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Tag Archives: Maui

My 7 Super Travel Shots

Today, I’m participating in Hostelbooker’s 7 Super Shots game. Here’s how it works: I was tagged by Wandering Educators (thank you!), and now I get the chance to share my seven favorite travel photos for each of the pre-determined categories. Then, I have the opportunity to tag five other bloggers who I think will have some spectacular travel photos to share.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane:

A Photo That Takes My Breath Away:

Hyatt Regency--Maui. Spa

When we went to Maui a couple years ago, I took a little time to myself and went to the spa for a pedicure. The view was incredible from the open-air relaxation room at the Hyatt Regency.

A Photo That Makes Me Dream:

Open Road, West Texas

I love the idea of road trips. I mean, I love the road trips themselves, but it’s the idea of them that really inspires me. This photo was taken in West Texas, on a very lonely road. Many parts of West Texas are so untravelled that you can drive for many miles without seeing another car. Something about all that open space really fascinates me, and I love the memories this photo brings back.

A Photo That Makes Me Think:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington

My daughter and niece were very respectful as we watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. I think they understood that this was a time and place for quiet voices, and I was really proud of them. Because my daughter is a military brat, we’ve had to explain some concepts to her that other kids her age might not be familiar with. We’ve talked about deployment, terrorism, and the people who want to cause others harm. We’ve even talked about death a little, mostly in the context of family members who have passed away. It can be challenging to find a balance between honesty and protection; I hope we’re doing things right.

A Photo That Makes Me Smile:

Two girls at in the Smokies. TN.

We’re fortunate to be able to go on the occasional girls getaway with other mom/daughter friends. Last summer, my daughter and I went to Great Smoky Mountain National Park with our good friends from Ohio. I love this photo of the girls laughing, probably at the expense of their mothers.

A Photo That Makes My Mouth Water:

Ubuntu restaurant. Napa, CA

The vegetarian restaurant Ubuntu in Napa features some very unusual dishes. This beautiful salad, complete with edible flowers, was as delicious as it was beatuiful.

A Photo That Tells a Story:

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See those people on the lift in front of me? Those were my friends and I should have been on the lift with them. But somehow I totally messed things up when I was trying to get on the lift, and I ended up on a four-person lift all by myself. Nothing screams “beginner” like the chick in the rented helmet who can’t properly board the lift. Oops.

A Photo I’m Proud of:

Bright (A flower at the SA Botanical Garden)

I love this photo of a vibrant flower at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

I can’t wait to see seven travel photos from these fantastic bloggers:

Go Explore Nature
Family and Life in Las Vegas
Oh Mah Deehness!
I Backpack Canada
FlutieMcD

My Brain Needs a Vacation

I hate worrying, and yet I have no choice: I worry a lot. Some of these worries are probably silly, and I realize that. Sometimes I need my husband or good friends to help me sift through what is worth worrying about and what isn’t.

Maybe that’s part of the reason I love travelling so much. It gives my brain a break. Often when I’m in a worrying mood, I turn to pictures from our trip to Maui last year. We were lucky…for whatever reason, this trip was perfect: the setting was beautiful, E. behaved perfectly and had fun, and we all got to experience a place we’d never visited before.

This is where we ate breakfast:

At breakfast, Maui

This was what E.’s first view of the Pacific Ocean looked like:

Pacific Ocean (Maui)

This is where we spent every afternoon:

Hyatt Regency, Maui

And this is where we spent our last evening, listening to music:

Music in Maui

I guess that’s the funny thing about travel. We escape, come home, and then escape again into the pictures and the memories. Are travellers merely running from their problems? Maybe. Is that why I’ve always anxiously awaited the next move, when that time of year comes when the military decides where we’ll go next? Am I always in search of the next thing, a new start? Will I ever be content to stay in one place?

Don’t expect an answer to those questions here…I’m still trying to figure it out!

Sun, Sand, and a Pedicure

Here are three things I wouldn’t mind enjoying right now: sun, sand, and a pedicure.

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What are three things you need to make your day better?

For more travel photos, check out Photo Friday at the family travel blog Delicious Baby.

P.S. I got the sandals at Target for about $8.

Photo Friday: Shave Ice in Hawaii

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What could make a 2-year-old happier than a bowl of rainbow shave ice that’s as big as her head?

If you’re ever in Lahaina, try Annie’s Island Shave Ice.

To see photos from other travellers, check out Photo Friday at the family travel blog Delicious Baby.

Missing Maui

Today, I’m missing Maui. Our trip to the island wasn’t that long ago, and yet I couldn’t possibly feel further away right now. I look back at the pictures sometimes and can’t believe a place like this exists…and it’s even crazier to think that I was ever there.

For instance, here I am in the ocean:

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Even the drive from the airport to the hotel was awesome. I remember updating my Facebook status and saying something about the “bluest blues and the greenest greens.” This is what I mean:

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How is it possible that a place like this exists?

Some people say that spending money on travel isn’t wise. It would make more sense, especially in this economy, to save the money. Maybe they’re right. However, I’m thankful everyday that my daughter asks about Hawaii. I’m glad she knows what a real sea turtle looks like. I love it that she periodically asks me if we can “go out-of-town.” This is why I travel–not only to fulfill my own travel dreams, but to encourage my daughter to be curious about the world. What could be more worthwhile than that?

To read more about our Maui trip, read my post Adventures on Maui: Until Next Time.

Maui Rainbow

On a sunny afternoon, I was sitting on the balcony of our hotel room. E. was taking a nap, and Nick had gone scuba diving. All of a sudden, I looked up and noticed this:

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It sure is great to be in the right place at the right time!

For more travel photos, check out Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

From My Daughter’s Point of View

It’s come to my attention that I take lots of pictures of the back of E.’s head. Sometimes this is on purpose, but not always. I’ve noticed that it’s really difficult to get a good picture of her these days…I’ll get the perfect shot all lined up and then–poof–E. is running away and my neatly-composed moment is gone.

So, here is a collection of pictures of the back of E.’s head that actually turned out better than they might have if she had looked at me and said, “Cheese!”

Here she is outside of the Guenther House in San Antonio:

And here she is at Disney World this past spring:

In this photo, E. checks out a horse in Bandera, Texas:

This is one of my favorites. E. is standing in front of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas.

I took this picture of the back of E.’s head on purpose when we were in Hawaii:

However, this most recent one, at Love Creek Orchard in Medina, Texas, was an accident:

Remember to check out Photo Friday at Delicious Baby for fun travel pictures that are actually properly-composed!

Adventures on Maui: Until Next Time

This is the last post in my series on our recent trip to Maui.

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I have two pieces of advice for anyone planning a trip to this beautiful island:

1. Consider travelling in the off-season. We visited Maui in October, and we’ve already decided that if (when!) we go back for a second visit, we’ll be travelling during the same time of year. The beaches weren’t crowded, the weather was perfect, and we didn’t have any long waits to be seated at popular restaurants. All of these factors are particularly important for those travelling with children.

2. Read Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty. This is one of the most useful guidebooks I’ve ever read. I love that the author is straightforward in terms of describing what is and isn’t worth your vacation time. You’ll find information about beaches, restaurants, activities, hotels, etc. And maps! The book is filled with detailed (but not too detailed) maps of various parts of the island.

To read more about our adventures on Maui, check out the following posts:

A Few Surprises

Banyan Tree Park

Review: Maui Hyatt Regency

Adventures on Maui: The Basics

Some destinations stick with you more than others. Our time on Maui couldn’t have been better, and this trip will always hold a special place in my heart. Although I’m sure we’ll return someday, we’ll never visit the island again for the first time. Our daughter will never run on Kaanapali beach again as a two year old.

Farewell, Maui. Until next time…

Adventures on Maui: A Few Surprises

Over the next several days, I’ll be writing a series of posts about our recent trip to Maui.

One of the reasons I love to travel is the thrill of finding the unexpected.

During our trip to Maui, the three of us were on our way back to the hotel after lunch. Our original plan was to put E. down for a nap, but she fell asleep in the car. We didn’t want to disturb her, so we decided to keep driving past our hotel and see where the road would take us. (We took Honoapiilani Highway north, past the resorts.)

We stopped at a few scenic overlooks, and here’s what we saw:

(The white dot in the above picture is a kayaker.)

We took turns getting out of the car, since E. was asleep in the backseat. It was fun to come back to the car and say, “Wow. You’ll never believe THAT,” or “You’re right! That’s the best overlook so far.”

If E. hadn’t fallen asleep, we probably wouldn’t have travelled further down the road past our hotel. And even if we had discovered these spots, we might not have gotten out of the car, fearing that it wouldn’t be safe for E. But because things didn’t go as planned, we got to enjoy some lovely views from western Maui.

Everyone was happy: Nick and I got to enjoy the views and enjoy some (semi-) alone time. E. had a much-needed nap and was ready to hit the beach later in the afternoon. Mission accomplished!

Remember to check out Photo Friday at Delicious Baby!

To read more about our Maui adventures, click here.

Adventures on Maui: Banyan Tree Park

Over the next several days, I’ll be writing a series of posts on our recent trip to the island of Maui.

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think about Hawaii? For most people, it’s “beach” or “ocean” or “sun.” But we took a break from our sunny, salty-water fun to explore the town of Lahaina.

I had read about Banyan Tree Park before our trip and couldn’t wait to lay eyes on this wonder: a park with only one tree. This might not sound very exciting, but take a look:

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Yes, that’s ONE tree. In addition to the huge center trunk, there are many minor trunks that have sprouted from the tree’s branches.

Banyan Tree Park is located in downtown Lahaina on Front Street.

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