Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
In our family gift giving is almost a competitive sport. We love thinking of the most perfect, personal gifts to get each other, and will often buy them months in advance of Christmas or birthdays. We have curated a list of our favorites to share with you. From functional to what-to-get-someone-that-has-everything, we have ideas for everyone.
Since there’s five of us sisters (plus our mama), we have a diverse group of gals to shop for. Our compilation of gift ideas is almost entirely things on our Christmas list, ideas for one another, or some of our favorite purchases from the past year. We hope it gives you a little inspiration for your holiday shopping… happy gifting!
We are obsessed with this travel backpack from Cotopaxi! This is the perfect gift for the whimsical explorer in your family. The design is beyond intuitive as the bag is perfectly crafted to maximize space when packing all your essentials. As a bonus, Cotopaxi is a fantastic, environmentally conscious company with fab customer service… did someone say ‘lifetime warranty and repairs’?? We’re actually so obsessed with this backpack we wrote an entire blog post about it!
Everyone has a home that holds a special place in their heart. Whether it’s the first home you purchased together, your childhood home, or the lake house you went to as a child, this Etsy shop can turn a picture of home into a beautiful watercolor picture. This makes for such a beautiful, sentimental gift.
The worst part about traveling with a hat is figuring out how to pack it, and Lindsay Albanese has created the perfect solution. By clipping your hat to your bag, you can keep your hat close, without fear of crushing it!
The perfect hat to fill your hat clip! Besides, there is nothing like a hat to truly elevate your outfit. We’re loving this green right now, but they have all kinds of colors… from creamy neutrals to bold statement tones.
Price: $139
If you’re loving the hat, but are trying to find the look for under $50, Urban Outfitters has a pretty good dupe for Lack of Color hats. Not quite the same, but definitely similar.
Fanny packs are back baby!!! And this belt bag from Lululemon is a particularly big hit with women (and men) of all ages. Who wants to carry a purse when you can fit a surprising amount of your belongings in this little pack?? The only problem? It sells out quickly! Sold in 1L and 2L sizes, it’s a cute yet functional gift for anyone on the go.
Never thought I’d be the kind of gal to get excited about glassware, but here we are. I received these for my birthday this past year, and they are a favorite both for hosting as well as drinking a post-workout smoothie.
Does someone have a long flight ahead of them? Travel often for work? Have a perpetual itch from the travel bug? Being able to catch some zzzz’s on a flight can be huge to help hit the ground running when you arrive at your destination. Sometimes a little outside the box thinking can be just what you need to stay comfy. The infinity loop design is versatile, allowing you to snuggle into any position during your flight.
Record players are back and they’re not going anywhere! This Audio-Technica model is a perfect nicer-end entry level record player for anyone interested in a throw-back auditory experience. Not only is it a different way to experience music, but once you have a record player, it opens up a whole new world for record hunting as you begin to curate your record collection.
The Tile helps keep track of all your wandering valuables. They are prepared for all scenarios with a Tile card for your wallet, a fob for your keys, or a sticker for your camera (not pictured above). The best way to keep an eye on everything. A perfect gift for your most forgetful friend.
If someone you know and love is moving north, to the land of long nights and short days, this alarm clock makes all the difference in the world to help a gal get out of bed on time. An alarm clock may not be the sexiest gift, but you cannot beat the practicality here!
Who owns a dog and isn’t at least a little obsessed with it? If you’ve already sat through the entire camera roll of your friend’s MANY doggo pictures, you can give them one more to treasure as a sentimental wall art piece. Not guaranteed to make them cry but not unlikely!!
Hello coffee lovers looking to elevate their home barista game. A perfect espresso in less than 60 seconds? Yes, yes that is the best gift you can give a coffee addict.
This may look like just a candle, but it’s actually a candle with a built in secondary purpose. When the candle has lived its full life and burned out, this becomes the perfect margarita glass. The Paddy Wax go-to margarita recipe is on the back of the dust cover, to help get the good times started.
Nothing elevates a coffee table like some fun, fancy coasters. Not only do they protect the table from unsightly water rings, but they are a beautiful way to make any table look a little more posh.
From a seasoned wino to your recently legal friend, nothing expedites a good time like getting that bottle of wine opened ASAP. Pairs well with a bottle of your favorite wine!
Sentiment meets functionality with this perfect gift for any music lover. All the words on the center of the LP are customizable to make it completely your own. Plus, it’s also a functioning clock!
I’ve been getting my FabFitFun box for years, and it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving. While it seems like there’s a subscription box for just about everything these days, FabFitFun have been sending out boxes since 2010. As such, they have expanded their company so much in the last decade! Their box is such a fun way to get exposed to new products and brands. Plus, with your subscription membership, you’re afforded access to a whole array of discounted products available as add-ons.
Price: $59.99/box or $219.99 annually
In the event the gal you’re shopping for isn’t quite the target clientele of FabFitFun, there’s so many different subscription options to choose from. Whether she’s into fishing, coffee, tech gadgets, knitting, candles, or something else entirely, there’s just about a box for everyone these days!
Disclaimer: All photos used in this post were taken directly from the site to which the item is linked. None of these photographs are our own.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
Sunscreen is an important product for anyone wanting to avoid the sun’s harmful rays, but unfortunately the chemicals that block out UV rays can also be harmful to aquatic ecosystems. A single person snorkeling may feel like they have no effect, but as a population, it’s estimated that approximately 14,000 tons of sunscreen are released into oceans and therefore reefs annually. With that much sunscreen sloughing off of people, small quantities of toxic chemicals add up quickly. For this reason, reef safe mineral sunscreens are an awesome alternative to protect oneself, while also minimizing the impact we as humans have on the ocean and its reef systems.
Bans & Bad Chemicals
Hawaii was the first state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. While all of Florida has not followed suit, Key West, FL has also banned sunscreens with these ingredients as well*. As we dug into this, we discovered a few more harmful chemicals. In addition to being damaging to the coral reef, some of these compounds are harmful to marine life as well. The top eight offenders to look out for are listed below. Be sure to check the ingredients list for these dubious chemicals!
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octocrylene
Homosalate
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
PABA
Parabens
Triclosan
* The previously aforementioned bans in place exempt sunscreens prescribed by a doctor to patients for medical reasons.
Eleven Excellent Options
It is widely accepted that sunscreen should be worn when spending sustained periods of time outside or in direct sunlight, but integrating a sunscreen into your daily skincare routine may just be the best thing you can do to prevent premature aging of your skin. Interestingly, the sun exposure from a 30 minute mental-health walk or the blue light reflected up from a computer or phone can have their own damaging effects over time. Whether you’re packing to go on vacation or just trying to stay woke about daily skincare, we’ve found some of the best options, at a variety of price points, to keep your skin protected. Don’t forget to cover your ears and neck too!
1. Dr. Jart+
Dr. Jart+ is an innovative skincare company based in Korean, that has mastered skincare staples. Whether you need a sunscreen for vacation or you’re more of a can’t leave-the-indoors-without-burning, this Every Sun Day sunscreen’s got you covered. Another reef-safe option from Dr. Jart+ is the fan-favorite: Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment— it not only neutralizes redness but also has a very reasonable spf 30.
2. Kate Somerville
Sunscreen and cosmetics can be assigned a PA value, to inform consumers of the level of protection a products offers from UV rays. The Daily Deflector Mineral Face Sunscreen boasts an impressive PA++++, the highest score possible. Additionally, it is compatible with all skin types and completely unscented for anyone that’s sensitive to fragrance.
3. Tula
This sunscreen was named Best SPF by Health 2020 Beauty Awards, and it’s not hard to see why. The protect + glow daily sunscreen gel has a non-comedogenic formula, to keep pores clear and skin happy. This is of course in addition to the probiotic extracts and pineapple, as well as wild butterfly ginger root that are integrated into this packed sunscreen formula— a sunscreen that’s not just protecting you, but improving your skin along the way.
4. Murad
Offering maximum protection from UV rays, this City Skin Age Defense Sunscreen has also received the esteemed PA++++ rating. In addition to it’s spf 50, this sunscreen has a soft peach tint, which serves to color correct and boost radiance on all skin tones.
5. ILIA
If you’re searching for a make-up and sunscreen hybrid, look no further than the weightless Super Serum Skin Tint. By all accounts ILIA seems to be doing everything right. With 30 tints offered, this inclusive product is meant for everyone. It is silicone-free, fragrance-free, chemical screen-free, and non-comedogenic— while also incorporating hyaluronic acid, squalane, and niacinamide to keep skin hydrated. A perfect product for daily use!
6. Sun Bum
A universally recognized name in the sunscreen game, it comes as no surprise that Sun Bum offers a well-loved Sunscreen Face Lotion. This vegan, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free product feels less like a chalky sunscreen and more like a primer, with it’s luxe matte finish. A perfect product for anyone with sensitive skin!
7. Native
Native is the epitome of a company with a conscience. They originally started as an anti-perspirant company to create an alternative to the mainstream aluminum-laden deodorants. As the company has grown they have expanded to a collection of re-formulated every day self-care products to maximize the safety and benefit for the consumer, while concurrently maintaining a mindfulness for the environment. This face sunscreen is offered in both a unscented and coconut-pineapple scents and boasts clean and effective ingredients
8. Supergoop!
A favorite in the world of high quality sunscreen, Supergood! has leveled up to offer their most reef-safe sunscreen yet: the Mineral Mattescreen. Mattescreen has a sheer tint to mask the white cast mineral sunscreens are sometimes known for. You love the blurring effect it has on pores, leaving your skin looking airbrushed and smooth.
9. Cetaphil
The Sheer Mineral Liquid Face Sunscreen from Cetaphil is a perfect option for anyone with sensitive skin. This fragrance-free, paraben-free and chemical-free active formula is hypoallergenic— plus it helps preserve your skin’s delicate microbiome. Another bonus, this sunscreen is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it a great option for the beach or longer outdoor workouts.
10. COOLA
The Sun Silk Créme sunscreen is the perfect combination of smooth, lightweight, and radiant moisture without a dreaded greasy finish. COOLA is known for their clean beauty products, so you can purchase with a clean conscience, knowing everything is crafted with at least 70% certified organic ingredients, from sustainable farming practices.
11. Dermalogica
Looking for some outside-the-box ingredients? The Invisible Physical Defense boasts some unique ingredients, with a bio-active mushroom complex to help soothe skin and reduce redness. You will also find antioxidant green tea in the mix to defend skin from free radical damage. All products from Dermalogica are free of artificial colors and fragrances, parabens, and microplastics, so you can purchase with confidence.
Haters Gunna Hate
This is intended to be enlightening in nature— certainly not a guilt-trip to anyone that wants to stick with a sunscreen brand they like. It can take ages to find a product you like, that doesn’t irritate your skin— especially your face.
With lots of outdoorsy travel on the horizon, we happened upon this sunscreen snafu, and felt it was important to share. Especially since we were previously unaware of the extent of harm the sunscreen can have on the environment. We hope you learned a little something as well!
We have done a cursory exploration into the topics of sunscreen’s environmental impact; however, we are far from experts in this area. If you have any contradicting or additionally informative knowledge to share, we would love to learn more!
If you are eager to earn more about what you can do to protect our reefs, you can visit Save the Reef .
None of the product photos in this post are our own as they were integrated from the associated linked website.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
At the top of the Nicoya Peninsula, the Papagayo Peninsula sits, jutting out even farther into the Gulf of Papagayo, creating the Culebra Bay. Per government mandate, 70% of the land on the peninsula must remain natural and largely untouched, which helps ensure this area’s natural beautiful doesn’t become tainted by overdevelopment. Not only does this serve to preserve local ecosystems, but it adds to the exclusivity of each resort residing there.
Papagayo Peninsula is the fancy, gated-community resort experience of Costa Rica, and while I think you’d miss out on the charm of Costa Rica if you spent your whole vacation here, it really is a lovely place to spend a few days. Especially if you’re staying at the Andaz!
Below we have detailed what you can expect from your at the Andaz Papagayo Peninsula. From eateries to activities to beach-side relaxation and all the infinity pools in between, we have the scoop on everything that awaits you.
A Room with a View
First things first: the room! We booked a Bay View room, and loved the the modern, intuitive design, love terrace, and perhaps my favorite part of the room— the river stone rain shower that opened up right to our private terrace. While we spent most of our time outside exploring, it was nice to have a relaxing space to return to… with a spectacular sunset view!
Nothing negative to report! Below we have a video to get a feel for the room and the layout (briefly ft. one sleepy husband flopped down on the bed).
Dining
The restaurant options provide five unique dining experiences while still reflecting an inspiration based in local Costa Rican cuisine. On a plant-based diet? Vegetarian and vegan options are offered at every restaurant. You can read more about each niched dining experience below.
We’re apprehensive about resort food (on occasion) as it can sometimes be devoid of local cultural influence. We didn’t find this to be the case here! While there were certainly dishes we recognized, it was nice to see Costa Rica reflected in the menus.
Rio Bhongo Restaurant
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you are guaranteed to find a fantastic meal at Rio Bhongo any time of day. Our favorite was their to-die-for breakfast spread. I enjoyed a smoothie from their smoothie bar every morning, whereas Salvador went all in for the ‘Rio Bhongo Breakfast’ buffet. Bonus: you can enjoy the whole array of the Rio Bongo menu from the pool, with the attentive pool-side service.
Andaz Beach House
Does your ideal vacation entail spending the entire day beach-side? The Beach House makes this possible as you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your lounge chair to order lunch. The menu is an array of light, yet filling entrees. Don’t sleep on the homemade ice cream… a perfect afternoon treat! The less you have to plan for a beach day, the better— especially if you have little ones. It’s so nice to have someone stop by you lounge chair, grab your order, and bring your food out to you!
Ostra Restaurant
The most posh dining experience at the resort, Ostra’s menu boasts an enviable array of seafood delicacies. The ambiance is a bit more private with the intimate booths and dreamy garden set-up. This is a perfect spot to go if you’re celebrating something special… or perhaps if you just have a hankering for some good seafood.
Chao Pescao Small Plates & Bar
This is the spot if you’re looking to end the day with tapas and a cold drink. The mixologist menu is extensive, but you have to try one of their signature craft cocktails! Guaranteed to have you ready for another!
Eat In
Room service is available for all meals, with options sure to hit the spot. The best part about ordering room service is the fun little basket your meal arrives in. This dining option is available 24 hours a day!
Activities
Active Relaxation
Andaz boasts both family and adult-only infinity pools, but if you ever get the itch to leave the pool, they have a wide array of activities available to suit guests of all ages and adventure palettes. The pura vida lifestyle Costa Rica is known for makes yoga a popular practice here. For curious yogis, there are twelve different yoga classes offered. If you like yoga but are wanting more strengthening components, both pilates and barre classes are offered as well.
Beach Adventures
Andaz guests are afforded the use of kayaks, snorkeling and paddle board equipment— complimentary with your stay. In addition to the complimentary activities guests can participate in coral gardening, snorkeling, free-diving, and outrigger-canoe exploration. Who would pass up the opportunity to potentially see moray eels, spotted eagle rays, puffer fish, octopus, parrot fish, surgeonfish, turtles, trumpet fish and butterfly fish in their natural habitat?!
Bikes
If you want to explore the peninsula at your own pace, there is a complimentary bike share program available to all guests. Not only did the bikes make the peninsula exploration that much more thrilling, but we were beyond impressed with the guest services. While we were getting set up with the bikes, we mentioned to the woman assisting us that we planned to ride them around a bit and then head over to the Beach House. When we were done riding, someone was waiting at the bike drop off area with a golf cart to finish off the last leg of our beach-side journey. We were beyond impressed with the coordination and anticipation of our needs!
while out bike riding, we stopped at this overlook to take in the view
Golf
The Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course on the Papagayo Peninsula is as beautiful as it is fun, with nearly all the holes featuring a breathtaking panoramic view. As you play through, you’ll have the opportunity to see a multitude of colorful plants, trees, birds and animals— especially the cheeky capuchin monkeys.
ONDA Spa
There’s no better way to unwind on vacation than a day at the spa unwinding, and the ONDA Spa is an oasis of relaxation. The 11,000-square-foot is tucked away amongst the trees of the jungle. It boasts nine lavish treatment rooms, including four couple’s treatment rooms. ONDA Spa offers an extensive array of treatments, including massages, body scrubs and wraps, facial therapies, manicures, pedicures, and waxing.
Costa Rican Culture
If you’re interested in expanding your Costa Rican cultural horizons, pottery and spanish classes are available. Barista, mixology, and cooking classes are also open to guests looking to learn from the best! If you’re even mildly curious about the barista class, breakfast at Rio Bhongo will seal the deal. The coffee artisans make it look like a craft, and the pour over carafe for the table makes even a simple cup of coffee feel extraordinary.
each week a schedule of activities is provided to guests
More information regarding the above activities, including cost and length of participation can be found here. If you’re wanting to adventure a little further, tours are also available through Andaz.
Kids
Have you ever heard the saying, “Once you have kids, it’s not a vacation anymore— it’s a family trip”? Well, we are still child-less adults, but we did notice all the kiddos having fun. Not only is the resort kid-friendly, but it honestly seems pretty kid-welcoming. We noticed their CAMBI Day Camp offers loads of different activities to keep kiddos of all ages busy.
If you’re planning a parents-only moment of relaxation, babysitting services are also available from 8am to 10pm. Pricing is on a sliding scale, depending on how many children you have as well as how old they are.
For tweens and teens, there is a Young Explorers camp. These older kids can enjoy sports, adventure, & exploration with their peers, while the subtle themes of boosting confidence, inspiring perseverance, and team building are encouraged.
P.S. if you’re looking for a child free slice of relaxation, there is a pool that’s specifically designated as adults only. Can’t promise it won’t get rowdy but it will be all adults making the ruckus.
Transportation
Parking
Valet and self-parking are both complimentary and available to all guests. This lends itself to a strong first impression. Someone graciously greets you at your car and facilitates your arrival— handling your bags and taking them to your room, offering a cold bottle as you step out of your car, and leading you to the beautiful view that serves as a backdrop to the check in desk.
Intra-Resort Golf Cart Shuttle
We love walking everywhere, but for guests that are unable to move as well, the golf cart shuttle service was easy to utilize, for anyone needing a hand making it to dinner. All you have to do is send a message to the provided number via WhatsApp!
Adjacent Property Shuttle
For guests ready to explore, a shuttle is available to transport hungry travelers to the Dive Bar (a nearby, off-property restaurant) or adventurers down to the Nacascolo Beach to enjoy the sand, bay, and Beach House. We’d ridden out biked down to the beach but were feeling a little lazier when it was time to return. It was so nice to just zip back to the resort, easy peasy.
Airport Shuttle
If you plan to stay at the resort for your entire stay and/or utilize their tours exclusively for your Costa Rican exploration, it likely makes the most sense for you to utilize their airport shuttle service. The pricing for this is included below as this is not available on their website (pricing is in US dollars).
Prado
up to 3 passengers
$130.00
Expedition
up to 4 passenger
$186.00
Lexus
up to 4 passengers
$220.00
This information was provided for our stay in Jan 2021 and is likely to change over time.
If you think this may be a good option for you, you can contact reservations.papagayo@andaz.com with any additional inquiries or to reserve your transportation.
Thoughtful Touches
Welcome Gift
All guests receive a pair of flip-flops as well as a charming fedora-style hat. Not only is it fun to arrive with a gift awaiting you, but they’re both practical! The Costa Rican sun will burn you if you’re not carful, so it’s nice to be able to protect your head and face. These vacation essentials come in handy while visiting, but are such a fun reminder of vacation whenever you wear them again at home.
Got Your Back
Beyond the usual courtesy amenities provided to guests, towels, sunscreen, and bug spray were available pool-side, beach-side, and anywhere else guests might need it. Especially for those of us that burn easily, this is a godsend! It’s the little touches like this that make a difference.
Mini Bar Snack
The worst kind of mini bar is one that charges $10 for a snickers bar. No such case here! Not only is the mini-bar stocked with all kinds of local snacks, but all non-alcoholic drinks and snack treats are complimentary with your stay. Even better, your snacks and beverages are replenished every day!
Parting Thoughts
We enjoyed a few nights at Andaz at the end of our two-week road trip through Northern Costa Rica. This luxury resort provides a beautiful escape for travelers looking to indulge. We highly recommend this resort, and we would definitely go back. The wide array of experiences makes it perfect for intimate couples as well as exuberant families. The only downside? You absolutely have to leave to truly have an understanding and appreciation for the rest of the country. While the Papagayo Peninsula is gorgeous, we 1000% renting a car or booking a tour to head over to Arenal take in the lush volcanic jungle.
We visited in January of 2021, just as the country was beginning to open back up for travel. As such, our stay was during a relatively low occupancy season. Despite the havoc the pandemic has wrecked on the hospitality industry, we received nothing less than exemplary service throughout our stay.
Salvador loves his Hyatt card. He recently made it to the ‘globalist’ tier of membership, and touts this as a proud accomplishment. As such, our stay at Andaz Costa Rica was actually completely paid for with points we’d accrued. Andaz CR is an Award Category 5, so if you have Hyatt points burning a hole in your pocket, this is your sign to spend them here!
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
Asheville, NC has become a popular destination for vacation escapades, bachelorette parties, weddings, and craft beer aficionados. If you are looking to elevate your stay, a treehouse makes for a unique way to experience both the allure of the city as well as the grandeur of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
All of these breath-taking treehouses are rented by superhosts, so you can book with confidence. As a general recommendation, we suggest reading the descriptions in full as well as reviews, just to ensure you won’t have any sneaky surprises. We have found that often, for every incredible view, there’s usually a steep driveway to accompany it.
You may come for the view, but you’ll have a hard time leaving all the upscale yet homey touches… starting with the double slipper clawfoot tub on the porch. Whether you come alone or bring a friend, the queen size bed and air mattress ensure everyone has a place to rest their eyes.
If Hansel and Gretel were wandering through the forest, they would surely abandon the gingerbread house for this modern beauty. Who wouldn’t want to end the day in that rocking chair, watching the sun go down? Up to four can enjoy this delightful treehouse, with a double bed and an air mattress available to accommodate weary adventurers.
This mountain cabin meets treehouse escape has a beautiful wrap around porch to take in the views. The hanging swing bed is the perfect spot to snuggle in with a cup of coffee and watch the sun rise. When it’s time for light’s out, a queen bed and a sofa bed are available to carry you off to your sweet dreams.
This treehouse is less luxury and more of a high-end-camping meets forest getaway. Don’t worry, you’ll still have air conditioning, a double bed (plus a sofa bed as well!), and a hot shower. As a bonus, there’s a saltwater pool available to relax in, just a short walk away. The hanging bridge really gives this treehouse an adventurous vibe!
Note: You will have to be okay with an outdoor shower and a compost toilet.
This treehouse is perfect for all kinds of travelers with its open layout and full kitchen. It boasts both indoor and outdoor shower options. At the end of the day, a queen bed and a sofa bed are available to catch some zzzz’s on.
This ethereal treehouse feels like the home of a boho-hippie tinker bell. The location may say Woodfin, but this gorgeous treehouse is only a 20 minute drive from the Asheville Airport. When it’s time for sleeping, this fortress of solitude offers a queen bed and a sofa bed.
This house is appropriately named as it’s aesthetic is very Harry Potter meets Swiss Family Robinson. The undertone of Hogworts decor is cheeky, without being too overt as the architecture and finishes of the house make this treehouse a beautiful stay. Two queen beds make this an abode for up to four guests to comfortably enjoy.
If you’re looking for a breath-taking treehouse to accommodate a large group, this house is a dream. Easily sleeping nine people, this expansive treehouse will make you want to come back to enjoy the view over and over, for each passing season.
Rated: 4.80/5 (20 reviews)
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
It would not be an exaggeration to say we LIVE in athleisurewear. We could go weeks without fastening a single button. We wear it to work, we wear it to workout, and it’s what we choose to exist in for all the time in between. Field tested, Wherry-girl approved, these are our favorite pieces and best brands to rock.
BEYOND YOGA
Beyond Yoga has mastered the art of buttery soft fabric. This woman-owned business offers sizes XXS to 4X, so inclusivity is at the forefront of their model. Their free shipping & returns make it easy to purchase with peace of mind. They maintain a core collection of colors year-round, as well seasonal colors that are always fun. They go quickly though, so you have to grab ‘em while they’re available!
These are the most comfortable pair of biker shorts I own. The length is perfect and you truly cannot beat the material they’re made out of!
This cropped tank lives in more than one Wherry sister closet… in multiple colors. What can we say? When we love something, we really double down! The cut is flattering and the cropped length is perfect with high waisted leggings.
Comfy and cozy, these leggings are perfect for so many occasions, but especially for travel days. Plus how fun is this stellar blue heather color?
Fit
Beyond yoga is the epitome of athleisure-wear. As the name suggests, the clothes are perfect for lower intensity workouts such as yoga or pilates. They are also a first rate choice if you’re looking to stay comfy while traveling, running errands, or lounging around the house. Generally speaking this would not be my go-to for a high intensity workout or long run.
Our personal experience is that most of the tops and sports bras fit pretty true to size, but the leggings will sometimes run a little big.
Bonus
If you are a medical professional, military personnel, educator, or student, you can receive 20% off every order. A discount just means you get to order more, right?
FREE PEOPLE MOVEMENT
You may know about Free People, but have you tried Free People Movement?! The loungewear and fitness focused take on this iconic brand delivers athleisure clothes just as well as they do boho chic. If you don’t own anything from Free People Movement, it’s time to give them a try.
This set is just as cute as it looks. The sports bra has a fun square neckline, and the small cut-outs up the back of the leggings make for a cute design. The perfect outfit to rock for a quick pilates workout.
Kayla bought this cropped tank, and I liked it so much I had to have my own! It’s super versatile as it can be worn with matching leggings or you can rock it at happy hour with cutoffs. Get you a tank that! can! do! both! Available in a slightly longer length as well.
If slouchy comfort is your style this reversible shirt and biker short set is a must have. The shirt is definitely oversized, so you have to dig the loose-style fit, but let’s be honest… all the best shirts are too big.
Fit
My only gripe with Free People Movement is their sizing is a little chaotic when you’re ordering for the first time. Some of their leggings & workout tops are only offered in XS/S & M/L sizing, while others are offered XS to XL. That being said, once you figure out what sizing works best for you, you’re set!
ATHLETA
Athleta is the fab, fit company in the Gap Inc. franchise. This is an athleisure brand with range! Not only does their sizing run from XXS to 3X, but they also sell almost all their pants and leggings in regular, tall, and petite lengths! You love to see it!
This crop top is a family favorite, with three out of five sisters owning this shirt in various colors. It is a perfect cropped length to wear with high-waisted leggings, without
While you don’t always think of dresses when you think of athleisurewear, this dress is the perfect combination of flattering meets effortless style.
I recently purchased these shorts, and have been summer-lovin’ them. I am officially part of camo’s comeback.
These leggings have just enough compression to keep everything in place while still feeling like jammies. The 7/8ths length is my favorite!
For Your Information
Athleta has mastered comfort for the whole wardrobe. If you live for days spent in loungewear, but ~work~ requires a certain amount of business casual, Athleta delivers some great crossover pants to keep you comfy while you’re working hard.
LULULEMON
You know what you’re getting when you buy from Lululemon and that’s quality. Whether it’s for yoga, lifting, crushing your orange theory class, or running, they have you covered. Their sizing runs from 2-14, allowing for a bit more specificity than the usual S/M/L sizing. You can always count on their free shipping and returns to bring you your next treat-yo-self in a jiffy.
The align leggings will feel like a dream for your next pilates class. I’m not sure what makes the Nulu material magical— I just know I never want to take these leggings off!
The wunder train leggings are what you want on as you head to your next Orange Theory or Burn Boot Camp workout class. These leggings will fit like a glove and not move an inch as you hustle.
I like to wear this workout top under my jacket at work, so I can get a little lunch time workout in with ease. It’s so comfortable you’ll want to wear it all day but still supportive for when you want to get your move on.
These are my FAVORITE joggers. They are the perfect crossover between leggings and sweatpants… incredibly comfortable but still makes your a$$ look great. Could never recommend these enough!!
Fit
Generally speaking, most leggings and tanks fit pretty true to size. For sports bras and shorts we tend to go one size up. Everyone’s different, but that’s just how we’ve found things fit us best!
Discount anyone?
Group fitness/studio instructors/private instructors of adult participants, personal trainers, professional run club leaders, studio owners/managers, athletes (eligible athletes include professional, Olympic, university/college (non-NCAA only), and elite amateur athletes), & coaches and team trainers/staff can receive 25% off both in store & online orders by becoming part of their Sweat Collective.
Health care workers can receive 15% off! This discount is available both in stores and online.
Did you know?
If you like Lululemon, but the price tag gets you down, Lululemon now has a Lulu Like New website that sells gently used apparel. Worth checking out!
ALO YOGA
I first learned about Alo at a Pure Barre in Miami, and my sporty style has never been the same. High quality leggings worn by all kinds of fit, stylish gals— including some celebs (check out their website!) Sizing runs XS to XL. Free shipping and free returns literally never gets old.
If your largest biker short complaint is that they get annoying to re-adjust, these are the biker shorts for you!! I have a #thiccthighs body type, and I can even wear these running without an issue. This is a summer-time staple!
I have been wayyy too into matching sets recently, and this set is no exception. How vibrant is this Ocean Teal color?!
I have officially survived my first Mid-West winter, and my appreciation for a good hoodie/sweatpant pairing has never been higher. This set is the perfect combo of street style meets better-than-your-boyfriend’s-hoodie comfort.
If you’re looking for an effortless, how-does-she-looks-so cute-in-sweats set, this is the set for you. The muted colors are all perfect to stay chic and comfy all through fall. The perfect traveling outfit!
Discount Please
Certified fitness professionals who are actively teaching will be eligible to purchase Alo Yoga apparel at 25% off.
MISSION LOUNGEWEAR
This loungewear company is owned by none other than Dana and McKenna Wherry! Their mission is to create high quality, comfortable pieces that are ethically made and give back to organizations that aid people in extreme need. What’s better than a purchase that keeps you comfy and serves the greater good.
Say hello to my the best quarter zip I’ve ever owned. It runs big so it has that perfect I-stole-my-husband’s-hoodie feel, while still being wayyy cuter than any hoodie I’ve ever “borrowed” from Salvador.
These easy-to-throw on shorts have me wishing summer days would never end. These are my go-to to throw on when I need to run errands.
Who doesn’t live for a matching set? This crew neck sweatshirt and lounge-short is perfect for a day spent in the library studying. So in love with the color!
BOMBAS
Socks may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a leisurewear staple, but Bombas socks are about to elevate your comfort game! Not only will you never want to wear another pair of socks again, but they’re a company with an awesome mission. For every item you purchase, Bombas donates an item to someone affected by homelessness… they have donated more than 40 million items thus far!!!
Fit
Socks are available in no show, ankle, quarter, calf, and knee high lengths, as well as small/medium/large sizes to accommodate feet of various sizes. They also sell compression socks for friends that spend all day on their feet!
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
If you are looking for a sign to take a trip to Costa Rica, this is your sign!! You will not regret exploring the rich environment Costa Rica has to offer. Below we have detailed some common Costa Rica travel FAQs to aid fellow travelers in planning their next great adventure. Leave a comment or email us if you have any additional questions!
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No! The overwhelming majority of Costa Ricans we encountered, especially those involved with the more touristy aspects of our trip, spoke impressive English. That being said, we encourage anyone traveling to a country with a native language differing than their own to at least make an attempt at learning a little, but your knowledge or lack thereof of Spanish won’t largely impact your experience. It certainly helps to speak the language as it tends to gain favoritism from the locals.
Is Costa Rica safe?
Costa Rica is a safe country to visit, with the majority of crimes tourists experience being related to petty theft. This is especially so if you’re planning on staying in more touristy areas. Generally speaking, common sense should keep you safe. If you get a flat tire while driving, be mindful of where you pull over, don’t leave all your valuables in open sight in the car, etc. Just because it looks like paradise doesn’t mean you’re in a fairy tale! However, we must note our experience was almost entirely in rural areas. We did not spend any time in the big cities, and as such cannot speak on that.
Is an Airbnb with no AC miserable?
We visited in January and half the places we stayed had AC and the other half did not. Not to sound like an American prima donna, but I had some reservations about the stays lacking AC. We went in January, but Costa Rica remains pretty warm year-round. In Arenal, it stayed cool throughout the day, so the lack of air conditioning went unnoticed. In Santa Teresa, the fan set-up came in clutch to ensure everything stayed cool.
If you’re going to Costa Rica in the summer and plan on staying in Airbnbs, definitely double check the air conditioning status of the unit. If you have any concerns, message the owner to see how they keep the unit cool—especially at night, to see it that fits your needs.
This depends on the itinerary you have planned and how many people you’re traveling with. If you are staying at a hotel or resort for your time in Costa Rica, they likely have shuttle services they offer, which could be useful to avoid the hassle of renting a car. If you’re a little nervous at the prospect of driving in a foreign country or perhaps you’re flight lands at night—whatever the reason, if you need a shuttle, there are a number of shuttle services, like this one that can help you get where you need to go.
Planning on exploring multiple regions, a bit more independently? A rental car is recommended. This is going to be the most streamlined way to get from point A to point B. We used Vamos, and 100% recommend them!
A very adventurous traveler might be able to swing bus transportation, but this would definitely require a bit more advanced planning—both in knowledge of bus routes as well as having colones, cash, or coins on you to pay for fares. Not impossible, but also not for everyone!
How long were you on the road for?
We spent about 15 hours in the car for the two weeks we spent here, which sounds like a lot but was feasible as none of our drives lasted longer than 4 hours. Stopping along the way as things struck our fancy (usually food) helped break up the drive.
I have linked google map directions to our road trip journey here. We landed in Liberia and drove to Arenal first. From there, we went to Samara, followed by Santa Teresa, and finished up on the Papagayo Peninsula. This worked out well as the Papagayo Peninsula is only a 30-minute drive back the Liberia Airport. You can read more about all these stops here (spoiler alert: food, tour, & Airbnb recommendations ahead).
Fastest way to get to the Nicoya Peninsula from San Jose?
If you arrived in San Jose, but want to explore the Nicoya Peninsula, you can avoid the extended road trip with a ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya. Departing from Punta Arenas, they have two drop off locations: Paquera and Naranjo. Getting off in Paquera will bring you to the southern portion of the peninsula to enjoy Tambor, Montezuma, Malpais, Santa Teresa. The Naranjo stop with bring you to the west side of the peninsula to San Miguel, Nicoya, Nosara, Samara.
The trip takes about 70 minutes and costs ~$25 one way for a car and driver. With 5 different departure times, one is sure to fit your schedule. The ferry can hold up to over 150 cars, so it’s usual for it to completely fill up, but you can make your reservation ahead of time here. It’s always a good idea to make these reservations in advance to ensure your spot— especially if you’re traveling during the holidays.
When booking your reservation the website may initially come up in Spanish, but there should be an option that pops up in the top, right corner of your screen to switch over to English. Once in English the website it pretty straightforward. The only snag you may encounter is where it asks for your license plate. If you plan on renting a car, you can just put “Rental Car” if you do not yet know your license plate number.
What’s it like driving in Costa Rice? What are the condition of the roads?
We mainly traveled in the Northwest portion of Costa Rica. Due to our selective regional exposure, we cannot attest to the road conditions of the whole country, but we found all the major roads to be well paved and easy to navigate. As we started to get into towns or areas off the beaten path, we encounter potholes of various sizes, but none that were an obstacle to us.
As you get into the southern portion of the Nicoya Peninsula, the roads do become a bit more dusty and gravelly. This does not make them impermeable to travelers, but it does make travel take longer.
The climb up to a house can be a bit of a different story. If your Airbnb suggests a car with four-wheel drive, it’s usually for good reason. The road up to our Airbnbs in Arenal and Santa Teresa were a little treacherous and could not have been done without all tires on deck.
Should I rent a GPS from the rental car agency?
YES! Rent a GPS if you plan of road-tripping at all. We had been on the fence about this—my husband thought we could figure it out, but I’m a safety-first, safety away kind of a gal, so we rented a GPS device. The roads are pretty straightforward with helpful signage and such for most of where you need to go. We didn’t need the GPS 80% of the time we were driving around, but the 20% we did, it definitely saved us. Missing one or two turns can set you back hours!
Any other tips for planning a trip?
Before we go someplace new, we love scouring the internet for anything we can find to maximize our time on our next adventure. As an old soul, I also still love a paper copy book to mark and tab up. Our favorite hands-on, paper guidebooks are from Lonely Planet. Their most updated edition will be available November 2021, and can be found on Amazon here.
Less of a tip, and more just something to know. When you depart through LIB or SJO, every passenger must pay a $29 departure tax before your airline will allow you to check in. This isn’t a cost that breaks anyone’s budget, but rather a cost to be aware of.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
Costa Rica is a country that has range. You’ll get jungles and volcanos as well as endless sandy beaches. Whether you’re looking for a fantastic adventure or big relaxation, you’ll find it here in the intriguing niched culture of this Central American gem.
Our Costa Rican adventure was focused on the northwestern part of the country as we explored the greater Arenal region and the Nicoya Peninsula. Each town we visited had its own persona: Arenal with its lush forest biome, Samara’s beachy keen relaxation, Santa Teresa that oozed surfer chic, and the Papagayo Peninsula with its opulent luxury. Visiting all four regions afforded us a glimpse of this diverse country. Below I have detailed all the explorations, food, and places we stayed along the way— as well as things we would potentially do differently if we were to do it all again.
When heading down to Costa Rica, there’s two main airports people typically fly into: San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIR). While San Jose is the capital, it’s not always the cheaper option to fly into. Be sure to check both airports when you’re looking at flights. Not only could Liberia be cheaper, but it might mean less drive time as well!
Here’s our road trip map, for anyone looking to enjoy the same outstanding adventure. If you have more questions about some of the logistics of travel, check out our Nine Helpful Costa Rica Travel FAQs.
A R E N A L
the drive in
We landed in Liberia, CR, hopped in the rental car, and started making our way to Arenal. Along the way, we stopped at the Café & Macadamia for the first of many casadas (a traditional Costa Rican plate) we enjoyed during our time here. If you see it while you’re driving, it’s worth pulling over to grab a bite! Not only was the food delicious, but the view from the overlook was beautiful as well. As we continued our drive, the breath-taking views abounded. Taking in all the scenery made the three-hour drive fly by!
mountainous jungle exploration
Arenal is home to a landscape vastly different than the beaches to its east and west. With Mount Arenal as the crown jewel, we found this area to be full with both greenery and adventure. If you enjoy trekking through the forest and spending time with nature, this area is ideal. We spent a morning at Sky Adventures and had the most fantastic time soaring across zip lines, traversing the forest canopy, crossing Tibetan bridges, canyoning, rappelling, and my personal favorite, the Tarzan swing! This is sure to surpass any previous zip lining experience you have had. If you own a GoPro, make sure you bring it to document the experience and save some money! Otherwise you can rent one for the day. If you consider yourself outdoorsy at all, this is a must-do!
white water rafting
As if one action packed day wasn’t enough, we spent our second day in Arenal with Wave, endeavoring in their white-water rafting excursion. We signed up for the Class 3 & 4 rapids trip and had such a blast. On the bus ride to our drop-in point, we had awesome guides talking about the areas we were driving through. We ended up getting dunked in the Sarapiqui River, but we both made it safely back into our raft. That in-the-moment excitement made for quite the story to share with friends and family.
After we victoriously conquered the rapids, we enjoyed casadas, local coffee, and a shot of Cacique Guaro (Costa Rican liqueur). It’s worth noting, this rapids trip was a HUGE adrenaline rush. Be prepared for some fully immersive fun!
Not keen on such a big epinephrine dump? Accommodating outdoor explorers of all comfort levels, Wave also offered hot spring, sloth, ATV, and horse backing riding tours.
yoga
Before we left El Castillo, we went to Essence Arenal Boutique Hostel for a morning yoga class. The yoga studio is towards the back of the property, so we enjoyed a nice pre-yoga warm up walk. Beautiful, serene, and well worth the price of admission. It was a perfect ending to our time in this beautiful area.
brewskis
As we were headed out of Arenal, on our way to Samara, we stopped at the Lake Arenal Brewery. To be honest, they still haven’t totally mastered craft beers yet (per my craft beer loving husband), but the view is pretty stellar! We didn’t spend the night here, but we were surprised to see they also had a hotel here as well. This could be a cool, local place to stay for a night.
sleeps
We loved the Airbnb we stayed at in El Castillo— a small town in the Arenal region. It had breathtaking views of both Mount Arenal and Lake Arenal from a cozy little botanical garden. The Airbnb listing shows you the gorgeous views, but truly, they’re even better in person. A word of caution… four wheel drive and a bit of determination are definitely necessary to navigate the dirt road up to the house.
If you’re more interested in a resort, Nayara Gardens embodies laid back luxury, with their intimate rainforest abodes. They provide a wonderfully curated relaxing experience while the beauty of nature speaks for itself.
S A M A R A
food first
After the adventure rush of Arenal, the beach town vibes of Samara were a welcome change of pace. Growing up in South Florida, there was a sort of familiarity to the touristy nature of the popular beach town. We arrived in Samara and killed some time at Coco’s while we were waiting to get into our Airbnb. We didn’t have anything to eat, but Salvador only had big thumbs up for the beers he tried. Coco’s seems like it is geared towards the tourists, but do not let that dissuade you!
Later that evening we came back to the downtown area and wandered around. La Dolce Vita had a fun outdoor set-up and tasty drinks… a perfect sunset spot! For dinner, Salvador had a hankering for a whole fish. We found Marisqueria Colochos, and they did not disappoint! He tackled the whole fish at a few different restaurants (4) while we were in Costa Rica, but Marisqueria’s was his favorite.
best way to start the day
All three mornings in Samara, we started the day with a walk along the beach that led to Roots Bakery. Talk about a delicious start to the day! If sweet treats and delicious breakfast sandwiches are your jam, this is the place to be. Starting the day with a breakfast walk was a nice way to be active before spending the afternoon poolside.
Italian in Costa Rica
We went to Mama Gui’s for dinner and highly recommend—both for ambiance and quality of food. When we arrived, it was a 15-minute wait for a table, so they offered us a complimentary glass of wine while we waited. Listening to live music with a glass of Chardonnay in hand on a cooled off evening in Costa Rica? Does it get much better than that? The answer turned out to be an overwhelming ~yes~ not long later as we dug into our food.
the Belen waterfall
The Belen waterfall and swimming hole are only a short, 20-minute drive away. You do have a short, moderately steep walk down to the watering hole. It’s nothing that should deter anyone… to call it a hike would be an overstatement. There’s ample space, so you can sun bathe and cool off in the water. For those feeling extra brave, you can climb up and jump off the top of the waterfall. If frolicking and sunning has worked up an appetite, there’s a small soda (local, outdoor café) on your way back to Samara that sells delicious casados.
A couple notes: make sure to bring a couple colones (Costa Rican currency) for the gentleman in the parking lot. He stays up at the parking lot, watching the cars for everyone at the waterfall. Also, be careful swimming through fast-flowing water as there is an underwater cave people have drowned in before. Nothing to be afraid of—just a friendly reminder not to be reckless.
Salvador won’t be winning Olympic diving medals any time soon, but he sure does jump with gusto!
a fantastic final promenade
Our last evening in Samara, we didn’t have a traditional dinner, so much as we had a tapas-style dinner. You can’t beat sampling drinks and appetizers at various restaurants downtown to maximize culinary exploration. A fun way to round out the full Samara experience!
sleeps
There are lots of different options for sleeping accommodations in Samara, but we liked that our Airbnb had a pool and a hammock you could just hang out in, while you took in the view—made it hard to want to leave!
S A N T A T E R E S A
As we hopped from one beach town to another, we couldn’t help but notice the vibe of Santa Teresa was completely different than that of Samara. Santa Teresa is a larger town, but somehow felt less touristy. There’s basically one main, dusty road than runs the length of the town. Pretty much everything you need can either be found there or not far off the path.
a sports bar . . . in paradise?
We arrived into town around lunch, and I am not one to miss a meal, so we sought out Chicken Joe’s for some authentic cuisine. Wish I could say it wasn’t so, but our first evening in Santa Teresa the Baltimore Ravens were playing in the NFL playoffs. Being the die-hard fan he is, Salvador just couldn’t miss it. So after dropping our things at our Airbnb, we found ourselves at Kooks—a sports bar, playing American sports in the middle of Costa Rica. Ladies, hide your husbands!
Despite initially rolling my eyes, both the food and drinks were delicious—plus they recommended La Glida, the gelato shop down the road. Anyone that leads me to fresh gelato is good people! Certainly, not a bad way to kick off our first day in Santa Teresa.
hang ten
It had been a while since we’d attempted surfing, so instead of just renting boards we committed to a surf lesson with Randy at Jackalopes Surf Shop. Zero regrets about this decision as we were all the better for it. Salvador has a frustrating knack for coordination, while I on the other hand received a majority of the patient tips and encouraging corrections from our newfound amigo. That being said, BOTH of us caught waves by the end of the lesson! Plus we were able to use the board the rest of the day to conquer the whitewash waves with confidence.
After getting tossed being repeatedly humbled during our surf lesson, a massage sounded like a dream. I was all too grateful we’d arranged this in advance! How it it that 60 minutes of relaxation flies by so quickly?
sustenance stops
We had more than worked up an appetite by the time we landed at El Carmen. The beachy views and good food would have made for an above average meal themselves, but the pipas frias (cold coconuts filled with fresh water) cart right by the outdoor patio were the perfect replenishment to our afternoon spent battling the waves.
Along our way home, we stopped at The Bakery for a little sweet treat. It was the first of MANY trips to this tasty spot. If you have a sweet tooth, you absolutely must check out the amazing collection of baked delights.
Tortuga Island
Perhaps out most adventurous day in Santa Teresa was actually when we hopped in the car and drove down to Montezuma for a day trip out to Tortuga Island with Zuma Tours. The boat ride out to Tortuga Island takes about 45 minutes, but we stopped along the way for an unexpected surprise. The captain spotted some humpback whales! We kept our distance, but it was so incredible to see such a huge animal in its natural habitat—especially since we saw a mom and her baby.
Once we arrived at our destination, there were far more animals to be found, with myriads of fish galore. My favorites were a black tip reef shark and a couple starfish that seemed partial to me. We were able to snorkel around two different areas, and then we headed to the island for some lunch and lounging. The food was all freshly prepared, and for those looking to elevate the meal, the bar on the island sold pipas frias with the option to add rum for any snorkelers that deserved a little extra treat.
The boat ride back to Monezuma went smoothly, with a school of dolphin joining us for a while along our journey back. Outside of the scenic trip itself, the tour guides went above and beyond to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves. Could not recommend this highly enough! If you have a GoPro, this would be the adventure to bring it on.
beach bum daze
Spending an entire day on the beach was on Salvador’s Costa Rican bucket list. On our last full day in Santa Teresa, I went to a yoga class at the Nautilus Boutique Hotel, while Salvador set off to find a worthy beach-side set-up. As an occasional yogi at best, I found the flow challenging yet inviting. It was a nice way to have some meaningful movement before heading to the beach. I left more than ready for some bummy beach-side relaxation!
While I was getting Zen, Salvador’s search led him to Nantipa. He bought two day passes, staked out a prime lounging location, and we stayed there until the sun went down. The passes cost $75/person, but we each had a $50 credit to use towards the Manzú Beachfront Restaurant. In addition to the dining credit, we were also afforded use of their pool, towels, bathrooms, and assortment of lounge chairs. It made for a calm relaxing day, and when we went on a walk in the afternoon, we left our stuff on the beach without worry. At the end of the day, we had a front row, toes-in-the-sand view as the sun dipped into the ocean.
sleeps
Perhaps the most obsession-worthy view of our trip was that from our Santa Teresa Airbnb. We had the most amazing sunset view, but the infinity pool was certainly a cherry on top. We stayed here for five days and loved that someone came every other day to tidy up. Check out that view!!
P A P A G A Y O P E N I N S U L A
We rounded out our Costa Rican adventure with two days on the Papagayo Peninsula at the Andaz Resort, and the views did not disappoint! What is it about an infinity pool that just takes relaxation to the next level? This was our most posh stay during our time in Costa Rica, and it was wonderful to finish our trip luxuriously. You can learn more about our experience as well as additional adventures available through Andaz Costa Rica here.
eat wander repeat
Upon arrival, we ate lunch at the Rio Bhongo Restaurant. Our lunch hit the spot, but their breakfast menu caught our eye and had us making breakfast plans for the following day. After lunch, we settled into our room and then headed out to explore the resort property. Our favorite way to acquaint ourselves with a new place is simply to wander about.
Our exploration took us through the resort, down the beach, across the marina, until we could walk no farther. A restaurant/bar called the Dive Bar (not dive-y at all) was a perfect spot to share drinks and look out across the inlet. Tuckered out from our long day, we ended up calling it an early evening and ordered room service. It arrived in a festive picnic basket—the cutest dinner-in-bed experience!
bike n’ beach babe
We woke up excited to hit the breakfast buffet and smoothie bar at the Rio Bhongo, and it was just as amazing a spread as we’d hoped. After breakfast, we discovered the Papagayo Peninsula electric bike share program (included in the resort fee), and hopped on a few bike to explore AND get a bit of exercise in. We rode bikes down to the Beach House on Playa Nacascolo, the shared beach area between Andaz and Four Season’s, and were delighted by the lounging set-up and beach-side service.
It is not uncommon to see cute little Capuchin monkeys in the trees while you’re lounging by the pool or down by the beach, but beware! They may try to run off with your things—cute but clever! A short walk down the beach, a local was offering rides on a banana boat, which was a perfect way to cool off. We wandered back to the Beach House and shared some homemade ice cream from the Beach House before heading back to our room.
authentic eats
For our final evening in Costa Rica, we left the resort to have a truly authentic meal a bit north at Casa del Mar. Playa Cabuyal is a short walk down the road, so we found a bit of sand to hold down, watched the sun set, and headed towards the restaurant for Salvador to enjoy his final Costa Rican whole fish. We were the only ones there, so we were able to have quality conversations with the bartender and cook. It was a very nice place with equally kind people.
pre-flight paddle boarding
Our last morning here, we woke up and headed down to the beach for some paddle boarding as soon as they opened. Salvador had never tried it before and was surprised how much coordination it took—even on a calm, flat day. When it was time to go, we hopped back in the car and made the short, 30-minute trip to the airport. We weren’t ready for our Costa Rican adventure to come to a close, but we were so thrilled to have been able to explore such a special place.
IF WE WERE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN . . .
Costa Rica was a wonderful place to enjoy a delightful array of niched sub-cultures. Each city we visited had its own distinct identity. Arenal is so different from Santa Teresa, which also differs from the Papagayo Peninsula. We stayed 2-5 nights at each city we visited, so we could cultivate an authentic snapshot of each area but still gain an appreciation for the country as a whole.
THE HIGHS
If you’re not looking to road trip, you could easily spend a whole week in Arenal, Santa Teresa, or the Papagayo Peninsula. Arenal has a truly breathtaking microclimate, and is a must-visit if you thrive on outdoor adventure. Hanging bridges, Tarzan swings, zip-lines, hot springs, rafting… if you’re looking to connect with nature and feel alive, this should be at the top of your Costa Rica itinerary.
Santa Teresa epitomizes the “pura vida” lifestyle the country is known for, in all the best ways. As a bonus, Montezuma is an easy 30-minute drive, making it easy to pop over for a day. Despite being at the bottom of the Nicoya Peninsula, we felt Santa Teresa was worth the drive!
The resorts on the Papagayo Peninsula are the definition of luxury in Costa Rica. While we certainly enjoyed Andaz (and recommend it highly!), it truly seems like you can’t go wrong with any of the resorts on the peninsula. This seems like a perfect area for couples looking to splurge… honeymoon anyone? Or perhaps a family interested in all the activities they offer— you could certainly keep the kids busy! The only word of warning? The private beaches, infinity pools, and luxury amenities might make it hard to want to leave the resort!
THE LOWS
While we certainly enjoyed our three relaxing days in Samara, it did not leave us wanting more the way the other three areas did. A wonderful, calm change of pace from our Arenal excitement, but also just a too bit touristy for us. If we were to do it all again, I’m not sure we would return to Samara. No horror stories or sordid tales, I’m just not keen on visiting another country to have a touristy beach vacation.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
Whether you’re traveling for work or for pleasure, leaving the comfort of your gym or exercise routine can make it more difficult to get your workouts in. Now, in my opinion, the best way to combine exploration of a new area and an easy-to-plan workout is to go out on a walk or hike. If hiking is more your style, AllTrails is an awesome tool to help you discover local trails! It shows a trail’s difficulty rating, elevation, comments from recent hikers, and pictures of the view you’re hiking to.
Perhaps hiking isn’t an option, or maybe you’re wanting something that gets the heart pumping. There are loads of free resources that are easily accessible from one’s phone. First and foremost, I have included individual workouts that can be found on Youtube. This is a collection of some of my favorites! Whether we’re traveling or I’m trying to get in a workout over my lunch break, these are my go tos! All the original content creators are listed in the description— we love supporting female led channels!! If you like the style of the video, most of these fit gals have hundreds of other workouts to peruse. I have also included a few easy-to-navigate apps, with a wide array of no-equipment-needed workouts!
YOUTUBE
PILATES
A nice little 15 min workout with a focus on thighs & cardio from Sarah’s day. Checkout these pilates-chic sets to keep you moving in style.
This is a short and sweet 8 minute workout from The Balanced Life Pilates. It can serve as a nice warm-up to a longer workout or perhaps a quick movement moment before you start your day. It’s part of a 30-day challenge if you’re looking to integrate a little bit of pilates into your exercise practice.
This 15 minute workout from Blogilates will make exercisers of any pilates experience level feel like they’re crushing it. It has both beginner and moderate/advanced levels of exercises demonstrated.
This 30 minute workout from GrowingAnnanas is perfect if home-workouts sometimes get boring for you. Here you’ll be doing a different exercise every minute of the workout for a total of 30 different exercises.
This 40 minute workout from Sydney Cummings has a focus on cardio and abs, but your whole body will be ready for a break when the clock strikes 0:00!
LEG & BUMWORKOUTS
This 30 minute workout by Sydney Cummings is a fantastic leg workout that had me sore for days after the first time I did it. While she does use some bands, but it’s certainly still doable if you don’t have any resistance bands! She does an awesome job of showing alternate movement patterns if her primary exercise doesn’t work for you.
This workout from Fitness Blender comes in at just under 30 minutes, but you better be ready to WORK!!
No pre-amble, no introduction, this 30 minute lower body workout from GrowingAnnanas will have you feeling. the. burn.
This nearly 24 minute yoga strength workout by Yoga with Adriene is challenging in a way that sneaks up on you! If you’re looking to get more consistent with your yoga practice, this video is part of a 30 day series.
APPS
Nike Training Club
This free app features 251 no equipment needed workouts, ranging from 5 minutes to 60 minutes in duration. Users can sort the kind of workout they’re looking for by workout format, duration, intensity, and focus.
FitOn
As you create your account on FitOn, it asks questions about your fitness goals, how often you workout, the kinds of workouts you enjoy, etc to curate a workout program for you. If you’re not in the mood for the programmed workout one day, you can tap over to the workouts tab and sort through hundreds of various options. This app provides more than just workouts as it embodies more of a fitness lifestyle approach as it includes recipes in the ‘Meals’ tab and a wide array of wellness articles under the ‘Advice’ section. There is a Pro upgrade available, but a wide array of content is available to free users!
Fitbod
If real-time workout videos aren’t your thing and you like to crush a workout in your own way, this app is perfect! Every day a new workout is prepared and waiting for you. It will design a workout according to whatever equipment you have available— even if that is no equipment! Before you begin your workout, you can click on any given exercise to see a video of how it’s done if you’re a little unsure. If you’re previewing your workout and see something you either don’t think you can do or don’t want to do, you can easily replace it or delete it!
Peloton
While this company is widely known for their high-end spin bikes, their app has a huge collection of no-bike-needed workouts. Their categories include strength, yoga, cardio, meditation, running, outdoor, cycling, stretching, tread bootcamp, bike bootcamp, and walking. The outdoor collection features audio-only instruction, so you can enjoy an instructor-led run in the beautiful outdoors. Peloton has an awesome collection of pilates and barre classes that can be found under the strength section. This is my current favorite app to use for working out— I just love the range of exercises to choose from. Individuals that have already taken the classes rate how difficult they perceived it to be on a 1-10 scale, so you can factor that in when considering how hard you want to hustle for this workout. This app does cost $12.99/month, BUT they always have a free trial of at least one month (sometimes more, depending on the time of year), so you can decide if it’s for you before fully committing.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
In the southwest corner of Colorado the charming, yet bustling town of Durango thrives. Sitting at an elevation of over 6,500 feet, this mile high city is a cornucopia of influence as Colorado flair meets the historic epoch of the wild west. All with a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountainous beauty. We visited in the summer and savored our long weekend in Durango, but this four-season destination left us wanting more.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Outdoor adventure abounds at a wide array of comfort levels. The Animas River Trail is a tranquil, paved path anyone can enjoy via varying modes of transportation. If you’re looking for a little more interaction with nature, the following options are sure to thrill.
Epic Explorations
Mountain biking trails are littered throughout the mountains as this area is a known mountain biking utopia. If you are flying in for a short trip, Pedal the Peaks has bikes available to rent. AllTrails and MTB Project are two awesome resources to consult out as you plan which trails to hit. Eager to give mountain biking a try, but are hesitant about navigating the journey? Durango Mountain Bike Tours is available to help guide you!
White Water Rafting on the Animas River is the perfect way to enjoy both an adrenaline rush as well as a historical recounting of Durango. Durango Rafting Company tours take you through some Class III rapids and run either 2 hours or 4 hours. The 4-hour experience includes three hours on the water and a delicious lunch from Serious Texas BBQ.
The Animas Mountain Trail is a beautiful six-mile loop that is easily accessible from town. This makes it an easy hike for visitors without a rental car to explore. We were looking for a shorter hike, so we did the Hogsback & Slime Gulch Loop, and it was humbling!! As you approach the summit, the trail becomes rather steep and narrow. As a group of moderately fit mid-20s to early 30s, we were able to do this loop in sneakers without poles, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that for everyone. The first portion of our descent was a combo butt-scoot/crab walk down. AllTrails reports it at 3.3 miles, but we must have done a bit of extra wandering as my Apple Watch tracked it at just under 4 miles. The view was amazing from the top!
Mesa Verde National Park is about 40 minutes outside Durango, so you will need to either rent a car or go with a tour group. If you choose to rent a car, be sure to pay your entrance fee before you go, as service in the park can get spotty. Durango River Trippers offers a 7.5-hour tour that allows for full exploration of the national park as well as lunch. Whether you go with a tour or adventure alone, the cliff dwellings transport you to another lifetime! Another must-see, the Park Point trail is a unique opportunity to overlook four different states from a single vantage point.
TRAVEL BY RAIL
The Silverton Train departs from the train station in downtown Durango, and takes you on a full day’s adventure. The ride is three and a half hours each way, allowing you to take in the uniquely southern portion of the Rocky Mountains. Throughout the journey, passes through Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, and the Animas River Gorge. Riders are allotted a little over two hours in Silverton to explore before heading back on the train. The rush of the train ride and the breathtaking view make this worth every. single. penny!!!
BOTTOMS UP
For being a small town, Durango’s breweries really come out swinging. While we were there we made it to three of them and didn’t sample a single subpar beer. Steamworks and Carvers are both located in the heart of Downtown Durango. Carvers has a relaxing beer garden in the back of the building, with some funky large-scale outdoor decor. Not only were the beers good, but they have a large soft pretzel that is guaranteed to hit the spot. Steamworks had a line out the door when we walked by, but we were able to snag a couple stools at the bar. You can choose up to six beers for their flights, so we chose a variety and chowed down on some popcorn shrimp (a fantastic post-hike snack!) while we sampled. Animas Brewery is less central to the Downtown hub, but only a mile walk on the aforementioned Animas River Trail and boasts plenty of well-crafted beers. They have some outdoor seating and are family friendly, however don’t be surprised to wait a bit! While we waited, we were able to enjoy some beverages outdoors that feeds off the ambiance of the surrounding park and river.
If you enjoy a well-crafted cocktail, Durango Craft Spirits is a must-try— reportedly one of the best Old Fashioneds Salvador’s ever had! We love a breezy patio, but the experience was made even better by the knowledge AND quality service from the bartender.
GOOD EATS
When we arrived in Durango, we wandered through the downtown area, not overwhelmingly hungry, but peckish for a hearty snack. We knew we had struck gold when we landed upon 11th Street Station. The multi-food truck set-up provides a myriad of options to choose from. With pizza, smoothies, pressed sandwiches, gourmet sliders, poke, salads, sushi, and rolled ice cream, you’re sure to find something. In addition to the food, there is a bar and coffee shop– truly something for everybody! We both enjoyed refreshing smoothies that had us refueled and ready to go walk the Animas River Trail.
We didn’t make it to the Himalayan Kitchen, but we were intrigued by the allure of the Nepalese cuisine. We’d hoped to return and enjoy a meal there, but we simply ran out of time. If you stop in and give it a try, please let us know how it was!
You may think to yourself, “do I really need to stop by a chocolate shop while I’m visiting this pinnacle of outdoor exploration?” and the answer is YES! Run, don’t walk to Animas Chocolate Company. This bean to bar chocolatier creates decadent little chocolate treats. The customer service is above and beyond as someone will walk you through the case of chocolates, explaining each one, while you enjoy a sampler of “sipping chocolate”. It goes without saying the coffee and chocolate chip cookies were also divine.
Our friend’s rehearsal dinner was held at Serious Texas BBQ (the south one!), so we knew the barbecue would be good before we arrived because Tyler (the groom) does not mess around when it comes to good ole southern fixins’. Besides the food, the general atmosphere was far more ethereal than you’d expect for a BBQ joint with live music softly playing, a gorgeous overlook, and twinkle lights strung up over a cozy fire pit.
PARTY VENUE
If you know anyone looking for a stunning, mountainous adobe backdrop to their wedding vows, look no further! The River Bend Ranch Durango delivered magnificent views in spades. As a bonus, there were three paddle boats available to be raced around the pond!
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
