When I arrived in Quetzaltenango, it was cold, rainy, and nearly dark. I had spent all day on a series of bus rides from San Cristobal de las Casas, and all I wanted was something to go smoothly. My host mother (a grandmother, really) arrived at the Spanish school I was waiting at to walk […]
Earlier this summer, my husband and I moved in to a house with 4 roommates and the two of us shared a single car. We gave up restaurant meals, TV, and even made do with holes in our sneakers that had literally been worn for hundreds (thousands?) of miles. Then we realized we were crazy. (On the
It looked like it was going to pour when I woke up in Juneau. But they say there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing, so I gathered up my rain gear and decided to make the best of my day on a Mendenhall Glacier Trek. My plans in Juneau would be the
Mendenhall Glacier Trek in Juneau AK – Is it Worth It? Read More »
Before this year, the last group tour I went on was a trip to Ecuador back in 2005. I was brand new to international travel — or to be honest, travel without my family — and so an escorted tour seemed like the perfect fit. Even though I had a fantastic time, my next trips naturally migrated
With all due respect to Belgium, Brussels isn’t one of my favorite cities. Their beer is fantastic, but that was the highlight of my 2007 visit. My return in June 2014 was a little better since I basically ate my weight in chocolate, but still, it’s not a city I have any desire to return
Before a trip, I research the best places to visit, local foods to try, and unique activities I don’t want to miss. All this planning helps me craft the trip that fits best for me. But sometimes, I just happen to get lucky…like when I’m in Mexico for El Grito and the beginning celebrations of Mexican Independence
Celebrate El Grito (Mexican Independence Day): Isla Mujeres Read More »
Early in a September morning, the Celebrity Millennium docked in Skagway. The year was 2009 and I was having the absolute time of my life cruising through Alaska. I was traveling solo — a rarity on cruise ships — but the trip was already the best vacation I’d ever taken, and I was only halfway through the sailing. Even though
When traveling in the United States, my absolute favorite thing to do is visit national parks. The amount of variety in natural settings within the USA is mind-blowing: in the past year alone I’ve seen the glow of a volcano, gone rock scrambling in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and driven through desert landscapes. With 401 sites of
Unlimited Entry to U.S. National Parks with America the Beautiful Pass Read More »
I’ve never been much of a history buff. I’ve learned the basics of world history and when I feel like diving further in-depth, I prefer a well-written book to learning facts of dubious accuracy from a tour guide. So when I was planning my trip to Guatemala, I almost excluded the Mayan ruins of Tikal. The
Growing up, almost all of my family vacations were roadtrips. We’d pile in the car and drive a few hours down the road, stopping for the highlights of a city and then moving on to repeat the process the next day. There aren’t many times I can recollect staying somewhere for more than a night
