One-night Santa Cruz staycation refreshed me after canceled trips

Winter activities and weekly chemotherapy left me exhausted. I felt like I was running on a treadmill from Thanksgiving into the new year, carrying the burden of baking cookies, putting up decorations, and then taking them down as I readied the family for the months ahead.

Life didn't stop for cancer, and eventually I realized I needed to stop and do something for myself. My diagnosis meant canceling planned trips to St. Maarten, Boston, and Dollywood, and not having those to look forward to was hard. As a travel writer, I missed getting out of my routine to snorkel with sea turtles and try new cuisines, and I missed past trips enjoying Guinness in Ireland and kayaking near glaciers in Alaska.

Still wanting a break, I booked one night at West Cliff Inn, a boutique hotel by the beach in Santa Cruz about a 30-minute drive from home. The room was extra spacious and could have accommodated a friend or two, but that thought vanished as I set out alone.

chemotherapy, cancer diagnosis, staycation, santa cruz, west cliff, boutique hotel, travel writer, canceled trips, sea turtles, dollywood