INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
After spending 3 days in Zion National Park, we decided to make a quick visit to nearby Grafton, one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Utah. Grafton was settled by Mormon pioneers in 1859 when Brigham Young, leader of the Church of Latter-day Saints, sent some families to Utah’s “Dixie” region to start growing cotton...
Page, Arizona boasts plenty of natural attractions but one of my favourite places was Horseshoe Bend. Aptly named, this almost symmetrical bend in the Colorado River resembles the shape of a horseshoe, its sandstone banks towering 1,000 ft above the meandering water. From the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, you’ll be able to enjoy the classic view...
When I was visiting Killarney, I kept thinking how nice it must be to have such a beautiful national park right at your doorstep. Just steps away from the centre of town, Killarney National Park encompasses some of the best scenery in Ireland. Killarney National Park is a sublime collection of lakes, mountains, woodlands, and...
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...
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...
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...
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...
On our last day in Cusco we drove part of the Andean Baroque Route, a scenic road in the South Valley known for its four churches of the Andean Baroque artistic movement. We visited only one, San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas, about 40 kms from Cusco. San Pedro Apostol may not look very grand from...
We found ourselves in Santiago, Chile more out of necessity than any real desire. We were going to Easter Island for a few days and Santiago is one of only two places you can fly there from. Since we were passing through, we decided we should spend at least one day in Santiago exploring the...
When we were in Manzanillo, Mexico, we decided to get off our resort for a few hours and do an ATV tour to the top of el Cerro del Torro (Bull Mountain). As the area’s highest mountain, it offers exquisite views of the Pacific coastline and the twin bays of Manzanillo. Bahia de Manzanillo (on...
During our short visit to Toronto, we didn’t have a lot of time for sightseeing but there was one place I made it a priority to visit- the Toronto Islands. I knew I wanted to capture a cityscape photo of Toronto, so for that reason, we hopped on the ferry and sailed across the inner...
Banff may be world famous for its breathtaking mountains and glistening blue lakes, but it was a small cave and its thermal waters that spurred the creation of Canada’s first national park, Banff, in 1885. Cave and Basin is the lowest of nine natural hot springs on Sulphur Mountain, its water bubbling up from 3...
The astronomical clock in Strasbourg Cathedral is a fine example of what can be achieved when art and science come together. Statuettes and paintings embellish a case housing clock dials and mechanisms working together to measure time and astronomical indications. When Strasbourg’s astronomical clock was completed in 1574, it was considered to be one of...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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