Driving the Ring of Kerry- Points of Interest and Scenic Detours
The Ring of Kerry is one of the most popular and well known of Ireland’s scenic drives, a route that frequently makes it onto the itinerary of first-time visitors to…
Getting to Know Nagano and Zenko-ji Temple
Nagano was familiar to me as the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, but beyond that I didn’t know what there was to see and do besides winter sports. What…
Jigokudani Monkey Park- See Hot Spring Loving, Wild Snow Monkeys in Japan
My main reason for visiting Nagano was to do a day trip to Jigokudani Monkey Park, home to Japan’s famous hot spring loving, wild snow monkeys. I was inspired to…
Canadian Rockies Road Trip Itinerary- 8 Days in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
A trip to Alberta wouldn’t be complete without doing a road trip in the Canadian Rockies. The drive from Calgary to Jasper is one of the finest road trips in…
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk- Walking the Cliffs of Moher from Hags Head
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s top destinations and the best way to experience this natural wonder is by doing the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. Cliffs of…
Themed Towns in North America- 5 Locations to Experience Another Time or Place
One of my favourite things about road trips is finding unique small towns, especially ones with some sort of fun “theme”. Most often, these themed towns make me feel like…
Cusco’s Historic Centre- Exploring the Capital of the Inca Empire
As the first stop on our 3 week trip to South America, Cusco was an introduction to the Inca history and Quechua culture that make Peru such a fascinating destination…
Glendalough Monastic Site- Visiting One of Ireland’s Premier Monastic Settlements
Tucked into a forested valley in the Wicklow mountains are the remains of Glendalough, one of Ireland’s most important monastic settlements. It’s an evocative site- ancient stone buildings surrounded by…
Killarney National Park, Ireland- Photo Series
When I was visiting Killarney, I kept thinking how nice it must be to have such a beautiful national park right at your doorstep. Just steps away from the centre…
The Gap of Dunloe- Boat and Bike Trip From Killarney, Ireland
My favourite memory of my 2 week trip to Ireland is my day in Killarney, where I did a boat and bike trip to the Gap of Dunloe. A boat…
Gokayama, Japan- Enjoying Historic Architecture and Traditional Crafts in Ainokura Village
As with most places I travel to, I was inspired to visit Gokayama by a photograph I had seen. It was a scene I couldn’t resist- a tiny village of…
Things to Do in the Chubu Region of Japan- 9 Ways to Experience Japanese Traditions
Each country has its own unique culture, but there’s something really compelling about Japan, a place that widely respects and complies with tradition. Japanese traditions, whether it be those associated…
How to Spend 5 Days in New York City- Itinerary for First Time Visitors
New York City is a place I felt like I knew even before I’d ever visited. A backdrop to countless movies and television shows, New York City has been making…
Photo of the Week: Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is an icon of the United States, standing in New York Harbor as a symbol of freedom and democracy. A gift from France, the Statue of…
Photo of the Week: Brooklyn Bridge, New York City
The Brooklyn Bridge has long been an icon of New York, so walking across it was one of the first things we did on our trip to New York City….
What to Expect on Your First Trip to Ireland- A First Time Visitor’s Guide
As I was leaving for my first trip to Ireland, I felt more relaxed than I usually do before visiting a new country. The excited anxiety that I normally experience…
Ruins Near Cusco- 7 Archaeological Sites Worth Visiting
Cusco is the point of arrival for people wanting to visit Machu Picchu, the most famous Inca ruin in Peru, but there are many fantastic, lesser known ruins near Cusco…
Hiking in Burren National Park- An Unexpected Landscape in Ireland
Standing at the trailhead into Burren National Park, fascination sets in as I gaze off into the remote, rocky landscape. This is not what I expected to see in Ireland….
Photo of the Week: Long Room of the Old Library at Trinity College, Dublin
Not too many places in Dublin stood out for me, but one that did was the Long Room of the Old Library at Trinity College. The 65 metre long, 2-storey…
Exploring the Arashiyama District of Kyoto- Things to Do and Main Attractions
On the last of our 3 days in Kyoto, we decided to explore the Arashiyama district, a mountainous, forested region in the western outskirts of the city. We were initially…