Blog Archives

Spend 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 […]

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UNESCO 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 […]

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Weekend 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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Enjoy Barge Cruising in Burgundy with European Waterways

We are big cruise fans. We enjoy ocean cruising, river cruising, and earlier this summer we fell in love with barge cruising. We cruised the Burgundy canals, drank fabulous wines, met wonderful people, and enjoyed the history, culture, and cuisine of the area. Burgundy (Bourgogne in French) is located about three and a half hours southeast of Paris and is probably best known for its pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. This was a wine region we wanted to learn more about and the reason we selected the Classic Northern Burgundy itinerary. We were also familiar with the food from this region of France (delicious cheeses, beef bourguignon, coq au vin) and some of the history. This was a perfect itinerary for first-time barge cruisers who are food, wine, and history lovers! We’re excited to review our hotel barge, the itinerary, […]

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You’ll Never Want To Leave: Tulalip Resort & Casino

If you are visiting Washington State and looking for a luxury getaway outside of the downtown Seattle area, a stay at the Tulalip Resort Hotel and Casino is a great choice. Located in Quil Ceda Village, about an hour north of Seattle, the Tulalip Resort may be best known for its casino – but that’s not the only reason for a visit. You’ll find beautiful hotel rooms, great restaurants with an impressive cocktail and wine menu, and a decadent spa, as well as top-class entertainment throughout the year. We loved all of our stays at Tulalip Resort & Casino and never wanted to leave. We think you’ll feel the same way, too. This is part of a series of themed features talking about places we’ve stayed and never wanted to leave. This post may contain affiliate links, sponsored travel, sponsored […]

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Weekend Getaway: Playa del Carmen & All-Inclusive Reef 28

Mexico is an amazing place to head to for a girls-only vacation, and destinations don’t come much better than Playa del Carmen. If you’re looking for a Playa del Carmen all-inclusive vacation that combines a great location, unbeatable amenities, and top-notch dining, you can’t go wrong with the adult-only Reef 28. One of the best Playa del Carmen resorts, Reef 28 might have a reputation for being a romantic resort, but there are also many reasons why you should consider it for your next weekend getaway with your best gal pals. Here’s our guide to this amazing resort. Getting to Reef 28 Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Reef 28’s location combines the best of a beach getaway with the best of a city getaway. Most visitors from the U.S. will into Cancun (airport code CUN). You can […]

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Guadalajara Cathedral in the Central Historic District

As Mexico’s second-largest city, there are many reasons to visit Guadalajara: it has high-quality museums, some of the best street food in Mexico and is the birthplace of mariachi, the quintessential Mexican musical genre. It is a wonderful combination of cosmopolitan city and historic center, blending the old with the new, the modern with the traditional, and the hip with the historical. It also has a massive jewel in its crown – the Guadalajara Cathedral, a minor basilica that is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guadalajara. Visiting the Guadalajara Cathedral is one of the top things to do in Guadalajara, whether you’re exploring the city on your own or joining an organized walking tour of Guadalajara. Located in the downtown Centro Historico (Avenue 16 de Septiembre, Hidalgo y Morelos), Guadalajara Cathedral is known for being one of the […]

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Celebrate World Wildlife Day

Today, March 3rd, is UN World Wildlife Day. The UN General Assembly made this proclamation in 2013 as a way to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. I’m not an eco-blogger or traveler, but I do make every effort to respect the world around me, making sure that I don’t engage in any behavior that harms the earth and its creatures. Or, if I’m to be more honest with myself and you, I try to minimize the damage my behavior causes to the earth and its creatures (because, yeah, air travel is not eco-friendly). Although I don’t write much on the topic, either, I’m pretty pleased with this podcast I did with Bret Love about Rwanda’s ecotourism attractions, and how tourism is bouncing back after the terrible atrocities of the Civil War and genocide. I […]

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2019 Travel Reading Challenge

Last year I started a year-long reading challenge that focused on travel and books perfect to read while you’re traveling. It was premised on a yearly total of 24 books, an average of two books per month, with an advanced challenge of another six books for a combined total of 30 books for 2018. You can see the books I chose for the 2018 travel reading challenge here. I set my Goodreads challenge at 50 books for the year. I knew the reading challenge list was much less than I’d typically read and I wanted to stretch myself a little. Since I usually read on my Kindle – it’s easy to sync up with Goodreads and track books, but I found that often forgot to add those that I read in print. I think I’ve got everything added in now and you […]

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Visit the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas

.  A visit to the Alamo is a highlight of a trip to San Antonio. Before you go, however, these tips for visiting the Alamo will help you understand a little more about the destination and help you get the most out of your time there.  The San Antonio de Valero Mission was relocated three times, but after becoming the fortress known as The Alamo has had only one location, it’s current one. It can be seen today in that same location, a short distance from the San Antonio River Walk The mission turned fortress was the scene of several battles during the Texas Revolution, including the 1836 Battle of the Alamo for which it is named.  The Battle pitted Mexico, under the leadership of General Santa Anna, against the Texas Republic.  Despite a valiant stand, all of the Texas […]

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