perfect Day Getaway in Loma, Colorado. The property photos and 500+ 5-star reviews grabbed my attention right away and I clicked the “Reserve Now” button pretty fast.
This ended up being a perfect long weekend spot that allowed us to escape the Utah summer heat, visit a new National Park, the Colorado National Monument, and explore the quaint and vibrant town of Fruita.
Colorado Road Trip Recap
When we traveled | Mid July |
Where we stayed | What we thought: This was a guest house situated on a farm, but the owner’s really thought about privacy and design. There were patches of sunflowers right out front and made for a perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee to start the morning. |
Restaurant we loved | Why we loved it: This seasonal pizza place is buzzing with energy, super friendly staff, and best of all, delicious pizza – we ordered the Little Italy. |
Planning tip | Colorado can have temperamental weather that changes quickly. Pack a light weight rain jacket incase you get caught in a storm passing through. |
Moment of joy | Late evening thunderstorms made for a super cool sky and an even better sunrise, especially with all the sun flowers out front of our vacation rental. |
Wake, Lake, and Shake
Growing up in Minnesota, you either know someone who has a lake place, or your family has a lake place. We didn’t have a lake place, but we had extended family, along with college friends, that did. It was the highlight of the summer whenever we got invited for a long weekend or holiday.
Being able to visit a place on the lake felt like something we were missing since moving to Utah. I kept seeing on social media how nearly everyone would visit Bear Lake during the summer.
Located in Garden City, half of the lake is in Utah and the other half is in Idaho. The town is small and easy to get around with gorgeous views nearly wherever you turn.
We loved our time so much. What’s not to love when you are on the hunt for the best raspberry shake and get to watch the most beautiful sunrises every morning? Before our trip was over, we decided it needed to be our annual end of summer vacation and it’s on the list of places to book for 2025.
Bear Lake Trip Recap
When we traveled | Mid to Late August |
Where we stayed | What we thought: The home had so many thoughtful extras, including a sauna and hot tub, but what truly made it the best, was the stunning view of the lake that made working remotely and watching the sunrise that much better. |
Restaurant we loved | Why we loved them: While we didn’t get to try every spot in town that serves the famous raspberry shake, we felt Zipz had the best one we tried. It had the perfect creamy texture and the raspberry flavor didn’t taste at all artificial. |
Planning tip | This was already a last-minute trip but waiting to go until after school was back in session for Utah, made a huge difference. From everything I read, things can get busy during peak summer weeks. As first timer’s, it was nice to experience it with less people around town. |
Moment of joy | The lake exceeded all the great things I’d heard. As we descended into Garden City, the view of the lake stunned me. I told Dan, “this looks like the water in Turks & Caicos.” The water’s mesmerizing color in Utah is unexpected, and there’s a reason it’s called the “Caribbean of the Rockies.” |
Back to the Big Island
To kick off our 2024 Travel Recap, I mentioned how much I was looking for a sense of familiarity. Well that rang true when we decided to head back to the Big Island for another week.
This time though, we were celebrating a big life change! The first place that came to mind was heading back to Kona, which has become one of our favorite places.
Earlier in the year, I decided that I wanted to be done working at my corporate job. Going all in on my creative side and starting this travel blog. My last day was in early November and we headed to Kona the following week for some R&R, and to recharge the creativity battery.
This trip also felt extra special because I really went into it with a mindset that I had the courage to let go of something I’ve known for so long. And that I was willing to take a bet on myself as I pursue this next chapter. The sense of freedom and peace made the trip that much better, and really help to reset as I start a new adventure.
Big Island Trip Recap #2
When we traveled | Mid November |
Where we stayed | Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel What we thought: It was nice to stay on the other side of Alli’i drive and closer to different restaurants that we hadn’t tried yet. Plus, it was a quick walk to the pier every night to watch the sunset. I will say that after staying here, we preferred the Royal Kona slightly more because of its views, the open air feel of the hotel and how it how it showcases Hawaiian culture. |
Restaurant we loved | Why we loved it: This was a new restaurant for us and we enjoyed it so much we went twice. They have super fun drinks and an incredible view of the ocean. Even better, was seeing the lingering pastel hues of the sunset as we enjoyed our meal. |
Planning tip | Visiting Hawaii during the holidays is magical but also crowded with other travelers. Plan your trip slightly before Thanksgiving or Christmas instead. You still experience the holiday decorations without all the people. |
Moment of joy | I will never forget the privilege of being able to witness the longest sunset of my life. We took off from LAX late afternoon, and because of the time zone change we got to experience the sun setting for most of our flight to Kona. It was pure magic. |
Hey there, Santa Barbara
Our trip to Santa Barbara came on a whim. I was so close to reaching the next Delta status and knew the way to cross into that next tier was an MQD run. Which turned into an MQD trip. Oops! In searching for options that were within budget and get us enough MQDs, we landed on a quick trip (48 hours) to Santa Barbara for the weekend.
To say we were smitten with this coastal California city, would be an understatement. While we’re big fans of San Diego, I think we can confidently say we prefer the quaintness of Santa Barbara instead. When exiting the airport, you are immediately greeted with its charming façade and it set the tone for everything else we experienced during our stay.
We loved how walkable it was, especially since we didn’t want to rent a car for such a short trip. There were plenty of things for us to fill up our time and we found some great spots to eat too. This will definitely be at the top of our list when we need a quick, no-fuss, all charm getaway.
Santa Barbara Trip Recap
When we traveled | Early December |
Where we stayed | What we thought: The charm and aesthetic of the hotel was on point with the rest of the city. The proximity to the beach, plus the walk to the wharf and restaurants was perfect. The one downside was, the walls seemed a bit thin and didn’t block out some of the noise from other rooms or the hallway. |
Restaurant we loved | Why we loved it: Being able to sit outside on a patio in December is a true treat and the warmth from the heaters made the spot so cozy. Our meal was incredible from start to finish. |
Planning tip | If you’re going for a quick weekend, you shouldn’t need to rent a car. Ride Share was reasonable and we found ourselves wanting to walk around in the California sunshine. |
Moment of joy | I loved all the architecture and history of this city. With a significant Spanish influence, it’s clear how intentional and thoughtful the design of the buildings are. It made it that much more fun to walk around and be enchanted by each design choice. |
embracing the unknown
Thinking back, 2024 was our year of last-minute planned trips. Moving out west has helped us (really just me, because Dan doesn’t need things as planned out as I do) to embrace not having it all figured out all the time. Over the last few years, I’ve been pushing myself to embrace the unknown.
For someone who runs hotter on the anxious scale, learning how to be okay when everything isn’t planned out has brought me a significant amount of peace. Even better, a feeling of joy that I wasn’t quite expecting.
It gives me confidence to keep embracing this approach of not having every detail ironed out out before we go. The moments of discovering a new place when you haven’t researched it to death, brings a whole new magic to the destination and makes the journey that much better.
Cheers to a great year of going back to familiar places, discovering new destinations out west, and fueling our wanderlust for this area even more.
With joy,
Bri
