by Mary Charleson | Jun 1, 2023 | South America / Central America
Belize is small in size but vast in cultural and biological diversity, offering everything from hammocks on sandy beaches with tropical breezes, to the second largest barrier reef in the world, the only jaguar reserve in the world, thousand-year-old Maya sites, and a...
by Mary Charleson | May 15, 2023 | USA
There’s something life affirming about driving into a place called Death Valley, and kicking out the other side unscathed. Visiting Death Valley in the spring, when temperatures are a little cooler, is a great time to explore this region of relentless heat. Weather in...
by Mary Charleson | May 9, 2023 | USA
The luck of the Irish was with us during spring in Joshua Tree. Not only did we witness a rare Joshua Tree bloom, but we got to stay where U2 did while filming for their 1988 hit album, Joshua Tree. U2’s album is inexplicably linked to Joshua Tree National Park,...
by Mary Charleson | Apr 10, 2023 | Canada
It doesn’t get much better than sailing in Desolation Sound for a summer adventure vacation. Located 95 miles north of Vancouver, BC at the tip of the Strait of Georgia, Desolation Sound is a jewel for boaters in the Pacific North West. Deep water coves and...
by Mary Charleson | Feb 26, 2023 | Hawaii & South Pacific, USA
Hiking the Waipio 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. The...
by Mary Charleson | Feb 9, 2023 | Caribbean
Updated Jan 15, 2026. You’ve no doubt heard how popular Dunn’s River Falls, Jamaica, as an attraction is. Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn how to avoid the crowds at Dunn’s River Falls! As of late November 2025, this attraction has...
by Mary Charleson | Nov 26, 2022 | Caribbean
Updated Jan 1, 2026. You want to go to the Bob Marley Mausoleum, the site of the Bob Marley grave, but are you wondering if the devastating hurricane in late 2025 will impact your plans? Here’s the latest update: Yes, you can get to Bob Marley’s Mausoleum...
by Mary Charleson | Sep 29, 2022 | USA
You’d think that discovering a little-known but great wine producer in Chelan, Washington would start with a referral, or perhaps a random road stop and tasting, while touring the area. But our discovery of Cheval Cellars Winery started with a campsite search. It was...
by Mary Charleson | Jul 13, 2022 | USA
Revenge travel flying in summer 2022? You’re best to pack your patience in that carry on! There’s no dictionary definition yet, but industry professionals say the term “revenge travel” is starting to catch on. While this media buzzword originated in 2021 when the...
by Mary Charleson | May 1, 2022 | South America / Central America
Quick answer — facts about the Great Blue Hole: It’s a nearly circular marine sinkhole inside Belize’s Lighthouse Reef Atoll, roughly 318 m (1,043 ft) across and 124 m (407 ft) deep, formed when Ice-Age cave systems flooded as sea level rose. It’s part of the Belize...
