There are so many things I love about the Tuscany region of Italy, that I consider it my top destination for honeymoons in Europe. And there is nothing I love more than crafting a perfect honeymoon experience.  There are two main ways you can do Italy— spend your time seeing a lot, or take your time having an experience.  For couples who appreciate the ability to soak in the true essence of Tuscany, and create lasting memories of special moments within a trip customized specifically for you, consider the following outline as a sneak peek into my version of la dolce vita. 

Begin in Florence…

I will never forget the first time I packed for a 3 week trip to Europe. I exited the airport with 2 full sized roller bags, a carryon roller bag, and a backpack.  Included in those suitcases were various outfit options for whatever might come up during my time abroad, about 10 pairs of shoes, and at least 6 pairs of jeans. I wanted to be prepared.

I then remember the moment when I needed to take the train from one city to the next.  I looked around anxiously for the elevator or escalator that would take me from street level to where the platforms were and saw nothing. So I made 3 trips up and down the stairs with two 50 pound bags, as frenchmen whisked past me with no offers of help.  

Never again.

Cinque Terre is a stretch of five towns across the enchanting Italian riviera. I fell in love with this place far before I ever visited it. Perhaps you have too. The photos of pastel colored buildings, perched precariously on the cliffside and gazing out onto the sea are enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

Last week I made my way here by way of boat on a day trip. This is the most scenographic way to go, and provided me with a unique viewpoint of the landscape. The ferry from La Spezia will take about an hour, and once you are in the villages, you can easily spend the day village hopping (except for Corniglia). You should also take the opportunity to visit the village of Portovenere, which isn’t one of the 5 villages but certainly is a worthwhile stop.

So, what are the differences between the villages? Here is a quick rundown on each of their unique characteristics, as well as photos from my vantage point of approaching the villages by boat. My suggestion would be to visit them all, and choose to spend a few nights in the one that best suits your tastes.

When traveling I do my best to take photos that will properly tell the story of my experience.  Not only do I want memories for myself, I want beautiful memories I can share with others. That’s why it’s important for me to share my experience in a way that allows people an inside look at what I am seeing, doing, and eating (duh!), and allows for their own wanderlust to be sparked.  

I am by NO means a professional photographer, nor do I make any claims that my photos are outstanding in any way. However, I have gotten better! I am learning not only how to take better photos, but also which photos tell better stories, and which photos tell MY story. Today I thought I would share a few of my tips with you, and show you how those ideas have played out here in my first few days in Italy.

I love travel!! I love sports!!

If you know me, these are two very true statements.  So any time I have the opportunity to create crossover with those two passions, it’s absolute win in my book! About a month ago, they released the information for the NFL International Series.  3 games in London, and 1 game in Mexico City.  

I have been to many, many NFL games in my life, but never in another country. To me, that sounds like an absolute dream! Being able to explore London (and beyond!), plus root for your favorite team all in one swoop?! Sign me up.  

It sounded like such a great idea, I decided to create 3 simple itineraries that would make the whole process easy and enjoyable. They’re a baseline of how to make a trip like this come together successfully.

Ann + John: 3 week Caribbean Experience

My boyfriend and I were dreading a long cold winter in New England this year and had an opportunity to take a few weeks off to seek sun and warmth. The challenge was where to go, what to do, and how to plan it all without getting completely overwhelmed. That's where Brianna came to mind with Milk + Honey travels! I knew of Brianna through a friend and had been following her travel blogs and posts for a while and reached out to her for some assistance in our trip planning. Brianna was immediately responsive to my inquiry and such a help from the very beginning. We had a general idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do and how much we wanted to spend- and within a very short time were drafting tentative travel itineraries and excursions for our Caribbean getaway. 

It’s International Women’s Day Today, and I felt like it would be an awesome time to honor and highlight some of the beautiful women I met in the Dominican Republic a few weeks ago.

Some of the very best memories of my time in the Dominican Republic was the opportunity to spend time with these ladies. This is the group from RePapel that we spent the day making paper with. They are so full of life and love, and it shined through like you wouldn’t believe.

At the beginning of our time together, they each shared their story. Every one of them started with “I have this many kids, and this many grandkids." It was not lost on me how dedicated these women were to their families, and how each and every decision and sacrifice they made was for them.

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic with Fathom Travel as part of their pilot program. I took part in some of the activities that will be offered once sailing starts in just a little over a month, and see firsthand what the experience will look like for people choosing a travel experience whose main goal is making an impact in the destination where they are headed. 

Florence has it all. There is something for everyone in the historic city where churches brush up against modern malls and restaurants. The beauty is not only encased within the walls of the city; By spreading out just a few hours in many directions, you can be led to lush, culturally vibrant experiences that will enhance your understanding of the beautiful culture. These top five Florence day-trips will add the perfect extra excitement to your Italian vacation.

Spring Break is the time of year where students in college get the opportunity to take a break from their studies, and enjoy time off in a beautiful locale that usually provides a ton of sunshine, and a few (or many) frosty beverages. I never actually went on a Spring Break vacation while I was in college, and I feared I might of missed out on my opportunity, but then I thought… Why shouldn’t grownups get a spring break vacation? 

Sure, studying for midterms is hard, but not nearly as hard as real life! Can I get an amen?!

You know what I love about honeymoons? It is your first family vacation. There will be no other “first” that encompasses what this trip does, and because of that, I think it is SO important! 

In light of that, what will make this first trip as Mr. & Mrs. incredibly perfect for you, is to make sure it is created with you in mind. Your honeymoon should be perfectly suited to your tastes and desires, and this is true whether you have traveled the world extensively, or the last time you went on a vacation was with your parents to Disneyland when you were 12.

To travel well is to live well. And the key to both is nurturing that spark of joy in our lives. 

What daily routines make our hearts sing? Listening to our answers, and then intentionally incorporating these details each day, will turn an ordinary vacation into the trip of our lives. Before I left for our New Year’s vacation in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica, I walked to my favorite coffee bar and ordered a cappuccino. Then, I asked myself one simple question: “What three things would make my vacation truly magical?”

That’s right. Not “nice” or “relaxing.” Magical. 

I didn’t want to travel in order to escape my life. I wanted to travel and discover a new corner of the world. And I wanted time to slow down enough to discover more about myself. Yes, I admit that I had high hopes for this trip. But I also did more than hope for it to be great—I planned for it to be great. And so can you. 

You know those postcard photos you see of these ridiculously beautiful destinations that look too amazing to even be real?! Like, is that real life??? Where is the water that color of blue? How does somewhere exist that seems to exude such relaxation simply by looking at a photo?

Well, one such destination is The Maldives, and it really does spell absolute perfection for honeymooners looking for romance, or couples looking to get away and stare deeply into each other’s eyes as they watch the sun set day after day in one of the most gorgeous locations in the entire world. If the following paragraphs ring true for you, know that this is somewhere you should certainly put on your wanderlust radar. 

I don’t call myself a Travel Agent. But for all intents and purposes I am, in the sense that I have the proper setup and credentials in order to book and sell travel. But looking at it from that frame of mind would not encompass all that I do, nor highlight what I believe to be the valuable service I bring to my clients.

Working with a Travel Professional such as myself has it’s advantages because my business is set up to not just provide travel agency services, but also act as your advisor, consultant, and concierge. In that regard, you end up with a service that makes the planning and booking of travel through a Travel Agent a better, faster, and certainly more valuable way to go.

Happy 2016!!!

There are so many amazing places out there for us to experience, picking one can sometimes be the hardest part. But there are certain destinations that make my “Hottest Destinations” list this year because they are an incredible place to go NOW. I’d love to share them with you.

The Must-See Destination of 2016: CUBA

Staying at La Anita Ranch was one of the highlights of my trip for many reasons. It was peaceful, serene, absolutely gorgeous, and …. IT WAS A WORKING CHOCOLATE FARM. That last item for me is a game changer because, duh, I love chocolate. And the chocolate produced here is some of the best I’ve ever had.  As a person who has tasted chocolate all throughout the world, I basically consider myself an expert on this subject. 

Playa Grande, Costa Rica is a gorgeous beach area off the beaten path, just north of Tamarindo. This beach is incredibly popular with surfers, and is the place to go if you consider yourself a pro, or are interested in honing your skills. I saw all skill sets benefitting from the awesome waves there. I don’t surf — at all— but it was enjoyable to simply sit on the beach and watch the waves crashing and the surfers do their thing. 

My choice of accommodations are often varied.  But they always have a purpose.  Always.  There is nothing I like more than figuring out the best place to stay that will give me the experience I’m after on a trip. Some would argue with me and say that it really doesn’t matter where you stay because you should be out exploring, and still others would argue that as long as it’s not broke why fix it— If there is a Four Seasons in the area there isn’t much to think about.

Visiting Monteverde is something that many visitors to Costa Rica make part of their itinerary, and it is one of the top destinations in the country.  People come here to experience nature at it’s very finest.  The cloud forests are brimming with plants and animals, the zip lines and suspension bridges are the longest (and most exciting) in the country, and the coffee is tasty, local and cheap. Each of these diversions – as well as countless other activities – can be enjoyed through a number of exciting tours.

Costa Rica is one of my favorite places. In fact, it was the first place I traveled when I retired as an athlete and wanted to escape to a place where I could just reconnect with myself, think about my life and the direction it was going, and experience what this “pura vida” was all about. I did all that and then some. Costa Rica truly is a destination that speaks to your soul and makes it sing.