I have to give my sister credit here — she remembered a bucket list item I mentioned ages ago, I wanted to sleep in a castle, and quietly built our whole overnight stop around it. As we came off the highway exit, I pointed and said, “oh look, there’s a little castle, we should drive […]
Amsterdam Castle: Crossing “Sleep in a Castle” Off My Bucket List (Sort Of) Read More »
In late January 2025, I stumbled upon The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Challenge, and on a whim, I decided to give it a try. Some years I devour books by the dozen; other years, life gets in the way and my reading habit dwindles to nearly nothing. But this year was different. After recently
My 2025 Reading Challenge: 63 Books and a Journey Beyond My Comfort Zone Read More »
Endless Day, Endless Road The allure of the Arctic Circle – that invisible line encircling the globe where the sun doesn’t set for a full day in summer and doesn’t rise for a full day in winter – has always held a certain mystique. As I was looking at tours out of Fairbanks, the Artic
Crossing the Line: Our Arctic Circle Experience Read More »
When you think Alaska, you think glaciers, mountains, wildlife. When I was doing research into what to do when Justin was at work, I saw about a dozen tours to the Matanuska Glacier. I wanted to do it, but I couldn’t do it without Justin. My first glacier was supposed to be with him. Once
A Walk on Matanuska Glacier Read More »
We visited the Kennedy Space Center in 2022 and was fascinated by the exhibits, wouldn’t it be neat to watch a launch? When it turned out that a rocket launch would be happening when we were in the general area, I knew that we had to go to watch. It was the SpaceX Falcon 9
Witnessing a Rocket Launch Read More »
Our recent trip to La Junta, Colorado, was intended for one specific reason: the legendary Tarantula Festival! For those who don’t know, La Junta celebrates the annual migration of thousands of tarantulas through the area. That is a little misleading – the tarantulas aren’t on a long voyage but rather it is mating season. Anyway,
A Creepy Crawly Hike for the Tarantula Festival Read More »
The date had been circled on our calendar for what felt like an eternity: April 8, 2024. The Great American Eclipse. And our chosen vantage point? Dallas, Texas, sitting firmly within the path of totality. We’d envisioned a flawless celestial spectacle – the midday sun swallowed whole by the moon, plunging us into an eerie
Viewing the Great American Eclipse from Dallas: 4 minutes of Totality Miracle Read More »
Sometimes, the most extraordinary experiences unfold in the quietest of settings. Our glow worm kayaking tour with Kayak Rotorua was precisely that – a truly unique and almost ethereal adventure that left us spellbound, even if my attempts at capturing its magic on camera fell a little short! As dusk began to paint the sky
Glow Worm Kayaking Tour in Rotorua NZ Read More »
Fresh off the exhilarating high of our Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, but disappointed that the Brisbane Bridge Climb didn’t work out due to weather/lightning, we found ourselves in Auckland, New Zealand, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to experience another iconic bridge from a unique perspective. This time, it was the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and we
Climbing the Auckland Bridge Read More »
For day 3 of our Sydney adventure, we were on the lookout for experiences that offered a taste of Australia’s incredible wildlife beyond the city bustle. The “Wildlife, Waterfalls, and Wine Departing Sydney” small group tour we booked through Viator caught our eye, promising a blend of nature, adorable creatures, and a touch of local
Up Close with Koalas, Kangaroos & Wallabies Read More »
As soon as we got off the train at Circular Quay in Sydney and walked outside, we were at the hub of cruise ships, the opera house, and in a few more steps we saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which the next day we would be on the top of. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Just
Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Read More »
The vast and ever-shifting landscape of the Stockton Sand Dunes in Port Stephens Australia is truly a sight to behold. Stretching for 32 kilometers along the coast of New South Wales, these are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, and we knew we wanted to experience their grandeur up close. An ATV
Our Stockton Dunes Quad Biking Adventure Read More »
The whisper started months before: an annular solar eclipse was gracing North America in October 2023, and the path of annularity – that magical zone where the “ring of fire” would be visible – was calling. For us the allure of this celestial event was irresistible, especially being so close — and we didn’t voyage
Ring of Fire: Witnessing the Annular Solar Eclipse in New Mexico Read More »
It was exactly this weekend last year that I finally crossed a major item off my Colorado bucket list: seeing the Crystal Mill. Perched precariously over the roaring Crystal River, it is easily one of the most photographed abandoned buildings in the entire state. When I first moved to Colorado, I actually attempted to make
Crystal Mill Colorado Jeep Tour: A Stunning Summer Day Trip Read More »
The phone rang on an ordinary afternoon, and my cousin’s voice carried an excitement. They were booking a skydiving trip. Did I want to come? I felt that familiar flutter of possibility mixed with dread. It would be fun, I told myself. I’d be surrounded by family, people I trusted. But underneath those rational thoughts,
iFly – Experiencing Weightlessness Read More »
There’s something magical about watching hot air balloons rise into the predawn sky. I’d witnessed it before at balloon festivals in Albuquerque and Colorado Springs, standing among crowds as dozens of colorful balloons inflated in the darkness, flames roaring to life, casting an otherworldly glow across the launch field. The collective gasp of spectators as
My First Hot Air Balloon Ride: Floating Above Napa Valley Read More »
Canyoneering at Morning Glory / Ephedra’s Grotto I’d spent just one day in Moab back in 2008, so this time I wanted to push myself beyond the typical scenic overlooks—especially since I was making the trip out here anyway. When my college friend said she’d join me, it felt like the perfect opportunity to try
Rappelling into Morning Glory: A Moab Canyoneering Adventure Read More »
I was in Brazil for a work trip in October 2013, and two coworkers and I decided we’d take a few extra days to explore more of the area, specifically she wanted to see Iguazu Falls. Unfortunately, one couldn’t end up coming, but my other coworker and I carried on to enjoy a country we
Experiencing Iguazú Falls from both Brazil and Argentina Read More »
I’d heard about a fire walking event about two hours away. Even though it was something I desperately wanted to do, the combination of distance and terror meant I wasn’t about to show up alone among a group of strangers So I asked some guy to come with me- making it an unexpectedly intense second
Fire Walking: My 1,000-Degree Journey Across Hot Coals Read More »
Last weekend I tried ziplining…you know, in case I ever go on the Amazing Race, I need to have this skill. No, in all seriousness, I purchased a LivingSocial deal in October thinking it would be fun, and since it is on my list of things to do if I ever go to Costa Rica,
My First Ziplining Adventure Read More »