On An Adventure

22/08/2024

It’s fun to get feedback like this!

10/08/2024

Yesterday, two different clients on two different vacations to two VERY different destinations, sent me update photos. I just love receiving texts like these!

27/07/2024

Helping special people celebrate milestones makes my job so fun!

19/07/2024

Check out this deal!

Use promotional code ICTPOM to receive a 10% discount on any travel experiences booked by July 31, 2024 at this link:

09/07/2024

A truer statement has never been said….

08/07/2024

Alaska Cruise: Day 5

Skagway

This stop was the one place Darrin had expressed an opinion about the excursion he wanted to do and that was the White Pass Train Tour. Because we were so last-minute in our planning, this excursion was no longer available through the cruise line. Fortunately, I was able to book it through a third-party supplier with a strong return-to-ship guarantee. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, please reach out to me. There are multiple, reliable alternatives to get you the experiences you want on your cruises! I am so glad he wanted to do this activity and we found a way to do it, because the views were absolutely spectacular and this ended up being one of his favorite experiences on the cruise.

While on the ship we realized we had a long day in port with enough time to add in a short excursion in the morning. We chose a historic trolley tour that we booked through the cruise line app. That ended up being interesting as well.

Even after two excursions, we had extra time to spare in port and we spent it walking around the historic, downtown area of Skagway.

While we really enjoyed our excursions, Skagway would be an easy port to visit without any excursions because there are multiple free museums, hiking trails, and low-cost activies easily accessible from the ship. I picked up lots of brochures and maps that I will be happy to share with anyone who is interested.

18/06/2024

This is an interesting story set in Juneau written by one of the enrichment speakers on our recent Alaskan Cruise. If you know anyone going to Alaska, one of his books would make a beautiful gift.

15/06/2024

Alaska cruise: Day 4

Juneau

It rained all day (it rains A LOT in Alaska). Two things I wish I would have packed became clear at this port:
1. more water-proof clothing. I had a rain jacket, but I would encourage others to take waterproof hiking shoes and maybe even water-resistant hiking pants.
2. Higher-powered binoculars. We had a small pair of travel-type binocs, but I would take the best pair I could find if I had it to do over.

As I have stated before, one of the purposes of this trip was research, and as such, I booked excursions in multiple ways so I would have first-hand experience. Some were booked through the cruise line, others directly with the tour operators, and some were booked through third party suppliers.

We started the day with a tour to Mendenhall Glacier booked directly with M&M Tours of Juneau. This is where we ran into the Blauhorn family.

Next we went on a whale watching tour with Harv and Marv’s Outback Alaska booked through Viator. We had a great experience on a small enclosed boat that held 10 people. Captain Graham and our naturalist, Dale, were very informative. We saw numerous whale spouts, a couple tails, and big colony of sea lions.

Afterward we walked a little ways out of the tourist area for crab legs and ended with a drink at a well-known bar.

It was a good day!

14/06/2024

If you have a vacation coming up and would like to find reduced priced activities, this deal is for you!

Book excursions by June 17 and use Promo Code VIATLN24 for a 10% discount.

Darrin and I booked an excursion through Viator during our recent Alaskan cruise and had a great experience.

Check it out, but remember this offer expires in 3 days!

05/06/2024

Alaska cruise: Day 3

Ketchikan

Today was our first port stop. At each port I was researching activity options at different price points. I wanted to know what a person could do for free, for a splurge, or in between. In Ketchikan our goal was to stick to free and budget-conscious activities (but I did find some cool mid-priced and splurge options also).

Our first activity was a competitive lumberjack show. I am pretty sure Darrin thought this was going to be a little lame, but he ended up thinking it was fun.

The only other thing we paid for while off ship was entrance to the reasonably priced Totem Heritage Center, which I thought was really interesting.

The rest of the time we followed a map for a self-guided walking tour. Maps are readily available throughout town.

03/06/2024

Alaskan Cruise: Day 2

Our first full day on the cruise was a day at sea. This gave us an opportunity to check out the different areas on the ship as well as the many activities offered on board.

My favorite daily activities on the Alaskan cruise were the enrichment opportunities (because, yes, I am a nerd.)

Our resident naturalist was Pete Griffin, a retired forest ranger who worked at the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. He gave daily presentations about Alaska and narrated while we sailed through the College Fjord.

Other presenters were:
**Libby Riddles--first woman to win the Iditarod
**Captain Ron--from the TV show Deadliest Catch
**Nick Jans--Alaska photographer & author (more on him when I post about Juneau)

https://www.facebook.com/the.storytelling.ranger

Send a message to learn more

02/06/2024

It’s always fun to receive feedback like this!

31/05/2024

As I said a few days ago, Darrin and I have been on an adventure.

We made an uncharacteristic, spontaneous decision to take an Alaskan cruise. The “stars aligned”, with a number of factors falling into place to make it logistically possible and affordable, and we jumped on the opportunity. We made the decision after going to bed Sunday night, booked it on Monday, flew out on Tuesday, and boarded the ship on Wednesday.

This trip was not just a “bucket-list” item for us, but also a research opportunity. Alaska is the most requested destination in my travel business. I learned so much during this experience that I will be able to share with clients.

Here is “Day 1”.

We sailed from Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Vancouver’s airport is well-designed and easy to navigate. We flew in the night before and stayed in the hotel located right inside the airport. This was a bit of a splurge, but after flight delays and a late night arrival, it was SO convenient. The next morning we took public transportation from the airport to the cruise port. It was very affordable and easy.

The photo of the lighthouse was taken probably 30 minutes into the cruise. The breathtaking views continued throughout the trip.

29/05/2024

Darrin and I have been on an adventure, and I am so excited to tell you about it!

27/05/2024

I woke up this morning to find this text from clients. Don’t you just love their shirts?! I can’t wait to see more of their adventure!

26/05/2024

Travel renders us speechless and turns us into storytellers.

18/05/2024

I had the honor recently of helping a client plan a special trip to Washington, D.C. with her grandmother. If you have ever been to D.C., you know sightseeing there typically involves an incredible amount of walking. I had so much fun hand-picking a hotel and activities to minimize the required walking and maximize the quality experiences. Knowing my clients and having the opportunity to personalize their trips to create the very best memories possible is so fun and rewarding for me. Have I said lately that I LOVE my job?!

03/05/2024

04/04/2024

I just finished an educational webinar about train travel opportunities throughout the world. Wouldn't it be fun to take a train trip in Alaska after a cruise? Oh my, the bucket-list keeps getting longer!

25/03/2024

Our nephew, Josh Antillon, correctly identified the location for the killer mojitos. This roadside hut uses generators for power and they squeeze/muddle all of the fresh ingredients right in front of you. It’s a “must-stop” each time we go to Cozumel.

23/03/2024

An often-recommended activity on Cozumel is to rent a jeep and drive around the island. One of our favorite stops is at a little roadside stand that makes the BEST mojitos. Who can name the spot where this photo was taken?

06/03/2024

I was excited to find this in my emails this morning…..

02/03/2024

I am so close to completing this program and will take my final test for certification next week! While certification is not a requirement to work as a Travel Advisor, it’s been personally important to me to achieve this level of knowledge and credibility. Keep your fingers crossed that I pass the first time!

26/02/2024

We made a quick trip out to California for Family Weekend and spent some precious one-on-one time with our Gwynnie Girl. While there, we visited a redwood forest.

04/02/2024

I’ve had a few people recently ask me what we like so much about Cozumel. There’s a few things:
1. As an island, it’s insulated from some of the criminal activity that concerns all of us about Mexico.
2. It’s small enough that if you’ve been there once, you feel like you know your way around.
3. It’s just touristy enough to feel comfortable, but still authentic enough to feel like you’ve actually experienced Mexico.
4. It’s a part of the 2nd largest reef (only behind the Great Barrier Reef in Australia) so the snorkeling/diving is fantastic!

This time we chose to stay at a downtown hotel. It was VERY basic—probably a 1 star by American standards. But it had a great location, comfortable mattresses, good shower, and made-to-order breakfasts included.
Would I stay there again? Probably, because I have a high tolerance for basic accommodations in a great location. Would I send clients there? No….unless they really, really understood what they were getting into.

You see, there are different travel styles.

As a travel advisor, it’s MY job to determine what YOUR style is.

Typically, before any reservations are made, my clients and I exchange MANY emails. I often say in the first emails “this is just a starting point”. I want to tweak an itinerary until it’s exactly what you are looking for. I want to honor your travel style.

I love to travel, and my primary goal is to help YOU love to travel also.

The other day, after I literally spent 16 hours in front of the computer helping different clients, Darrin looked at me and said with a smile—“You love this!”

At 54 years of age, I have found my dream job.

Yes, I LOVE this!

03/02/2024

After three nights in Cancun, we left the group and headed to Cozumel. First we took a private shuttle to Playa del Carmen, and then the ferry over to Coz. Isla Cozumel is one of our favorite places. I will tell you more about that tomorrow.