If you are used to traveling in larger groups, it is time to consider an alternative type of travel; a private tour with a guide. With a private guide you can customize the type of tour you like including it's duration, route, mode of transport, and pace among other options. Consider this well-known image: a man with a flag or a sign in his raised hand leads a string of camera toting tourists. This is one way to see a city. However, your … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2016
Dream Lake Hike
In my humble opinion, Dream Lake Trail is the best winter hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Granted, we’ve only done two winter hikes in this park, so our opinion may or may not have any value. But that’s neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is that this hike is unbelievable from start to finish. Sure, there are plenty of higher elevation hikes in the park, but in mid-January, those 14,000+ hikes might as well require a … [Read more...]
Almost Blown off the Mountain in the Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Today I set off for western Iceland. After several hours and multiple stops I reached Snæfellsnes, a peninsula in Western Iceland. I found a random scruffy hitch hiker standing by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. I quickly stopped and found out he had hiked down to the main road from his campsite in this remote part of the peninsula because his 6-year old son had somehow turned the car radio on and drained the battery. I delivered … [Read more...]
Celebrating the Best of Food & Film in Nova Scotia
Foodies and film lovers gathered to celebrate 'A Taste of Devour!' in Los Angeles, in one of a series of global events leading up to the Devour Food Film Festival which takes place in Nova Scotia in November 2016. Devour is the largest film festival devoted to all things culinary and cinematic arts. This epicurean celebration was first launched in Nova Scotia in 2009. What a perfect setting on the eastern Canadian shores - from a landscape … [Read more...]
Origami Unicorn, Travel Undergarment Organizer
I have been packed for years, at times for an almost perpetual state of motion. This has been especially true in the last 6 months with trips stacked up one after each other. Both my suitcase and backpack remain ready to 'rock and roll' - each one is always in some state of being packed and I can quickly grab either one depending on the type and length of trip. This travel state of limbo has worked well to date, granted nothing is very well … [Read more...]
Philadelphia State of Mind
For an L.A. girl, Philadelphia beckons with the charms of time – stratums of culture, history, beauty – that result in a city pulsating with energy. Sure, sunshine, palm trees and sandy beaches sparkle on the surface, but the City of Brotherly Love, enriched by centuries, fascinates in a way newer American cities cannot compete with. With the Democratic National Convention coming in July, this 17th century town is about to explode. With 18 … [Read more...]
Celebrating King’s Day (Koningsdag) in Amsterdam
Holland celebrated their own King's birthday (Willem-Alexander) for the 3rd year in a row in April 2016. This fun event is known as "Koningsdag" or "King's Day" and is held on April 27, a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Two of the Netherland's largest brands, KLM and Heineken, joined forces to celebrate this special occasion in variety of ways including bringing a lavishly decorated bright orange boat to the canals of … [Read more...]
The Unique Beauty of Antarctica
The cruise director on the Basecamp Ortelius on our Antarctica cruise with Oceanwide Expeditions said something that perked my interest, "Antarctica is a feeling" and I immediately wondered what type of feeling it would induce in me once I arrived. It turns out it is not just one feeling but rather many. What you see in front of you evokes numerous feelings and reactions including awe, the grandeur and magnitude of your surroundings gives you … [Read more...]
Travel back in Time with a History Tour of The Vinoy in St. Petersburg Florida
When we went to St. Petersburg, Florida last week, we were fortunate enough to receive a private tour of The Vinoy, located along the waterside. I truly felt as if we had stepped back in time to a golden age of Florida travel, long before Walt Disney World. If you're looking for an authentic Florida experience, I invite you to travel back in time with a history tour of The Vinoy hotel. No wayback machine, Deloreans, phone booths or hot tub … [Read more...]
Heli Ski Alaska? Heli Yes!
My penultimate bucket list ski experience has always been to heli ski in Alaska—miles of untouched powder and fresh lines for days. No lift lines, no resort creature comforts and nothing but badass skiing. As my blog will tell you, after a year of planning I was pretty stoked when my brother and I joined up with Dean Cummings’ H2O Guides to heli ski the 4,000 square-mile playground called the Chuggach Mountains near Valdez, Alaska. Whether … [Read more...]