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25 Jul 2025 Local Adventures & Superhost Shawn’s Travels
Some trips you plan down to the hour. Others… life plans for you.
I left for Croatia the day after our late-spring retreat—a weekend so rich with breakthroughs and connection that I was still glowing. Our mastermind circle had just welcomed new members, and my heart was full from watching each woman step more deeply into her Self-Solidarity. I was already juggling follow-up calls, emails, and loose ends, but I was also carrying a quiet promise to myself: this month would be part work trip, part bucket list dream.
Then the universe decided to add a twist. Flight delays rerouted me to Boston, then Amsterdam, and instead of fuming, I decided to make Citrilicious Pie out of lemons. I’d always wanted a layover in Amsterdam, and life handed me one on a silver platter.
So I spent a day wandering canals, snapping photos of gabled buildings from trams and bridges, sending Hermes scarf pics to my daughter Jamie, and making friends with the world’s softest Airbnb cat. Just like that, I’d traded a stressful travel day for an unplanned adventure.
My Airbnb in Kaštel Kambelovac—a quiet coastal town between Split and Trogir—was my home base for the month. It was the perfect spot to both get work done and take day trips to places I’d never seen..
I came here with two goals:
Cross Croatia off my bucket list and explore its beauty.
Keep my business moving forward—finishing my Wheel of Self-Forgiveness book, launching a new course, and supporting my mastermind clients.
And yes, I did all of it… sometimes answering emails with a view of the Adriatic right outside my window.
Kaštel Kambelovac isn’t flashy. It’s stone houses, bobbing boats, and locals sipping espresso like they have all the time in the world. And in a way, they do.
I learned quickly that coffee here is not a “grab and go” situation. You sit. You watch the light change on the water. You talk—or you don’t. The water doesn’t rush anywhere, and neither did I.
One morning, trying to fish a floating scrap of plastic out of the bay, I dropped my phone into the water. Without thinking, I waded in—clothes and all—and came up laughing, phone in one hand, plastic in the other. The water was so clear and not nearly as cold as I’d imagined. That moment reminded me: sometimes you have to plunge right in.
From my little base in Kaštel Kambelovac, I explored like a curious neighbor.
Trogir was a medieval dream—ivy-draped stone walls, winding alleys, and the kind of golden light that makes you forget what time it is.
Split pulsed with history and harbor breezes, its Roman ruins humming with life.
Omis offered mountain-meets-sea drama.
Kaštel Klis stood like a stone sentinel above it all.
Primošten charmed me with its peninsula views and quiet beaches.
Hvar—reached by ferry—was all lavender fields, sunlit cafés, and impossibly blue water.
And Krka National Park? A waterfall wonderland that made me feel like I’d stepped into a postcard.
Not every magic moment was planned. One day, I set out to snorkel at a hotel beach and ended up at a secluded cove—smooth rocks, clear water, and a little coffee shop perched above. I told myself I “should” snorkel, read, or answer emails… but instead, I floated. I watched the sun shimmer on the water. I let the moment be enough.
It turns out “doing nothing” is an art form here. Locals don’t fill every moment. They savor it. I’m still learning.
One weekend, I thought I’d head to another town, but my tiny village was setting up for a festival. Music, laughter, and the smell of grilled fish filled the air. I stayed. Sometimes the best trip detours happen when you don’t go anywhere at all.
This trip was a reminder that you can keep commitments and still see the world. My mornings often started with writing or client calls. Then I’d head out to explore, camera in hand, and soak in a place I’d only dreamed of visiting.
It’s the same thing I see happen at Chesapeake Paradise.
Croatia was a long flight away, but the joy of being by the water, watching the light shift, and enjoying slow moments felt a lot like home. At Chesapeake Paradise, I see the same thing—guests arriving from busy lives and finding pockets of stillness.
Here, like in Croatia, there’s always a view worth stopping for.
On my last day, I visited my favorite quiet beach and just… looked out at the Adriatic. I thought about the places I’d seen, the work I’d done, and the people I’d supported from halfway around the world.
Traveling doesn’t mean pressing pause on your purpose. You can carry it with you—whether you’re on the Chesapeake Bay or halfway across the globe.
Gorgeous September and October days are ahead—and we have some availability! [Check out our accommodations and book here.]