Guys, we leave for Italy in a couple of weeks! I’m just so excited to be back in Italy with Witte Travel. This trip is going to be amazing with everything we have planned. I’ve been asked by some people what I’m packing for the trip. So here’s a little peak inside my suitcase. Most of the links below contain affiliate links. When you shop the links I receive a commission. My number one trick when packing for a long trip is keep your wardrobe neutral. I actually don’t have a lot of colorful items in my closet so this is pretty easy for me. But, if you pack a lot of neutral clothing you can wea ..read more

Beach days are something I look forward to during the summer months in Michigan. When you live in Grand Rapids you have quite a few options for where to spend a day at the beach. So I thought I would round-up my top seven favorite beaches in West Michigan. Be sure to leave a comment below with your favorite beaches! Favorite Beaches in West Michigan Laketown Beach My favorite beach in West Michigan is Laketown Beach in Holland. This beach is stunning with it’s views and beautiful staircase. Be prepared to walk up quite a few stairs on your way up! I love to pack a picnic and spend the day here ..read more

We recently got back from a lovely long weekend in San Francisco and Napa. My birthday was in March and Cory’s birthday was in April so we planned this trip to celebrate our birthdays. It truly was such a fun birthday and we loved exploring different areas in San Francisco and Napa while we were there. You might remember we visited these spots last August and you can read all about that trip here. We spent a week in California for our anniversary last summer, but I also was dealing with a broken ankle. Let me tell you crutches in San Francisco is not the most enjoyable. So it was pretty amazin ..read more

The countdown to Italy is officially on! To say I’m excited is an understatement. I’m really looking forward to this trip with Witte Travel & Tours, and wanted to share the top three things I’m looking forward to on this trip. For one thing our itinerary for Tuscany and Cinque Terre is going to be amazing! Here’s what I’m most excited about. Visiting New Places & Familiar Places We’ll be visiting Tuscany and the Cinque Terre on this trip to Italy. This will be my third time visiting Tuscany, but as you probably know this is a large region of Italy. We’ll be spending a little time in Fl ..read more

We just got back from a week in California! Believe it or not, this was actually my first time traveling to California. Shocking right?! Since Cory and I really enjoy wine we’ve had Napa on our travel bucket list. So we planned a week to explore San Francisco, Sonoma and Napa for our second anniversary. Despite my broken foot we had such a wonderful time, and I honestly can’t wait to go back to California. Many of you reached out for recommendations for your upcoming trips to the area, so I put together this blog post. I hope you find this helpful if you’re visiting San Francisco, Sonoma or Na ..read more

I’m so excited to finally announce we’re going to Italy next spring! And, the best part is you can join us. Cory and I are hosting a trip to Tuscany and Cinque Terre along with Witte Travel & Tours this March 23-31. This has been in the works for quite awhile and I’m so excited to finally make this announcement. We truly love Italy and can’t wait to travel with friends, family and YOU! Scroll down for all the details on this trip. Witte Travel & Tours Witte Travel & Tours is located here in Grand Rapids, MI and they have 40 years of experience planning customized tours. Pretty amaz ..read more

Disclosure: This was a hosted trip, but all opinions here are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue to create content on The GR Guide. I LOVE visiting Traverse City during the summer, but early fall is actually my favorite time to visit. During September and October the weather is still lovely and the streets are a little quieter. It’s that perfect time of year to enjoy outdoor or indoor activities, and experience the changing season. I was recently invited to explore Traverse City, MI with some talented content creators and here’s a little recap. Planning a Ge ..read more

Ok, I’m finally sharing all the details on our NYC long weekend. I had a lot of messages on Instagram requesting a full recap of restaurants and places we visited in the city. So here you go! Scroll down for the details on our weekend getaway in New York City. Where to Stay We stayed at the Beekman Hotel while we were in New York City. This hotel is located in the Financial District and the location worked really well for us. How stunning is this view?! We loved the ambiance of this hotel, the staff, and our room was actually pretty spacious (for NYC). The Bar Room and Temple Court were perfec ..read more