INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
Walking up a smooth, well-worn stone staircase to Sanbutsuji Temple, I instantly hoped the whole trail up Japan’s Mount Mitoku wasn’t going to be this steep. Looking back now, that was the easiest part of hiking Mitokusan. My adventurous hike (or should I say climb) up Mount Mitoku began simply enough. I met with the...
Stretching along the Sea of Japan, in the Chugoku region of Western Honshu, is a coastal prefecture that’s largely untouched by foreign visitors, at least for now. But once the secret gets out, I’d expect that to change. Tottori prefecture is an ideal area of Japan to visit for people, like myself, who prefer smaller...
When we first arrived at Sylvan Lake, in South Dakota’s Custer State Park, I was shocked (in a good way) by its unique appearance. Rising up from the shore line, on two sides, were large rock formations so perfect looking, I almost didn’t think they were real. “This looks like something you’d see in a...
Islamorada was a place I wasn’t familiar with until I became hooked on the Netflix original series Bloodline. This gripping family drama and thriller is set in the Florida Keys, filmed primarily in Islamorada. The locations are such an integral part of the show, it’s like the Keys themselves are a main character. So during...
Entering into the heart of Nara Park we are greeted by a small, friendly deer wandering freely throughout the grounds. Approaching us, the deer bows its head down, as if to say hello. “Oh, so cute! Look how she’s bowing her head,” I enthusiastically announced to Mike. “I think she’s politely asking for some deer...
Our one day in Nara was spent almost exclusively at Nara Park. I usually like to explore as much of a city as possible, but there were so many places to see in Nara Park that I didn’t feel guilty for not branching out into Nara’s other areas. Nara Park is very large and packed...
Cologne Cathedral is a fine example of German Gothic architecture, famous for its extravagant architectural details. The exterior of Cologne Cathedral is heavily decorated with stone statues and delicate tracery. Every steep gable, flying buttress and lofty spire has some sort of artistic element competing for your attention. What caught my eye the most though...
Gazing over the Black Hills of South Dakota are the faces of four American presidents, sculpted in stone on the face of Mount Rushmore. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Each made significant contributions to the United States, helping shape the nation from its founding, growth, development and preservation. These four presidents...
When I hear a place described using the words “best” or “most”, I become skeptical of the claim. Sometimes I’m even disappointed upon visiting, since not every place warrants such high praise. However, that was not the case with Nikko Toshogu Shrine- it absolutely lives up to the hype of being called Japan’s most lavishly...
For our last day in Japan, we decided to ditch the hustle and bustle of modern Tokyo, and head to the forested area of Nikko for one last opportunity to experience the traditions, spirituality and natural beauty of Japan. Nikko is a Buddhist-Shinto religious centre, its shrines and temples scattered among the hilly woodlands. At...
During our two weeks in Japan, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful sake barrels that were piled on top of each other at Shinto shrines. Called kazaridaru, these “decoration barrels” are physically empty, but hold immense spiritual significance. Sake (Japanese rice wine) has long been an important part of Japanese culture. Traditionally, sake is...
Bonnet House is place where you can go to feel miles away from Fort Lauderdale, without ever leaving the city. This colourful, plantation-style home is surrounded by lush, sub-tropical gardens, encompassing one of South Florida’s last examples of a native barrier island habitat. Bonnet House is filled with the unique art, and whimsical treasures, of...
Life. Diversity. Those are the two words that first come to mind when I think about Florida’s Everglades National Park. In just one park, you can enjoy an impressive variety of animals, plants and eco-systems. There’s freshwater sloughs, tropical hammocks, coastal lowlands, marl prairies, pineland, cypress, mangrove, marine and estuarine environments. The medley of life...
“Ooh…it’s so elegant,” I exclaimed as we approached Himeji Castle, the largest castle in Japan. Its bright white walls, delicate decorations and grey roof tiles gleamed brightly, even through the light mist of a rainy spring morning. Himeji Castle, as we would soon find out, is a popular place. It survives as one of Japan’s...
Sometimes the best way to get to know a city is to visit its cemetery. Stories of success, failure, love, betrayal, good and evil are safely kept there, as legends of the past. This holds true for Bonaventure Cemetery. Hundreds of years of Savannah’s history are buried here beneath the moss-draped branches of live oak...
As a lover of historic architecture, I couldn’t pass through St. Augustine without stopping at Castillo de San Marcos. The fort is not only the oldest structure in St. Augustine (over 300 years), it’s also the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Castillo de San Marcos was built in 1695 by Spain to...
On the last of our 3 days in Savannah, we headed out to Tybee Island for the afternoon. Known as Savannah’s beach, Tybee Island is a short 20 minute drive from the city and was a great place to relax after a busy few days exploring the sights of Savannah. We walked down the shoreline,...
I’m trying to think of a way to describe Savannah without gushing superlatives, but it just can’t be done. Savannah is one of the most interesting, easy-going and attractive cities we’ve had the pleasure to visit. With 3 days in Savannah we had enough time to not only see the sights, but more importantly soak...
As a big animal lover, I am always thrilled when I get to see wildlife on my travels. As educational as zoos can be, nothing compares to seeing an animal in its natural habitat, unconfined. So when I found out about the Iwatayama Monkey Park in Kyoto, where monkeys freely roam the hilltops, I just...
Of all the cities we visited during our 5 weeks in Europe, Munich had some of the most fascinating stories. We took part in two different themed walking tours- one was a general tour of the Old Town and the other was all about Hitler and the Third Reich. It was incredibly interesting to learn...
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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