This August we celebrated one year of marriage - my how time flies! We knew we were planning to go back to Hawaii next winter, so for our anniversary trip we were in search of somewhere within driving distance that wound still have plenty of adventure and beautiful scenery. Thankfully, we live in the Great Lakes State and we didn't have to look any further than simply driving north. I may be a bit biased, but if you haven't experienced northern Michigan (particularly in the summer or fall) you are really missing out. There are SO many sites to see and the upper peninsula is truly like its own little world. For this trip we planned to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, and Bellaire.

If you have a sister, you know what a special type of bond it creates. That's why when mine suggested we go on a trip together last spring - I couldn't say no. This was the first time we would be traveling just the two of us and it didn't take us long to decide on our destination: the most magical place on earth (no, not Disney World) Magnolia Market! It was an extended weekend trip - Saturday to Tuesday - so I set out to create an itinerary that would allow us to make the most of our time together. Waco, Texas is located in the middle of Dallas and Austin about and hour and a half from each city. After researching flights (I love Google Flights or Hopper app) I found a good deal on a flight from Chicago to Dallas. Although, I've heard great things about Austin as well so the next time we go back that will likely be our home base. You could certainly spend your entire trip in Waco but we decided to explore Dallas for the first half and drive to Waco just for the day. We booked an AirBnB in Lakewood near White Rock Lake which was only a short drive to downtown Dallas. 

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The next stop on our honeymoon adventure was the island of Maui. This island had a totally different vibe than the bustling city of Honolulu. It was almost like everything was happening in slow motion..the true definition of island life. After much consideration (and research) we decided to stay at Lahania Shores Beach Resort - the only beachside hotel in the area. Lahania is an old whaling village and serves as the island's "downtown" with an abundance of shops and restaurants, all within walking distance. An added bonus we didn't have to worry about finding a parking spot - which can be a real challenge in this small town. The rooms are condo style so we had access to a full kitchen which allowed us to save some money by purchasing breakfast foods and snacks and eating in our room.

Don't get me wrong Maui has some of the most beautiful resorts in the country *cough I'm looking at you Ritz Carlton* check out my spa adventure on Day 4 if you don't believe me. But we really enjoyed the boutique feel of Lahania Shores and like I mentioned in my Oahu travel guide - we aren't big pool people and never seem to spend a lot of time at our resort. We're usually out and about. Totally a personal preference!

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For me, planning our honeymoon was almost as much fun as planning the wedding itself. Shortly after getting engaged we decided Hawaii was our dream destination and began planning a 10 day trip to the islands of Oahu and Maui. There are pros and cons to each island so it's important to do your research to see what best fits your needs and wants. We decided on Oahu for the first leg of our trip because it was more cost efficient to fly into and hotel prices were a bit cheaper. We stayed in Waikiki which is one of the nation's largest cities so it can be quite overwhelming in terms of crowds and traffic. If you're in search of the lush jungles and waterfalls I wouldn't suggest staying on this part of the island. But it does offer access to a variety of restaurants and entertainment within walking distance.

Below is how we spent the first leg of our journey on the island of Oahu. **Disclaimer: my husband and I are not the best beach people - we crave adventure instead. He tends to joke when I create an itinerary asking if he'll have time to sleep on the trip. Most our my trips are packed full but feel free to pick and choose what suits you.
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