Planning a summer trip to Tahoe? This is a local’s guide to Lake Tahoe — packed with honest, tried-and-true recommendations from a South Lake local of nearly 20 years. From where to eat without the wait, to hidden hikes, wine cruises, distilleries, free concerts, and places the kids will actually love — it’s everything you need to plan your best Tahoe adventure without looking like a tourist. Come for the views, stay for the poke bowls and paddleboard yoga.
Looking for a travel destination that will completely win you over? Barcelona is that city. Trust me, I used to roll my eyes when people gushed about it—but now I’m one of them! After just one week in Barcelona, I can confidently say this city is unlike any other. From jaw-dropping Gaudí architecture to endless good eats (seriously, the tapas!), there's so much to love. And it’s not just the sights—it’s the vibe, the energy, and the people that make this place special. Dive into my travel guide to discover why Barcelona became my favorite city in the world.
In the summer of 2023, amidst soaring flight costs and a rescheduled Elton John concert, I turned to Airbnb in search of a whimsical escape. What began as a quest for a Mediterranean castle transformed into a reality when I discovered a stunning 18th-century palace on the island of Malta. Despite knowing little about Malta, the idea captured my friends’ imaginations, and we soon set off for this enchanting destination. Malta, often overshadowed by larger European spots, is a gem brimming with history, culture, and gorgeous coastlines and rugged cliffs. Malta is a perfect travel choice for any adventurer and I'm here to tell you why.
As a major global hub, I always consider London an ideal stopover to break up my travel. By flying on a non-stop flight from my origin in the US, I can easily adjust to the new time zone, thanks to overnight flights. In short, I view spending 24 hours in London as a way to prevent flight delays or cancellations that would affect my trip, acclimate to the local time, stretch my legs, and then enjoy an easy non-stop flight to my next destination. This summer, a group of us rented an 18th-century palace in Malta for a week, and flying to London for 24 hours made getting to this tiny Mediterranean island much less of a headache. Here's my recommendations for an easy way to enjoy 24 hours in London.
Nestled in California's Gold Rush Region, El Dorado County boasts a wealth of wineries often overlooked by wine enthusiasts. Adjacent to South Lake Tahoe, this picturesque landscape hosts the annual El Dorado Wines Passport Weekend, a two-day event showcasing the region's finest wines and culinary delights. As the official El Dorado Hills photographer, I had the pleasure of capturing the event's essence—the laughter, camaraderie, and the wines—while sharing the experience with friends and even my dog. Join me for a weekend of wine, friends, and unforgettable memories in California's hidden wine country gem. Cheers to wine!
This past summer, thanks to two beloved clients of mine, I had the opportunity to take 10 days and explore the wild remoteness that western Montana has to offer thanks to their Glacier National Park Wedding. Glacier National Park is STUNNING, not to mention, it’s an unparalleled backdrop for a ridiculously gorgeous wedding portrait. It’s got majestic peaks, breathtaking mountains that stack on each other as far as the eye can see, expansive lakes, wilderness for days. Whether you consider yourself to be an outdoorsey adventurous go-getter or simply stick to the road more traveled, it’s still an unforgettable experience. If you’re interested in a Glacier National Park wedding, Marquie and Josh did it right – here's a few tips on how to have the perfect Big Sky Country wedding day.
Roatan truly encapsulates the essence of a dream island vacation. Whether you're a beach lover, an adventure enthusiast, a scuba diver, or a culture seeker, Roatan will absolutely leave you feeling jazzed on island life. I've visited a lot of central American islands between Belize and Honduras and I would be hard-pressed to tell you how to pick between the two, but I will say that you can't go wrong with either! So, pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey to this tropical paradise.
I consider it to be the highest honor to be hired by friends and family. When my college friend and dorm-mate, Eileen, reached out to me to tell me that she was getting re-married and that she would like to hire me, it was such a tremendous compliment. It is no question that when friends and family members choose to hire you, it clearly indicates their support and belief in your skills and expertise so I thank Eileen for that. More from Eileen and John’s San Antonio private estate backyard wedding here.
My number one goal in life has always been to see as much of the world as possible. Every year, one of my resolutions is always to visit at least one new country, and in 2022, I capped off the end of a very busy fall travel season for work with a trip to Belize. With a population of just over 400,000 people, Belize is a laid-back and welcoming destination that offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for travelers of all types. If you’re considering Belize for your next vacation and searching for a Belize travel guide, look no further!
Want to live vicariously through Lauren? Then it's all about music y'all! Photos, stories and more from the Stone Family Field Trip with Allen Stone, Teddy Swims, Theo Katzman, Mac Ayres, and more at the Zephyr Lodge at Liberty Lake, outside of Spokane, Washington.
If you’re like most families with kids, summer is a chaotic time where all the fun gets jam-packed into two months, schedules and routines are out the window, and most importantly, it’s one of the easiest times to travel with little rascals. Planning an international trip to Europe with kiddos is no small feat, but these tips will help make it a smoother journey. Bon voyage!
Ali and Seth LOVE bikes. They love bikes so much they wanted their Holly's Ocean Meadow Wedding to be filled with them! They love bikes so much they were going to go on a bikepacking trip across Europe as their honeymoon. I ALSO love bikes! Seemingly, this was an absolute match made in heaven and I was so excited to return to Holly's Ocean Meadow in Mendocino, CA to capture their amazingly perfect bike filled wedding day.
