Tropical Travel Girl
It was Corfu, Greece, that sealed the deal for me. As I browsed through Windstar Cruise’s itineraries through the Mediterranean, I was especially attracted to a particular itinerary — A Piece of Greece, A Slice of Sicily, and the Corinth Canal. Departing from Athens and ending in Barcelona, it included three ports in Greece, two …
Memphis, Tennessee, known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock & Roll, is also where many of the biggest names in soul music—Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, and others—got their start. Visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to experience the history of the unique sound of Memphis soul. …
Alaska, often called The Last Frontier, was a new frontier for me since, more often than not, I’ve chosen tropical destinations for my travels. But it was time for the Tropical Travel Girl to go north to Alaska! There were several choices to make. Which cruise line, which ship, and which departure port? Like more …
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota is more than just an Aquarium. Its tagline, “Science is The Attraction” says it well… It is one of the world’s few remaining independent marine research laboratories, with field stations in eastern Sarasota County and the Florida Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium – Where “Science is The …
The word is out about Sarasota, Florida, and other communities within Sarasota County! Its 40 miles of gorgeous Gulf of Mexico coastline and barrier islands or “keys” — Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Casey Key and Manasota Key — have been recognized again and again. Recent Honors and Accolades: Sarasota was chosen …
Every part of the Florida Gulf Coast has its own personality, its own vibe. After recently visiting the Bradenton area with a small group of travel writers, I can wholeheartedly embrace the tourism bureau’s tagline. “Real. Authentic. Florida.” Very few resorts have more than three stories; many are small and family owned. Rental homes and …
The Vancouver Aquarium, originally opened in 1956, has grown to become one of British Columbia’s top tourist and event destinations. When I discovered Canada’s largest Aquarium would be near our hotel in Vancouver, I knew I had to plan a visit. The Vancouver Aquarium is located within Stanley Park, North America’s third largest park, which …
The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is the largest in the state. The Texas State Aquarium opened in 1990 and was doubled in size in 2017 with the addition of new exhibits. Anytime my travels take me close to an Aquarium, it’s high on my list of “must-dos.” If I can’t be in the …
When you think of Tahiti, you may think of a plethora of fruity tropical drinks, made with coconuts, mangos, passionfruit, pineapple…the list goes on. But wine? Yes! Tahiti has its own wine! Vin de Tahiti is produced from grapes grown in the heart of the South Pacific. The vineyard is located on Rangiroa in the …
My photo of poisson cru has won an Honorable Mention award in the (IFWTWA) International Food, Wine, Travel Association’s first annual Photo Contest (Category: Raw Food). I am very appreciative of this recognition! Poisson cru, which translates as “raw fish,” is considered to be Tahiti’s national dish. Chunks of fresh raw tuna, combined with lime …
In a previous post, “Why I love islands: beachcombing (sand and shell collecting),” I shared how I became fascinated with combing the beaches for shells. Although I grew up in southern Indiana, far from an ocean, I became exposed to turquoise ocean waters and white, sandy beaches during multiple childhood vacations in Florida with my …
Texas, Florida, New York, Washington and New Mexico. With the exception of a short sojourn to the Florida Keys in May, tropical travels took a backseat for me in 2019. Instead, I visited parts of the U.S. that were completely new to me. Most of them focused, at least in part, on wine regions. April …
I am honored to be the recipient of a SILVER AWARD in the 28th Annual North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) Awards Competition for 2019 in the category: Photography: Landscape, Nature, Architecture – Online! My photo of a nurse shark circling a submerged table at Havaiki Lodge, Fakarava, Tuamotus, French Polynesia, was selected for the …
Are you planning a trip that will involve travel across several time zones? If so, you may find yourself experiencing jet lag. Jet lag is defined as a temporary condition that is experienced when one travels across several time zones. Jet lag isnʼt permanent, but its temporary effects can cause fatigue, insomnia, dehydration, headache, irritability, …
Here are 10 tips to stay healthy while traveling:Water, not wine. Drink plenty of water during your flights to stay hydrated, and wait until you reach your destination to have that glass of wine, or your favorite island cocktail.
When you travel to a tropical island, do you drink the local beer or ask for a Bud Light? Do you make a beeline for the KFC or other American chain (on islands that have them) or ask where the locals go for lunch? Do you do as the islanders do, or avoid any deviation …
Do you have a favorite photo? I’ve taken thousands of photos over the years in exotic locations throughout the world, but this is one of my all-time favorites — taken in December 2017 at Four Seasons Bora Bora, one of the dreamiest locations in the South Pacific. That made it all the more special to …
From the Greek word thalassa, meaning “sea,” a thalassophile can be defined as “a lover of the sea.” It is the perfect word to describe me, someone who loves the sea or ocean. I am a thalassophile, are you?
Our 10-day Tahiti and Tuamotus cruise aboard Windstar’s Wind Spirit began and ended in Tahiti, largest of the 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia and largest of the Society Islands that include Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and Taha’a.
While author James Michener famously called Bora Bora the most beautiful island in the world, world traveler and guidebook author, Arthur Frommer, considers Moorea the most beautiful.
Ah, Bora Bora! Tales of the South Pacific author James Michener called Bora Bora “the most beautiful island in the world,” and I heartily agree. It had been seven years since my first visit to this small island (less than 12 square miles) dominated by two volcanic peaks — Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia — …
Windstar’s Wind Spirit didn’t have to travel far to reach Huahine from our last port of call — Taha’a. Also a part of the Society Islands, it is sometimes nicknamed the “Garden of Eden” for its lush, tropical landscapes.
In previous posts, I covered our three nights in Memphis…but hey, after all that touring, we had to eat! Here are some suggestions for where to eat, gourmet to budget…
After a day at sea, we reached our first port within the Society Islands group — Taha’a, the Vanilla Island. Following an island tour, we spent the afternoon on on Motu Mahaea, a private island where we could swim, snorkel and relax…
Rangiroa, the largest atoll in the Tuamotus chain and one of the largest in the world, had been on my radar for more than two decades…and now we had arrived!
As an ocean-lover and scuba diver, I get excited about any opportunity to visit an Aquarium. I like to call them “indoor oceans…” The Seattle Aquarium, ninth largest in the U.S. by attendance, was no exception.
Fakarava was the first port of call on our Windstar 10-day Tahiti-Tuamotus cruise. It is the second largest atoll in the Tuamotus and has been designated a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
If you are as fascinated by the underwater world as I am, the Georgia Aquarium should be on your “must-see” list. When it comes to “indoor oceans,” Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest.
Who would like to be in the water with whale sharks — the biggest fish in the sea? Me! Me! Me! At the Georgia Aquarium (the world’s largest), you can do just that as part of its Journey with Gentle Giants program. If there was ever an Indoor Ocean to behold, it is here…
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at age 39 by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee, as he stood on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel. Here, on April 4, 1968… (Text of the sign in the photo above) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the …