Avid Traveler and Master Scuba Diver
Sharing stories, photos and insights about the places I’ve visited. Simply sharing my experience and giving travel tips to help others plan their own dream trip and travel independently.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic we will be going to Europe. Aside from visiting family in Canada, this will be our first international trip since March 2020, and we are thrilled! Of course, there’s a little bit of stress due to the possibility of staying stuck abroad. Unlike many countries, […]
A few years back, we visited Japan during Cherry Blossom season, and really enjoyed ourselves. It seemed like the whole country was excited about these beautiful trees blooming. Parks were filled with picnickers and the news was all about when the peak blooming time would happen in the various regions of the country. After sharing […]
With all the travel cancellations we’ve had to make, we had some expiring airline tickets which were begging to be used. A trip to San Diego was something which we had previously planned, and cancelled, so we thought hey, why not. While we could not get a decent direct flight to San Diego, we managed […]
We recently rented a car at LAX. Arriving as Fastbreak members, we were pleased to see our name on the board suggesting a car was ready for us. As we approached the line at the counter however, it was said that cars were unavailable and a short wait was necessary. Ok. Since our first night’s […]
Catalina Island is located about 29 miles (47km) off the coast of Long Beach, California. The 22-mile (35 km) by 8-mile (13 km) island has mountain peaks reaching 2,097 ft (639 m) at its highest point. It is the easternmost channel island and officially belongs to Los Angeles County. With approximately 5,000 residents, over 90% […]
About an hour’s drive up the coast from Miami you’ll find West Palm Beach which is a great spot for a day trip or a mini vacation. We had a free hotel night that was about to expire, so we figured we should use it. It was the perfect excuse to spend the weekend in […]
Manatee Lagoon is a good place to go to observe manatees in their natural habitat. From the observation deck you can spy on these gentle giants during the cooler winter months when they seek the warmer waters that come out of the nearby power station. Be sure to visit the Manatee Lagoon education center where […]
With the Holidays at our doorstep, we prepared a list of gift ideas for every traveler and scuba diver on your shopping list. Just to be clear, we do not receive any compensation for telling you about these products. We bought every item listed in this gift guide and use them regularly while traveling, scuba […]
A while back, when exploring some of our local Miami area mansions such as Vizcaya, the Deering Estate, and the Flagler Museum, a reader suggested we visit the Gilded Age mansions in Newport, Rhode Island. We finally managed to fit in a mini vacation to see these wonderful historic homes.
This travel tip is a reminder to stay grateful and to make lemonade when dealt a few lemons on our travels. On a recent trip to Rhode Island, we were dealt a few lemons to say the least. First, while we had opted for an early afternoon arrival to make our leisurely 2-hour drive from […]