Destinations

Memphis and Nashville, Hot Spots of American Musical History

In 2013 we decided to spend my spring break in Tennessee. While we spent a few days in Chattanooga, I want to focus on the two music cities of Tennessee, Nashville and Memphis. Each has a real place in music history yet are quite unique and different. Which should you visit? Well let’s look at some of the differences, and you can decide for yourself. Nothing says country music like Nashville. However Nashville is not just about country music as…

Continue Reading “Memphis and Nashville, Hot Spots of American Musical History”

National Park Service: More Than Just Parks

When people consider where to travel within the United States, National Parks often rise to the top of the list. However, to limit one’s options to just the 62 designated National Parks is to miss out on many other opportunities across the United States. The National Park Service oversees 423 units or parks along with some 150 areas. In previous posts I have noted the National Historical Parks as well as the National Monuments which other government agencies sometimes oversee.…

Continue Reading “National Park Service: More Than Just Parks”

Beaches, Boats, and Bikes in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has been quite the adventure. We zipped over the jungle in Monteverde and rode the rapids in La Fortuna. A night walk was part of the agenda in our glamping site in Sarapiqui. Later we watched a turtle lay eggs in Tortuguero. Now we were headed to our final destination, Puerto Viejo. It was a rainy morning for our hour long boat ride back to the main road from Tortuguero. Because of the rain, they pulled the plastic…

Continue Reading “Beaches, Boats, and Bikes in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica”

Spying on a Sea Turtle in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Having left our glamping site in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, we headed out on a bus toward our next stop, Tortuguero. Unfortunately an accident on a narrow bridge stopped all traffic. After checking out the situation, our tour guide, Danny, told us we were to get out of our bus and start walking. Carrying all our luggage Danny led us across the bridge. There we saw a line of cars, buses, and vans waiting to cross the bridge from the other…

Continue Reading “Spying on a Sea Turtle in Tortuguero, Costa Rica”

Andrea Survives Tent Life in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

It was a wet morning when we left La Fortuna. We got all our luggage in the bus and started the journey to Sarapiqui. On the way, we stopped at Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative to have a tour of their small coffee plantation. We had a very kind and knowledgeable guide who walked us through the steps of growing and harvesting coffee. While I expected to taste coffee during the tour, we instead tasted alcohol. Twice. I wasn’t complaining, but…

Continue Reading “Andrea Survives Tent Life in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica”

La Fortuna Challenges Andrea With Waterfalls and Rapids.

It was another rainy morning when we loaded up the bus for our drive to La Fortuna. La Fortuna is known for the Arenal Volcano, hot springs, and other adrenaline activities. It has a bigger town center than Monteverde with ample restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. La Fortuna also has a central square with a church where locals like to hang out. Our hotel was not directly in the downtown area, but it was only a short walk away.  One…

Continue Reading “La Fortuna Challenges Andrea With Waterfalls and Rapids.”

Andrea Hikes, Cruises and Zips in Costa Rica

Last summer, summer of 2021, I had booked a trip to Costa Rica. Everyone I knew that had been to Costa Rica had nothing but wonderful things to say about it. It’s a country full of nature and adventure. However, Covid wasn’t done ruining my travel plans and to much disappointment, the trip was canceled. Now here we are, a year later, and I can finally say I’ve been to Costa Rica! Part of the appeal of the trip was…

Continue Reading “Andrea Hikes, Cruises and Zips in Costa Rica”

Through Anacortes and La Conner, the Long Way Home

After four days exploring Whidbey Island, it was time to go home. However, we didn’t want to just drive straight home. This was an opportunity to spend a little more time exploring some of the towns in this region. We would take the long way home. If you remember, we took the ferry coming over to Whidbey Island. For our return trip we would go around the north end to catch the freeway going south. People leave Whidbey Island when…

Continue Reading “Through Anacortes and La Conner, the Long Way Home”