What was the most important thing you have ever forgotten on a vacation? My answer is my DSLR camera. It is inevitable- I ALWAYS forget something! I thought this was the biggest mistake I had ever made. Luckily, I was wrong. Forgetting my “fancy” camera actually forced me to have a blast while using my iphone camera to take pictures at the Chinese Lantern Festival located at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in North Carolina. I had SO MUCH FUN playing with the different settings on my phone which I wasn’t to familiar with. The results…. some really unique snapshots of handmade, life-sized (or larger) sculptures called “The Wild”. Travel around the world with me …. (more…)
Category: Travel
Some Pretty Cool Things Happen on the Hudson River in New York- Barge Travels from Albany to NYC
The Hudson River holds a very special place in my heart. I live 15 minutes from the Hudson, and during the school year, I get to cross it at least 2 times a day. Each morning, I get to the see the sleepy river wake as the sun rises over the picturesque Mid Hudson Bridge that connects Highland and Poughkeepsie, and I get to feel the cool breeze whisk by me as I drive home. I have sailed, kayaked, and swam in the Hudson, brought my students to the river to study the ecosystems, and enjoyed the hikes and views along 315 miles of the estuary. Seeing boats sail along the river is not something uncommon. Tonight on the other hand, I got to witness something really amazing. A 130-foot steam generator, the largest object to ever travel down the Hudson River, floated right past me coming just a few calculated feet from the bottom of the Mid Hudson Bridge on its way to NYC. Some Pretty Cool Things Happen on The Hudson River in New York……
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Visiting Iceland: 10 Days Around The Ring Road
I literally just returned from a trip to Iceland hours ago. I don’t even know where to start… Words alone can not describe the dramatic and majestic splendor of the landscape I experienced, in conjunction with the inherent respect and awe for the smallest details of the nature. I have traveled to 20 countries so far, and Iceland- by far, is one of the most beautiful and inspirational places I have ever been to. I traveled with my husband and 5 other close friends around the Ring Road which circles the country. Albeit only a 10 day journey, a mere fraction of the lifetime you can spend in Iceland and still not see it all, we got to see and experience such a variety of what the country has to offer. I know one thing for sure as I try to process what I saw on this amazing trip…. Iceland- I will see you again soon. Ég mun sjá þig aftur fljótlega….. Here’s our 10 day journey around Iceland, aka Niceland….. (more…)
Escape to The Emerson Resort and Spa *Catskill Mountains, NY*
Do you want to travel far, far away from the chaos of the grind and take a relaxing, rejuvenating vacation? Well, WHO DOESN’T?!?! The reality is however, that sometimes either due to high costs, lack of time off from work, family responsibilities, etc…, getting on a plane and jetting off to some far away destination is not always possible.
But…. What if I told you that nestled right in the Catskill Mountains of New York, there was a hidden gem where you can immerse yourself in some of the most restful and relaxing experiences EVER and take in some of the beautiful views in the state! You heard that right folks, I have discovered the Emerson Resort and Spa, located in Mt. Tremper, NY and I want to share this gem with you. Having traveled to 20 different countries around the globe and experiencing so many wonderful things, I can honestly say that my experience at the Emerson finds its way near the top of my “favorites” list! Located 2 hours north of NYC, the Emerson provides the PERFECT escape that is both lavish (but not pretentious) and will not break the bank! Allow me to share with you this serenity and bliss…. Escape to The Emerson Resort and Spa …..
Dec
2016
New Paltz: The Best Places to Eat, Play, and Stay
I’ve been a resident of New Paltz for 20 years now. There’s a reason for it. I LOVE IT! It is a one-of-a-kind place! It’s a town that truly has so much to offer in every which way. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a foodie, an artist,or just someone who needs some R&R, New Paltz has something for everyone to love. It’s a place I call home, but I can find something new to do each day; It’s like I am on a permanent vacation in my town! 🙂 Here are the best places to Eat, Play, and Stay in New Paltz, NY! I promise…. You will find something to love here too! (more…)
Dec
2016
“Micro-Packing” for Traveling: 10 Best Ways to Travel Light
Traveling is my “thing”. When I am out exploring, I want to make EVERY second count! I don’t want to be held back by anything, and includes carrying HUGE heavy bags, filled with things I probably won’t even need. The more I travel, the more efficient I try to be with my packing and items I bring that are necessary. I finally got the “micro-packing” method down, and it makes traveling SO easy. Gone are the days where I had to sit on my bag to compress it as I pull the zipper closed with all of my might ( all the while crossing my fingers together hoping the zipper doesn’t break). Gone are the days when my bag was so heavy that I could barely lift it! Here’s how its done: “Micro-Packing” for Traveling: 10 Best Ways to Travel Light. My latest trip was to Denmark, solo. 9 days, one medium-sized backpack, 23lbs… I had everything I needed and everything I wanted- without any added nonsense! IT CAN BE DONE!
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Sep
2016
Fall Festivals: Find A Fall Festival Near You!
Fall Festivals: Find A Fall Festival Near You!
Although I will miss the summer season, the fall season is just around the corner here in New York. Some of the greatest things I love about this season are the spectacular views you get as the leaves change color, eating apples and pumpkins, and the many festivals and fairs that take place this time of year. Regardless if you have colorful leaves, apples, or pumpkins in your region, there is always a great festival to be found to celebrate the season. Whether you’re staying local or traveling somewhere far, you can always find an event that will capture your interests- Festivals highlighting beer, wine, food, apples, pumpkins, hot air balloons, chocolate, pickles, etc….. There’s something out there for everyone! How do you find these festivals? Finding a fall festival is quite easy…. (more…)
Aug
2016
Ways to Save Money on Travel with Groupon
Although this is a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. I have been a customer for years!
If you know me, you know I LOVE to travel. Friends and family typically have a hard time keeping track of where I am. I often get messages from friends that read, “Where in the world are you now?!?!?”. In the past month, I have traveled to Denmark, Atlanta, and Key West. Hawaii and Iceland plans are formulating for the near future as well. How do I do this? How is it possible to get to all these places? BY SAVING MONEY while booking my trips !!!! I like to travel light, fast, and cheap so that I have money leftover to use to enjoy the experiences they have to offer. Check out the Ways to Save Money on Travel with Groupon ! (more…)
The Best 10 Things to Do and See in Denmark (Europe)
I recently traveled to Denmark… ALL OVER Denmark. I have to admit that it is one of the most beautiful and interesting places I have ever been. I only had 10 days on my solo adventure to the country, but in those 10 days, I truly feel as though I got such an authentic taste of the culture and saw so many amazing sites. The country is quite small covering 16,574 sq. miles. The compact size, plus the AMAZING public transport system, allowed me to travel from Copenhagen in the east, to Ribe in the west, then all the way to Skagen and Grenen, at the far north of the country. Along my route, I saw and did many things that I believe might be some of the most breathtaking and fascinating things I will ever see in my lifetime. Join me on my journey of The 10 Best Things to Do and See in Denmark! (more…)
Amazing Travel Adventures Near the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc
Amazing Travel Adventures Near the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc
In mid-August, , Mike and I traveled to the French and Swiss Alps. What brought us there was that Mike ran in the TDS race, which was part of the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) series. The race he ran started in Courmayer, Italy and ended in Chamonix, France. It traversed Mont Blanc and the Alps of that region. Before the race, we visited Zermatt, the town on the Swiss side, of the base of the Matterhorn. We were so lucky to have “played” there for 3 days. Then there was the Mont Blanc massif…..The scenery that I viewed will forever be imprinted on my eyeballs! The views were SURREAL! I wanted to share the wonderful things we experienced with you. YOU NEED TO VISIT this area of the world! Join me on my Amazing Travel Adventures near the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. (more…)