My Top Travel Moments of 2014

This marks my final post of 2014. It has been a terrific year of chocolate travels–great fodder for the second volume of Chocolatour. Here are a few of the highlights:

1. February 22 I was a speaker at the Hawaii Chocolate Festival in Honolulu, and also did a great chocolate tour of the island of Oahu. It was fabulous staying at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, a magnificent beachside resort I’d first stayed at roughly 20 years before.

Waking up to this view from the Sheraton Moana every day was amazing.

Waking up to this view from the Sheraton Moana every day was amazing.

2. We ended February with a visit to the Big Island of Hawaii. It was my 1st visit to the island of Hawaii, and I was not disappointed. Staying at the Fairmont Orchid made our time on the Big Island exquisite. The location and ambiance of the resort, incredible staff, and privilege of staying on the Fairmont Gold floor made our time at the resort equally as enticing as our exploration of the island.

Suzanne and I checking into the Fairmont Orchid

Suzanne and I checking into the Fairmont Orchid

3. Visiting the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Kailua Kona and finding this breath-taking view at the Pololu Valley Lookout were also highlights of our time on the Big Island.

Pololu Valley Lookout

4. Meeting Paul Johnson and his wife Jeanne of Caribeans Chocolate in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. Paul represents why I am doing the Chocolatour project, and that is to introduce you the chocolate loving reader and traveler to the passionate people around the world who live and breath chocolate.

Paul Johnson among his sacred cacao trees

Paul Johnson among his sacred cacao trees

5. Being slathered in warm, molten chocolate at the Pure Jungle Spa in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. This photo says it all!

Doreen

6. Visiting Miami, Florida, to receive my Readers’ Favorite Award for Chocolatour and to explore South Beach with my friend Christine.

Miami is filled with architectural wonders, opulent yachts, and all sorts of other distractions.

Miami is filled with architectural wonders, opulent yachts, and all sorts of other distractions. I’ll talk more about them–and this water show–in a future post.

It’s been a great year of travel for me along the Chocolatour. I hope you’ve had an equally great year of travel experiences, or if you don’t have the opportunity to travel, that you’ve enjoyed sharing them with me here.

Please subscribe to the blog via the tab at the right so that you won’t miss any further posts. Please share this post if you enjoyed it, and please join us back here the week of January 12th for our next new post.

Happy New Year, and thanks again for joining me on all the delicious chocolate travel journeys that I’m honoured to share with you– here, and in my book.

Doreen Pendgracs

Known throughout the Web as the "Wizard of Words", I've been a freelance writer since 1993. I researched and wrote Volume I of Chocolatour that won a Readers' favourite Award in 2014. Always enjoy experiencing new destinations and flavours.

27 Responses

  1. sonaly says:

    Thanks for sharing awesome post.
    I loved your blog.

  2. Doreen,

    I’m with Susan. I’ve never heard of a chocolate and coffee crusted steak either. It sounds delicious. Your next chocolate dinner in the Community Classroom will be here before you know it! It sounds like this last one will be hard to beat. What an opportunity it must have been for you.
    Sherryl Perry recently posted…Will Building Your Blog Community Make You a Superstar? #FridayFindsMy Profile

  3. What a great year Doreen!!! Love your photo in the Pure Jungle Spa. You look so happy! Cheers to more chocolate adventures in 2015! XX
    Trisha Velarmino recently posted…Dear Mom, Thanks For Allowing Me To Travel The WorldMy Profile

  4. Chris says:

    Doreen!

    Wow, what an amazing 12 months, but that award has got to be the highlight of them all for me.

    I’ll continue to think of you whenever I stumble across anything chocolate related and hopefully I can eventually unearth for you a worthy lead 😉

    Here’s to a Happy 2015!

  5. John Sigurdson says:

    Truly a Jet- Setter, Doreen you have set the bar for 2015.

    Enjoy

  6. Cheryl says:

    I have thoroughly enjoyed coming along with you on your travels through your blog this year. You have inspired me to want to do more traveling myself in 2015. Happy New Year my friend!
    Cheryl recently posted…New Year’s Resolutions or GoalsMy Profile

  7. Natalie says:

    What fun adventures! 🙂 Any trip that combines Hawaii and chocolate is a win in my book! I can’t wait to see what you’ll be up to in 2015–have a happy new year!
    Natalie recently posted…From the Mountains to the Sea (and Everything in Between): 2014 in ReviewMy Profile

  8. You have had quite the busy and exciting year. Thanks for taking us along on the ride. Now if we just had some of the yummy chocolate to savor as we read your blog….:) Looking forward to your 2015 adventures.
    Susan cooper recently posted…Lemon Sorbet: #RecipeMy Profile

  9. Hi Doreen,
    What a delicious 2014 you have had!
    Btw, the view from Pololu Valley Lookout is breathtaking indeed!
    Wish you a wonderful 2015 !!!
    Cheers,
    Rob & Nat
    Robson Cadore recently posted…Travel Secrets – Where to Stay & What to do in IstanbulMy Profile

  10. Doreen — what a wonderful year you’ve had. My best wishes for your continuing success in 2015!

  11. Rachel says:

    Hi Doreen, I hope 2015 will be just as enjoyable and productive! I’ve loved following your chocolaty travels!

  12. Linda Strange says:

    Re: the photo of you after your chocolate spa experience: I loved Heidi’s comment:
    “Lady Godiva”. Couldn’t have been more appropriate.
    Talk soon.
    LL

    • Doreen says:

      Hi Linda and thanks for your comment. Yes, I guess that pretty much sums it up! You really DO feel like lady Godiva when you’re covered with molten chocolate! Here’s looking forward to another year of delicious chocolate adventures …
      Doreen recently posted…My Top Travel Moments of 2014My Profile

  13. It was great reliving these adventures with you, Doreen, and I especially love thinking about our great time in Miami.

    Here’s to more wonderful travel in 2015, starting with your trip to BC. I hope you and Reg have a wonderful time and that he stays strong.

    • Doreen says:

      Thanks so much, Christine. It was amazing having you join me on the trip to Miami. And thx for the good wishes re the trip to BC. I am really looking forward to having some time to just CHILL. Feeling rather tired from all the travels over the past couple of months and then the busyness of the holiday season. Cheers, and Happy New Year to you!
      Doreen recently posted…10 Most Important Things I learned in 2014My Profile

  14. Happy New Year Doreen. Wishing you another year of great travel moments and continued success with your book.
    Donna Janke recently posted…2014 Year In ReviewMy Profile

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