11 07, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Cable Car Snow Globe

By |July 11th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I lost my head in San Francisco Waiting for the fog to roll out But I found it in a rain cloud It was smiling down -The Mowgli's This was my second snow globe that I got after deciding to start collecting. I picked this one up near Ghirardelli Square among other typical tchotchkes. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

6 07, 2015

Travel Missteps: The Fish Bet

By |July 6th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

When you have 10 high schoolers on a trip abroad, things can get weird. Clicks form, arguments occur, and silly childish bets occur. While we were still in Tokyo, one of our chaperones bet us that no one would stick our head in the hotel's massive lake, filled with Koi fish. The idea was that once you put your hair in, you'd need to flip it back "baywatch style" and stroll back into the hotel like nothing happened.  Like all bets, it involved money and for high schoolers who had already blew a lot of money shopping Tokyo, earning extra

2 07, 2015

Tips for Swimming with Sea Turtles

By |July 2nd, 2015|Categories: Activities, Travel, Travel Tips|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment

A turtle in Belize Sea Turtles are a majestic sight to see when snorkeling. I’ve had the opportunity to see and swim with turtles in Maui, HI, St. John USVI, and the Belize Barrier Reef. But too often swimmers or snorkelers get too close to Sea Turtles and inadvertently end up harassing them. Here are some tips when swimming with Sea Turtles to make sure the experience is good to everyone. Turtle Town Maui First it is important to note in many areas turtles are protected by law. You should not touch, attempt to feed, or

29 06, 2015

Museum Monday: Mermaids or Manatees?

By |June 29th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Did sailors confuse Manatees for Mermaids? Denver Museum of Nature and Science's Mythic Creatures Exhibit is available to see through September 7th. Read my review here. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

27 06, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Sand Castles in the Sky

By |June 27th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

My family use to live in San Diego when I was very little. Every trip that either they or I have gone, I have received a Sand Castle as a gift. Here is one of my favorites, and it is one of the larger castles. They are made from real sand! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

23 06, 2015

Local Escapes: The Old Mine Erie, CO

By |June 23rd, 2015|Categories: Drinks, Food & Drink, Local, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

I am not a fan of beer. This is a critical issue in Colorado where we have an abundance of craft breweries. So when I found a cidery/brewery combo I was overjoyed! I checked it out last weekend, and it was so great! The decor is a combination of relaxed & natural with beautiful wood tables and exposed brick. The tables are great for conversations and could accommodate my large group. The "Gin N Juice" cider. I tried two ciders that were on tap. The first was a small "Gin N Juice" which was a very nice tart

22 06, 2015

Travel Missteps: No Cocktails at the Pub

By |June 22nd, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Ireland was the first trip abroad where I was able to and wanted to drink. Thankfully Ireland has no shortages of drinking establishments, and none are so iconic as the traditional Irish pub. So on our first night my family and I headed out to the Temple Bar district of Dublin to get a drink. At first we tried a pint of Guinness for its 250th anniversary, but no one in our family really liked it. I wasn't surprised as I actually hate most beer. But we did greatly enjoy the traditional pub atmosphere and we learned a lot of drinking

18 06, 2015

Making Chocolate in Antigua, Guatemala

By |June 18th, 2015|Categories: Activities, Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

One of my favorite activities in Guatemala was making chocolate! On my first day in Antigua, I visited the Choco Museo and did their “Bean to Bar” Workshop. This is a 2 hour class that is offered at various times throughout the day and is a lot of fun for all ages! A traditional Mayan grinding stand, with actual chocolate being ground into Cacao Liquor. They first walk you through the museum. While the museum is free, I got a lot more out of it and the hands on displays while the teacher explained things in more detail.

15 06, 2015

Museum Monday: Athena

By |June 15th, 2015|Categories: History, Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Today's feature comes from Städtische Galerie Liebieghaus in Frankfurt, Germany. It is a statue of Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom. I was struck by the detail the folds of her dress and her helmet. This ancient greek statue would have been painted. Athena goddess of wisdom and war. Close up on the detail of her helmet. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

13 06, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Eiffel Tower

By |June 13th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

A trip to Paris isn't complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. I remember taking an elevator up to the main section. Back then it had a little shop and post office. I bought postcards there, and took photos on old film cameras, and climbed a bit higher. The Eiffel Tower is also an amazing sight from the ground. I remember walking around the wide boulevards and taking a cruise down the river Seine while looking up at it. One thing I didn't do right away was buy a kitchy Eiffel Tower. They were sold everywhere but seemed a bit