The Beautiful Rainforest… Arenal Volcano Area, Costa Rica

The Beautiful Rainforest… Arenal Volcano Area, Costa Rica

An active volcano, hot springs, the rainforest, and wildlife… all things we anticipated as we ventured to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano area, our first destination in Costa Rica. As we approached the area we couldn’t help but notice the lush green that surrounded us… everywhere we looked was bursting with life. It was raining a bit, but it didn’t really matter… the rainforest has that effect… life goes on as usual as showers come and go. We spent 3 nights in this beautiful area and loved every minute of it!

5 Beliefs About Travel We Need to Shatter!

5 Beliefs About Travel We Need to Shatter!

What does “travel” mean to you? We all have beliefs about travel… some great, some good, and some bad… vacation, relax, fun, expensive, out of reach, new, uncomfortable, far… I could go on and on! There are all kinds of life experiences that built and validate these beliefs.  However, these beliefs, even the good ones, can limit us… in some cases they make us feel that we can’t travel at all!...

Offseason... Virginia Beach

Offseason... Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach… a super popular summer spot on the east coast of the US. But what about other times of the year? On our recent road trip we decided to head to Virginia Beach when the more northern areas of the coast were way too windy and cold. When we rolled into town we headed straight for the beach, and though it was cold we were thrilled… water and sand as far as we could see! We spent two nights in Virginia Beach and found plenty to do… Virginia Beach is a great spot offseason!

Davis, West Virginia... Perfect Any Time Of Year!

Davis, West Virginia... Perfect Any Time Of Year!

We love West Virginia… the relaxed vibe, amazing natural beauty, and really nice people make West Virginia one of our favorite states to visit. Since childhood Todd and I have visited various spots in West Virginia to white-water-raft, hike, enjoy amazing nature, and relax, however we’ve always visited in the traditional peak season (for non-skiers)… June, July, and August. When we were considering routes back from Nags Head, North Carolina on our recent road trip, we remembered this little town in West Virginia that we fell in love with a few years ago… a few days later we were in Davis, West Virginia…

Offseason... The Outer Banks of North Carolina

Offseason... The Outer Banks of North Carolina

The outer banks of North Carolina… are you familiar with the area? The 200-mile-long string of narrow peninsulas and barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina and southern Virginia? What thoughts come to mind? Bright sun, sand dunes covered with sea oats leading to beautiful water, miles of soft sandy beach, relaxation, great sea food, and wonderful times with family and friends? We’ve been to the outer banks a number of times during the “peak season” (June, July, and August), but until last week we’d never been there during the “off season”. How was it? Awesome!...

Striking The Balance Between Uncertainty And Planning When Traveling

Striking The Balance Between Uncertainty And Planning When Traveling

Even the most impromptu trip requires at least a little planning, right?? Planning is especially important when going somewhere that’s difficult to get to, requires pre-planning to do certain activities, involves multiple people (i.e. family, friends, etc.), and/or includes so many things we want to do and our time may not allow for everything.  However, one of the most powerful aspects of travel is opening ourselves to uncertainty… this allows us to see ourselves differently, to see the world around us differently, to imagine new possibilities, and to contemplate life in new ways. Is it possible to strike a balance?...

Life through my lens...Golden Triangle

Life through my lens...Golden Triangle

Nestled in the north of Thailand is a special place… a place where we played with elephants… a place where we experienced a culture so different from ours… a place where we were invited to see, touch, and feel things we only ever imagined…

The Water Is Calling... Asia

The Water Is Calling... Asia

We spent 2 years in India when Daniel was ages 1 – 3 and traveled so much that Daniel needed more passport pages before he turned 3! Though we didn’t curtail our travel because of Daniel, we did choose spots that would be fun and safe for all of us… our love of water led us to some of the most exotic beaches in the world...

The Water Is Calling... The Americas

The Water Is Calling... The Americas

Do you ever have a feeling that you have to get close to the water? Maybe it’s the ocean, a lake that you love, or maybe a far-away sea. We love the water… pretty much any water… and when we haven’t been near the water for a while we get the itch. This time of year can be a bit dreary in parts of the world and we find our minds wandering to where we can go for a get-a-way…

Q/A With The Sechels... How Travel Impacts Children

Q/A With The Sechels... How Travel Impacts Children

When Daniel was 14 months old we got on a plane and moved to Hyderabad, India for 2 years… that was Daniel’s first flight! While in India, we traveled a ton… so much that Daniel needed more passport pages before he was 3. Following our repatriation to the US, we continued to travel near and far and Daniel has now been to over 20 countries and all over the US. Watching Daniel grow up experiencing the world has been fascinating…