2015 was a different year of travel for me. Typically, I travel 7-10 days each month, rounding out with some local trips and experiences. This past year, however, I found that I was gone for weeks at a time, often coming home for a day or two to unpack and head off again. I don’t that this was any better (or worse) than previous years, but one advantage was that I did get some extended time here at home to balance things out. I visited four new countries, made three trips to Europe and two to Asia, went on three cruises. Plus, a whole lot of domestic trips. Let’s take a look at what kept me busy this past year. January The year started in Seattle, with a traditional New Year’s Eve celebration at one of my favorite restaurants (El Gaucho) an overnight at […]
Read MoreTravel Bucket List Update for 2016
It’s time to update my bucket list, something I do every two years. It’s not a list for me to check thing off, something that should be obvious in the slow pace I’ve taken to the list. No, I’m just an avid list maker, and when I hear or see something that captures my interest, I put it on a list. I’ve capped my bucket list at 100, which provides plenty of room to list some far fetched ideas along with the practical ones, but also makes it finite. I don’t add anything until something gets eliminated, whether by accomplishing it or changing my mind about it. Here are the things I’m crossing off since my last update for 2014. Greece – I visited Greece twice in 2014, once for a tourism conference, and then for TBEX and some post-TBEX […]
Read MoreLooking Good in Bangkok: Buying Custom Made Clothes
Cleaning out the ill fitting clothing in my closet, and replacing them with items that I love and that fit well, has been on my to-do list for far too long. To be very clear – haute couture is not in my budget, and it’s never going to be. I’m a casual kind of gal, and I prefer to spend money on travel and experiences rather than more “stuff.” BUT – buying some custom made clothes has long been on my bucket list.Who knew that a week in Bangkok would be the impetus to get it done. I was in Bangkok for a conference and received an email from my friend Scott Eddy (in photo, right) letting me know that he was heading off to Jackie’s Tailor to get some new items and inviting friends to join him. Scott divides his time between the […]
Read MoreHogwart’s is Coming to Universal Hollywood
The official opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be Thursday, April 7th, 2016. After visiting both Harry Potter attractions at Universal Orlando earlier this year, I’m excited about having something a little closer to home. Potter fans have been eagerly anticipating this arrival to the West Coast, more than five years in the making. Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is being masterfully recreated with impeccable detail as a real-world interpretation at Universal Studios Hollywood. The land will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle which will serve as its iconic focal point. From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the […]
Read MoreFestive Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Zoolights has been going on for over 25 years at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and up until this weekend, I’ve haven’t ventured out to see it. It was a real treat, despite the cold, and listening to guest talk about this year’s display, comparing to previous years, it’s clear that this is an annual tradition for many. Over a half a million lights went into this year’s Zoolights displays, creating a magic world of animals, local landmarks, and festive bits of nature. My favorite was the family of polar bears with Mt. Rainier in the background, although it’s hard not to like the 22-foot giant crab with moving pincers and the replica of the twin span Narrows Bridge. Note the detail in the bridge display, right down to the white lights representing oncoming traffic and the red lights […]
Read More2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Frequent Travelers
It’s the time of year when we think about gift giving. While I prefer experiences to “stuff,” there’s no doubt that some “stuff” makes those experiences, and life in general, much easier and more enjoyable. But how do you sort through the bombardment of ads and products to find something that’s just right for the traveler in your life? How do you find products that are good quality and fairly priced, providing a value luxury gift for that traveler? Knowing that they are already well armed with their favorite travel products and routines, how do you find something that they don’t already have or that will help your gift stand out from the others. That’s where I hope I can help. These are all products and services that I use and recommend. Some of the links may be affiliate links, […]
Read MoreTwo Months of Travel Through Instagram
It’s been a crazy busy two months of travel for me, and while it was an exciting bit of travel, it reinforces for me the preference to have a home base rather than to be nomadic. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to travel. But I LOVE coming home just as much. There will be stories, reviews, and more details to come out of these travels, of course, but for now here’s a look at it all through Instagram. And you are following me on Instagram, right?! Mid-September took me to Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando. You’ve missed it for this year, but if you’re a fan of the genre, put it on your calendar for next year. Time for a scary good time. A photo posted by Mary Jo Manzanares (@travelingwithmj) on Sep 18, 2015 […]
Read MoreVisiting Two Countries in the Caribbean
I do like to tally up the countries that I’ve visited, not out of any sense of keeping score, more of keeping track. I like looking back and where I’ve been and evoking memories of past travels. Today I added two new countries to the list (I use the list put on by the Travelers’ Century Club): Saint Maarten (the Dutch side of the island) and Sint Martin (the French side of the island). I don’t know what my country total is – I have a lot of geography left to cover – but I do like the representation shown on this map of the world. Click on the link to create a map of your own. Create your own travel map – TravBuddy
Read MorePostcard from the Oasis of the Seas
This week I’m sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. It is a behemoth of a ship, with a capacity of 6,000 passengers and 3,000 crew members. To avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed, the ship is divided into neighborhoods – my favorites are Central Park and the Boardwalk. There are also plenty of spaces on the ship where you can grab some quiet time, to read, to reflect, or just to stare out at the gorgeous blue water.
Read MoreHotel Review: Mayflower Park Hotel, Seattle
Mayflower Park Hotel Address: The Mayflower Park Hotel is located at 405 Olive Way, Seattle, Washington. Value Luxury Rating: (out of 3 hearts) Features: Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the classic European-styled Mayflower Park Hotel dates back to 1927. The lobby features chandeliers and antiques, creating an inviting atmosphere for checking in, meeting a guest or just relaxing before heading out for the day. It is accessible by light rail direct from the airport, about a 40-minute trip. The hotel has 160 rooms and 29 suites decorated in color schemes similar to the lobby, and each room features art specially designed for it. Contrasting with the classic headboards and armoires, are all the necessary modern amenities such as a flat panel television, coffee maker, and free wifi. Price Range: I stayed in a King Suite, which had […]
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