There’s something special about packing up the car on a whim and heading somewhere new, especially as a family. Our spontaneous trip to Santa Fe turned into one of those unexpectedly perfect getaways—equal parts adventure and relaxation. From the moment we arrived at El Rey Court, we felt like we had discovered a place that truly captured the spirit of the Southwest while still being welcoming and comfortable for traveling with a toddler.
During our Colorado trip, we stayed at The Rathbone Hotel & Parlor Bar in Montrose—and it turned out to be a true gem. I was instantly drawn to this boutique hotel by its beautifully designed rooms and the stunning restaurant on-site. Housed in a historic Montrose building, the property has been thoughtfully renovated, blending classic charm with modern comfort. The spacious rooms, soaring ceilings, and meticulous attention to detail made our stay extra special. As luck would have it, our visit coincided with my birthday, so having such a gorgeous place to celebrate made the trip even more memorable. We had an incredibly comfortable stay and such a great overall experience that I couldn’t wait to share it with you all here on the blog!
We recently returned from our family trip to Colorado, where we stayed at the most charming modern, western-themed boutique hotel in Ridgway—Hotel Palomino. The property looks like a little western town straight out of a movie set! Once an old western-style building known as “Trail Town,” it’s been thoughtfully upcycled by its owners, who are Ridgway locals, into a fresh and stylish hospitality concept. I absolutely love what they’ve done to breathe new life into the place!
Andrew and I loved this boutique hotel in Venice beach, Gjelina Hotel. The eclectic interiors felt like art deco style meets French countryside, and we were obsessed! With beautiful courtyard areas, a balcony with an ocean view, and a gorgeous lobby, it felt like we were stepping into a different world. It was such a dreamy hotel, and we had an amazing time during our stay there. We wished we could have stayed for at least a week! I will be sharing more of our experience at Gjelina in this blog post.
While visiting Malibu, we stayed at the incredible Malibu Beach Inn! Located right next to Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier, this beachfront hotel offers incredible views of the ocean. We had a stunning ocean view room, and it was very relaxing being that close to the water. The sound of the ocean was so peaceful, especially for Andrew, who loves the water. The hotel interiors were incredible, every detail was amazing. My sister, who lives in Los Angeles, joined us for the night, and we had so much fun hanging out in our beautiful room. I’ll be sharing more of our stay at this boutique hotel in this blog post!
On the second day of our California trip, we left Palm Springs in the early afternoon and drove down to San Diego! After exploring Little Italy, we drove over to the Andaz in downtown to check in. We relaxed in our room for a little while and then headed up to North Park for dinner at trattoria Cori. Our room was beautiful, and it was the perfect space to unwind after our day of touring the city. The location was amazing because we were only about a 10-20 min drive away from everything we wanted to do. In this blog post, I will be sharing more about our stay at the Andaz!
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