My Favorite Travels of 2018: Photos, Tips & the Best Places to Visit each Month

brunette running through tulip field farm oregon — WOODEN SHOE TULP FARM [DRESS]

Happy 2019! Okay, okay…I know I’m about a month late (where has the year already gone?!) but for my first blog post of the new year I wanted to share a round up of all my favorite trips from 2018. It’s not only a fun way for me to look back on these amazing adventures but also share some of the best places to visit each month of the year!

Best places to visit in January: Orange County & Bahamas

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA
BAHAMAS

Leave your snow boots and rain coats behind, because you can almost always count on beautiful weather in Southern California and the Bahamas (the temps were in the high 70s when I went in January!). You can check out my Orange County guide here for some ideas for a weekend trip!

Best places to visit in February: Palm Beach, Florida

MOON RIVER DRESS | BAUBLEBAR EARRINGS
Poolside at The Colony Palm Beach

Palm Beach had long been on my bucket list and my sister and I decided to stop by on our way to a press trip in Mexico. It was a picturesque town, filled with blooming bougainvillea, high-end shoppings, beaches, and outdoor restaurants. Florida can get extremely humid so February was the perfect time to visit before the scorching summer temperatures arrived. Stay at The Colony Palm Beach (from $699/night & pet friendly) for a charming boutique hotel experience steps away from Worth Avenue Shopping District or Hilton West Palm Beach (from $270/night) for a more budget-friendly option.

What to pack:

Best places to visit in March: Almond Tree Farms in California

ALMOND TREE FARM
WOODLANDS, CALIFORNIA

You may be surprised to learn that almond trees have blossoms, but from late Feb to early March you can catch them in full bloom and are easily mistaken for cherry blossom trees! There are farms all over the Woodlands and Dixon area in Northern California.

Best places to visit in April: Charleston & D.C Cherry Blossom Festival

CHARLESTON
D.C CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Similar to the blooming of the almond trees, cherry blossom trees can be very difficult time. They are delicate flowers and rely on the right temperatures to bloom (too cold and the buds die, too hot and the petals wilt). The D.C Cherry Blossom Festival happens in late March and if you are there at just the right time (the trees are usually in full bloom for about 1-2 weeks), it will be one of the most beautiful things you will witness. I also suggest stopping by Charleston as it is a quick flight away and is full of charm and history! Stay at the Belmond Charleston Place and the State Plaza Hotel in D.C to be centrally located. Check out my D.C Cherry Blossoms travel + photo tips post here.

Best places to visit in May: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Palm Springs/Coachella

WOODEN SHOE TULIP FARM
DRESS

You don’t have to travel to the countryside in Amsterdam to see a tulip field (side note: my sister and I did in fact do that, and it was a complete fail haha). The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is a short 45 minute drive from Portland so explore the city and then take a day trip out to the farm. They have hot air balloons on the weekend (weather dependent) and they allow pets so bring your pups! Tulip season lasts much longer than cherry blossoms so you have a longer window to see them. Buy ticket here for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm (open March & April).

PALM SPRINGS [TOP|PANTS]
COACHELLA

Best places to visit in June: Montserrat Monastery & Mallorca

montserrat monestary spain day trip from barcelona best places to visit — MONTSERRAT MONASTERY, SPAIN

MALLORCA

Mallorca is one of my favorite places in the world and I was lucky enough to visit for the second time last year. My sister and I also stopped in Barcelona before continuing on to Mallorca, and we took a day trip out to the Montserrat Monastery and IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. I can’t even describe how amazing the experience was. I’ll write a blog post about getting there but in the meantime you can check out my Mallorca Travel Guide here!