A Weekend Away in the Countryside

 Sometimes life can be a little overwhelming and the desire to just get away starts to creep in. Often, it's too expensive to take a big, spontaneous trip; however, a weekend away is much more doable. My husband and I were living in different states, planning a wedding, getting married, moving halfway across the country and going on our honeymoon. That's a lot of work (and fun)! We were ready for a break. We decided that a weekend away in the countryside was just what we needed! 

After a little bit of time spent browsing Air BnB, we stumbled across this adorable cabin!

And what was even better, is that this gorgeous getaway was just 35 minutes away from our house. PERFECT! 

The views were gorgeous, and we had the best time. It was still quite cold, so we didn't end up walking around the grounds - but maybe next time! Instead we curled up on the couch inside and just relaxed and enjoyed the views from the comfort of the cozy cabin.

The furniture was very cozy, and we had a blast. We read books, played games and enjoyed each other's company.

Sometimes taking a break is just what you need to recharge. It was the perfect weekend for us, and it was not very expensive at all! I highly recommend taking a look and seeing what little adventures are near you. It was exactly what we needed.

If you'd like some help finding the perfect getaway (big or small), I'd be happy to help. MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. 

My Favorite Country?

Every time I talk with friends and family about my travels, inevitably the same question pops up: What country is your favorite? That's such a hard question!!! I've been lucky enough to travel to so many incredible countries, how can I be expected to pick just one?

Let's start with the obvious. The U.S. is my home. It's a beautiful country, and I'm proud to be an American - but no country is perfect. The U.S. is home to gun violence, corrupt politicians and poverty. But it's also home to some of the most gorgeous natural wonders on the planet, beautiful souls and of course, freedom. While U.S. seems like an obvious choice for my FAVORITE country, honestly, it's not the first thing that pops into my head.

My gut response is usually The Netherlands. Sounds random, right? Well, I actually have quite a history with Holland. I moved there when I was just 6 months old, and it's where all of my earliest memories were formed. I remember skating on the canals with friends, riding horses through open fields and riding on the back of my sister's moped to the candy shop. Anytime I visit that country it takes me back. The nostalgia is overwhelming in the best way possible!

But that's not to say that's the only reason I love Holland. I've gone back as an adult several times and my feelings have remained the same. I love that country! The food, the people, the buildings, the museums and history. It's just beautiful. Something about me feels so at home each and every time. Part of it may be because I can (mostly) understand the language. And that's so cool! Unlike when I'm in Spain, I don't feel as though I am directly translating words and phrases in my head. It's more like a dutch person will say something, and I'll just kind of know what they mean. I should probably mention that up until age 6 I spoke more dutch than english. I guess some of that is still clunking around in my head. It's a really cool feeling to be able to follow along as those around you talk... even if I usually don't quite have the words to respond.

Oh and did I mention that Holland is GORGEOUS??

Nashville: A Perfect 3-Day Weekend Getaway

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, I thought it would be fun to highlight one of my favorite getaway spots, perfect for a 3-day weekend - Nashville! Obviously, you could make a whole extended vacation out of Nashville, but I managed to squeeze quite a bit of fun into a long weekend. Here are some of my favorite spots!

The Bluebird Cafe  is a classic! Now something to note: This is not an impulse spot! If you want to catch a show you have to buy tickets in advance the second they go on sale. They literally sell out in minutes. If you can manage to get tickets, I promise you'll have a good time! And yes, I'm horribly sunburned in the picture above.

If you love American Pickers, it's worth stopping by their Antique Archaeology shop! Honestly, it's a bit of a tourist trap, but it's still cool to actually visit the building that's on the show. They do have some cool antiques to look at, but they probably make most of their money of the touristy t-shirts, shot glasses etc.  You've been warned.

I highly recommend visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame, if you have an afternoon to spare. The exhibits are amazing AND they offer tours of the FAMOUS Studio B (Seen above)! They'll let you play the piano where so many greats (including Roy Orbison!) made music. It was an amazing experience and my husband and I had an amazing time!

Finally, no trip to Nashville is complete without a pitstop at Pancake Pantry! The food is amazing and it's a Nashville tradition! Just be ready to wait... they don't take reservations, your whole party must be present to sit and the line wraps around the block. Take a morning, and make an experience of it! As long as you don't  go into it thinking it will be a quick breakfast stop, Pancake Pantry is a blast!

If you'd like help planning a 3-day adventure of your own, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com!