by Mary Charleson | Mar 2, 2020 | Hawaii & South Pacific, USA
Mauna Kea for sunset There are charter bus tours from Kalua-Kona to experience sunset atop Mauna Kea, the highest point on Hawaii’s Big Island, but if you’re an independent adventurer, you can arrange your own self-guided tour, provided you have a 4×4 vehicle to...
by Mary Charleson | Mar 1, 2020 | Hawaii & South Pacific, USA
Green Sand Beach hike If you want to go as far south as possible without falling off the edge of the US, South Point at the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island is the place to go. It is also the access area for a 2.5-mile hike in to Green Sands Beach, one of only four...
by Mary Charleson | Feb 28, 2020 | Hawaii & South Pacific, USA
Pololu Valley hike The Kohala and Waimea region in the north offers some terrific hiking and adventure exploring opportunities. In contrast to the south’s desert climate, North Kohala is lushly otherworldly with pastures, plantation towns and the Polulu Valley’s...
by Mary Charleson | Feb 27, 2020 | Hawaii & South Pacific, USA
There are countless touristy boat charter trips that will take you from Kalua- Kona to snorkel Kealakekua Bay. But a fun (and much cheaper, as in FREE) way to access the area is by foot. You’ll not only get some great snorkeling in, but also a scenic day hike in and...
by Mary Charleson | Feb 26, 2020 | Hawaii & South Pacific, USA
Hiking the Waipi’o Valley was the second day venturing north to the Kahola and Waimea region. We took the upper highway (Mamalahoa Hwy 190) to Waimea and then Hwy 19 at Waimea out to Honaka’a, instead of Hwy 250 towards Hawi, as we had the previous trip. We...
by Mary Charleson | Feb 13, 2020 | Canada
Ever since seeing the Molson Canadian 2010 Winter Olympic commercial featuring a lone hockey player skating an open frozen lake, with a backdrop of mountains, the camera in pursuit from above as he gained speed chasing a puck, I have fantasized about skating an open...
by Mary Charleson | Jan 26, 2020 | Australia/New Zealand
Rottnest Island (or Rotto as the locals call it) is an island 18km off the coast of Perth, WA, Australia. From Vancouver, Canada where I live, it’s just a short 14.5hr flight to Sydney – pretty much the other side of the world and the opposite hemisphere, then a 5hr...
by Mary Charleson | Dec 16, 2019 | Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Hawaii & South Pacific, South Africa, South America / Central America, USA
We’ve combed the internet for some fun, inspirational and useful gift items for that hard to buy for traveler you know. Below you’ll find 8 useful, 4 cool and 2 inspirational gifts, plus 2 more that you don’t really need – but will truly want!...
by Mary Charleson | Oct 1, 2019 | Canada
– Guest post by Kim Little – It had been years of what friend’s hash tagged the #worstdivorceever, and it was almost over. Our family home was sold, and the buyer smelling a distress sale, had dictated the terms. That is how I became temporarily homeless...
by Mary Charleson | Sep 1, 2019 | Europe
Stopped temporarily at a traffic light, our scooters idling in a hum with many others packed around us, I suddenly became very aware of the impending choices, as I was about to enter a 7- lane traffic round about at Plaza de Espana, amidst heavy commuter and tourist...
