Olena, her two boys and non-cooking husband from Vancouver, British Columbia, gave up eating processed food about 5 years ago. They travel the world as a family, in search of authentic experiences and real food. They are not rich or hippies. They are not weird. Just a family trying to live a life worth living.

Motherhood, the job, comes with precious little vacation time and only one holiday: Mother’s Day. Why do so many brave, kind, selfless, strong women do it? The pay is awesome: pure love. This Mother’s Day show your Mom, the mother of your children, the mother figure in your life how much she means to you.

It's February and we are all thinking about it: Valentine's Day. Should we do something? It's just a Hallmark Holiday. That said, it really is so sweet and validating to plan something special. And while I'm over chocolates and flowers, we could still use a little break. We can celebrate our love any day of the year and if it takes Valentine's Day to motivate us to plan a romantic getaway then let's not overthink it.  

It’s that time of the year. The holidays are over, the sun hasn’t been seen for weeks, it’s cold and dark and drizzly outside and you know it’s going to stay like this for, well, let’s just say “a while”. Do not despair. There are plenty of things you can do to brighten your days and mood: Come up to the island for a few days and fight the Winter Blues San Juan Island style.

Last year, when Thanksgiving decorations gave way to elaborate Christmas displays in our residential neighborhood in Seattle, when there were inquiries for our current address from family overseas and the first greeting cards arrived, my husband and I admitted to each other, that neither of us felt like having a traditional holiday this year. Instead of a tree or presents we neither need nor want or too much sugar and stress, we decided to run away--just the two of us--to San Juan Island.    And what a great decision it turned out to be!

Fall is that sweet time of the year, when you can squeeze in some down-time, a little self-care, relaxation and fun, after the hustle and bustle of Summer is over and before the holiday season starts in earnest. Who would you take on such a trip? With whom do you feel truly yourself? Who makes you giggle so hard that tears run down your face? Your best girlfriends! A good friend knows all your best stories, a best friend goes to an island with you. Read on to find out How to have the best girlfriend’s weekend ever in Friday Harbor.

Summer is over, the holiday season hasn’t started yet, there is nothing left to do in the garden and the rains have returned to Seattle.  If only there was a beautiful place close by to sneak away to for the weekend, maybe with some sun, good eats, long walks on the beach, a little bit of culture.  

You love them, your family. You long to get them all together, hold the new baby, see all the kids grow up, lovingly tease your siblings, hug your grandpa. But your house is too small and your husband is allergic to the albeit cute dog that your brother insists on bringing everywhere. Then there is the food issue: grandma is diabetic, your aunt can’t do gluten and your nephew has just become a vegan. Where will they all sleep? How will you keep them entertained?

There is so much to do on beautiful San Juan Island and in cute Friday Harbor, it may be hard to decide how to prioritize your stay, especially if it’s your first time visiting. Follow our 10 tips to get a sense of this unique island, it’s rare wildlife, astonishing nature, rich history and culture and, most importantly, to have fun.

Eating out with kids in an unfamiliar place can be challenging, but also fun if you keep an open mind, especially in kid-friendly Friday Harbor, where kids are welcome anywhere and you can show up in jeans and a T-shirt, stroller in tow, even at the fanciest of places. Here are 5 places which are pleasurable for adults and serve yummy, kid-friendly food, which won’t burst your budget, allowing you to enjoy the rest of your trip.