Annie Fairfax

06/08/2026

Where to Find Puffins Near Bar Harbor

Seeing wildlife, undisturbed and unexpectedly, is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s long been a dream of mine to see puffins in the wild. Their darling grey, yellow, and orange-striped beaks make them one of the most recognizable birds in the entire world. Plus, they’re freaking adorable! After visiting northern Scotland, Norway’s Arctic Circle, and the coast of Maine multiple times during the Puffin breeding season, we still hadn’t seen any in areas where they once nested, due to human-driven environmental destruction. For instance, puffins were once common on the Isle of Skye, but trawling along the coast for eels and other small fish they like to eat meant there was no longer enough food for them, so they fled elsewhere....

Seeing wildlife, undisturbed and unexpectedly, is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s long been a dream of mine to see puffins in the wild. Their darling grey, yellow, and orange-striped...

06/07/2026

Lofoten Lambs

The end of May means three things in Lofoten: the Midnight Sun is here to stay (for a while), it’s finally warm enough to go outside, and there are plenty of newborn lambs to admire from afar (with my long-range lens). We encountered these little cuties while hiking, and, as always, we didn’t approach, bait, or otherwise interfere with them. As such, I think these darlings were extra happy to be photographed. Remember: Never approach, startle, or attempt to lure wildlife when photographing them. The beauty is in the spontaneity! Explore more of my adventures in Lofoten, Norway, and Europe. Follow me on Instagram, YouTube & Pinterest

The end of May means three things in Lofoten: the Midnight Sun is here to stay (for a while), it’s finally warm enough to go outside, and there are plenty...

06/06/2026

Midnight Sun Over the Arctic Circle

During our week in Lofoten, Norway, which is inside the Arctic Circle, we experienced life beneath the Midnight Sun. It’s true that the sun never actually sets. It gave us a beautiful sunset, but the sun only bounced right back above the horizon. Thankfully, our hotel had a fantastic blackout curtain system. The ever-present light made hiking at night possible, which was how we ended up climbing Festvågtind between 10:30 pm and 2 am, something that would’ve been dangerous and impossible any other time of year. Here’s a glimpse of the Midnight Sun over the Arctic Circle, something humanity has revered in this region for millennia....

During our week in Lofoten, Norway, which is inside the Arctic Circle, we experienced life beneath the Midnight Sun. It’s true that the sun never actually sets. It gave us...

06/05/2026

View Over Henningsvær

Hiking during the Midnight Sun was one of the coolest (and scariest) things I’ve ever done. Still, it wouldn’t be an adventure if I hadn’t come away with some amazing photos. If you’re dreaming of hiking during the time the sun never sets in the Arctic Circle, or if you’d rather experience the thrilling views from the comfort of your own home, I wanted to share some of my favorite images with you from my recent hike in Lofoten! Famous for its pinwheel-shaped roads and bridges that connect the islands as well as its iconic football pitch, Henningsvær ended up being the perfect place from which to explore Lofoten....

Hiking during the Midnight Sun was one of the coolest (and scariest) things I’ve ever done. Still, it wouldn’t be an adventure if I hadn’t come away with some amazing...

06/04/2026

Climbing Festvågtind in Henningsvær During the Midnight Sun

I’ve always wanted to hike in Lofoten under the Midnight Sun, and my dreams finally came true! But let me start this post by saying I almost died on this hike, and no, that isn’t hyperbole. I nearly fell to my death, and would have had I not been with my husband, who quite literally saved my life. But we’ll get to that story in a moment. My advice to anyone considering this hike is this: The posts & reviews claiming it’s an “easy walk” are lying to you. This is a very difficult hike with portions you must scramble and climb, and it is absolutely not something you should jump into unprepared....

I’ve always wanted to hike in Lofoten under the Midnight Sun, and my dreams finally came true! But let me start this post by saying I almost died on this...

06/03/2026

Nordvegan, Oslo’s Vegan Haven

We never eat meat, and at least two or three days of each week, we eat vegan. Especially when we travel, it seems prudent to offset any environmental impacts and reduce our environmental footprint by eating vegan as often as possible. So, we did some digging into Oslo’s vegan scene and found one that was celebrated far and wide— so much so that I’d heard of them all the way back home in New England—Nordvegan. Nordvegan exceeded our high expectations and offered a wide array of sustainable, vegan, ethically sourced, gluten-free foods that were perfect for our unique dietary needs....

We never eat meat, and at least two or three days of each week, we eat vegan. Especially when we travel, it seems prudent to offset any environmental impacts and...

06/02/2026

Hiking Mt. Eboshi Vlog

The hike up Mt. Eboshi to Kumomi Sengen Shrine was one of the most beautiful we've ever done, even if it was one of the hottest! At 105ºF & 80% humidity, we climbed the thousand stairs to the top. The views were well worth the effort to reach the top, as you'll see in the vlog of this gorgeous hike! Discover more temples & shrines. Follow my adventures in the Izu Peninsula and Japan. Follow me on Instagram, YouTube & Pinterest for more!

The hike up Mt. Eboshi to Kumomi Sengen Shrine was one of the most beautiful we’ve ever done, even if it was one of the hottest! At 105ºF & 80%...

06/02/2026

Join us as we hike Mt. Eboshiyama in Matsuzaki along Japan's Izu Peninsula! It was only 105ºF! 😅

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn1CoF63aaY

06/02/2026

Holmenkollen Park Hotel

When deciding where to stay in Oslo, we were torn between wanting to be right in the middle of everything downtown and our desire to retreat from the hustle and bustle of Norway’s largest city. So, I began scoping out a place that offered the best of both worlds: incredible ocean & fjord views nestled in forested mountains with easy access to public transportation. That’s when I found the Holmenkollen Park Hotel, located in the same area where Norway hosted the 1952 Olympics. We loved every single thing about our stay in Holmenkollen, and the journey in and out of town made it that much more enjoyable!...

When deciding where to stay in Oslo, we were torn between wanting to be right in the middle of everything downtown and our desire to retreat from the hustle and...

05/04/2026

West Hartford Luxury Travel Guide

West Hartford, Connecticut’s capital region, is one of the best spots in the state to enjoy the very best Connecticut has to offer. Fine dining attracts foodies from all over the East Coast. Luxury hotels in the area have proven to be world-class. Plus, there are plenty of unique, lovely things to do in the area, too. This West Hartford Luxury Travel Guide will help you tune out the noise and focus on only the very best West Hartford has to offer. Best Time of Year to Visit West Hartford…...

West Hartford, Connecticut’s capital region, is one of the best spots in the state to enjoy the very best Connecticut has to offer. Fine dining attracts foodies from all over...