Travel enough and you’ll experience some interesting things, but for me one event trumps all others, considering I’ve lived in South Florida now longer than anywhere else. I was in Havana, Cuba – a place most Americans couldn’t easily travel to for a generation – when Fidel Castro died. The journey to Cuba began in … More The One Where we Went to Cuba – and Fidel Castro Died
This product recommendation and guide is useful under a few conditions: You’re traveling internationally in a warm climate and have packed lightweight, quick-drying clothing You want to pack lightly for your trip, and are maybe backpacking* You and/or your travel companions are cool with washing underwear in a sink You’re camping or beaching and want … More Laundry: pack light, wash, and air-dry with a travel clothesline
Almost everything is negotiable, including the price of your vacation. I know this because I’ve managed a vacation rental property since 2012, and have rarely refused a discount to anyone confident enough to bother asking! You may wonder why I’m using the word “negotiation” instead of the phrase “asking for a discount.” In most of … More Negotiating your vacation rental property price
Tulips are in bloom in North Carolina! An early morning trip to the Duke University Gardens did not disappoint. I wasn’t sure I’d have the timing right, but the tulips–along with many other flowers and flowering trees–are popping off! If you live in the area and are afraid of missing them, you’ve got a few … More Tulips @ Duke University Gardens
Yes, I went back to Hawaii for my birthday again this year. I guess you could say I have a problem, but arguably, a good problem. More to come on that, but for now, here’s a quick post to share two of the incredible new-to-me sights I saw last week while putting my *NERDALERT* America … More Hawaii National Park Stunners: Sunrise in the Clouds and Active Lava
Yosemite National Park is one of the most awe-inspiring, special places in the United States, maybe the world. Don’t believe me? Perhaps you were as clueless as I was before visiting, and hopefully this post will put Yosemite National Park on your travel list. I was making plans to attend a music festival in San … More Yosemite in Fall
Most areas of the U.S. are subjected to involuntary time changes, like the one that may be hitting you hard today, good old “Spring Forward” into Daylight Savings Time, where we lose an hour of our well-earned sleep. The audacity! A creature of habit, time changes can leave me feeling disoriented for a good week … More Using Time-Zone Tricks to Survive Time Changes
I celebrated my 40th birthday with a solo trip earlier this month to the Big Island of Hawaii. It was fantastic and the best thing I could have done. Here’s how that decision-making process took place, how I planned for the trip, and some ideas that might inspire you to travel now or in the … More Why and How I Went on a Solo Trip to Hawaii for my 40th Birthday (In a Pandemic)
As we head into what promises to be an exciting late spring and summer, I’m hoping we’ll see a safe return to outdoor dining and socializing. Markets and street food, including food trucks, are both things that I can’t wait to enjoy again. They’re simple, fun, inexpensive, and fulfilling ways to entertain yourself and take … More Outdoor Markets and Street Food
It can be sad to check your trust at the ticketing counter, but not everyone has good intentions; stealing from tourists can be very lucrative. To avoid getting scammed or pickpocketed, take a healthy dose of pragmatism, keep your eyes open, and consider that if something seems too good to be true that it probably … More Common Travel Scams
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