There are a lot of different reasons that people like to travel. For some people, it’s all about relaxation and they’re never happier than when they’re lying on a beach, soaking up the sun and sipping on cocktails. Other people relish the chance to immerse themselves in a completely new culture and explore all of their customs or sample their cuisine. But one of the
Every year since I started this blog about world travel in 2012, I have written a travel year-end review showcasing world travel. I guess this year will be no different, although I do seem to get lazier and lazier about writing it and putting it off to the last minute! 2018 was a wonderful year of change, as I continued working with well-known travel brands
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
The Northern California peninsula known as the Monterey Peninsula is nothing short of spectacular and is home to the beautiful Monterey beach. With its stunning natural beauty, charming, tourist atmosphere and coastline, I am sure you can easily spend 3-4 days enjoying the outdoor activities and exploring the area. Trying to whittle my list down to 10 of the BEST things to do in Monterey CA
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
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
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.
Canada is a fascinating country that lies just north of the USA. With three territories and ten different provinces, Canada is the perfect place to go on a trip. The city of Edmonton is situated in the province of Alberta and the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Canada. The natural beauty of Edmonton mixed with the enticing adventures and shopping excursions can lead to a thrilling
I have come to discover that hiking and ebiking are both great ways to get in a workout and decrease the many risks of heart disease that many Americans are prone to with our diet. Plus, these type of activities can get you outside and into the great outdoors. Sometimes I don’t spend enough time outside! Also, I don’t know about you, but getting outside
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
Upper Antelope Canyon should be named the best canyon to visit in Arizona (OK, maybe second best)! You certainly know of the Grand Canyon in Arizona because of its grandeur. But don’t stop your visit in Arizona at the Grand Canyon. Take a trip to Upper Antelope Canyon, the most popular slot canyon in the world! It is merely a few hours drive from the
Well, there is a first time for everything. And on the agenda for this day that I was in Guayana was this: Pirana Fishing, it was staring me in the face, as I fumbled through the itinerary. I have been out of my comfort zone before, so here we go...Pirana fish are known to quickly devour any small morsel that falls into its muddy water
Let me be the first to admit that this travel experience was a little out of my comfort zone. But nonetheless, at a jungle lodge in Guyana is where the simple rugged life of the Amazon River Basin and South American Rainforest began for me. From the hustle and bustle of Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana, to the howling of the Guyanese Red Howler
A little-known gem hiding in the South American Rainforest is Kaieteur Falls. It ranks towards the top of the list for waterfalls around the world in a number of categories. It is the tallest single drop waterfall in the world at 741 feet. When combined with the steep cascades to the bedrock below, the total height of the waterfalls comes out to 822 feet. Although
In the northern part of Ukraine lies the small village of Pripyat, not too far from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near the Ukrainian border with Belarus. Chernobyl is located roughly 65 miles from the country’s capital, Kiev. Unfortunately, Pripyat was close to the site of this terrible nuclear accident in April of 1986 known as the “Chernobyl disaster”. This horrific nuclear accident took the
I’ve been just about everywhere, well not everywhere, but it is on my bucket list. Actually, it's not. I never set out to travel to all the countries and continents in the world, but am glad I that I have come this far. My last country count was 86 countries, but I have been to many of them multiple times. Before becoming a travel writer/blogger,
An area that is 16 percent larger than the contiguous United States, the Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert on planet earth. The Arabic word “Sahara” literally translates to “the Great Desert” and it truly is as it stretches over 3.5 million square miles (9.2 million sq km) across northern Africa. The desert region is incorporated into the territories of 11 African nations, each
Picture yourself in one of the over 17,000 islands in the Republic of Indonesia. One of the most notable and particularly interesting islands is known as the habitat of the Komodo dragon. It is the largest lizard on earth and known as Komodo Island. But no need to worry, the Komodo dragon is not the only species roaming around the island. There are over 2,000 people
Autumn is almost here which means that Aurora B. will be popping her green head in the nighttime sky. Who is Aurora B.? She is better known as Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. And she a sight worth waiting for! She may be taking her time to get here, but the most comfortable place to see her is in the warm lounge of the
In what has become a worldwide phenomenon, Havasu Falls is the place to be if you love hiking, camping, and nature. The birth of the internet has also helped to boost its popularity (almost too much but we will discuss that later) making it one of the most famous hiking destinations in the United States. Located in northwestern Arizona, Havasu Falls is a part of
Dude Ranch Colorado: As a little kid, did you ever dream of growing up to be a cowboy or cowgirl in Colorado? For most, this dream gets put on the back burner and other dreams get pursued. But now you can actually fulfill this dream and see what it feels to be a real cowboy or cowgirl for a week! How will you do that?
There is something special about Lithuania, one of the old Soviet Union countries. If you haven't been here yet, you really should put it on your bucket list. Not too far from the capital city of Vilnius is a lake resort and historic town built on water known as Trakai. It is one of the most impressive cities outside of Vilnius. This town is surrounded
Have you ever thought about taking an outdoor adventures trip to Colorado Springs to unplug? Sometimes I think as a society we are so plugged in (24/7) that we often forget that we need to recharge our lives. With everything from nonstop social media and cell phone texts to 24-hour news, video games, and a constant stream of information coming our way, I think people
Positano Beach: There is so much to say about the beloved Positano Beach, and yet nothing you can say that will give you the true essence to explain what Positano is all about. It speaks for itself, without superfluous words. It is so stunning that it makes you hunger for more. I can say that I absolutely loved the amazing drive we took down the
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 trying to decide what to tell you first about what an amazing adventure I went on for
Costa Rica is one of those countries that has it all, everything from beaches and volcanoes, to jungles and national parks rich wildlife. Places like the coastal area of Tamarindo are packed full of beach bars and tour guides ready to take you zip-lining and quad-biking. Meanwhile, tranquil towns like Puerto Viejo, on the border with Panama, are perfect for laying around on the beach
I believe that Krakow is the #1 most underrated city in Europe so I won't go into the details of the lavender growing along the old city walls or the shapes of the trees that blow in the wind or even the cobblestone central square, but I do want to tell you about this unusual place found deep within its crevices: the Krakow Salt Mine. The Krakow Salt Mine
Sedona Jeep Tours ✦ Sedona Jeep Tours What better way to see Cathedral Rock and explore the red rocks of Sedona than to take a ride in the famous Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona? Sedona Jeep Tours is a tour operator in the American Southwest that offers off-road excursions in the red rocks and beyond in their famous pink jeeps. They have been around
Nestled into the Northwest corner of the Fijian archipelago, as part of the Mamanuca Islands, is Castaway Island - known to the locals as Qualito Island. Contrary to popular belief it's not where the Tom Hanks movie Castaway was filmed, but it is pretty close. The movie was actually filmed on neighboring Modriki Island. We spent a couple of nights at the Castaway Island Resort and got
Balboa Park in San Diego, California is considered the Jewel of San Diego - with over 1200 acres of attractions (including a zoo), culture, and things to do for tourists and locals alike. Fortunately for everyone, these lands were reserved for public use in the early 1800s. What a wonderful place for San Diegans and visitors alike to enjoy what has become a wonderful community
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
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
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
What does a cat, a pet turtle named Sonny, a 7-year-old wearing a life jacket, and a tightrope walker all have in common? Just the growing list of those plunging over the Niagara Falls, either by choice or otherwise! They basically all got sucked through a water hose of 180,000 pounds of water pressure in record speed. Can you imagine the pull of that water? I can
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,
