travel

Costa Rica vs. Hawaii

Okay, it's a gloomy, overcast Saturday here in Wisconsin, so let's fly away back to warm and sunny Costa Rica and Hawaii! Costa Rica Hawaii Since these two destinations are kind of like "cousins" (very clear similarities, but also very clear differences!), we naturally found ourselves comparing them. Especially because we went to both places… Continue reading Costa Rica vs. Hawaii

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Friday 3/24- Saturday 3/25: Last morning at the beach, El Avión and travel home!

Days 14 and 15 in Costa Rica: Friday 3/24- Saturday 3/25 The day I always semi-dread throughout my entire vacation had arrived: the last day. I was up nice and early- before 6, I think. I spent a good 45 minutes packing up my backpack, re-rolling my clothes in the packing cubes, and attempting to… Continue reading Friday 3/24- Saturday 3/25: Last morning at the beach, El Avión and travel home!

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Thursday 3/23: Parasailing and another beautiful beach day!

Day 13 in Costa Rica: Thursday 3/23 Our last full day in Costa Rica!! This end part of the trip seemed to speed up on me, somehow. In case you've lost track, we left home on Friday, March 10, flying overnight. We then had 5 nights in La Fortuna, then 3 nights in Monteverde, and… Continue reading Thursday 3/23: Parasailing and another beautiful beach day!

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Wednesday 3/22: Manuel Antonio National Park day

Day 12 in Costa Rica, Wednesday 3/22 Wednesday was our day to visit the famous Manuel Antonio National Park! This is the most visited national park in Costa Rica- a park full of wild animals, jungle, and beautiful beaches. Timed entrance tickets are required (purchase online only). The big debate here was if we should… Continue reading Wednesday 3/22: Manuel Antonio National Park day

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Tuesday 3/21: A “Top 10 Life Moment”- Nauyaca Waterfall, Dominical + sunsets galore

Day 11 in Costa Rica: Tuesday, 3/21 We were somehow already in the home stretch of the trip by Tuesday the 21st!! 3 full days left, and then a flight home late Friday night. The plan for Tuesday was to go to Nauyaca Falls, about an hour and 15 minutes south of Manuel Antonio near… Continue reading Tuesday 3/21: A “Top 10 Life Moment”- Nauyaca Waterfall, Dominical + sunsets galore

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Monday 3/20: Beach Day at Playa Biesanz and Playa Espadilla, plus.. surf lessons!

Day 10 in Costa Rica: Monday, 3/20 I've mentioned before that I don't love arriving to a new place after dark. When I am unfamiliar with a location, I find it generally disorienting to be attempting to get the "lay of the land" when I can't see the whole bigger picture. We arrived to Manuel… Continue reading Monday 3/20: Beach Day at Playa Biesanz and Playa Espadilla, plus.. surf lessons!

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Sunday 3/19: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

Sunday, 3/19: Day 9 in Costa Rica It was our last morning in Monteverde!! Sad!! And it was a most gorgeous, blue sky, sunny morning: Sorry, more horse pics.... hehe. Me, showered and no hat on!!! (Briefly... lol. It's so warm and sunny in Costa Rica, plus being so close to the equator, = STRONG… Continue reading Sunday 3/19: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

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Saturday 3/18: Coffee Tour, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Treehouse Restaurant

Day 8 in Costa Rica, 3/18 Saturday was our second full day in Monteverde. I had reserved a Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Tour (by Don Juan Tours) for 10 a.m. (booked in advance a few weeks ago, as it seemed popular). We got up and had breakfast. (An unrelated photo, but I really liked… Continue reading Saturday 3/18: Coffee Tour, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Treehouse Restaurant

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Friday 3/17: Santa Elena Reserve, Monteverde Brewery and a Night Tour!

Friday, 3/17: Day 7 in Costa Rica Friday morning I was excited to get up and actually see what our place looked like. It was pretty dark by the time we got there the night before. I again woke up early, before the rest of my family. It was nice at this place to have… Continue reading Friday 3/17: Santa Elena Reserve, Monteverde Brewery and a Night Tour!

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Thursday 3/16: La Fortuna waterfall, pool time and travel to Monteverde

Day 6 in Costa Rica! Thursday, 3/16. This was our last morning in La Fortuna, and sort of a transition day. I felt sad to leave this area!! I really loved everything we did, and our resort was so perfect for us. But, we still had two other areas of Costa Rica to explore, so…… Continue reading Thursday 3/16: La Fortuna waterfall, pool time and travel to Monteverde