If you go to Zion National Park you can not miss The Narrows. It is in the top 2 most strenuous hikes in the park & so very worth it.
It is first off such a different hike then so many out there. You are literally hiking in water the entire time between two beautiful canyon walls.
Let me preface all my recommendations are for people hiking The Narrows the more common way:
the 9.4 Miles via the Riverside Walk
by getting off at the last Zion Shuttle stop: Temple of Sinawava
Some people hike the Narrows Top Down & do the 2 day backpacking trip. I did the more common hike starting at the bottom.
After getting off at the Temple of Sinawava- you then have to hike about 1 mile in to reach the beginning of The Narrows.
It starts out pretty shallow like a foot of water at the beginning of the hike, but the further you go it can get up to your shoulders / there are moments where you even have to swim.
What is great about The Narrows is that it is an Out & Back hike. So, there is only one way in & when you want to turn around & be finished with the hike you can !
I know plenty of people who just hiked 1 mile in & called it a day.
I went the full 5ish miles in & 5 back out in one day & it got more gorgeous with each mile. I highly recommend going as far in as you can.
I went this October & the water was a little under 50 degrees. AKA – I was FREEZING.
I wore quick dry leggings, my own industrial hiking boots, a good coat, & rented a walking stick.
The stick was like $8 to rent & helped me tremendously. You are walking in water on top of rocks you can’t always see so the stick allowed me to go so much faster. Some people did not have sticks but were also going much slower.
Many people also rent hiking gearing -like waterproof shoes & pants. I decided to save $ & not do that.
I talked to many people on the hike (people who rented gear & people who did not) & everyone’s feet were freezing regardless.
I would rent gear if you aren’t a person who knows how to tough it out/ does not go hiking often. If you don’t have the money, bring very warm clothing to make up for how cold your feet will be. Mine were numb by mile 3.
Like I said, the further you hike in the more rewarding it will be.
I would also go as early as possible. I got there as early as the shuttle would allow & the hike was tremendously more enjoyable at the beginning when there were less people.
Also, the further you hike in the less people there will be because a lot of people don’t go all the way in.
This was my favorite picture I got on the trip & had to edit people out because there are always people hiking up & down The Narrows.
Again, would highly recommend because it is just so different compared to your normal hike up a mountain!
If you have any questions, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram: tori_churchill
Hello my beautiful travel friends! – here is a list I have been working on all year from my many visits to San Diego in 2020!
It is my top 10 things to do in San Diego during quarantine!
1. Hike South Fortuna Trail
South Fortuna is part of Mission Trails Regional Park and it is the 2nd most popular hike compared to North Fortuna -BUT it is just as beautiful ! & WAY less people. Honestly it is the same view, if not better! It is around 4.6 miles, & has no shade so bring extra water.
2. Visit Hotel Del Coronado (Hotel Del)
A lot of people stay or visit this hotel when in San Diego! The outside of the hotel with it’s white walls and red roof is gorgeous. It is great place to stroll around the grounds or along the beach.
The view of the hotel behind you & ocean in front of you make for a great place to watch the sunset or take a photo on the massive black rocks along the sand.
3.Hike Potato Chip Rock
This hike is seriously gorgeous. Most people go for the cool rock formation (like I did), but truly the views were nothing short of incredible & I would do this hike again.
I do not reccomend doing this shot ^ it was a little risky. The initial drop below is at least 40 feet & then hundreds of feet below that. Many people don’t climb it but stand further away & pretend they are eating the rock (like a potato chip).
4. Climb Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Ho Chi Minh Trail is SUCH a fun little adventure. This mini trail is located in the La Jolla area. You can take this trail all the way down to Black’s Beach. It is less a hike in my book and more of a climbing escapade!
It is not the easiest to find.
But type in Ho Chi Minh Trail or 9883 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA in whatever maps you use. You will park in a neighborhood & the entrance is a little path between two private properties with wooden fences. There is no sign but the address above will take you right near it.
If at the beginning of the trail you rear to the left it will take you into the main part of the trail & into these cute sand colored rock formations.
If at the beginning of the trail you rear to the right & start to go up a little path on a hill you will have this awesome view of the beach!
5. Go Surfing at Del Mar
Rent a board & enjoy the water. This picture was my first & only time I have gone surfing thus far. I got eatn by ALL the waves, but it was still a blast to try! I would recommend trying at Del Mar Beach!
6. Visit the 1935 Old Cactus Garden
This place is pretty awesome for a fun photoshoot ! There was no one there when I went & it was just a fun little patch of Cacti !
7. Swim to Sunset Cliffs Open Ceiling Sea Cave
This cave is hard to reach but such a fun escapade. Type in Sunset Cliffs at Luscomb Point to take you there. When you arrive look for the rocky area to the right of the cove & that is where you can maneuver down to be able to swim into the cave (I used the local rope that is always there to climb down).
No one is usually here because it is that hard to get to. You should not try to reach this spot unless it is extremely low or negative tide. I went when the tide was lower & just a few feet high and it was rough getting in as the waves can hit you against the rocks pretty harshly. Go with someone & only if you are a great swimmer!
8. Find La Jolla’s Secret Swing
This little gem is also not easy to find. Type Prospect Place La Jolla, CA in your phone to get here. There is a curve of parking spots near some neighborhood homes & behind the parking is a little path. Go down the path & take a right, eventually you will see white fencing. This is where you stop off to the left to start down the path to the swing.
You can also go even further down this hill (using the rope) to get yourself all the way down to the beach.
9. Visit the La Valencia Hotel for brunch & pictures! They have COVID practices implemented & the restaurant is mostly outdoor seating!
Trust me, this adorable hotel will make all your pink travel dreams come true!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST…..
10. Buy a pizza & take it anywhere on Sunset Cliffs to watch the sunset for dinner!
Trust me it will be SO much better than a night in watching Netflix.
If you have any question, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram: tori_churchill
X O X O
– D O L L
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I feel ya- it is something you don’t want to relate to during a pandemic.
For me, being single has come & gone, & come & gone, &&& so on..
When it comes, it feels like it will be forever. Why God? When God?
God is there something wrong with me ? Do I need to grow more in a certain way? Am I not worthy of a marriage? Will this imaginary relationship that can glorify you AND bring me comfort ever come?
Friends- you are worthy. 🤍You are good enough. There is nothing wrong with you. You are loved. You may need to grow, or you may NOT need to grow! Who knows.
I don’t know the why for me- but I know the reason I am here on this 🌎earth is not to be someone’s person – but to share the gospel with others. To love people well & show them Christ.
If the Lord allows me to glorify Him / share the gospel with others – WHILE in a marriage well that would be amazing too!
It is okay to have a desire for a relationship! I tell God I want one ALL the time! BUT with remembering…
God’s timing is good & He is the ultimate comforter.
Now, I get it…
God can not pick you up & buy you flowers. God can not take you on dates. God can not physically give you the hug you may need at the end of each day.
But let me tell you –
Man can not fulfill your heart🤍 with endless, perfect love. Man can not make you perfect & whole. Man can not carry you through all your trails. Man can not be your savior & cover all your sins.
No human can fulfill the relationship you need on your own with God. If you are a Christian, the Lord should be your #1 relationship.
When my mind tends to wonder from this hopeful attitude of truth & into the 🖤darker places…
I remind myself:
The Lord is faithful. He will carry me. He will lead me.
& He will lead you too if you let Him.
Here is to the renewing of our minds from: God when will he or she come ?? to —> How can I serve you today, Lord?
Friends, you are not alone. We all out here. The Lord is faithful.
If you have any question, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram: tori_churchill
X O X O
– D O L L
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Virgin Falls State Natural Area is the perfect place for a quick weekend trip in Tennessee.
Virgin Falls Trail is a massive waterfall at the end of 3 other mini falls located in Sparta, Tennessee. This trail is 8.7 miles round trip & is rated difficult, but it seemed more on the mild side to me!
Before starting our hiking & camping – we kicked off our trip by staying at an Airbnb the night we all drove to the little town of Sparta, TN.
We knew it would be too late to set up camp so we found this cute gem of an Airbnb – & it slept 5 of us for $168 total! We paid like $30 each!
The kitchen had everything you would need & a washer & dryer!
If you were trying to go GLAMPING instead of camping – I would suggest hiking Virgin Falls Trail all day & then staying at this Airbnb!
Remember if you want to camp here over night you have to make reservations.
We did not make reservations & got lucky. The worker on site allowed us to stay at a campsite for a donation.
I would recommend camping at Bill Laurel Falls. There were 2 or 3 campsites right near this minier waterfall & it was so peaceful to fall asleep to! I would call & ask for this campsite to reserve !
This was our view from our campsite! Big Laurel Falls is a little over halfway to the biggest waterfall, Virgin Falls. We safely set up camp (brought our expensive items with us) & continued on.
We reached Virgin Falls & it was beautiful!
There is a great rock situated across from the top of the falls for a great view & pic!
Getting close to the bottom you could feel how powerful the waterfall was! It was pretty awesome for such a short hike in!
Once you reach Virgin Falls it is time to turn around. There were a few waypoints to stop at like Sheeps Cave & a few great places for some climbing along the way.
Nothing beat the view of the stars we saw at night from our campsite!
As we packed up & head back to the trail head we stopped at some of the beautiful rivers along the way!
If you have any question, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram: tori_churchill
X O X O
– D O L L
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The view from our balcony was truly awesome & dreamy.
There is a swim up bar & volleyball court!
They also have an adult pool that is more secluded & has cabanas
Had to work remote a few days from there so there office space was helpful (had to use wifi hotspot).
+ they also have a Starbucks inside, which I loved bc I needed a little familiarity in my diet while visiting
<Yes , this hotel was expensive, BUT there are quite a few restaurants and bars to walk to along the beach (see below) + everyone came to this hotel for the night life (it IS a Casino) ! I am all about being walking distance from everything because walking places is just so lovely to me.>
Arikok National Park is a MUST. If you go to Aruba & don’t come here, you are not cool. I rented a car for the day & drove around the entire thing. There are 21 stopping spots on the park map, below are my top spots.
Quadirikiri Case is extremely picturesque. Many photographers go to Aruba just because of this cave with a hole in the top!
Dos Playa
Dos Playa was breathtaking. The water was actually this blue. Some locals come here to surf, but for most the water is too dangerous & you should not go in.
Fontein Cave was a lot smaller than Quadirikiri Cave, but the rock formations were pretty cool to me ( don’ t you remember learning about stalactites & stalagmites ? ) + the cave is filled with Indian Pictographs dating back 1000 years.
You can actually swim in this pool! Every few minutes water will splash over the rocks & into the circular pool area that you can swim in! It is always packed during the day, so I would go early one morning.
A guest pass to Flamingo Beach is $125……. & 100% worth it.
If you stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort you can get a pass for free, but guest or not you need to book in advance. Starting at 6 AM (& you can only book for a visit the next day) you go to this website & book. Tickets were gone within a couple minutes every morning I tried. I got lucky my last day ; )
You get a boat ride to the island, a full meal & drink of choice from their menu, you get to see flamingos & other awesome little animals + the beach itself is so incredibly quiet & refreshing. Such a different experience on this beach/island compared to the shore.
I hung out with these guys for awhile. There are only 6 of them. They stay here on the island because their wings were clipped. Aruba is not filled with endless flamingos. If you don’t come to this island, you won’t see em! The island is open from 7 AM to 6:45 PM. Boats leave every 15 minutes.
#3 UTV TOUR
#3 UTV Tour
My aunt & I did a UTV tour which are pretty popular in Aruba as they are a fast way to see a lot of the island.
A UTV is a mix between a golf cart & an ATV, aka not this car behind us.
We did the Nautural Pool UTV Off-Road Adventure from De Palm Tours. This tour was around $230- $260. My aunt & I both went, so $100 something a person is not too bad. This tour included 6 stops, but you can pick all different kinds of tours with different sites to visit.
My fav 3 spots are pictured below:
(Conchi) Natural Pool REAPEAT bc this place is in Arikok National Park & 1 of the 21 spots! + this is tagged all sorts of incorrect on maps in Aruba, but it is in the National Park !
Everything you see on these tours, you can see on your own. But you would still need to rent a dune buggy (or jeep, something off-road friendly) which can be around $100 a day as well.
The reason I liked this tour was driving the fast UTV buggy around & it gave me idea of Arikok National Park the day before I explored it. (+ time w my Aunt <3). The reasons I did not like it, you have to stick to a schedule, a bit pricey, + you get COVERED in dirt.
#4 Sunset Cruise
Unfortunately, I did not make it on a sunset cruise, but there are a zillion offered on the island & I heard they are one of the best things to do in Aruba! I heard they can be very romantic (I went with my mom & aunt on this trip so I should be good that I missed! haha )
Those are the top 4 !
Below are a few more stops that I enjoyed so much!
This historic lighthouse is on the north side of the island and not near anything else, so I did this early on one morning. It just a pretty historic site to see & snap a picture. Keep in mind, from end to end the entire island takes a little less than an hour to drive across, but it was nice to check this off my list early!
You go to Eduardo’s Beach Shack for an awesome açaí bowl, a fantastic view & of course a cute pic. I got the classic bowl & seriously ate it in under 10 minutes because it was so good! + I walked from my hotel to get there (1/2 mile).
Other things to do that I did not care for OR forgot to mention!
Butterfly Museum (play w a tremendous amount of butterflies!)
Donkey Sanctuary (play w Donkeys)
Snorkel Cruise ( had just snorkeled in Hawaii + you can snorkel on the shore of the island)
Baby Beach (I stopped but did not get a pic!)
Palm Beach (my hotel was on Palm Beach so I explored it a lot. One of the best beaches)
Eagle Beach (I stopped by in my car. A lot of ppl go here to take pics of the Divi Divi trees)
Sunrise at Tripod/ Trinity Bridge (went but not during sunrise)
Sunset Mangel Halto
San Nicolas (a town with many beautiful Murals on buildings, saw a few from my car)
Shopping in Oranjestad (I love shopping but not when on a beautiful island to explore!)
If you have any question, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram: tori_churchill !
I hope your trip to Aruba is as delightful & refreshing as mine was !
Here is a quick ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW about visiting Horseshoe Bend!
When I took my trip to Sedona, AZ I thought “I HAVE to see the famous Horseshoe Bend” AND I am so glad I did !
Horseshoe Bend only took an hour to do itself, but it truly took an entire day out of the trip because of where it is located: Page, Arizona. Literally so close to UTAH – like a 15 minute drive!
It is about an 1 hr. 40 mins. from the Grand Canyon & a 3 hour drive from Sedona. And it is 100% worth it. The view was even more amazing than the pictures & it was just so unique.
I went for sunset & it was perfect. I would recommend to go during sunrise or sunset or it simply will not be as beautiful. Obviously, there will be more people there at those times, but just walk off to either side of the viewing bridge (you can see the ppl on it it the background of my photo below haha) & there will be room for you to enjoy the sight on your own.
When we went, it was the 4th of July, so we did end up staying in Page for one night. We saw Horseshoe Bend & then watched the amazing firework show Page puts on every summer. Honestly, was not the biggest firework show in AZ, but still very good. I adore big firework shows & was not disappointed !
All this to say- There is not much else to do in Page, AZ ! So although HorseShoe Bend is worth it. . . don’t plan on staying in Page for long.
The only other activity would be seeing Antelope Canyon. It is a beautiful, warmed colored canyon. Extremely picturesque like Horseshoe Bend. It is a 25 minute drive from Page / the hotel I mention below. If you plan this correctly, you can do an Antelope Canyon tour & see Horseshoe Bend in the same day. & Yes, Antelope Canyon requires you to sign up for a tour to go –so sign up in advance!
Horseshoe Bend is actually only a 15 minute walk. It is not a hike in the least & I would bring anyone along (in-shape or not) because it was so easy to reach. The terrain was a sandy/dusty path filled with rocks & small hills. No need for hiking boots, but don’t wear your white shoes either or they will get orange!
Entry fee was $10 cashfor each passenger vehicle. Good rule of thumb to just bring cash when you go to any outdoor recreation center or National Park because often they only accept cash. There is a Walmart near by if you forget your cash $$$ money!
If you have any questions, leave a comment or DM me on instagram tori_churchill !
I hope your trip to Horseshoe Bend is as delightful & refreshing as mine was!
The cliché is true! Hawaii is the actual dream everyone says it is. If you want to know the top things to do on Oahu & Maui then stay tuned. When visiting Hawaii I spent my time split between the two islands. Check out my other post “Hawaii Tips *Maui*” for all things Maui ; )
O a h u
If you don’t already know, Oahu is indeed the
Hawaiian Island with the biggest city, Honolulu! BUT along with the city it still has amazing
views, hikes, & beaches like all the other islands!
If you only have one day on Oahu…
KoKo Head Summit
6 AM SUNRISE
The KoKo Head Summit is where you should start! This was hands down my favorite hike on Oahu & if you start your day here early (like for sunrise) then you won’t regret it.
It took me 28 minutes to complete. The average time people say to get up is about 60-90 mins. It is a steep incline with actual wooden steps along the way. Many people (in shape & out of shape) were climbing Koko Head when I was there. Certainly doable for many. You will sweat though. It is not easy, as it is many steps going straight up.
When you reach the top of the steps & turn around you have an awesome view of the city on your right, the Haunama Bay Nature Preserve on your left, & the rest is just ocean! Many people stopped at the top of the steps, but if you keep going up (to the right) you eventually hit the other side of the mountain & see another perfect view.
A friend pointed out to me there is a prayer box at the top of the trail as well, so if you do a bit exploring, you will stumble upon it as the top of the mountain is not too big. You can just drop a prayer in the locked prayer box & someone takes them out & prays for your request! Is that not just the sweetest thing? So bring some paper & a pen along if you want. Praise Jesus for He is alive all around the world. Am I right ? Amen ?
Island Brew Coffeehouse
10 AM
Next, I would take a break & drop by Island Brew Coffeehouse for a rest. It is small, not fancy restaurant, but the food is awesome & cheap! If you wait a bit, as there will probably be a line if it is still morning / lunchtime, then you can grab a table overlooking some very blue water.
Their açaí bowls were perfect, & the mini waffles 🥞with berries🍓 & whipped cream were even better. Coffee was on point of course & it made for the most lovely brunch spot on Oahu with all the Hawaiian feels 🌋
Haunama Bay Nature Preserve
12 PM
After resting I would suggest grabbing your beach gear & heading to the Haunama Bay Nature Preserve because the colors are unreal. The blues and greens of this crescent shaped bay were actually breathtaking. After you watch the 9 minute intro video (too know how to care & act around the nature preserve) you are allowed to walk down to the beach of this bay!
You can rent snorkel gear & take a swim, or just lay on the beach. It will probably be crowed, as are many big attractions in Hawaii, but so worth it. Even if you just stop by to look at the preserve, it is a must in my book.
Diamond Head State Monument
4 PM / SUNSET
The next & last thing I would suggest is hiking the iconicDiamond Head State Monumentfor sunset. This is the iconic hike on Oahu & what your parents probably did when they came & visited two decades ago. I personally thought Koko Head Summit was more impressive, but Diamond Head is like is said ICONIC & you have to do it.
Diamond Head is a dormant volcano & has a cleanly marked trail. Again, there will be a lot of people there but you have to go! In its entirety I takes about 2 hours depending on how fast you go up & stay to look at the views. It took me 45 minutes to get up it. There was also a food truck upon arrival with drinks / food served in some very cute pineapples so make sure to bring some cash because they did not take cards.
*EXTRA*
If you have extra days or time…
Lanikai Pill Box
Lanikai Pill Boxis also a good hike. It is a short 20-30 minute hike once you find it. But again an amazing view & where all the cute girls on insta take a picture dangling off the side of it.
Lanikai Pill Box
Like I said Hawaii was an absolute dream. If you have any questions, DM me at tori_churchill & check out my other post “Hawaii Tips *Maui*” for all things Maui ; )
Tori Churchill 