After visiting Paris, Cliff and I rented a car and drove to Tours, France, to see our friend Matt. Matt lived in this town for a year while he was studying for the French Bar. Before coming, he kept telling us how excited he was for us to see Tours because its authentically French. We got the experience some of that "Frenchiness" (Matt's word) our first night here when we sat outside at a cafe chatting, dining, sipping on wine, and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was pure magic, and it didn't take me long at all to fall in love with the town of Tours.

At 130,000 people, Tours is the largest village in the Loire Valley, and is one of the most quaint, charming places I've ever visited. The people of Tours have so eloquently mixed old (the buildings in the first photo below this text are from the Middle Ages) with the new, and the community's history is fascinating. It predates the Middle Ages, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Joan of Arc came here, and more recently, the town pioneered methods for preserving community history. I could see myself living here, and have pitched the idea to Cliff that we retire here!

The rest of the Loire Valley is known for its lush greenery and scenic river lands. For centuries Kings, Queens, and other noblepeople chose this area of France to build castles and chateaus, dozens of which still exist. This is truly the land of fairy tales!

It was also in the Loire Valley where my favorite part of our entire vacation happened. Scroll down to learn more about the surprise and see photos of something truly magnificent! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, where I'll take a behind-the-scenes look at some of our favorite vacation photos!

The next set of photos are so special to me. On a whim, our friend Matt told us to get in the car. He wanted to show us something -- but he wouldn't say what. We had previously discussed visiting a French winery, so I assumed that's where we were going. We drove for about an hour before Matt had us pull over by a tree in the middle of a farm field. He told us to turn around and I was struck dumb with astonishment and awe. Behind us, in what felt like the middle of nowhere, were the ruins of a Roman Aqueduct. Being able to walk up to this, see it, touch it, feel it, and just be with it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and something I will not forget anytime soon. We stayed here for about an hour basking in the beauty of the moment.

Last summer Cliff and I traveled to France and Switzerland to visit our friend Matt who was studying for the French Bar. (Spoiler: He passed!) I just got done editing images from our trip and wanted to share a few favorites with you here. Follow me on Instagram where I'll be taking a behind-the-scenes look at some of my favorite photos from our vacation.

This was one of those vacations where each day was a little better than the last.  We started out in Paris before spending a few days in the Loire Valley in the town of Tours. We ended our vacation in Switzerland in the tiny village of Sion where our friend Matt was born and raised. 

Before we left for this trip, I was most excited about Switzerland. I'd been there before and just couldn't wait to go back. France was less familiar to me, but I quickly fell in love with French culture, cuisine, and its people. Life there just feels easy, and I think a lot of Americans (myself included) could benefit from that relaxed way of living. In France, it seems less emphasis is focused on doing and more emphasis is focused on just being. I love it!

I have to give a huge shout out to the podcast Join Us In France, which helped get me excited for both Paris and other places in France. If you have plans to travel to Paris soon or just enjoy learning about new places, I highly recommend it. Hosts Annie and Elyse break down culture, tourists spots, language and so much more in a down-to-earth way that is both enlightening and fun!

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to see photos of Notre Dame. We visited less than six months before the fire. Au revoir!

Be on the lookout for more soon! Up next are photos from the Loire Valley!

Since moving to DC, Cliff and I have heard wonderful things about the Outer Banks in North Carolina... so, we decided to go! Our trip was short -- two days and three nights, but this place did not disappoint. 

For those unfamiliar with the area, the Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. They stretch for 200 miles and are home to unique history and some incredible landscapes. Black Beard, the feared and famous pirate, traveled here; the Wright Brothers first flew here; and the lost colony of Roanoke was, well, lost here. I'm especially fascinated by the thousands of ship wrecks that dot the coast. There are so many that the Outer Banks are nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and there's even a museum dedicated to these lost ships. (Unfortunately, it was closed when we got there--but that just means we'll have to go back!)

For two hick kids from Nebraska, the coolest thing was knowing we were on land that's essentially in the middle of the ocean. Smelling salty sea air, seeing dolphins, and coming across a baby seal while walking along the beach were all so special! 

We purposely traveled during the off season to avoid the crowds, and even though it was a little cool and a lot windy, we cannot wait to come back!

I can't believe how long it's taken me to get these photos ready! I took more than 1,000 photos when we were in Maine! I'm so excited to finally be able to share them! 

I've heard so many great things about this state and have always wanted to visit. Over Christmas, Cliff made my wish come true by surprising me with a weekend getaway to Camden, a quaint little seaside town. We didn't go in December, because who wants to go to Maine when there's four feet of snow on the ground? Instead, we went earlier this month.

This trip was so special for both of us. Not only was it a gift to me, but Cliff's choice in getaway location was no coincidence. Camden is home to the Towne Motel, a cute little inn owned by two of his former college professors, Katja and Siobhan. 

Because of our slight age difference (Cliff is four years older than me) I never had the opportunity to meet these two, but staying with them was delightful. They welcomed us with open arms and it was wonderful being able to catch up and tour the area with locals. Not to mention, the Towne Motel is perfect! It's just three blocks from downtown Camden.

Maine definitely lived up to, and even surpassed, our expectations. After visiting, I'm convinced its one of the most beautiful states in our country. The atmosphere was so laid back, the people were incredibly friendly, and the food was out of this world! What more could you ask for?

No blog post about the Towne Motel would be complete without photos of kitties. Owners Katja and Siobhan have four resident cats at their motel!

At the start of this year, I set a number of personal goals for myself that included taking more weekend get-aways, visiting an amusement park, and being mindful of the things I'm thankful for. This last week, I accomplished all three of those goals!

I know taking mini vacations and visiting amusement parks don't sound challenging -- and they really aren't -- but challenges aren't what these goals are about. They're about bringing more love, fun, laughter, and adventure into my life, and they wouldn't have been possible without Cliff, who is always so supportive of anything I wish to do.

Initially, I had hoped to visit an amusement park on a day that I played hooky (talk about fun!), but it didn't quite work out that way. You see, this week is my transition between jobs. I'm going back to a field I understand well and feel incredibly passionate about, and am stoked for the new opportunity. But I also know that no play and all work makes Jack a dull boy (or in my case, Jill a dull girl), so I gave myself a week off between jobs. And you know what? I learned a lot!

I've never taken time off between jobs before, nor have I ever understood why people would use paid time off for a "staycation." I get it now. Having a week devoted fully to myself without anywhere I had to be was pretty awesome. 

Cliff and I kept things low-key at the beginning of the week, but on Wednesday we ventured to Kings Dominion. It's been years since either of us have been on a roller coaster and had an absolute blast riding everything from The Grizzy to The Intimidator. I know the new-fangled rides are what all the cool kids are into these days, but our trip only reaffirmed by affinity for wooden roller coasters. They're just the best! (Sorry, no photos from the amusement park. I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid ;) )

We spent Thursday and Friday in the mountains of Shenandoah National Park, where we camped at Loft Mountain. On that trip, I did take my camera and you can see photos below. This was the first time Cliff and I went camping together -- and it was also my first time in a national park. I still get goosebumps thinking about the insanely incredible things we saw. Highlights included a leisurely four-hour drive on Skyline Drive, viewing thunderheads from a distance (I'll never forget the sound of thunder echoing in the mountains!), hiking to a waterfall, and watching the sun set from a secluded spot on the Appalachian Trail. I now understand what John Muir meant when he said, "The mountains are calling and I must go."

Visiting D.C.'s cherry blossoms is an annual tradition in the Huseman-Starkey household. Cliff and I love talking around the tidal basin, taking in the sights and sounds of of springtime in the nation's capital. Usually, we make a full day of it. This year, though, we were short on time. So, our full day at the tidal basin turned into about two hours. Still, I'm so glad we made it. 

Here are a few snapshots from this year's visit.

Late last year, a friend and fellow photographer, Brad, came to visit. We've been friends for years and decided to take the opportunity to explore some of our nation's history. We were lucky enough to visit Mt. Vernon, home to our first President, George Washington, a crisp winter day. 

A year ago this month, Cliff and I took the vacation of a lifetime to Iceland. We loved it. Words can't describe the rugged beauty this country offers. I only hope the photos speak for themselves. (p.s. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the post for a slideshow of the eruption of Geysir!)

Washingtonians search for the first signs of springs not in sunny weather, but in beautiful buds that grace the tops of trees. For more than a century, cherry blossoms in this area have marked the end of winter and the beginning of bright, new things to come.

But they are more than just nature's way of marking the transition from one season to the next. Cherry blossoms have become iconic here. Each year, thousands travel to D.C. hoping to catch a glimpse of their beauty -- and Cliff and I are no different.

It has become tradition for us to stroll among the trees, take in their radiance and awe at their elegance. Year after year, I find myself more in love with these trees and everything they stand for. Originally given as gifts of friendship from the Japanese government, the trees now represent peace, love, harmony, hope, and life.

No matter how many times I see them, I am continually amazed at the ways they take my breath away. Their magnificence never grows old.

It is sometimes difficult to find the words to describe just how much this place means to me. Nebraska is home, but it is so much more than that. It's rugged beauty brings comfort and joy. It's sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world. And it's people? They are my family and friends. Nebraska will always hold a special place in my heart because it is part of who I am, and part of who I hope to be.