 Sydney and Jon, clients of Travel Consultant Christine Wolff, recently returned home from a 4-night trip to Las Vegas. They planned the trip to celebrate Sydney's birthday, but little did she know that Jon and Christine were planning an EPIC surprise proposal! Check out Sydney and Jon's testimonials about the proposal, Christine's testimonial about planning the trip and surprise, and to see the beautiful photos from the proposal below! Sydney:“I dreamed of the day I would meet a man like Jon and he would ask me to marry him. I am so excited that he was able to propose on our first big trip together alone! Hearing about all of the work Jon did with our travel agent [Christine Wolff] to plan this dreamy proposal in Vegas was amazing. It happened while riding on the gondola at the Venetian and reading “Will you marry me?” written in the clouds of the canal. It was like a movie! Everyone was so accommodating afterwards as we walked around the property with a photographer getting pictures. It was a trip I will never forget!” Jon:"When we began planning this trip, Christine was very patient with all of the changes and our questions. With the way of the world in 2020, the trip went from a large group to just me and Sydney. I knew that this was when I was going to ask Sydney to be my forever. Proposing is stressful enough, but having Christine able to make things happen for us made my proposal everything I wanted it to be. I wasn't even sure if the best way to ask her was in Vegas, but Christine gave me options and let me choose the perfect way to ask Sydney to be my wife. She was available at all times while we were on the trip and made us feel special with gifts of congratulations after Sydney said YES! I highly recommend using her and Brentwood Travel." Christine:"Sydney and Jon came to me back in June to plan a fun Vegas getaway for Sydney’s birthday! Not too long after we booked their trip, Jon reached out to me to plan several spa reservations, shows, dinner reservations, and an amazing proposal for his girlfriend! Of course, this was all going to be a surprise for Sydney. Jon and I spent the next two months planning multiple surprises for each day of the trip to make Sydney’s birthday weekend special. He wanted to make sure that she felt extremely pampered and special leading up to the days of the proposal. After going back and forth with all the options for an epic proposal, Jon and I decided he would propose to her at the beautiful Venetian Resort on a private gondola ride! We worked directly with the hotel to plan an elaborate proposal. I made sure to get Jon into contact with one of the property’s event coordinators to project the words “Will You Marry Me?” into the sky of the resort while they rode on the gondola, order a beautiful floral arrangement for Sydney after she said yes, and arrange a professional photographer for photos during and after the proposal. Planning this proposal was so special for me because I recently got engaged and married myself. I absolutely loved working with Jon to make this an amazing weekend for Sydney and was so happy to be a part of the day they will remember for the rest of their lives! Jon and Sydney— Congratulations again! I wish you both nothing but the best and cannot wait to see what future adventures you two will have together!" Interested in planning the proposal of a lifetime? Contact Christine Wolff to start planning today! Call her at 314-439-5700 ext. 134 or email her 
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 When you work in the travel industry your resolution list doesn't always include just diet and exercise; instead, it's where to travel next! Some of our staff members have shared where they hope to travel in 2020 that they have not visited before. We wish everyone a Happy New Year and we hope you complete your travel resolutions, too!  Ashley Curry- Walt Disney World "I am hoping to go to Disney World in October for the 50th anniversary." Brenna Shea- Boston, Massachusetts "This summer I'm planning on taking a trip to Boston and Cape Cod!" Carrie Fry- Australia or Alaska "Fingers crossed we can do Australia in 2021, but I’ll be happy with an Alaska cruise." Cathy Robinson- AmaWaterways Rhone River cruise "I'm hoping in late summer to sail with AmaWaterways on the 'Colors of Provence' Rhone River sailing- visiting wonderful little towns & experiencing local vintages like Beaujolais & Corte du Rhone." Cheryl Hegger- Anywhere! Christine Wolff- All around the world! "I plan on traveling to Puerto Vallarta in the Spring, Florida in the Summer, Iceland in September and Ireland in October!" Christy Sorth- Taiwan "All year I have been reading travel blogs learning more about Taiwan. From the friendly people to the amazing food, I hope to travel to this destination soon!" Dagmar Morrison- Mediterranean cruise "A Mediterranean cruise is on my bucket list!" Lynne Meyer- Cancun, Mexico "My family and I plan to go to Cancun and stay at the Marriott Casa Magna Resort in June." Melanie Muchnick- Park City, Utah "We recently bought a condo in Park City so we plan on traveling there and possibly taking a beach vacation!" Mickey Gaona- Europe "We would love to get back to Italy and Greece. Or our easy go-to is Florida!" Trish Roth- Cancun, Mexico "We have another trip to Cancun booked for last week of March!" To book your 2021 resolution trip contact one of our travel specialists! |
 Club Med Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie, FL |  A friend at Club Med Sandpiper |  Another friend at Club Med Sandpiper |
Brenna Shea, Marketing Associate
 Brenna in Fort Myers, FL in August |  Pool views in Fort Myers |  Sunset cruise in Fort Myers |
Carrie Fry, Travel Consultant
 Carrie in Egypt in February |  Cabo's blue waters in November |  New Orleans classic hurricanes in March |
Cheryl Hegger, Travel Consultant
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Christine Wolff, Travel Consultant
 Christine in San Francisco, CA  Malibu, California |  Monterey Bay, California  Yosemite National Park |  Lake Crescent, Washington  The Golden Gate Bridge |
Melanie Muchnick, Travel Consultant
 Melanie and her husband in Park City, Utah  Cotton candy skies |  Beautiful fall foliage  Melanie on the golf course |  Melanie's daughters in Downtown Park City  Hiking in Utah |
Mickey Gaona, Travel Consultant
 Mickey in Ashville, NC at the Biltmore Estate |  Mickey & her family at Perfect Day at CoCoCay with Royal Caribbean |
Trish Roth, Travel Consultant
 Trish & her husband, Mike, at Breathless Punta Cana in February |  Trish and Mike at Breathless Punta Cana |
 Trish & her daughter, Cassidy, on her Senior trip |  Cassidy & Trish at Dreams Playa Mujeres in March |  Cassidy & Trish at the resort's pool |
Goodbye 2020 & Hello 2021!
The second I knew that COVID had officially killed all our 2020 international travel plans, I knew I had to plan a great adventure that was not only SAFE but was also domestic. With my love for travel, there was no way I was going to be cooped up for months on end this whole year and NOT travel as well. So a two-week road trip along the western coast visiting different National Parks seemed like the most ideal plan since we could be socially distant and outside as much as possible!
Our two-week road trip started in Seattle, Washington and ended in Malibu, California and totaled 2,871 miles! We made so many stops along the way at very notable destinations like Olympic National Park, Cannon Beach, Redwoods, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, just to name a few!
Today I will be highlighting the second week of our trip! Click here to read about the first week of our trip. Stayed tuned for another blog going in depth about our trip to Yosemite National Park, COMING SOON!
Our two-week road trip started in Seattle, Washington and ended in Malibu, California and totaled 2,871 miles! We made so many stops along the way at very notable destinations like Olympic National Park, Cannon Beach, Redwoods, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, just to name a few!
Today I will be highlighting the second week of our trip! Click here to read about the first week of our trip. Stayed tuned for another blog going in depth about our trip to Yosemite National Park, COMING SOON!
Day Seven: Driving to San Francisco
(Driving to San Francisco and exploring San Francisco)
We woke up this morning in the Redwoods. We said goodbye to our friends who had joined us for week one of our adventure, then hit the road for San Francisco with a drive through the Avenue of the Giants and a pit stop at Bodega Bay along our way!
The drive from our Airbnb near Redwoods National & State Park to San Francisco was a total of 6 hours long. We broke up the drive with a stop at Bodega Bay. Before our stop at the Bay, we drove through the Avenue of the Giants to see some more Redwoods!
After driving through the Avenue of the Giants, we had quite a bit of time before we reached Bodega Bay. Most of our drive was through hazy air from the nearby wildfires in California. Overall this drive was extremely beautiful through mountainous hills and Northern California wineries. Along the way, we grew quite hungry as lunch time neared, and what better food to eat while in California than a burger from In-N-Out?
After driving through the Avenue of the Giants, we had quite a bit of time before we reached Bodega Bay. Most of our drive was through hazy air from the nearby wildfires in California. Overall this drive was extremely beautiful through mountainous hills and Northern California wineries. Along the way, we grew quite hungry as lunch time neared, and what better food to eat while in California than a burger from In-N-Out?
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We finally reached Bodega Bay which meant we were only one hour from San Francisco! Bodega Bay is a small town located along State Route 1 on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor, an inlet of Bodega Bay on the Pacific Coast. We stopped at Bodega Harbor for some bird watching and views before continuing our drive to San Francisco. The tidal action nearby transforms this harbor into a vast mudflat making it extremely attractive to many waterbirds year-round. We found some sea lions here as well!
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We decided from here that it was finally time to make our way to San Francisco! After an hour of driving, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into the city! Not long after we reached our adorable Airbnb that was located just a short walk from the Marina District and only one block away from The Presidio of San Francisco, a 1,500-acre park on a former military post which is now home to miles of trails, a golf course, and Crissy Field with Golden Gate Bridge views. This amazing Victorian cottage was originally built in 1890 as a restaurant that served the officers of the Presidio and was then converted into a home in the 1930’s. Our unit was located on the first floor and was more of a studio apartment while the owners live upstairs. We had privacy our entire stay with a private entrance and we also enjoyed the beautiful garden out back as well. The owners of this home are both authors and boy did that show! They had an amazing book collection available to their guests and all their furniture was beautifully antique and ornate. This adorable little studio was our home for the next 3 nights and it was the perfect spot for us to enjoy the beautiful city of San Francisco.
We did not make it to our Airbnb until 4:30 PM this day and after 6 hours of driving you could say we were pretty tired, so we made it an easy night and took an evening stroll through the surrounding neighborhoods.
We did not make it to our Airbnb until 4:30 PM this day and after 6 hours of driving you could say we were pretty tired, so we made it an easy night and took an evening stroll through the surrounding neighborhoods.
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Day Eight: San Francisco
Thanks to our rest the evening before, we woke up early and ready to explore San Francisco on day eight! We left our Airbnb around 8:00 AM and waked over to The Presidio to pick up some Starbucks and continued our stroll down to the water.
On our way down to the water, we walked through the Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of Fine Arts is located within the Marina District and is a monumental structure originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition to exhibit works of art. It is one of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition.
On our way down to the water, we walked through the Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of Fine Arts is located within the Marina District and is a monumental structure originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition to exhibit works of art. It is one of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition.
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After walking the Palace of Fine Arts, we continued down to the Marina where we continued our stroll making it to Crissy Field East Beach. Here there were so many people and their dogs. So many dogs, I loved it! Everyone wore masks and kept socially distant which made us much more comfortable despite the number of people at the beach. In the distance, is the famous Golden Gate Bridge. It was quite a gloomy day, so we were glad we had the entire next day to actually walk across the bridge!
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After walking the beach and admiring all the dogs running around, we decided it was time to make our stroll back to the Airbnb to continue our day. We took the long route to walk past some beautiful San Francisco homes as this city is known for their beautiful homes and architecture.
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The remainder of our day was spent exploring Fisherman’s Wharf, then Chinatown as well as the Haight Ashbury area! Fisherman’s Wharf is on the Northern waterfront and is one of the city’s busiest tourist areas, consisting of a bunch of little souvenir shops and restaurants. Again here, everyone is required to wear masks and everyone was wearing masks so that made us feel better about being here. I could imagine on a normal day (not during a pandemic) that this place would have been 3x as crowded. The colony of sea lions was the main reason I wanted to visit this spot as this area is known for that. Another reason was to see another view of Alcatraz Island. Unfortunately, during our stay Alcatraz was completely closed to visitors due to COVID so views of the island and the prison from Fisherman’s Wharf were the best we could get!
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Chinatown was a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf so we made our way there. Honestly, we did not stay as long as we were planning because of the massive amounts of people walking through the streets. With being in the middle of a pandemic, we did not feel comfortable walking around for too long so we shortly after called an Uber to make our way to the Haight Ashbury area.
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Our Uber picked us up from Chinatown and brought us to the birthplace of the 1960’s counterculture movement, the Haight-Ashbury. This area draws a very lively and diverse crowd looking to soak up the historic hippie vibe and that is exactly why we were there! While here, we shopped at many of the local boutiques, record shops, and bookstores.
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We finished this day off with drinks, dim sum and noodles at Palette Tea House & Dim Sum located within the Ghirardelli Square. The food and drinks were delicious! Ghirardelli Square is a 3-level shopping and restaurant center that used to be the former chocolate factory for Ghirardelli! This is located near Fisherman’s Wharf.
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Day Nine: San Francisco
We started the day at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center where we were set to begin our walk across the bridge. The welcome center had a lot of informational pieces that we stopped to peek at. Before we made the trek across the bridge, we hiked down to Fort Point for views of the bridge from below. Fort Point is a Civil War-era fortress tucked near the southern anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally slated to be removed in the original Bridge plans, but Strauss (the Chief Engineer) recognized its historic value and insisted it be preserved and restored as a national monument.
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Once admiring the gate from Fort Point, we hiked our way back up to begin our walk across the infamous bridge! Did you know that it takes the average person 1.5 to 2 hours to walk across the bridge!? That is right! The walking path across the bridge is 1.7 miles long and about a 225-foot drop to the water! My husband is a bit scared of heights so being up this high up while walking across the bridge freaked him out just a tad. So, this is a warning to anyone fearful of heights!!
The walk across itself did not feel like as long as it was because of the beautiful views that had us in awe the entire time. My favorite part of this walk was how the views of the city of San Francisco and Sausalito continued to change even minute-by-minute as you continued walking across.
The walk across itself did not feel like as long as it was because of the beautiful views that had us in awe the entire time. My favorite part of this walk was how the views of the city of San Francisco and Sausalito continued to change even minute-by-minute as you continued walking across.
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We reached the end of the bridge where we walked a bit to call an Uber to take us down to Sausalito for the remainder of the day. Once we arrived at Sausalito, we walked up and down the streets and visited many of the small boutiques and restaurants along the water. We had a quick lunch in town and ice cream by the water after lunch. We cannot wait to visit this area when we come back. I would even like to stay in Sausalito for a night or two next time! It was such a charming, beautiful area.
After our visit to Sausalito, we called an Uber and had them take us back to our Airbnb for the rest of the evening!
After our visit to Sausalito, we called an Uber and had them take us back to our Airbnb for the rest of the evening!
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Day Ten & Eleven: Yosemite National Park
Days ten and eleven on our trip were spent in the BEAUTFUL Yosemite National Park. We have so many photos and stories from these two days alone that we would not be able to do this beautiful park justice if I tried to fit it within this blog alone. So please be on the lookout for the blog all about our travels to Yosemite National Park!
Day Twelve: Monterey and Carmel
From Yosemite National Park, we drove 3.5 hours to Monterey & Carmel where we spent the following two days & nights. Before going to our Airbnb in Carmel, we wanted to spend 4 to 5 hours here in the city of Monterey to grab a late lunch and walk the coastal areas to enjoy the beauty. We walked through the town and visited several gift shops. Unfortunately, Monterey Bay Aquarium was completed closed due to COVID but that is a MUST VISIT site when in this area!
After walking through the town, we spent about 2 hours walking up and down the coastline, stopping along the way to enjoy the views. I was blown away at how clear and blue the water is here along the coast. You can see the rocks at the bottom STRAIGHT through the water, it is that clear. I wish I could live here!
After walking through the town, we spent about 2 hours walking up and down the coastline, stopping along the way to enjoy the views. I was blown away at how clear and blue the water is here along the coast. You can see the rocks at the bottom STRAIGHT through the water, it is that clear. I wish I could live here!
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Once we had our fill of Monterey for the day (although I do not think that is even possible), we left to go enjoy the sunset and drinks at our Airbnb in Carmel Valley for the rest of the evening. We arrived just in time and the views were stunning!
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Day Thirteen: Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the Sea, and Big Sur
Day thirteen started very early with a beautiful sunrise off the balcony of our Airbnb. This day ended up being filled with AMAZING coastal views from both the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach and the world-famous Big Sur along with lunch in a charming Europe-like town, Carmel-by-the-Sea. This day was hands down one of my FAVORITE days amongst all 16 days on this trip (Yosemite may take the lead though).
We started by making our way to the northernmost entrance of the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, California. The gate fee is $10.50 per vehicle to make the drive and boy was it MORE than worth it!
What is the 17-Mile Drive? The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California. The road hugs the coastline and passes through world famous golf courses, large mansions, and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees.
We began our 17-mile drive and quickly realized that this road was filled with nothing but enchanting, dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, and iconic golf courses. With giant trees and an array of marine animals, this area is quite a mystical destination. We made stops at most of ALL the stops along the way except for ones that may have been closed off. We stayed longer at some of the stops to take in the beauty and enjoy each other’s company, some we hopped out of the car and enjoyed for only a short while to continue our drive.
What is the 17-Mile Drive? The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California. The road hugs the coastline and passes through world famous golf courses, large mansions, and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees.
We began our 17-mile drive and quickly realized that this road was filled with nothing but enchanting, dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, and iconic golf courses. With giant trees and an array of marine animals, this area is quite a mystical destination. We made stops at most of ALL the stops along the way except for ones that may have been closed off. We stayed longer at some of the stops to take in the beauty and enjoy each other’s company, some we hopped out of the car and enjoyed for only a short while to continue our drive.
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Our two favorite stops along the way were definitely “China Rock” and “Bird Rock”. At “China Rock”, we saw an amazing surfer and about 50 otters floating in the waves nearby! See the videos below. At “Bird Rock” we saw this wildlife hub BUZZING with birds, harbor seals and barking sea lions!
Fun Fact about “Bird Rock” – Bird Rock was completely covered in 4 to 5 feet of pelican and cormorant guano until 1930 when it was harvested as a fertilizer. Sea lions took advantage of the cleaned-off perch and have been sunbathing there ever since!
Fun Fact about “Bird Rock” – Bird Rock was completely covered in 4 to 5 feet of pelican and cormorant guano until 1930 when it was harvested as a fertilizer. Sea lions took advantage of the cleaned-off perch and have been sunbathing there ever since!
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From Pebble Beach, we went to Carmel-by-the-Sea to have lunch and walk about this small town. Upon arrival, we quickly noticed that it seemed as if we had transported ourselves to Europe! This small beach city on the Monterey Peninsula is known for its fairytale like cottages and galleries. We walked around a bit and had lunch at Pangaea Grill, an Asian-Fusion restaurant where I had the best crab cakes I have ever had!
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After lunch, we left to go spend the rest of our day exploring Big Sur. Big Sur is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California between Carmel and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise to massive heights from the Pacific Ocean coastline. It is known worldwide for its dramatic scenery.
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My biggest goal this day was to see Bixby Creek Bridge or “Bixby Canyon Bridge” in Big Sur. This is one of THE most photographed bridges in California due to its aesthetic design.
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Later this evening, we decided to have dinner and drinks on the beach during sunset. We found a nearby beach only 10 minutes from our Carmel Airbnb so that is where we went for the rest of the evening. This beautiful beach is called Asilomar State Marine Reserve and was beautiful, especially at sunset. There were so many families enjoying the area, plenty of surfers, and of course all the dogs that we love so much!
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Day Fourteen: Big Sur & Our Pacific Coast Highway Drive to Malibu
On the morning of day fourteen, we woke up early because we wanted to make one last stop in Big Sur to spend more time there before continuing our drive to Malibu on the infamous Pacific Coast Highway. We made our way back to Big Sur where we made more stops in the area to take in the magnificent views. I could not get enough of this place and we truly cannot wait for the day (and it will be soon) when we can spend much more time in this area!
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After spending some more time in Big Sur, we figured it was time to make our 5-hour drive to Malibu with a stop in Morro Bay for lunch along the way. Our long drive to Malibu was on the infamous, scenic Pacific Coast Highway.
What is the Pacific Coast Highway? State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) is a major north-south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of California. At a total of 656 miles, it is the longest state route in California.
What is the Pacific Coast Highway? State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) is a major north-south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of California. At a total of 656 miles, it is the longest state route in California.
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When planning this road trip of ours, I specifically planned it from north to south so that when we did get to this special highway, we were always in the lane closest to the ocean. The Pacific Coast Highway was the most beautiful drive we have ever done in our lives but also one of the scariest. The drive is very dangerous as your car literally clings to the side of the cliffs/ocean (not always with a barrier in between you and the cliff) and there are some the sharpest turns we have ever driven about every mile or so, all while driving the speed limit of 45 to 55 mph! The views only continued to get better and better as we drove along, so all the stomach drops along the way were MORE than worth it!
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We had originally planned to stop at Hearst Castle in San Simeon along our way to Malibu but unfortunately due to COVID, the Castle was closed to the public. Instead, we decided to stop in Morro Bay for more coastal views and to experience another small beach town.
Morro Bay is in California’s Central Coast on the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway One). The highway runs right through the town! The area was a bit chillier than I thought it was going to be, but after a quick Google search I learned that the Central Coast of California has quite different weather than the warm, sunny beaches in Southern California.
This area is located on a natural harbor making it a fantastic place to see marine wildlife. What Morro Bay is MOST known for is the “Morro Rock”. This rock is a giant volcanic behemoth located directly on the beach.
Morro Bay is also known for its seafood, clam chowder and fish & chips so of course we stopped and had fish and chips on the bay. After lunch, we walked around the small town and did a bit of shopping before getting on the road again.
This area is located on a natural harbor making it a fantastic place to see marine wildlife. What Morro Bay is MOST known for is the “Morro Rock”. This rock is a giant volcanic behemoth located directly on the beach.
Morro Bay is also known for its seafood, clam chowder and fish & chips so of course we stopped and had fish and chips on the bay. After lunch, we walked around the small town and did a bit of shopping before getting on the road again.
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Officially on to the final leg of our road trip! We got back on the Pacific Coast Highway and after driving through Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and after 2.5 hours total, we had arrived to our hotel in Malibu for the next two days/nights!
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We were fortunate enough to spend the last 2 nights & 2 days of our trip at the beautiful Malibu Beach Inn. We really wanted our final few days to be nothing but relaxation on a beach and that is EXACTLY what we got from this property.
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We arrived at the resort right at sunset. The property is situated RIGHT off Pacific Coast Highway. We pulled into the resort where valet took our car and bellman took all our luggage up to our room for us. The resort is being extremely cautious during COVID and masks are required whenever in public spaces.
We got to our room and there was a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us. We spent the rest of our evening ordering room service, enjoying wine and taking in the sounds of the ocean at night right from our balcony.
We got to our room and there was a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us. We spent the rest of our evening ordering room service, enjoying wine and taking in the sounds of the ocean at night right from our balcony.
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Days Fifteen & Sixteen: Malibu
We did not leave Malibu Beach Inn at all these last 2 days/nights except to walk the beach and visit the Malibu Pier nearby and that is okay! We did not WANT to leave. We wanted these last two days to be filled with relaxing on the beach and we got that!
Unfortunately, the Spa was closed due to COVID but the restaurant on property was still open! For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and room service and thankfully the restaurant was closed to the public and was only serving hotel guests at the time we were there.
The restaurant on property is called Carbon Beach Club Restaurant. It sits on the beach itself overlooking the waves and wildlife of the Pacific Ocean and the Malibu Pier. This restaurant is also the same place that offers the room service. They only use locally-sourced ingredients from One Gun Ranch and resident farmers’ markets to create seasonal land and sea menus and boy was the food DELICIOUS! Everything we ate was, even the food we ordered to our room!
Unfortunately, the Spa was closed due to COVID but the restaurant on property was still open! For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and room service and thankfully the restaurant was closed to the public and was only serving hotel guests at the time we were there.
The restaurant on property is called Carbon Beach Club Restaurant. It sits on the beach itself overlooking the waves and wildlife of the Pacific Ocean and the Malibu Pier. This restaurant is also the same place that offers the room service. They only use locally-sourced ingredients from One Gun Ranch and resident farmers’ markets to create seasonal land and sea menus and boy was the food DELICIOUS! Everything we ate was, even the food we ordered to our room!
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We stayed in the King Premier Ocean Front room where any amenity you could think of, we had! The best part of the room was the view from our balcony. In the mornings, you could watch how high the tide was, at night, we could watch the sunset while enjoying dinner and we loved sleeping with our balcony door open to hear the ocean waves at night. It was perfect! Especially during COVID when we really did not want to be out and about too much.
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Malibu itself is gorgeous. The sunsets are a beautiful golden hue and the sand on the beach was so soft and a wonderful tan color. Walking up and down this beach for hours was easy to do. We never wanted to leave!
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After enjoying our last 2 days in Malibu, we departed for the LAX airport on day sixteen where we dropped off our rental car and flew home. Thank you to Malibu Beach Inn for such an amazing stay and a great way to end what was an incredible 15 nights!
More photos of the resort below:
More photos of the resort below:
Our trip has officially come to an end and we are still sad about that 2 months later. We cannot wait to visit ALL these destinations again someday! Reminder: stay tuned for the blog all about our stay in Yosemite National Park, coming soon!
Interested in planning a domestic road trip? Or visiting any of these destinations? Contact Christine Wolff to start planning your trip today! Call 314-439-5700 ext. 134 or email her!
The second I knew that COVID had officially killed all our 2020 international travel plans, I knew I had to plan a great adventure that was not only SAFE but was also domestic. With my love for travel, there was no way I was going to be cooped up for months on end this whole year and NOT travel as well. So a two-week road trip along the western coast visiting different National Parks seemed like the most ideal plan since we could be socially distant and outside as much as possible!
Our road trip started in Seattle, Washington, and ended in Malibu, California, and totaled 2,871 miles! We made so many stops along the way at notable destinations like Olympic National Park, Cannon Beach, Redwoods, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, and more! Our very close friends, Nick and Lindsay, joined my husband and me for the first week of this adventure and they brought SO much joy and laughter along with them.
Our road trip started in Seattle, Washington, and ended in Malibu, California, and totaled 2,871 miles! We made so many stops along the way at notable destinations like Olympic National Park, Cannon Beach, Redwoods, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, and more! Our very close friends, Nick and Lindsay, joined my husband and me for the first week of this adventure and they brought SO much joy and laughter along with them.
A map of our entire road trip
Day One: Olympic National Park, Washington
(Driving to Olympic National Park & Lake Crescent)
Olympic National Park is in Washington state on the Olympic Peninsula just two hours outside of Seattle. This beautiful National Park was the first main destination on our road trip and where we spent our first 3 nights/3.5 days. It is the northernmost destination on this road trip of ours.
What is Olympic National Park? Olympic National Park was established on June 29th, 1938, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This 922,651-acre park consists of 56 mammal species (including 24 marine mammal species), 300 bird species, 37 native fish species, 20 reptile and amphibian species, 22 species listed as threatened or endangered. There are few parks with such diverse climates and varied geography as this one. Olympic consists of four distinct ecosystems and you can easily visit all four in just one day! There over 73 miles of Washington coastline and beaches, forests are found all over the park with huge trees older than 200 years also consisting of over 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, 60 named glaciers, more than four large temperate rainforests are found on the park’s west side, and mountain ranges that completely dominate Olympic’s central zone with its tallest peak sitting at 7,980 feet (Mt. Olympus). These are just a few reasons why Olympic National Park had been on our “Domestic Travels Bucket List” and the next 3 days’ worth of stories and pictures will have you adding it to yours!
What is Olympic National Park? Olympic National Park was established on June 29th, 1938, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This 922,651-acre park consists of 56 mammal species (including 24 marine mammal species), 300 bird species, 37 native fish species, 20 reptile and amphibian species, 22 species listed as threatened or endangered. There are few parks with such diverse climates and varied geography as this one. Olympic consists of four distinct ecosystems and you can easily visit all four in just one day! There over 73 miles of Washington coastline and beaches, forests are found all over the park with huge trees older than 200 years also consisting of over 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, 60 named glaciers, more than four large temperate rainforests are found on the park’s west side, and mountain ranges that completely dominate Olympic’s central zone with its tallest peak sitting at 7,980 feet (Mt. Olympus). These are just a few reasons why Olympic National Park had been on our “Domestic Travels Bucket List” and the next 3 days’ worth of stories and pictures will have you adding it to yours!
We began our trip by flying (VERY early) into Seattle where we landed early afternoon and immediately went to pick up our rental car to begin our adventure! We have visited Seattle several times already so figured we could skip a visit to the beautiful city for this trip, but do not think Seattle is worth skipping, because it most certainly is not!
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| | Lake Crescent - The drive from the airport to our first destination, Olympic National Park, was breathtaking! Beautiful mountainous hills and fall colors surrounded us on every corner. After about 2.5 hours of driving and a quick stop to a local grocery store for road trip essentials, we arrived at Lake Crescent. The arrival at Lake Crescent was something that I will always remember. We took a turn around a bend in the road and out of nowhere this beautiful lake was presented to us. All our jaws dropped at the beauty that seemed to have come out of nowhere! |
What is Lake Crescent? Lake Crescent is nestled in the northern foothills of the Olympic Mountains and is the second deepest lake in Washington as an official maximum depth of 624 feet. It is known for its vibrant blue waters and exceptional clarity that is caused by lack of nitrogen in the water which inhibits the growth of algae. Residing on the lake itself, is Lake Crescent Lodge where we were fortunate enough to spend our very first evening.
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Lake Crescent Lodge was built in 1915 and has a variety of cabins, cottages, and rooms available to stay in, and pets are welcome! In addition to their various types of accommodations, Lake Crescent Lodge also has a restaurant, lounge, bar, and gift shop! Also included in your stay is, of course, lake and beach access right on the property. Kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing supplies were all available to rent as well! We unfortunately didn’t get a chance to participate in any of these activities because the tide of the lake was too high while we were there. We did get to enjoy the restaurant and bar both for dinner and breakfast and all our meals were delicious! The rest of the evening was spent enjoying dinner and watching the sunset over the lake and heading off to bed early as we had an early day planned for day 2.
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Day Two: Olympic National Park, Washington
(Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Valley & Forks)
Hurricane Ridge - On the morning of day two, we woke up early to pack up our bags and depart from the beautiful Lake Crescent Lodge to spend our day hiking at various locations within the park and ending up in Forks for our next 2 nights. The drive from the lodge to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center was about an hour, but the drive was incredible. The drive itself could have been the destination!
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What is Hurricane Ridge? Hurricane Ridge is nearly a mile high and offers great hiking with many trails to choose from. The best place to start is at Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center where bathrooms are available year-round and you can even speak with a Park Ranger about the best trail for you. You can also pick up some maps as well. During the summer, a hike to Hurricane Hill on a clear day can offer a 360-degree view north across the Straits of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, Canada, or the southern view of the glacier clad Mount Olympus.
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Since we still had more driving to do this day and another destination to visit, we opted for a shorter hike. We decided to take the 1.2 mile “Cirque Rim” hike. It was quite the trek and the elevation definitely got to us, but the destination worth the journey! We had a beautiful view of Port Angeles and the Strait of Juan de Fuca! Next time I visit Hurricane Ridge (and there WILL be a next time) I will make sure to visit during sunrise or sunset because I would have loved to see these mountains and hills light up in the sun’s beauty.
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Sol Duc Valley – Around noon, we departed Hurricane Ridge and made our way back down the beautiful hills to drive back out of the park to make our way to Sol Duc Valley.
Side note: The only downside to visiting Olympic National Park is that driving through the park is not possible, as you can only drive around the park to visit its various locations. The 101 (main highway surrounding the park) is the only road that surrounds the park entirely, so that is the main road we drove during our visit in ONP and is the best way to get around this HUGE park and its various locations.
What is Sol Duc Valley? Sol Duc Valley is named the most beautiful falls in the entire park and is situated just a few miles from Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and Campground.
Side note: The only downside to visiting Olympic National Park is that driving through the park is not possible, as you can only drive around the park to visit its various locations. The 101 (main highway surrounding the park) is the only road that surrounds the park entirely, so that is the main road we drove during our visit in ONP and is the best way to get around this HUGE park and its various locations.
What is Sol Duc Valley? Sol Duc Valley is named the most beautiful falls in the entire park and is situated just a few miles from Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and Campground.
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From Hurricane Ridge, it took about 1.5-2 hours of driving to reach Sol Duc Valley. Once we reached the Sol Duc Trainhead, we took the 2-mile roundtrip hike on the Sol Duc Falls Trail to reach the beautiful Sol Duc Waterfall. The trail was absolutely stunning with views of bright green vegetation and creeks at every turn and towards the end, you could HEAR the falls before you even got to them.
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We finally reached the waterfall, and the park provided the most EPIC way to view it. From this wooden bridge, you get to view the falls from ABOVE as it falls 50 feet into the slot canyon below you. The falls were spectacular and boomed and rushed just below us.
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Forks, Washington - Once we hiked the mile back to the car, we departed the valley to make our way to the small town of Forks, Washington, where we rented the most adorable little Airbnb for the next two nights.
What is Forks? Forks, Washington, is a small town that is located right outside of Olympic National Park. It is named after the forks in the nearby Quillayute, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Sol Duc rivers. The town gained popularity in tourism after the book and movie series, Twilight was set in Forks. Twilight tours are available here, but there was no way I was going to convince my friends and husband to take these tours (even though I hate to admit that I am a huge Twilight fan and would have loved to take part in these tours).
What is Forks? Forks, Washington, is a small town that is located right outside of Olympic National Park. It is named after the forks in the nearby Quillayute, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Sol Duc rivers. The town gained popularity in tourism after the book and movie series, Twilight was set in Forks. Twilight tours are available here, but there was no way I was going to convince my friends and husband to take these tours (even though I hate to admit that I am a huge Twilight fan and would have loved to take part in these tours).
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Our Airbnb in Forks was the perfect location for us to reside for these two nights as it was central and provided us with a good grocery store, local restaurants, gift shops, etc. right in town. The rest of this day was spent exploring the small town and ordering food in (since in-person dining was closed due to COVID).
Day Three: Olympic National Park, Washington
(Hoh Rainforest, Third Beach, & Forks)
Hoh Rainforest - On the morning of day three, we slept in a bit and enjoyed our morning and had breakfast and coffee right in Forks. Around noon, we drove about 50 minutes to arrive at the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center.
What is Hoh Rainforest? The Hoh Rainforest (pronounced “Hoe”) gets its name from the ever-flowing Hoh River that has carved its way from Mt. Olympus towards the Pacific Coast forming from glacier runoffs. Known as one of the world’s lushest rain forests, the Hoh Rainforest gets as much as 14 feet of rain each year and the prevalent fog and mist contributes the equivalent of another 30 inches of rain each year! Mosses and ferns blanket the surfaces of the entire forest and its surroundings.
What is Hoh Rainforest? The Hoh Rainforest (pronounced “Hoe”) gets its name from the ever-flowing Hoh River that has carved its way from Mt. Olympus towards the Pacific Coast forming from glacier runoffs. Known as one of the world’s lushest rain forests, the Hoh Rainforest gets as much as 14 feet of rain each year and the prevalent fog and mist contributes the equivalent of another 30 inches of rain each year! Mosses and ferns blanket the surfaces of the entire forest and its surroundings.
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Upon arriving at the Hoh Rainforest Visitors Center, we immediately saw a large, beautiful elk just enjoying his time outside as we parked our car. After admiring the elk, we continued to the trailhead where we began our 1.2-mile hike on the Spruce Nature Trail. This trail is diverse and loops through both old and new growth forest.
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We couldn’t imagine the amount of beauty that came with trees, moss and ferns alone. The amount of moss was more than I had ever seen in my lifetime and it all created a beautiful green canopy between trees and other plants. It was as if we had been transported into an entirely other planet or universe.
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Each turn of our hike was the greenest of greens any of us have ever seen. Along the way, we passed a handful of rushing creeks and small rivers. About halfway through the trail, we reached the amazing, fast-flowing Hoh River with mountainous hills in the distance. This spot was so beautiful that we stopped here for a bit to enjoy the sounds and sights before continuing our hike and finishing our visit to this incredible rainforest.
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Third Beach – You can never be ready to leave the sights of Hoh Rainforest, but once we were, we departed and drove about 1.5 hours to Third Beach.
What is Third Beach? Third Beach is a tidepool beach located on the Olympic Pennisula Coast near Forks. This is one of the Olympic Coast’s famed wilderness beaches with excellent opportunities to view bald eagles and seals. The hike to Third Beach is known to hikers worldwide as it delivers wonderment in every season throughout the year.
Upon arriving at the Third Beach Trailhead, we parked our car and began the infamous roundtrip 2.8 mile hike through extremely tall sitka spruce, western hemlock and red alder trees. Along the way, we could hear sounds of a nearby rushing creek and many birds in the trees above us.
What is Third Beach? Third Beach is a tidepool beach located on the Olympic Pennisula Coast near Forks. This is one of the Olympic Coast’s famed wilderness beaches with excellent opportunities to view bald eagles and seals. The hike to Third Beach is known to hikers worldwide as it delivers wonderment in every season throughout the year.
Upon arriving at the Third Beach Trailhead, we parked our car and began the infamous roundtrip 2.8 mile hike through extremely tall sitka spruce, western hemlock and red alder trees. Along the way, we could hear sounds of a nearby rushing creek and many birds in the trees above us.
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As we went along even further, we could tell we were getting closer to the coastline because the ground underneath us became more and more muddy and we began hearing sounds of waves crashing. After about a mile, the wide flat trail becomes a steep, muddy and slightly switchback decline making it a bit more of a difficult hike but the views at the end are totally worth it.
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From there, we used a rope and ladder assisted trail down to the beach and then climbed over piles of driftwood that accumulated thanks to the high tides. Once we navigated all of that, we were on the beach enjoying the stunning ocean waters and beautiful brown sand beach and climbing over slippery algae covered boulders as we walked up and down the beach.
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In the distance, there were views of “Giants Graveyard” which is considered one of Washington State’s eeriest places. It is said by the elders of the Quileute Tribe to be the graveyard where giants were laid to rest in ancient times, a place where huge tombstones and totems dot the ocean’s surface just offshore.
The sun was beginning to set so we made the wise decision to begin our 1.4 mile hike back to the car to return back to the Forks Airbnb for our final night in Washington.
The sun was beginning to set so we made the wise decision to begin our 1.4 mile hike back to the car to return back to the Forks Airbnb for our final night in Washington.
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Day Four: Olympic National Park to Cannon Beach, Oregon
(Ruby Beach & Cannon Beach, Oregon)
Ruby Beach – We began our fourth day quite early as we were officially leaving Olympic National Park and Washington entirely to spend the second half of our day in Cannon Beach, Oregon. There was one last stop we had to make before leaving Olympic National Park for good and that was to the infamous Ruby Beach!
What is Ruby Beach? Ruby Beach is located on the Washington Coast and is part of Olympic National Park. It got its name from the reddish granules that gather on the shore. It is known for the many rocks, sea stacks and huge driftwood logs on shore.
We said goodbye to our adorable Forks Airbnb and drove 35 minutes to Ruby Beach. We parked at the main parking lot and began walking down to the shore. The walk was amazing within itself offering views of Ruby Beach from above with extremely tall trees surrounding us. Once we reached the bottom, we climbed over many large driftwood logs to reach the beach.
What is Ruby Beach? Ruby Beach is located on the Washington Coast and is part of Olympic National Park. It got its name from the reddish granules that gather on the shore. It is known for the many rocks, sea stacks and huge driftwood logs on shore.
We said goodbye to our adorable Forks Airbnb and drove 35 minutes to Ruby Beach. We parked at the main parking lot and began walking down to the shore. The walk was amazing within itself offering views of Ruby Beach from above with extremely tall trees surrounding us. Once we reached the bottom, we climbed over many large driftwood logs to reach the beach.
Once we reached the beach, we explored the many tidepools that had accumulated along the shore and walked up and down the coastline, navigating many rocks and pebbles along the way. The number of pebbles and rocks on the beach made for the perfect opportunity for a good ole’ game of skipping rocks.
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Once we spent quite a bit of time enjoying the beach and its surroundings, we decided it was time to make our drive to Oregon!
Cannon Beach, Oregon – From Ruby Beach in Washington, we drove about 3.5 hours to Cannon Beach, Oregon.
What is Cannon Beach? Cannon Beach is located along the Pacific Coast of Oregon. It is a small, quaint beach town famous for the “Haystack Rock” that resides on the beach. Haystack Rock is a 327-foot tall sea stack that has tide pools home to many animals including colorful starfish, sea anemone, crabs and sea slugs. It is taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa! The rock is also a nesting site for many seabirds and puffins. Low tide offers the chance to walk right up to the tide-pools. This famous Haystack Rock can be seen in the opening scene of the 1985 movie The Goonies.
What is Cannon Beach? Cannon Beach is located along the Pacific Coast of Oregon. It is a small, quaint beach town famous for the “Haystack Rock” that resides on the beach. Haystack Rock is a 327-foot tall sea stack that has tide pools home to many animals including colorful starfish, sea anemone, crabs and sea slugs. It is taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa! The rock is also a nesting site for many seabirds and puffins. Low tide offers the chance to walk right up to the tide-pools. This famous Haystack Rock can be seen in the opening scene of the 1985 movie The Goonies.
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After 3.5 hours of driving, we arrived at our hotel. For our night in Cannon Beach, we stayed at Sea Sprite Guest Lodgings at Haystack Rock. We were lucky enough to stay in the “Sand Dollar Suite 2” that sleeps four and sat ocean front with the most amazing views. If you’re lucky, one of the many black bunnies in the area will walk right up to you if you have a little something for them in hand.
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We spent the rest of the afternoon walking up and down the beach and then into the evening we watched the sunset and had dinner and drank wine right on the beach that is located right in the front yard of our hotel suite!
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The most amazing part of this whole day was laying on the beach looking up at the sky and stargazing for hours while listening to the sounds of the ocean. All of us agreed that we had never seen stars like that before. We could see the Milky Way so very clearly and caught glimpses of shooting stars once every 3-5 minutes. Lucky for me, the next day was my birthday! So yes, I got to wake up on this beautiful beach on my birthday
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Day Five: Cannon Beach & Bend, Oregon
(Cannon Beach, OR and Bend, OR)
Unfortunately, this day and the next were the only two days of our entire road trip that we ran into roadblocks due to the forest fires that have devested areas of Oregon and California. On this day, we planned to wake up early and make our way to Columbia River Gorge to spend the day there, but the fires had shut it down entirely. So, we now had more time to spend in Cannon Beach for the first part of our day and then we continued to Bend, Oregon, as planned for the evening.
We spent our morning enjoying coffee on the beach and watching the morning fog rise from the coastline. Come late morning, we left the hotel to explore the adorable small beach town of Cannon Beach. We had the most delicious crepes and eggs benedict at Pig ‘N Pancake right in town. It was the best crepe I think I have ever had. After breakfast, we walked around the town a bit, did some shopping, and stopped at The Wine Shack and bought some local wine to bring on the rest of the road trip with us!
We spent our morning enjoying coffee on the beach and watching the morning fog rise from the coastline. Come late morning, we left the hotel to explore the adorable small beach town of Cannon Beach. We had the most delicious crepes and eggs benedict at Pig ‘N Pancake right in town. It was the best crepe I think I have ever had. After breakfast, we walked around the town a bit, did some shopping, and stopped at The Wine Shack and bought some local wine to bring on the rest of the road trip with us!
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Once we had done enough damage to our wallets, we made our way to Bend, Oregon, for the evening. We had originally planned on staying in Bend because it was central between the Columbia River Gorge and Crater Lake which we had planned on visiting the next day on Day 6. The visit to Columbia River Gorge was supposed to break up our drive to Bend but because we couldn’t go there due to the fires, our drive from Cannon Beach to Bend was a total of 4.5 hours!
Bend, Oregon - After the 4.5 hours of driving, we had reached our beautiful hotel in Bend, the Riverhouse on the Deschutes River. This hotel is the perfect combination of rustic and modern sophistication with world-class amenities. The hotel sits on the banks of the Deschutes River, and we got to enjoy the views and sounds of the river right from our hotel room!
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This evening, we had my birthday dinner at The Blacksmith Restaurant in the historic Pierson Blacksmith shop in Downtown Bend. My husband and I both agreed that it was the best meal we ever had and they celebrated us in such a special way with an amazing bread pudding dessert. Amazing food and even better company is the best way to spend your 27th birthday!
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Day Six: Redwood National & State Parks, California
(Redwoods National & State Parks)
Unfortunately, the first part of day six was also hit with roadblocks due to the forest fires in Oregon. We were supposed to start this day with a drive to Crater Lake, Oregon, to experience the Crater Lake area but the park was closed due to the fires. So we continued straight to our second destination of the day – Redwood National & State Parks in California!
Redwood National & State Parks, CA – After driving 4.5 hours from Bend, Oregon we finally arrived to the beautiful Redwood National & State Parks in California.
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What is Redwood National & State Parks in California? This is a National Park covering a total area of 13,983 acres. The trees are the biggest draw of the park, mainly for the Redwoods. The reason the Redwoods are so rare is because these trees depend on the coastal fogs for moisture in the dry seasons, so they are extremely limited as to where they can grow and usually where they can grow is a very narrow band of land. The Redwood trees are the worlds tallest trees with the tallest reaching nearly 380 feet tall and the average lifespan of a redwood is 500-700 years! Though, they have been known to exceed 2,000 years in age!
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We knew that we wanted to see the old-growth side of the forest, so we spent our day hiking near the Elk Meadow side of the park. We chose the Trillium Falls Trail, the 2.5 mile loop hike that had us bending our necks backwards at every turn as we looked up to see just how tall these beautiful giants were. And let me tell you, pictures of the Redwoods do not do these beauties justice. They are HUGE!
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For our one-night stay near the Redwoods (since we couldn’t stay in the park itself because of COVID) we booked a charming cabin that felt as if we were still in the park because we were surrounded by Redwood trees and constantly reminded by the fact that bears were very common near the house (to not leave ANY food, even gum, inside our car).
Our first week officially came to an end and our lovely friends departed us as we continued on to our second week. Stay tuned for next week’s blog to read about week two of our road trip! Next up: San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, and more!
Our first week officially came to an end and our lovely friends departed us as we continued on to our second week. Stay tuned for next week’s blog to read about week two of our road trip! Next up: San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, and more!
Interested in planning a domestic road trip? Or visiting any of these destinations? Contact Christine Wolff to start planning your trip today! Call 314-439-5700 ext. 134 or email her!
The holiday season is here, so that means searching high and low for the perfect gifts for your friends and family. If you have a travel lover in your life, look no further! We have found gifts that any travel lover will use and enjoy. Happy shopping!
Photo Album with Travel Memories
 | This year has been full of reminiscing on some of our favorite trips over the years. With being able to take photos on our phones, we often forget to print out the amazing photos we take and forget about them. Putting together a photo album full of a loved one's travel memories is a gift they will cherish for years. |
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
 | A must-have for plane rides! Any traveler would love a nice pair of headphones that will block out the unwanted noise on planes or in the airport. You can find these headphones at a variety of price ranges to fit any gift budget. |
The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small
 | This book, by Kath Stathers, is full of location-specific activities. It is full of activities as geographically unique as bird-watching in Kenya or driving through clouds in Sri Lanka, as well as other to-dos that can be done anywhere, such as sketching a sunset behind an architectural monument. Perfect for your most adventurous friends and family! |
Packing Cubes
 | A personal favorite of the Brentwood Travel staff, packing cubes are a great gift for every traveler! From messy packers to expert packers, everyone can benefit from a set of packing cubes. They come in a variety of patterns and colors that will fit anyone's personal style. |
Brentwood Travel Gift Certificate
 | The ultimate gift for a travel lover is giving the gift of travel! Give your loved ones a jump start to their next adventure with a gift certificate to Brentwood Travel. They can redeem these certificates and get expert advice from our knowledgeable staff. |
Interested in giving the gift of travel this year? Contact Brentwood Travel for a travel certificate today.
Call us 314-439-5700 or email us!
Call us 314-439-5700 or email us!
There are many aspects of a cruise to consider when searching for the one that's right for you. Do you want the larger-than-life elements larger ships offer or the more intimate feeling of a smaller ship? What destination do you want to explore? Are you traveling with children? There are many different things to factor into your decision. Take a look at these features of the different types of sailings to help narrow you search. Once you've narrowed it down, let the Travel Experts at Brentwood Travel find the perfect cruise vacation for you!
Ships by size
 | Mega-ShipsThese "floating resorts" offer an incredible variety of entertainment and eating options on board, especially for families with children and those wanting expansive spa facilities. |
 | Small ShipsEasy to get around with fewer passengers, these vessels offer a more intimate cruise experience. |
 | RiverboatsContemporary, state-of-the-art vessels that take you to the heart of Europe's towns and cities. |
 | Sailing YachtsExperience the romance of sailing, complete with luxurious amenities and gourmet cuisine. |
On-board lifestyle
 | LuxuryDeluxe amenities, sumptuous surroundings and exceptional service with a more all-inclusive price tag. Flexible dining and exceptional enrichment programs. |
 | River CruisingThink of the elegant surroundings and intimate ambience of a boutique hotel and you'll have an idea of the comfort and relaxing lifestyle of these well appointed river boats. |
 | Sailing YachtThis feels like your own private yacht! Tall billowing sails, brilliant blue seas, sun-drenched teak decks aboard a graceful sailing ship with excellent cuisine and all the pampering you need. |
 | FamilyAll ages are welcome on board with organized kids and teens programs, kid-friendly dining and a wide range of entertainment and recreation for the entire family. |
Special Interest Cruises
Special interest cruises feature on-board enrichment programs, shore excursions and exclusive amenities ideal for those pursuing a special interest while on vacation. Immerse yourself in your favorite pastime on theme sailings which feature additional events and special guests on board.
 | Culinary-focusedEnjoy a range of food and wine programs on board along with special culinary amenities as part of your hosted cruise experience. |
 | History & CultureOn board lectures by regional experts, folkloric shows and shore excursions focusing on the history and culture of your port of call. |
 | Enrichment/WellnessA wide range of intensive enrichment options await from Tai Chi to music lessons plus excursions that give you an Insider's view. |
 | ExploreOvernights allow you the time to explore some of the most exciting ports of call on your itinerary. |
Now that you've learned a little more about different types of cruising, let's start planning your next cruise! Contact Brentwood Travel today.
Call 314-439-5700 or email us!
You have spent weeks, maybe months, planning a wonderful trip, and your travel date is coming closer. Or, you are in the middle of your dream vacation, having the time of your life. Most of the time, this story will have a simple, happy ending. But... you just never know when your vacation could hit a snag, while you’re away or even before you leave.
Consider what could happen if...
- The night before your long-awaited second honeymoon, your boss tells you he has scheduled a 3-day conference with your biggest clients and absolutely insists on your attendance.
- Your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill just as you’re preparing to leave for Europe, and you need to cancel your vacation.
- A snowstorm in your hometown shuts down the airport, and you miss the sailing of your cruise to Mexico.
- As you arrive in Maui, you find your bags are lost with all of your clothes, personal items and medications.
- You reach for your money in a crowded Turkish market and find that your wallet and passport have been stolen.
- You are at a beach resort in Jamaica, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane.
- While hiking Denali National Park in Alaska, you fall and break a leg, necessitating an immediate evacuation to the nearest medical care facility.
- It’s 10:00 p.m. and you and your family arrive at the airport in Rome for the last leg home from a wonderful Mediterranean cruise, only to find your flight has been canceled.
Common Objections to Travel Insurance
"I already have health insurance"
Traditional Domestic Health Insurance Plans:
Traditional Domestic Health Insurance Plans:
- Limit coverage for out-of-country medical expenses to emergency-related costs
- Have high deductibles and co-pays for emergency treatment abroad
- Don't cover out-of-country emergency medical transportation
- Medicare won't pay for health care and supplies you receive outside of the U.S. in most situations
- Medicare cannot cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S.
"My credit card will cover it"
- Credit card coverage for trip cancellation and interruption is highly limited compared to travel insurance
- Credit card coverages vary. You would have to find your credit card agreement to determine if your card carries coverage. This could be time consuming for you.
- Credit cards usually only reimburse for death, injury, or illness of the insured or a family member, or for a supplier default
- Credit cards may not reimburse consumers in cases of travel delay
- Credit cards may not automatically cover medical emergencies, and usually don't cover emergency medical transportation and evacuation
"I don't need insurance because I'm young and healthy"
Travel insurance doesn't just cover you. It also provides coverage if you need to cancel or return home if something covered happens to your:
Travel insurance doesn't just cover you. It also provides coverage if you need to cancel or return home if something covered happens to your:
- Traveling companion
- Children
- Spouse
- Parents
- Other family members
"Travel insurance costs too much"
- Travel insurance is only a small percentage of your total vacation cost
- If you need to cancel, could you afford to re-book?
- If you have to get home in an emergency, do you have the funds?
"I will just take the cruise line's insurance"
- Cruise line "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is not insurance and in most cases doesn't allow for cancellation. It's actually "Postpone for Any Reason" coverage:
- Paid in voucher
- Must use within 12 months
- Only good for the final payment
- Emergency medical coverage amounts offered by cruise lines are lower than what we recommend
The Travel Consultants at Brentwood Travel are ready to teach you even more about travel insurance. Let's start planning your next protected vacation today! Call 314-439-5700 or email us
2020 has changed everyone's travel plans for the year. Some people have had to cancel trips, while others went somewhere different. We can't stop thinking about the amazing trips we have taken over the years! From European river cruises to relaxing in Mexico, our staff has gone on an array of adventures all around the world. Check out some of the trips our staff members have taken in the past. It is definitely giving us some inspiration for our next trip. We can't wait to start planning again!
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Interested in squeezing in a last minute trip before the end of the year? Contact Brentwood Travel today! Call 314-439-5700 or email us
You're engaged, and now what? Time to start planning the wedding of your dreams, but don't forget about the honeymoon! Take the stress out of planning your honeymoon by letting the Travel Consultants at Brentwood Travel plan the perfect honeymoon for you. And what's better than the perfect honeymoon? The perfect honeymoon, courtesy of your friends and family! Keep reading to find out more about registering for your honeymoon with Brentwood Travel.
Who needs another toaster or more kitchen utensils? The Brentwood Travel Honeymoon Registry lets your family and friends help make your honeymoon dreams come true with memories that will last a lifetime! We handle all of the planning for you. From booking the trip, to a personalized registry page on our website you can share with your friends and family, to personalized
How It Works:
- Meet with a Brentwood Travel Honeymoon Specialist to plan the perfect dream getaway for you and your fiancé; then let us make your reservations.
- You and your fiancé will be featured on our website with a photo and your story.
- We will provide you with personalized registry cards to give out or include with shower invitations.
- Enjoy the honeymoon of your dreams, courtesy of your family and friends!
Ready to register for the honeymoon of your dreams? Contact the Honeymoon Experts at Brentwood Travel today! Call 314-439-5700 or email us!
