There’s no hiding it: I’m obsessed with Frozen II.

I finally went to see it at the theater last weekend without any real expectations – and the film completely blew me away. The last time I felt this strongly for a Disney animated film (Disney-Pixar is a whole other thing and would require a separate post entirely) was Tangled in 2010 (and if I had been blogging then, you can bet your fern there would have been a whole post dedicated to that film). While I’ve loved the films that have come out since (Frozen included, as the heart of that original story still gets me every time), there’s something uniquely wonderful about how much I’ve fallen in love with Frozen II.

So, because I cannot seem to get over this movie (and I doubt I ever will), here are five reasons I loved Frozen II.

• My love for this found family (consisting of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf) grew so much larger! I already loved these five after the first film but watching them come further into their own (particularly Elsa, Anna and Kristoff) as their journey continues was such an emotional experience. They each have their own situations to overcome in this film, and their arcs are handled beautifully. I could relate to something that each one of them is experiencing (except Sven, perhaps): Elsa and her warring desires between seeking out the unknown or staying in her comfort zone with her loved ones, Anna and her desire to always be there to protect and help her sister, Kristoff and his uncertainty about romantic gestures but his certainty about who he loves, Olaf and his fear of things changing as he gets older. They all grow so dang much in this movie and it's heartwarming to witness. (It certainly doesn’t hurt that I’m also obsessed with this cast – they’re such a personable bunch when they do interviews and promo.)
• The relationships are depicted in ways that feel real and relatable! The friendship that Kristoff and Elsa have (and I will forever be sobbing over the details that show this). The friendship between Anna and Olaf (still sobbing over this too). The sisterhood of Elsa and Anna (which continues to change because both continue to grow as people, and honestly, it’s so relatable to my real life experience with my sisters). The romance between Anna and Kristoff (I will go down with this ship because I love it so, and because it’s just too good and pure to have the two awkward potatoes in love with each other). And there are even a couple that pop up in this film that might have been brand new but were meaningful too. I truly love how this film did not pull any punches when it came to depicting relationships at their highs and their lows.
• The visuals were stunning! It stands to reason that as technology advances, so do the things that animators can do when they are telling a story. The colors and the details brought this world to life, and the entire experience is gorgeous from start to end. Since I don’t want to spoil anything, I’ll leave it at this: there are a few very specific scenes in this movie that struck me right in the heart, not just because of my feelings about said scene/characters, but also because of how incredible they looked.
• The story was compelling! While I did guess at some of the major plot points right away (and it’s truly not hard to do if you constantly consume similar stories), that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. When combined with the specific characters, setting and details that are unique to the Frozen world, it turned into a magical experience. I was initially wary when I heard about this sequel, as the trouble with sequels is that you’re going to have to see characters you love who already had their happily ever after now go through more difficult things in pursuit of further happy endings of any sort. But the journey to the new happily ever after was so poignant and emotional (and I’m still crying every time I recall it), and I really did end up sinking deeply into it from start to finish.
• The soundtrack is everything! I’m obviously obsessed with the songs I can sing along to, particularly because the lyrics hit me so hard with most of them and those hooks are so dang catchy. Plus, recalling exactly which moment any of the songs appeared in the film makes me emo… Ahem. But I also must hand it to the composers, because the melodies and transitions continue to blow me away as I listen to the entire OST on repeat. The way that emotions are alluded to, the callbacks to the first film? It’s all so clever, and it really continues to earn my appreciation for the way music can truly make or break a film.

Okay, that was a lot of rambling about an animated film that I saw less than a week ago. But the truth is, Frozen II is a film that left a strong emotional imprint on my heart. And in the end, that, my friends, is truly what makes this film magical and memorable, and why it means so much to me. I love Frozen II, and I hope you watch it and fall in love with it as well – if you haven’t already!

In case you missed it, I recently did a massive personal life recap where I detailed everything I’ve been up to from May 2019 through to October 2019. I also did a similarly massive post talking about my favorite reads during the same period. Because both posts were already lengthy, I decided to do this separate post to recap my favorite acquisitions and experiences from the past six months.

• Fruits Basket – I’ve already mentioned this show before, but it deserves to be included for the sheer fact that I am truly enjoy this updated anime. The animation style is lovely, the story is playing out in a compelling and well-planned way and even though we have to wait a bit for the new season, it’ll be worth it to see it continue past the point where the original anime ended. 
• Hufflepuff merchandise – I bought entirely too many different articles of clothing recently that represent my Hogwarts house (like this and this), but I can’t say I regret it! I’m always into wearing fandom clothing in my every day life, and now I’ve basically got a full-on Hufflepuff wardrobe with all my newest acquisitions. 
• Jordandene – Prior to this year, I somehow only owned one item from Jordan’s shop. I remedied that immediately, encouraged by all her brand spanking new designs and the fact that I’m obsessed with the fit and quality of her pieces. My current favorite from her is my cropped sweatshirt inspired by Hocus Pocus, and I have a couple more pieces on the way too.
• Snow White with the Red Hair -  I watched this anime because of Rachel & Kristin originally (my initial thoughts are included in this post!), and I finally watched a good chunk more of it (though I still haven't finished the second season). It's such a compelling story about a feisty heroine determined to make her own path, the friends (some in high places) that she makes along the way and the trials and triumphs of her time in a new kingdom, complete with romance, friendship and political intrigue.
• Joules raincoat (similar style) – I’ve always wanted to own an actual raincoat, and I’ve had my eye on this one since Kristin told me about hers. I bought my bright pink raincoat just before we left for Ireland and I’m so happy I did! It’s substantial coverage (including the hood, which stays on my head unlike many other jackets I’ve tried), it’s a very cute design and it was on sale. 
• Lover – This album is tied with Fearless for my favorite Taylor Swift album of all time because I love it that much. I think it’s a great new era for Taylor musically and personally, and I have spent entirely too much time sorting the songs into Hogwarts houses (a future post!) and picking out my favorite lyrics (a future post!) and coming up with book recs that pair well with each track (a future post!). 
• Madewell transport tote (small) – My sisters gifted me with the mini version of the tote I love from Madewell and I adore it! It’s the perfect size for a day out, but even more ideal during travel (as proven by how useful it was during our trip to Australia). 
• Moulin Rouge the Musical – I went to see this show with DJ and Rachel when it first opened, and it was spectacular! I love the way it was brought to life on stage and while the story isn’t my favorite, I definitely think it’s worth seeing for the spectacle and the music. 
• Rising of the Shield Hero – This is an anime Macky and I randomly started this year and it’s so excellent! While I haven’t actually finished the first season yet (oops!), I can definitely tell you that I’ve enjoyed every single episode until where I’m currently at. It’s like Dungeons and Dragons crossed with Sword Art Online, and I am here for it. 
• Society 6 travel mug (here's mine, but this design is cute and so is this one) – I am obsessed with the quality of my Society 6 travel mug because it’s a great size and it keeps my drink warm and it doesn’t spill easily either. The design I picked is also a very apt one to represent my personality and interests. 
• Vans – I finally bought my first pair of Vans slip-ons (a black iridescent check slip-on), and my only regret is not doing it sooner. It was a lifesaver for me during our long trip to Australia, comfortable enough to walk around in but also easy to remove and slip on when venturing through airport security. 
• Stitch plush toy (see what it looks like here) - I finally caved on our latest anniversary trip to Walt Disney World and purchased a huge Stitch plush. Stitch is one of my favorite Disney characters, and I'm always eyeing his merchandise. Now my big plush sits on our bed and I absolutely adore it!

In case you missed it, I recently did a massive personal life recap where I detailed everything I’ve been up to from May 2019 through to October 2019. Because it was already lengthy, I decided to do this separate post to recap my favorite reads from the past six months. 

My reading has been all over the place since May, partly because I fell sick and partly because I’ve been on the go so much. This next bit is mostly for me, but if you’re interested, I have a breakdown of how much I read per month below: 

• MAY: 15 (10 books, 4 manga volumes, 1 graphic novel) 
• JUNE: 41 (19 books, 2 graphic novels, 20 manga volumes) 
• JULY: 16 (15 books, 1 short story) 
• AUGUST: 14 (13 books, 1 visual novel) 
• SEPTEMBER: 21 (18 books, 3 graphic novels) 
• OCTOBER: 20 (19 books, 1 novella)

I reread a few books over the last couple of months (including Kushiel’s Dart, The Cruel Prince, the first three books in The Raven Cycle, The Start of Me and You), and I still deeply loved and enjoyed them all. But for the sake of further brevity, I’m not including them on this list. My ‘new’ favorites, condensed to encompass the entire six-month period and in alphabetical order, are below.

• DAISY JONES AND THE SIX (my full review) – I was cautiously optimistic when I picked this book up and it blew me away. I listened to the audiobook (which has a full cast and includes a bit of music), and it was part of why the reading experience was so brilliant. It was fascinating to feel like I was diving into a tell-all about Daisy Jones and the band the Six, and the unique interview format worked especially well in audio. 
• THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST – Tied with The Cruel Prince in my heart, this Holly Black standalone (which we read for #FaerieAThon, an event I cohosted with Jane, Kristin and Melanie) is such a winner. It is a story about a Faerie boy in a glass coffin in the woods and the siblings who find their story intertwined with his, and Black does an incredible job of mixing the mundane and the magical. I especially enjoyed the cast of the characters and the themes explored in this tale, and I definitely plan to reread this in the future. 
• THE DEVOURING GRAY – Of all the books on this list, I am most surprised by the fact that this one makes the cut. It has vibes similar to The Secret Circle, Beautiful Creatures and The Raven Cycle, but Herman definitely manages to make this story all her own! Set in a town where there are Founder families that offer protection against the Beast in the Gray that threatens everyone’s safety, this story explores what changes when a new girl comes to town. I listened to the audiobook (which was pretty good), and I flew through it, eager to find out what would happen next to these characters and to see how the lore would fall into place. Can’t wait for book two! 

• THE DIVINERS, LAIR OF DREAMS, BEFORE THE DEVIL BREAKS YOU – I am kicking myself in the butt for waiting until the year 2019 to binge read this series (I’m thanking the lovely ladies behind the #DivinersReadalong – Chelsea, Jane, Madalyn & Melanie – for the push!) because I love it so gosh darn much. I’m obsessed with the setting, fascinated with the lore, invested in the actual plot and so in love with the main cast of characters that it’s almost ridiculous. These are more reads that I ended up experiencing (at least partially with each book) via audio, and I have to say that it truly enhanced the character personalities and the spooky, creepy vibe. 

• KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES – On a whim inspired by Macky and Kristin, I picked up this series starter… and I devoured it in one sitting. It’s been a while since I’ve truly loved a middle grade story so much that I couldn’t put it down! While there are certainly minor things that weren’t my cup of tea, this is one of the most fun reading experiences I’ve had this year and I cannot wait to binge read the rest of the series.
• KINGS OF THE WYLD – Speaking of fun and entertaining reads, I am so happy that I finally read this book! It does start off a bit heavy-handed on the set-up, but it develops into something that I have been describing as “a Dungeons and Dragons game where the players are rolling either natural 1s or natural 20s”. You can probably imagine how delightful and funny this book was for me as someone who enjoys DND! 
• KUSHIEL’S CHOSEN, KUSHIEL’S AVATAR – It was also only this year that I finally finished the first trilogy of the Kushiel series, and I’m so mad I waited so long to read it because it was absolutely brilliant! Carey has a masterful hand when it comes to her plotting and her characters, and I enjoyed every single second I spent immersed in the trilogy. 

• LOVELY WAR (my full review) – I will never shut up about how much I loved this one! I listened to the audiobook (which has a full cast and includes musical pieces) and fell head over heels in love with this story of two couples set against the backdrop of the World War and narrated by the Greek goddess Aphrodite. 
• THE MAP FROM HERE TO THERE – The Start of Me and You has always been my favorite Emery Lord novel, so I went into the sequel very cautiously. I needn’t have worried though, as Lord does a great job with this additional chapter of Paige’s story. Paige and her friends are now high school seniors, and with that comes the complicated navigation between nostalgia for all they’ve shared, determination to make enough memories to last past the year and the questions about the future that lie ahead. It’s such a relatable story, in a whole lot of ways, and I really loved it (though it still doesn’t beat out Start as my favorite). 

• WELL MET – A dislike-to-love story with the backdrop of a Renaissance faire? I had a very good feeling about this contemporary romance from the moment I first heard about it, and it ended up living up to my expectations. I was delighted by every aspect of this story – the small town, the characters, the romance – and I definitely think it’s one of my personal favorite romance reads ever (just because it really appeals to me on so many levels). 
• WHERE DREAMS DESCEND – I feel a little guilty putting this title on my list as this novel isn’t going to be published until June 2020, so there’s quite a wait ahead! But I promise the wait will be worth it. I dove right into this one as soon as an ARC landed in my hands, and I don’t regret it! It’s about a young woman determined to venture beyond the bounds of her home, and who winds up competing in a magical competition… which women normally can’t be a part of. I found the story compelling, the characters interesting and the twists and turns had me emotional and on my toes at every turn. 
• 10 BLIND DATES – I’m a sucker for a cute rom-com set-up and if that ends up paired with a big family ensemble cast, well, that’s a cherry on top of an already excellent sundae. I flew through this fun, festive read about a gal who has just broken up with her boyfriend during the holidays and how her rather large extended family get involved in setting her up on ten blind dates with the person and location of their choosing. It’s seriously such a great book and it’s been picked up for adaptation by Netflix!

While these recaps are generally for my benefit, as I like being able to look back on the months that have passed to see what I’ve gotten up to and what I’ve read, I hope that you enjoy this massively long recounting of what went down in my life from the months of May to October. I was extremely busy at the end of May, got sick at the very beginning of June and just somehow never got around to recapping anything since then. I’m remedying that today with this condensed six-month version of my usual monthly recaps, which is solely focused on what I got up to.

I’ve been having a busier year than I ever anticipated I would! While there were a number of events I already had lined up when the year began, my months have been filled to the brim exploring and experiencing New York City, spending quality time with family and friends and indulging in weekends filled with binge watching anime and binge reading books and playing games of DND and the luxury of staying in. Just for the sake of recounting it all with brevity, here are a few moments of note for every month!


In May, I kicked off the month with a magical trip to Paris with Rachel! It honestly was the best way to start the month, even though it was rainy and cold for the majority of our time there. Returning to New York didn't mean that life slowed down one bit, however. I went to two concerts, James Bay (with Rachel, for the third time this year and I don't regret it because he is incredible) and LANY (with my sisters, and it was really fun to hear their latest songs live). I also got to attend the Red, White and Royal Blue (one of my favorite reads this year) book event, celebrate the arrival of spring with Rachel and Kristin, and hike up Bear Mountain. The month drew to a close with our pretty much yearly attendance of BookExpo America, which was a whole lot of fun as I got to see so many bookish friends again, meet some online friends in real life and get some really exciting books!


In June, hanging out with my bookish buddies continued at BookCon (which was surprisingly fun this year). Unfortunately, right afterwards, I got shingles and had to stay home for a couple of weeks until I was fully recovered! But I did manage to squeeze in a little fun before the month ended, including a visit to Smorgasburg with my family, hanging out with Rachel to celebrate Bastille Day, attending the launch party for Wicked Fox, seeing Moulin Rouge on Broadway and having my usual ice cream and coffee date with Rachel.


In July, we kicked off the month with one of the best trips I've ever gone on - our family trip to Ireland! My sisters, Macky and I all flew to Dublin for a few days, and did our share of sightseeing (including seeing two places I've always dreamed of visiting - the Long Room at Trinity College and the Cliffs of Moher). But the real reason for our trip? We went to see Westlife at Croke Park (and it was everything!) Once we got back to New York, it was a series of ice cream dates, attending the Spin the Dawn book launch party, the Forever Romance cocktail party, trying out 305 Fitness classes (which are fun, but so intense!), going to the beach, having a picnic and seeing family who were in town.

In August, I celebrated my 30th birthday with exactly the birthday weekend I wanted - video games (specifically the new Marvel Alliance), Smorgasburg on a sunny day, a trip to the beach and more food tripping with family. My sisters and I also finally got to see Dear Evan Hansen (and it was truly good, but hardhitting!). We also went to our nephew's baptism, saw Shawn Mendes in concert at the Barclays Center, met up with family who happened to be in town and all fell into a very, very deep obsessive hole when Taylor Swift's new album "Lover" was released (including a visit to the pop-up experience)!


In September, I had one of my favorite months of the entire year! I went on a sisters' trip to Banff, and it was delightful to be hanging out with two of the best people I know and seeing such incredible sights. I hit the ground running upon our return to New York, as Rachel and I got to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, we all went to visit the FRIENDS 25 pop-up experience, decided to go apple picking and had lots of days out involving ice cream and coffee and shopping. The month ended with Macky & I going on our annual pilgrimage to the Epcot International Food and Wine festival and visiting Galaxy's Edge for the first time too!


In October, I finally got to see Maggie Rogers live and she was absolutely brilliant. Macky and I also got to visit NYCC on Sunday, and though we didn't stay long, I still had a fun time! I also got to climb up The Vessel with my family (which was cool, but also not as exciting as I'd thought), grab plenty of food and sweets with people I love, attend my best friend's wedding and go to Australia for the first time ever (though my stay was all too brief and jam-packed mostly with seeing family and friends).

It's been a very busy six months, if you couldn't already tell! While I do crave a little more introvert time (which you can honestly expect to be happening in January, if I have my way), it's been a whole lot of fun with the best company in the world, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

It’s been a little over two months since my trip up to Banff with my sisters Mel & Rachel – which was the first proper vacation my sisters and I have taken where it was just the three of us. I’ll admit that I’d always admired Banff as the most famous photos of the place include beautiful natural scenery, but it never was a personal top priority for a travel destination. After this trip, I’ve wholeheartedly changed my tune because it’s one of the few places in the world that gives me a wonderful, magical, inspiring feeling and I would happily go back for another visit. Even though this post is coming belatedly, I decided I still wanted to share about the trip – both for my benefit when I look back at this year and for the benefit of others who might want to visit Banff themselves. 

[As a special note, anything I particularly loved during our trip is marked with a heart – it’s something I’d personally recommend taking the time to do if you’re planning to go to Ireland. I’m happy to answer any more questions if you’ve got them, so feel free to leave a comment or reach out via email or DM on Twitter or Instagram!] 

• Tim Hortons – I was told prior to my trip that I had to get an iced capp when I visited. I’m glad I listened because I really enjoyed the drink, along with the TimBits and the sandwich we got for our drive from the airport in Calgary up to Banff. 
• Melissa’s Missteak – We picked this as our first lunch spot for two reasons: we wanted comfort food and the name. It was a pleasure to warm up indoors, as the restaurant has a cozy cabin feel (though it was a bit dim for my liking). We decided to share the New York strip and the Chorizo Benny (which were both delicious and perfectly satisfied our hunger after traveling all morning into the early afternoon), accompanied by pots of tea to warm our insides. 
• Bow Falls Viewpoint – This spot was our first taste of the natural views Banff has to offer! We enjoyed it despite the fog and the rain, as it really felt like we had arrived in the place we’d all been eager to get to. Observing the flowing river, dark trees and mountain silhouettes and walking along the pebbled riverside path for a little while was lovely. 
• ♥ Lake Louise – We arrived while the sky was still dark so we could park close to the lakeside. The sunrise view would have been incredible if it hadn’t been a gray morning, but we did get to see it in full color when we arrived post-hike. (A fair warning – plenty of photographers and videographers gather to capture the sunrise so you’ll be hard-pressed to get a spot if you arrive later.) 

• ♥ Lake Agnes Trail (including Mirror Lake) – I never ever thought I’d say this, but I really loved this hike! It’s a clear path that tackles the mountainous area near Lake Louise, marked with signs and populated with other hikers, so you never feel too isolated. There are a few highlight spots to see along the way, including Mirror Lake, as well as a couple of inclines to tackle. I’m not a seasoned hiker, but I didn’t think the path was overly difficult to walk at all. (Side note - wearing hiking boots or sneakers with proper tread is highly recommended, as the path can be slippery with mud.) 
• ♥ Lake Agnes Teahouse – I can honestly say that this was one of my favorite meals of the entire trip! It’s simple fare that satisfies the hunger patrons will feel after their hike up. While we didn’t get to see the lake too clearly because of the weather, we still enjoyed ourselves. Apart from having some of their local tea, we shared a tuna salad sandwich on their homemade oatmeal brown bread, chowder, chocolate cake and tea biscuits with jam. (Two things to remember: 1) seating space indoors and outdoors is limited and 2) this is a cash only spot.) 
• Lake Louise Station Restaurant – After hiking back down the trail, we were hungry again and wanted to find a lunch spot nearby. Intrigued by the notion of a restaurant in a train station, we decided on this place. The actual restaurant also has a cozy cabin ambience albeit with additional fancy touches. We ordered the Station Beef Stew (two thumbs up), Station Mac and Cheese (nothing special, but comfort food) and Rocky Mountain poutine with duck (I do love poutine). 
• Peyto Lake Viewpoint and Bow Summit – It was raining when we visited, but that didn’t diminish the experience of this view. It was so cool to the incredibly vivid colors of this lake, particularly against the backdrop of dark mountains and trees; it was a lot like seeing a postcard in real life! 
• Bow Lake – Once of the best things about visiting Banff is being inspired to detour to stop at different spots while you’re on the road. We pulled over to walk the path lakeside on a whim, and it was lovely! The skies went from overcast to bright during our time there, and the ground was a bit slippery with the wet and the mud, but we had a lovely time contemplating all the views and stretching our legs. 

• ♥ COWS – Would it really be a trip that involved me and Rachel if we didn’t have ice cream somewhere? There was a rather long line for this place, but it was worth the wait for sure. I had a scoop of PEI Strawberry and PEI Apple Crisp on a cone, and I’m still thinking about it now. (Also, in case it wasn’t obvious, I was inspired to pick up the fruity flavors because of PEI. Because PEI makes me think of Anne of Green Gables.) 
• Beaver Tails – I was also instructed to try a beaver tail at least once while we were in Canada, so Mel snagged us one that had Nutella and banana. It was tasty and perfect for sharing, but nothing too special, in my humble opinion as someone who likes dessert. 
• Vermilion Lakes – We all love sunsets (and sunrises), so we looked for a place where we could watch it. We went to this lake two times for the sunset (joined by a decent amount of other people), once on an overcast day and once on a sunny day. Both were beautiful experiences, but there was a more stunning array of distinctive colors in the sky on the sunnier day. 
• ♥ Horseshoe Canyon (along Bow River) – If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you know I’m adventurous but not necessarily when it comes to active adventures like, let’s say, whitewater rafting. Mel convinced me to accompany her for this experience, and I’m so glad she did! We booked with Chinook Rafting, who were very professional, personable and excellent at keeping everyone comfortable with rafting and its particulars. Equipment (wetsuits, jackets, helmets, boots) was provided, and I can report that they keep the body warm while the water splashes you during your rafting experience and if you decide to make the cliff jump. It was seriously so much fun, and I would do it again! 

• ♥ Park Distillery – For our last sit-down meal of the trip, we ended up here and it was a winner! The interior is inviting with its light woods and open areas to eat, and you can go on a tour of the actual distillery should you so wish. We ordered the Park Burger, the Blu Dog (which I truly enjoyed) and the Tagliatelle, and I can highly recommend paying a visit to this spot if you’re ever in Banff. 
• ♥ Emerald Lake – This wasn’t originally on our agenda, but we ended up visiting on a whim – and it was one of the best parts of the trip. The lake and its surroundings are incredibly beautiful, painted in vivid colors that really stood out with the bright sunshine and blue skies of the afternoon we went. We ended up renting a canoe and rowing out into the lake for an hour or so, which turned out to be a lot of fun! 
• ♥ Moraine Lake – This was probably the place we were all greatly anticipating seeing in person during this trip, and we were not disappointed. We arrived before the sunrise and managed to clamber up onto the Rockpile (yes, there were mild shenanigans involving balancing across fallen logs that I couldn’t do particularly well, and I recommend being very careful if you make your own way up there versus taking the actual path that exists… which we didn’t discover till after we’d climbed) that is on one side of the lake just in time to see the sun peek over the peaks. We ended up renting a canoe yet again, and it was another magical experience because everywhere we looked, we were surrounded by incredible natural views. (A thing to note: You need to leave very early if you want to get a parking spot right by this lake because the actual parking lot is small. You do have the option of parking farther away and riding a shuttle to the lake, but that means you’re at the mercy of the shuttle schedule.) 
• Johnston Canyon Trail – Determined to make the most of our last day, even if it wasn’t a full one), we walked this trail until we got to the first waterfall (which is the smaller one). This was a fun trail experience, as it involves constructed walkways, rock formations and lovely views of the river along the way. 

I probably sound like a broken record since I kept waxing poetic in this post about how incredible the natural views were, how vivid the colors and how lovely the experience. But, to be frank, that’s precisely how I felt about many of the places we visited on this trip. And, honestly, visiting Banff was a wonderful experience, a surprise as I’d had no expectations going into it except having a good time with my sisters – which, in the end, was the best part of this entire vacation. I loved Banff, I loved spending so much time with two of the people who know me best in the world and I definitely want to go back for another visit one day.

Check out the video Rachel made to chronicle our trip!