Santa Fe New Mexico – Should it be on Your Bucket List?

Santa Fe New Mexico –

Why Put it on Your Bucket List?

Sculpture in front of Museum of Indian Art and Culture in Santa Fe New Mexico

Santa Fe New Mexico has it All

Santa Fe New Mexico – Thinking of visiting? Santa Fe New Mexico offers exhilarating and enriching experiences year round. From winter sports and summer hiking to the arts, great food, Native Indian and Spanish culture, to history and geology. A treasure trove of adventures awaits you. Continue reading

Great Barrier Reef – To Visit or Not?

Great Barrier Reef

Hawksbill turtle image credit Sola HayakawaGreat Barrier Reef (GBR) is touted as a special place, and has been on my bucket list for a long time. The question remains – ‘Is it still the special place it once was, and worth a visit?’

Having been there for 10 days in 2017, I have a strong opinion about whether it is worth spending the time and money, or not. It is not strictly a ‘yes or no answer.’ Check out our experience and my recommendations… Continue reading

Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation – Why visit?

Daintree In Queensland Australia

Walu Wugirriga view from Mount Alexandra lookoutDaintree National Park – a visit promises a variety of unique opportunities to see rare flora, fauna, and coastal vistas. It boasts exquisite scenery of waterfalls, gorgeous remote coastline and beaches, and the Mossman Gorge for an experience of Aborigine culture. This park is in the extreme Northern part of Queensland, considered the ‘Wet Tropics’ of Australia. The lush biodiversity with swamps and mangroves, eucalyptus woodlands, various birds, including cassowaries (a beautiful rare bird, and only 1000 left) is an extraordinary experience. Daintree is one of the few places in the world where the rainforest meets a coral reef (Great Barrier Reef).  Check it out … Continue reading

Darwin & Litchfield National Park – See the Best of them in Australia’s Northern Territory!

Darwin Waterfront Precinct, with Wave Lagoon and saltwater Recreation LagoonDarwin & Litchfield in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) is worth the visit.  We included it in our 2 month trip to Australia. In April (Australia’s Autumn), we flew from Western Australia to Darwin, the gateway to two famous national parks – Litchfield and Kakadu. We did not have enough time to go to Kakadu, which deserves at least 2 days due to travel time to/from Darwin. With 1 day available to visit, we chose to visit Litchfield. Litchfield National Park was such a treat that it made our stay in Darwin worthwhile.  Continue reading

Want to See Tasmania’s Coastal Gems, like Freycinet?

Tasmania

Freycinet Tasmania coastal viewWe spent one week in Tasmania where we explored Cradle Mountain, Devonport, Launceston, Freycinet on the east coast, and ended in Hobart. Do you like nature, the ocean, and fresh seafood and produce? We love Tasmania for its wild coastlines, foodie culture with fresh fish and oysters, wineries, locally made cheeses, and organic produce.  Best of all, its Continue reading

Mountain High to Deep Waterways – Lake Taupo New Zealand

Lake Taupo & Around

Tongariro Alpine Crossing - Blue LakeIf you love the outdoors, beautiful scenery, mountains, waterways, history and culture, look no further than the Lake Taupo Area on New Zealand’s North Island. It brims with outdoor activities, from Continue reading

Stewart Island/Rakiura – New Zealand’s 3rd Island

Stewart Island

Stewart Island is an unspoiled naturally beautiful oasis, and only a 1-hour ferry ride from Bluff, the southernmost edge of New Zealand’s South Island, 30 km south of New Zealand’s South Island across the Foveaux strait.

As the closest land mass to Antarctica, it is quite remote and far to travel; most people never visit Stewart Island, including New Zealanders. Stewart Island, and the nearby Ulva Island, are famous for Continue reading

Milford Sound – Scenery Photographers Dream About

Magical Milford Sound

Earl and Livingston mountains along Milford Road; road trip to Milford Sound with Fiordland ToursIn the pristine and scenic Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is New Zealand and its surrounding area’s most dramatic natural attraction. Its captivating scenery boasts:  Continue reading