Ah, Maui…The Valley Isle. From its lush bamboo rainforests and waterfalls that line the Road to Hana, to the barren moon-scapes at 10,000-feet atop Haleakala volcanic crater – there is no shortage of beautiful landscapes here. Shaped by these landscapes, the rich culture and history – Maui is a fantastic vacation destination. There are many different activities for every type of visitor to Maui’s shores, and this list of the best things to do on Maui will not disappoint! 9… Read more »
The Garden Island of Kauai is the oldest of the main inhabited Hawaiian Islands in the chain. There is no shortage of adventurous activities for the whole family to partake in across the unique and incredible natural environments that this island has to offer! From flying above the precipice of the 4,000-foot cliffs of the lush Na’Pali Coast to mountain tubing down waterways fed from the wettest place on the planet to hiking into Waimea Canyon that is known as… Read more »
Ah, the Big Island. Where does one even begin with Hawaii’s namesake island? Perhaps with the two active volcanoes and the incredible stargazing conditions—or maybe its crystal blue waters and proud cowboy culture. When it comes to the Big Island, the list of things to see and do could go on and on. It’s easy to see how this beautiful island could overwhelm a first-time visitor. Fear not! That’s where I come in. I’ve rounded up a list of my… Read more »
Aloha! This week I’m taking a little break from the blog to head back to the US and spend some time with my family. While I’m away, Veronica and Keslie are taking the reigns and sharing some of the best things to do on the main islands of Hawaii. I hope you enjoy all of their awesome tips for visiting this beautiful state! Guest Post by Veronica Bean Top Things to Do in Oahu Oahu is one of those rare… Read more »
This is a great time of year to head to New Orleans – the temps are nearly perfect for walking and exploring, and you won’t have the crowds from Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest. 4 days in New Orleans is plenty of time to get a good feel of the city at a relaxed pace. I’m sharing how we spent our 4 days here and a few tips for planning your New Orleans itinerary. Plus, I’ll share some suggestions if… Read more »
I lied. There is a blog post today! Merry Christmas Eve, everyone. I didn’t want Christmas to pass and not share this amazing yearly exhibit at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. My family and I had visited Nutcracker in the Castle over the weekend, and despite it taking place every year, this was all our first time going to it! Each room of this historic estate is transformed into scenes from the Nutcracker fairy tale and it is… Read more »
Freelance contribution by Martins Godainis Phoenix, Arizona is a paradise in the middle of a desert, surrounded by cacti, mountains, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The city itself sprawls outwards in all directions to offer up amazing attractions, culture, and nightlife for people of all ages. Though it’s impossible to see all of Phoenix over a 3-day visit, you can experience the best Arizona’s capital has to offer. Here’s a 3-day itinerary for you to follow, so you can see… Read more »
I’m becoming somewhat of an unwilling expert on visiting cities in a very short amount of time! Our whirlwind trip to DC was a bit more work than play, but I did manage to spend an afternoon exploring some of the main sights of Washington, D.C. (Granted, I’ve spent time in DC before this trip, so I was slightly less motivated this time around.) However, for this post, I want to help others who have a limited amount of time… Read more »
ModCloth recently opened a new brick and mortar store in Washington, D.C. This will be their 3rd permanent location (including Austin and San Francisco). However, ModCloth’s “FitShops” aren’t your normal run-of-the-mill shops! I was fortunate enough to visit the Washington, D.C. FitShop last week and will explain how it works, plus my thoughts on the experience (and show some of the fun things I found) in this post. How ModCloth’s FitShop Works Usually, when you go to a clothing store,… Read more »
Doc’s Harley-Davidson in Bonduel, Wisconsin is far beyond just a motorcycle dealership. Here you’ll find a zoo, complete with kangaroos and alligators, a motorcycle museum, restaurant and bar…plus, Doc’s creations adorn the property. See one below. (Doc is the owner.) I live fairly close to Doc’s Harley-Davidson but only recently made the drive over to it for a family birthday party. I didn’t realize just what an assortment of things there are to see and experience at Doc’s! I hadn’t… Read more »
It can sometimes be a little difficult to keep your teenagers entertained on family vacations. Fortunately, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has something fun for the whole family…including teenagers! This post lists activities specifically for teenagers, but with the exception of 2 or 3 of these things, they were fun for the entire family (even my little nephew who was 1-year & a few months old at the time). Enjoy! And let me know what you would add to this list… Read more »
Parasailing is one thing I never thought I would talk myself into. This is mainly because I didn’t know what exactly it all entailed other than it combined two of my big fears – heights and the potential to drown, haha. (I’m not a very strong swimmer, so water makes me a bit nervous.) Hopefully, this post will help clear up what to expect when you go parasailing for the first time and convince you to actually do it! I’m… Read more »
You can now read this article offline and get GPS-guided travel directions to the attractions featured in this article by downloading the GPSmyCity app on iTunes App Store or Google Play. Click here to download the article. Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is a family-friendly experience, that includes some fun interactive opportunities! I’ve been to quite a few aquariums in my life now and thought for this post, I could offer some insight into how this aquarium stacks up to… Read more »
You can now read this article offline and get GPS-guided travel directions to the attractions featured in this article by downloading the GPSmyCity app on iTunes App Store or Google Play Click here to download the article. I’m finally kicking off my Myrtle Beach travel series! I spent one week in Myrtle Beach with my family this spring. We were a mix of adults, teenagers and my little nephew, who was 1 year and a few months at the time… Read more »
Hotel Grinnell is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel in downtown Grinnell, Iowa. This is by far the most unique hotel I’ve ever stayed in. That’s because it was once a junior high school, and instead of gutting the building, its owners, Steve Holtze and Angela Harrington, decided to embrace the building’s scholastic past. The rooms are converted from classrooms and every room comes with a chalkboard, lockers are turned to benches and the old scoreboard hangs in the lounge. You can… Read more »
Atlanta is a highly underrated city, in my opinion. It’s the perfect destination for a stress-free weekend getaway with a wide variety of activities for the whole family. Obviously, the Georgia Aquarium is the first thing to come to mind when thinking of Atlanta (and is not to be missed!), but that’s not all Atlanta has to offer! I’ll be perfectly honest, though, by the time I reached Atlanta I was TIRED. We flew to Atlanta (for a conference for… Read more »
This post is going to be a little different than my normal blog posts. For this one, I wanted to just share some snapshots I took while I was home visiting my family and friends in Wisconsin. Not any outfits or travel tips, just a few photos. In my previous post, I had also mentioned I had invested in a new full frame camera, so, these were some of my very first photos with it. I’m excited to get some… Read more »
In the midst of all the moving from Tokyo to Sydney craziness, I also was in Chicago for a weekend! Chicago is one of those places that I have never actually visited just for the sake of visiting (except for a family trip a million years ago when I was in my early teens). There has always been something, whether it was a conference, a marathon, an interview, etc. it’s always been some sort of event that brought me to… Read more »
Happy 4th of July! It’s weird not being in the United States to watch the fireworks and parades with my friends and family this year, again. But anywho, 2 years ago, I did get to celebrate America’s Independence Day like no other in Philadelphia. So, this post is taking a look back at my 4th of July celebrations in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania 2 years ago! Enjoy! “Nobody celebrates the 4th like those who did it 1st!” I saw that on a… Read more »
Looking for a fun day in Northeast Wisconsin? Check out this post featuring the NEW Zoo in Suamico! It’s such a lovely way to spend a summer day. By the time you all are reading this post, I will be on my way to Tokyo. That is really crazy to think! I’m not going to lie, either…the nerves are really starting to set in! Haha. It’s also starting to set in that I will really miss being so close to… Read more »
If you like this post, it’s available as a walking tour on GPSmyCity! Each place mentioned will have a complete set of GPS coordinates! Click here to download it via the GPSmyCity app on iTunes. New Orleans is a city all its own, with many quirky experiences to be had. From ghost tours to tarot card readings to sampling the “planet’s best” hot sauce…there are many fun experiences you can have in just a few days of visiting New Orleans!… Read more »
Looking for some unique restaurants & bars in New Orleans? This post is sharing 5 of our favorites from our adventure to NOLA. New Orleans is known for many things, but one of the first things that always comes to mind is how wonderful the food and drinks are. Anytime we asked for a recommendation for a bar or restaurant in New Orleans, the answer was always, “Well, there isn’t a bad place to eat or drink here!” With that… Read more »
For one week every spring, my tiny hometown of Shiocton, Wisconsin becomes a pitstop for flocks and flocks of majestic swans. Entire fields will be filled with these beautiful creatures for just a few fleeting days. I was beyond excited to see while I was driving today, that they are beginning to make their return. I had not been home at the same time as the swans for..oooh.. about 10 years. And at that time, I did not have a… Read more »
*If you like this post, it is now available on iTunes as a self-guided walking tour! Click here to download it. I am a huge fan of Jane Austen. Okay, that is a bit of an understatement… I have been reading and rereading her books ever since I was 13. I have read all of her major novels and am currently working on reading some of her lesser known/unfinished works. (I’m reading The Watsons right now.) Her novels have always… Read more »
If you liked this post, it is now available as a self-guided walking tour on GPSmyCity! Click here to download it. Fun fact: Harry Houdini and I grew up in the same area! Houdini moved to Appleton, Wisconsin from Budapest, Hungary when he was 4 years old. However, he told his audience that he was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. Because of Houdini’s time in Appleton, we have a museum dedicated to his awesome magic tricks/escapes! It’s a really interactive museum… Read more »
*If you like this post featuring fun things to do in NYC in winter, it is now available on iTunes as a self-guided walking tour! Click here to download it. This weekend I said farewell to the Big Apple and am now packing my bags for our next adventure. I know the last time I moved I did a farewell post on the city I had been living in at the time (Stevens Point). While technically I don’t live in… Read more »
My goal for this weekend was to experience something in NYC that I couldn’t experience anywhere else. With only one weekend left in the area, my husband and I have been doing our best to get all of our bucket list items checked off in the city…because who knows when we’ll be back. For this goal, comfort was key in the wardrobe department…as this was going to involve some long days and tons of walking! My dress is from Lilac… Read more »
