INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
After visiting Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple, we walked through the Asakusa district towards the Sumida River. Arriving at the riverbank, we were met with this view of unique and intriguing architecture. On the left, is one of Tokyo’s most modern and well known landmarks, the Tokyo Sky Tree. On the right, is a more perplexing structure...
I bow my head down as I walk into a brisk wind, the two strong blades of a helicopter loudly turning above my head. “I can’t believe this is really happening,” I think as I climb up into the bright-red Bell Long Ranger. I quickly fasten my seatbelt and then fumble with the headset, big...
I had never heard of Japan’s Miyajima Island until I started seeing photos of its famous floating torii gate. Once we booked our two week trip to Japan, this iconic torii was added to my list of must-see places in Japan! The Great Torii (O-Torii) stands at the sea entrance to Itsukushima Shrine and is...
I took this photo early in the morning when we were racing up the hill to Neuschwanstein Castle. We were on a mission to get there before the fog rose and completely covered the castle, which was the case the day before. I didn’t stop long to admire the view, just quickly took this picture...
During our time in Alaska, I kept seeing these beautiful pink wildflowers, growing just off the sides of the road. The colour was so eye-catching, they almost appeared to glow in the sunlight! I usually only share one photo for my Photo of the Week series, but I couldn’t decide which picture I liked best,...
It’s no secret that we love travelling by train! We’ve made many train trips over the years, but our journey on the Alaska Railroad was the most scenic train trip we’ve been on so far. Our ride on the McKinley Explorer was part of our Alaska cruise. We chose an itinerary that had a land...
On my previous trips to Europe, it has always been dark when I’ve flown over Greenland, so I was thrilled to finally get to see it from above coming home from our 5 week honeymoon in Europe. This is the spectacular view we got from the window of the plane. As we were flying over...
I may not always be the biggest fan of my home city, but there is one thing I can’t deny- Edmonton has a beautiful river valley, especially in the fall. Edmonton’s river valley is the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America- 7, 400 hectares! This gives us Edmontonians plenty of space to get...
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom, is one of Vienna’s most visited sites. As the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, St. Stephen’s is the most important religious building in Vienna. The Stephansdom was initially completed in Romanesque style in 1160, but expansions continued until 1511, many which were Gothic in design. The...
Long, cold, and dreary. Those are all words that we Albertans tend to use when describing our winters. I can agree with the long and, most of the time, cold, but dreary not so much. Visiting Jasper in the winter will have you rethinking the way you describe Alberta’s longest season. Jasper’s gorgeous scenery, draped...
As a huge animal lover, I am always on the lookout for wildlife when I travel. While I don’t always have the best of luck in some destinations, I never fail to see wildlife in Jasper National Park. This is probably one of the cutest animal moments I have witnessed- a mother Mule deer grooming...
Across from Budapest’s Elizabeth Bridge is a stone staircase leading up to a large memorial for St. Gellért, Hungary’s first missionary. The statue’s location is not only dramatic in terms of amazing views, but is said to be where Gellért faced a sensational death. Legend has it that Gellért was either hurled off the hill...
Standing alone in the middle of a green meadow near Schwangau, Germany, is the pretty little Pilgrimage Church of St. Coloman. The church was named after an Irish pilgrim who, en-route to the Holy Land, is said to have rested and grazed his cattle here. St. Coloman is now honoured as the patron saint of...
Every so often, I like to do a collection of travel photos in black and white. This ongoing series of mine started when I did a post of Rome in Black and White and then continued with Paris in Black and White. I wasn’t sure if black and white would look good on Germany, since...
Vancouver is one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. The city’s skyline is sophisticated and clean, its glass-walled buildings reflecting blues and greens from the surrounding ocean and mountains. This is the fantastic view we got to enjoy of downtown Vancouver as we sailed away on our Alaska Cruise. More British Columbia Destinations and Travel Guides...
Diablo Lake is just one of many beautiful stops along the North Cascades Highway in Washington, one of America’s most scenic drives. The lake is captivating, to say the least. The jade coloured waters are embraced by rocky mountains capped with glaciers. Diablo Lake’s beautiful colour can be attributed to glacial erosion. The surrounding glaciers...
Brunelleschi’s dome, and the cathedral it covers, is one of Florence’s most recognized landmarks. It dominates the skyline, still the tallest building in Florence over 600 years after it was built. At 45 metres wide, Filippo Brunelleschi’s dome is the largest masonry dome ever built. Its construction is unique in that it was built without...
On a clear day, the peak of Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) can be seen all the way from Anchorage, about 210 km away. Denali is the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet (6,194 metres). The mountain is a giant block of granite, pushed up from the Earth’s crust during a period...
One of the best places to watch the sunset near our hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, is Elk Island National Park. We recently made the half hour drive, on a beautiful fall evening, specifically to watch the sunset. It sure did not disappoint! One lucky couple scored the coveted spot at the end of the dock,...
One of the things I loved most about Cuba was its vibrancy. It’s a bright and colourful country, a nice change from our dreary winters and beige houses here in Canada. The Colours of Cuba in Pictures Here are some photos from our trip to Cuba that capture the colours of this wonderful country. I...
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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