INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
The Statue of Liberty is an icon of the United States, standing in New York Harbor as a symbol of freedom and democracy. A gift from France, the Statue of Liberty commemorates their alliance with the United States during the American Revolution. The idea for the monument was proposed in 1865 by Edouard de Laboulaye,...
The Brooklyn Bridge has long been an icon of New York, so walking across it was one of the first things we did on our trip to New York City. Crossing the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge has connected the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn since it opened in 1883. Not only was it the...
As I was leaving for my first trip to Ireland, I felt more relaxed than I usually do before visiting a new country. The excited anxiety that I normally experience was replaced by confident anticipation. Since I was going to be travelling solo for my first trip to Ireland, I made sure to do plenty...
Cusco is the point of arrival for people wanting to visit Machu Picchu, the most famous Inca ruin in Peru, but there are many fantastic, lesser known ruins near Cusco that are also worth exploring. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in South America, and capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is rich...
Standing at the trailhead into Burren National Park, fascination sets in as I gaze off into the remote, rocky landscape. This is not what I expected to see in Ireland. The land here is harsh, grey. The Burren most certainly is not the rolling green fields I’d come to associate with Ireland. Instead, I find...
Not too many places in Dublin stood out for me, but one that did was the Long Room of the Old Library at Trinity College. The 65 metre long, 2-storey main chamber is lined on both sides with stalls of books- 200,000 of the oldest in the library’s collection. In between each stall on the...
On the last of our 3 days in Kyoto, we decided to explore the Arashiyama district, a mountainous, forested region in the western outskirts of the city. We were initially drawn to this popular sightseeing district by photos of its famous bamboo grove, but quickly discovered that Arashiyama has far more to offer, both in...
On my solo trip to Ireland I was looking to visit places that combined my two favourite travel activities- exploring nature and visiting archaeological sites. Inishmore (Inis Mór) fit the bill perfectly! As one of the Aran Islands, Inishmore was a place that I could feel far away from everything while still being connected to...
When I decided to do a solo trip to Ireland it had been 11 years since I last travelled alone. I was itching to do it again! I hadn’t done much research about travelling alone in Ireland, but instinctually felt that Ireland would be the perfect place for a solo trip. For one, I’d never...
The uphill walk from central Cusco to Sacsayhuaman was slow going, since our bodies hadn’t adjusted to the high altitude yet, but the excitement of seeing our first Inca ruin kept us motivated to push on. In between frequent breaks and gasps for air, I hoped that the effort would be worthwhile and Sacsayhuaman would...
There’s no place in Canada quite like Dawson City. This quirky northern town in the Yukon will transport you back to a time when the streets were dirt, sidewalks made of wood, piano music spilled out of saloons, and striking it rich was everyone’s ambition. The Klondike Gold Rush established and shaped Dawson City. Its...
One of the highlights of visiting the Burren region of Ireland is seeing Poulnabrone dolmen, an outstanding Neolithic tomb and National Monument of Ireland. Over 5000 years old, this portal tomb is one of the best preserved in the country. The dolmen’s classic construction consists of a large capstone resting on top of two sets...
I’ve never met anyone who’s done a road trip in Ireland and not loved it. After spending 2 weeks in Ireland, I am now one of those people. My 2 week road trip in Ireland had it all: postcard-worthy landscapes, fascinating ancient sites, evocative ruins, gratifying outdoor adventures, colourful small towns, delicious food, lively music, fun...
It was 11:00 pm when we pulled into town for a romantic getaway in St. Augustine, Florida. The historic downtown was quiet, moonlight shining down on the empty streets as palms and oaks gently rustled in the warm breeze. It was the perfect first impression of a city that during the day can be bustling...
As my helicopter lifted off from the outskirts of Dawson City, I had no idea what to expect from my flightseeing tour of Tombstone Territorial Park. The scenery around Dawson City was nice- big hills, forests, and rivers- but the name Tombstone hinted at something far more dramatic. Staring out the window, I watched as...
My canoe trip on the Yukon River, from Whitehorse to the Takhini River bridge, took only 3 hours but left me with a wealth of lasting emotions. It was an experience that I can only describe as perfect. The weather couldn’t have been better for canoeing- not too hot or too cold, with a partially...
The Call of the North. It’s not some cute marketing slogan but rather a true, deep-rooted feeling that’s impossible to shake after visiting the Yukon. The Yukon’s had a hold on me since my first visit in the 1990’s. It was one of my favourite family summer road trips and even now, in my mid-thirties, I vividly remember how...
The Urubamba Valley is not simply an area to travel through en route from Cusco to Machu Picchu, it’s a destination in its own right. Known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this scenic expanse of land is packed with archaeological sites, small villages, colourful markets and weaving communities. If an adrenaline rush is more your style, you’ll find...
A common question I get from my readers is “Where Should I Stay in Paris?” There are so many wonderful neighbourhoods in Paris, each with a distinctive atmosphere, that deciding where to stay in Paris can be a dilemma. While budget is often a deciding factor, I try not to let that limit me too...
When I was researching possible destinations to visit in Bolivia, I stumbled across Sucre. Over and over again I read how Sucre was “The Most Beautiful City in Bolivia”. Intrigued, I did a quick image search on Google and was instantly sold on visiting once I saw the photos that showed up. White washed colonial...
We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!
We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites.
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