Isla Holbox, Mexico

Holbox was the third island of our Mexico island hopping tour.  We planned the trip because Mexico had no COVID rules or restrictions and the Murphys don't like to be restricted (trip taken December 2021). Despite the lack of first world amenities, Holbox was our family favorite.

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Holbox was beautiful, somewhat untouched and old school.  You can only pay for the ferry to and from the island with Pesos and most purchases on the island require pesos.  Its time warped about 50 years. Don't expect good internet or cell service.  If you visit during the summer months a swim with the whale sharks is a must do!

Streets are made only from dirt in Holbox and there are no cars.  You will find a few dirt bikes and golf cart style taxis, but otherwise most walk or ride a bike. The pizza delivery scooter was a super cute dirt bike with a warmer box on the back. Travel Tip: Don't take a roller suitcase unless you plan on carrying it. Many of the roads wash out after a little rain (pack light).  

The town was full of colorful shops and restaurants and the night life was vibrant.  There are no big resorts on the island, but instead cute boutique style tikki hut lodges.  Of course that comes with a trade-off as you can't flush toilet paper down the toilets.  Discarding toilet paper in the garbage took some getting used to, especially after a big pooh. :-)

So many murals and art throughout the town.  This one was significant as there were so many street dogs roaming the area. This little animal lover wanted to take them all home. Pretty sure the abundance of street dogs made this her favorite island.

Ahh the island life and island drinks!  I could get used to this slower pace. 

The crystal clear calm waters and old school lifestyle was definitely my jam. The arcade downtown was a lighted tikki hut with tons of foosball tables and while you can't drink the water and hair appliances are limited:  Beach hair, I don't care, just send me there! Cheers to four days in paradise!

This was our second stop on our Mexico Island hopping tour.  We spent 4 days in Cozumel and spent most of our time submerged.

The family that snorkels together, stays together.  We saw all kinds of cool ocean critters, including stingray and a hammer head shark!

So many great ocean side restaurants on the east side of the island.

We found this flag on the southeast side of the island.

Our snorkel tour was incredible!  We snorkeled Palancar Reef where we saw lots of colorful fish, stingray and a hammer head shark!  This picture was taken at El Cielo (accessible only by boat).  The waters were stunning, and we saw a few cushion starfish.

Look at this cute guy with chips, guacamole and cervezas.  Crystal clear turquoise water = bonus.

My little photo props were on photo burnout and boycotting pictures. Jason and I decided to be in the photo.  We were there.

Our best attempt at a Christmas photo, 2021

We enjoyed our stay at the Izla Beech Front Hotel.  The adult only rooftop pool and bar were bonus.

The island was so different from one end to the other.  It was very rocky, with high surf and cliffs on one side (Punta Sur) and calm with glassy emerald waters on the other (Playa Norte).

We found a hidden cove near Playa Norte with no waves.  Perfect for these two little snorklers.

Where is McKinley? Trying to look like a palm tree.  Hanging on Playa Norte.

We spent four days on Isla Mujeres and this was our main form of transportation. Three mujeres and a purple golf cart.  Jason has my vote for Husband of the Year.

The Samaal Cenote was refreshing after our Chichen Itza tour.  Beautiful place.

The kids enjoyed the resort pool as much as Jason and I enjoyed the bottomless cocktails.

The Chichen Itza is one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  We had to checkout this Mayan amazement while in Mexico.  Incredible how they were able to define the calendar so many years ago. The girls call it the Chicken Pizza.  

Who knew there was an amazing Vineyard in Nashville?  Love these ladies.

Doing the tourist thing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.  After dark photos were not allowed to be publicly posted.

The trees were huge!

Lots of skiing at Keystone in 2020 and McKinley is getting better!

An epic Girls Trip with some of my favorite ladies.

Pouring rain, but still time for a photo.  Bonus is that you can still see Haystack Rock in the background and the kids did a good job pretending to be happy.

No trip to Oregon is complete without a stop at the Tillamook Creamery!

Hug Point?  I thought the sign said Kiss Point? I always like to take things a step further. ;-)

This was my favorite stop along the Oregon Coast.  I would highly recommend staying at the Overleaf Lodge and Spa.  The views were off the charts!

More amazing views from our resort.

Taking it all in. The Overleaf Lodge and Spa is in the background.

Best Vodka in Brookings and perhaps America. The Superfly Vodka Distillery is a must stop  for vodka lovers.

Coffee and a sunrise starfish search at low tide.  Impressive after the Superfly Vodka Distillery the night prior.

Despite having to wake up early, McKinley and Aspen were excited to see all of the starfish clinging to rocks at low tide.

The power of Thor's Well was exhilarating and the views from above were stunning.

We found this cute beach in Florence. It was protected by two large rock croppings, making it one of the few swimmable beaches in the area. 

In their Zen state, solving world problems.  At least they aren't fighting!  

If you rise early enough for low tide, you can see large cushion starfish clinging to the rocks and so many beautiful rocks structures that are ordinarily hidden by the water. The girls didn't wake up early enough to join us, so Jason and I had fun without them.

Horseback riding on Bandon Beach was pretty epic. This beach is not easy to access or find.  The serenity of this desolate area gave the horseback riding experience rave reviews from our family.

Giddy-up! Hooray for horses, beautiful scenery and a bluebird day! 

Crandon Park with its white sand and palm tree lined beaches was my favorite Miami area beach.  The kids enjoyed the many iguanas hanging around the restrooms.  Thankfully, not in the restrooms! 

Supporting the President as he tries to make American Great Again. His property was nothing short of fabulous.  Best of all, Miami and Florida all had very few COVID restrictions.  This girl does not like to be "restricted".

Obligatory photo by the Southern Most Point in the Continental US.

Bright lights, big city and a beach.  Just my style. Martinis with a view and a high heeled shoe, yes please!

We spent the day in the Wynwood Art District admiring the many colorful murals and letting our creativity thoughts run wild. 

There is something about lighthouses that emits an adventurous vibe. The vast ocean and its unchartered territory await.

What better than to spend time in the water in the Florida keys.  Boogie  boarding for the win.

Underwater selfie! We took a boat to the reef at John Pennencamp Coral Reef State Park for some epic snorkeling. We saw all kinds of colorful fish, including barracuda! The kids swam back to the boat after merely seeing a jellyfish.  It was a balmy 55 degrees, but the wetsuits worked great.

Look at those blue waters! Aspen's face says it all.  Pure bliss.

We made it to Sister's Cabin!  We burned more calories than anticipated as we snowshoed to the hut missing our turn on the "Nightmare on Old Baldy" trail.  We arrived just before dusk.  Definitely a trip I won't forget with my crew.  The only disappointment was toting my dirty martini mix all the way up the mountain, only to be too exhausted and dehydrated to enjoy it!

  Annual Trip to Lido Beach. This never gets old.

This animal lover was over the moon excited to swim with the dolphins in the Florida Keys.  The swim included a dorsal fin ride around the water. 

We brought cousin chaos to Crested Butte for an unforgettable weekend.  We felt like we had the slopes to ourselves.  

Girls Trips are good for the soul and these ladies fill my cup. Lounging by the pool, kayaking the mangroves and dining in the cute little town of Matlacha were just a few highlights. 

Despite getting lost and taking the wrong fork in the trail (must have been our chatty group), we made it!

Snowy and beautiful. If only we had brought our skis or snowshoes.  A little too much snow for the hike we had planned, but the gorgeous scenery still made it worth the drive.

This park was a hit with the cousins and especially this little dirt digger!  It was a two hour drive from Twin Falls and a great way to explore and burn some energy.  

We hit the Miracle Hot Springs on the way back to our VRBO.  Great way to end the day!

Twin Falls Idaho was an awesome COVID destination.  Everything was open and spending time in Twin Falls with my twinnie + cousin chaos was a blast.

Feeling patriotic and learning about so much important American history. God bless America!

We rented this fancy ride for the day and were able to see all kinds of cool stuff in the Black Hills National Forest. Speeds were high and the mud puddles were plentiful.  I would highly recommend it!

Who knew that South Dakota had so much beauty? Sylvan Lake was one of those places.

Badlands National Park was an out of this world experience.  We felt like we were exploring another planet. 

We stopped at the infamous Wall Drug on the way out of town and picked up a speeding ticket going 30 in a 15mph zone.  Watch your speed if you decide to visit!

We went whitewater rafting on the Shoshone Rapids section of the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs (Class III & IV rapids).  The kids are hooked! 

Now I know why its so difficult to get a hiking time at Hanging Lake. It was spectacular!  If you're near Glenwood Springs, you have to see this place.

Lido Key, FL is one of our most favorite beaches in America. Pristine white sand beaches and adjacent to the swanky St. Armand's Circle.

Our tennis mom's trip to Todos Santos, didn't involve much tennis.  We have since determined that we are likely better at traveling than tennis. 

There is no better place for a bike ride than the Newport Beach boardwalk.

Sun, surf, sand and Aspen's bestie from preschool are reason's to jump for joy. 

Scenery overload at Corona del Mar.  As evident by the helmets, we rode our bikes there from Balboa Island.

Victoria Beach in Laguna has this effect on people.

We lived in SoCal for 3 years and never knew this existed.  We finally found the watch tower in Laguna!

Coronado Island was spectacular.  We rented a golf cart for the day and zipped around the island.

Redlands, CA will always hold a special place in my heart.  We lived there for a few years and met some of the nicest people in America.  Always fun to visit.

Cheers to Panama!  Casco Viejo was beautiful and so much to do and see. We strolled the colorful streets, took a boat ride through the Panama Canal, fed monkeys, pet a sloth, took a tram ride through the Gamboa Rainforest, and paddled a wooden boat to an Embera Village where we learned about their culture.

Our favorite beach of all time.  This hidden gem features crystal clear waters, virtually zero waves, jungles behind the shoreline (like Giligand's Island), adorable tikki restaurants and tons of cushion starfish!

The Punta Caracol Aqualodge did not disappoint.  We had always wanted to stay in a water hut in the middle of the ocean.  The service, accomodations and experience at this resort was second to none!

The Flying Pirates ATV tour of Isla Colon is one of the coolest things we did in Panama!  The entire east side of the island is almost completely undeveloped.  We road on private trails and witness some of the most beautiful and diverse topography on the island. First enormous waves, then black rocks, untouched beaches, emerald green swimming holes and some gnarly terrain!  We made it across an 80 foot body of water (about 3 feet deep) got stuck at least 5 times and only had to use the toe rope once.  A must do in the Bocas del Toro!

One of our favorite beaches on Isla Bastimientos.  We didn't see a single person and the waters were calm and clear.  We found tons of conk shells within yards of the beach!

We loved staying at the Red Frog Beach Resort.  It was the perfect chill to our week of adventures in the Bocas del Toro.

Ziplining in the pouring rain within the rainforest was exhilarating!  We reached speeds of over 60mph.  Aspen loved it, McKinley might be scared for life. Haha!  Good times on Isla Bastimientos!

Cheers to Panama and one of our favorite family vacations!

Gorgeous hillside homes and hotels overlooking the sea. The roads were like nothing I have ever experienced. Thankfully we heeded the advice of a close friend and didn't rent a car!  We took the city bus to the top of the hill (Nochelle stop) and hiked the Path of the Gods.  Spectacular scenery, and the bus ride was one of the most memorable.  Haha!

The girls rocked the many steps on the Island of Capri!  There were steps everywhere and the views were just as plentiful.  The photo was taken in front of the Faraglioni.  FYI: The limoncello on the Island of Capri is delicious!

Posillipo had gorgeous views of the Gulf of Napoli and Mount Vesuvius (background).  This city was full of castles, history and natural beauty.  The kids loved riding on the funicular from the Mergelina waterfront to the Manzoni hilltop. Bonus = these amazing views!

We toured this midieval Castle while in Posillipo.  It was equipped with moat and dated back to 1279.  

Rome was filled with history and we hit all of hot spots.  We toured the Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum ,the Vatican and indulged our gelato on the Spanish Steps. We loved the rich history + urban flare of this town. 

There was so much to love about Venice.  From a traditional gondola ride through the Grand Canal, to taking in the views from the historic Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marcos, Bascilica di San Marcos, watching glass being blown on the Island of Murano, the colorful island of Burano, cruising the many water taxis, amazing food and tiny cups of expresso, and getting lost every time we tried to find our way back to our apartment (4 days and we still got lost lost), we loved every minute of our stay.

A town where we can ride on boats everywhere we go, plus indulge in pizza, pasta and gelato? These kids were in heaven! 

Aspen 8 years old and McKinley 5.   I can't believe we brought these crazy kids with us halfway across the globe. Much to our surprise, they were on their best behavior most of the trip. I love our family and Venice, Italy!

This town was beyond charming with its cobblestone streets, colorful shops and restaurants, beautiful port area and church at the center of the town.  The people live a simple life and truly center their lives around God and neighbors. Loved this place!

The cuddlefish rissoto was my favorite local dish and the martinis were also delightful.

This place was AMAZING! The Pula Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved. It was constructed between 27 BC and AD 68, and is among the world's six largest surviving Roman arenas.  

Hard to believe all the hype around the Roman Colosseum after touring this one.  Best of all, we had the place to ourselves!

The emerald green waters at Plitvice Lakes National Park were similar to the Chicago River when they color it green for St. Patrick's Day. The waterfalls were enormous and the spring gave volume to the water and my hair. Haha!  This stop on our trip was like no other.

On our way back to Zagreb, you could see many of the buildings had still not been repaired from the Croatian War of Independence from Yugoslavia in the late 1990's.

What to do when you have a long layover in Munich? Catch the city bus to the adorable little Bavarian town of Freising and explore!

No better place to celebrate Ricky's 50th Birthday than with old and new friends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico!

Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ was way cool. Make sure to book your tickets in advance as the tours sell out fast!

One of my favorite parks!  It's definitely off the grid, but is well worth the drive. Make sure to remember where you park as the footprints don't stay in the sand and it's easy to get lost among the vastness and lack of people. 

It's a really big bridge over a really large canyon.  Neat to see.  The ziplining is epic! 

Mesa Verde ruins plus this cute kid! 

Stunning colors and some of the more vibrant landscapes within the Petrified Forest National Park. 

Straight out of Mars.  The Blue Mesa Trail within the Petrified Forest National Park was awesome! Definitely the most unique topography within the park.

We toured the King's Room and Big Room.  Awesome stalactites and formations throughout.  Not so many great family photos given the lighting in the cave, but a cool experience to pair with the White Sands National Park.  Make sure to book your tickets in advance!

The Grand Canyon was so very grand!  Bucket list stop!

This photo was taken pre-railing at Horseshoe Bend.  Talk about a nerve racking photo with two small squirrely kids and a 1000 foot drop behind! 

Vast and hours of fun for the kids.  The sand gets pretty hot if its over 70 degrees outside.  October -April is best and wear close toed shoes!

How had I never heard of this park? A last minute road trip add-on while driving through New Mexico and well worth the stop.  Tons of white rocks that look like tents throughout the park. A minimal detour if driving near Albuquerque. 

Gorgeous bay with pristine clam waters!

Mountain Top at St. Thomas and the banana  daiquiri was a must!  Over 1 million and one served.

The Gorda Virgin Baths in Tortolla was the ultimate cousin chaos destination as we navigated through water caves and ended up on a really cool beach! 

Pre-COVID, back when we could cruise. Those were the good old days!

We spent the day at the Atlantis.  A jazzy place to lounge, enjoy the lagoon, beach, water park and aquarium.