One of the top things I wanted to do while in Norway was the sauna and fjord experience. While we were in Oslo, we chickened out of doing it after seeing ice floating in the fjord. I was already regretting this failure when we got on the plane to Tromsø. But luckily we would get another chance once on the ground in Tromsø. Saunas are very popular throughout the Scandinavian countries. In Norway, combining sitting in a steamy sauna with refreshing dips in the cold fjords has become quite popular in many cities around the country. Tromsø is one of those cities. Getting to Tromsø The flight up to Tromsø was short and actually an awesome experience …
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February Trip to Oslo, Norway
My breath rose up as a white puff into the frigid February air. I tucked my chin further into the warm scarf wrapped around my neck. Then the sun freed itself from the clouds and shined down between the grand buildings surrounding us. Well that’s better. It's amazing how much some direct rays of sun can warm up a 25°F day in Oslo. February isn’t the time of year I would have normally chosen to explore Oslo. We booked a cruise to see the northern lights in northern Norway, and that happens in the winter. Therefore we found ourselves experiencing this modern city while wrapped up in extra layers of warm clothes. We enjoyed our time here despite the cold weather. …
2 Weeks in the Dominican Republic
Our time in the Dominican Republic was spent enjoying lovely beaches and learning about its history. Our trip began on the beach in popular Punta Cana. Then we traveled to Santo Domingo to learn about the country’s history. For the second half of our trip, we relaxed on the picturesque beaches of Las Terrenas. We visited the Dominican Republic in January of 2025. Any prices listed were the cost at that time. Punta Cana A Failed New Year's Eve We had planned on 3 nights and 2 full days in the Punta Cana area to start our trip. We were to arrive December 30th, giving us a day to figure out where we should celebrate New Year’s Eve the next evening. However, flight delays caused us to …
Zanzibar – History, Beaches, and Monkeys
As I hang out in another beach town in a very different part of the world, I realize it’s now or never to get a post out on Zanzibar. We visited Stone Town, Jambiani Beach, Jozani Forest, and Nungwi Beach during our week in Zanzibar. We visited this gorgeous Tanzanian island in October of 2024. Stone Town Stone Town is the oldest part of Zanzibar City and the former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate. When Zanzibar and Tanganyika joined together to make present day Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status with Stone Town as its local government center. Stone Town got its name from the use of coral stone as the primary building material. Stone town is full of small, …
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Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mafia Island
Why did we Visit Mafia Island? We visited Mafia Island in hopes of seeing whale sharks, and we were not disappointed. Seeing these majestic creatures was spectacular! Whale sharks are not whales nor are they sharks. They are actually the world’s largest fish and can grow to an astounding 60 feet long. They eat plankton, krill, and other tiny fish. Although they are extremely large, they are gentle and generally safe to snorkel around. When researching travel in Tanzania, I stumbled across a blog about snorkeling with whale sharks in Mafia Island. What?! I had no idea Tanzania had whale sharks around its islands. I was determined to make it happen for …
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Our Incredible 8 Day Tanzania Safari
We spent an incredible 8 days on safari in northern Tanzania in October of 2024. This truly was an epic adventure! I have gone on safari in South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya in the past and they were all great. Tanzania was something extra special though. I never expected to have so many incredible wildlife sightings, one after another, during this trip. The Serengeti was especially magical and is my new favorite safari destination. Our safari included Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater all in about a week. We traveled with the company Safari 360. They did a great job organizing and executing our Tanzania safari. Below …