a drive through vegas & phoenix

Over my Autumn break this year, Danny and I travelled to Phoenix to visit his family and my BFF, Ahlin! To break up the drive, we stopped in Vegas for a night. This was my first time in both cities! 

a little bit of Paris

a little bit of New York

a little bit of me waiting for the fountain show at the Bellagio ... maybe next time

That night we saw the Cirque du Soleil Beatles' "LOVE" show! I absolutely loved it! It was so impressive. I would highly recommend it, especially if you are a Beatles' fan. 

Somehow I only have a few pictures from Phoenix. (And zero pictures of cacti - what?!) But that just means I was too busying enjoying myself, and laughing till my eyes watered, to stop and take more pictures, right? 

In a nutshell, the weekend involved: Netflix, the best Autumn squash soup I've ever had, walks in Tempe, a round of golf (for Danny), sushi on a conveyer belt, Target adventures, painting, batting cages, Asian food, and a s'more party! 

I hit a few balls, but I have terrible form! Like, Charles Barkley when he swings a golf club. (Did I really just make that reference?)

The pros. 

Even a flat tire (which happened just after I took this picture) couldn't spoil this drive home! Such pretty views ... 

A huge THANK YOU to Aunt Terry, Uncle Dave, and Ahlin for being such fantastic hosts! Thanks for letting us crash with you guys for a few days! Can't wait to see you all again soon ... xo

boston adventures: lexington, concord, and marblehead

On our last full day of the trip, we drove out to Lexington and Concord. There, we hopped on the Liberty Ride -- a trolley that takes you through all the significant sites of these two historic towns. 

Minute Man National Historic Park. Immortalized in the Emerson Poem, "Concord Hymn", it was here that the colonists fired "the shot heard 'round the world." 

Daniel Chester French's Minute Man Statue. It was fun to learn that French was the student of May Alcott, one of Louisa May Alcott's sisters. He's also known for sculpting the famous Lincoln statue. 

North Bridge

Grave of British Soldiers

After passing through each of the stops on the trolley, we went back to our favorite stops to take a few guided tours.  

Words cannot describe how excited I was to see Orchard House!

Orchard House was the home of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women. I hold this story of the relationships between sisters so close to my heart as it is so tightly intertwined with my childhood. As sisters, we put on plays and even created our own "Pickwick Society" like the March sisters. So naturally, visiting the site where Little Women was written, brought about many emotions. 

Amos Bronson Alcott's School for Adults

The Old Manse was home to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here, he wrote his first draft of "Nature." It was also the honeymoon home of Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne.

Emerson lived and wrote for the Transcendentalist movement in this house, appropriately named, Emerson House, up until his death; almost 50 years. 

Emerson's study at the Concord Museum

Sleepy Hollow

I loved these small towns. Walking through the homes of so many American literary heroes of mine was so surreal! 

After Lexington and Concord, we drove out to another quaint town, Marblehead. My mom suggested we make a trip out here and I'm so glad we made time for it!

We ate dinner at a little restaurant on this street. 

Driving out to the light house ... 

Marblehead Lighthouse ... I've always had an affinity for lighthouses. 

And that wraps up our trip out to Boston, folks! I can't wait to get back out there one day!