Life is a patchwork of experiences
I am sharing all my expereinces about what a Princess cruise to Antarctica is really like, including my packing list for the 4 days of scenic cruising in Antarctica.
“This is unlike any other cruise you have experienced before! It’s an adventure and we are all explorers!” – Captain Todd McBain of the Sapphire Princess.
I wasn’t on board the ship for very long before the captain set the tone for the next 16 days – and he was right, it certainly was an unforgettable adventure!
Continue reading “What Is A Princess Cruise to Antarctica Really Like?”
Want to visit Fairbanks in winter? I am sharing my one week itinerary, personal experiences and tips on seeing the northern lights in Fairbanks, along with ideas for other things to do in Fairbanks and the surrounding area.
Alaska is a popular travel destination. With glaciers, an abundance of wildlife, and the tallest mountain in North America, the diversity of things to see and do is as big as the state.
For most people, an Alaska journey usually takes place in the summer months, but not for my husband and me. Always on the lookout for unique travel experiences, we chose to visit Fairbanks in winter because we hoped to see the northern lights.
Continue reading “Yes, You Should Visit Fairbanks in Winter to See the Northern Lights!”
Getting to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Tokyo was an easy day trip that I did on my own during my winter visit to Japan.
Ever since I watched the PBS Nature episode about Japanese snow monkeys, I hoped that one day I might be able to see them in person. When I had the chance to visit Japan in winter with my husband, we took the opportunity to do a day trip to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Tokyo.
The experience with the snow monkeys was as engaging and entertaining as anything I could have wished for. In many ways, it was like looking in a mirror.
Continue reading “Exploring Japan’s Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park From Tokyo – A Look in the Mirror”
Mount Mitake National Park is not far from the hustle and bustle of central Tokyo, but with its peaceful setting, it feels a world away. I enjoyed a Tokyo day trip for a Mount Mitake hike and discovered that in Japan nature and religion come together on top of a mountain.
Mount Mitake in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park was a green and peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Tokyo. Only 90 minutes away, it was easily accessible and provided a non touristy cultural experience as I hiked with the locals past shrines, waterfalls, and a natural moss covered rock garden.
Continue reading “A Day Trip From Tokyo For a Mount Mitake Hike – Where Nature and Religion Meet”
One of the highlights on my recent Iceland ProCruises tour was a stop to Flatey Island. This is a private island with summer holiday homes and Iceland ProCruises is the only tour company allowed to stop here.
The island has a large puffin colony that is easy to get to and to photograph. This little guy or gal had just gone fishing and was standing there with his catch, keeping a close eye on all of us. He clearly had no intention of sharing.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
This beautiful swan was following me as I walked along the canals of Burano in the early morning. I think it was hoping to get some food, but I had none to give. I waited for quite a while for the swan to swim to this particular section of the canal where the colorful houses were reflecting shades of pink and yellow. Eventually, it cooperated. Patience is a virtue that I don’t always have, but in this case, it paid off.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Wadi Rum is a popular desert destination in Jordan. Broad stretches of reddish tinged sand are interspersed with fantastical rock formations that dwarf over tourists riding in camel caravans. I’ve been fortunate to visit twice, each time staying at a Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp while experiencing the unique activities this desert offers. I share my personal experiences and lots of tips for planning a trip to Wadi Rum.
I had not heard of Wadi Rum until I started doing research about what to see and do in Jordan. As it turns out, I had already seen its landscape since this UNESCO protected area has been used as a filming location in many recent blockbuster movies including “Martian”, the “Star Wars” movies and Disney’s “Aladdin”.
Continue reading “Finding Mars on Earth at a Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp in Jordan”
Photographing in Antarctica can be challenging. Whether you use a cell phone or a large digital camera, use these tips to help you get the best possible photos of your once-in-a-lifetime trip.
This story has received an Honorable Mention in the annual Society of American Travel Writers Lowell Thomas competion in the Service Oriented Consumer Work category. This is the premier awards recognition for American travel journalists.
You’ve just booked and paid for that top bucket list trip to Antarctica. It will be your dream trip come true and you want to make sure you come home with the best possible Antarctic photos along with all those special memories.
Continue reading “Photographing in Antarctica – 19 Antarctica Photography Tips for All Skill Levels”
These are some of my favorite Antarctica cruise photos from my recent trip on the Sapphire Princess that took me around South America and to the Antarctic peninsula. It was quite the adventure.
The feature photo for this post was recognized with an Honorable Mention award in the Landscape and Nature category in the 2023 North American Travel Journalists Association Excellence in Travel Journalism competition.
To say that I took a lot of photos on a recent cruise to South America and Antarctica is a huge understatement. But if this was going to be a once in a lifetime trip, then I was going to make sure I captured every moment. Continue reading “Penguins and Ice and So Much More – My Favorite Antarctica Cruise Photos”
If you’ve seen the movie Martian then you have seen the unearthly landscape that makes up the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wadi Rum in Jordan. Day tours of the area are common, but for a truly out of this world experience, consider spending a night surrounded by nothing but desert sand and star filled skies.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
