Kirkwood Voyages

02/22/2018

I'm so excited and honored to have the opportunity to work closely with G Adventures and their nonprofit venture Planeterra. This company truly believes in making the world a better place, and they make it fun for travelers to help out.

Seven travel agents will work alongside the tour operator to promote tourism as a force for global good.

12/16/2017

Loved my trip to Iceland!

10/30/2017

Passengers on flights bound for the United States will be encountering more security screenings. The procedures vary by airline, but it might be wise to allow extra time at the airport as the measures are implemented.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is working to raise the baseline for aviation security across the globe by implementing enhanced security measures, both seen and unseen, at all last-point-of-departure airports in 105 countries around world. These measures will be implemented in phases, in c...

10/11/2017

10/10/2017

I was very honored to accept an invitation from the Japanese National Tourism Organization to visit the Tohoku region. Thank you to Signature Travel Network and JNTO for the opportunity. I enjoyed every moment!

10/09/2017

We were invited to tour a Maiko teahouse. Maiko are apprentice geisha, and they served us matcha and sweets. It was fun to see the graceful young ladies.

Old storehouses for keeping and distributing rice are still used today.

Samauri village in Kakunodate. Several manor houses remain. Some are open to the public, and some are still used as homes.

It's always interesting to see ancient times merge with modern.

10/03/2017

First day touring the Aomori region. Everywhere I turn there's another beautiful sight. Highlights are: tour from a monk at Seiryu-ji temple, Hirosake Castle, Neputa Village, rice paddy art, and trying out the Japanese bath at Oirase Keiryu Hotel!

10/01/2017

I'm off to Japan! Looking forward to having 13 hours to myself on the long flight. I'll be visiting ports of call for cruise ships and touring local sites.

09/08/2017

On the road again, and I get to take a very special guest with me: my mom! We're heading back to Costa Rica to enjoy the "Pura Vida!" lifestyle. The plan is to enjoy the beaches, hike up volcanoes, hopefully spot a sloth or two, and if we can work up the nerve then try the 800 foot long zip line...wish me luck...

08/16/2017

Here's a little montage of my summer trip to Yellowstone. I'm so glad I finally got to go! We saw the wildest places nature has ever made. Colorful pools of acid, travertine mountains growing at astonishing rates, geysers steaming and erupting all over the place, and buffalo too!
Pro tip: summer is very busy. If you want to avoid the crowds then wake up early and go. Also after dinnertime the big busses leave and the park quiets down
Thanks to my sister in law Sinamar for letting me use some of her beautiful photos.

07/20/2017

US citizens age 62 and over are eligible for a lifetime pass to the National Parks. You can sign up at many parks, online, or through the mail. Currently the price is $10, or $20 if you sign up online or through the mail. The price is increasing to $80 on August 28, 2017. There's still time to get one before the cost goes up!

Information about the America the Beautiful Passes, which cover entrance and standard amenity (day use) fees for federal lands.

07/20/2017

Parents with kids going in to 4th grade for the school year 2017-2018 can sign up for this. 4th graders and their families get in to National Parks for free! If your child was a 4th grader during 2016-2017 you still have until August 31st to take advantage of this offer.

Bike through a forest. Walk in a desert. See a whale burst through the ocean's surface. Do all this and more with your pass. And bring a car full of family and friends for free!

07/11/2017

There's still time to get senior passes before the price increases on August 28th.

Changes to the Senior Pass

06/22/2017

This is very good news for travelers in Missouri. We're still waiting for the governor to sign off, but it looks like it's going to go through.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to a measure intended to avert a scenario in which thousands of Missouri residents could have been turned away at airports for lack of valid identification.

05/24/2017

I'm happy to say that starting November 11th, St. Louis will be getting nonstop flights to Cancun on Southwest.

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today published an extension of its full flight schedule through Jan. 7, 2018, bringing new service on Saturdays to Cancun from both Nashville (BNA) and St. Louis (S

05/05/2017

Has anybody tried using this? I have Global Entry and love being able to breeze through customs. This looks like another great way to skip the lines.

Mobile Passport is a great new option for travelers returning to the US, especially since it can speed up the immigration process more than Global Entry.

03/20/2017

Scandinavia tops the list again

The world’s top five happiest countries, all of which fall in northern Europe, have cities that delight residents with old town charm, cultural offerings and easy access to nature.

03/05/2017

I'll be trying this out on my next flight. Have any of you used it yet? I'm already a big fan of Tripit.

TripIt's new feature will tell you exactly when to leave to the airport so you never have to arrive too early or too late to your next flight.

03/04/2017

This is a great article, even if you're not planning solo travel.

Deciding to travel alone can feel intimidating, but here's what you can learn if you take the chance.

01/31/2017

These are the palafitos at El Dorado Maroma. Stunning and romantic only begin to describe these gorgeous rooms.

01/28/2017

I'm off to do some research in Cancun. It's a tough job, but my awesome clients are worth it!

01/20/2017

If you have any questions about what is acceptable to bring in carry on luggage, or other TSA related questions you can tweet . These are hilarious! Bob Burns, the TSA social media expert, is awesome!

Rolling Stone has acknowledged something Instagram fans have known for awhile: The Transportation Security Administration's Instagram account is one of the best out there. The magazine recently released its list of the top 100 Instagram accounts, and is No. 4, beating popular accounts belonging...

01/06/2017

My trip to China was absolutely incredible. I want to go back with my family and see more. Excellent guides, restful hotels, A&K takes good care of their guests

12/22/2016

Important information regarding identification for flying domestically in 2018. Take note, Missouri friends, and be sure to apply for your passports in time!

Rumors spread fast: please tell a friend, share this page and help us provide accurate information about REAL ID enforcement.

12/20/2016

Safe travels this season to you all and your loved ones!

12/15/2016

Another gorgeous photo of Southern Utah

See this Instagram photo by • 12.8k likes

12/07/2016

I like the idea that new experiences make us more grateful and kind

This story originally appeared on Realsimple.com.

11/10/2016

I'm off! Thanks to Abercrombie & Kent for the opportunity

10/18/2016

Start planning a trip to these world wonders.