This weekend, I celebrated the German festival “Oktoberfest” for the first time. Our friends took us to a charming Bavarian-style village called Helen, which is nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. We were hungry after the drive from Atlanta, so we decided to make our first stop at The Troll Tavern. There weren’t…
Category: Travel
From “Song of the Open Road”
I wanted to share these lines from “Song of the Open Road” by Walt Whitman. They remind me of the joys of traveling: the breathtaking sights, exhilarating pace, interesting people, and personal reflections that one encounters on the road. These lines also inspire me to reflect upon the overall meaning of life’s journey: …
Driving Through Ray Charles’ Hometown
I enjoyed watching the movie Ray on the big screen, but I never imagined that, eight years later, I would be tracking down historic markers in Ray Charles’ childhood hometown. I still remember how I felt as I watched that movie. I went into it with low expectations, and I was caught off guard by…
In Search of a Great Piece of Luggage
Their smiles were contagious, and their travel stories were fascinating. I was inspired by a handful of travelers we met in Guatemala earlier this year–after I discovered that they had saved their money and were spending a year just traveling the world. Sure, I’d take a year of traveling around Africa, Europe, Asia, and South…
Driving to “Other Countries”
We can’t afford to fly to Paris right now, but we did walk through this “Paris” a few months ago. After our good friends supplied us with their extra Disney tickets, we decided to go for a leisurely stroll through Epcot’s World Showcase. Yes, Paris is much smaller in Orlando than it is in France,…
Finding Adventures in St. Augustine
I love planning trips. When I’m excited about an upcoming trip, I’ll often research it for weeks. I tend to approach life as “a maximizer.” Basically, I try to get every last drop of beauty and value out of each experience. So, when I travel, I want to understand the local culture, discover the most…
Antigua: Exploring a Beautiful Colonial City
My favorite city in Guatemala is a charming colonial town known as Antigua. People go there to see its cobblestoned streets, brightly-painted houses, elaborate churches and ruins, colorful festivities leading up to Easter, and beautiful parks. You can see a panoramic view of its central park, Parque Central, in the video below. One of…
One of the Most Beautiful Places I’ve Visited
One of my favorite spots in the world is a natural wonder called Semuc Champey. This limestone land bridge, which extends about 1,000 feet over a gushing river, is found near Lanquin, Guatemala. Formed into that limestone, there are gentle waterfalls, small caves, and turquoise pools where people can enjoy a leisurely swim, surrounded by…
Small Adventures Can Be Great
I used to overlook the small, day-to-day adventures. They were just “fillers” between the bigger trips that I was buying tickets for. That all changed when Tony and I realized that we were completely broke. It was a painful transition to go from being an idealistic globetrotter to a realistic homebody, but, looking back, I’m…
I Was That Kid in the Candy Store
When I discover something unique and interesting, I often feel like a kid, full of awe and excitement. Recently, Tony and I took a day trip to a nearby city. We couldn’t find much to do–other than stopping by a fast food joint for lunch–but my eyes lit up when I spotted the sign “Ray’s…