If you get a chance, go to Coronado Island for July 4th, it is a lot of fun. Make it a day on the silver strand! Although it is probably the busiest day of the year, you will want to come back when it is not so busy, You can take the ferry ride over from San Diego, if you don’t want to be bothered
What to bring? What will I wear? What to leave home. Those are the questions I attempt to answer as I make a ski week packing list for my upcoming Telluride vacation. I try to be a “carry-on” only luggage person, but sometimes I fail at this attempt, so for me it does matter how long you will be gone, what type of transportation you
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
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Ojai is the epitome of what Californians wish their state was like. Nestled just east of Santa Barbara and northwest of Los Angeles, Ojai is a hippie-friendly paradise. The city is known for its focus on ecological stability, organic food production, and resistance against big business. All of this has contributed to making Ojai a resilient little city in
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
Like a magic carpet ride, the scenery slips by the bi-level glass-domed windows, as you unplug and spend quality time with your significant other. Railway journeys have a way of tugging at your heartstrings by getting you to relax and unwind. You can move comfortably about the cabins, dive into quality executive chef cuisines, and even possibly spot a bear, a moose, a bald eagle
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 hour's drive from the
Famed for its iconic landmarks, unique architecture and feel-good vibe, this city by the bay has so much to offer. If you’re visiting for the first time, be sure to explore these must-see attractions in San Francisco. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge Image by Tim Dickey, used under Creative Commons License One of the most iconic bridges in the world, this is a
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
Have you ever felt stuck at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport with a long layover and not known what to do? Recently, I went to Dallas twice, once for a family wedding then again for the Travel Media Showcase. I got to thinking how easy it was to get to and from the DFW airport, so I came up with The Best Dallas Fort
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?
The Rocky Mountaineer is a luxurious way to visit Canada with all of its impeccable beauty. So forget about jam-packing your SUV for a long Canadian road trip and let the Rocky Mountaineer train take the wheel, literally. The Rocky Mountaineer gives travelers the opportunity to travel to “forbidden” places that are inaccessible by car. Although the below-freezing temperatures of the winter season can diminish
Have you ever thought about taking an outdoor adventure 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
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
Chico Hot Springs, a quintessential Montana resort sits in Paradise Valley, midway between the historic railroad town of Livingston, Montana and Yellowstone National Park. Chico is flanked by the Absaroka Mountains to the south and the almighty Yellowstone River to the north which is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. Not too far from Pray, Montana, the ambiance of Chico is a
San Francisco Map One thing San Francisco is not short of is quirky charm. In fact, the city has this in spades. Sitting on a peninsula in the Pacific, this west coast metropolis is a place of spectacular vistas, rolling fog, winding streets, hippie culture and much more. San Francisco Has It All If you’re planning to stay in a San Francisco
February on Travelocity! Every month I use my 25 years of travel experience on the Travelocity website about my latest travel experiences. I am a travel ambassador for Travelocity, and they like to call me one of their “Gnational Gnomads”, which I think is super cute. This is an excerpt from those stories. I was so excited to be visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico last month for my husband's
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 Beluga Whales in the Wild! Churchill, Manitoba in Canada Have you ever wanted to go swimming with Beluga Whales? I hadn't even heard of this until I heard about an expedition up in Manitoba Canada where you could do just that! I mean, who doesn't love seeing Beluga babies with their mommas while whale-watching in the Hudson Bay in Canada? Between mid-June to
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,
Visiting St Simons Island Georgia is well known for its southern-style seen in Savannah, GA’s stately squares, with their distinct southern twang sound. And most people know about its peach pies, pecans, and one famous peanut farmer (who happens to be my cousin). But did you know that the Barrier Islands located right off the coast are full of unspoiled beaches, live oak trees dripping
Photo by: Edward Blake / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) Sure, Missoula, Montana is one of those college towns you hear about, but in a way, this town is different. Located along the Fork River in Western Montana, it is known as the "hub of five valleys" since it is near the convergence of five mountain ranges. But more than that, this town is about
Quietly, I sat alone in the brightly lit train station waiting to board the Rocky Mountaineer Train. I had arrived too early and had plenty of time to wait. Slowly I put my head back and with my eyes closed, I imagined the majestic train rolling into the station. Train travel had always been fascinating to me and this was my chance to ride on
Travelocity Every month I use my 25 years of travel experience on the Travelocity website about my some of my latest travel experiences. I was a travel ambassador for Travelocity and this is an excerpt from those stories. ... Spending a day relaxing at a luxury spa is a moment every traveler dreams of relishing during their journeys. I’ve been lucky enough to
As a travel writer, I was dreading my next trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. This shouldn't be the case since I am in love with travel, but I now realize Las Vegas is like an acquired tasted. One that is unlikely to be enjoyed by a person who has not had substantial exposure to it, usually because of some unfamiliar aspect of the city. It
She flies over long distances in a precise migratory pattern and is known as ‘the wanderer’ in Australia. But here in the United States, we call her the Monarch butterfly. Flying overhead in search of nectar plants and basking in the sun, this week I felt like a butterfly as I explored the City of Scottsdale, AZ calling it the Scottsdale Invasion! Invasion of the
Wow W Scottsdale How many times in your life have you been WOW’ed? WOW! That is what they call it here at the W Scottsdale. When I say that word, sometimes I say it with almost a silent whisper. WOW! (this is me whispering!). My brain gets overwhelmed by my enthusiasm for what my visual senses can’t quite get wrapped around and my words, even as
My Golden Door Experience It was love at first sight, the minute I stepped out of the black BMW luxury transport and took a look at the Japanese lanterns and those "golden doors". I knew my lavish love affair had begun. I was greeted quickly by an attendant and my luggage was whisked away into my Asian-inspired upstairs suite overlooking the swimming pool. Somehow an
There are many reasons to pay a visit to Big Sky Resort in southwest Montana, but if you’re a champion of great food and wine, their Vine & Dine weekender is a must. This annual 4-day extravaganza takes place mid-August, bringing together sommeliers, winemakers, regional and celebrity chefs, live music by local bands and local producers of Montana grown products all under the shadow of
Exhausted from 2 hours of being the “Captain” of a two-man orange kayak in the Pacific Ocean, I grabbed my pre-made lunch in the hot burning sun and plucked up my backpack to find a spot in the shade. I still had my black ROXY rash guard on but had managed to wrangle out of my water shoes in exchange for some comfy flip flops.
How does a travel experience of a lifetime begin? It starts by making an iconic trip, such as Rocky Mountaineer, a priority in your life as a top life experience. When you come to the realization that the only scarce commodity that we all have in this world is TIME, then that changes the urgency in your life. Why not spend some time educating yourself
Quinta Mazatlan I am a diehard about Spanish/Mexican architecture, interior design, music, language, and dance, so when I took one peek inside the Ann Maddox Moore room at Quinta Mazatlán, I was immediately enamored with her collection. This assortment, which is only a part of her personal collection, was of cultural Mexican craftsmanship that she had collected on her many trips to Mexico. This is
It was my good fortune to take a tour of the Lucchese Bootmaker facility in El Paso. You are probably thinking I would see how handcrafted boots are made from start to finish. And you are right. But I walked away from there with some insights into life that can be a meaningful byproduct of traveling. As these boots are made for walking. Read on
In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t be spending three nights at The Ranch at Rock Creek, located off the Pintler Veteran’s Memorial Scenic Highway 1 in southwest Montana. Don’t get me wrong, being treated like the most important person to ever walk through their front door and being delightfully pampered is out of this world. Problem is, I don’t want to leave. Not now. Not
