Journal
Expect a mix of everything that makes exploring the USA so captivating – from quick day trips and insightful tours to mouthwatering local eats and drinks, planned itineraries, plus honest hotel reviews and recommendations gleaned from my own experiences. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stateside adventure, I hope these glimpses into my American explorations inspire your own!
As someone who’s called both the bustling streets of New York and the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado home, you’ll find a special focus on adventures from these two incredible states.
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We like to travel with carry-ons, it offers us a greater flexibility, should we need it, to change our plans at the last minute. Like many others, I spent a while looking up what other people brought on this similar trip. Everyone said to layer to give the most flexibility – and that is definitely the case. I tried to only pack clothes that all...
While I liked the feel of Fairbanks, a small town, I wasn’t loving the food. I am sure there are wonderful places and menu items places, just not really what I happened to order. Bahn Thai – We heard that Fairbanks had a lot of Thai restaurants, its a common cuisine there. And there were for its size. After a longish day when we were tired,...
Lat65 – Our first day in Fairbanks we decided to walk to Lat65 to get some fresh air and the lay of the land. Lat65 had lots of seating, a good selection of beer, and BBQ. It looked like the area was either expanding or being remodeled. I ordered the Pilsner sunrise and Justin had the Lager ptarmigan. We both enjoyed the beers, and the smell of...
Justin’s 50th State! Woo-hoo. Our 33rd state together. While we started to look into and plan Alaska for last year, it was Justin’s work travel that solidified making this state happen. We were fortunate that the first few days were paid for (lodging, his flight, a rental car, and some of his meals)…but that also means he was working,...
We enjoy eating out when we travel. We tried to utilize the hotel free breakfast for 60% of the time since food in Alaska tended to cost more. These are the places we went and what we thought — of course your experience my vary. Alaska Chopped and Chowdered – Justin got the Alaskan Rustic Clam Chowder with garlic bread and Denise got Fish...
We made it to five breweries while in town. Onsite Brewery Company – We walked from our hotel to this mid-town climbing themed brewery. While it had both indoor and outdoor seating, it was a nice day and we took advantage of sitting outside on a picnic table. Denise ordered the Rappel Lager and Justin has the Ice Fall Pale Ale. We cheered to Justin’s...
Denali National Park & Preserve, home to North America’s tallest peak, is a monumental landscape that beckons adventurers from around the globe. Yet, on our recent Alaskan trip, my enthusiasm for National Parks somehow didn’t translate into prioritizing a long stay here. Having heard mixed reviews about the full-day bus tours (and already...
When you’re in the Denali area, conventional tours are great, but sometimes, you crave something a little… more. That’s precisely what led us to Denali Fat Truck Tours, and their incredible SHERP excursion. This off-road ride helped us dive into the Alaskan wilderness, facilitated by a truly remarkable machine, and guided by someone...
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 Circle kept coming up. They say only 3% of the visitors...
Whittier, Alaska, a town nestled at the head of Passage Canal and surrounded by towering mountains, serves as a gateway to the Alaska Marine Highway System, and a port for cruise ships and day sightsee cruises. The reason we ended up in Whittier is because we booked the 5 1/4 hour “26 Glacier” Cruise. Getting to Whittier was part of the...
Seward, Alaska, is a charming coastal town that serves as a gateway to some of the state’s most spectacular natural wonders. Among them, Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, stands out as an incredibly accessible and awe-inspiring example of a glacier in flux. Having seen (and walked on) my first glacier just a few days prior, it was now...
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 we got to Anchorage, and after my first solo day when I...
When exploring Alaska’s vast landscapes, it’s easy to get caught up in the grandeur of glaciers and mountains. But on a recent day trip out of Anchorage, I opted for a different kind of wildlife encounter, heading to Palmer to visit the Musk Ox Farm and the Reindeer Farm via the Pacific Alaska Tour company. It turned out to be a day of contrasting...
Anchorage, Alaska, is a city where urban comforts meet rugged wilderness, and nowhere is this more evident than on the stunning Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This 11-mile paved pathway offers breathtaking views of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Range, and the Anchorage skyline. On day 1 of our recent Alaskan adventure, we decided to tackle it the modern way:...
On my recent solo work trip to San Francisco I started noticing something new cruising amongst the regular traffic: sleek cars topped with a distinctive, boxy apparatus. Initially, they were a bit of a mystery, these autonomous vehicles gliding along with an almost eerie smoothness. I’d just assumed the rooftop contraption was some sort of advanced...
I was in San Francisco for work without Justin, when that happens, I tend to eat foods I know he doesn’t enjoy as much as me (such as Ethiopian (which I also had in SF, Indian, and Thai). I’m not really a fast food gal, but there are times when that is what is available, and sometimes I struggle to find something good to eat. Of course San...
San Francisco’s culinary landscape is a melting pot of global flavors, and Oren’s Hummus has carved out a delicious niche with its authentic and vibrant Middle Eastern cuisine. On a recent visit with a friend, we decided to immerse ourselves in their offerings by ordering the sampler dish, a brilliant way to experience the breadth and depth...
Savannah, Georgia, with its moss-draped oaks, elegant squares, and palpable Southern charm, practically begs to be explored at a leisurely pace. So, on a recent sunny day, we opted for a Savannah Bike Tour, and it turned out to be the perfect way to soak in the city’s unique atmosphere and rich history. We chose Savannah Bike Tours based on their...
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 carrying the Koreasat 6A satellite launch on November 11, 2024. Having...
San Antonio is undeniably famous for its vibrant Riverwalk, a lively artery pulsing with culture and entertainment. But on our recent long weekend getaway, while we certainly enjoyed a stroll along its banks, we were determined to delve deeper into the city’s rich and pivotal history. Our focus? Stepping back in time through its remarkable missions,...
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, I...
Fort Ticonderoga, perched on the shores of Lake Champlain in upstate New York, isn’t just a historical site; it’s a living, breathing portal to the past. Our recent visit was a captivating immersion into the pivotal events of the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, a chance to walk the ramparts and hear the echoes of history...
Our travels took us to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and tucked away on the University of New Mexico campus, we stumbled upon another spot claiming to be the Center of the Universe, but with a very different vibe. This “Center of the Universe” is a concrete structure with a central middle from which six concrete arms/tunnels extend outwards,...
The date had been circled on our calendar for what felt like an eternity: April 8, 2024. The Great North American Eclipse. And our chosen vantage point? Dallas, Texas, firmly within the path of totality. We’d envisioned a celestial spectacle, the midday sun swallowed whole by the moon, plunging us into an eerie twilight. But as the morning unfolded...
We went to Dallas for the eclipse, but had an extra 2 days to fill. After a little research, I found the perfect day trip for us at about 90 minutes south west. Texas, known for its vast landscapes and rich history, holds a secret from millions of years ago: the tangible remnants of giants that once roamed its ancient lands. Our recent visit to Dinosaur...
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 in soft hues, we met our friendly...
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...
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...
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 the name conjures images of that iconic steel arch soaring above the sparkling harbor,...
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 tour, with Quad Bike King, seemed...
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 to Wyoming...
When Justin suggested a day trip to Hadrian’s Wall from Edinburgh, I’ll admit, my knowledge of its significance was minimal. I knew it was old, and… well, it was a wall. But trusting his passion for history and Rabbie’s reputation for excellent small-group tours, I signed us up for the “Hadrian’s Wall, Roman Britain &...
Tulsa, Oklahoma, surprised us in many ways, and one of the most unexpected (and surprisingly delightful) discoveries was pickle pizza. Yes, you read that right. Pickles. On a pizza. Now, I’m a fan of a good briny bite, so when I spotted this intriguing concoction at ZaZa’s Pizzeria inside the bustling Mother Road Market, my curiosity was...
Tulsa, Oklahoma, might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of cosmic significance, but tucked away in its downtown area lies a quirky and intriguing spot known as the “Center of the Universe.” During our recent days exploring Tulsa, we sought out this unassuming landmark, and it quickly became a bit of an obsession...
The allure of striking it rich, of unearthing a sparkling treasure from the earth, is a deeply human one. That’s what drew us to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, the only diamond-bearing site in the world open to the public where you can dig for your own gems! Armed with rented shovels, screens, and a healthy dose of optimism, we ventured...
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