Great US Destinations

Exploring California: Those Are Really BIG Trees

Nancy Great US Destinations, Vacations Around the World , , , 0 Comment

When my husband and I discussed our northern California trip as we planned over the past year, we both agreed that of all the cool places we were going to visit, the one that we were most excited about was seeing the giant sequoias. We’d seen pictures of course, which made us both eager to see just how big these trees *really* were.

Well, let me just say, they are BIG. Huge. Enormous. Gigantic. Add any additional superlatives you want, but truly, we were astonished at the sheer size of the sequoias, once we were there in person. Read more

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Exploring California: The Foggy and Fun Coast

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While we spent most of our northern California tour in remote areas of the state – dominated by majestic mountains, towering trees, and granite cliffs (along with it being quite hot and dry) – we actually began and ended our trip in areas that were VERY different from the rest of our time. From the city vibe of San Francisco to the quaint and historical areas of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Cannery Row, it was fascinating to explore these coastal areas – to say nothing of experiencing how different (in many ways) they were from what we saw the rest of the week.

We began our California adventure in San Francisco, and this was certainly a city that I had been looking forward to visiting for a long time. Having been to Los Angeles and southern California, we knew San Francisco was going to be different from that part of the state – and we weren’t disappointed! Read more

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Exploring California: Where’s the Wine?

Nancy Great US Destinations, Vacations Around the World 0 Comment

We just returned from a wonderful 9 days touring Northern California with Globus Tours, and while it’s always sad to return home from a trip, we had such a memorable time, that we are still smiling about all that we saw, did, and learned! While I shared some info and photos on my Facebook page last week, I wanted to take the next several weeks to explore some of the places we visited a bit more in depth.

So today, we are headed to California’s wine country! Read more

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Top 5 Tips for Planning Your Vacation to Hawaii

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, Great US Destinations, Vacations Around the World , , , , , , , 0 Comment

So you’re planning that long-awaited bucket list vacation to Hawaii – how exciting! Once you’ve decided which island(s) you’re visiting, then comes the fun part of planning the rest of your trip. Of course, your travel agent will be happy to guide you, but to start, here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. Read more

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Exploring the “Other” Islands of Hawaii

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, Great US Destinations , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

The 7 inhabited islands  (and over 100 smaller uninhabited islets, atolls, and coral reefs that count as “islands”) that we collectively know as Hawaii, provide some of the most beautiful sites in the world. Visitors to this paradise of islands will also find a fascinating history and culture, delicious regional cuisine, and a wide variety of outdoor activities – kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and of course surfing.

And each island is different from the next! While Oahu may be the first place that visitors think of when planning a vacation to Hawaii, many folks find that one (or more) of the other islands may be the perfect Hawaiian vacation destination – especially for those looking for a quieter, more “nature-centered” visit.  Read more

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