Puerto Vallarta beaches are among the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. This coastal city used to be a small fishing village and was transformed into a popular beach holiday destination in the 1960s when popular Hollywood celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton came for a visit. Today, the beaches in Puerto Vallarta are dotted with world-class hotels and resorts, although what attracts
Aqaba, Jordan and the Red Sea Directions: Aqaba, Jordan A bit off the beaten path... We arrived in Amman at 10:45 pm at night. Damn Crazy Americans! By the time we made to the car rental place, it was almost 11:15 pm. The plan was to drive from Amman to Aqaba, a three-hour drive, in the middle of the night in the middle
How Cool is Oslo? It is Arctic Cool! It is totally cool! And it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit, it just has that flair about it that not all European capital cities do. Sure it is cooler in the winter, but the summer is grand as well! I love Oslo and here are a few reasons why: First of all, it
Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountaineer Dr. Cacinda Maloney’s exclusive guide to the Rocky Mountaineer Train features a wealth of insider tips for your trip on the famous Canadian Rockies train. It includes researching, planning, booking, and finally, embarking through Canada on the rail journey that dreams are made! Since Dr. Maloney is a Rocky Mountaineer Ambassador, she has seen and been on multiple trips and
A gorgeous place to visit for the perfect 72-hour itinerary is North Lake Tahoe that straddles between two states, Nevada and California, in the USA. I had the fortunate opportunity to visit North Lake Tahoe recently and enjoyed my time there just before the winter weather had arrived. Some say the best time to visit North Lake Tahoe is during the Spring, but honestly, I
Things to do in Ireland A Journey Through The Countryside Let me take you on a journey through the greenest place on earth! I swear I have never seen such greenery! Ireland conjures up thoughts of the four-leaf clover, leprechauns and Irish dancers, but for me, GREEN was the biggest visual thing that I noticed. I live in the desert, so you can understand how
Are you ready to escape? As many of you know, I just completed a breathtaking ebiking ride through Utah, visiting St. George, Snow Canyon, Dixie National Forest, Bryce Canyon, and ultimately Zion National Park. It was exhilarating and honestly, when I heard about this trip, I wasn’t even sure I could do it physically. I mean, who can ride 25-45 miles a day on a bicycle and
Did you know you could charter the Adriatic Breeze, a luxury yacht that cruises the Croatian Islands? Where you will enjoy a luxurious cruise around Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline and experience the Adriatic Coast as you’ve never seen it before! You can even pick the Croatian itinerary that you want. This was my third visit to Croatia, and honestly, I had never seen Croatia as I
Cancun Diving is a must if you are a certified diver and you in the area since they have more than 30 dive sites in what they call the Cancun National Marine Park. The Cancun reefs often have schools of snappers, barracudas, angelfish, and many other species living in an amazing ecosystem. One of my favorite things to do when I am in Cancun is
On your next Caribbean vacation, hop on over to the petite island of St. Maarten or St. Martin, depending on which side you are on. It is also known as “The Friendly Island”. The famous explorer, Christopher Columbus, who sailed the ocean blue in 1492 made the discovery of St. Maarten in 1493 during his second voyage to the Americas. This island is named St.
When you think about road trips, you might imagine zooming along the highway with the windows down. The wind blowing in your hair and the sun is shining high in the sky. Road trips have and will always be one of the most popular getaways in the summertime. They’re cheap, adventurous, and cool, and the warm summer sun is the perfect backdrop for an adventure.
Overshadowed by its geological neighbors, Horseshoe Bend does not receive the attention it deserves as a nature lover’s dream. Less than two hours away is the magnificent Grand Canyon while just 15 minutes away is the world’s most famous slot canyon, Antelope Canyon. If you are in the area, don’t stop your visit to Arizona at these locations. Take a trip to Horseshoe Bend, the
Tanzania Safari: Seduced by the Serengeti When I sign on for the photo safari of the Serengeti in Tanzania with Popular Photographer's E Mentor Series, I picture myself a bit like Meryl Streep in the movie “Out of Africa”, dressed in khaki-colored safari clothing surveying those sweeping plains with lions and leopards roaming in the tall tawny-colored grass. As it turns out, my impressions aren’t too
Walking the city streets and along the St. Lawrence River of old Quebec City, I felt as if I could hear the sounds of the past from the old shipping boats that came into the harbor. In fact, Old Quebec City was built upon the St. Lawrence River, where the French merchants brought in goods from far away lands. Along with the stunning visual surroundings,
We loved Croatia! Let me say that again! We LOVED Croatia and I would go back in a heartbeat! No wonder it is the hottest destination for Europeans and Americans alike these days! After visiting Dubrovnik and Mostar, Bosnia, we made our way down to the stunning city of Split by rental car. Split lies in the central and southern part of Croatia and is
Let me introduce you to a corner of the world that daily transforms lives by delivering an emotional travel experience related to nature that you didn’t even know existed. Flanked by the Arabian Sea, Kerala, India has been known as a spice exporter to the world since 3000 BC! It is dotted with tea plantations, spice gardens, dense green forests, and mystic nature. And I
Can you imagine the influence that a river has on the people living along its path? As I left a classical concert in the Parliament Building in Vienna, I was humming to myself The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss. It is so crazy to think of the influences that a river can have on those living around it! And the famous river he wrote
Have you ever heard of the small Balkan country known as Bosnia & Herzegovina? I hadn't really either, as it wasn't even really on my bucket list! But while visiting Croatia, my husband and I decided to take a day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar. And we were certainly glad we did. Mostar is considered the cultural and economic capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Oh,
During my trip to Oaxaca City, Mexico, I had a chance to visit a petrified waterfall not too far from Oaxaca called Hierve el Agua in the state of Oaxaca. This waterfall in the small municipality of San Lorenzo Albarradas, about a 2-hour drive from Oaxaca City and a 6 -hour drive from Mexico City. The views of this natural infinity pool and petrified waterfall
The Road to Montanita, Ecuador So here I am, expecting a "hidden treasure" with "perfect waves" and "golden sand" and a "tropical paradise", taken directly from Wikipedia. I don't know who writes this wiki stuff, but we have different ideas about what paradise is!! Hidden Paradise Upon arrival, we did, however, find our "hidden paradise" but what we were hiding from was Montañita! Don't
Leaving the post-modern and futuristic city of Tokyo behind, one might feel the entire country would be paved with unique technologies and cyberpunk innovation, but heading north to the Tochigi region of Japan might also make you think you’ve entered a brand new country. It doesn’t take long to travel out of the city by train. You can head to Nikko Japan, located in the
Traveling to the most beautiful places in the world is a luxury that I believe most of my readers can afford. You may have seen places like Budapest and Vienna on television and thought, “How will I ever be able to visit these gorgeous cities?” But to be honest, once you are able to book a plane ticket, the rest of your trip can be
Marlin Fishing Looking out over the sparkling deep blue water, I thought I had seen him far in the distance. He and I had been fighting for a while... Marlin Fishing With every pull and spin my arms were getting tired, yet he did seem to be getting stronger, as he approached the marlin fishing boat. Suddenly, he surged straight up out of
Ahhh! Key West and the Florida Keys!! Where else can you go on a "Classic American Road Trip" that has miles and miles of sunny beaches, acres of mangroves, amazing bridges with state parks scattered along the route, as well as sunsets that people stand around for and the best key lime pie in the world? The Florida Keys are some of the most beautiful
French Polynesia is known to have a rich artistic culture and the Marquesas Islands group is no exception. The main island of Nuku Hiva houses some ancient, as well as modern, structures associated with a Polynesian culture that includes the famous tiki and even a moai statue. Everywhere you go on Nuku Hiva you can see large stone structures unlike anywhere else in French Polynesia.
When Travelocity heard I was taking a 24-Day Polynesian Crossing with Holland America they couldn't wait for me to write an article about scuba diving in French Polynesia. I couldn't wait to actually take the trip and scuba dive around French Polynesia with my college-aged son Diego. And truth be told, we had a blast! There is nothing quite like diving in this area of
Comprised of more than 160 islands, the Kingdom of Tonga is a stunning country to visit in the South Pacific. It is located about 500 miles south of Samoa and 500 southeast of Fiji, so somewhere in the middle of nowhere! At least 36 of the country’s islands are inhabited. I had a chance to visit Nuku 'alofa, Tonga on my Polynesian Crossing with the
It is hard to explain, but basically, Xcaret Park is an eco-friendly park in the Yucatan area of Mexico. This is one of my favorite excursions Riviera Maya offers. My family and I had more fun there than we ever dreamed, as we really had no idea what it was, but kept hearing from tourists and locals alike that we shouldn't miss Xcaret Park. And I
✦ How to Plan An Adventure Trip to Bora Bora ✦ Spring and Summer vacations are right around the corner and the perfect time to get away to a sunny holiday. I think a vacation should include adventure, a lot of relaxation, some exploration, and a few fun and scheduled activities. Places like Savannah, New Orleans, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and the Caribbean are a few
Holland America is one of many cruise liners that make a global voyage every year anchoring in ports on every continent on Earth. Despite the fact that so many ocean liners make the same trek, I consider myself lucky to have done it with the Holland America Line. My Mom and I had the pleasure of hopping on the MS Maasdam in Auckland, New Zealand
Da-Bach-na-Fahrt Raft Race, going "Wild on the Water!" As an American, I had never even heard of Schramberg, Germany much less any of the shenanigans going on during their famous Carnival river raft races. What on earth had I missed? Apparentlly people come from all over Europe just to see and experience such a fun carnival river raft race known as the Da-Bach-na-Fahrt Raft Race. Literally
There are so many interesting and fun things to do in Ecuador. This small coastal country offers travelers a wealth of outdoor adventures - you can explore the vibrant Amazonian rainforest, discover the rich wildlife of Galapagos Islands, or simply soak in the scenic views of the Andes. Since it’s filled with a wide array of wonders squeezed into one tiny country, narrowing a list
Guide to celebrating Carnival in Schramberg, Germany The anticipation was thick in the air when we arrived mid-morning for our very first peek deep into Germany’s Black Forest where Carnival comes alive! Not the Carnival you may be thinking of with drunkenness and bead throwing like in New Orleans, but a traditional type that has been going for centuries in the forests of
Vacationing in the splendid Riviera Maya in Mexico can be a dream come true for many people. Tourists and natives of Riviera Maya can soak up the sun, go swimming, scuba diving, and be snorkeling along the stunning blue waters of the area. There are also some amazing cenotoes (limestone underwater caves or caverns) to explore such as Kukulcan (typically a private scuba dive) and
Along the Southern Coast of Mexico lies the beach community of Zipolite Playa or Playa Zipolite, depending on who you ask (Mexican or Gringo!) Both names are acceptable! This community is situated in the visually-stimulating state of Oaxaca, which, as you know, I can’t say enough about this region’s culturally rich charm. For instance, a visit to the city of Oaxaca, trying the local smoky
