Visit: The Getty Villa

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Ah, the Getty Villa. If you’ve been, you will completely understand all the exclamations in this post. If you haven’t, you’ll hopefully plan a trip soon! There are countless picturesque and aesthetically perfect architectural gems in L.A. and Pacific Palisades; but how do you compare to a locale that is not only beautiful but also enlightening? If you have any interest in the arts and cultures (and the residual antiquities) of ancient Greece, Rome or Etruria, you’ll be so pleased! It’s truly awe-inspiring. You definitely won’t want to leave. The peristyle alone commands at least 15 minutes of your time. Such a beauty!
If you plan on visiting both the Getty and the Getty Villa, be sure to get your parking validated to take advantage of the “Pay Once, Park Twice” promotion. Parking at each location is $15, but if you visit both sites on the same day, you’ll receive a voucher for complimentary parking at the other location. Great, right? Be sure to ask at the Information Desk!

Stay: Marriott Newport Coast Villas

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We recently returned from an early summer trip to California and the gorgeous Newport Coast Villas made it so much more relaxing. Thanks to my ultra-organized tendencies, we usually end up having a packed vacation schedule, which basically eliminates the relaxation potential. Husband hates it. I thought I’d try something new for me: to only schedule 1-2 activities per day and to take advantage of the resort amenities. I’m extremely glad I did! 
The villas are perfectly situated just off the Pacific Coast Highway between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. The views are unparalleled and beach access is super easy. It took us five minutes to reach the water (yup, we totally timed it)!  There’s literally everything you could need on-site, but there is a Walgreen’s and Albertsons less than ten minutes away. Our favorite activities were exploring the three pools areas, challenging one another at the tennis courts and of course sitting around the fire pits in the evening. We couldn’t recommend it more–definitely give it a try!

Destinations: Two-Day Paris Itinerary

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Day One: I have started every trip to Paris the exact same way: at the Louvre. It’s the quintessential Parisian experience and it easily gets you in the mood for all things Paris! A walk through the Tuileries Garden is essential. A public park following the French Revolution, this immaculate promenade is always populated with various birds, squirrels and the obvious tourist. It’s the perfect photo backdrop and it’s so unbelievably peaceful. I highly recommend pulling up a chair next to the centrally located pond and people watch for several minutes! 
Halfway through the gardens, take Allée de Castiglione toward Rue de Rivoli. Resist the dozens of tourist shops filled with “I heart Paris” tees & Chinese-made Eiffel Tower statues and follow Rue de Castiglione to Place Vendôme. I absolutely love this spot. Maybe it has something to do with the Chanel boutique? 
Continue in the same direction along Rue de la Paix until you reach the next big intersection. A quick glance to the right spots the impressive and historic Opera House. Take the tour. Really. Hopefully, there isn’t a rehearsal going in because the theater is obviously the most impressive portion. 
Following the tour, a cab ride up Champs-Élysées is extremely fun. A fun idea? Go around the Arc de Triomphe roundabout before getting dropped off for some fun shopping!
Tip: Find a Lenôtre (there’s one down Avenue Victor Hugo)–you won’t regret it.
Day Two: If it’s your first trip to Paris, this may not be the day you’d pick, but it was highly enjoyable! Paris Disney. Awesome. Best invention. 
We took the RER A directly to the park (Get on the RER A , heading towards Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, and get off at Marne-la-Vallée Chessy) and it was extremely quick! 
After our fun-filled Mickey day, we spent the evening under the Eiffel. After it got dark, we snapped a few photos then made our way (on the Metro) to the Arc de Triomphe. Thanks to the concessions price, we paid only a few euros to take the stairs to the top. The view is well worth the price and you’ll get to see just how expansive the City of Light truly is.

Destinations: Prague – Day 2

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 Our walk to the castle was visually inspiring! Every building, home and alley contributed to the overall beauty of the city.
The castle could have been an all-day excursion–there were so many different areas to visit. The tickets were particularly useful because they included a checklist of the various museums, rooms and buildings. By the time we arrived we only had a few hours, so we quickly visited each attraction on the list. One of the best things about the castle was the ample availability of informational plaques and signs. Generally, if you don’t buy the audio tour it seems you’re missing an enormous amount of information, but that wasn’t the case. We were able to learn a great deal!
After we had every square of our ticket punched, we walked along the side of the castle in order to photograph the incredible view of the city. It was the warmest part of the day and the burnt orange rooftops were a sight to behold!