2014 || Travel Highlights

There are so many amazing things I could recap about 2014 that it would become an entire blog in itself. Life changes at the blink of an eye, and this past year was no exception to the fact. To keep things brief, I decided to focus on one major highlight of my year -- travel.

Having the opportunity to travel is something that I will always appreciate. It changes you in a way that nothing else can. Whether being a drive or a flight's distance away, each place I was able to visit has affected me for the best. Read more to follow me on my 2014 travel journey:

Miami, Florida || January

I visited my best friend from freshman year after she transferred to the University of Miami and had such a great experience exploring everything the city has to offer. My favorite site was the Vizcaya estate, which encompasses 50 acres of absolute beauty with its ornate mansion and stunning landscapes.

San Juan, Puerto Rico || May

My boyfriend Victor and I kicked off the summer in Puerto Rico, starting with a short stay in Old San Juan. You can sense the vibrant culture here that permeates through everything from the food to the lovely street art. From there, we headed over to Condado to stay at the La Concha resort (pictured above). Our most memorable experience here was kayaking through mangroves to Laguna Grande, the world's largest bioluminescent bay.

The Lodge at Woodloch || August

In need of a girls' getaway, my best friend Sheryl and I spent a day at The Lodge at Woodloch, which was recently named Travel + Leisure's #3 destination spa in the world. This was the perfect weekend escape fully equipped with massages, spa treatments, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and ultimate relaxation. There was no better way to kick off the new school year.

Seattle, Washington || September

Thanks to the National Retail Federation, I had the opportunity to attend the Shop.org Summit in Seattle as a Ray Greenly Scholar. This experience has completely affected my career path and opened up more networking opportunities than I could ever imagine. 

Erin's Sweet 16, Windsor Ballroom || September

We didn't travel far for this, but I had to include my sister Erin into this post because she is the backbone of this blog. I'm so proud of everything she has achieved and thankful for all the support she has given me. I have no doubt that she will be doing big things!

Las Vegas, Nevada || December

I'm currently writing this from my hotel room in Vegas as my family and I are preparing to wrap up our last vacation of the year. This has been the perfect way to finish up the year, despite having to ring in 2015 on a plane later today. As long as I'm with family, nothing else matters. PS. -- Don't worry, there are more travel photos and videos to come! 

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So, as I'm rushing to check out of our hotel, here's to a fantastic year and an even better one to come! I am preparing for what may be one of the most exciting years of my life, so stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, I wish you a very happy new year! I can't thank everyone enough for all the support I've received for this blog. I'm so excited to see how Looks by Lau will grow in the new year. I'm ready for you, 2015!