Tropical Travel Girl
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Tropical Travel Girl “Talking Tahiti” on Travel Itch Radio I had a great time “Talking Tahiti” with Dan Schlossberg on Travel Itch Radio! You can listen anytime at the link above! Learn more about my Windstar Cruises 10-day Tahiti-Tuamotus cruise, our stay in an overwater bungalow at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, as well as …
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.
In the middle of winter, when cold temperatures and snowy days keep us inside, cozily snuggled up on the couch with a cup of tea, transporting ourselves to tropical destinations can bring a little sunshine to our dreary world. Here are 10 travel books to consider putting on your winter reading list! (Click on titles …
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.
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…
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.
So what’s it like to be on board Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit…in Tahiti, no less? Since the ship will be your temporary home for seven to 10 days, according to which itinerary you choose (7 day, Dreams of Tahiti or 10-day Tahiti and Tuamotus), it’s nice to get a feel for what life is like …
While no trip to Memphis would be complete without paying a visit to the home of the King of Rock ‘n Roll, this city has a lot to offer beyond Graceland. Of course, much of it is still related to the mark Elvis Presley made after moving with his family to Memphis…
It had been 15 years since I entered the gates of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. This year, 2017, the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing on August 16, 1977, the timing was right to return.
Yes, my home state of Indiana has beaches! My article on the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and State Park entitled “Beaches and Beyond,” which showcases the beauty of Lake Michigan’s shoreline, was published in the Hoosier edition of AAA Home & Away magazine’s July/August 2017 issue. In the future, I’ll be adding a Destination Page …
As a SCUBA diver for more than two decades, one of my favorite places to be is underwater exploring a coral reef, swimming among colorful schools of fish. When that’s not possible, visiting an aquarium like the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is an excellent alternative.
Wide beaches and wild horses await visitors to North Carolina’s Cape Lookout National Seashore, covering more than 50 miles on three undeveloped barrier islands off its central shore.
I have slept on satin pillowcases for many years, and have traveled with them for years as well. I often give them as gifts, too, to my travel-loving friends and family members. Sleeping on satin keeps my fine hair from tangling and, as a “side sleeper,” it keeps me from waking up with facial creases …
Springtime is a glorious time of year to visit California’s central coast. I spent the first nine days of April 2016 in a roughly 200-mile area within Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties, venturing as far north as Paso Robles…
For those of us who love to travel, looking back at the memories we’ve made in places outside our home territory is a way to extend the pleasure of the experiences we’ve had. It also helps to reinvigorate the sense of wanderlust we feel for seeking out new destinations to explore in the year to come. I hope you’ll enjoy this retrospective of my travels in the past year.
Ever since a Chico’s store opened in my hometown of Evansville, IN, in the early 2000s, my wardrobe has increasingly been filled with Chico’s clothing and accessories. I am truly a Chico’s girl! The classic styling with just enough trendiness to not be boring and stodgy suits me, and many of my Chico’s pieces have …
Thinking of booking a cruise of the Greek Isles that leaves from Athens? If so, you should plan to arrive a day before the ship departs from Piraeus port for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, you don’t want to miss the ship, due to unforeseen circumstances, like a flight delay or cancellation. And you don’t want to miss experiencing the high points of this amazing ancient city.
Learn more “About Me” in a new interview posted on Anda Galffy’s site, TravelNotesandBeyond.com: Click Here: Interview – Debbra Dunning Brouillette – Tropical Travel Girl I’ve introduced myself here on Tropical Travel Girl on the About Me page, but if you would like to get to know me even better, you may wish to check …