Washington DC

It's hard to believe that summer has come and gone already but fall is here. With the cooler air rolling in, I've been reflecting on the past several months and all the places we've traveled and memories we've made. It's been challenging at times but mostly it's been wonderful.

We had the opportunity to spend some time in Washington DC where we tried new foods, explored new places and met lots of really great people. While I only took a handful of photos with my real camera, these images remind me of a summer well enjoyed.

Our time in Washington DC reminded me of how much I love cities for all the interesting ways like - the smell of brake dust in the metro and the density of buildings packed into every square inch, which in turn drives people to the lush green open spaces where they flock each sunny day. If this isn't proof that we all (even city-dwellers) crave fresh air and greenery, I don't know what is.

The juxtaposition of old and new buildings makes my architectural heart sing and Washington DC gets this balance right. There is a variety of cultures and languages and with such a strong artistic presence, it's not uncommon to see an entire band break it down street side. The energy is contagious and smile-inducing.

Sure the incessant honking at midnight and 6am wakeup calls from the motorized street cleaners gets old but eventually it all feels familiar and without it, everything feels too quiet. And then there's all of this goodness too.

NYC | the High Line

I'm almost certain that seeing photos of the High Line heavily influenced my decision to revisit New York City a whopping nine years after my last visit. For those of you who aren't familiar with the High Line, it was originally built in the 1930s in an effort to lift freight traffic above the streets in Manhattan's largest industrial district and minimize accidents at the street level. Trains stopped running on the High Line around 1980. In 1999 Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, decided to form a partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The High Line now serves as an exceptional park where visitors can go to read, lounge, picnic, socialize, dine, or even exercise.

It was tough to wait until the last day of our trip to make the trek to Manhattan's west side to see the High Line but, I love the thrill of saving the best for last. In this case, it was definitely worth it.

We even lucked out and found a spot at a Biergarten on the Hudson River to catch up with old friends and enjoy the sunset. Do you see what I mean? Pretty awesome.

Feel free to check out these links for more information on the park and its history.

NYC | MoMA

I love art.

If I could choose how to spend the day without any agenda, I would probably choose to visit an art museum. True story. Studying architecture in college has inspired me to admire the art museums themselves, as much as I do the art housed inside its walls. I relish the clean architectural lines, ubiquitous white, and thoughtful details throughout. I take particular pleasure in visiting the museum's cafe and enjoy any chance I get to try out its piquant offerings. Let's not discuss how many hours I could spend perusing the gift shop. No joke. Each time I find something awesome, I brainstorm for which loved one it would make the the perfect gift.

Needless to say, I was adamant about visiting MoMA during our trip to NYC and I even managed to snap a few photos while there.

A couple of my favorite exhibition pieces...

NYC | central park

Ben and I had been counting down the days to our much anticipated vacation. When we boarded the plane to New York City we were pumped, running mostly on caffeine and a little adrenaline. Two whole years had passed since we enjoyed a week long vacation together. Our last real vacation was during our honeymoon. Crazy, huh. Ben actually started graduate school the week after our honeymoon and he finally graduated this May. As you might expect, we were thrilled to celebrate his huge accomplishment as well as our second anniversary with a trip to the big apple.

I love cities. Of course I love small towns too, but big cities really energize me and NYC is no exception. Before we left home I prepared a list of places I wanted to visit, mostly tourist destinations with some retail stops included for good measure. I even prepared a loose agenda for each day so that we could make the most of our time while there. Despite our plans, the weather forced us to be flexible and go with the flow which was healthy for me. It's vacation after all.

Throughout our trip I took oodles of photos, except for the day of the monsoon when I left my camera at the hotel. One of my favorite places in NYC is not the Empire State Building or the immaculately kept designer storefronts but, Central Park. What a treasure.

Years pass. People move. Plants grow. Cities change. However, the juxtaposition of Central Park against the backdrop of the bustling city is unreal. Every time I visit, I'm amazed. The trees there are breathtaking. It's a wonderful feeling when I realize that it's impossible to capture a moment with my camera. I am reminded to enjoy the present moment, rather than focusing my energy on taking the perfect photograph.

Stay tuned for more photos from our trip to NYC!

asheville.

Last weekend we took a trip to Asheville with friends.

Below are a few highlights of our trip:

• I made a friend (who happened to be a 160 lb dog) while partaking in a wine tasting at the Misty Creek Winery.
• We attended the Alive after Five Event in Downtown Asheville and I had the opportunity to try out several local brews and eat the best organic pizza I have ever had.  Check these guys out: Rolling Stone Pizza Company.
• We rafted on the Nantahala River - our 4th time!  We had so much fun, even though the water was unusually cold.
• At the end of our trip I saw a beautiful butterfly, up close and personal.

Throughout the weekend I laughed a lot.  Laughter really is - good for the soul!