Unless you’ve been totally cut off from civilization, you’ve heard of Covid-19, colloquially called the coronavirus. People are quarantined, countries are closed off from the rest of the world, schools are closed, professional and amateur sports have canceled seasons and tournaments, travel restrictions are in place around the world, employees are encouraged to work remotely, there are restrictions in place about people gathering, and it feels like our lives are in disarray. We’re encouraged to engage in social distancing – which for a social introvert like me is my status quo when I’m not traveling. I love being home and reviving after people with a bunch of people all day long. Before we get too wrapped up in the changes in our own lives, remember that around the world people are sick and dying from the coronavirus. My home state […]
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How to Save Money on Seattle Sights with CityPASS
If you’ve decided to take a trip to Seattle, you’ve made a great choice – Seattle is a great vacation destination. It’s a city full of cool museums, it has an understated hip cafe culture, has a vibrant live music scene, plus it’s perfectly situated to enjoy the beautiful surrounding natural landscape. However, as with all major cities, the cost of a visit to Seattle can add up fast. When it comes to saving money when visiting the top Seattle attractions, you can save money with the CityPASS Seattle. How CityPASS Works You can either buy the Seattle CityPASS online or from one of the partner attractions, i.e., the first Seattle attraction that you visit. If you opt to buy them online, the tickets are then either sent to you via email for mobile download or you can opt to […]
Read MoreWeekend Getaway: All Year Round in Mammoth Lakes, California
I love it when I find a destination that’s perfect for both a summer and winter getaway. Mammoth Lakes, California, manages to tick all the boxes. It is a location with plenty of activities all year round and has an excellent infrastructure to make your stay a pleasant and convenient one. While many people think of Mammoth Lakes primarily as a ski resort – and it is a popular one – there is so much more here to enjoy regardless of the season. Here is our guide of things to do in Mammoth Lakes and how to enjoy a Mammoth getaway weekend. Things to Do in Mammoth Lakes If you are an active person, you will find plenty to do in Mammoth Lakes. But while Mammoth Lakes is known for being an outdoor activity destination, there are also options for […]
Read MoreThird Annual Travel Reading Challenge
The four things I love most in life are my family (including a rather chubby Siamese cat), travel, food and wine, and reading. Life is the best when I can combine any of those things. Sitting in a cafe in Italy, drinking a glass of Barolo, and reading a book? YES! Reading in a bubble bath with a glass of wine? Bliss! Lounging on the couch with my cat on my lap and reading? Absolutely. Curled up in business class with the latest best-seller? Anytime! See what I mean? Those things all seem to work well together and I’m happy to indulge. I also love picking up a book set in a destination that’s on my travel schedule. I’m generally a Kindle reader, with the exception of some gorgeous coffee table books I’ve picked up. While reading with Kindle has […]
Read More2019: A Year of Travel in Review at Traveling with MJ
What a year! 2019 kept us busy with travel to new destinations as well as building some internal organization within our new media corporation (Leeward Media, LLC). There’s rarely a dull moment around here, and that’s just the way we like it. This is our annual update post, our chance to wrap up the year and let readers know more about our business, our travels, and our future plans. It’s like those annual Christmas newsletters, we just hope it’s not that annoying. We now own and manage the following travel and lifestyle sites: Traveling with MJ – This is my personal blog focusing on value luxury destinations, experiences, and products. Everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes luxury. For some people, that’s flying business class. For others, it’s enjoying a fabulous glass of wine. And for still others, it’s […]
Read More5 Tuscan Towns for a Perfect Day Trip
It’s been a while since we’ve traveled to Italy, and it’s time to start making plans for a return visit. Our travel preference is to travel with friends and rent a home in Italy to use as a home base. Having a home base lets us set up a combination of days at leisure to relax and soak up the Italian way of life along with busy days of day trips to see the countryside. There are many things that we love about Italy, especially the hill towns in Tuscany. Here are a few of our favorite Tuscan towns that are perfect as a home base, day trip, or weekend getaway. Castiglione d’Orcia Where it is: In the Siena province in Tuscany. Population around 3,000. What to do: Visit the Castle of Tentennano and the Santi Stefano and Degna to […]
Read MoreMJ Recommends: 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers
I’m a big fan of the “you don’t need more stuff” philosophy. I have everything I need, and a good portion of the things I want. I no longer feel that “things” define who I am, my values, or worth. Over the last year or so, we’ve been trying to take more things out of the house than bring into it, and while we haven’t always been successful, we’ve definitely cut down our conspicuous over-consumption. So why, you might be asking yourself, is a Holiday Gift Guide appearing on Traveling with MJ? Fair question. This holiday gift guide represents goods and services that I either use regularly or are on my personal shopping list – it’s an assortment of needs, wants, and splurges. These are things that make my business, travel, and home life simpler, easier, better. Any item on […]
Read MoreSpend an Afternoon at Miners Landing, Seattle
Located on Seattle’s historic Pier 57 overlooking Elliott Bay, Miners Landing is so named for its role in the Klondike Gold Rush; it was the site where the first gold was brought back to the city, inspiring more citizens to head out in search of riches. Today, Miners Landing is a popular tourist destination with lots of attractions, arcade games, restaurants, and rides to enjoy. To help you plan how to spend your time here, here is our guide to what you can see and what you can do at Miners Landing. Things to Do at Miners Landing You don’t have to be a kid to have all the fun, there are attractions on Miners Landing suitable for all ages. Seattle Great Wheel Seattle’s answer to the London Eye, the Seattle Great Wheel is one of the most popular attractions […]
Read MoreUNESCO Site: Visiting Malbork Castle, Poland
A visit to Malbork Castle Museum will feature both the historical and artistic aspects. There are also some archaeological activities and research, always looking for ways to add depth to the layers of history of the Teutonic Order and the Castle. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, usually referred to as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious order dating back to the 12th century. Although it was originally founded as a German military brotherhood, it’s purpose has changed over the years and since 1929 it has been strictly a religious order, although it harkens back to those early years with the conference of honorary knighthoods. Today the Catholic branch of the Order has about 1,000 members, and while originally no women were permitted, members today include a couple of hundred nuns. The Castle of […]
Read MoreWeekend Getaway: River Spirit/Margaritaville Casino Resort, Tulsa
Plan a weekend getaway trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a perfect combination of relaxation and fun activities. It might not be top of mind when planning a getaway, but it offers the same amenities you expect at a resort for a fraction of the price. For your getaway weekend, I recommend River Spirit/Margaritaville Casino Resort as a great choice for a couples getaway, a girls spa weekend, or even a bachelor/bachelorette weekend. Located on the banks of the Arkansas River, the Oklahoma resort has two casinos set within the complex along with diverse restaurants and bars, stylishly themed rooms, a spa, and a whole host of entertainment options. Here is what you can expect on your getaway weekend to River Spirit/Margaritaville Casino Resort: Rooms There are two types of rooms available at River Spirit/Margaritaville Casino Resort, along with two types […]
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