We left Durango and, with a bit of discussion, axed off our detour to Monument Valley. It would have added three plus hours onto our trip that day, and thus take away from our time in Arches and/or Canyonlands. So Utah it would now be for the next week or so, and is where I … More Intro to Utah: Mars or Moab?
Durango! I’ll do my best to keep this short and sweet. Prior to our arrival there, we side-tripped to Mesa Verde Park, where Native Americans formerly dwelled. And during a relatively small part of their time there, they moved their living quarters under the rock cliffs that most of us have probably seen in a … More Colorado’s Last, Steamy Blast
**Please excuse typos — time is limited!** — This is becoming a trend, my failure to post a blog in the early part of our adventures. I’d like to tell you I have a great excuse, but as usual I can only muster a busy schedule, fatigue due to lack of sleep, and the general … More Flights, Fizz and Foliage
The week has arrived: that of packing panic, last minute errands, advising the housesitter(s), worrying about the cats, etc. etc. OH, and that of the beginning of our two week vacation to a large swath of the Southwestern US! With much going on, and much more interesting things to post about once we hit the road, … More Southwest Itinerary (pre-departure rerun!)
It’s here: the final countdown to our trip across the US Southwest. Before the month ends, we’ll be on the other side of the country, road-trippin’ and hiking our way through golden aspens, other-worldly rock formations, and the grandest of all canyons. You can definitely call me excited, but am I prepared? I’ve been pecking … More Vacation Time: Forethought & Planning vs. The Free Spirit
Hey, what can I say? I love food. So I’m going to transition last week’s discussion about how my food foundation had been massively shaken by travel into how I’ve taken this big world of food and crammed it into my very own mouth…errr, kitchen. I cook *so much* more now, and I cook better. Flashback to 2011: I’m … More Notched, Part 2: Cramming a Big Food World Into My Small Kitchen
Isn’t it incredible how easy it is to overlook fantastic destinations that are a day – or perhaps weekend – trip away from home? I’ve spent countless hours researching, or at least dreaming about, far off destinations accessible only by air travel, but just this weekend “discovered” a beautiful, recreation-filled state park that’s only a short … More Travel Local, Too!
A friend of mine is travelling to Spain, and our conversations have unearthed many amazing and delicious memories of last year’s Spanish vacation. She’ll be visiting Barcelona and Madrid, the former with its fantastic Gaudi architecture and oceanside vibe, and the latter with its pedestrian-centric plazas, loaded museums, and – of course – TAPAS. How … More Revisiting Spain
You’re an independent traveler and a capable online researcher, and you don’t need a travel agency to choose where you’re going to stay on your much-anticipated, desperately needed vacation….right?!? So am I, and I know how simple booking a hotel initially seems. But when it comes time to book where to stay – a rather … More The Balancing Act of Booking Hotels
Not that I’m complaining, but planning a trip itinerary is impressively difficult for those of us who want to maximize every travel opportunity without stretching the itinerary beyond the bounds of common vacation decency. Here it is, that moment when a silver bird is finally going to drop you off someplace amazing, and you’ve got only [insert … More Pinballing Through the Southwest, and the Painful Joy of Itinerary Planning
Travel Notch 