travel
-
Hidden Gems Beneath the Surface in Eastern Tennessee
Hitting the wide-open road without any expectations, we’ve uncovered hidden gems. In Eastern Tennessee, we found the largest underground lake, the tallest underground waterfall, and a cavern off the beaten path with a subterranean waterfall that could take the claim of the tallest. We headed to Eastern Tennessee to visit the Cumberland Gap and the…
-
South Dakota- From the Black Hills to the Badlands
Most people know about Mt. Rushmore and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but there is so much more to see in South Dakota. From the Native Americans who lived here long before the settlers, to miners and gamblers who flooded the Black Hills looking to make their fortune, this area is rich in history. Conflict and…
-
Easy Day Trips Just Outside Edinburgh, Scotland
Just outside Edinburgh, and easily accessible for a day trip, are some fantastic attractions. If you have the time, these are all worth a visit. If your time is limited, choose the one that is most aligned with your interests as each of these places is very different from the other. The Scottish countryside ……
-
A Day in Western Nebraska
Nebraska isn’t a state that comes to mind when one thinks of road trips and summer vacations. Just north of Colorado most of it is quite empty, with small towns, railroad depots, and large cattle ranches and feedlots. We spent a couple of days (and one night) in the western part of the state, arriving…
-
North Dakota- Painted Canyons and Rustic Charm
As part of a recent road trip, we headed to North Dakota, a state neither of us knew much about. It was summer, the best time to visit this far north, and our focus was the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park is named after Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, who spent time ranching and…
-
Scuba Diving the Maldives, Resort or Liveaboard?
The Maldives is a bucket list destination for many, both divers and non-divers alike. With its numerous atolls in the Indian Ocean, it makes a great place for an island escape or a live-aboard dive destination. As an island escape, the Maldives is paradise with its 5-star resorts and impeccable service. Overwater bungalows are the…
-
Cherry Blossoms in Japan
After an all-night flight through San Francisco, we arrived in a country so different that the term ‘lost in translation’ really does mean something. This was my first time in Japan, so I will lay out a beginner’s itinerary developed by a friend who lived there and repeatedly traveled back to this amazing part of…
-
Top 5 Scuba Diving Destinations
The surface of planet earth is more than 70% water, which provides a lot of places to explore. And yet there is less than 1% of the population that scuba dive and only about 2.5% that snorkel. (Source: 2022 Diving Fast Facts, Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) I consider myself fortunate to be part ……
-
Bali- Unique Island of Sunsets and Temples
Bali, Indonesia has a long history of welcoming tourists from around the world. The natural beauty, accommodations, service, and food make this a wonderful place to relax and recharge. I have spent quite a bit of time here as it was a quick getaway when we lived in Singapore, being just over a two-hour flight.…
-
How to Book a Yacht Charter
Chartering a yacht is a wonderful way to see places that are most easily accessible by water. We booked our first yacht charter in 2010 with friends. It was a short 3-night trip on the Joanna K, a 70-foot motor sailer, in the Saronic Islands, Greece. Since then, we have booked charters to Croatia, Amalfi…