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Favorite Travel Moments

Published on September 4, 2019September 6, 2019 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Recently I’ve been reflecting on all the incredible places I’ve traveled to over the last couple years. I made a list of my top five most memorable travel moments and experiences. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to look back on photos and moments captured while traveling. Here’s my most memorable travel moments yet:

Basalt Columns

Cinque Terre, Italy

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Iceland, West Coast. I dreamed of visiting Iceland for several years and this past spring I finally made it there for a week long visit. While I was there, I wanted to see as much of the country as I possibly could. One day during my trip, I drove along the West coast. This full day of traveling along the coast was the most memorable day. The scenery from my car window felt unreal, and as cheesy as it sounds, I felt like I was dreaming. It was as if the scenery around me was too good to be true.

Cinque Terre, Italy. When I reminisce on Cinque Terre, the postcard photo of Manarola flashes in my mind. The beautiful colored houses all stacked on top of each other perfectly framing the mediterranean sea. Over the past year I went to Cinque Terre twice. The most memorable moment for me was the day a friend and I decided to have a picnic in the second town, Vernazza. We were determined to find a picturesque view that overlooked the town from above. The spot was along the walking trail towards Monterroso. It took us so long to find the spot and at one point before finding it, I was hot, frustrated, and ready to give up and have our picnic somewhere else. At the last moment, we found the spot and I immediately felt silly for becoming so upset. This is one of my favorite travel moments, It served as a reminder to be more present and focus on things other than getting the prettiest photo. It ended up being a lovely afternoon with a friend, a small picnic, and a stunning view.
Interlaken, Switzerland. Last winter I went to Switzerland with a goal to paraglide over the alps. Paragliding over the town and through the alps will always be a special travel moment of mine. I felt so calm and stable gliding so high above. I truly felt present and aware of what was going around me without any distractions, pure bliss.
New Zealand, Tongario Alpine Crossing. Almost two years ago I traveled throughout New Zealand for three weeks. I made so many incredible memories during this trip but my favorite day is when I went on a ten mile hike. Tongario Alpine Crossing is a stunning hike that highlights several stunning views and landmarks of New Zealand. I felt more accomplished than I had in months when I made it to the top.

5. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. I still remember the first time I visited Ireland. I was traveling alone and at the time feeling homesick and ready to return home. On one of my last days in Ireland, I decided to take a day trip to see the Cliffs of Moher. Taking this day trip was the best decision I made during my solo travel. The cliffs were beyond stunning and like nothing I had ever seen before. There was a sense of calm air blowing all around the tourists walking along the steep edge. I could have spent hours starring in amazement at the cliffs. So green, tall, and full of mystery. The cliffs reminded me how big and beautiful the world is and it should be continuously explored.

Day Trips from Florence

Published on October 18, 2018January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

After having some time to explore and settle into Florence, I decided it was time to see what other magical towns surround me. Since there are so many day trips possible by car or train, I’ve been able to go on a few trips recently and I thought I would share my favorites so far!

Siena

Siena is a beautiful medieval town that’s a short car or train ride away from Florence. There is so much to see and do in Siena but I’d recommend going to the Cathedral and Piazza del Campo. The Cathedral alone is worth a day trip to see, it is the most stunning piece of architecture I have ever seen!

San Gimignano

Close by to Siena is San Gimignano which has become my favorite town to visit outside of Florence. Although it is quite touristy, the town offers such a unique atmosphere and it’s completely different from Florence. It’s the perfect town to spend an afternoon wandering through the medieval streets and taking in the stunning Tuscan views. Bonus: it’s also home to the world’s best gelato!

Greve, Chianti

If wine, cheese, and the countryside is most appealing to you, than a day trip to Chianti is perfect! I visited Greve because I was participating in a wine tasting/sight seeing tour but I wish I could have just spent the day in Greve! It was absolutely beautiful. There are several wineries in this area and I would highly suggest visiting a winery if you are visiting the Tuscan area. I learned a lot about the wine making process as well as how fresh olive oil is made.

Modena

Modena is about an hour and half away from Florence by train. I decided to visit Modena because I wanted to go to a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese farm! I spent the majority of my day touring a cheese farm that demonstrated how parmigiana reggiano cheese is made, aged, and packaged plus I had the chance to taste the cheese- which was heavenly. If a cheese tour isn’t your thing, I was pleasantly surprised that the city center of Modena has so much to do! There are several parks, piazzas, and food markets surrounding this small town that made for a memorable day.

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa was the most enchanting town I was able to visit. It’s in the Siena region and it’s not known by many or any tourists. I had the entire town to myself with just the locals which was probably one of the most special experiences I’ve had in Europe. I spent my morning walking through the charming streets and found a spot in front of the beautiful scenery while drinking a cappuccino…it was an Italian dream.

Photo Diary: Palm Beach, Florida

Published on May 22, 2018May 23, 2023 by Skylar M. Beck1 Comment

Happy Tuesday everyone! After a much needed break, my usual Tuesday blog posts are back. I just returned from one of my favorite places to visit: Palm Beach, Florida. There is so much to see and do in Palm Beach; I always feel like I’m in a different world when I visit! Palm Beach is full of luxury that makes every corner photogenic. I couldn’t pass up any opportunity to capture beautiful pictures throughout the week.

New York City guide: Soho

Published on March 7, 2018September 2, 2019 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

bySoho is hands down one of my favorite areas in Manhattan. There are so many coffee shops, restaurants, and stores that offer a beautiful aesthetic. There are some places I always visit when I walk through Soho, but this time I made sure to have a list of new places to try too. Here’s a list of my favorite places I made sure to visit this trip to Soho.

Soho Coffee:

Maman. Maman has two locations throughout Manhattan: Soho & Tribecca. Personally, I like the Soho location best, it’s a bit smaller than Tribecca’s, but it offers a cozy vibe I enjoy. I also love this location because there is a small shop connected next door that has amazing homemade items you can buy. If you are looking for great coffee & treats, plus these beautiful cups, visit Maman!
Cha Cha Matcha. Cha Cha Matcha has been on my bucket list for a while. It’s a blogger’s dream inside & the coffee is very good…what could be better? Cha Cha Matcha also has beautiful coffee cups you won’t want to throw away!
Pietro Nolita. I mostly wanted to visit Pietro Nolita because the outside is fun & pink! I have heard inside there is good coffee & food but I didn’t have time to sit down & order something. But next time I hope to spend more time inside, which is also all pink!

Soho Eats and Treats:

by Chloe. I have been dying to try by Chloe mostly because everything is completely vegan! by Chloe has a few locations throughout the city & I highly recommend even if you aren’t a vegan because the food & sweets are delicious!
Laudree. For a sweet treat be sure to go to Laudree. The Soho location is stunning, especially, the outdoor seating area.

Soho Things to Do:

Walk around! There are so many beautiful streets in Soho. One of my favorite things to do is window shop.
Visit The Apartment by The Line. The I always visit The Line when I am in Soho, it is an interior designers dream! I love how the interior is set up different every time I visit. Everything inside is for sale, which includes the beautiful interior staples & clothes! It’s the prime spot for designers & fashion lovers.

My Favorite New Zealand Adventures

Published on December 23, 2017March 28, 2019 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

New Zealand was full of adventure!! Collectively, throughout the three weeks I did more adventurous activities than I ever have! I wanted to share my favorites to keep in mind if you are ever traveling throughout New Zealand:

1. Jumping off the Sky Tower – Auckland, New Zealand

Jumping off the Sky Tower was an incredible experience! It’s one of Auckland’s favorite activities for tourists. The jump isn’t like a free fall at all, the harness keeps you stable and tight the whole fall…which is only 10 seconds. The view of the city is breathtaking from this high up!

2. Snorkeling at Poor Knights Island- Tutukaka, New Zealand

I didn’t expect to enjoy snorkeling but it was a great experience! The fish are amazing at the Poor Knights Island. I was able to swim through multiple school of fish and touch jellyfish!

3. Tongariro Alpine Crossing Hike- Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand

I know I’ve talked about this hike in a previous post but this was definitely my favorite memory/experience from the whole trip!

4. Hooker Valley Track- Mount Cook, New Zealand

This hike was shorter and less intense than the Tongariro Alpine Crossing but just as beautiful! This hike was on the South Island which allowed me to experience the amazing Southern alps New Zealand offers.

5. Ziplining through the Ancient Forest- Rotorua, New Zealand

Ziplining through the Ancient Forest was such an experience. It felt so freeing to be gliding above huge trees. My friends and I wanted to zipline all day, it wasn’t long enough!

6. Horseback Riding- Rotorua, New Zealand

I have never rode a horse before so this was a new exciting experience for me and one that I loved! The views from the trek felt unreal and being on horseback made the afternoon truly feel like a fairytale.