Lois Huelse, Travel Advisor with Castaway Destinations

06/23/2024

I went searching for California Sea Lions and found some at Noyo Harbor along with birds, boats, and seafood. 🛥🛟🐟

06/22/2024

Fort Bragg, CA. Glass Beach and the Skunk Train Depot. 🦨🍷🚂🪷🪻

06/21/2024

On the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway 1 to check out MacKerricher State Park.

06/21/2024

The Blair House, in Mendocino, was Jessica Fletcher’s home in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine on the long-running TV series Murder, She Wrote. It was chosen as the film location because it was too expensive to film in rural Maine and the architecture in Mendocino was so similar.

06/20/2024

https://youtu.be/rBrd_3VMC3c?feature=shared

Louis Armstrong “What A Wonderful World” official music video. Subscribe and ring the bell to never miss an update from Louis Armstrong: https://Verve.lnk.to...

06/20/2024

It's the First Day of Summer which means it's already time to start making holiday travel plans {gasp!} for best availability.

It's a great, big beautiful world out there. Spin the globe and see where your finger lands.

06/20/2024

~ Point Cabrillo Light Station~

In 1850, a clipper ship named Frolic wrecked just north of Point Cabrillo. Even though the attempt to salvage goods from that ship failed, the attempt led to the discovery of the redwood forest by San Francisco businessmen. San Francisco was a booming town in need of wood, and soon there were towns and mills scattered along the Mendocino coast. Coastal shipping resulted in more shipwrecks, leading to the construction of the lighthouse.

06/18/2024

Mendocino Village emerges reminiscent of New England's charm, adorned with hints of Victorian elegance. Its gardens burst with delicate flowers, pathways draped in ferns, and mysteries hidden among abalone havens and the magical Pygmy Forest, beckoning to those who cherish nature's embrace. Traveling along Highway 1's winding route from Elk to Westport reveals breathtaking coastal views, where even the structures seem captivated by the endless allure of the sea.

Stay tuned for more photos from my trip and let me help you plan YOUR unforgettable getaway.

06/17/2024

An easy walk from Seagull Inn, Mendocino Headlands State Park has a perfect blend of gentle trails, rugged coastline, secluded beaches and timeless history and surrounds the storybook-like Village of Mendocino on three sides.

Look at these amazing views of wildflowers fronting the beautiful blue ocean with its sea arches and hidden grottos. 🥰

06/16/2024

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY from Castaway Destinations! Enjoy all of your special moments as a dad, today and in the coming year. 💙

06/15/2024

Looking for historical or cultural experiences? This Mendocino trip offered plenty of both.

06/14/2024

Wine? Food?

The homemade, organic breakfasts delivered to my room at Seagull Inn were like a work of art. Later in the week, farther down the coast, I enjoyed fresh seafood. It was all delectable!

06/13/2024

It's hard to describe the beauty of Mendocino without mentioning the flowers 🌻🪻🌷mixed amongst trees, plants, and succulents. Seeing them in full bloom everywhere I looked was a true gift. Late Spring was an ideal time to visit, but I've been told that September and December are amazing also.

Have I convinced you to go yet? Stay tuned for continued daily posts as my journey in Mendocino and then Bodega Bay continues.

06/13/2024

This is a quick link for filling out information about where you'd like to travel. Think about all the amazing destinations on your bucket list.

“Work, Travel, Save, Repeat.”

06/12/2024

I spent the first night and the next morning walking around this quintessential small town on the California coast, realizing I was already more relaxed than I'd been in many, many months. A good vacation should have that effect.

The stress of daily life, work, and routines may come far too quickly after you arrive back home, but if your vacation is planned correctly and efficiently, the "no worries" vibe should be present while you are traveling.

06/11/2024

I had spoken to the owner of Seagull Inn in January and had been eagerly anticipating this trip. I already had a smile glued on my face, and a profound sense of awe from driving through the Giant Redwoods, but arriving in Mendocino was like entering a movie set.

I pulled up to a Bed & Breakfast in a picturesque village even more idyllic than I imagined. WOW! This. 🩵 This particular place was exactly what my mind and soul needed for the next four days. ☺️

06/10/2024

Families with autistic members and individuals who are on the spectrum were asked:
Are you hesitant to travel or visit new locations because you and/or your child is autistic? 78% said YES. Would you be more inclined to travel if autism certified options were available? 94% said YES. Would you take more vacations or visit more new places if you had access to autism-trained and certified options? 94% said YES.

Without proper planning, taking a family vacation can be challenging and stressful in the best of circumstances. Being trained as a Certified Autism Travel Professional means I can provide families and individuals with easy access to destinations and attractions that are trained and certified in autism and sensory sensitivities. Please let me know how I can help you and/.or your family enjoy the right vacation.

06/10/2024

My plan on Day 1 was to take the scenic route (CA 121 and CA 128) from San Francisco to Northern California. It definitely did not disappoint. In fact, the scenery just kept getting better and better along the way.

06/09/2024

A recent trip to Northern California to explore and gather information for clients was also an opportunity to clear my head, breathe fresh air and listen to the sounds of the ocean which always soothes my soul.

Photos of the Giant Redwoods, Wineries, Lighthouses, Mendocino Village, Bodega Bay, Pacific Coast Highway, CA State Parks, Commercial Fishing Marinas, Filming locations of the Hitchcock movie "The Birds" and "Murder, She Wrote", and the absolutely GORGEOUS flowers everywhere will be in this month's posts.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Let me know when you'd like to take a similar trip. 🍷🦀🐦‍⬛🌊

06/08/2024

Caribbean vacations can be anything you want them to be. That could mean lounging on a blissful tropical beach or something more active like scuba diving lessons, rainforest excursions, and visits to ancient ruins. In a place as diverse as the Caribbean, there’s a perfect island vacation for every taste and budget.

Feel free to chime in if you've been to one these top picks and let us know what your recommendations are.

#1- BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Top Attractions:
~Sailing
~Beaches like White Bay Beach on Jost Van D**e and Tortola’s Cane Garden Bay.
~Giant boulders lining the sand at The Baths on Virgin Gorda
~Resorts on Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, or Jost Van D**e.
~Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda which offers adventure packages that include guided snorkeling excursions with sea turtles and road safaris to visit The Baths.
~Or go the family glamping route at Anegada Beach Club when you stay in one of the beachfront tents set under a palm-thatch palapa.

06/07/2024

#2- JAMAICA

With its fascinating culture, music, and all-around laidback vibe, Jamaica makes for great Caribbean vacations. Accommodation options on the island include all-inclusive resorts that target families to boutique beachfront escapes that come with your own private nanny.

Recommended Attractions:
~Riding a bamboo raft down the Great River
~Visiting famous waterfalls like Dunn’s River Falls
~For the best beach on the island, make your way west from Montego Bay to Negril’s Seven Mile Beach,

Favorite Resorts:
~Beaches Negril
~Half Moon in Montego Bay
~The all-inclusive Franklyn D. Resort and Spa in Runaway Bay.

06/07/2024

Find out what you've been missing BELOW sea level. 🤿

06/06/2024

Last but not least, guests at MOON PALACE THE GRAND, CANCUN, MEXICO have access to several pools, a skating rink, bikes, kayaks, tennis courts, and more. When it’s time to stop moving and relax, head to this all-inclusive family resort's resort’s lazy river where you can kick back and enjoy the views. Moon Palace's water park also includes water slides and a wave simulator perfect for practicing your surfing skills.

06/05/2024

Next on the Lazy River list is ROYALTON BAVARO, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort and Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Those who prefer their lazy rivers long and scenic will love the Royalton Bavaro’s 1,200-foot lazy river that takes you through a cave, past relaxing waterfalls, and over hidden dips. The resort’s water park also has a splash pad, a FlowRider surf simulator machine for budding surfers, and several water slides. Other on-site family-friendly features include minigolf, rock climbing, snorkeling, and kayaking.

06/04/2024

Now a Certified Sandals Specialist!

If you're looking for the ultimate in all-inclusives with locations and perks no other resorts have, stay tuned for posts about the Sandals (adults only) and Beaches (families) properties. You won't believe your eyes and the lists of amenities.

06/04/2024

HYATT ZIVA CAP CANA, Dominican Republic, is a family-friendly Caribbean retreat located on the picturesque Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana. A laidback lazy river winds through the resort’s Canapolis water park, out of the sun. When it’s time to stop being so lazy, you can have fun with the water park’s Grotto Cascade, water cannons, and water slides. And for those who prefer taking a dip in the sea, Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana has easy access to the Caribbean. As with most other all-inclusive resorts with a lazy river, all nonmotorized water sports are included with every stay.

06/03/2024

CoCo Land at COCONUT BAY BEACH RESORT & SPA, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, offers a splash park, a huge lazy river with meandering twists and turns that take you under cooling waterfalls, and Coconut Coaster, CocoLand's fastest and most thrilling water slide. The all-inclusive resort has many other kid-friendly features, too, including an on-site petting zoo with local animals.

06/02/2024

Looking for Caribbean beach access plus four outdoor pools, a water park with tube slides, a toddler-friendly splash zone, and a winding lazy river, kayaking, snorkeling, and windsurfing? Try HILTON LA ROMANA, an All-Inclusive Family Resort in the Dominican Republic.

06/01/2024

Next on the list of family-friendly all-inclusive resorts with lazy rivers is at Beaches Turks & Caicos. A 650-foot lazy river is part of the Pirates Island water park. There is also a wave simulator 🏄‍♀️and giant slides 🛝for those who prefer a higher adrenaline rush.