Theresa Pickett

06/03/2026

This is your sign to take the 4-hour flight.

San Juan in a long weekend:
• beach by noon
• Old San Juan + Castillo San Felipe del Morro
• sunset dinner at Meso / Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort
• snorkeling at Icacos
• one slow morning before heading home

Puerto Rico turns a few days into a full reset.

06/01/2026

I just needed a break, and this is what it looked like.

Balcony light upon arrival. Slow pool afternoons. A hammock, a beachside lunch, and the quiet surprise of a crab walking toward my bag like it was wondering if the grass is greener on a work schedule anyway.

05/27/2026

Puerto Rico offers no shortage of places to explore, but some of the most restorative moments came from staying close to home base, just steps from the room at Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort.

From a convenient beachfront breakfast to dinner at Meso, timed just right at sunset, the tide seemed to write its own menu, and drink pairings arrived with each course.

Thanks to Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort for hosting.

05/27/2026

Puerto Rico keeps proving why it’s one of the best long weekend escapes from the East Coast with easy flights, no passport needed for U.S. travelers, incredible food, beaches, and the energy of Old San Juan all packed into one trip.

I wrote about why the island still stands out in 2026 for MSN. 🌴✈️

Read here:

As airfare prices rise in 2026, Puerto Rico continues to stand out as an easy and rewarding long weekend escape for East Coast travelers. With no passport required, beautiful beaches, rich culture, and convenient flight times, the island delivers a seamless tropical getaway that feels far bigger tha...

05/26/2026

Memorial Day weekend called for a quick getaway to Puerto Rico, and a reminder that sometimes the best trips are the ones planned spontaneously.

Thanks to Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort for hosting our snorkeling excursion to Icacos Island with Al Este PR .

The morning began at sunrise, with a quiet glimpse of the light breaking over the beach from our hotel balcony before boarding a van bound for the eastern coast. Along the drive through the El Yunque region, our guide shared local recommendations and stories about the area that made the journey feel like part of the experience itself.

Our first stop: Icacos Island, where calm turquoise water, lunch on the boat, and a swim in the shallows set the tone for the day. Later came snorkeling at Playa Tortuga, Turtle Beach, with remarkably clear water, colorful fish, and reef views just beneath the surface.

As tempting as it can be to spend an entire weekend poolside, adding one meaningful experience to a trip can completely transform it. This excursion turned a relaxing beach weekend into something far more memorable.

05/24/2026

Views of Baltimore — sunrise to sunset.

Living in the Howard County suburbs, it’s rare that I venture into Baltimore to explore. When I do, staying overnight makes the city feel more accessible with slower mornings on the waterfront, walking instead of rushing home, and getting to see the harbor from sunrise to sunset.

The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront is one of the easier choices for that kind of staycation with a convenient location, harbor views, and a solid use of Marriott Bonvoy points.

05/21/2026

Visitation Hotel in Frederick - Home of Wye Oak Tavern

05/20/2026

If I were writing a walking itinerary for a first-time visitor to Baltimore, I’d start in Fell's Point at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore where historic waterfront streets are paved with 18th- and 19th-century granite cobblestones. There's easy street parking if you time it right, and rows of independent boutiques worth wandering into without much of a plan.

The hotel itself leans into Baltimore’s maritime history. The property was once the city’s Recreation Pier, and inside the bar, you’ll even spot a restored cannon nodding to the harbor’s past.

From there, I’d walk west toward Harbor East for shopping, then continue up to Little Italy for lunch for the kind of afternoon that makes the city feel both historic and unexpectedly relaxed.

05/19/2026

Love browsing shops on vacation... Call it my kind of itinerary.

The Ginza district of Tokyo turns shopping into an experience all its own, with endless boutiques, flagship stores, and department houses layered into every block. At Ginza Six alone, over 240 shops make it easy to lose track of time.

Heading back to the States, I was pleasantly surprised by the $800 duty-free exemption. Safe to say a few finds made the trip home with me.

05/18/2026

Snow monkeys, Zenkoji Temple, and a sake tour through Nagano — an easy way to meet a group of strangers and end up feeling like you’ve known them longer than a day.

With a mix of excursions and a shared lunch, it felt less like a tour and more like a thread connecting everyone through the region.

The temple was the part that stayed with me most. It was a quiet reminder that travel doesn’t always have to be about doing more. Sometimes it’s about resetting.