B Just off the coast of southern California, there’s an enormous, record-holding sea cave that almost no one sees. Named from its colorful rock formations, lichens, and algae, the Painted Cave (the second largest sea cave in the entire world!) plunges a quarter-mile deep into the side of Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park.
R Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located just a few miles west of Las Vegas and encompasses 195,819 acres within the Mojave Desert. This beautiful place features a one-way 13-mile scenic drive, hiking and trails, plants and wildlife, geology, camping, cultural resources and much more. If you’re ever staying in Vegas, I highly recommend driving out to see it!
V A luxurious and quiet escape from the Vegas frenzy, the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas is my favorite place to stay in the city. It is blissfully smaller and feels more private than other Four Seasons, while consistent with their signature high-end experience.
W Spring is here, and so is the super bloom! We went on a little road trip to see the wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument, and it was amazing! 🙂 The rolling hillsides are covered in flowers; shimmering in gold, buttercream yellow, and soft blue, as they sway in the spring breeze. Near Soda Lake, patches of amber orange flowers mix among vibrant purple blossoms.
B It was my baby Ocean’s very first time on a boat (at 4 months old)! We went on a fun sunset sailing cruise in beautiful San Francisco Bay! I think that the best way to see this incredible city is from the water, as the sun is setting over the Pacific Ocean. There’s nothing more serene, romantic, and magical than sailing at sunset! 🙂
M The day my son, Ocean, was born was the most amazing, most painful, most difficult, most beautiful, and most transformative day of my life! Remembering this day is the best feeling in the world. I learned that just because something is painful or difficult, doesn’t mean it’s bad. Pain and pleasure, struggle and strength, life and death — they’re all intertwined. Our judgments of “good” and “bad” are meaningless. We are capable of doing impossibly difficult things.
1 The beach is one of the most wonderfully romantic and naturally beautiful places for taking maternity photos. Even if you’re camera shy, you’ll regret not capturing the amazing moments of your pregnancy later — I promise! 😉 Here are some tips for a gorgeous (and fun!) beach photo shoot.
2 My pregnancy journey — as incredible yet challenging as it was — gave me more than a child; it gave me a new perspective, and it was empowering. My son showed me a whole different kind of love that I had never known. It was a revelation. Life became about living beyond yourself; about being bigger and better. Here are some of the things that I learned along the way.
T No matter where I am in the world, or how far my travels have taken me, when I walk through the door at the Ritz-Carlton, I feel at home. The Maison Orleans is the exclusive “hotel within a hotel” on the Club Level of the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, and features personalized concierge services, a business center, and suites inspired by the mansions of the Garden District. We were lucky to celebrate the holidays and spend Christmas here!
M Despite being 6 months pregnant and wildly inexperienced, this camping trip started me on the path toward some incredible outdoor experiences. Thanks to a water taxi and gentle to moderate grade terrain, you don’t have to be an expert backpacker to enjoy the beauty of the 20 Lakes Basin, located just east of Yosemite National Park.
