Emerald Lake, Lake Louise and Banff Travel Guide

A couple months ago, I ventured to Canada for the first time with Haley, one of my best friends. We've both done a ton of international travel over the years (she's who I lived in London with) but embarrassingly enough, neither of us had ever been to our most neighboring country!  We were both really craving a winter wonderland and Lake Louise had always been on both of our travel bucket lists, so we decided to plan a trip around that destination. We discovered it would be easiest to meet in Calgary (Haley was coming from Jacksonville and I was coming from Chicago) so we flew in and grabbed an Airbnb near the airport our first night (we didn't land until late!) You can find great flight deals throughout the year to YYC through sites like Skyscanner or subscriptions like Scott's Cheap Flights, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled if you know this is a trip you want to take.

There is also so much to do around Lake Louise so we decided to rent a car (with winter tires!) so we could have more control of what we saw and visit some remote "off the beaten path" sights. Our first stop? Emerald Lake Lodge. 

EMERALD LAKE LODGE

This cozy lodge is tucked away in Yoho National Park (about 2.5 hours from YYC) and is the epitome of magical.  It set the bar so high for the rest of our trip because right off the bat we felt like we were living in a whimsical snow globe! There was fresh powder everywhere and barely any people around. The lodge itself offers century-old fireplaces and an oak bar salvaged from the 1890's. The rooms are housed in separate cozy cabins while the reception and dining areas are together in a separate lodge (this is the only area of the property that has wi-fi). Haley and I had some work to do when we arrived, so we cozied up by the window in the lodge to watch the snow fall, eat some lunch and do some work. That slowly turned into spending our entire afternoon and evening chatting with the staff, ordering multiple rounds of drinks and becoming buddies with them by the fireplace until finally, we braved the cold (and large amounts of snowfall that had accrued) to venture back to our cabin. It truly looked like a winter wonderland with the twinkling lights reflecting on the snow- no photo could properly do it justice. 

The next morning we ventured back to the main lodge for breakfast (after having a slow cozy morning in our cabin drinking coffee, watching the sunrise and spending some quiet time with God). After an entire evening of snow, the property looked even more beautiful than it did the night before. We walked around the winter wonderland to take it all in (and naturally, take some photos).

I would highly recommend visiting this property for anyone looking for a place to retreat and reset. Don't plan on being very connected to the outside world (as I mentioned, service and wi-fi are spotty) but instead, bring a great book to read and let yourself unplug a little. It really set the tone for the rest of our trip to be slow, restful and reflective. I definitely want to return to this cozy cabin in the future!

From Emerald Lake Lodge, we hopped in the car and drove just under 40 minutes to our next destination:

 FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE

Staying at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has been a long time dream of mine and I was so thrilled to finally see it for myself! For starters, there is hands down no better place to stay in Lake Louise (this is the only property right on the lake!) Haley and I felt a little silly to realize the lake would already be frozen by the time we arrived (we had long pictured the piercing blue waters that Lake Louise is famous for) but we both agreed once we got there that we were so glad to experience it in the winter. There was a beautiful magic so different than what we've previously seen in photos and we were so thankful for the unique experience (and now we have reason to come back in the summer!) 

The property itself is gorgeous and offers plenty to do no matter what time of year you visit. There was tons of ski festivities happening nearby (although we opted to stick to the on-site dining and hiking around the property).

The concierge team was so helpful in pointing us to the overlook path we wanted to hike (and even loaned us grips to strap to our boots so we wouldn't slip!) They were also available to point you to any other activities you may want to book (snowmobiling, skiing- whatever your heart desires!) 

For food, we spent a lot of time in the Lakeview Lounge, which offers incredible views overlooking the lake (along with delicious food!) We both commented how lovely everyone on the staff was. Not only were they charming and hospitable, but they were people from all over the world. We befriended our server from France the first afternoon we spent there and the next night we became fast friends with our Irish bartender. We may have been in Canada, but I loved sharing conversation with fascinating people from all over the world! We also enjoyed a delicious breakfast (also with beautiful views) at Poppy Brasserie one morning and an incredible fondue dinner at Wallister Stube (the fine dining restaurant) one evening. We were so impressed with all of the dining options at the hotel-we never left the property for any meal!

I would highly, highly recommend staying here for anyone who has ever dreamed of seeing Lake Louise. As I previously mentioned, there's just no better option than being right next to it (plus the property is stunning, the food is delicious and the staff couldn't have been more wonderful). 

After an amazing two nights at Fairmont Lake Louise, we drove a quick half-hour into the town of Banff to stay at another amazing Fairmont property: 

FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS

Located right in the heart of Banff National Park, Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is known as Canada's "Castle in the Rockies." It's been in business for over 125 years and is truly a once in a lifetime experience, no matter what time of year you visit! While Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was great for the proximity to Lake Louise, Fairmont Banff Springs is ideal for those wanting to be close to the town of Banff. Staying here put us close to dozens of wonderful restaurants (the property alone has dozens and the town has even more!) Some of the ones we experienced included: 

AT FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS:

Rundle Lounge: A beautiful place to relax and enjoy Banff's best mountain views. We loved sitting here for drinks one afternoon to take in the scenery around us. 

STOCK Food & Drink: We popped in here for coffee + snacks a few times, but our most memorable treat was hands down the dressed hot chocolate. 

IN THE TOWN OF BANFF:

The Maple Leaf: We loved coming here for drinks and charcuterie (Canada has some seriously incredible meat so this was a great place to sample their variety). It had such a cozy ambiance and the staff was fantastic!

Saltlik: We had an amazing dinner here one night (with a cozy lodge-style ambiance). Both of us loved our meals and our server was wonderful too. 

I would highly recommend staying at Fairmont Banff Springs for anyone wanting to spend some time in the heart of this adorable mountain town. It was a totally different experience than Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise but I really enjoyed both experiences, both properties and all of the staff at both properties that we worked with. 

I was really happy with the way that Haley and I spaced out our time in this region of Canada, so I'd definitely recommend replicating our same itinerary. Starting at Emerald Lake Lodge and slowly working our way back toward Calgary (stopping at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and ending at Fairmont Banff Springs) made for a shorter drive back to YYC and let us see a variety of isolated nature but also a bustling little mountain town. The combination gave us so much beauty to see and a variety of things to do. Some general things to know before you plan a trip of your own? 

• Be mindful of what kind of experience you want to have. If you prefer activities like hiking or water sports, aim to visit in the summer months. If you want to enjoy a winter wonderland with plenty of snow, aim for the winter. Lake Louise is typically frozen over starting as early as November and doesn't usually start to thaw until June.

• Factor in how much time you desire to spend in each place. Haley and I had 6 days in this region but it did feel like the time flew by (we spent a fair amount of time getting to and from each destination- especially with Calgary on the front and back end) so you might want to allow more time if you want to really do all of these places justice.

• Remember the exchange rate. Prices may seem astronomical if you're visiting from the US, but the conversion actually works in our favor. You'll end up spending less than what you actually think you are, but regardless it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the exchange rate at the time you're traveling.

• Stick to the speed limit. While driving through the parks there were times it was completely empty and it felt like we were traveling at a normal pace. Unfortunately, we were stopped for speeding (and ticketed- UGH!) so be sure you don't make the same mistake that we did!

Any other questions you have about planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks so much to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and to Fairmont Banff Springs for providing us with an incredible stay at both of your properties! We absolutely loved our time here and hope to be back in the future!

xx

Whitney

Whistler, Canada Travel Guide

If you hop in the car (or even more conveniently, a ground shuttle from YVR) and head north from Vancouver, in under two hours you'll find yourself in an idyllic, alpine village known as Whistler. Named after the whistle-like noises made by the furry marmots that populate the area, Whistler is one of the world's most popular ski destinations in the world. But even if you're not much of a ski bum, believe me when I say that you'll still love paying this place a visit in the winter (in fact, we didn't do any skiing and still had an amazing time!) My dear friend Haley and I spent 3 magical days exploring this village and I'd recommend every second of our itinerary to anyone. Here's what it included:

SNOWBOOTS: TARGET, COAT: MICHAEL KORS, SCARF: NORDSTROM, HAT: NORDSTROM

FOUR SEASONS WHISTLER

We stayed at Four Seasons, nestled right in Whistler village. Aside from the breathtaking views and convenient location, I've been an advocate for Four Seasons properties for a long while now. Whether in Canada or Paris or several corners of the United States, the staff always greets you with a warm, genuine hospitality. Some things I especially loved about this particular property?

• S'mores made daily at the outdoor fire pit for all guests. 

• Massive outdoor heated pool (AKA giant hot tub).

• Custom hydrating spa treatments available at the spa to combat the dry climate (I saw such a difference in my skin after a hydrating facial).

• Fantastic dining options (both in-room and at Sidecut- their steak house). 

• Friendly staff (as always). 

• Shuttle services that run to Upper Village. 

Whether you choose to stay in one of the 291 lodge guest rooms or one of the 95 suites, you're guaranteed to love your stay at Four Seasons Whistler + I can't recommend it enough! 

CANADIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES: DOG SLEDDING + SNOWMOBILING

If you're not skiing in Whistler, what do you do? That question was easily answered thanks to Canadian Wilderness Adventures, who filled two of our days with incredible experiences I won't ever forget. 

Dog sledding has always been a bucket list item for me and it was a dream come true getting to do this in a place as beautiful as Whistler. From the moment we arrived, it was evident how happy these pups were (I've never seen so many wagging tails!) We got to meet the dogs before our run (which included lots of wet kisses) and learn a bit about their day to day. Contrary to popular belief, not all sled dogs are huskies. In fact, Whistler is actually too warm of a climate for pure huskies! Instead, Canadian Wilderness Adventures has a blend of mutts that are well suited for this climate (regardless of the breed they were all adorable)

These dogs genuinely love pulling the sleds (in fact, several who were "on break" and not strapped in the harness still ran alongside us the whole time and kept jumping into the mix because they wanted to join in on the fun. The staff knows every dog by name and it's clear they're all loved and taken extremely good care of.

On our run we got to see beautiful snowy trails throughout the Callaghan Valley (and of course had plenty of entertainment alone just watching the pups!) We stopped a few times for photos and even had the opportunity to mush ourselves. It was hands down an experience of a lifetime and something I can't recommend doing enough. 

SNOWBOOTS: TARGET, COAT: MICHAEL KORS, SCARF: NORDSTROM, HAT: NORDSTROM

COAT: MICHAEL KORS, SCARF: NORDSTROM, HAT: NORDSTROM

Another adventure that I was a lot more nervous about was snowmobiling (perhaps because I was responsible for operating large machinery at a rapid pace through snowy mountain peaks). But after detailed instruction from our guide and a few awkward minutes of getting my bearings, pretty soon I was zooming through powder wanting to go faster than our guide recommended (which was definitely for the best- although he did let us "open up" for a bit at the end). We did the 3 hour wilderness run, which carved us through the remote backcountry of the Callaghan Valley. We rode through thick forested trails and made our way up Sproatt Mountain for unparalleled views of the area. It was seriously some of the most beautiful scenery I can ever remember seeing.

SNOWBOOTS: TARGET, COAT: MICHAEL KORS, SCARF: NORDSTROM, HAT: NORDSTROM

Both dog sledding and snowmobiling were seriously experiences of a lifetime and items I can't recommend doing enough- especially with Canadian Wilderness Adventures. Their office is conveniently located in the heart of Whistler and everyone on their staff was wonderful. 

 

STONESEDGE KITCHEN

We popped in this cute little lodge for breakfast one morning and loved the cozy mountain atmosphere (with great views and delicious food (we both ordered the traditional breakfast). It's open for both brunch and dinner and celebrates modern Canadian cooking; inspired by the mountains, fields, farms and waters of the Pacific Northwest. 

ALTA BISTRO

We loved retreating to this cozy French bistro for dinner one night. The menu is seasonal and showcases traditional French cooking with only the best ingredients in season. The wine menu was extensive, the staff was wonderful (our server brought me a ginger seltzer concoction when I declined wine and commented I wasn't feeling well) and the overall ambiance was warm and enjoyable. 

SIDECUT

Probably my favorite meal of the trip was at Sidecut in the Four Seasons. Named for the curvature on the side of a ski or snowboard, Sidecut offers a modern take on traditional mountain cuisine balanced with healthy, lighter fare. Everything we had was amazing (my favorite was the British Columbia Salmon Sashimi with maple soy glaze, ginger, garlic and wasabi). 

A few other things you should know about Whistler?

• Car optional: We took a ground shuttle from YVR and simply walked around the village from our hotel so a car definitely isn't necessary. In fact, Whistler’s main village area at the bottom of Whistler Mountain is a no-car zone. That said, should you prefer to drive your hotel should offer parking and it's less than 2 hours away from Vancouver. 

• Après ski is a must: Regardless of whether or not you ski, this village is busting with restaurants, bars, and cafés offering deals in the late afternoon. Most of these places realize guests are coming straight off the mountain, so there’s definitely a relaxed and casual atmosphere in the village. Either way, pop into one of the countless establishments and warm up with a cup of mulled wine or another treat. 

• It's great anytime of year: Whether you prefer a winter wonderland like we experienced or summer activities like hiking, biking and water sports- Whistler has it all. I'm told it's an amazing place to visit year round- just depends what you're looking for!

Anything else you want to know about planning a trip to Whistler? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks so much for stopping by and stay tuned for more Canadian adventures in my next post about Banff, Lake Louise and Emerald Lake! 

xx

Whitney

Best Destinations of 2017

As each year closes, I can’t help but feel that this one came more quickly than the last, and man- that’s certainly true of 2017. That can be discouraging though, can’t it? Every year, we set audacious goals for everything that we want to accomplish in the months ahead. But before we know it, it’s over (often far before we’ve accomplished all we set out to do). 

Last year at this time I was convinced by the end of 2017 I’d be living in London. Though I’ve put forth great effort, I’m technically no closer to that goal now than I was 365 days ago. Life is funny like that, isn’t it? If I had to guess, I’m sure you have some sort of “London” of your own. 

If you’re circumstances aren’t as different as you hoped they’d be right now, you’re not alone. And while that can drive you mad at times, this year I’ve learned that life is a lot more about enjoying the journey than simply arriving at a destination (and yes, I realize how terribly cliche that sounds… I’m rolling my eyes even as I type it). 

No, 2017 didn’t deliver me to my goal of living in London. It did however, write some incredible chapters in my story of life that I can’t imagine living without now. It took me to new corners of the world and connected me with wonderful people I already love dearly. It humbled me to do things I said I’d never do and taught me valuable lessons I’ll keep forever. It knocked me down and made me cry, but taught me the resilience to get back up. It made me realize no time is wasted if you keep your eyes open to appreciate the gifts along the way. 

This time of year, we see lots of “year in review” posts on social media. While we must remember these are highlight reels (usually only showing the good things, not the struggles), I still think it’s a beautiful way we can celebrate how far we’ve all come together. But I also think when we can share what we’ve learned with each other, it provides an opportunity for all of us to gain wisdom and insight heading into a new year. 

I visited over 12 countries and 50 cities in 2017, so trying to recap all of that would take me an entire year in itself! But since I shared some of my top trips from 2016, along with a valuable lesson I learned in each place, I thought I’d at least share my highlights again from the past year. I hope it not only inspires you to see some of these places for yourself, but that you gain encouragement from some of my greatest takeaways from the year. 

FRANCE

I couldn’t pick one single destination from my road trip through France, because each place I visited was unforgettable. For two weeks this spring, I drove all across this country with various friends. I started in Toulouse and drove to Montpellier, Saint Remy de Provence, Aix en Provence, Valensole, Gordes, Menerbes, Lyon, Dijon, Etretat, Mont Saint Michel, Loire Valley and made a few stops in Paris along the way. Between seeing the lavender fields like I’ve always dreamed of, connecting with new friends and chatting for hours into the night under the Eiffel Tower, and discovering tiny villages I didn’t even know existed, my two weeks in France were easily some of my favorite this entire year. There were nights I stayed in 5 star hotels and was treated like royalty, and also nights that I shared an Airbnb with strangers (with no AC in the heat of the summer too). There were times I was anxious and had no idea where I was sleeping the next night, but also times when I was so relaxed I’d fall asleep in sun while reading my book. I got a police escort off a pedestrian bridge. I attended a French press event where I had no clue what was going on because it was all in French. I tasted wine from (arguably) the most prestigious region in the world. I spent time with so many different people and time wandering through various bits of the country by myself. Much like life in general, France provided a variety of experiences and emotions, highs and lows, but all weaving together an incredible chapter and some of my favorite memories of the year. 

CANADA

I’m a 7 on the Enneagram (a personality test I’m fascinated by). 7’s are labeled “The Enthusiast” because well, we’re pretty excited about everything. At our best, we view the world in child-like wonder, dream up crazy big ideas and have more fun than most people are capable of having. But the pitfall of a 7 is that we can be so preoccupied by the future or “riding our next high” that we miss out on the present. 

I start with that explanation because I'm very much guilty of always romanticizing the grand adventure of Europe. Don’t get me wrong- a lot of it is for good reason. Europe easily holds the large majority of my favorite places in the world and I feel like it “fits me” in more ways than I can count. But because it’s harder to get to it can feel like a larger or “more special” experience than a domestic trip. So as a 7 who always wants more, More, MORE!!! this is very seductive. So seductive in fact, you could accidentally neglect the amazing places around you. This is exactly what I’d done with Canada- up until last month (travel guides coming next month!)

I couldn’t have been more impressed with the natural beauty I witnessed in Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, Banff and Whistler. They were the kind of place that take your breath away and leaves you simply standing in wonder, trying not to drool. It was the most I’ve ever been still while traveling. Not running around to see sights or hustling to make all the museums or stuffing my face at every restaurant possible. Instead, we spent slow cozy morning by the fire and taking in the views. Cell service was spotty, which forced us to unplug and be in the moment. It was unlike most other trips I’ve ever taken, but in a wonderful sort of way that I really needed. 

This trip reminded me that some of the most beautiful gifts in life are closer than we think. This is true both in the literal sense of neighboring destinations that aren’t oceans away, but also in a figurative sense. Slow cozy mornings or unplugging from distractions or pausing to appreciate the beauty of nature around us— these are all rich gifts we can tap into from anywhere in the world. So why don’t we more often?

PORTUGAL

I loved visiting Lisbon, Porto and Madeira, but the stories I want to share for this particular blog were from Lisbon and Madeira.

LISBON

Last August on a boat in Croatia, I met a woman named Paula, with whom I became fast friends. She was exotic and gorgeous and quintessentially Portuguese. She shared my love of travel and fascinated me with her stories from adventures around the world. At the end of the day, we exchanged emails and she told me to contact her if I ever came to Lisbon. Fast forward to this spring, and I was booking at ticket to Portugal to meet up with some friends. Naturally, I wrote Paula to see if she’d want to meet for lunch before the rest of the group got in. 

It would have been great if Paula simply said yes. I would have been keen to reconnect and possibly pick her brain for some recommendations. But instead, Paula picked me up from the airport and took me into her house for a homemade Portuguese meal on her balcony, overlooking Lisbon. We caught up on life from the last few months- she told me about her trip to Japan while I told her about my coast to coast road trip. She even wrapped up a Lisbon travel book as a gift for me and wrote out a detailed itinerary with her best recommendations for my allotted amount of time in her city. We had the loveliest afternoon and I didn’t want it to end. 

Lucky for me, she ended up joining my friend Caitlin (another fast friend I met from traveling) and I for dinner that night. She took us to a trendy, bustling restaurant full of locals that we definitely wouldn’t have found on our own. She ordered our food and drink in her native Portuguese tongue. We sat there for hours swapping travel stories, eating course after course of amazing local cuisine I felt so much gratitude well up from my bones I could have cried. Sure, I was in an incredible city I’d wanted to visit for a while. But I was there with two fascinating women whose friendship I’d acquired from getting out in the world and connecting with the people in it. And it all sparked from striking up a conversation with a stranger on a boat. 

How many amazing connections like this do we miss on a daily basis? Sure, we don’t have time to be best friends with everyone and I can certainly respect being thoughtful about who and what you give your time to. With that said, I’d also argue most of us operate day in and day out like robots- speaking only to the people we know or addressing strangers when communication is required to meet a need of ours. But this friendship I made with Paula makes me think about random passerby’s a bit differently though. What story does my Uber driver have? Or the man sitting next to me at our gate at the airport? We all come into contact with countless strangers day in and day out, and they all have a story. And if we aren’t willing to strike up friendly conversation, we’re going to miss a lot of fascinating ones. 

MADEIRA

This place was incredible simply for its beauty (read more about what to do here).

But what I loved so much about this trip was the company. I traveled here with other travel bloggers- friends I’d met from different corners of the world. Like Paula, they were the kind of friendships that happen instantaneously because you just click so well. So when I had booked my flight to London this spring, knowing I’d make it to some new places too, they were the first ones I reached out to. One of them suggested Madeira, and to be honest I had never even heard of it. That didn’t deter me of course (one of my goals every year is to go somewhere I didn’t even know existed) but it did make for a particularly memorable moment.  

We had spent the first day catching up since we lived in different cities around the world (they’re in Berlin, London and Austin). So on the second day, we decided to go explore. We had a rental car and drove up to Pico Do Arieiro, the highest point on the island. It was a pretty tumultuous drive up: lots of hairpin turns and drop off cliffs and literally required driving through the clouds to reach the summit (which meant very low visibility at times). We all pulled together to safely arrive at the top for easily one of the most impressive views we’d ever seen. 

There were so many things about that moment I would have never seen coming. I didn’t know I’d be back in Europe on another open ended trip. I didn’t know I’d make friends over here I connect with on a deeper level and love traveling with so much. I didn’t even know this entire island existed, much less this incredible outlook. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it reminded me that while some things won’t look different a year from now (and that can be frustrating) some things will lead you down a wild path of beautiful twists and turns that lead you to asking (in the best kind of sense) “How did I wind up here?"

CHICAGO

Considering I moved to Chicago in September, this destination wasn’t exactly a “trip."  Even still, this last season has been one of the top highlights of my year and I couldn’t not include it. I explained here that I decided to come to Chicago when I couldn’t get a visa to London, but I still really wanted to try out life in a new city. My hope was honestly to find something to replace the desire for London, (which seemed like an easier solution than finding a visa) but that’s not what happened. Instead, I found a new kind of appreciation for another city I also love dearly - just in a different way. And while I could rave on and on about why Chicago is so fascinating and all there is to do there, I’ll save that for my travel guides (one is here but I’m working on a 2.0 now that I’ve lived here!)

What I want to focus on about Chicago here is all that it taught me. It was here I realized even if my year may not have gone exactly as I would have planned it to, that didn’t mean it wasn’t still a great year. Chicago enriched my life in more ways than I can count. 

I was able to fall in love with another great city and get to know so many intricate details  that you just can’t appreciate as a visitor: knowing your way around, having your “regular spots”, mastering the public transit… it all feels incredibly gratifying.

I was able to go from seeing some family I love once every year or two, to living in their guest room and doing day to day life together. We shared countless meals. I got to see my little cousins at swimming or gymnastics and hear about their day at school. I got to know all of them even better and love them even more now because of it. 

I was able to experience being “the new girl”. I went to countless dinners with people I barely knew (or didn’t know at all!) and slowly, over time, got to experience how good it feels when groups of friends welcome you with open arms and include you in their plans for brunch or dinner parties or Halloween. 

And man, I was able to learn so much just from dating (I’ve never been on more dates in a condensed period of time in my entire life!) I actually stayed put in one place long enough to date the same person for a while (not just be a perpetual casual dater like I’d been the last few years). I was able to see first hand that sometimes the really hot guy you’re so excited to go out with ends up being really dull and not that interesting, while the guy who's "cute enough" at first glance actually can end up blowing you away. I learned honest feedback and communication is how we learn and grow from dating, even when ghosting seems easier (I experienced both being ghosted and being the one tempted to ghost myself). I went on a couple terrible dates that make hilarious stories now, but also some amazing ones with great guys I'll definitely keep in touch with.

Chicago let me “start from scratch” and ask myself things like “What are you looking for in a church? In a partner? In a friend group?” Because when you start over somewhere new, you get to choose the foundation for how you build on all of those things. So whether or not I build future seasons in Chicago or in London or in another corner of the world, I’m infinitely grateful for all the things Chicago has taught me about who I am and what I want out of my life that will make future seasons even sweeter. 

The thing about reflecting on the good stuff in life is that it usually leads you to remember even more good stuff. Typing all of this brings back dozens of other stories I want to tell: meet cutes about new friends in Prague, singing “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway in Boston, my entire coast to coast road trip from the spring, Jackson Hole with my best friends, Greece with another best friend… so much has happened this year! But in effort to keep this succinct (and so I can go get ready to ring in the New Year in London tonight!) I’ll simply end on this note: you may not be exactly where you want to be in life right now, and 2018 may not take you anywhere close to where you think you’re going either.  But there is so much life to be lived and stories to be told as each day goes by. So whatever happens, let's be sure to look closely at all the goodness that’s around us and enjoy the journey along the way.

Wishing you an amazing New Year's Eve tonight! I'm in London and will be sharing our celebration (several hours ahead of the US time zones!) so follow along in real time on Insta-stories. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!

xx

Whitney