DC Hidden Gems

04/11/2026

Visiting family in Birmingham Alabama and having the best time. Birmingham has suddenly become this new foodie destination and we are out at lunch at Homewood Gourmet that has the best gumbo we’ve tasted in a while.

02/22/2026

Lake Tekapo New Zealand is in a Dark Sky designated area meaning it has such little artificial light that you can fully see the night sky. If you visit this area then we recommend this Airbnb called “Ultimate View”.

02/18/2026

While in Lake Tekapo New Zealand we take in the beauty and reflect upon what gives us the greatest happiness. Always remember, to be vulnerable, give kindness , and invite love into your life.

02/08/2026

While in Queenstown New Zealand we took the gondola to the top of the mountain and the Skyline Luge to the bottom of it. We’ve made the most of our time here in the adventure capital of the world. This is why we slow travel.

02/04/2026

While in Wanaka New Zealand we had one of the best meals of the entire trip at Bistro Gentile. It’s actually on the Maude Vineyard and worth the visit.

01/28/2026

10/01/2025

You guys, we need to talk. One of the things we hear most often is, "We would absolutely love to do what you do, but we just can't afford it." It's a real conversation we have in our comments and DMs all the time, and it’s a huge barrier for so many who dream of this life. We see you, and we get it.

Well, something just landed in our inbox that could actually change that for 365 of you.

To celebrate their one-year anniversary, Villa Vie is giving away 365 FREE 7-day cruises! We’re not kidding. A free cruise, every day, for a year's worth of winners. This is one of the most incredible opportunities we’ve ever seen for people to get a real taste of life at sea.

Here's the scoop: You can enter to win by filling out the form on their website. They are doing daily drawings to select 52 winners each day between October 15th and October 21st, so you’ll want to get your name in the hat ASAP.

The prize is a seven-day trip on the Villa Vie Odyssey, and it includes meals, drinks, WiFi, and even laundry. We wanted to be upfront about that part, so you should know the only thing winners have to cover is port fees and service charges ($57/day). The trip has to be taken before the end of March 2026.

Just to be clear, we are not affiliated with this giveaway in any way; we're just genuinely so excited to share the news with our community. We know how much you all dream of cruising, and this could be your chance. We are crossing our fingers for every single one of you.

Now that you have all the details, we have to ask: Are you going to enter the giveaway? Let us know in the comments!

09/30/2025

One year ago today, the Villa Vie Odyssey officially began its journey, setting sail with the dreams of an entire community on board. We remember watching it depart, filled with an incredible sense of anticipation for the adventure that we would soon be joining.

Let's be honest, the concept of a residential cruise ship sailing the world continuously is a bold one. It’s a massive leap of faith, not just for the residents, but for everyone involved. In the beginning, there were whispers of doubt and plenty of questions. Could a vision this grand actually become a sustainable reality?

The answer wasn't found in a spreadsheet; it was found in the people. The solution was the incredible community of pioneers—the early adopters who believed in the dream from day one and created a vibrant, supportive home at sea. Their belief is what turned this audacious idea into a thriving reality.

And look at what that belief has accomplished. In just one year, this floating home has navigated to 5 continents, exploring over 46 countries and more than 138 unique destinations. It has become a vessel for connection, adventure, and a new way of living. We feel so fortunate to be a part of this story and to have collected our own incredible memories on board.

The best part? The journey is just getting started. There's still so much of the world to see.

This milestone has us thinking about big dreams. So, we have to ask you: If you were to pack your bags and go for a full year, what is the ONE experience you would have to put at the top of your list? Let us know in the comments!

09/28/2025

This is our new series of Reels dedicated to having fun and a laugh with cruise travel. Enjoy the cruise memes come to life! This one is about control and the cruise life.

09/27/2025

You spend years dreaming about a place, and then one day, you wake up and you’re there. That was us in Ketchikan, Alaska. The air was crisp, the scenery was unreal, and right there, docked in the “Salmon Capital of the World,” was our home, the Villa Vie Odyssey.

We were walking along historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over the water where, legend has it, bootleggers used to pass illicit goods through trapdoors in the floor. We saw a bald eagle just… sitting there, watching over the town. It felt completely surreal.

But then we saw it: our ship, the Odyssey, docked near one of the massive, brand-new mega-ships. For a split second, a weird thought crept in. Did we make a mistake? Did we choose character over glamour and lose something in the process?

That feeling lasted all of two seconds. We looked at our home—the vessel that’s taking us to 425+ ports around the globe—and we didn't feel regret. We felt… smart. We realized we traded waterslides for the world. This entire life, this ability to explore places like Ketchikan, is possible because our ship isn't a billion-dollar behemoth. Its age is actually its superpower.

Our full tour of Ketchikan is actually a special segment tucked inside one of our recent discussion videos, which we know means some of you might have missed it! In the video, we tackle this very idea and the single biggest criticism of our new life. We didn't want you to miss out on our Alaska adventure, so be sure to check it out!

So, what do you think is more important for world travel? Is it the shiny newness of how you get there, or the incredible destinations you get to see? Let us know in the comments!

09/25/2025

This is our series of Reels dedicated to having fun and a laugh with cruise travel. Enjoy the cruise memes come to life! This one is about cruise drink packages.