Exploring the Museum of Emigration in Antwerp, Belgium
Visitors to the Red Star Line Museum, a new addition to the city of Antwerp, can experience the fascinating story of people in search of a new home in North America. History of Immigration to the US Immigration is a concept on which the United States was built, and one which today evokes heated discussion in Congress and amongst our citizens. Since America's earliest...
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Disney Springs Discount Orlando Rates
If 2018 is your time to finally take the family to Walt Disney World, look into booking one of the value Disney Springs Hotels which offer specials for stays almost all year long. Bargain watchers take note: these hotels (in the commercial area formerly known as Downtown Disney) are closest to the parks without being Disney managed, offer free shuttles every 30 minutes so you can leave your...
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My Quick Forest Getaway
As I rounded the corner I felt my breath escape my lungs with a loud push, my jaw dropping to the ground in awe. What was in front of me was so magnificent in beauty and size I couldn’t quite believe it was real. It was the view you only read about in fairy tales or myths. The trees around me helped to spark my imagination of the view in front of me, the feeling of walking into the pages of a fantasy...
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A Lighthouse, Fish, and St. Patricks Day…Oh My!
¡Bienvenidas to La Coruña, Spain! Nestled in the northwest corner of Spain, right above neighboring Portugal sits the autonomous community of Galicia. Located on the edge of the Atlantic lays one of Galicia’s most important cities, La Coruña. The city itself dates back to Roman times around the second century AD. The Romans utilized this perfect costal location to create a bustling port city...
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Kauai: Just Around the River Bend
As my family and I drive through the lush green roads of Kauai, I can't help but gasp at what surrounds me. The winding roads cut through meadows of tall grasses that are framed by massive mountains. While my family chatters on, I cannot help but to quietly observe that the mountains seem to protectively tower over the island, much like a father protecting his daughter. Since I grew up in the busy...
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The Secret of Salinas
A quaint city located in the Andes mountains of Ecuador at about 11,600 feet above sea level, Salinas de Guaranda is small, but from them I have learned that even the smallest things can push the biggest obstacles. Salinas is a peaceful city of vibrant-colored buildings surrounded by lush, green mountains. The name Salinas originates from the city’s infamous salt mine, which is situated in the city...
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Fraternité in France
Stepping out of the Charles de Gaulle Etoile subway stop and being greeted by the Arc de Triomphe as snow-peppered wind kissed my nose was the most magical moment of my life. Knowing that Napoleon’s prestige brought an entire continent to its knees and seeing the remnants of his power mere blocks from bullet-worn buildings from the German occupation felt like a swift basketball to the gut. I remember...
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Hau’oli in Hawaii
I eagerly stepped onto land I had never been on before, but to my surprise, it felt like home. In July of last summer, our nine day adventure began in the beautiful island of Oahu. Happiness comes in many shapes and forms. For my family, it was the conveyor belt that moved our shopping cart between the different floors at Walmart. From this first glimpse of Hawaii, I knew I would love my time there. The...
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Visit to Denali National Park
When most people think “vacation,” they think shopping, beaches, lots of sun. When I think vacation, I imagine the wilderness, scenic landscapes and wildlife. Alaska fit my idea of vacation perfectly. A place of natural beauty virtually untainted by human civilization, Alaska is abundant with gorgeous scenery, a peaceful atmosphere, and wildlife perfect for a nature lover. Kicking off our search...
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Mosquito Beach
Mosquito Beach, MI is a very deceiving name, for the beach itself is anything but deterring. We began the day by hiking through dense woods, past trickling streams, and over rolling sand dunes. We trudged along for what seemed like hours but in reality was only about an hour and half. Finally, it was as if the clouds parted and we were seeing the first rays of sunshine after a storm. The path opened...
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Blueberries in Belarus
When I look back, my fondest memory is small, round, and blue. One might expect that a different object would surface in my memory, but my mind always circles back to the blueberry, or chernika, in Russian. And not just a single berry, but bucket after bucket laden with this juicy fruit just screaming to be eaten. Every couple of years, my family would fly thousands of miles to return back home,...
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Living the Imperial Life in Vienna
There are few European cities associated with imperial style like Vienna, where hundreds of palaces, gilded monuments and museums attest to a grand past. Today, visitors to the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire can experience that lavish lifestyle for themselves. Sleeping at a Castle Relive the life of a Hapsburg empress at the delectable Schönbrunn Grand Suite...
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