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Considering Antarctica – Should We Go?

Posted on by Aaron Shade in Antarctica, Country Considerations, Planning

While working out our route for the world trip, we are thinking about places near some of our prime destinations. One of which is Patagonia. This will be a highlight on our trip with it’s epic landscapes and wildlife. The hard part is, there is this other continent just to the south that is really tempting us. When a trip is labeled as an expedition, it suddenly becomes the opportunity of a lifetime. Antarctica: should we go?

39985469_ad1114b463_oPhoto by Christopher Michel Creative Commons

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Hawaii: Captain Cook

Posted on by Brianna Shade in Hawaii, North America

We snorkeled many times while in Hawaii, but nowhere had clearer waters than Captain Cook. A fun day of kayaking and swimming with all the beautiful tropical fish.. and I even found Totoro!!!

LotsaSmiles Photography

One can’t really visit Hawaii and not go snorkeling, so we were sure to get out as much as we could.  While Two Step had some amazing fish (and sea turtles), we found the water clarity simply couldn’t be beat at the secluded Captain Cook point.

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A Weekend in Seattle

Posted on by Brianna Shade in North America, Stories

As I’ve divulged before, I love surprises.  And fortunately enough for me, Aaron loves to dole them out (when he can keep it secret long enough to actually surprise me).  He particularly loves to plan surprise trips.  So this year, for my birthday, he packed us into the car and just started driving north.  And for me the destination was a mystery.

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Hawaii: The Volcano

Posted on by Brianna Shade in Hawaii, North America

This was something we missed on our first visit to Hawaii. I’m glad we were able to make it a priority this time around. So much geology to examine and explore!

LotsaSmiles Photography

Hawaii is a series of islands created through volcanic activity.  However, when we honeymooned there seven years ago, it was the one major thing we didn’t fit into our itinerary, despite Aaron’s affinity for geology.  Therefore, we were determined to explore it this time.

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7 Months Until Our World Trip – An update

Posted on by Aaron Shade in Planning

What are we up to today?  The trip planning has been lagging a little bit but we are about to go head-on into it. We have been a bit overwhelmed and have been plagued with a bit of analysis paralysis. The only way to combat this is to start planning.. but not every last detail. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the USA and that also means a 4 day weekend. We’re taking advantage of it so we can leave by June of 2019.

Sunset Sail Key West Florida

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Hawaii: Mauna Kea

Posted on by Brianna Shade in Hawaii, North America

The view from atop Mauna Kea is always awe-inspiring. It’s one of the few places one can go from sea level to 14,000′ in an hour or two (without an airplane). Here, you can be on top of the world.

LotsaSmiles Photography

If you’re going to the Big Island, and if you have any fascination with the night sky, you won’t want to miss Mauna Kea.  Home to the world’s largest observatory and nearly 14,000 feet above sea level (and above most cloud layers), you won’t see more beautiful stars, especially if you live anywhere near a metropolitan area.  And for a photographer?  Just, wow.

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Miami – The Expense-free Redux

Posted on by Brianna Shade in Florida, Miami, North America, Stories

About a year after we vacationed in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach, Florida, we had an opportunity to return through a last-minute vacancy in a business-organized trip.  Aaron’s company offered him the suddenly open spot, and much like the last time we were offered a free trip, we jumped on it!

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Of course our agenda was much different, given we weren’t really planning this trip, but it was still just as fun as the previous.  And the obligatory seminar was worth getting the airfare and per diem on someone else’s dime.

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Hawaii: South Point

Posted on by Brianna Shade in Hawaii

Come explore the southernmost point in Hawaii and (debatably) the U.S. Take the plunge off the 40-foot cliff if you dare…

LotsaSmiles Photography

We couldn’t visit Hawaii without hitting the southernmost tip of the United States.  We had, of course, already been to Florida’s Southernmost Point (though this isn’t even accurate), but this is markedly less touristy and clearly more south.  

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Newport Oregon: A Coastal Gem

Posted on by Aaron Shade in Newport, North America, Oregon, Stories

Oregon has some magnificent coastal areas that are more than just beaches. Several rock formations create some very unique landscapes that you cannot find anywhere else. Last weekend we enjoyed our time with family, an accommodation with a view, and some delicious seafood during our stay. The weather felt like it was summer even though it was early November.

Beach near Newport Oregon

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Hawaii: Waipio Valley

Posted on by Brianna Shade in Hawaii, North America

We’ll keep the posts to Hawaii for a little bit, then we’ll switch it up again. It’s hard to decide what to post; we do so much!

This trek down to the beach was quite exciting, but we got some cool pictures and some fun memories!

LotsaSmiles Photography

“Waipi’o” means “curved water,” and this can be seen in the concave shoreline and the arcing twin waterfalls visible from the beach nearly a thousand feet below the viewpoint.  Images primarily feature the lofty view.  Most don’t dare brave the 25% grade, 4-wheel-drive-only road down to the bottom, but we aren’t “most people.”

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