Author archive
January 1, 2018
Baby boomers are the darling of the travel industry. And why not? Most are empty nesters and have the time, desire, and expendable income to travel. According to AARP’s Baby Boomer Travel Trends, most Boomers (99%) will take at least one leisure trip in 2017, with an average of five or more trips expected throughout […]
December 18, 2017
The Republic of Moldova is a fairly unfamiliar landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It has a long history of land fragmentation, including stints at being part of the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Romania, and the Ukrainian SSR. Per capita, Moldova has the poorest economy in Europe and is also the least visited country in […]
November 16, 2017
Transfagarasan road trip winds through the Fagaras Mountains of Romania, part of the Carpathian Mountain Range that connects Transylvania to Wallachia via a shocking series of white-knuckle hairpin turns and sharp descents. The 56-mile path climbs to an altitude of 6,699 feet, slinking past stunning outlooks of lakes, waterfalls, and a dam. After our initial […]
October 16, 2017
Resting on the banks of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg, Virginia is a quintessentially charming historic city, with an appealing and lively downtown area brimming with shops, cafes, and restaurants. Sporting a mild autumn climate that can only be described as perfect, there’s no better time to visit this gem of a city. Within hours of […]
October 5, 2017
It’s on nearly everyone’s Bucket List, and since I’m a certified scuba diver, it was definitely on mine. So when it came time to celebrate one of those milestone midlife baby boomer birthdays, I could think of no better place than Cairns Great Barrier Reef. In addition to exploring one of the world’s top scuba […]
September 14, 2017
“They carry on as though they are part of the old USSR,” said Alex, our Moldovan guide from JayWay Travel. “Transnistria has repeatedly asked to join the Russian Federation.” Unrecognized by the United Nations or any other sovereign nation, Transnistrians couldn’t care less. In spite of being one of the poorest places in Europe, they […]
August 22, 2017
Diving Cairns, my hand stretched out, the piece of swaying seaweed I was holding beckoned the friendly Hawksbill turtle who’d been curiously circling us. He started swimming toward me…. It was my birthday. One of those “milestones,” so I wanted to do something special. Really special. I’d only recently earned my PADI diving certification, so […]
July 13, 2017
“Don’t go to street markets!” warned our Chinese guide from Viking River Cruises. “Dangerous. You get sick.” I get it. Nobody wants tourists to have a bad experience. Viking, in particular, caters to an older, affluent crowd who prefer fine dining and luxury experiences. Enter me, a well-traveled adventure junkie who isn’t good at following […]
July 10, 2017
China can be a logistical challenge for foreigners. The country’s recent tourism boom has put this country on many bucket lists, but maneuvering by plane or train is still difficult due to the language barrier and cultural differences. Touring by boat, however, is a different story. Viking River Cruises provides a luxurious, stress-free journey throughout […]
June 1, 2017
China Landmarks and Highlights China landmarks, 5,000 years of history and culture, the discoveries of tea, silk, papermaking, printing, the compass, and gunpowder, Confucianism, through dynastic rule, and on to Communism, Chinese culture has made an impact on the world. The last few decades have seen not just an increase in tourism abroad, but with […]
