Recent articles

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  8 Days in Costa Rica

  by Lori Traylor on Mar 12, 2025, 12:00 AM

  Costa Rica is a great place to visit. I would suggest 7 days as a minimum as the country is so diverse with so much to see. One needs to account for travel time to get to the various areas, everything is a drive. The best time of year for Costa Rica is dry season which is December - April. If you are all about surfing, you might want to visit during the rainy season. And, if you want to see the turtles nesting, then come in July or August. There are two major airports in Costa Rica. We start our travels at San Jose. For maximum exposure to the country of Costa Rica, with abundant nature and wildlife, I suggest starting in Arenal and making your way to Manual Antonio. If you can stay longer, you should definitely add in the Cloud Forest. Or, if you want to stay longer for wildlife, there are many places to go from Manual Antonio.

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  3 Days in Crystal River Florida

  by Lori Traylor on Feb 27, 2024, 12:00 AM

  Crystal River is a fun place to visit if you are all about nature. Come in the winter and early spring to see the manatees. Come just about year round to hike and bike and just commune with nature. This is a small town full of hike and bike trails! We planned this trip for a long weekend, purely to enjoy the wildlife. Crystal River is an easy 2-hour drive from Tampa Airport, and you can plan many fun seaside stops along the way.

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  Paris to Normandy

  by Lori Traylor on Sep 1, 2023, 12:00 AM

  Paris is divided into zones. It is helpful to learn and understand what zones you would like to see. Most of the tourist attractions are in Zone 1, you would want to travel about Zone 1-3 for sure. Zone 1 is the core of Paris, extrapolating out to Zone 2 & 3. Zone 4 includes Versailles, Zone 5 includes both airports, and Disneyland Paris. Understanding this helps you to understand what mass transit options you might want to select. The following is a suggested 12 day itinerary if you have never been to Paris, or France. With some easy suggestions to customize to suit your tastes.

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  Multi-Day (5-10) Roadtrip Seattle to San Francisco

  by Lori Traylor on Jun 15, 2023, 12:00 AM

  This is a great itinerary for a driving scenic tour of the West Coast. It can easily be adapted to your time schedule. You can start with all the fun in Seattle and then take the scenic coastal drive to the hubbub and excitement of San Francisco. How else can you see Crater Lake and Redwoods, whales and eagles and enjoy West Coast coffee and wines and San Francisco food?

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  Belize Beach and Wildlife in 7 Days

  by Lori Traylor on Jun 1, 2023, 12:00 AM

  Belize is geographically diverse and a fascinating country. It is the heartland of the ancient Maya empire, so a Mayan ruin is a must see on this trip. It has 5 different environments, definitely something for everyone! This is the least populated Central American country, has the only jaguar preserve in the world, is home to the 2nd largest barrier reef, has rainforests and jungles, and, of course, is home to one of the largest sink holes - the Great Blue Hole. This country is 8,867 sq miles, so you will do a little travel to cover it all. The people are very friendly and well-educated. They are proud of their heritage and welcome chances to share their stories. The best time to visit is during the dry season late November to early May. Come, learn about Belize, so much more than a jungle and a beach!

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  Immersive Indonesia

  by Lori Traylor on Jun 1, 2023, 12:00 AM

  Indonesia is a diverse and fascinating country, the largest in southeast Asia. You have the wildlife and endangered Borneo orangutan to live volcanoes to the temples and beauty of Bali. Here is an immersive and inclusive itinerary to cover all aspects of Indonesia. We will start in the jungles of Borneo and end in the comfort of Bali. This is a 13-day itinerary, but would be easy to trim to fewer days if so desired. Indonesians are amazingly friendly and helpful, this is a country not to be missed. The best time to visit is in the dry season, May - September. There is so much more culture, beauty and diversity to explore in Indonesia, beyond just Bali.

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  3 Days in San Antonio

  by Lori Traylor on Feb 10, 2023, 12:00 AM

  When it comes to San Antonio, it is really all about the Alamo and the Riverwalk. You are in beautiful Texas Hill Country, enjoying the history of Texas. San Antonio has the largest concentration of Spanish colonial architecture in North America, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and has the oldest active cathedral sanctuary in the US. This is a great long weekend stop, a solid mix of historical artefacts and fun and frivolity of the Riverwalk. It is not surprising the amount of Mexican influence so easily experienced in San Antonio, with fantastic Mexican and Tex-Mexican food. What surprises many is the German influence. This is also a town of festivals and music. Be sure to check what could be going on before you visit. My recommendations for places to stay and restaurants to visit are listed at the bottom.

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