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 …
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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 …
Hiking over Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes
Kearsarge Lakes are 3 lakes nestled at the bottom of a valley in the Sierra Mountains of California. To reach these beautiful lakes requires a hike over Kearsarge Pass. While it’s possible to do this hike as a long day hike, I recommend taking a few days to really enjoy the scenery and cope with the altitude. We did this hike over 4 days including the 6+ hour drive each way from Southern California. Kearsarge Lakes Day 1: Hike from Onion Valley Campground to Gilbert Lake Leaving San Diego around 6 am, we arrived at Onion Valley Campground around 12:30 pm. We left our car in the parking lot (free of charge), gathered up our packs, and began our hike on the Kearsarge Pass …
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Incredible Experiences in Kaua’i
Kaua'i is the oldest and fourth largest island in Hawaii. Often referred to as the Garden Island, Kaua'i is lush, green, and full of natural beauty. There is so much to experience on this gorgeous island including mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches. Below is a list of incredible experiences that shouldn't be missed when visiting the slice of paradise that is Kaua'i. Kayak and hike to Secret Falls A great way to start your vacation in Kaua'i is with a kayak and hike to Secret Falls. You can either book a tour or rent kayaks and do the excursion on your own. The route is pretty easy to follow, and there will be other people around if you find yourself unsure of the …