Explore Often

06/19/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴- The Palace

Our last stop of the evening was at the Palace. The performers go all out to entertain you.

My favorite part is the flapping of the huge hand fans. 🪭

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/17/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴- Stroll down Ocean Drive

Next Stop - Brunch and people watching.

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/17/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴- Stroll down Ocean Drive

Visiting Miami in June is 🥵 hot, but it’s a trade off. If you like less crowds, and the ability to walk into any hotel or restaurant on a whim without a reservation, then this is a good time.

But if you’re going for the hustle and bustle of the crowd and people watching, I’d suggest the cooler months.

This was a 4-Day Power Trip. Those 4 days included direct flying and Uber time. This left us with 3 full days of fun.

We spent our last full day roaming up, down, and around Ocean Drive.

1st Stop -A morning game of rooftop chess over coffee before heading down the strip for brunch.

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/16/2024

If you’re looking for a sign, THIS IS IT. 😁🪧

Be sure to stop in to the gift shop at Wynwood Walls. They have fun, inspirational signs.

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/16/2024

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing Dads. 🙌🏽😇👴🏽

06/16/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴-
INSIDE OF Wynwood Walls

A visit to Wynwood Walls in Miami is an absolute must. We literally came back a 2nd day because there is so much to see.

These are the murals within the inside of the paid area. New murals go up every 6-12 months on average.

Be sure to add this area to your list when you visit. 🤩🌴

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/14/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴-
OUTSIDE OF Wynwood Walls

A visit to Wynwood Walls in Miami is an absolute must.

The murals here are just amazing. 🤩

I’m breaking this down into 2 posts because there is so much beauty to see. AND… this is not all of it.

These are the murals on surrounding streets along the OUTSIDE of the paid area.

Be sure to add this area to your list when you visit. 🤩🌴

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/14/2024

It’s the 24th week of 2024! 🤩
For those of you who said that you want to follow along with us and TRAVEL MORE, your trip jar should reach $600 by the end of THIS week.

You can enjoy a spectacular adventure in next 24 months if you start planning NOW. Remember, $25 (two glasses of wine) saved each week adds up to $2600 in just 24 months.

Traveling around the world is the best education you can buy. With the right amount of planning, ANY income level can experience amazing adventures.

My hope is to get you to ACT and follow through on your own dreams.

Let’s empty our bucket lists together. 🌎

For a detailed account of one or all of our adventures, or help planning an adventure of your own including;
- All prices
- Hotel selections and why
- Financial planning timeline
- Pets/Boarding suggestions
- Airport information
- Packing lists/advice, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, follow and message us here.

Life is a gift. Travel Often.

06/14/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴- Visit the Art District

Tokyo Rain Exhibit at the GGA gallery located inside of Wynwood Walls.

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/13/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴- Visit the Art District

A visit to Wynwood Walls in Miami is an absolute must. There was so much to see that we went two days in a row and we still didn’t see everything. 😉

Our first stop was the GGA gallery located inside of Wynwood Walls.

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreOften1111

06/12/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN Miami 🌴- 🏋🏽‍♀️

As a beach j***y, and the owner of X-Trainers Personal Training, this is what heaven looks like to me. 🏋🏽‍♀️🌴☀️

1st stop, step outside and workout right on the beach. 🏖️

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/10/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN 🏄🏾‍♀️Oahu
Jump Rock 🪨 😳

Before leaving our Hawaiian Island adventures, I want to mention a few odds and ends.

Rock jumping is a popular in Waimea Bay on the North Shore. You can jump from about 5 feet to 20 feet high. 😱

This spot is usually crowded, but jumping is only allowed during the summer months because the waves are much too big and crushingly strong during surf season. 🏄🏾‍♀️

The first picture (taken by Marvin Rodriguez), is how calm the water looked when I made my first jump. The rest of my photos are how it looked on this visit during surf season.

Although we couldn’t jump out of season, I highly recommend doing this if you are visiting in the summer. It’s like a natural playground for local kids and teenagers.

*Check out this video courtesy of This Travel Dream to get a better idea:
https://youtu.be/TpCUKNuQydU

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/08/2024

Nerd Alert🤓

The concept of individual land ownership was foreign to ancient Hawaiians. Instead they followed a land management system known as Ahupua'a.

This system was a means to regulate and sustain resources for the people that live within it.

“An ahupua'a was a division of
land that extended from Mauka
(mountain region), through the Kula (valley/plains) and to Makai (ocean region).”

“Each ahupuaa contained all the necessary resources for a community to survive. The Hawaiians made sure to steward these resources carefully. Each had Kuleana (responsibility) over its own lands, with Konohiki (headmen) managing its people and resources.”

Think of an ahupua’a like a slice of pie that begins at the top of the mountain and goes down to the ocean. The people who lived in the mountains would trade with those who lived by the ocean.

This land system made for a complete balance of resources and kept the Hawaiian people alive.

Traveling the world to explore beautiful places is amazing. But for us, it’s more than just a good time. Like this lesson of sustainability from the ancient Hawaiian culture, there is so much to learn from every culture. 🙌🏽

Get out and see the world.🌎 🌏🌍

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/07/2024

It’s the 23rd week of 2024! 🤩
For those of you who said that you want to follow along with us and TRAVEL MORE, your trip jar should reach $575 by the end of THIS week.

You can enjoy a spectacular adventure in next 24 months if you start planning NOW. Remember, $25 (two glasses of wine) saved each week adds up to $2600 in just 24 months.

Traveling around the world is the best education you can buy. With the right amount of planning, ANY income level can experience amazing adventures.

My hope is to get you to ACT and follow through on your own dreams.

Let’s empty our bucket lists together. 🌎

For a detailed account of one or all of our adventures, or help planning an adventure of your own including;
- All prices
- Hotel selections and why
- Financial planning timeline
- Pets/Boarding suggestions
- Airport information
- Packing lists/advice, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, follow and message us here.

Life is a gift. Travel Often.

06/07/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN🏖️Maui

Maui was our base location on a few previous trips. But this time, our base was Oahu specifically because it was high surf season.

By booking the first 🛫 out and the last 🛬 back, we packed a lot into this one day round trip adventure to Maui.

We spent (scroll back):
- 3 hours on the helicopter ride,
- 1 hour at the Twin Falls Hike,
- 3 hours at the 4 Falls Hike, and
- the remaining 3ish hours grabbing sushi and strolling around Paia.

As a day trip, we saved HOURS not having to pack, check bags, and check into a new hotel. And our original rental car was ready and waiting for us in the daily parking lot upon our return to Oahu. 🏄🏾‍♀️

We use Southwest Points to Island Hop whenever possible.
Grab Points Here:
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/226j/ZTYEG8HKSM

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/06/2024

Travel Tip:
Some may think this is overkill but from past experience, we always do the following when renting a car for any destination.

1. Be sure to walk around your rental car BEFORE you load it. Take pictures of everything and videotape the car. This way, if any scratches don’t match the checklist sheet that they give you, walk back in to the desk and point it out!!! Don’t wait until the end of your trip.

2. When we fill the car up before returning, we always take a picture with the date included in the picture to make sure that no surprise charges pop up on our credit card for gas refill charges.

3. I check with my insurance carrier before every trip because some things are covered and some things are not. Domestic can be different than international.

You don’t want to pay for extra insurance if you don’t have to. On this trip (internationally) we did pay $11 per day extra ($77 total) for insurance based on the conversation that we had with our personal auto carrier.

06/06/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN🏖️Maui
Hike all Four Falls of Na’Ili’Ili’Haele.

Let’s ramp it up a bit. 🥾

The first hike on this day was a level 2 on our activity scale. This one ranks an 8.5. 😳(Last Pic)

If you ask a local where the best hikes are in Maui, they will respond with mile markers. This one is at mile marker 6.7ish on Hana Highway.

⛔️Warning ⚠️
This hike is on private EMI property. I am in no way implying that there is an easement to use these trails. It is advised that you get permission from EMI. Enter at your own risk. ⛔️

But here is my story:😉🤩🤗

Years ago on my very first trip to Maui, the owner of an “off-the-grid” location where we were staying, gave me cryptic instructions to what still proves to be one my favorite hikes.

She said that this sign (1st pic) is your indicator that you are on the right path. 😳

Being a bit of a rule follower, I skipped it. Later that evening when she asked how we liked it, I told her that we didn’t go.

She had left out the part that she got permission for us.

Now, I do this one every trip. It’s HARD! It ranks an 8.5 on our activity scale. (Last Pic) And it can be very dangerous.

It gets muddy. There is some vertical rope/vine climbing involved 🧗, as well as rappelling with no foot holes. And there are points where you will need to swim through short caves/pools to get to the next waterfall.

But it’s sooo worth it because each level reveals an even better view and bigger waterfall once reached. 😁

This time around, my GoPro battery was already drained (I took LOTS of video on the helicopter ride that morning). And, I totally forgot my waterproof casing for my iPhone 🤦🏽‍♀️so I didn’t swim through to the very top.

How I translated that sign after guidance from a local: 😁🤣

- Line 1: Shorter PRIVATE route to the water falls vs PUBLIC access roads.
- Line 2: No Access unless you trust climbing straight up a cliff using an old frayed rope and muddy rocks. Oh yeah...and a makeshift metal ladder that’s not bolted to anything... just stuck in the mud. One last caveat...the ladder is 12 feet tall to “help” you ascend a cliff that’s roughly 22 feet tall😳.
- Line 3: Pay Attention!
- Line 4: No “Trees” Passing (I found that a bit strange but I didn’t have on my readers 🤷🏽‍♀️😂)
- Line 5: This Hike comes with a high degree of difficulty. Some rappelling with no foot holes may be necessary. Therefore, If only one of you makes it out, the other gets to claim the other’s stuff. That’s fair! Let’s Go!

⛔️⚠️
The risks we take on our adventures are calculated. We escaped this one with a few minor cuts and scrapes.

The weather, particularly rainfall amounts, alters each visit. If you are not use to active hiking with surprise obstacles, this might not be your jam. 🤗

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/05/2024

OMG! I’m geeking out!🤓
Brandi just surprised me with this backpack. It’s AMAZING 🤩.

A trip MUST be planned around it. 🤣
When you click on the link, scroll through to see how it opens up.

I initially thought it would be uneven, so I literally packed it with all the items I would take.

Check it out!
https://amzn.to/45aNa8i

Travel fast and light with the Allpa 28L-a trimmed-down version of the Allpa 35L Travel Pack. This version still packs all the features we love about the Allpa 35L-durable, weather-resistant construction and ample organization-but the 28L comes in a size that's better suited to weekend trips.

06/05/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN🏖️Maui

Twin Falls ranks at a level 2 on our activity scale (last pic). It’s a good starter hike because it’s extremely easy to get to the waterfalls.

Located at mile marker 2 up Hana Hwy, it’s only 1.8-miles from start to finish, and takes about of 45 minutes to complete.

This is a hike that I’d only do once to check off the bucket list, or if you’re traveling with friends who have varying hiking abilities.

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/03/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN🏖️Maui 🚁

We did a quick cliff side landing and then headed back to grab our rental car to drive up Hana Hwy.

🤓FYI… if you have Apple TV, this is the exact spot they show in the screen saver. 😉

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/03/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN🏖️Maui
🚁🐘 🪨 🤩

We flew over Elephant Rock(Mokuhooniki) and the Wall of Tears on our helicopter ride.

Sometimes you really have to use your imagination to see things, but this rock was quite detailed up close. 🤩

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

06/02/2024

📌THINGS TO DO IN🏖️Maui

Let’s go on a 🚁 ride.

On THIS trip we were staying in Oahu, but booked a day trip that included a 3 hour helicopter ride.

Hopping between the Islands is very easy. Flights are typically $50 on Southwest or Hawaiian Airlines. I use points to purchase these short flights when available.

You can pack a lot in a day by booking the first 🛫out and the last 🛬 back.

By doing so, you save HOURS not having to pack, check bags, and check into a new hotel.

LOGISTICS:
- We landed in Maui at 7am, and took a 10 minute Uber 🚕 to the helicopter area.
- We boarded the chopper and our adventure began.
- By noon, we were back at the rental car area picking up our ride. 🏎️

INFO ON POINTS:
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/226m/P6S7K7XPRE

If you truly want to see the beauty of any of the Hawaiian Islands, I strongly recommend taking a helicopter ride.

From this vantage point you can see waterfalls and valleys that are inaccessible by land.

Stay tuned to see just how much we did in only one day. 🤗

NOTES:
Travel packing list
https://amzn.to/3u94bSe

For all prices and details about this trip or any of our others, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

05/31/2024

It’s the 22nd week of 2024! 🤩
For those of you who said that you want to follow along with us and TRAVEL MORE, your trip jar should reach $550 by the end of THIS week.

You can enjoy a spectacular adventure in next 24 months if you start planning NOW. Remember, $25 (two glasses of wine) saved each week adds up to $2600 in just 24 months.

Traveling around the world is the best education you can buy. With the right amount of planning, ANY income level can experience amazing adventures.

My hope is to get you to ACT and follow through on your own dreams.

Let’s empty our bucket lists together. 🌎

For a detailed account of one or all of our adventures, or help planning an adventure of your own including;
- All prices
- Hotel selections and why
- Financial planning timeline
- Pets/Boarding suggestions
- Airport information
- Packing lists/advice, including help with planning a similar adventure of your own, message us here.

Life is a gift. Travel Often.