With summer just around the corner, travel is on the mind of many. A few of our advisory board members reflected on some of their favorite vacation spots!
Heather Brown
Destin, Florida
Destin, Florida has been my go-to favorite vacation destination for years. The first time I visited was in 2014, when I got married to my husband on the beach. The crystal blue waters and white powder sand charmed me so much that I have gone back almost every year since. There is something therapeutic about sitting on the beach with a cold drink in my hand, listening to the waves while relaxing with my family and friends. In fact, my best friend and her family now go with us every year on a big vacation together. I’m a huge fan of eating and drinking during my vacations. After all, calories don’t count then , or so I’d like to believe. I dine on exquisite seafood, fresh caught fish and local cuisine that makes me want to lick my plate clean when I’m done. Don’t worry, I hardly ever do that in public. There is something magical about Destin and how I feel recharged after a week on the beach. I highly recommend it and hope you try it someday. We’re going again in May, and I already have a countdown to when we go back to my happy place.
Denise Nelson
Italy
My husband and I are travelers — we love to travel! Mind you, we both still have jobs, so we don’t get to go nearly as much as we’d like, but when we do, we enjoy every minute wherever we are! Our favorite trip by far was one we took to Italy in 2017. Arranged by Mary Kroening with Wild Cow Tours for the two of us, my business partner, and her travel companion, we had a whirlwind 12 days visiting Florence, Tuscany, Venice, and numerous magnificent cities in between. We toured museums featuring works of art by the old masters; toured churches built in the 1400s; learned how the Italians make wine, olive oil, and mozzarella cheese, and drank amazing wine in vineyards large and small. My favorite city was Positano along the western coast of Italy where we took a private cooking class, explored coastal towns nearby, and enjoyed the gorgeous view. The day we left we were already planning where we’d go the next time we visited Italy!
Ernie Ueligger
Puerto Vallarta
To date, vacation has been all about R&R. Other than our community, which we are always ready to return to once we are recharged, the beach is our happy place. My wife and I have been to Mexico a number of times, and of all the different Mexico destinations we’ve been to (Cancun, Cozumel, Yukitan, Puerto Vallarta, etc.), our favorite has been Puerto Vallarta. The views from our resort (Hyatt Ziva in Puerto Vallarta), ziplining, and the dinner and performances across the bay were all top notch. But the most memorable part of our 10 year-anniversary trip to Puerto Vallarta was finding out it was a sea turtle sanctuary and that we happened to be in season for watching the release into the ocean. It was a fantastic trip.
