Do You Want to Get Away?

Remember that airline slogan? That is definitely the feeling that we’ve been having lately and today we are finally getting that opportunity. We leave later today to start our trip to Carlsbad, California, which is a located about 30 miles north of San Diego. It will be our first time visiting this city on the coast and we are certainly looking forward to some relaxing days exploring what the area has to offer.

Sitting on the Tarmac During a Previous Flight
Looking Forward to the Beach

Sunsets on the beach will certainly be on our itinerary and we are looking forward to enjoying some fresh seafood as well. There is a railway system that runs between the coastal towns and San Diego, so getting into the city to see some of the sights there should be easy to do in addition to seeing Carlsbad. We look forward to sharing images from our trip while we are there, but forgive us if we aren’t consistent with our posts.

Looking Forward to Walking on the Beach
Looking Forward to a Pacific Ocean Sunset

 

The Beautiful Beaches of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has some gorgeous beaches, which is definitely the case in Punta Cana. Located on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, or “DR” as some people say, Punta Cana has a variety of beautiful resorts. All of them require that you purchase an all-inclusive package, which can make them quite expensive and also discourages you from leaving the resort to visit the surrounding area. We stayed at the Paradisus Palma Real during our trip to Punta Cana a few years ago and were definitely impressed with all of the amenities.

Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana
View of the Beach from the Resort
View of the Resort from the Beach
The Resort

When staying at a large resort, such as the ones in Punta Cana, there are usually many restaurants to choose from, which provides many different options for dining, from casual to fine dining. We took advantage of upgrading to something that the resort called “Royal Service”, which provided us with an ocean view room, access to a concierge to make reservations to restaurants and shows, as well as private pool. It also provided us with a reserved cabana and lounge chairs on the beach without having to get up early and put a towel on it to reserve them.

Main Resort Area
Royal Service Area
Beautiful Beaches
Warm Water for Swimming

Obviously, the highlight of going to Punta Cana are the beautiful beaches with plenty of opportunities to partake in water activities. In addition to spending time on the beach or at one of the many pools, there are also shows every evening for anyone that wants with music and dancing. During the day, you can also participate in activities such as yoga on the beach, volleyball, cooking lessons, and more for those that need more than just sun and relaxation. We use trips like this as a vacation and a break from our hectic schedules, so we tend to simply sit back and soak up the scenery as we sip on tropical drinks.

Cabanas on the Beach
Secluded Boardwalk
Dos Mai Tai’s at the Pool Bar
Blue Skies and White Beaches

We hope to enjoy other beaches in the Caribbean, but Punta Cana, with beaches that face both the Atlantic and Caribbean, is definitely worth a visit.  We would also recommend the royal service to anyone who has the opportunity.  It is a bit of a splurge, but truly worth the extra expense, especially if you’re not travelling with children.

Fountain at the Resort
Beautiful Beaches
Our Room at the Resort
Tropical Fruit

 

We are Never Truly Alone

We may find ourselves with no one around us, but we are never truly alone. It may seem at times as if we are the only ones going through something, but in reality there are others out there who have or are going through similar circumstances. The trick is not isolating yourself so that you don’t hear the voices of others who are there to help. This week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is Isolated Subjects. We chose the photo of a lone tree on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, a lone elk in Yellowstone, as well as a couple of photos from Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.

Single Tree on an Island
Sea Lion on a Rock
Lone Elk
Bird on a Rock