Discovering the Natural World in Norway
My sister Hanna and I sprinted down the dirt path, with our parents lagging behind. Ahead of us was one of the many stunning mountains that line Norway’s fjords. Waterfalls spewed from its cliffs. At the top was Buerbreen glacier. We had been to Norway many times before to visit our mother’s family, but this was our first trip to the west coast. As I raced Hanna to the beginning of the trail, I...
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Bear-ly Up the Mountain
The trail, meandering below the canopy as hardly a trickle of dust, seemed nondescript. We stood at the edge of its start, our backpacks hanging from our sweaty backs as mosquitos buzzed our ears. “Ten miles will be easy,” my mother assured us. Us three kids glanced at each other, our eyes bright and nervous, and then swung our heads to the sign. WATCH OUT FOR BEARS, it blared. It warned about...
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A Volunteer Trip I’ll Never Forget
Over the last six years, I have amassed over a thousand community service hours, volunteering at a variety of different events and organizations. I’ve worked at trash pick-ups, tutoring clubs, golf tournaments, you name it. However, there has been one experience that has resonated with me. When I was a freshman in high school, I met a group called Ascend. They are a diverse medley of college students...
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The Bahamas
From the bright blue sky above, the sun beat down, casting its rays of warmth across the Bahamian sand. I felt warmed from the inside out, while a light misting from the ocean kept me cool. The soft breeze tickled the hair surrounding my face and felt pleasantly cool against my skin. The tangy smell of salt enveloped me, but did not overwhelm me like it does for some. It was a comforting scent, a scent...
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The Magic of Lost Lake
During the summer of 2018 my wanderlust was still going strong and we were visiting my family in Grand Junction, Colorado. My only goal for our one free day was to see some big pine trees. My mother suggested a lake she visited as a child. The recent reviews mentioned mosquitoes so we covered up and brought a small bottle of bug spray (spoiler: we should of brought more spray). The drive up to the...
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Lessons From Whales
Everyone anxiously stood still, holding their breath. Excitement exuded from everyone on board as we all waited to see what we journeyed so far for. Then we heard it: the whooshing sound of a whale exhaling. Our heads snapped to where the sound came from and there he was. A magnificent Humpback whale rubbing against the rocks. Everyone smiled and let out sounds of excitement. There was a rush of cameras...
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Here Lies a World Down Under
Finally, after about a twenty-four hour plane ride from Brooklyn, New York to Cairns, Australia, my father and I made it. We wobbled off the plane with water retention in our legs, brimming with excitement to begin the next part of our journey. We stepped off of the plane onto an open tarmac surrounded by hundreds of palm trees and mountains. These mountains seemed so high that they met the clouds...
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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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