Hello! I'm Mary Jo, often known as MJ. I'm a traveler, published author, travel writer, podcaster, and publisher. When I'm not on a trip, I'm busy planning or researching the next one. My travel ethos is value luxury — knowing when to splurge and when to save — whether I'm traveling across town or around the world.
The Pura Vida Expedition is an eight-day, seven-night itinerary along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, sailing out of and returning to Golfito. It’s built around getting off the yacht and into the water, rainforest, rivers, and wildlife-rich areas that make this part of Costa Rica special.
We are unapologetically cruise lovers. Big ships, small ships, and ships in between. Oceans, rivers, lakes, and canals. We enjoy them all for different reasons, different occasions, and different experiences. We believe there’s a cruise that’s right for most every kind of traveler. It’s just a matter of considering your interests and preferences and matching […]
Few drinks signal a leisurely brunch quite like a mimosa. Made with sparkling wine and orange juice, this simple cocktail has become a favorite at weekend breakfasts, celebrations, hotel brunches, and sunny afternoons on vacation. The classic mimosa is refreshing, but discovering a new version is part of the pleasure of exploring food and drink. […]
Tucked into the Salish Sea between Washington State and British Columbia, San Juan Island is known for whale watching, lavender farms, and coastal charm. It is also home to one of the most unusual international standoffs in history—a dispute between the United States and Great Britain sparked by a pig and a potato patch. For […]
We arrived in Bucharest a few days before an Eastern European river cruise, and had no idea what to expect on our plate. Romania’s culinary scene is a rich reflection of its history, geography, and cultural crossroads. From hearty mountain fare to comforting village classics, traditional Romanian food tells a story shaped by centuries of […]
Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, sits in south-central Canada at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, not far from the U.S. border. It grew from early fur-trade posts and a river settlement into a city incorporated in 1873. Today it is one of Canada’s major cultural and economic centers, with a diverse population […]
Jordan has a very hot and dry climate, so a cool and refreshing drink is just what you need after a long day of exploring. One of the most refreshing drinks I found while I was visiting Jordan was mint lemonade, or Limonana, a traditional drink found throughout the Middle East. The name originates from […]
Seattle is a city built around water, so it makes sense that some of its most interesting infrastructure is made to float. If you spend any time in the greater Seattle area, chances are you’ll cross one of the region’s floating bridges. Locals use them regularly, to cross from Seattle to the east side (Bellevue, […]
If you enjoy discovering local wineries when you travel, Victoria, BC is a lovely place to spend a day or two. Vancouver Island is home to more than 30 wineries, and Victoria is a practical spot to serve as your home base for exploration. The wineries here aren’t about big, showy production; they’re more about […]
Cruising the Loire River is not like cruising the Rhine or Danube—and that’s exactly the point. The pace is slower, the scenery more understated, and the towns feel less polished and more lived-in. If you’re expecting grand castles around every bend or bustling port cities, you may find the Loire a bit too quiet. But […]
New York has no shortage of places that demand your attention. The New York Public Library does something better: it earns it. Just off Fifth Avenue, beside Bryant Park and a few quick steps from the city’s most relentless grid, the building offers a different pace altogether – one measured in marble stairways, filtered light, […]
Knoxville has a way of making baseball feel effortless. Minor league games have a rhythm all their own: stadium lights clicking on as dusk settles, the faint scent of popcorn mixing with freshly cut grass, and fans cheering for players they’ve been watching grow all season. It’s not about big names or flashy entrances. It’s […]
Tahiti sits in the heart of the South Pacific, and is the largest and best‑known island in French Polynesia, a French overseas collectivity scattered across miles and miles of ocean. It is part of the Society Islands archipelago and lies roughly halfway between California and Australia, a little south of the equator. That’s why those […]