10 Things to Experience in São Miguel

Last week, I traveled to São Miguel, the largest and most populated island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Located at the center of three major tectonic plates, this volcanic island is peppered with gorgeous crater lakes, bubbling hot springs, endless fields of saturated green, and lots of happy cows! And, since the island spans only 9.5 miles at its maximum width, the ocean is always easily within reach. Often called “Ilha Verde”, or “The Green Island,” São Miguel is a breath-taking hidden gem, painted with lush colors and a vibrant, natural energy.

Tip of the Week: Connect with Nature

This week’s tip: Get outside and connect with nature. 

When I asked Dionísio, our Azorean tour guide, how he felt about nature, he didn’t hesitate for a moment. He immediately began describing the calming energy that we get from being outside and how important it is to stop and connect with nature to rejuvenate. “In nature, everything is very simple and pure. We are here walking, you know, listening to the water on one side, the birds singing on the other side, the wind sometimes on the leaves on the top, so you just… get back to zero root.”

The Azorean Adventures Begin

They say money can’t buy happiness — but it can buy amazing Groupon deals that get you a 7-day stay and round-trip flight to the Azores!!! And… that makes me very happy. 😉 I adore traveling — it is the one thing I allow myself to “splurge” on, and it’s always worth it. Research shows that spending your money on experiences rather than material things can have a much more profound affect on your happiness!

I write to you feeling slightly sleep-deprived but incredibly blessed to have arrived today in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel, which is the largest of the group of Portuguese islands known as the Azores that pepper the middle of the Atlantic ocean. My very good friend and travel companion Katie and I are making our second visit to Portugal this week and could not be more excited.