Tag Archives: semi sabbatical

Semi Sabbatical – Month 9

December 2022 was full of a lot of traveling across multiple time zones! From the Northeast, to heading a little more south along the Atlantic coast, to traveling to the West coast, then capping the year off in my home state of Hawaii… it’s been a great way to end the year!

Cape Cod, MA

We finished off our time in Boston by driving down to Cape Cod! Even though it’s too cold to go to the beach, I can totally see why it’s such a popular summer getaway! The beaches are pristine, and the sun was shining the entire time we were there. We enjoyed a beer at a local brewery right along the coast, so we could stay warm indoors and still get a killer view.

Portland, ME

A three hour drive outside of Boston, we took a day trip to Portland, Maine! The lobster rolls there were outstanding, and all the lighthouses in the town were cool to see. Even though it was raining, we didn’t let the weather stop us from enjoying the sights. Plus we got to see my husband’s cousin, which was an added bonus!

Scarsdale, NY

This quaint little suburb outside of NYC was a great place to relax before we prepared for the busy travel schedule we had ahead of us. The walking paths around the main Village area were perfect for a quick jog with a nature feel. We housesat for two chill Shitzus, in a stunning house just a quick walk away from their main Village area. This sleepy little town was perfect for us to wind down and enjoy the simple pleasures.

Pittsburgh, PA

The moment I had been waiting for…my first ever Steelers game, in Pittsburgh! And they were playing their rivals, the Ravens! I bought my first Terrible Towel, and we enjoyed being a part of the Pittsburgh culture of their love for the team. Unfortunately, our starting QB was on concussion protocol after the first few plays of the game, so we didn’t do as well as I would have liked. But we still enjoyed the experience regardless!

Virginia Beach, VA

We visited one of my best friends from childhood in Virginia Beach, which was so nice! Even though it was chilly, we still enjoying walking along the boardwalk and checking out the Atlantic Ocean views. Our dog even got to meet her dogs, which we never thought would happen before we started traveling. We got to spend some much needed quality time and catching up after not seeing each other in over a year!

Manhattan Beach, CA

We jumped on a plane heading west and spend a few days in LA! Our good friends was getting married, so we figured why not make a trip out of it? We visited some of our favorite places in South Bay, our old stomping grounds. And you can’t visit LA without walking out on the Manhattan Beach pier!

KAUAI, HAWAII

After our friends’ wedding, we headed even more west…back to my homeland, Hawaii! We decided that since we would be in Hawaii for 3 weeks, why not visit one of the neighbor islands as well? So, we Hele On to Kauai!

Lihue

We stayed in a little motel right in the heart of Lihue. We chose this place because it is situated halfway between the south shore and the north shore, perfect distance for our quick trip! Plus, it was walking distance to many shops and restaurants, which was a huge plus! We ended up splurging at a fancy restaurant overlooking the water, using the money we were refunded from our cancelled boat tour due to weather conditions.

Waimea Canyon

The next day, we headed south of Lihue to Waimea Canyon. When we first arrived, it was so foggy and you couldn’t see anything! But as we hiked to Waipo’o Falls, the fog cleared and we had some amazing views of the canyon! We stopped in Waimea for some plate lunches, and it was some of the best chicken katsu we’ve ever had.

Hanalei

On our last day, we drove up to the north shore, but not without hiking to see the Sleeping Giant on the east side. We headed to Hanalei, where we tried a taro teriyaki burger, which was a great vegetarian option for us. We hung out in Hanalei Bay and soaked in the sun before we flew back to Oahu that night.

OAHU, HAWAII

Celebrating Christmas in Hawaii is the best – sunny skies, warm weather, and surrounded by my family. But of course, we still find time to explore!

Lanikai

One of our favorite activities to do in Hawaii is play golf! The warm weather allows for us to golf any day of the year, no matter what time of year we visit. Our favorite place to golf is Mid-Pacific Country Club in the neighborhood of Lanikai on the east side of the island. I was fortunate enough to grow up playing this course, so my dad loves taking the both of us golfing any chance we get.

White Plains, Ewa Beach

My favorite underrated surf spot on Oahu is in Ewa Beach at White Plains! We took my cousin out with us to surf too, as she hadn’t been surfing in years. The mild waves and long rides here are perfect for beginners and seasoned surfers alike. Plus, you get a great view of Diamond Head in the distance, which is cool!

Pearl Harbor Sunset

Even though my dad still lives in the same house I was born and raised in, the sunsets over our view of Pearl Harbor still amaze me every time we’re home. I grew up in Aiea Heights, just outside of Pearl Harbor. The views of the Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri are things I grew up with every day, but didn’t realize how awesome and historical it was for me to experience this until I left the islands. So while we’re home, we take in as many sunsets as possible!

Makapu’u Lookout and Tidepools

On the last day of the New Year, we got our workout in and hiked up to Makapu’u Lighthouse and Lookout. This hike takes you to the most eastern tip of O’ahu, and gives you stunning views of the east coast. On a clear day, like the day we hiked to the stop, you can see the island of Molokai in the distance!

We also hiked down to the tidepools, where you can enjoy the cool waters of the swimming holes before you make your way back down the trail to your car. It’s a great way to cool off after that glute buster of a hike!

We’ll be in Hawaii through the New Year, then it’s back to the mainland to head south for the winter!

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Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters.

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Semi Sabbatical – Month 8

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This month of our semi sabbatical has much more travel as compared to last month! We spent November in multiple places in the Northeast. We got to experience the transition from Fall into Winter, which was really nice. We primarily did housesitting through Trusted Housesitters this month, so it took us to places that we may have never thought of visiting!

Alexandria, VA

We housesat for two chill Great Pyrenees dogs and a little gray cat in the suburb of Alexandria, just 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C. We were not expecting to see as much fall foliage here, but we were pleasantly surprised by how much we saw!

On one of our running routes in the neighborhood, it took you through the woods where all the leaves were the perfect mix of fall colors.

Washington, DC

Although we spent most of our time in Alexandria, we still made it to DC! We primarily explored the Logan Circle area, where we enjoyed the local breweries and spent time with some old friends. One of the best parts about this semi sabbatical is that it is allowing us to reconnect with old friends. And lucky for us, the weather was uncharacteristically warm that day, so we got to hang out outdoors which was great!

Boyce, VA

We completed another housesit in the country of Northern Virginia, in a small town located 1.5 hours west of Alexandria. This log cabin was off a gravel road, surrounded by trees, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. The home had an amazing view of the valley and the trees as they began to lose their leaves during our stay.

We spent a day in Shenandoah National Park, where we got to hike in the valley and enjoy the solitude and the sound of the leaves crunching under our feet. I had never known much about this national park, but thank goodness we’re on this semi sabbatical that allows us to explore regions of this country we would have never thought to visit!

We heard there were some pretty sweet caverns in the area, so we checked out Luray Caverns. And although it seemed pretty touristy, it was still a sight to see! The mile stroll through the caverns seemed very surreal. It kind of felt like we were in a Disneyland ride! It was definitely worth it to see these crazy looking caverns.

Burlington, VT

Our next housesit was for the most adorable Pomsky right outside of Downtown Burlington, Vermont! We were just a 5 minute walk from Church St, a pedestrian only walking path amongst all the shops, restaurants and bars that Burlington has to offer. But what we were looking forward to most…was the beer!

We got to visit The Alchemist Brewery, home to the famous Heady Topper IPA. Not only did we pay a visit to buy multiple cans, but it is also the only place that serves it on draft. It started snowing right when we pulled up, which made it so picturesque and a gorgeous winter wonderland for our beer adventure!

We also made sure to try the other local breweries in the area as well: Foam Brewers, Idyletime, Von Trapp, Burlington Beer, Zero Gravity, and Four Quarters. They all had great beer, and I see why Vermont has become such a hub for craft beer!

Rochester, NY

We headed west to upstate New York, to the city of Rochester, for Thanksgiving! We housesat for a loving and sweet black Labrador, who enjoyed our company…especially when we were cooking food.

When we weren’t stuffing our faces with food, or watching World Cup games, we ran along Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario which pretty much looked like an ocean because it’s so big. You can’t even see across of it!

Niagara Falls

We couldn’t be in upstate New York and not visit this world wonder! We spent Thanksgiving Day visiting Niagara Falls…New York, USA, and Ontario, Canada!

From Niagara Falls, NY, you can cross a pedestrian bridge over the Niagara River to the town of Niagara Falls, Ontario. So we had lunch in Canada and enjoyed the full view of the falls from our northern neighbor!

Boston, MA

We capped off this month of our semi sabbatical of November in Boston, MA! We just arrived to our little Airbnb just outside of the city. We’ll spend the first week of December here, and we’re excited to explore New England!

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Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters.

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

Student Loan Planner works with you to help customize a plan to most efficiently pay off your student debt! Click here to book your free consult today!
Trusted HouseSitters is our favorite way to find free lodging through vacation pet sitting. Click here to learn how you can become a pet sitter, or request a house sit!
DankLite is the premier manufacturer of hemp & CBD-related products. Click here to see their line of amazing products!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Semi Sabbatical – Month 6

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The summer has come to an end so quickly! And what better way to end the summer by exploring more of Colorado, and making our way across the country to the East Coast.

Boulder, CO

We started off September going on a hike with my husband’s sister and her puppy in the mountains of Boulder! Boulder situated right along the mountainside just under 30 miles northwest of Denver. It’s a gorgeous college town, with so many hiking trails with stellar views of the city!

Denver, CO

We got to go to the Friends Experience during its tenure in Denver! We got to explore replica sets from the famous TV show. From Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, to Joey and Chandler’s living room, to hanging out on the couch in Central Perk… we felt like we were in the show!

Conifer, CO

We spent Labor Day weekend dog sitting for our friends in their home in the mountains! It was a great getaway, and we got to spend the time relaxing and being in the outdoors. The fact that hiking trails are just a few minutes away, we had to give into the temptation to go hiking. The weather was great – when there’s a heat wave in Denver, the weather in the mountains is perfect!

Orlando, FL

We made our way to Orlando for a few days to attend FinCon, a conference for personal finance creators. I learned SO much from this conference. It got me so excited to continue working on this blog and helping other allied health professionals get their personal finances in order.

Fairplay, CO

We capped our last weekend in Colorado with a weekend up in the mountains! Fairplay is about 1.5 hours outside of the city of Denver, and is known for its old timey western downtown area. We rented a house out there for the weekend, where we spent a lot of time relaxing and enjoying the peaceful outdoors.

We hiked up to Crystal Lake, which although just a moderate gradual incline, felt much harder due to the elevation. The start and end point were over 11,000 feet! But the views of the mountains were so worth it.

Kansas City, MO

We drove across eastern Colorado and all the way across Kansas to get to Kansas City, Missouri! We spent a weekend here eating our way through all the Kansas City BBQ and enjoying this small city.

The downtown area was full of cool breweries and distilleries, and the River Market area had an amazing farmer’s market held weekly! The view from the WWI memorial of the city skyline at night was a great way to cap off the weekend.

West Plains, MO

A little over 4 hours south of KCMO is the small town of West Plains, where we visited some of my husband’s family. We got to see the town where his grandpa grew up, and we learned more about his side of the family and their history. The area is lush and green and full of trees, and the local springs here are truly a gorgeous site to see. I had no idea how beautiful it is here!

Chattanooga, TN

Next we headed to Chattanooga, where we visited some of my family! My aunt enjoyed sharing her hometown with us, and took us all over the city. My uncle, a retired history professor, enjoyed sharing the history of the area with us as well.

It was nice and sunny while we were there, so we got on the pontoon and explored Chickamauga Lake! We went up to Point Park, where we got amazing views of the city of Chattanooga, and all the surrounding foothills.

We also went on a hike, where we got to see the Blue Hole and enjoy the lush, green nature of the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Deeks enjoyed the ride, too!

As September comes to a close, we will be settled in New York City for the whole month of October. We’re looking forward to revisiting our old stomping grounds – this amazing city is where my husband and I first met 🙂

Like what you read? Check out some of my other most clicked blog posts!

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters.

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

Student Loan Planner works with you to help customize a plan to most efficiently pay off your student debt! Click here to book your free consult today!
Trusted HouseSitters is our favorite way to find free lodging through vacation pet sitting. Click here to learn how you can become a pet sitter, or request a house sit!
DankLite is the premier manufacturer of hemp & CBD-related products. Click here to see their line of amazing products!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Semi Sabbatical – Month 5

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August was such a fun month! We spent the first half in Oregon, exploring the city of Portland and spending some much needed down time on the Coast. But after these last few months, it’s time for us to move on with our semi sabbatical travels. So midway through August, we made our way out of the Pacific Northwest…to Denver, Colorado!

Multnomah Falls, OR

To get to Portland from Tri-Cities, you drive west along the Columbia River. About 30 minutes before you reach the city, you pass by a gorgeous waterfall called Multnomah Falls. Even during this random crazy heat wave, we had to stop to see the falls!

Can you believe this gorgeous waterfall is right off the freeway?!

Multnomah Falls is very popular, which means that getting a great view of the waterfall was very accessible. We didn’t hike up to the top, but the view from the bridge and feeling the mist on our faces made is a great experience!

Hillsboro, OR

We had a housesit for three adorable little dogs in Hillsboro, a suburb of Portland. With this semi sabbatical, our remote work allows us the flexibility to explore more often. Less than a half mile away from the house was a stunning hiking trail, surrounded by trees and streams! We definitely took advantage of this, running daily through the forest and truly living our best Pacific Northwest lives.

Portland, OR

The city of Portland is one of the coolest cities we have ever experienced! The people of Portland are so unique and welcoming and friendly. The food here is so creative and delicious. And the scenery of all the pine trees and the bridges over the Willamette River make this city so picturesque!

When we first got to Portland, it was a crazy heat wave. So we found a beach off of the Willamette River in Lake Oswego, just south of Portland. We spent the afternoon hanging out in the water to cool off. Since it was so hot, the cold water in the river felt so refreshing.

Swimming in the Willamette River south of Portland

One of our favorite memories from Portland was going on an Ice Cream Tour. Over 2 hours, we walked almost 2 miles and stopped at 4 different ice cream stops and tried over a dozen ice cream flavors!

Just a few flavors that we tried at Salt and Straw

Matcha milkshakes and ice cream sandwiches from Tillamook Creamery

Oregon Coast

We rented a beach cottage in the small town of Rockaway Beach for a week to enjoy the ocean before we leave the Pacific Northwest. It was such a great, quiet getaway from us! Even though we are still working remotely during this semi sabbatical, being able to take breaks during the day to go for a walk along the beach is something that really makes this experience worthwhile.

One of our favorite parts about the Oregon Coast is that the beaches are dog-friendly! We were able to take Deeks to beach with us everyday. He absolutely loved the freedom to sniff around and explore!

Roaming around in the tidepools in Seaside

The ocean here is significantly colder than what we’re used to in California and Hawaii. You definitely need a wetsuit if you’re going to get in the water! But the weather was still sunny and warm, which was perfect for laying out on the sand.

Hood River, OR

We left the coast to start heading East! Our route took us along the Columbia river, so we stopped in Hood River, just an hour outside of Portland. The topography of the Columbia River Gorge makes it consistently windy year round. A perfect destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers!

I think I need to become a windsurfer now!

So, I had to see what all the fuss was about. I took my first windsurfing lesson, and I had so much fun! I totally understand why people love windsurfing, and I’m looking forward to trying it again in the near future.

Denver, CO

We made it to Denver after 2 long days of driving. My sister-in-law lives in Denver, so we’ll be staying with her for the next few weeks! We actually lived in Denver for a summer back in 2015 while we were doing our PT school clinicals. Now that we’re back for our semi sabbatical, you can expect us to take full advantage of the nature that Colorado has to offer!

View of Red Rocks from the top of Dinosaur Ridge

Golden, CO

Golden is a cute mountain town just outside of Denver as you make your way into the Rocky Mountains. As you drive up Golden Gate Canyon road, you will find many different trail heads to explore! We chose to take Deeks in the hiking backpack, so we picked a 4 mile loop trail that goes up to Mt Galbraith. To our east, we had awesome views of the city of Denver. And to the west, we saw never ending views of the Rockies. Definitely a great, quick hike in the mountains that isn’t too far outside of the city of Denver!

Deeks’ favorite way of hiking – without any actual exercise

Evergreen, CO

We did an early morning hike to Maxwell Falls during the week! The flexibility of our remote work during this semi sabbatical allows us to be able to plan for these midweek hikes in the mountains. We drove out to Evergreen, another small and beautiful mountain town outside of Denver. The trailhead was pretty much vacant – a great reason to hike midweek first thing in the morning! Since it’s the end of summer, the waterfall wasn’t too big. But it was still amazing to look at, and walking along the creek listening to the water really set the tone for this relaxing, cool hike!

We had the waterfall all to ourselves this early Wednesday morning 🙂

Encinitas, CA

We did a quick weekend trip to Encinitas for our friends’ wedding. Encinitas is a stunning beach town about 30 minutes north of San Diego. We enjoyed the gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, and were able to even get in the water briefly before we had to leave. When we lived in San Diego, we loved going up to Encinitas in the summer. It was so nostalgic to be back!

Viewpoint overlooking Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas

We’ll continue into September here in Denver, with a weekend trip to Orlando, and making our way across the country to New York by the end of the month. Next month will be very busy, but very exciting as we continue this semi sabbatical journey!

Like what you read? Check out some of my other most clicked blog posts!

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

Student Loan Planner works with you to help customize a plan to most efficiently pay off your student debt! Click here to book your free consult today!
Trusted HouseSitters is our favorite way to find free lodging through vacation pet sitting. Click here to learn how you can become a pet sitter, or request a house sit!
DankLite is the premier manufacturer of hemp & CBD-related products. Click here to see their line of amazing products!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!