From the Pacific to the Atlantic and everywhere in between, we’ve had quite a year of adventures.
We’ve shared countless experiences and travel adventures with one another. As of January 2020, the Beam Party of 2 will become the Beam Party of 3 as we add a little explorer to our family.
Our first time in the Atlantic Ocean and it did not disappoint.
Here are some key observations from our St. Augustine Beach adventure:
We fell in love with this southern city the moment we drove down Jones St. (Also known as one of most beautiful streets in the US)
The old oaks dripping in Spanish moss lined the brick laid streets and exemplify the historic homes. This city is rich in history, so much history in fact that we felt compelled to learn all about it on a classic trolley tour.
I found a decently priced day-night trolley package online and decided to indulge a little. We began the Old Town Trolley Tour by hopping on at one of the 15 stops throughout the city. During the 90 minute tour we saw famous monuments, churches, homes, cemeteries, and heard the stories to go with each. The trolley tour allowed you to hop on and off at any stop throughout the day.
We hopped off at City Market for lunch then decided to walk the shady streets of Savannah on our own.
During our own exploration we visited Forsyth Park, the cemetery and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which was absolutely stunning.
Later that evening after a delicious Greek dinner on the river (Olympia Cafe) we hopped back on our night Ghost Tour. The ghost stories told by the conductor were the best part, and we were able to explore the haunted Andrew Lowe house (we didn’t see any ghost 😉).
On our final morning we headed to Tybee Island to see what all the hype was about. It’s a classic little beach town, full of charm, old hotels, family run businesses, and a pretty neat little pier.
Overall Savannah was amazing and we’d love to come back (hopefully when the weather is a little cooler).
Tips and Advice:
Pensacola Beach was absolutely stunning. It claims to be the “whitest sands in the world” and I wouldn’t argue with that statement. The white sands and crystal clear water compares to the beaches we’ve fallen in love with in Mexico.
We stayed in a beautiful little AirB&B (Casita Sage) in Pensacola then made the short drive to Pensacola Beach for the afternoon. Beach parking was free, chair rental were free (I think we just got lucky) and the water, views, and beach were indescribably perfect.
After spending a few hours on the beach we ate at a delicious little place called The Shrimp Basket and we were not disappointed.
Our overnight stop in Pensacola exceeded our expectations and we are already planning a summer vacation there for next year!
NOLA lived up to all the hype, even for a Monday night. We stayed on Bourbon St. and Toulouse and never had a dull moment. Drinks and food, music and street performers, we experienced it all in less than 24 hours.
Of course we did all the touristy things like walk around Jackson Square, grab a couple hand grenadines, and indulge on some delicious beignets.
We enjoyed an array of oysters at several different locations, the food overall was phenomenal and we’d return for that alone! (I’d recommend specific restaurants but we went to so many places to share apps and drinks I lost track! )
Overall, a successful first stop on our 2019 road trip; next up Pensacola.
Hotel Balcony Views
Good bye B111
For the past 6 1/2 years I have worked as a high school teacher. I’ve loved every student who has walked through my doors and I pray I’ve impacted them in some way.
As some of you know, I’ve decided to make a small career move and leave high school for a middle school position. As excited as I am for the new opportunities, a supportive work family, and sweet new students, I am also a little sad.
I will immensely miss my kids; every single one of them has impacted my life and I’ve enjoyed watching them grow from goofy freshman to determined seniors with their whole lives ahead of them.
I will miss the forever friendships I’ve made with my peers, the hallway banter, and the sharing of successes and failures I’ve had with my team.
As difficult as this decision was to make, I can honestly say I AM EXCITED. Change is never easy but I truly believe God has my back on this one.
Wish me luck as I embark on my new adventure, until then, this tired teacher is going to soak up every minute of summer vacation ✌🏻☀️😎
Once again we knocked out another fabulous trip. We laid on the (cold) beach, we explored downtown, we visited museums, but most importantly we allowed ourselves to relax!
Everyone knows we love the beach, even a chilly beach like we experienced on this trip. I refused to go in the water but the bearded one was fearless and jumped right in. Once we warmed up, we walked around the Santa Monica Pier. I know it’s overly touristy but I just love the pier. There’s so much to see and experience, it’s a must if you’re in LA.
We spent the next few days of our trip exploring the city. We visited art museums, a beautiful bookstore, and the local farmers market (which I could have stayed at all day!). We literally walked miles on this trip and I still don’t think we saw enough. There’s always something to do in Los Angeles; around every corner and down every street you will find museums, art galleries, restaurants, and so much more!
Other then spending time with my brother, my absolute favorite part of LA was this pop up experience we decided to go to. It was called the I Like Scary Movies Experience and it was fabulous! We were able to experience interactive art exhibits that represented different horror films such as Nightmare on Elm St., The Shining, and quite a few more. The creativity and interactive art was the perfect way to end our first summer adventure. 
Huntsville, Texas
Home of the Bearkats
The Piney Woods
And of course The Prison (there’s actually several)
I think Huntsville gets a bad rap, you know because of the large population of prisoners and college kids, but personally I love this growing town.
According to a recent article I read, Huntsville is the 5th fastest growing city in the state. Now I know that might seem a little scary to the original Huntsvillies but I am excited about the growth and development!
Our rapidly growing town has so much to offer but yet still holds that small town authenticity.
Whether your in the mood for Japanese, Cajun, or El Salvadoran food, Huntsville offers it all. Here are some of our favorites:
We’ve pretty much grabbed a bite to eat at every restaurant, diner, and dive in Huntsville and have rarely been disappointed. This small town has a lot to offer so come check it out for yourself.
http://www.carbonerorotisserie.com/
https://www.1836steakhouse.com/
http://www.arnaudscajunkitchen.com/
Roasted crickets, slaughtered pigs, and dancing in the street…we found it all!
This was our second time on a cruise and we’ve came to the conclusion that we are just not cruise people.
We had the most fun when we were OFF the ship and able to soak up the sun and culture of Cozumel and Progresso Mexico.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of activities on the ship (including a hairy chest competition that The Bearded One partook in). There’s just so much more to see and appreciate off the ship!
Our first port was Cozumel, which we were slightly familiar with because of our first cruise. Once off the ship we grabbed a taxi and headed straight to Chankannab Beach for some much needed sand and snorkeling. The beach was beautiful, the snorkeling not so bad ( better than my first experience) and the staff attentive. We spend the whole day laying in the beach, watching the other tourists and chatting it up with our waiter Angel. He was so pleasant and beamed with pride when we asked him about his family (3 grown daughters all at university!). It was definitely a challenge to leave the beauty that is Cozumel and head back to our ship.
Cozumel is the ‘fan favorite’ but personally, I love Progresso. It may be a little run down and impoverished but it’s full of authenticity and friendly people living their best lives. The Bearded One and I occasionally like to stray and explore when we’re out and about (no worries we were perfectly safe) and on this particular trip we wandered in to the markets and it was quite the experience.
We saw fresh fruit and beautiful flowers, butchered pigs and sharks, and so much more! We also enjoyed multiple buckets of beer on the beach, fun little gifts from numerous beach vendors, and a couple of crunchy cricket snacks 😉
All in all we had an amazing vacation (we always do). The cruise staff was great, the activities plentiful, the weather fantastic, the food decent, but making memories with my forever date was the best part ❤️
Today we embark on our 5 day Yucatán Cruise. Although we’ve been to these ports on our first cruise, I am still excited! As stressful as this year (school year for all our non teacher friends) has been, I am ready to soak up the sun and put away my phone!
5 full days of sun, food, drinks, and relaxation with my numero uno.
Today we #choosefun and think you all should as well. Sometimes you just need a break and I am encouraging all of you to take one! Even if it’s just a weekend getaway with your partner, friends, or yourself, you deserve it!
Hasta luego my loves, I’ll report back on the fabulousness of our Carnival ship The Valor! 
The Adventures of Messy Bun and The Bearded One 