It was July 4th at the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It was dark, and I was on the roof of a truck clinging to the roof rack as we wound through the twisting back roads en route to the edge of the gorge. This had not been the plan. We had ended up loading the truck down with a couple of kegs and as many raft guides as we could fit after the trailer that was supposed to deliver us to the party developed a flat tire. We had unhitched it and … [Read more...]
5 Things to Do in Lake Arrowhead
“Every season is beautiful but autumn is my favorite. Everyone is out and about but more bundled up. It’s a fun time,” says Summer Barron, Spa Director at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. Born and raised in Lake Arrowhead, California, Summer is the perfect person to inform me about the area, the resort and what makes it such a popular choice by those in the know. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake and community nestled at 5200 ft. (1500 m) in the … [Read more...]
9 Best Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown should be at the top of your bucket list on your trip to New Zealand. Located in the South Island of the country, you’ll find yourself surrounded by remarkable mountain peaks (coincidentally one of the ranges is called The Remarkables), turquoise lakes and native greenery. Five days in Queenstown is the perfect amount of time to stay. We’ve chosen our nine best things to do in Queenstown, from walks to wineries and adventure … [Read more...]
How to Get Licked by a Giraffe
I'm about to be licked by a giraffe. It sounds silly but it's happening. She leans forward to get closer to me, her massive head moving to within a few centimeters of my face. I can feel her heavy breath on my cheek as she extends her enormous 45-cm (18 in) long tongue straight at me. I cringe and smile in delight at the same time. The anticipation is too much and, against every impulse, I shut my eyes. Wow, is this really happening?! Where am … [Read more...]
Adventure Travel in Quebec
“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventure.” I admit I only know a little about Quebec, that francophone region located right in the heart of North America. I am aware that it is Canada’s second largest (and second-most populous) province. And that 90% of its population lives within just a couple of hours of the border with the United States. But what about the other 10%? Where and how do they live? What’s there to do beyond … [Read more...]
Santa Catalina Island California – April 2017
About an hour boat ride (www.catalinaexpress.com) or a 15 minute helicopter ride (www.islandexpress.com) from the nation's second largest metropolitan region lies the unpopulated Santa Catalina Island. Many people visit for a day but the island offers a plethora of activities to keep one occupied for much longer. Avalon is the largest town on the island with about 3,700 full time residents. In contrast, the second largest and only other town of … [Read more...]
Find Your Travel Tribe & Plan an Unforgettable Adventure with TripTogether
Whether you’re seeking an escape from the winter blues, in need of a stress-free retreat or want to check off a dream experience from your bucket list – a trip abroad is the best way to fulfill these goals. However, planning your vacation and finding the right travel partner is often the tricky part. I can’t tell you how many times my friends have bailed on travel plans we made due to scheduling conflicts and finances, leaving me to plan my … [Read more...]
Gliding to Confidence in Hocking Hills, Ohio
One of my favorite activities is hiking, yet I’m afraid of heights. I love trying different modes of transportation in my explorations, but I’ve been seasick on whale watching trips and catamaran booze cruises. While I’m a huge fan of beautiful views, driving in elevation, particularly if the roads wind and twist, tends to make me carsick. I generally feel colder than everyone else around me. To function at an optimal level, I need to eat more, … [Read more...]
A relaxing day in Fiji
After the stresses of non stop travel the past month I was ready for some serious R&R. Seashell Momi is a Diver's and Surfer's hangout about 45 minutes south of the capital Nadi. Arriving in the dark after passing through beautiful green hills as far as the eye could see, I simply crashed. It was 8pm. I awoke the next morning, 14 hours later at 10am - still tired but certainly more refreshed. Apparently there are only 5 people staying here out of … [Read more...]
Touring Koror, Palau
Whenever we arrive to a new place, we attempt to learn about the country. Therefore, our first stop in Palau was the Belau National Museum where the exhibit: “A Cherechar A Lokelii: Palau Through the Years” gave us a detailed introductory education. Strolling through the halls we learned about the past presence and influences of the Spanish, Germans, Japanese and the United States from a historical context. The Spanish first visited Palau in … [Read more...]