Have you thought about cenote Mexico scuba diving while you are in Cancun or in the Riviera Maya? The stunning Kukulcan Cenote is a 33 feet (10 meters) deep blue cavern that is part of the Chac Mool caving system in the Yucatan, Mexico. It is set in a jungle scenery with fresh and salt water, lots of fossils, and even a few stalactites. The
Swimming with Whales in the Wild: Beluga Baby! Have you ever wanted to go swimming with whales? I hadn't either until I heard about an expedition up in Canada where you could do just that! I mean, who doesn't love seeing a Beluga baby while whale watching Canada waters? On day two of my trip to Churchill, the weather wasn't as good as when I
Located in the northwest corner of Big Sky country, Whitefish sits along the Amtrak Empire Builder route, as well as being just 11 miles from Glacier International Airport. Whitefish is a “come as you are” town, where a pair of Carhartts with muck boots work just as well as designer label jeans and Gucci boots. The locals are a mix of cowboys, die-hard outdoor enthusiasts,
I recently took a fascinating trip through Asia with Hong Kong as a stop. I was on a Holland America cruise ship’s “around the world” Asia Pacific Voyage. While on the ship, I would walk the deck on a regular basis. But what joy I found when I was able to step off the ship, step out of the concrete jungle of Hong Kong’s city
Rock of Gibraltar is a limestone peninsula and mountainous rock that jets out of the end of the British territory at the southwestern tip of Europe. It is almost 1500 feet high and borders Spain and the United Kingdom. It was captured from the Spanish in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Gibraltar and its famous Rock were ceded to the British "in perpetuity"
Dreams about Whales: Kayaking with Belugas Sometimes at night, I have these vivid dreams about whales. Many times I have wondered what the meaning is and why they flash through my unconscious mind Some say that whales are symbols of strength, others say they are a sign of darkness or loss in our lives. For me, I am not sure what the meaning of the
Polar Bear Pictures on a Photo Safari: Churchill, Manitoba, Canada I knew I could get some great polar bear pictures on my photo safari expedition. Gliding in on the charter plane near Churchill Manitoba, I was in for a treat of nature. The area was full of polar bears and beluga whales during its Arctic Summer in Canada's Great White North. With over 3,000 Beluga whales
Norway is absolutely beautiful and every traveler should include this country on their bucket list. With its snowy winters, interesting history, vibrant architecture, and wonderful people, the sheer beauty of this Nordic country is just too compelling to be ignored. And if that’s not enough to convince you, here’s my list of 16 amazing things to do in Norway during a Norway Winter. I never
Crowded in the back of a forest green jeep with the top down, I was hanging onto the metal bars of the truck. A slight breeze touched my face in the muggy weather when suddenly light droplets began to fall from the sky. Crouching down into the vinyl black seat below the metal racks, I covered my head, iPhone and DSLR camera with my scarf.
Costa Rica is the kind of place where you can commune with nature. It provides the perfect backdrop with its hidden beaches, volcanic mountains, hiking trails, and lush tropical rainforests. In fact, 25% of Costa Rica is dedicated to wildlife and nature, in the form of wildlife preserves and jungles. Making it the perfect place... to retreat to. For many - including me - that
Plopping into my clear plastic tube at Xel Ha, I was ready for cool relief. It had been scorching and sweaty hot, as the temperatures soared to over 100 degrees for the last few days. I had come to the golden lands of a Mexican destination. I was in search of the festivals surrounding the “Dia de Los Muertos” -those lazy days in November where
Truly we all have wondered what it would be like to travel to an Arabian country after watching Disney's Aladdin, a tale from the book One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights, كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة) and the joys of a camel ride in the desert! Indiana Jones also sparked my interest in Indian Jones and the Last Crusade. In his search for the Holy
Trip to Santorini I had dipped my toes in the crisp, cool water and squealed with excitement as the yacht sailed away. I couldn’t believe this moment had finally arrived, a trip to Santorini. It was how I had dreamed about it a thousand times before. This was where I wanted to be on the day I turned a half a century old. In the
He instructed us to turn off our headlamps and lay back with our eyes closed. I felt a chill come over my body as goosebumps began to arise within my dive skin. I did what was instructed, but hesitated for a bit. Lying there in the stillness, I heard a drip, drip, drip in the stillness. With his voice guiding me, I slowly opened my
From volcanoes and endless beaches to rainforests, jungles, national parks, and awe-inspiring wildlife, Costa Rica really does seem to have it all. So you can imagine when I heard about a 110-foot rappel down gorgeous King Louie Waterfall that, of course, I wanted to make that one of my things to do in Costa Rica when I arrived there. Even though I was actually going
I constantly find myself being the planner of things: the family vacation, the food that we eat, and the calendar that we live by. It was crunch time and I was in a spot: Our son was doing a study abroad program in Barcelona and we were going there with him to enjoy the richness of Spain, take in a few sights, and enjoy a
Pulpit Rock, better known to Norwegians as Preikestolen in Norway is a steep cliff that rises almost 2000 feet above Lysefjorden with a flat top viewing platform. It was formed by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago. I am sure you will recognize it by its famous photographs. It attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world, which makes it one of the main
Eclipse Yacht, AdventureSmith Explorations, Photo by PointsandTravel.com The Galapagos Islands Holidays: The Science Behind the Island The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 650 miles off the coast of Ecuador in South America. They are isolated from any other land formation or island group. About half the size of New Jersey, you may ask yourself, according to geographical size, why
It is hard to explain, but basically, Xcaret, Mexico 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 tourist and locals alike that we shouldn't miss Xcaret Park. And I
Sedona’s cinematic red rocks had been flashing across our windshield for almost an hour. It was hard for the driver to keep her hands on the steering wheel due to the beauty at each turn in the road. My iPhone camera was going off every few minutes, regardless if it was a good shot or not here at Cathedral Rock Sedona. There is no denying that
Indonesia Travel: Raja Ampat Floating up to the stunningly gorgeous jetty at the Raja Ampat Dive Resort on Waigeo Island in West Papua, I knew I was in for a special treat. This was that kind of place, the epitome of a remote, exotic beach vacation. It takes hours and hours to get here, so most people just don’t go. But I was ready for
Travel Bandung, Indonesia Wisata Off-Road Adventure picked us up after lunch from Café Burangrang. We were at the unique leisure park, Dusun Bambu in Northern Bandung, Indonesia, where we had just had a relaxing lunch overlooking an amazing view of boats on a pond with thatched bungalows. Travel Bandung The guides lead us down to the parking circle valet. One by one, we walked past
Tanzania Safari: Seduced by the Serengeti When I sign on for the photo safari of the Serengeti in Tanzania with Popular Photographer's EMentor 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 far
Things to do in Park City Park City is an easy ski destination to get to: Arrival into Salt Lake City, Utah comes easy and smooth. For once, you are happy that things are effortless and uncomplicated. The rental SUV is perfect for this family ski trip, as the sleek new Kia Sorento arrives at the airport by Drive STI with ease. Bags are packed
I wanted to let you guys know about some exciting news in my upcoming travels… I will be returning to a place that is near and dear to my heart this month, in fact, I leave in just a few days. I am thrilled to announce that I am returning to the Galapagos Islands. I went last year and I cannot tell you what an
The yelping was so loud, you would have thought something was on fire with all the commotion. As I slipped out of the all-wheel-drive suburban truck, my snow boot landed on the slick white ice in the downpour of snow that had just begun. I stumbled and sort of stammered out of the truck with a “swan dog” yoga pose, throwing my arm over my
One by one, they would climb the 17 dingy white stairs to the tiny crowded, dimly-lit room. They needed to get out of the sweltering heat and were dressed in the brightest blues, vibrant yellows and heart-stopping red colors. Never have I seen such a stunningly beautiful group of women with matching beads and flowers in their hair. The men came too, fewer, but they
By Cacinda Maloney Have you ever dreamed of going on a few Iceland Excursions? Recently I have been thinking seriously about the destinations that I want to see in the upcoming travel year. Having traveled to 17 countries in 2014 and already 16 countries this year, I have narrowed down my searches and for some reason Iceland keeps making its way back to the top
By Cacinda Maloney Marlin Fishing Looking out over the sparking 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
Desert Night Camps - Feynan Ecolodge We were in the van for what seemed like hours. Gazing out the window, I noted how the landscape was changing and soon it felt as if civilization was slowly creeping away on our way to Feynan Ecolodge. Dana Biosphere Reserve in the lands of Jordan's desert was vast and diverse. Occasionally, I would see herds of sheep
What is it really like on an Ecoventura yacht in the Galapagos? By Cacinda Maloney What is it really like on an Ecoventura yacht in the Galapagos? Moist, breezy air flows thru my Michael Kors bathing suit cover-up made of an animal print design, as I am squint my eyes looking at the sky on the yacht’s top deck. I am lying here
By Cacinda Maloney Da-Bach-na-Fahrt Raft Race, going "Wild on the Water!" For Carnival, there is another major event in Schramberg, Germany other than the parade that is not located on the streets, but instead located on the river. It is tub rafting called the Da-Bach-na-Fahrt Raft Race, literally going “wild on water”. Wobbly constructed, homemade rafts maneuver the best way they know how down a tiny waterfall, then
Guide to celebrating Carnival in Schramberg, Germany By Cacinda Maloney 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.
By Cacinda Maloney An ancient city in Sri Lanka: Sigiriya Landing in Colombo, I had no idea what riches lie in front of me. Sri Lanka sounded to this American Girl like an exotic, far-off land. This trip for me was intriguing and mysterious all at the same time. Any country’s UNESCO World Heritage sites are always of interest to me, so I was ecstatic to
Spending the day all curled up next to the fireplace and periodically taking a gander out my picture window, I knew I had to finally just bundle up and get out there. I hate how sometimes I just have a hard time getting started. But once I am out there, I do, the hard part for me is just getting going. And here I am
