Let’s Get Away

Summer Travel Tips & What Is On My Itinerary

It is time to travel which means it is time to…..explore, eat, drink, shop, rest, restore, learn and laugh. I think that is safe to say that pretty much sums out one of my vacations.  As we start planning a summer vacation, getting away this year can seem overwhelming. Whether we are going away with friends, family or as a couple there are many more aspects to planning a vacation then ever before. 

Hopefully, you can learn from me on what I always do to prepare for a trip and are must have experiences on my itinerary. I am going to reference my vacation to the Oregon Coast, Cannon Beach to be exact in giving you all the summer trip details!

Itinerary & Planning

|1|Know the Health & Safety Policies: As traveling becomes much easier with less restrictions, it is still good to double check the local county health policies before you leave on your trip. Also, if you are cautious in traveling I have found that the Hilton brand has partnered with Lysol to disinfect all of their rooms and seal the rooms post cleaning for check in. That adds a nice level of reassurance for their guests.

|2|Researching Where To Stay: One of my hacks, is to go to a cruise/river cruise website and see if the city I am going to is listed. Then you can check out the itinerary they use and hotels, so start to give you a scope of the area.

Then I like to google a few hotels, as to know the different neighborhoods and start a list. Then as you start to see where monuments, museums, dining spot and hotels are you can get an idea where you want to stay. For this trip we stayed at the Sea & Sand a local hotel right next to the beach. It was right in the center of the community with lots of local shops, dining spots and mandatory morning & evening beach walks.

|3|Learn About Local Activities: Think about what kind of vacation you want this to be and write down a list of activities. Then check out Viator, AirBnB or Trip Advisor to search for those overall activities, like water/museum tours/cooking class/health & wellness/tastings/kid friendly. I like to have a least one activity a day with a variety of 3 types. That way I am doing something I already have a genuine interest in, just with a local twist! For this trip we did local wine tasting, rented beach cruisers, found a driving & hiking trail along the coast and simply relaxed in the room! 

|3|Learn About Local Dining Spots: #nomcdonalds #nochainrestaurants #eatlocal….that is my number one rule when I travel! When you travel to a new city getting to dine at local restaurants, bakeries, cafes, diners, bars allows you to be truly immersed in the culture. From the wait staff, to the interior design to the local foods served, you are missing out if you head to a chain restaurant. Now, if you kids or tired from a long day of travel I completely undestand. But the next morning get up and just go for a walk and see what is around your hotel. 

Enjoy the chance to unwind and be surprised by the uniqueness and friendliness of the locals, who are just excited to share their lifestyle with you!