Updates

I'm sitting here counting down the days, no hours, until I board the plane for Costa Rica!  I always feel like I really need to get away in February because of our cold New England weather and the after-holiday depression.  A little bit of sunshine and adrenaline will go a long way until my next adventure.

Speaking of adventures, I have a few more already lined up for this year.  In March, I will be headed down to Dallas to visit with some family and see the Dallas Blooms festival at the Arboretum.  That will only be a long weekend away, but only a few weeks later I will be going Down Under!  12 days in Australia (and possibly New Zealand).  I need to start planning this itinerary ASAP!  If anyone has any tips, please let me know.  

After that, I will be spending two weekends away for weddings: one in Orlando and one is Long Island.  I'll probably also make another family trip at some point.

I am definitely looking forward to this year! 

2015 in Summary

It’s that time again to reflect on my travels from the last year and re-live some of my fondest memories.  This is my favorite post to write each year because I go back and re-read about all of my trips with a big smile of my face.  The first quarter of the year was pretty quiet.  I was supposed to go for a weekend in the White Mountains in February, but due to the massive amount of snow we got in New England, I postponed my trip.

I finally got out of Boston at the end of March when I headed to China for 9 days.  With time spent between Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, I got a good mix of traditional and modern life.   Some of the highlights from that trip were walking on The Great Wall, eating Peking Duck, seeing the Terracotta Warriors, and having a tea tasting in a beautiful tea house.

Several people came to visit me this year instead of me going to see them, but I did manage to sneak away for a weekend at the Omni Mt. Washington in New Hampshire in May and ride the Cog!  I loved the scenery so much up there last year, I’m planning to go up again for a weekend this winter.

I went home for a weekend in June to celebrate my birthday with my family, but did not blog about the trip.  The following July, I went out to Indianapolis to visit my brother and sister-in-law and see the city when it wasn’t freezing out!  We spent one day touring the Indy Wine Trail and the next riding NASCAR stock cars at the Speedway.  It was such a fun trip!

At the end of July, I went on a Caribbean cruise with a large group of family members.  I didn’t blog about this trip either, but it was a lot of fun and an easy way to transport so many people to a couple different locations.  My favorite part of that trip was taking my nieces to climb Dunns River Falls in Jamaica.

September I drove my car onto the Cross Sound Ferry headed from Connecticut to Long Island for a weekend of wine tasting.  Between all the vino, great weather, and fresh produce, I definitely packed on some pounds.  I will be headed back to Long Island again this year for a wedding and even more wine tasting!

One trip I had been planning since the beginning of last year finally came about in October.  A group of my girlfriends and myself all flew out to Napa for wine, food, and an awesome hot air balloon ride!  We managed to spend a day in San Francisco as well and take a go cart around the city.

I’ve travelled a lot in November in past years.  The flights are cheap and you can usually find good deals at hotels and short lines at attractions.  This year I went to London.  Sadly, I didn’t see the queen.

As usual, I spent a few weeks with family back in Pennsylvania in December.  It’s always nice to be home during the holiday season.

I’m looking forward to see how 2016 will compare!!  Safe Travels, everyone!

2014 In Summary

The last couple of years, I've always finished with a post that summarized all the fun travels I was able to have in the last 12 months.  This recap not only helps jog my memory, it also reminds me how blessed I am to have the means and desire to visit such wonderful places.  Each time I go somewhere new, I realize just how big the world is and how different cultures are unique yet mesh so well in the big picture.

Starting back from last January when I went to Indianapolis, I already knew 2014 was going to be a cold-weather destination year.  The wind was blowing and most of that trip was spent indoors at the Museum of Art and different restaurants and bars.

As March rolled around and the temperatures just started to stay above freezing, the ski season started to wind down in Colorado.  As a beginner skier, this was an ideal time for me to visit Beaver Creek and give cross-country skiing a shot.  The mountain scenery was beautiful and I had a great time riding snow mobiles through the summer hiking paths. 

The third cold weather destination of the year took me to Alaska in May on a Norwegian cruise.  Leaving from Seattle, we enjoyed the free-style atmosphere and docked in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC.  Some of the highlights of that trip were seeing the wildlife (a bear!) and eating freshly caught crab legs. 

Summer in Boston is beautiful, so I didn't take another trip until August to experience the new Harry Potter amusement park in Orlando.  A long weekend of butterbeer, sunshine, and rollercoasters was a great way to welcome in the Autumn season.

November was my last big trip of the year.  Thanksgiving is a great time to travel internationally and I found a really good deal with Affordable Asia in Thailand.  9 days split between Bangkok and Phuket introduced me to the Asian culture for the very first time!  I will never forget riding an elephant through the forest or getting to play with the tiger cubs.

As usual, December is a month dedicated to family.  I always head back to the town I grew up in and spend time with the people I don't get to see nearly enough.  

We are now into the second week of January and 2015 is already looking to be action packed! I've got tentative plans for trips all over the world (check out my calendar page for details). I can't wait!

Happy New Year everyone and Happy Travels!

2013 in Summary

Last year I wrote a post summarized all the adventures I went on during the year.  That was so much fun for me, that I decided to do it again!  I may not have gone on as many trips this year, but I did make some awesome memories and wonderful new friends.  Starting with...

An ice cold January in Quebec City where I spent the night in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow.  While the experience was incredible, it most likely won't be repeated this winter.  I did have a great time dog sledding through the forest and was introduced to one of my new favorite liquors, maple whiskey!

After thawing out, I headed south in February to San Antonio for the Rodeo.  While I confirmed that I do not want to be a rodeo clown when I grow up, I had a great time watching the professionals.  I also explored the Alamo and visited a longhorn ranch where I got to pet a newborn calf!

I repacked my parka and snow boots in March for a visit across the ocean to Iceland. Over 4 days I had many amazing experiences, including eating whale, walking on a glacier, exploring frozen waterfalls, soaking in a geothermal lagoon, and watching the northern lights dance across the sky.  It felt like I went from the moon to the jungle, and then to the arctic circle with all the different types of landscapes on that island. 

The next two months, I prepared for my big trip at the end of May to Peru!  The Amazon jungle presented a new set of challenges without electricity for most of the day, but held an amazing number of plants and animals I hadn't seen in the wild before. The altitude sickness that is usually associated with Cusco effected me minimally, and I was able to enjoy the quaint mountain town before exploring the ruins on my way to Machu Picchu.  To end the trip, I came back to sea level and spent a day in Lima.

Escaping the summer heat in July (or so I thought), I boarded the Carnival Glory for a cruise up to Canada.  The Reversing Falls in St. John were a nice stop to kill some time, but I enjoyed Halifax the most.   I am wearing my Roots sweatshirt as I type!

I stayed local for most of the fall until November came around.  My best intentions for planning this trip were cast aside with life's craziness and spontaneity took over!  Fortunately, it worked out most excellently and I had a great time both in Nashville and Memphis. 

December rounded out the year with a trip back to Pennsylvania to visit with friends and family.  Next year is going to be full of more adventures and excitement.  I can't wait to start planning! 

October Updates

It's been a while since my last post, and while I don't have much of an update, I do want to write something so that my account doesn't go inactive!

Summer is over and fall is in full swing, and while I did not make it to either of the places I was hoping to go to this summer, house related activities are finally slowing down and vacation planning will be picking back up soon.

In about a month, I will be making my way down to Nashville and Memphis for a long weekend road trip with my friend, Kathleen.  Stay tuned to see how it went.
 

July Updates

I'm feeling a bit antsy lately because I don't have too much to plan.  I've been trying to work in some day trips on the weekend, but they have been so full of house hunting, I haven't had the chance to go anywhere!  I am dedicated to taking a trip down the Cape and another up to the White Mountains this summer!  

As far as upcoming trips, all I have booked right now is an extended weekend down in Tennessee with my friend to take a road trip between Nashville and Memphis.  We may even stop over in Arkansas so I can check off another state from my list!  I am really looking forward to this trip, I can't wait to do some line dancing and visit Graceland!

I'm also in the research phase for early fall trips, focuses mostly on long weekends in August, September, and October.  Anyone have suggestions as to where I should go?  I'd love to hear them!

Happy Travels!

June Updates

Summer is officially here!  That means lots of beach days and outdoor activities.   I've been pretty idle since I came back from Peru about 3 weeks ago, but now I'm ready to get back on the wagon and go somewhere.

My next two weekends are already planned starting with a short trip up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire for hiking and a ride on the Cog to the summit of Mount Washington.  The following weekend, I will be spending my Independence Day aboard the Carnival Glory as I sail from Boston up to Canada for 5 days.  A few weeks later I will be going back to PA for a wedding.

I am not ready to think ahead to August and September because that means it's nearly Autumn!  I think I will just enjoy summer for a while and try to squeeze in a day or two at the beach!

May Updates

I'm officially counting down to my trip to Peru!  2 weeks away and it is finally starting to set in.  I ordered a new travel backpack online and some quick drying clothing from the Eddie Bauer site.  All I need now is some mosquito repellent and granola bars to keep me from starving in the middle of the Amazon.  I mentioned in a post a while back that I will be traveling with Tucan Travel (booked through On the Go) on the Amazon and Incas tour from Saturday - Saturday through Lima, Cuzco, and part of the Amazon.  A quick look of the itinerary includes

• Day 1  - Arrive Lima
• Day 2,3 - Amazon Jungle
• Day 4,5,6 - Cuzco
• Day 7,8 - Lima

In other news, I am still trying to plan out the remainder of my summer trips including an extended weekend over Independence Day and several trips this fall. I will be sure to update my calendar when anything becomes confirmed!

Happy Travels,
Tina

April Updates

Hello Everyone!

I am a little over a month away from my May trip to Peru.  I am getting very excited and trying to plan what to pack and what I will need to wear in each location.  I have completed my rounds of the pre-exposure rabies vaccine and have all of my meds ready to fight a range of possible problems from altitude sickness to malaria.  Hopefully I won't need them, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Last week, I made a last minute decision to fly back to PA and visit with some family.  I thought April was going to be a  travel free month, but as it turns out, I end up flying even when I don't plan to!

I still don't have any concrete plans for the remainder of the year.  I am in the process of planning a trip to Nashville (and possibly other parts of TN) later this fall and looking into options for a big trip during the second half of the year.  I am also still considering a cruise out of Boston among other weekend trips.  Stay tuned for what I decide!

I will also continue to post recap articles from trips I have taken prior to starting up this blog.

Stay safe and happy travels!
Tina

Updates

Hello everyone!

Recently there have been some changes to my blog.  I added a new "Calendar" tab where I will list out any upcoming trips so you can watch out for related blog posts.  I also updated my bucket list and will continue to update my travel map as time goes on.

I am most importantly trying to solicit guest bloggers!  Do you know anyone who would like to share their travel experiences, but doesn't want the hassle of creating and maintaining their own blog?  Think study abroad opportunities, or even one time getaways!  I would love to get another guest blogger series started.  If you do know of this person, please have them leave a comment on my blog with their information or have them reach out to me directly.

Happy travels!
Tina

2012 In Summary

As the year comes to an end, I typically like to look back on what I've accomplished and set goals for the upcoming year.  I encourage everyone to take some time and think about how 2012 went and what they'd like to see happen in the next year.  I believe in manifest destiny, all the way!

While I ponder my travels for 2013,  please enjoy this post on "2012 in Summary".

January started off the year with a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas.  I really like cruises and it's nice to escape winter with a little sun.  Two weeks later, I went to the southwest to drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon.  Phoenix was warm, but the elevation of the canyon meant lots of snow.  Fortunately, I had a day to get all my pictures in because while it was snowing, there was zero visibility!

February included another winter getaway back to Miami and the Florida Keys.  This was my visit trip to Key West and I really enjoyed the party atmosphere and key lime pie!

As it started to get warmer in Boston, I headed to the Midwest in March to visit Chicago on St. Patrick's Day.  The crowds were a little overwhelming and I didn't get to see too much of the parade, but I did eat some delicious popcorn at Garrett's and got some pictures of the green jello river.

Come April I made my yearly visit down to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom festival!  Happy 100 Years of Cherry Blossoms!

Since my brother was getting married over the summer, May began the season of pre-wedding festivities including their bridal shower and family time over Memorial Day in Western Pennsylvania.  Only a few days later, I flew to the West Coast for a friend's wedding in San Francisco and exploration of wine country and the redwoods.  I definitely want to go back!

June was a little crazier than expected with two trips back to PA and a day trip down to Cape Cod.  I need to dedicate a full weekend on the cape in 2013.  It really is a nice place for a staycation. 

Wedding season continued in July with two wedding weekends back to back!  Fortunately, one of the two was nearby and I did not have to fly.

I was looking forward to August and the Maui trip all year!  It was very nice to get away and see somewhere new, but it was surreal to travel that far and still be in the same country.  There was so much fun jam packed into one week that it is hard for me to summarize it all.  It's probably better to just read the post yourself. :)

September in Minnesota was an enjoyable, but quick trip.  Because this was more of a visiting friends type of weekend, I didn't get a chance to really explore the area.

If you can't tell by now, a lot of my trips are dictated by friends having weddings and babies.  I guess everyone hits this point in their life and 2012 was definitely it for me!  October's trips took me back to PA for a baby shower as well as down to Baltimore for a wedding.  Unfortunately bad weather sent me back home pretty quickly and I didn't get a chance to explore Baltimore.

November was a month for me as I traded in my typical family Thanksgiving for a trip to Ireland.  The Emerald Isle was cold and windy, but full of pubs and cheerful personalities.

I rounded out the year with a final trip to PA in December to spend Christmas with my family.  That's a lot of traveling in one year!

Looking ahead, 2013 already looks promising.  My first trip of the new year will be to Quebec City for a night in the Ice Hotel (Hotel de Glace).  From there, I plan to trade in the cold weather for some sun as I head down south in February to San Antonio..  In March, I will be up in the Arctic Circle to view the Aurora Borealis from Iceland.  I'm still planning for April and the rest of the year, but my last pre-planned adventure is at the end of May to trek on the Inca trail in Peru in hopes of seeing the lost city of Macchu Picchu. 

Needless to say, I can't wait for 2013!  Happy New Year everyone!

Upcoming Trips

Happy Thanksgiving, readers!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.  I thought I'd post a quick note here with a summary of some of the exciting trips I have coming up over the next few months.  I am headed out to Ireland this evening for an extended weekend, so look for a detailed trip post sometime next week!

I haven't quite figured out my plans for Christmas yet.  There a few factors still up in the air that will determine how much time I take away from work.  As soon as I get that set, I will plan my travels.  As for January, I have a weekend getaway planned for Quebec City and the Ice Hotel.  I mentioned this in a previous post and I am really excited to see it!  It's going to be a cold winter (note to self:  buy some snow pants).  I will get a chance to thaw out in February when I head down south to San Antonio to visit some family and go to a rodeo.  I might even buy some cowboy boots.

The big news and real reason for this post is a trip I just booked for March to Iceland!  I will be spending 4 days exploring a place that most people know very little about.  I managed to convince a few friends to come with me on this trip, so I know it will be fun.  If all goes according to plan, I will be crossing quite a few items off of my bucket list in 2013!

I am taking suggestions to fill up some of my other weekends in the early part of next year.  I've got April empty right now.  I will be going to Peru at the end of May, so I'm looking for mostly weekend or long weekend trips from Boston.

Upcoming Plans

It has been a while since my last post, and I just wanted to write an update on what my upcoming plans are for travels and additional posts.  My cousin, Bianca, has safely made it to Sicily and will soon be posting about her experiences there as a part of my "Guest Blogger Series".  I also am in a bit of a posting hiatus because my next two trips are back home to PA over Columbus Day and down for Baltimore for a wedding the weekend before Halloween.  I most likely won't be posting about my trip home, but I will try and get something in about Baltimore.  Most likely, the majority of that trip will be spent in the DC area visiting with friends.

To make up for the lack in new posts, I am working on a recap post from my big trip to Egypt in 2011.  I still get a lot of questions about my trip and have pretty good notes in my journal to work from.  I had a lot of other trips in 2011 as well that I can fall back on if I need to.

I just started planning mode for early 2012.  Right now it looks like a trip to Quebec City to stay in the ice hotel in January and down to San Antonio for the Stock and Show Rodeo in February.  I am currently planning two "big trips" for next year:  Peru in May and a cruise to Alaska sometime in the late summer.  As far as the time in between all that, I'm still not sure!  I want to get to Mount Rushmore at some point as well.  We shall see!  As usual, I will also be posting various travel tips and tidbits of helpful information.

**Update:  I completely forgot to mention my next notable trip coming up over Thanksgiving!  I will be spending 4 days in Ireland.  3 days will be in Dublin (though with traveling, it's more like 2.5 days) and 1 day will be dedicated to a west coast voyage to the Cliffs of Moher.  Exciting!

Happy Travels!

Destination: Lifelong Memories

This is the first post in my new travel blog.  In the past, I've made several attempts to blog about things that I enjoy, i.e. books, movies, tennis, etc.  However, after several (or just one) posts, they went wayside to the land of forgotten efforts.  The truth is there was little to no benefit of having a blog of those such things, to me or to anyone else.

During my annual reevaluation process of goals, I mentioned that I wanted to "Travel, travel, travel (and start a travel journal".  Only now, almost half a year later, have I decided to make it happen.  Why, you may ask?  I am planning a pretty big trip this fall to Maui, and I have been searching the internet for websites on the best things to do, places to go, and deals to be had.  Commercial websites are good at getting information once you already decide what to do, but they don't give you an idea of what it's really like.  Next stop are the review websites like Frommers, Yelp, Travel Advisor, etc.  Those are little bit better, but still not the full picture.  My plan from there was to check out travel blogs.  I want the full picture of what other traveler's vacations were like.  Bingo!  This is what I want.

Maybe it's just a fear of bad karma, but I believe in paying it forward.  Maybe one day, someone like me will be searching blogs for the exact same thing and stumble across my travels.  I really hope so, and I hope they like what they find.