Dunson Adventures

If you’re looking for a great place to eat with breathtaking views, Cadejo Brewing Company in El Sunzal is a must-visit! Nestled on the beautiful coast, this spot offers not only fantastic food but also an unforgettable experience. When we arrived, the views took my breath away. The restaurant overlooks the crystal-clear waters, making it the perfect setting to relax and enjoy a meal. We were fortunate to have a tour guide with us, thanks to my husband’s prior planning, which allowed us to skip the wait for food.  Note to self for the future: for a little extra fun, you can pay a fee of $25 per person to swim in the pools right below the restaurant. While this might not be the best deal for families (especially if you’re with younger kids), it could be a fun splurge for adults who want to take a dip and enjoy the surrounding scenery from the water. Wow, this country is so beautiful! Cadejo Brewing Company, El Sunzal, really impressed me, from the lush landscapes to the sparkling wa...

Last month, on Feb. 22,  we took our first "easy" hike here in El Salvador at El Peñón de Comasagua. I say "easy" with a bit of humor because, well, let’s just say I’m not exactly in peak hiking shape. But considering that I had neck surgery less than a year ago, I’m incredibly proud of my progress! The hike itself was both exhilarating and challenging. The views were breathtaking—literally and figuratively. As we made our way up, I had to take several breaks, and that’s when I remembered something important about myself: I’m actually pretty scared of heights. Whenever I paused to catch my breath, I’d start shaking a bit, a mix of exhaustion and sheer nerves. Still, I powered through, step by step. The weather was hot but absolutely beautiful, with the sun casting a golden glow over the landscape. We were also given a unique experience—police escorts through the village and throughout the hike, which added a sense of security and made the journey even more memorable...

One of the first Spanish phrases I learned was "¡Vamos a la playa!" which means "Let's go to the beach!" I have always loved the beach, and recently, we took our beach adventures to a new level by joining a beach club, Club Joya del Pacífico. This was my first time visiting a Central American beach, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. First Impressions When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised by how clean and peaceful the beach was. There were hardly any other visitors, making it feel like our own private paradise. The water was pretty clear, and the shoreline was covered with beautiful shells, little crabs, and live sand dollars. We had the beach mostly to ourselves on a random Monday, which made the experience even more relaxing. The Beach Experience Unlike some beaches where I love to sit with my feet in the water, I found myself keeping more of a distance here due to the abundance of marine life. However, the experience was still incredible. The wav...

Settling into life in San Salvador has been an adventure. Everyday life can feel overwhelming, and we are still figuring things out. On weekends, we rent a car to do our shopping and try to carve out some family time. One of the most beautiful things about our new routine is that when we go to church on Sundays, the San Salvador LDS Temple is right there, just across the parking lot. I often wish I could take the feeling of the temple with me wherever I go.                                     One particular Saturday, I had just had enough. I had slipped in the shower three times, the boys were rowdy, the news was filled with worry, and my heart felt heavy. I needed peace. I turned to Mike and asked if we could drive by the temple, just to find out how attending worked here. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for—just some reassurance, some grounding. When we arrived, we walked into a building where p...

 College spring break brought us our very first visitor—David! His trip was a bit of a surprise, with plans coming together at the last minute, but we were thrilled to have him. Our home still wasn’t fully set up, as we were waiting on our shipment, but the embassy graciously provided an extra bed, making sure we had a comfortable spot for him. At 19, David is very much a "baby-adult", living life on his own schedule. He’s not exactly an early riser, so most of his visit was spent enjoying slow mornings (or, let’s be honest, afternoons) and late nights. More than anything, he just wanted to hang out with his siblings, which was really sweet to see. We did venture out for dinner one night, but in all the fun, we completely forgot to take a family photo. In fact, we almost made it through the entire visit without a single picture! Thankfully, Mike managed to snap a couple of airport photos, and I grabbed one just before David left. Not exactly a full album, but at least we ha...

  First Impressions  Moving to a new country is always an adventure, and my first few weeks in El Salvador have been filled with surprises. Antiguo Cuscatlán, the neighborhood we now call home, is a fascinating blend of the familiar and the unexpected. Through these first-look photos, I want to share some of the things that have caught my eye.                                                       1. A Taste of Home in a New Place One of the first things that surprised me was seeing places I recognized from the U.S.—Walmart, Denny’s, and other familiar stores and restaurants. Riding past them in this new setting made me feel an odd mix of comfort and curiosity. While these businesses look similar to their U.S. counterparts, they have their own Salvadoran twist, making me eager to explore the differences.       ...

 It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since my last update! Life has been a whirlwind of change, adventure, and unexpected blessings. As I sit down to reflect, I can’t believe how fast my kids have grown up and how much our family has experienced. This has truly been an adventure! From Tbilisi to Florida to Virginia When I last wrote, we were living in Tbilisi, Georgia, embracing the rich culture and unique experiences of life overseas. While in Tbilisi, I graduated from BYU-Idaho! It was during COVID, so my graduation was virtual, but my family made sure to celebrate in a special way. Around the same time, Olivia graduated high school in Tbilisi, marking the beginning of her next big chapter. From there, we moved to Florida, where we spent two years finishing our time in the military. During that time, David graduated high school and prepared for college. Looking back, Florida was exactly what we needed—a chance to catch up on overdue medical care and enjoy some well-earned s...