Located about an hour's drive away from Albuquerque, Santa Fe is a truly striking city. Perched beautifully on top of the blue mountains of New Mexico, there's no denying that Santa Fe is one of those cities that has a magical and timeless appeal. This high desert town with its combination of mountains, rock formations, and canyon roads make this a unique place to visit
Victoria House, Ambergris Caye, Belize Victoria House, Ambergris Caye, Belize We Arrived in Ambergris Caye! Hot and sweaty after coming off a whirlwind Cessna plane ride from Belize City to the island of Ambergris Caye, having flown overnight, I was ready to "get my vacation on". The taxi driver was waiting for us at the airstrip and it could not
This is Why Savannah Historic District is as Pretty as a Picture! Savannah's Historic District Located in Chatham County, Savannah is the oldest city in the state of Georgia. This revolutionary city was once a port city that saw its fair share of battles during the American Civil War. However, Savannah is a wonderful place to visit. Thanks to its relationship with art and design,
Camogli: Travel +Leisure Feature I was surprised to see Travel + Leisure with my beloved Camogli, Italy photo featured directly on the front cover. Camogli is like a slice of the Riviera from decades ago before the designer stores came to line seaside promenades. Before the celebrities parked their yachts in the marinas. Camogli is an exquisite village with a perfectly placed seafront rimmed with
There is this little town in the central highlands of Mexico that isn’t easy to get to, but once you find your way here, you may never want to leave. That is what happened to me 10 years ago, and today I long to go back to a simpler time and place. Founded in the 16th century, San Miguel de Allende is known for its
Chora Museum - This is No Ordinary Museum! The sights and sounds that are Istanbul are so difficult to explain, but I tried to show you this through my streets of Istanbul article. At first, I was so overwhelmed with the mass difference between the USA and Turkey that I had a hard time describing my thoughts about this capital city. It has taken me
With so many fun things to see and do in San Miguel de Allende, you may be forgiven for wanting to step back and take a breather from all the non-stop exploring, in order to rest and re-charge. Thankfully, the natural hot spring pools at La Gruta San Miguel are only a stone’s throw away from San Miguel. And set in gorgeous lush gardens, La Gruta
*Now I admit this is a gorgeous waterfall, but it is in ICELAND! Hiking is a great pastime and I know many people who enjoy a day out in a state or national park. In fact, the state of Colorado has over forty state parks and thirteen National Forests in case you want to enjoy their fresh air by finding a great hiking trail. Recently
Regarding the Pigeon Forge attractions & businesses mentioned in this blog, please check their respective websites for an update on their COVID-19 operational updates. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a vacation haven for children and adults, but in a sense, I can see that it has two faces. On one hand, since it is nestled at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, it is a
In the sleepy hills of Mexico lies one of the most gorgeous towns I have ever seen, San Miguel de Allende. This picturesque town is sure to give you all the “wow moments” of a big city, but with the pleasure of a small-town atmosphere. Don’t expect to find a fast-paced lifestyle in San Miguel, but rather a tranquil one. One that slowly evolves right
Breakfast is often called ‘the most important meal of the day’ but I don’t always agree with that. What the breakfast does is “breaks that overnight fasting period” you just had when you woke up. So be sure and follow the rule about fasting and your body will thank you! And since breakfast can occur really anytime, I have found some of the best places
Have you ever heard the words "Mitad del Mundo" or "middle of the world"? I hadn't either until I had a chance to visit the "Mitad del Mundo" right outside of Quito, Ecuador. I had no idea there was an exact location where you could stand at the earth's midpoint - 0 degrees latitude, 0 minutes, 0 seconds in Ecuador! Apparently, people come from all over
UPDATE! Grand Velas Los Cabos Named #1 Luxury Hotel in Mexico, #8 in the World by TripAdvisor’s 2020 Travelers’ Choice Awards. Cabos San Lucas, Mexico For me, going on a real vacation has become increasingly important over the years. Since I work in the industry, many times I feel like I am photographing everything, never knowing what I will find. I really do enjoy my work
Of all the choices of small Mexican fishing villages to visit, Zihuatanejo is a hard one to put into any type of grouping. Zihua (pronounced “zee-wha”), for short, is up against the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, with cliffs, deep ravines, and a gorgeous bay. The fact that it is in the state of Guerrero—probably closer to Guatemala than it is the USA—also makes it
New Orleans Jazz Jazz...that sound that put New Orleans on the map. That subgenre of the blues that developed in and around the city of New Orleans with its distinctive reverberance. Not really a "big band swing" sound, but more of a "heavy piano and saxophone" sound. And it is definitely not "pop" music. In fact, New Orleans jazz is a distinct style of music.
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. This gorgeous little gem of a city in Mexico’s central highlands is known for its baroque-style of Spanish architecture and colonial buildings. Plus it has cobbled-stone streets, a thriving arts scene, and fascinating cultural festivals. Add to it an array of 84 churches and it seems quite perfect to me.
Nicknamed the "Little London of Scandinavia" or "the Greenest City", Gothenburg Sweden has an alluring mix of lush green gardens and modern Nordic chic wrapped into one. With its 17th-century Dutch-style canals, nautical museums, trendy restaurants, and breweries, as well as fashion boutiques, it oozes a youthful bohemian and avant-garde vibe. Especially since it is home to 47,500 University of Gothenburg students. And it just
Nestled away at the tail end of the Rockies known as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is a high elevation capital like its Colorado cousin. However, with an elevation of 7,199 feet, Santa Fe is officially the highest city in the United States. Thanks to this, you can expect fair weather year-round and over 300 days of sunshine, making this high desert gem
I am almost certain you have heard of Santorini and Mykonos – those famous Greek isles that everyone loves. I’ve written about both of them quite extensively and absolutely love these charming Greek islands. But these islands can sometimes feel like “a tourist island” if you catch them during a cruise ship in port. They can get a bit crowded, especially during peak season. So
The United States has several National Parks, forests, and monuments to visit including two of the most visited National Parks in Montana, which are Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. I have been to both and they are both quite spectacular with a backdrop of small mountain ranges that are a part of the Rocky Mountains. Montana prides itself on being the perfect place
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. Preikestolen attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world, which makes it one of the main
Photo by Four Seasons Bora Bora Overwater Bungalows and Island Lodges This stunning French Polynesian jewel, otherwise known as Bora Bora, is the epitome of luxury travel and the place to be for anyone looking to embark on an idyllic and once in a lifetime honeymoon. It is here where you will be able to wistfully laze the days away in your over-the-water
Raja Ampat, Indonesia Floating up to the stunningly gorgeous jetty at the Raja Ampat Dive Resort on Waigeo Island in West Papua Indonesia, I knew I was in for a special treat. Waigeo Island is the largest of the four main islands of the Raja Ampat Island archipelago. This was THAT kind of place, the epitome of a remote, exotic beach vacation. Raja Ampat is
Desert Night Camps - Feynan Ecolodge The Feynan Ecolodge is not just another place to stay while in Jordan. It is actually an experience. Somehow placed in the middle of nowhere in Jordan, the Feynan Ecolodge offers you a stay you won't forget. Here is my account of getting there and taking part in a Bedouin experience before making it to the Lodge... We were
Due to the quirkiness and unusual flavors of Japanese snacks, it is no wonder they have become a global phenomenon. The Japanese have been able to incorporate simple yet flavorful ingredients to create scrumptious snacks such as strawberry pocky, ice crackers, and soda candy. While traveling in Japan, you are sure to find many places that offer a variety of snacks. Vending machines are a
The French Quarter I was with my girlfriend over on Royal Street in the French Quarter at the diamond store. She’s from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, so when I sent her a message I would be visiting New Orleans and that I was looking for the best things to do in New Orleans and luxury or boutique hotels in New Orleans, she immediately went to work and
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 the gorgeous King Louie Waterfall in the Osa Peninsula near where I was staying! Even though I was actually going to a yoga retreat for a bit of relaxation, I knew
Most Overlooked National Park You Should Definitely Visit Dry Tortugas National Park, you have heard of it, right? Right? Well, that's ok, as there are a huge number of Americans that have never heard of it. But if there is one thing I know about the Dry Tortugas National Park and that is that it is an absolute water paradise. It is like being in
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
Did you know it is possible to go to Hell? That's what my momma told me when I was a little girl, so I had better listen to her! And that is exactly what I did! I went to Hell Grand Cayman! (And when I die I want to go to Heaven, just so you know!) I found out that Hell Grand Cayman is a
Ultimate Guide to Puerto Penasco Mexico I've always said that Phoenix Arizona was the perfect place to live except for one thing - we do not have a beach! But in a way, we do, as Arizona's Beach is in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, just a few miles down the road, well 212.3 miles that is! We Phoenicians call it Rocky Point (or Arizona's Beach) and
Since I finally put pen to paper and wrote up an extensive Ultimate Bucket List for Families, I thought, why not add in one for the teens in the family as well? When I googled “bucket list for teens”, I didn’t find very many ideas. So to make it even more specific, I decided to make a summer bucket list for teens, as that is
According to the World Tourism Organization, France is considered the world's most popular destination for tourists. It has over 40,000 classified historical monuments, which is more than any other country in Europe! The national motto of the French is "liberty, equality, and fraternity” and you will certainly feel a part of the family among the locals. The French are responsible for numerous inventions such as
Going on a road trip is sure to be memorable for everyone involved. It is a great way to discover familiar places either with a large group of people or just a few. While most road trips are taken with the intent of visiting family and friends, many choose road trips for vacation purposes. If I am being completely honest, the best part about a
One of our favorite family vacations is to travel and stay at a house or condo in the area where we want to explore in Mexico. We recently took a family trip to the Sea of Cortez to the little town in Mexico called Puerto Penasco to celebrate my son's college graduation. Not only did we pack a few things that are hard to find
