Marquez Five Adventures
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5 posts

Galapagos

Walking along the lava rocks on South Plaza Island. Galapagos
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    Galapagos: Stunning Day Trip to South Plaza Island

    • January 29, 2018
    • by Carrie
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      11 Favorite Kid-Friendly Stays Around the World

      • December 20, 2017
      • by Carrie
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        A Day Exploring Santa Cruz Island with Kids

        • November 29, 2017
        • by Carrie
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          Island Hopping in the Galapagos: Santa Cruz & Santa Fe

          • October 4, 2017
          • by Carrie
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            The Galapagos Islands: A Kid’s Paradise

            • September 28, 2017
            • by Carrie
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            Exploring the SF Bay Area & Beyond!

            I’m Carrie, a native to the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a huge passion for outdoor adventures (hiking, kayaking, zip-lining, scuba diving to name a few) and love taking my family along with me. I love to inspire other families to get outside with their kids and find outdoor activities everyone will enjoy. We love exploring not only the Bay Area but also California & beyond! I aim to show families with busy school & sports schedules that you can still find time to adventure together!    

            Follow me on Instagram!

            marquezfiveadventures

            Carrie | California
            Our last stop in New York was at newly opened @the Our last stop in New York was at newly opened @thechatwallodge in The Catskills. I came across this lodge several months before it opened via @travelandleisure and booked it based on their recommendation. It was an amazing place to finish up our trip.

🌿 We stayed in Elk Retreat which is currently their biggest suite. It had 2 bedrooms and comfortably slept 4 (5 with a rollaway). It had a large living area, a full kitchen, and a huge deck overlooking the private dock and lake. They are in the process of adding larger residences on the property that will sleep 6-7.

🌿 All meals, snacks, drinks & alcohol are included. There were snacks & drinks in our room and around the property to grab whenever we wanted. If you have teenagers this is HUGE. 

🌿 The meals were amazing, created by a chef who has previously worked in Michelin starred kitchens and also at Gary Danko in SF which is my favorite restaurant ever. I think the meals are meant to be a big draw. 

🌿We saw at most 4 other couples at one time (at a meal). Ours were the only kids.

🌿 Our family’s favorite part was the Rec Center which had ping pong, pool, duckpin bowling, shuffleboard, a workout room, a theater, board games & a library. 

🌿 There were SUPs, kayaks and a rowboat to use on the water. They also have a speedboat & pontoon boat available to book. We went out one afternoon for a tour of the lake. The chef prepared a sandwich lunch for us - so we ate, stopped at swimming holes, and even saw a couple of eagles!

🌿 We booked a fly fishing excursion and had great success. Kate caught a fish on her first cast!

🌿 There were also bikes, croquet, hammocks and plenty of places to just relax.

I think the best thing about this property was the people who worked there. Every person we encountered, from the general manager to housekeeping, was kind, personable and genuinely seemed like they would go out of their way to make our stay amazing. The activities director asked us for our feedback every time we saw him: What did we like? What would we add? My kids had a ton of suggestions and he even showed us later how the hotel was planning to  incorporate some of their ideas into the upcoming schedule.
            The Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen Park in upstate Ne The Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen Park in upstate New York was kind of like walking through a fairy tale: 19 waterfalls, a man-made spiral stone staircase cut into a turret, multiple stone bridges, ferns, moss, greenery 🌿💦🏰

I think what makes this trail so special (aside from the scenery) is how the man-made trails, staircases & bridges seamlessly blend into the gorge as if created by nature.

#watkinsglenstatepark #watkinsglen #nystateparks #fingerlakesny #nyupstate #gorgetrail #newyorkstateparks #exploreny #discovernewyork #travelnewyork #travelwithteens #havekidswilltravel #hikewithkids #familieswhohike #hikingwithfamily #hikingfamily #familieswhotravel #travelwithfamily #travelingwithteens #adventurefamily
            The Gorge trail at Watkins Glen State Park in New The Gorge trail at Watkins Glen State Park in New York blew me away! 🤩

I did a lot of research on what to do in the Finger Lakes area and this hike came up over & over again for good reason! If you are in the area ADD THIS HIKE TO YOUR LIST!

Here’s what we loved:
💦 As the name suggests, the trail is deep within a gorge and follows Glen Creek with 19 waterfalls and plenty of mist which kept the trail cool even on a hot NY day. 

😍 Gorgeous views - So many waterfalls in a short span with the trail cut into the side of the stunning 200’ cliffs

💙 The trail even goes behind a waterfall! 

💪🏼 Relatively short & easy - we hiked from the trailhead to the top of Jacob’s Ladder and back which was about 3 miles roundtrip. 

✨ This trail was so different than what we are used to in California which made it even more special.

Things to know:
📈 While we didn’t think the trail was challenging, we had to climb 800 steps one way. The steps are fairly well spread out over the course of the trail - we thought the only challenging part was climbing Jacob’s Ladder at the very end. We grabbed water at the Refreshment hut at the top and then turned around. You could skip this section and turn around at the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder saving yourself a lot of steps. Mike & I enjoyed the extra workout - the kids did not!

🌅 It was crowded! We went midday which I don’t recommend. This trail would be even more stunning first thing in the morning (or in the evening) when crowds are thinner. The trail is narrow and we got stuck behind people at various points. However, if midday is the only time you can go - GO!

🥾We only did the Gorge Trail, but there are quite a few other trail options in the park to explore.

Have you hiked this trail? Have you hiked any similar gorge trails? Would love to add more trails like this to my list!
            We rode the gondola 🚠 to the top of Heavenly in We rode the gondola 🚠 to the top of Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe and were rewarded with spectacular views. We were actually going to the mountain coaster and got off one stop too early but none of us complained….because these views 😍😍

#southlaketahoe #heavenlyskiresort #tahoesouth #laketahoelife #visitlaketahoe #keeptahoeblue #explorelaketahoe #laketahoecalifornia #laketahoeadventures #explorecalifornia #outdoorfamily #chooseadventure #lifeisbetteroutside #californiaadventures #nevadaadventures
            From the getgo, our summer plans were constantly s From the getgo, our summer plans were constantly shifting. There were so many things I *had* to plan for my dad’s service and Ben’s ⚾️ tournament that I put off planning all the FUN stuff 🤩For most of our time in New York, I was planning meals & activities as we went which ended up working out fine, but just isn’t my style at all!

Here’s how we spent 2.5 days with teens in NYC (with not a lot of pre-planning!!)

🇺🇸 Toured the 9/11 Museum & Memorial
🍔Chelsea Market
🌼Walked the High Line
📐Checked out the Vessel
🌳 Brunch @sarabethsnyc and then a morning in Central Park
🎶 Saw Hamilton on Broadway
📚Campus tour of NYU 
🛍Shopping! 

The only thing that didn’t work out as well last minute was planning meals. While we found a great local pizza place the first night, a bagel place we loved, had a great brunch at Sarabeths, and lunch at Creamline, our other dinners were just ok. I also find it hard to plan dinners far in advance when I don’t know what we’ll be doing, but I think I just need to get over that so we aren’t scrambling every night 🥴
            We just returned from a 3-week whirlwind trip on t We just returned from a 3-week whirlwind trip on the East Coast. This trip had multiple purposes and only the tail-end was relaxing (mostly). It’s not the way I prefer to travel but we tried to make the best of it.

This trip was: emotional, inspirational, productive, frustrating, fun & so much more. There were highs & lows, curve balls, and changed plans. 

🏡 It started in South Carolina where I sold my dad’s beautiful lakeside home and then we laid him to rest, surrounded by family and friends, with an inspiring service at Arlington National Cemetery in DC 🇺🇸

⚾️ Mike took Ben to Cooperstown to play in a highly anticipated weeklong baseball tournament with his team 

🏙 Jack, Kate & I spent a few days in NYC, fit in a college tour of NYU, and then joined them in Cooperstown 

⛵️After the tournament, we stayed in upstate New York living our best lake life - we all needed plenty of time to relax in the sun, kayaking, SUPing, boating, tubing, hiking, and unwinding.

❌ The major twist was that 3 of the 5 of us got 🦠 and had to quarantine at different times throughout our trip. It also meant that Mike had to cancel his planned side trip back to CA where he would have been part of filming a documentary with his good friend 🎬 I was patient zero so I hold a lot of guilt for this one 😔

I’m sure when we reflect on this trip, we’ll most remember all the good times we shared with friends & family, the emotional moments will one day bring a smile instead of a tear, and we’ll laugh at all the mishaps.
            We’ve all got problems and things on our to-do l We’ve all got problems and things on our to-do list. If I waited until all of those things were resolved I’d never get out of the the house. So I make myself leave those things behind for a bit to hike and be outside.

#bonnydoonbeach #californiahighway1 #davenportca #davenportcalifornia #cabrillohighway #santacruzcounty #santacruzca #visitsantacruz #santacruznow #californiacoastline #bayareabackroads #explorecalifornia #outdoorfamily  #adventurefamily #familyadventure #chooseadventure  #happyadventuring  #lifeisbetteroutside #goadventuretogether  #californiaadventures #adventureswithkids
            It seems like everyone I know is in Europe right n It seems like everyone I know is in Europe right now and I have a little bit of FOMO. 

Every summer we take one big trip - usually to a new country. I put a lot of thought into planning and reveal the destination to the kids at Christmas. Unless it’s a milestone year for one of the kids then that kid gets to pick the destination and reveal it. This is the first summer it didn’t work out - it wasn’t a milestone year and there were too many things keeping us in the US. 

But if it had worked out, it would have been MY year to pick the destination and I would not have chosen Europe. I would have picked: the Philippines 🇵🇭!!! But I won’t be picking again for awhile as we have a string of milestone years coming up for the kids: ‘23 (HS graduation - said kid has already revealed to all where he wants to go despite my rule!), ‘24 (middle school promotion), ‘25 (HS graduation). 

So here’s a throwback to our last trip to Asia in 2018. Relaxing at the pool at the @sixsensesyaonoi in the middle of Phang Nga Bay. 🇹🇭Thailand remains one of our favorite trips - it’s on my list of places to return - there were so many corners we left unexplored.
            🇺🇸This 4th I’m feeling very conflicted. To 🇺🇸This 4th I’m feeling very conflicted. Today we celebrate US Independence while American women have just lost a huge part of our independence - that’s hard to digest and explain to my daughter. 

One thing that gives me hope? 
💥Our youth💥
By the time the midterm elections roll around this November, my oldest will be able to vote. I’m confident that a very thoughtful and aware young man who cares about this country & ALL humans, the global environment, and international relations will be casting his vote along with many of his peers. I am excited and hopeful for this next generation of voices to be heard.

Exercise your independence & VOTE 🇺🇸🇺🇸

#happyfourth🇺🇸 #patriotspoint #charlestonvacation #ussyorktown #raisingthoughtfulkids #nextgenerationofvoters #genz #familieswhotravel #teentravel #familyadventure #adventureswithkids #adventurefamily
            🌁 Kirby Cove - Another fantastic hike with epic 🌁 Kirby Cove - Another fantastic hike with epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge! 🌁

This is part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area in the Marin Headlands. It’s a relatively easy 3 mile out-and-back hike with views of the GG Bridge from multiple angles! 

🌼 Distance: 3 miles out-and-back
🌼 Difficulty: Easy
🌼 Elevation Gain: 561’
🌼 Dog Friendly: No
🌼 Restrooms: Yes, near the parking lot for Battery Spencer on Conzelman Road and at Kirby Beach camping area
🌼 Park at the Headlands Parking Lot just off Conzelman Road 
🌼 My Rating: 8/10

From the Headlands parking lot take the SCA Trail to Conzelman Road. Follow Conzelman Road towards Battery Spencer. I took the offshoot trail to Battery Spencer for awesome views of the bridge which added ~.2 miles to my total mileage - this is where you can see the many locks others have clipped to the fence 🔒🔒Follow Kirby Cove Road (just past the Battery Spencer parking lot) all the way down to Kirby Beach. You’ll pass 2 more batteries (Wagner & Kirby). The beach is large and there were only a couple of other people when I was there (on a Thursday morning). Lots of places to picnic and let kids run around. Plus views of the bridge which looks larger than life from this spot and large cargo ships entering & exiting the Golden Gate strait.
            I love to research fun things to do and I always h I love to research fun things to do and I always have a plan. But it’s most often the small moments we remember the most: digging a sand tunnel, the way the sun felt on our faces, burying our feet in the sand, and watching the fog race over our heads and wondering how fast it was going….these are the things I’ll remember most about this day - things that only happened because we slowed down and just enjoyed where we were and each other’s company 🌊🐚🦀🦭

#bonnydoonbeach #californiahighway1 #davenportca #davenportcalifornia #cabrillohighway #santacruzcounty #santacruzca #visitsantacruz #santacruznow #californiacoastline #bayareabackroads #explorecalifornia #outdoorfamily  #adventurefamily #familyadventure #chooseadventure  #happyadventuring  #lifeisbetteroutside #goadventuretogether  #californiaadventures #adventureswithkids
            We are always on the lookout for dog-friendly hike We are always on the lookout for dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area. Here are some of our favorites on the SF Peninsula! 

🦮Pulgas Ridge - RWC - 6 miles of trails through shady oaks and ridgetop views plus a 17-acre off-leash dog park. 

🦮Waterdog Lake - Belmont - We love the 5-mile John Brooks trail and the shorter Lake Loop. Lots of shady oak areas, views towards the bay, spring wildflowers, and 4 abandoned cars hidden throughout. Keep an eye out for mountain bikers!

🦮Mussell Rock - Daly City - Beautiful views, hang gliders, and fabulous dog-friendly beach.

🦮Mori Point - Pacifica - Try the moderately challenging 2.5 mile Mori Loop Trail which hugs the edge of the bluff for fantastic views! 

🦮Sweeney Ridge - Lots of access points from San Bruno, Pacifica & Millbrae. Beautiful views from the ridge that sweep down to the Pacific on one side and the bay on the other.

🦮Devil’s Slide - Pacifica - Old section of Highway 1 converted into a hiking trail with amazing views of the Pacific. Wide, paved, and great for bikes, dogs, and even horses. Parking at both the north & south ends of the trail. 2.6 miles out-and-back.

🦮Gray Whale Cove - Gorgeous 2.2 mile out-and-back coastal hike just south of Devil’s Slide. 

🦮 Rancho Corral de Tierra - Moss Beach - 4 miles and moderately difficult with 1500’ elevation gain. Trail starts through an equestrian center, then into a eucalyptus grove and opens up to expansive views of the hills and ocean. 

🦮 Mavericks - Half Moon Bay - An easy 2.5 mile loop. Hike along the bluff and enjoy expansive views. Great for kids and dogs (dogs allowed on the trails, not on the beach). 

🦮 Windy Hill - Portola Valley - The 7.2 mile Windy Hill Loop is tough but worth it for all the different habitat types and the view at the summit where on a clear day both the Pacific and the Bay are visible.

🦮 Coal Creek - Woodside - Gorgeous preserve off Skyline Road in Palo Alto. We like Cloud’s Rest Trail to Meadow Trail (approx 2.2 miles), or the slightly longer Crazy Pete’s Road & Alpine Road Loop. All of these trails are dog friendly, but the rest of the Preserve is not. The views from Cloud’s Rest Trail are 🤩
            West Coast Hiking….which one will you choose thi West Coast Hiking….which one will you choose this weekend? 🙌🏻

🌁 Kirby Cove - Marin Headlands
🏙 San Bruno Mountain - San Bruno 
🌲 Big Hole Rock - Santa Cruz
🌊 Cowell-Purisima - Half Moon Bay
💦 Wapama Falls - Yosemite
🦅 Hawk Hill - Marin Headlands
😍 Rancho Corral de Tierra - Moss Beach
🌼 Mori Point - Pacifica
🪁 Mussell Rock - Daly City
🐶 Sweeney Ridge - Pacifica
🥾 Lake Tahoe

#wonderfulwestcoast #explorecalifornia #californiaadventures #californiacoastline #californialesstraveled #visitmarin #visitsantacruz #visitsanfrancisco #highway1 #hwy1 #7x7bayarea #bestofbayarea #thesfpeninsula #sanmateocounty #sfpeninsula

#familyadventure  #chooseadventure #adventurefamily #outdoorfamily #hikingcalifornia #adventureswithkids  #kidswhohike  #hikingfamily  #adventureswithteens #lifeisbetteroutside
            🌊Awesome Things To Do in Santa Cruz with Kids & 🌊Awesome Things To Do in Santa Cruz with Kids & Teens🎢

🌊Natural Bridges State Beach - a great spot for surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, spotting whales & otters, flying kites, and tide pooling. 

🚲West Cliff Drive - Starting at Natural Bridges State Park, walk/bike/scooter along the path to Lighthouse Field (4.8 miles out-and-back) - amazing views and a great place to spot surfers & kayakers in the water.

🎢Beach Boardwalk - Founded in 1907, this is California’s oldest surviving amusement park. It’s known for the Giant Dipper - a historic wooden rollercoaster, but there are a ton of games & rides - plus it’s right on the beach!

🌼Wilder Ranch (pictured) - Hike the 2.3 mile Old Landing Cove Trail (it’s a loop) and enjoy amazing views of the ocean, wildflowers, beaches, harbor seals, and a fern grotto!

 💦Hike to Big Rock Hole - A beautiful hike in Henry Cowell State Park with redwoods and river crossings. The best part is the beach and large swimming hole complete with a rope swing, right along the San Lorenzo River!

🟡Mystery Spot - A gravitational anomaly located in the redwoods just outside Santa Cruz. Take the 45 minute tour and experience the puzzling variations of gravity, perspective & height. Is it a hoax? My Fitbit screen had been on the fritz for days and as soon as I was in the gravitational circle it started displaying again, so……🤷🏼‍♀️

🌲Mount Hermon Adventures - Super fun ropes course and zip-lining located among the redwoods in Felton. Must be at least 10 years old.
            ⭐️When was the last time you tried something N ⭐️When was the last time you tried something NEW? ⭐️

Kids try new things all the time, but as we get older we tend to not want to do things if we won’t be good at it. But trying new things gives us permission to NOT be good and to just have fun. It’s nice to be good at things, but it’s kind of freeing to just have fun too!

I finally got to fulfill my dream of sandboarding! I was scared - mostly of getting hurt. My first attempt was a complete wipeout - I ended up on my back with my head pointed down the hill. But I eventually figured it out, felt a lot more control, and made it down without falling. 🏂
            🌟Awesome Coastal Hikes on the SF Peninsula 🌟 🌟Awesome Coastal Hikes on the SF Peninsula 🌟

🌊Mori Point - Pacifica - Try the moderately challenging 2.5 mile Mori Loop Trail which hugs the edge of the bluff for fantastic views! Dog Friendly

🌊Devil’s Slide - Pacifica - 2.6 miles out-and-back along an old abandoned section of Highway 1. Wide, paved, great for bikes, strollers & dogs. And learn about why this section of land keeps eroding into the ocean from all the informational signs.

🌊Cowell Purisima - Half Moon Bay - 7 miles out-and-back along a mostly flat well-groomed trail. Gorgeous views, beaches, bridges to cross, and watch out for banana slugs! Great for bikes. No dogs.

🌊Pillar Point - Half Moon Bay - An easy 2.5 mile loop. Start at the trailhead on Airport Rd where there is more parking.Take Pillar Point Bluff Trail north to the Jean Lauer Trail and then enjoy the expansive views all the way to Ross’ Cove (near the famous “golf ball”). Great for kids and dogs (dogs allowed on the trails, not on the beach). Bikes are also ok but I think the trails are quite narrow and too close to the edge for kids. 

🌊Gray Whale Cove Trail Loop - Moss Beach - Amazing and mostly easy 1.9 mile loop offering fantastic ocean views the entire time with one big hill. Spot the old bunker at Devil’s Slide. Dog Friendly.

🌊Rancho Corral de Tierra - Moss Beach - 4 miles and moderately difficult with 1500’ elevation gain. Trail starts through an equestrian center, then into a eucalyptus grove and opens up to expansive views. We had the trail entirely to ourselves. While not right on the coast it had fabulous views all the way toward the coast and the Pillar Point golf ball. We even found a swing that made up for the elevation gain in my kids’ minds! Dog friendly.

🍔🍺Where should you stop to refuel afterwards? Try @mossbeachdistillery
@hmbbrewingco @thebarnhmb - all are dog friendly! 🐶
            It’s true. Nothing clears my mind faster than go It’s true. Nothing clears my mind faster than going for a hike. Often I find my pace starts out fast & furious, but as I take everything in around me and process my thoughts I begin to slow down & relax.

It’s great for kids too! Let them take the lead - allow them to take time to pick up rocks & sticks, hunt for lizards, admire flowers, scramble up rocks, walk across logs, jump across streams, or just sit and observe…..I guarantee they’ll come back happier too!

**Maple Falls Trail - Forest of Nisene Marks - Aptos, California 🌲💦

#aptoscalifornia #santacruzca #nisenemarks #santacruzmountains #santacruznow #visitsantacruz #castateparks #forestofnisenemarks #maplefalls #californiastateparks #happypeoplehike #wehiketoheal #trailtherapy #getoutandhike #redwoodforest #redwoodcoast #santacruzhikes #postprotected #exploresantacruz #californiaadventures #explorecalifornia #hikingcalifornia #lifeisbetteroutside #outsideadventures #hikingfamily #adventureswithkids #kidswhohike #santacruzbucketlist
            I LOVE researching and planning travel. In fact, I I LOVE researching and planning travel. In fact, I get almost as much joy from planning and anticipating as I do actually traveling.

I always thought using a third party to plan a trip would feel a little bit like cheating. However, there are definite benefits to letting someone else do the work for me 🙌🏻

📚Deep Local Expertise - travel companies work with local experts to help plan authentic experiences. They help you find the best activities, attractions, restaurants & hotels that meet your specific requirements and may still be under the mainstream radar. 

When we traveled to Kenya, it was important to us to stay in camps that focused on sustainability & conservation and also supported the local communities. @roarafrica helped us to plan the perfect itinerary which met all of our needs.

📝Complicated Itineraries - We traveled to Africa during peak Covid which came with additional complicated logistics. Roar Africa helped us prepare for required vaccinations, covid tests, visas & documentation to travel between countries. 

🧘🏼‍♀️Eliminates Stress - I can plan an extremely detailed itinerary, but there is always stress related to organizing complicated logistics and dealing with inevitable surprises. When someone else takes over that aspect of the trip, I can truly relax. If my kids are unhappy with an early wakeup time or a long drive then I just blame it on the “itinerary” 

🎉Connect with others who share similar interests - There are so many organized trips that focus on bringing together people with similar interests. My recent trip with @macs_explore highlighted this for me. I was expecting to have adventures & learn new skills, not necessarily walk away with new friends too, but that’s what happens when you share a common interest. She also runs some family group trips that look amazing.

Other companies we’ve used:
@thomsonfamilyadventures - their itineraries have different focuses: young kids, teens, collegiates, and even multi-generational. We have done 2 of their “active family” itineraries to Costa Rica & Panama.
@butterfieldtravel - we worked with them to plan a bespoke trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos 

Continued in comments…
            My recent trip to Utah was full of so much adventu My recent trip to Utah was full of so much adventure! 🌟

Our first day in Kanab, we met up with @eastzionexperiences and went canyoneering in Peekaboo Canyon. Slot canyons & canyoneering had been on my to-do list for a long time! We did about 8 rapels and a lot of walking through the canyons. We went in the afternoon so the light was just gorgeous. Our amazing guides were helpful & patient explaining to each person how to get through some of the more technical rapels! The whole time I kept thinking how my family would LOVE this! I’m going to need to take them all back here!

📸 @tarynlangloisphotography
            A few weeks ago, I did something scary… I joine A few weeks ago, I did something scary…

I joined up with 19 other women, who I had never met, on a 5-day travel photography retreat in Kanab, Utah. A few of these women I “knew” from Instagram, but I had never met them in person. In theory, the idea of this retreat sounded amazing - learning from my mentor @macs_explore about photography & growing a business while going on awesome outdoor adventures! But in reality I was super nervous about what I was getting myself into - what if I got there and instantly regretted my decision?

Here’s why I decided to go:
⭐️The last year has been extremely difficult. I have put my own needs on the backburner as I have been almost entirely consumed by sick, aging & dying parents. Every part of me wanted to take on this caregiver role but I quickly learned that I can’t run on empty. I needed to do something for myself, to replenish my energy so I could continue to be there for others.

📚I have done a lot of research this past year on the aging brain. 2 of the most important things to help prevent mental decline are keeping your mind active by learning new things and social interaction. Many seniors lacked these 2 things during the pandemic and saw the negative effects (my parents certainly did). Continuing to learn new things and stay social have become priorities of mine. If I’m not learning, I quickly become bored. This retreat checked so many boxes for me - I improved my photography skills, gained new experiences, set some aggressive goals, connected with 19 new amazingly supportive friends who share similar interests but each had unique stories & backgrounds.

🙌🏻 Epic Adventure - All the networking sounded important but I was also super excited for the adventure: Canyoneering through a slot canyon, sandboarding, ATVing & hiking through Zion!

Every time I think about this trip it puts a huge smile on my face 💗A HUGE thank you to everyone I met and especially Christina who planned & organized the whole thing. This won’t be the last trip like this I take! 

What are you waiting for?? This is your sign to jump on that thing you’ve been hesitant about!!

📸 credit: @wechoseadventures
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