Aloha

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

A few months ago, my sister and her two littles moved to Hawai’i to await the arrival of my brother in law. My sister is a proud Navy wife and her hubby is a proud sub-mariner! I am proud of them both!

My sister is so strong! She left New Hampshire with my two nieces (ages 2 and 3 at the time) with the help of her mom for a LONG journey to Hawai’i in June. My BIL’s submarine didn’t leave the northeast until August (and if you know anything about how stressful and hectic it is for sailors when they are preparing to get “underway”, you know that his attentions were forced to be on his job).

So, needless to say, my amazing sister not only left New England with 10 suitcases, 2 kids and a mom, but also arranged for the packing and shipping of their household goods, did all the paperwork and medical for shipping their family dog and cat, arrived in Hawai’i to temporary housing and lived there for a month while finding a house. While my step-mom helped Becky with life and kids, Becky arranged the delivery of their household goods, vehicle, unpacked, mitigated troubles with getting the pets here, set all the Navy end of things to rights in Hawai’i as far as families go, began updating her nursing licenses so she could work in Hawai’i if it struck her fancy, enrolled the oldest in pre-school, continued living as a geographical single-mom and continued her work with the families of her husband’s submarine as a senior non-commissioned officer’s wife. Oh, AND she took up running and did her first 5K last weekend. She is nothing short of amazing and her journey is like so many other military spouses around the world – I honor them for their sacrifice, patriotism and selfless giving towards the cause of freedom! Behind every great soldier, sailor, airman, marine and coastie is a family who supports them! I pray for them all daily and hope they get the support THEY need!

Back to the story….to be honest, Hawai’i was never on my radar – I know everyone says it is beautiful and the people are warm and welcoming and the geography is stunning, but to me, there were other places I would rather visit. BBBUUUTTTT….if my sister is going to be in Hawai’i, then heck yea – I’m going!!!

So, here I am in Hawai’i, after taking the world’s longest, daily direct domestic flight in history (Hawaiian Air Flight 89 – Boston to Hawai’i – 11 hours and 15 minutes gate to gate) – up super early because my body thinks I am still in Maine – setting up what will hopefully be a trip of a lifetime!

OH and to sweeten the deal, my husband and I decided last minute to have my daughter join me – this was for a lot of reasons – she doesn’t like missing school but with the Columbus Day holiday will only miss 4 days for a 10 day trip to Hawai’i – and my nieces (and the dog) are super happy to see her – I love my adventures with Charlotte!! We surprised Becky with Char – check out the video below – you’ll cry!

While I am here, I plan on getting the MOST out of family time AND touring time – we will check out lots of amazing places, including Disney’s Aulani – Oh My Goodness – DISNEY in Hawai’i!!!!!! We will visit the ranch where so many of your favorite films where shot – 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Lost…..and try to find the Hukilau Cafe!!!

I hope you’ll join me for this journey – I am hoping there are more pictures than words – and I hope to inspire you to go somewhere you may not have thought of going before – my sister was my catalyst for this adventure – what will be yours?

First Rays of Sun

October 14, 2019October 13, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

This morning (Sunday), Charlotte and I took advantage of the fact that our bodies are still on East Coast time and decided to watch the sunrise somewhere cool! I did some digging and found that the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail has some rave reviews, not only for the hike, but also for the views.

We got up at 4:15am Honolulu time and headed out shortly afterwards. We set our GPS (because I am really lost around here still) and off we went with flashlights, water and snacks. Along the way, we stopped at a “scenic area” and caught a gorgeous glimpse of the moon getting ready to set. It was so bright – no filters – just bright moon light!

We arrived at the trail head entrance but the gate was still locked, so we, along with tons of other people venturing out to see the sunrise, headed around the gate on foot and began our trek. It was about 5:30am and it was still very dark – but we kept our flashlights off most of the way to enjoy the feel of the place.

About halfway, we started to see the first rays of sun. It was a great trail, traveled so much that it was paved some time ago to make the trek more accessible, but still, we were huffing and puffing our way up the hill and enjoyed the occasional stop to take a picture (catch our breath).

We made it to the top (we were the first ones there) around 6:10am, did a video and waited until sunrise – 6:26am. The sky lighting gradually was really pretty and peaceful and it was sweet to share this with Charlotte.

We watched not only the sunrise, but also waves of rain move across the ocean towards the land. The showers missed us but on the other side of the point, we were treated to not only stunning vistas, but also the tail end of a rainbow. How pretty!!!

Our journey back down was like a gift – our way up was mostly dark and we really could only see the area immediately surrounding the path, but the journey down revealed all that we had missed. It was rather poetic – when our mind is focused on a singular task, we are often blinded to what is around us. Sometimes it is only after the goal is accomplished do we take the time to look around and marvel at what we missed!

This was a great way to spend an early morning and I encourage everyone who visits to do this in some way – either take the hike or find an easterly facing beach and catch the first rays of sun. Every day is a new opportunity to be a better version of you; to love people more; to cherish others more; to look for the beauty you passed by while focused on your goal. Don’t miss out!

Hawaiian Air

October 13, 2019October 12, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

Back in April of this year, Hawaiian Air launched nonstop flights between Honolulu and Boston, which it says is “the longest regularly scheduled route in US history”.

I took this flight on Friday from Boston to Honolulu and from gate to gate, the trip was about 11.5 hours. Honolulu to Boston is about 10 hours – thank you jet stream!

This flight takes place on an Airbus330, which is a plane that has eight seats across – 2 – 4 – 2, in the main cabin. As much as I would have LOVED the full reclining seats of first class, a $3000+ plane ticket just wasn’t in the budget!

So, I like to fly and I have flown budget airlines and big carriers; huge double deckers and twin engine turbo props; 20 minute puddle jumpers and up until now, my longest single flight was 6 hours – I am not picky – I really just want a safe, non-smelly plane. Of course I did my research and found this plane and airline to be just what I expected – efficient, well appointed (lots of in-flight entertainment on seat-back TVs – no internet – which was tough to swallow with such a long flight – but I kept busy), kind and courteous attendants and a delightful journey! Oh and not smelly!!! The plane actually smelled like hibiscus – it might have been my imagination but it smelled like Disney’s Polynesian Resort to me!

My daughter and I were positioned in row 30, seats A and B – this is the row directly in front of the mid-plane bathrooms, and while some might not like this because of congestion with people waiting for the bathroom, we actually LOVED it – it was roomy, the seats DID recline and we didn’t have anyone behind us! I would sit there again in a heartbeat!

We were served two complimentary in-flight meals – meals with a distinctly Hawaiian flare – a noodle dish with a guava centered cookie for the first meal and an amazing goat cheese and seasoned roasted pepper panini sandwich for the second meal. Complimentary snacks included a delicious pineapple oat breakfast bar cookie, chocolate covered macadamia nuts and an assortment of crackers or trail mix type options. Beverages came around twice with meals and every hour, an attendant came around to refill everyone’s water cup to maintain hydration – super important for any flight – especially such a long one! Other snacks were available at an additional cost – we got some Hawai’ian popcorn –

I have to admit this was probably one of the best flights I have every taken – the thought of spending so long in one single seat (with stand up breaks) was daunting, but when you look at the price tag (I got my ticket, round trip, nonstop for just under $700) and the other options of stops in LA, for example, for MORE MONEY – (WHAT???? Who would choose that?) you can’t go wrong!

My family of 4 has plans to visit again in June of 2021 – after my son graduates, to see my sister and her family. We will hopefully stay at Disney’s Aulani for a few nights and we have planned a cruise on Norwegian’s Pride of America (with group space held if anyone wants to join in!!) to see the glory of the Hawaiian Islands. We will definitively be taking advantage of Hawaiian Air’s nonstop Boston to Honolulu flight!!!

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

October 8, 2019October 7, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

If you are not one of those people who purchase Christmas presents all year long, October is the month you start to think about what you are getting those you care about for Christmas.

A few years ago, in about October, I started re-thinking my approach to gift giving. I was thinking back to gifts I had been given as a child – either for Christmas or for my birthday. I knew I got gifts – I saw pictures of me at Christmastime or my birthday opening presents, but my own personal memories of what I got during those special times is faded.

I DO remember ONE singular gift I received as a child – I remember waking up on the morning of my 10th birthday to find staring at me an adorable Cabbage Patch Kid. Her name was Diana Mindy and I was SO excited to get her!!!! But she is the only gift I can actually ever pinpoint. Isn’t that strange? What do you remember getting as a child? I remember gifts I DID NOT get as a child – I wanted an Easy Bake Oven and a Lightbright but never got those.

This is Diana Mindy – still looking good after all these years!

Do you know what I have specific and a multitude of memories of? Things I DID with my family – learning to ski with my dad; going camping; going on road trips with my mom; going to Disney with my mom; going to Aruba with my mom as a senior in high school. I could tell you a handful of details about each and every one of those experiences, and THAT is what changed my mindset about gift giving.

Experiences change our brain. Encountering NEW situations and taking on new adventures rewires us, renews us, re-entwines us with our loved ones. It reconnects us to ourselves, to each other and to this life. What better gift is there?

The giving of experiences doesn’t have to be a big trip somewhere…although it could be! Last year we gave our children a short trip to Quebec (we live within driving distance and went between Christmas and New Years last year), a concert experience, season’s passes to a local water park, a 2-week high adventure Boy Scout summer camp for my son and my daughter and I took a super cheap flight to Paris in January and spent 4 nights in an AirBnB and explored the city. It was the BEST Christmas we have had in a long time!!! We still talk about every single one of those adventures and will continue to do so.

Life is short. Take the trip. See the concert. Go to the show. Get the pass. Bypass the mountain of gifts that get forgotten by January 15th and give the gift that keeps on giving…memories to last a lifetime! Don’t miss out!

I didn’t know she stuck her tongue out until I looked at the pictures that night!!! Notre Dame in the background.

Lined up for the toboggan ride! Quebec City, Quebec.

My daughter and her BFF meeting their favorite musician, Jon Foreman from Switchfoot – he signed my daughter’s Ukulele!

Fabulous concerts at Soul Fest 2019!

Taking it slow

July 30, 2019July 30, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

Last month, I wrote a bit about Impact Travel and my own experience with the emerging trend. Another emerging trend in travel in Slow Travel. This type of adventure engages the traveler in an experience that revolves around not only immersing one’s self in the cultural aspects of a destination, but that idea is reinforced and made possible by the ACT of traveling slowly. Examples of slow travel include rail vacations, river cruising (all over the world) and the American favorite – the road trip! Traditional ocean/sea cruising can also take the form of slow travel, but the idea would be staying overnight or multiple nights in one port before moving on.

I think this concept was brought about by the fact that we desire to slow the revolution of the earth. Time is fleeting and the older we get, the faster it seems to go! We are so busy; we have so little vacation time; we realize our kids grow so fast and our parents are aging before our eyes. Our family trips to Disney are wonderful and anything BUT a vacation and hopping from spot to spot on a cruise ship is not only filled with constant entertainment, but endless stimulation options that busy the mind and exercise the spirit. People are realizing the beauty in slowing down, stopping to smell the roses, and the knowledge gained by personal interactions in culture and with people who are different than we are.

Every vacation can contain some aspects of slow travel – whether you are traveling abroad or to another part of your own country. For example, instead of aiming to visit four destinations in a week-long trip, choose two and dive in – eat where the locals eat. Shop where locals shop. Ask a local about the hidden treasures of their city – they want to brag about THEIR place on this big blue ball and they are the EXPERTS! Try a new mode of transportation! When my daughter and I were in Paris earlier this year, we not only did a bike tour but also “rented” Lime scooters (the kind you stand on like a big kid) and scooted around everywhere! Find a quiet place and reflect. This single act allows me to inhale a place. Become a people watcher and learn through observation. Basically, slow it down.

Don’t get me wrong – there is a time and a place for the hurried vacation – I am planning a group cruise to Hawaii in 2021 for my son’s graduation (wanna go?) and know that we may never go to Hawaii again – especially as a family – so we are seeing as much as possible!!! In the meantime, I plan on enjoying a few slow travel experiences in my near future – a river cruise in November and our weekly long camping trip coming up later in July – it doesn’t get much slower than camping!!! The world is big and time is flying by….take it slow!

Here are some ways we have experienced aspects of slow travel on our adventures.

Amtrak Downeaster on a gorgeous summer’s day in New Hampshire! Old school slow travel.

Anyone need a hat?

Harbour Island – ACTUAL pink sand!!!

Cadiz, Spain. Churros and chocolate and a little bit of people watching.

11220069_10206278775265240_4861019405273704344_n

Try a new form of transportation….Char and Sable on a Segway tour of the city – in Europe, kids can do many things they aren’t “allowed” to do in the US.

Try to blend in. Zurich, Switzerland – these are our “Polish faces” – my sister in law is Polish, and she said Americans smile too big in pictures – so this is how we imagine the Poles smile!

June 2018. Shortly after sunrise over Vatican City. I ache for another opportunity like this one….we were high tailing it to our private Vatican Tour so we could barely stop to smell the roses, but man, I wish I could’ve frozen time in this very spot. It was so peaceful and serene.

Well, I am not generally a wine drinker but I was in PARIS!!! A glass of wine was a requirement. Eat and drink like the locals.

The Eiffel Tower was closed due to the weather, but we scooted all the way there to take in the rare sight!

Eating like the locals in Quebec….this place was off the beaten path and we were rewarded with an amazing dinner. Everyone got a platter of thinly sliced beef, then there was shrimp and chicken to fondue as well!

Our appetizer..bread dipped in cheese!

Taking it easy at the Siberian Spa outside of Quebec. A family trip to remember.

It isn’t hard to eat like a local in Italy. Lemon risotto – the most amazing risotto ever!

Scooter pick up! Try a new form of transportation….the best way to see the Amalfi Coast!

Limoncello to end the evening! Drink like the locals! This is the restaurant near the Vatican – halfway through our meal about 20 priests walked into the restaurant….a good beginning to a joke!

Eat where the locals eat. Giuseppe and his biggest fans!

So much Caprese!

Our greatest find! Just hop off the highway to find your treasure!

TBT…BEFORE the cruise…

June 20, 2019June 20, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

Before our fabulous cruise in May of 2015, we hung out in London for 5 days and toured the area! We arrived in April and we were met by my brother in law and his wife and daughter. They live in Poland and we took advantage of being close to them and arranged a short holiday! This was our second visit to London and we enjoyed it very much! We stayed in a suburb all together and did some AMAZING touring! Here is a photo journal of that visit!

We walked EVERYWHERE and this photo was taken on way to Harrods!

Windsor Castle – one of our favorite stops! We were rushed in our visit and I cannot wait to go back. This castle is really a fine example of Royal castles and it was a highlight of my stay in London!

Windsor, Char and Sable – you all haven’t met Sable yet, but this kitty gets around. She even has her own book series in the works!

Windsor!!!!

My first favorite thing about this London visit (aside from seeing family, or course) was scoring coveted tickets to tour Highclere Castle – AKA Downtown Abbey. Here, Sable checks out the grounds as “Downtown Tabby”.

My handsome hubby and I at Highclere Castle.

Family photo taken by dad. Yes it was cold, rainy and windy – it was April in England!!!

Kelly and I ate out one night while the kids went back to the flat with the family. We ate at a restaurant in the basement of Harrod’s that specialized in TRUFFLES!!!!! It was SO good!!!!

Kelly and Freddie Mercury at Madame Tussauds.

Sable MIGHT have been getting a bit too familiar with the queen. Madame Tussauds.

Kelton’s hair resembled Albert Einstein’s a bit too much!! Madame Tussauds.

Oh Char….well this is a statue representing the overindulgence of King Henry the VIII’s court at Hampton Court – another FAVORITE stop of mine – a must see!

Char strikes again….sleeping next to the famous wine fountain that was created for a treaty meeting in northern France between Henry the VIII of England “and France” and King Frances I of France. This fountain flowed with wine in front of a “castle” built out of golden cloth to represent King Henry’s magnificence. So famous is this amazing tent that the event in history is referred to the Field of the Cloth of Gold. My history buff side shines through!

Gardens at Hampton Court

My beautiful rose petal and Hampton Court gardens.

Iconic Tower Bridge!

Mind the gap. We got an Oyster Card and used all manner of public transportation throughout London! I love this shot of Char and Sable!

A view of Parliament from the London Eye.

Westminster Abbey

Big Ben!

These adorable sheep were all over the city and the kids posed with them whenever possible! The sheep were dressed in outfits that represented the area where they stood.

Throw Back Thursday….Growing up Disney

June 13, 2019June 6, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

If you know me in real life, you now that if you start talking about Disney World, my eyes light up, my voice raises an octave and I talk 100 miles per minute because I LOVE DISNEY!!!!! I know people who hate Disney and I am not sure they are human or believe in magic 😊 Seriously, though…I think you either love Disney or you do not…there aren’t many wishy washy Disney people out there!

When we plan our Disney trips (we go every 12-18 months), we start getting pretty psyched about a year out! We start with the WHEN (we never go during school vacations or holidays), then move to the WHERE (we have stayed at Saratoga Springs, Bay Lake Towers, Animal Kingdom Resort, Coronado Springs, Old Key West, Art of Animation and the Polynesian). We plan out which parks we will be at which days based on crowd projections, plan our dining experiences and fast passes when the time is right. And then we wait – probably not so patiently – for our vacation to begin!!

I love helping my clients do all this planning as well! It is a labor of love – as not all agents take on Disney, but I know it well and love to help bring the magic to others! Every new trip presents a new point of view and new experience! I have enjoyed this ritual trip with my family and have enjoyed how, at each stage of my kids’ lives, Disney brings another level of wonder and growth along with the crazy joy that is Disney!

Here are some of my favorite memories from some of our trips at Disney over the years. This succession of memories are so precious to me! They are experiences my kids will always remember as times spent with their parents, family and friends. I hope as they become adults, they will also enjoy bringing their families to Disney and have the same fond remembrances that I do of my own childhood at Disney with my mom. What an awesome gift!

PS – we ALWAYS wear matching/themed shirts and always will! That is part of the fun!!

I have a picture of my kids doing this SAME thing in London in 2013. It is fun to recreate special moments in different locations! EPCOT 2019

Beef hot dogs. OK – well…what can I say?! We were at Disneyland Paris and needed a pick me up!!! 2019

From the other side!!! Disneyland Paris 2019

Finding Eva and Wally – pure joy!!!! Disneyland Paris 2019

Gusteau’s!!! Disneyland Paris 2019

Germany/EPCOT 2018

Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train, Magic Kingdom 2018

Cousin’s Trip – Animal Kingdom 2016

Magical Christmas – EVERY year!

Magic Kingdom 2017 – mom and dad’s second trip to Disney without kids!!!!

France/EPCOT

Sunset from the Contemporary 2019

Our first trip to Disney as family. Magic Kingdom 2006

Magic Kingdom 2006

Magic Kingdom 2009

Magic Kingdom 2009

Polynesian Luau 2013

Morocco/EPCOT 2015

Hollywood Studios 2015

Hollywood Studios 2015 (our favorite time of year to go to Disney is during the Holidays!

Notre Dame

June 11, 2019June 4, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

In April, while I was traveling to the American south west, I learned about the tragic fire that destroyed the wooden spire and 700+ year old roof of Notre Dame in Paris. I certainly won’t get into the social implications of the fire; the costs to rebuild and the controversy that surrounds all the donations coming forth, but I wanted to share my own experiences with this amazing place and some of my favorite personal pictures.

I first visited Notre Dame in 2013 with my family as a part of a month-long European Adventure. We went in March during the off season and enjoy fewer lines and more exploring! My kids were 6 (almost 7) and 10. They did great! We spent 4 nights in Paris and saw all the must-see sights! As soon as we arrived (even after traveling overnight), we unloaded our luggage and headed to Notre Dame! It was right around the corner from where we were staying in the Latin Quarter and we loved it!

I can really appreciate this site on many levels – as a Christian, I appreciate the devotion of the followers who, for years, poured their lives into building this masterpiece as an outward expression of their faith. I appreciate the significance of this holy place to Catholics all around the world and marvel in its beauty and divine mission.

As a historian, I appreciate the place this building holds in history – the advancements in architecture and science it took to build; the priceless artifacts that are preserved in this building; the craftsmanship that went in to the carvings, the stained glass and masonry and how this place has witnessed so very much over time. If those walls could talk!

As a humanitarian, I appreciate the grief and joy this place has housed; the turning point for so many on their journey of faith and life and the hard times that have brought people to its huge doors. I image how many people brought their sorrows to the alter – how many marriages and deaths were observed over the past 700+ years and the unfathomable amounts of history that took place within these walls built by men.

This past January, my daughter and I had the joy of seeing this beautiful site once more. We saw the outside of the cathedral three or four times and went inside once. We visited in the snow and made a small snowman in the park in front of the cathedral. We visited on our final day and fed the pigeons there. We have made many memories of this place and I feel eternally blessed and thankful that I have had an opportunity to visit a place that embodies history and humanity. My hope is that, however it is arranged, this place is restored and reopened expeditiously for countless people that journey to Paris just to see this holy place. I hope you get to see it, too!

Snowfall at Notre Dame, January 2019

What do you do with fresh snow in Paris? Build a French snowman at Notre Dame!

We pop out of the metro and the phone comes out!!!

The arrival!!!!

TBT…The Best Cruise Ever, Part II – my husband’s pictures!!

June 6, 2019June 4, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

Last week I shared with you a photo journal of our dream cruise of the Mediterranean in May 2015. Here are some other pictures of that fabulous journey and the stories behind them!

On a 15 night cruise, one collects A LOT of towel creatures!

Cadiz, Spain. Churros and chocolate!!!! AMAZING!

Like a garden of Eden – Malaga, Spain

I *think* this was in Marseilles, France…but I could be wrong!

Scooting in Cinque Terre, Italy.

The Roman Colosseum

Villa-France-sur-Mer, France – this is where we moored and was the port for Nice and Monaco. The town of Villa-France itself is stunning and quintessential Mediterranean. I am itching to go back!

On board the Anthem of the Seas, moored off the coast of Nice, France.

Barcelona, Spain – On one of the main promenades. I love how Kelton is fussing with his sister’s hair!

We always find critters – Barcelona, Spain

The construction continues at Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Anthem after dark

Gibraltar – long lost cousins? Oh and behind Kelton in the distance? AFRICA!!!!!

In the mountains of Gibraltar

ME! Flying in the iFLY – aboard the Anthem of the Seas

Suspended in the North Star – a fabulous way to see the Anthem!

Throw Back Thursday…the best cruise EVER!

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

When I turned 40, I said to my husband that I would love to go on a Mediterranean cruise. At that point in my life, I had been to northern and central France, England and Scotland and really had the Europe bug (I still do!)! I wanted to see more and the best way to do that, is on a cruise!!! Think about it – you only have to unpack once, your hotel goes with you, your meals are already set and you can see multiple countries in a short period of time. It was SPECTACULAR!!!!

We chose Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas – this was in 2015 and she was brand new!!! This was her first REAL voyage (not the quick, work-out-the-kinks 3 or 4 night turn around) and we were beside yourselves with joy. This was my kids’ first cruise and it was a 16 night out of Southampton, England. We departed in early May and hit Gibraltar, Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Villa-France-sur-Mer (Nice/Monaco), Marseilles, La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Lisbon.

Words cannot describe how awesome this cruise was, so I picked SOME of my favorite pictures to share so you get the idea. The Mediterranean in spring is something wonderful to behold and I hope you get a chance to see it someday, too!!! Wanna go next spring?