Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts, Weather & More

One of the most accessible national parks in the U.S. straddles both Tennessee and North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers incredible vistas, mountain meadows covered in wildflowers, remote wilderness areas, and diverse forests. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts & Accommodations There are at least twelve mountain peaks above 6000 feet. Among […]

GLOBETROTTING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

January 11, 2018 Departing for Southeast Asia While I won’t be arriving in Southeast Asia on elephant back, instead it will be aboard EVA Airlines, which is an airline based in Taiwan. I was in Thailand in 2015, and was so eager to return to Southeast Asia.  Today it becomes a reality. So, after 15 […]

Jambo from East Africa!

Submitted by John & Joan Cook After a very long day of travel from Chicago to Nairobi through 8 time zones and 16 hours of flying on KLM we arrived at 11:00pm to the beautiful Nairobi Serena hotel. The hotel is located in the downtown area, near several embassies and consulates. This hotel featured nice […]

Costa Rica: A World of Nature

What makes a successful group trip? As a group leader for over twenty years, I have stuck to these five group ground rules: Limit the group size to 16-24 people and accompany this group. Establish activity and mobility parameters before promoting the group. Focus on the affinity which brings this group together and don’t encourage […]

FIJI for the FUN of it!

Fiji is an exotic tropical destination in the South Pacific with 333 islands that can sizzle with excitement or murmur from the crashing waves reaching its quiet calm, pristine nature. Families love it as do adventure seekers. It is a sun- filled destination of its own or a perfect post stay after a visit in […]

Gateway to Australia – Sydney

Australia has so much for you to explore, whether you want nature, wildlife, outback adventure, islands, rainforest or reef. Australia’s unique beauty is spread across eight states and territories with the undisputed gateway being Sydney. Vibrant and cosmopolitan, Sydney has stellar architecture with the iconic—Sydney Opera House staged in a spectacular harbor setting. While nearly […]

Alaska’s Awesome Inside Passage

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Southeast Alaska. Stretching for more than 1000 miles, the Inside Passage is a seaway between the southeast coastline of Alaska and a narrow string of islands to the west. It ends in Skagway, about 90 miles north of Juneau. From gold rush day clippers up to today’s mega […]