I had the privilege of being interviewd on 'The Lisa Show,' a national radio show this week! In it I talk about some of the most unique destinations to travel and some of my favorites, as well as why I think it's a good idea to get out and explore something different. 

Check it out: The Lisa Show interview - You'll find it on the January 14 episode - click listen and then forward to 85 minutes in. Can't wait to hear what you think!

UPDATED: I had quite a few people tell me they couldn't figure out how to get to this so here are more detailed instructions:

1.  Click here. The page below will show up.  Click LISTEN next to the January 14 episode.

2.  You should see the image to the left after clicking on LISTEN. Click on the arrow and the rectangle grey box will appear to the right like the second image shows. If you click in the box you can keep clicking until it gets to the 85 minute point where the interview is. 

​Hope that helps! Looking forward to your comments!

In early December I wrote about my upcoming travels in 2020. As it always seems to happen, I managed to squeeze in another trip. No matter how many times I say I'm going to slow down "next year," my passion for discovering new places, cultures and wildlife gets in the way. A friend and I always talk about our fantasy of having a teleporter, we refer to it as a wish for a "Beam me up, Scotty" kind of thing. Unfortunately, that's unlikely in our lifetimes or or probably at any point in the future, but hey, we can dream. Until then, it's long-haul flights, and I'll be on a very long one in early March as I travel to Indonesia.

I'd been binge watching a lot of documentaries on wildlife and natural wonders around the world, and several featured various islands of Indonesia. I knew I'd have to visit sometime in the near future - I was especially intrigued about Borneo as I'd always wanted to see orangutans in the wild. Pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys are there too! 

I searched through flights to get an idea of how much it would cost to get there, and was surprised to find that airfare was quite a bit less than flying to Europe. Of course, it's a very long journey - 21 hours, and that was the least amount of time. Many flights, with various connections, were 33 hours or more.  So, perhaps saved for another year when my schedule was more open. Or so I thought. The next morning I received a message out of the blue - "Do you happen to be going to Indonesia anytime soon?" it read. Bizarre coincidence? Long story short, I was invited by Nihi Sumba Resort, named the best hotel in the world (twice) by Travel + Leisure, to stay for four nights and experience what it has to offer. 

I believe everything happens for a reason and, there's no way I'd turn that down. I'll land in Bali and spend some time there before and after Nihi. While Borneo will have to be saved for another year, perhaps I'll go as part of my trip to visit New Zealand again in 2021, I'm pretty excited about this trip. 21+ hours? Hopefully I'll sleep through at least a good portion of that, I have a feeling it will be worth it. 

Leaving in early March, and I can't wait. I'll be sure to tell you all about it and post the article I'll be writing after it's published. In the meantime, if you're considering an exotic trip this year, you might want to think about Indonesia too. Why?

• The flights are very reasonably priced from L.A. and San Francisco - less than $500 round trip.
• If you like to dive or snorkel, 20% of the world’s coral reefs and some of the best diving and snorkeling on the planet can be enjoyed here.
• The beaches are stunning.
• The wildlife is incredible, from the colorful hornbills to the orangutans, all sorts of monkeys like the unique proboscius, and pygmy elephants.
• There are soaring mountains to hike and enjoy some of the world's best sunrises and sunsets from the top
• If you need some stress relief or just to soothe sore muscles, you can get all sorts of spa treatments, including massage, at very reasonable prices​

I've also been hearing a lot about how friendly and welcoming the people are, and so far  my interactions with them from afar have proven that to be true. Of course, I'm sure I'll be creating an entire new, longer list after I return. 

This world has so much to offer, it may be impossible to ever slow down! 

​Not surprisingly, the most frequent question I'm asked is "What's your favorite destination?" It might seem like an easy question to answer, but that's far from the reality. There are so many destinations around the world - I love mountains, beaches, wildlife, warm weather, cold weather, meeting new people. I've traveled to Newfoundland and Iceland many times. I have family in Ireland and have been visiting since 2001 - I think I'm on my 10th or 11th trip, I've lost count. Those countries are all on the top of my list. 

​Staying in the heart of the Amazon in beautiful Ecuador, one of the most diverse and spectacular countries was an experience of a lifetime - listening to the howls of the monkeys through the rainforest, seeing the red eyes of the caimans in the river after dark, the toucans perched in the trees and the hundreds of parrots soaring through the skies, it was something I never thought I'd see outside of a TV screen. 

Greece was incredible, the history, the people, the food, the scenery!

And, traveling to Croatia this year I fell hard for that country too - I'm returning to experience more of some of my favorite spots there in 2020 - there's so much I have to say about that spectacular country, it deserves a post of it's own...on the list!
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Of course, I've been mostly living in Baja, Mexico for the last 18 months or so - the Wild West feel, the stunning beaches and crystal-clear blue waters for snorkeling that are like swimming in an aquarium, the Mexican people and the mouthwatering cuisine, make it one of my favorite places too. And, the whales...humpbacks and gray whales come so close you can almost pet them - in some places, you can!

Truly, it's an impossible question to answer. But, after visiting New Zealand, I have to admit, that one is going to be hard to beat. Not that I have to choose just one, of course. When I returned from my trip, I endured some of the worst jet lag ever... but I also felt more calm and relaxed than I had in a very long time. There was just something magical about this place that I tried to boil down to a list of reasons, but to really understand it, you'll need to visit yourself. Trust me when I say, the long flight and jet lag is worth it.
 
I'm going back in March of 2021 - in one of my latest articles for Trips To Discover I reveal just some of the reasons why:  !3 Reasons New Zealand is the Best Country to Visit
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Where will you go in 2020?

2019 was quite the year for travel - and, I've been so busy with client work I've barely had time to breathe between working and traveling. It's time to slow down the pace a bit, but I have got some very exciting adventures coming up in 2020.

I'll be traveling to Ireland like I do most years, visiting in late April/early May, a great time to be there with all the green and wildflowers, but far fewer tourists than what the summer springs. From there, I'll fly to Porto, Portugal for a few days and then drive north to Asturias, Spain. That region is rarely visited by American tourists, and it happens to be one of the last places that Anthony Bourdain featured on Parts Unknown before passing in June of 2018. Mountains, ocean, amazing food... there are many reasons I've decided to visit, some of which I've outlined in this article for Trips To Discover: Top 9 Reasons to Visit Asturias, Spain.

In July, I'll return to one of my favorite places on Earth, Newfoundland - this will be my sixth trip, but it will be shorter than usual. Last time I visited the west and north, so heading back to spend more time in St. John's and Trinity, for two whale watching trips. There were hundreds of humpbacks there last year so crossing fingers that it will be just as good in 2020, but it's always a beautiful place to visit. From there, I'll head to the Arctic - Churchhill, Manitoba from there to spend a week with the beluga whales. The Hudson Bay coastline in Northern Manitoba is home to the world's largest population with over 57,000 belugas  congregating in the region in the summer. And, while polar bears don't usually come into town until the fall, I'll be heading out with Lazy Bear Expeditions to go where they are.  Seeing the belugas and the polar bears is something I've wanted to do for years.

Finally, I had such an amazing time in Croatia this past September/October that I'm going back again in 2020. I was fortunate to be able to join a small-ship cruise with Unforgettable Croatia, one of my clients, and I was seriously blown away by the experience. A small-ship cruise is nothing like going on one of those mega ships and it was one of the best trips I've ever had - it really requires a full blog post, and during this "slower" time of the year, I'll  be getting to that soon. The food, the wine, the people, the scenery, the history. Incredible.  For this next trip I'll be visiting Crete in Greece for a week first and then head to Dubrovnik, Korcula Island, Split, the Plitvice Lakes area, into Slovenia (Lake Bled) and the Istrian Peninsula, which is amazing, a lot like Tuscany with hilltop towns and lots of vineyards - the area is famous for its truffles too. 

Just recently I spent a couple of weeks in New Zealand, so I'll be detailing that trip in my next blog post. I'd wanted to travel there since I was a teenager and it was even better than I imagined. While it's always hard for me to pick a favorite place, I have to say, that was it. I really never wanted to leave... but more on that coming soon. I'm already planning a return trip in March of 2021.

Where will you go in 2020? I'd love to hear about it! 

One of the  commonly asked questions about visiting Baja is "Can I bring my dog?"

Yes, you can and it's probably not as hard as you think. Baja is incredibly dog friendly, there are just a few things you need to know which is why I recently wrote this article. Published on DOGGONE DESTINATIONS, you'll find out about border crossing requirements into Mexico, dog-friendly hotels, restaurants and more.

​Check it out here. 

http://doggonedestinations.com/pets-baja-california/

I knew it wasn't going to be easy. On April 25, I flew from Seattle to Northern California for a visit with family before taking off on a 12-day trip to Ireland. Only weeks before, I learned that I would have to travel to Baja, Mexico for an opportunity of a lifetime. The problem? My travel schedule was already jam-packed, so I had to add Baja to the end of my trip, leaving the morning after returning to Seattle - after having been awake for over 24 hours. I questioned my insanity after booking, and when I saw that old phone booth in County Clare, Ireland, I started fantasizing about it being an instant transporter, a kind of "beam me up" sort of thing. Of course, unfortunately that doesn't exist yet, but the good news is that I obviously managed to make it through - and, in the end, the long journey was well worth it.

This was the first trip to Ireland in many years that I hadn't spent my first couple of days at my cousin's house in Dublin to rest up - the jet lag can be brutal and I'd only slept maybe an hour on the overnight flight. A friend from Belgium was flying in to meet me a few hours after I arrived, so I had booked a daylet hotel near the airport to relax and shower before having to drive. While that was a big help, driving was probably not the best idea in my condition, so thankfully my travel partner for the next few days took over. 

Our first stop was Killaloe, the birthplace of Brian Boru. I'd meant to visit many times but had never made it, primarily to check out the heritage center to explore the history of the last great High King of Ireland who lived from 941 to 1014 AD, and a distant ancestor. While that didn't turn out to be much, the village was incredibly picturesque, and a spot I would definitely return to in the future. 

From there, it was on to Portmagee to enjoy traditional Irish music - of course, as I mentioned before leaving, our visit happened to coincide with the 'May the Fourth' Star Wars Festival, which meant we were welcomed with this:

While we both had visions of Darth Vaders and Stormtroopers invading the place, it turned out to be a crowd that was there more for the music and dancing, though we definitely experienced a bit of interesting entertainment. 

This visit to Portmagee was mostly spent relaxing and enjoying the scenery, though I couldn't resist taking a cheesy photo in the "snug" area of The Bridge Bar. 

After leaving Portmagee, I was on my own. I headed to Dingle, another one of my favorite destinations in Ireland. The last time I was there I managed to find an amazing apartment right in town for only 50 euro a night through Airbnb. From there, it's fun just to walk through the colorful streets, and pop into the pubs to listen to some music, and a scenic drive on the Dingle Peninsula is always a must.

While Dingle is certainly a favorite, it does attract the tourist crowds so I was especially excited to get to Inisheer Island. The smallest of the Aran Islands is the place I can definitively say that is the spot I truly love the most. Partly because of the peaceful atmosphere and the stunning scenery, but equally due to the time I get to spend chatting with my South Aran House B&B hosts, Enda and Maria. 

The wildflowers this time of year are amazing. I walked through the maze of stone walls - they were between the rocks, in the fields, everywhere... but those tiny intensely blue flowers were my favorite. After a stroll, I sat on the rocks near the beach that looks as if it could be in the Caribbean, and just minutes later I was greeted by Sandy the local dolphin. While I thought the 5 nights I'd booked here might be too much, it wasn't near enough, but by the time I said goodbye, I felt more relaxed and at peace than I had in a good while. 

I boarded the ferry back to the mainland with a father and daughter, Michael and Caitlin, who'd been staying at South Aran House too, and gave them a ride back to Dublin where I spent my last night with my wonderful cousin Alice. 

Up at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15th, I had a very long 24 hours or so ahead of me before I'd finally hit the hotel bed in Seattle. The first flight was to Reykjavik, Iceland where I had a 4 hour layover - long, but not long enough to get out and do anything. It was a big tease seeing that spectacular landscape below. 

A 4 hour layover, an 8+ hour flight, and I was finally in Seattle again. After going through customs and taking the shuttle to my hotel, it was 7 p.m., 3 a.m. in Ireland, so 23 hours on the go at that point. Luckily, I slept like a rock and in the morning, it was time to fly to Cabo!

Back to that opportunity I mentioned earlier - the Airbnb host I'd stayed with several times before was in the process of building a house on his beautiful property and offered it to me for rent, for a cheap price - a short walk to the beach and to town in one of the most magical places in Baja: Todos Santos. I had to fly there to determine if it would work, and to get things finalized if so. As it turned out, it did not. After feeling so elated, it was a huge let down, but it turned out that it was all meant to be. I met a couple who also happened to be from Washington State, and ended up with a much better deal - and a rooftop patio for watching the jaw-dropping sunsets. Things seemed to flow just perfectly.

I have one more trip - Newfoundland for 10 days in June, and then, I'll be crossing the border the first week of July, on my way to a new life in Baja. While I'll keep on traveling from there, I plan to get settled and stay in my new home for most of the second half of the year. Expect lots of sunset pics.

I love to travel, obviously, but I absolutely hate the jet lag. It usually takes a few days or sometimes even longer to get over it, and by then it's almost time to return home. While there's probably no way to avoid it completely, after countless long distance trips, I have discovered a few ways to significantly minimize the fatigue and brain fog.

Gradually Change Your Sleeping Patterns Beforehand

The very best way to beat jet lag may be to gradually change the hours you go to sleep and wake up before heading out on your trip. When flying east, start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier a week or so before leaving. Do the opposite when flying west. Just be sure that it doesn't mess with your sleep schedule so much that you're not getting enough rest or you're probably going to feel even more exhausted when you arrive. 

Add a Stopover
If you can squeeze in a stopover on the way to your destination, staying a night or two, it can help you more gradually adjust to the new time zone.  For example, flying from Seattle to Europe, I usually try to schedule a stay in an east coast city like Boston or New York on the way. 

Leave Well-Rested 

Being well-rested before you leave makes it easier to handle the inevitable stress of traveling, and better able to deal with jet lag once you get there. 

Aim to Sleep If You Have an Overnight Flight
If you’ll be flying overnight, try to get some sleep on the plane. I've always had a difficult time doing this but bringing a bag full of "tricks" makes a significant difference, including ear plugs, an eye mask and a neck pillow. You might also try adding melatonin to a cup of herbal tea. Avoid alcohol as it will just amplify the effects of jet lag in the long run.

Don't hate me. I'm NOT a big Star Wars fan. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it, and the movies are a lot of fun, but I'm no fanatic. My first thought when I heard that The Moorings/Bridge Bar in Portmagee, Ireland was going to host the first-ever May the Fourth Festival was "Uh oh." 

I booked my trip to Ireland, with the plan to be in Portmagee over the weekend of May 4th months ago, not really thinking much about it being the "May the Fourth Be With You" day/weekend. No, I planned the trip around the annual set dancing and music weekend, which is always a lot of fun just to enjoy some awesome traditional Irish tunes, along with plenty of Guinness, of course. 

So what does Portmagee have to do with Star Wars, you might ask? Skellig Michael, an island that sits about eight miles off the coast near the village of Portmagee, was the filming site of the blockbuster final scene in "The Force Awakens in which Rey (Daisy Ridley) extends a light saber to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The island is hosts the ruins of an ancient monastery built between the 6th and 8th centuries. and offers breathtaking views of the other Skellig Islands and the glistening expanse of the Atlantic. The Bridge Bar in Portmagee was the spot where cast and crew, including Hamill, enjoyed a few pints. Well, probably more than a few I would think as it's never easy leaving that place!

So music, or Star Wars? Well, when I'm in Ireland, enjoying the live music is a no-brainer. But if you're a big Star Wars fan, you might want to think about planning a trip, if not this year then in 2019, because odds are, there's going to be a second annual May the Fourth Festival next year and you'll need to book in advance. Portmagee is a very small village, so most likely, it'll be easy to take in a little of both. And, if the crowds get too thick, there's miles and miles of spectacular Irish countryside and coastline where you can find a spot to enjoy on your own.

Here's just a few of the Star Wars events on offer, if you're into that kind of thing:

• A cruise around the coastline that was pictured in "The Force Awakens"
• An inter-dimensional drive-in movie screening (an installment from the Star Wars saga on the big screen outdoors)
• Guided Skellig Wars Tours (driver-guided tour of the breathtaking Kerry coast, including Skellig Island views)
• Guided film location walks
• A fantastic collection of photographs and videography from Star Wars’ time in Kerry in one of Ireland's best known pubs, Páidi Ó Sé’s in Ventry and Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne in Ballyferriter

If you don't care about Star Wars, come for the scenery, the music and the people - that's what continues to bring me back to this little fishing village time and again.

​See you there on the 4th?
​

If you've been following me for a while, you know I've been 'on the road' an awful lot lately. These days I'm more likely to be traveling than at home. Most recently I spent a week back in Hawaii, on the Big Island, where I went on a challenging hike to view the active lava in Volcanoes National Park. It was a good reminder that I need to get back in the habit of regular workouts - traveling all the time makes it easy to break a routine. Between the heat and the uneven terrain, it was pretty brutal - tough even for my guide who makes the trek a couple of times a week.

I was gone much of last month in Baja, Mexico, swimming with the sea lions and meeting the grey whales, an incredible experience - and in early January, I visited both Kauai and the Big Island. Just the month before, it was the Amazon jungle in Ecuador. 

While I'm grateful for all of those experiences, being constantly on the go can start to wear you down after awhile, making it hard to appreciate the little moments, especially when you're working at the same time. I came to a realization recently that it's time to start slowing down and avoid over planning, not only to avoid the risk of burnout, but to make the most out of every experience rather than trying to cram in every bucket list adventure possible. It's something I had gotten in the habit of doing, with so little time off at most "regular" jobs. If I was lucky enough to have an entire two weeks off, I'd plan every minute of it. But there was no time for just reveling in the moment, and actually enjoying the experience for what it was.

I remember a trip I took with my daughters to Tulum, Mexico. We never left the place we stayed. We spent our days, snorkeling, swimming, and taking afternoon naps instead of rushing around to see the sights. When we came back, we all had a different perspective, we felt so relaxed, as if we were on a different plane, watching all of those people frantically moving around us and wondering why they were all so in a hurry. 

Over planning your day-to-day activities can make you a neurotic, stressed-out person who feels like you would have been better off if you hadn’t planned anything in the first place. 

One of the keys to avoiding that is to leave plenty of room in your schedule for the unexpected and stop being constantly worried about having “the perfect trip." What's the worst that can happen? You'll have some downtime for chatting with locals in that cafe or pub? Maybe you'll wander the streets and discover an unexpected gem. Maybe you'll meet someone who will invite you into their home for dinner, or bring you to places you might never have found without the insider knowledge?

Do you really want to follow the exact same itinerary as every other tourist, spending your entire trip wedged between them as if you're being herded from sight to sight? Escape the crowds but focusing on slower travel, which will give time to venture off that well-worn path, and still enjoy a few bucket list attractions too.

Plans change - let them. Don't go overboard with the planning. Instead just have a general idea of what you want to and where you want to go, rolling with whatever might happen. It's an amazing feeling, without the pressure to do and see it all. 

Looking back, I've realized the travel experiences that have most impacted me are the ones where I've been able to actually spend time - a week or more, really getting to know the locals, their favorite restaurants, their favorite things to do, connecting with the people. Even if you are limited to two weeks of vacation time, I think you'll get more out of it spending time in one or two places, rather than trying to cram in as many different cities as possible. Otherwise, you may be "seeing" a place, but it's not much different than watching a documentary on TV. Instead, get to know it, understand it, connect with the people.

That's why on my next trip to Ireland, leaving May 1st, I'm taking it slow, with nearly an entire week on Inisheer Island, and nothing planned at all - other than lying on those rocks and listening to the sounds of the waves crash against them anyway. Soon after in June I have an entire week in my dream house in a remote area of Newfoundland on the Great Northern Peninsula, timed to enjoy the St. Anthony Iceberg Festival, iceberg viewing and whale watching, though what happens in between will all be a surprise! 

My third trip to Baja California Sur, Mexico was the best one yet, with much of that thanks to Jahaziel of Baja Sur Tours, and, of course, the wealth of wildlife that welcomed us there. It's not only the wonderful Mexican people that are incredibly friendly, but the gray whales too. Aptly nicknamed "The Friendlies," the whales come to three breeding lagoons in the Sea of Cortez: Magdalena Bay, San Ignacio Lagoon and Scammon’s Lagoon, gathering here between mid-January and mid-April before heading north to Alaska on their annual migration.

Many of these whales specifically seek out human contact in the lagoons, with mothers bringing their calves to “introduce them” to curious visitors. These lagoons are the only three places in the world where the gray whales birth their babies. The government strictly regulates all access, ensuring that human activities don’t negatively affect these magnificent creatures.

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 The lagoons are protected from the strong waves and currents of the Pacific Ocean, and the lagoons are shallow. The gray whales' only predator, the killer whale, won't enter into such shallow water, making it the ideal environment for the mothers to nurse their newly born calves. It's also easy for the mothers to supervise while the young whales learn how to swim, how to breath properly, feed, dive and teach them how to interact with other whales.

The whales really seem to enjoy the interactions with humans, just as much as humans enjoy them. The mothers sometimes even lift the babies out of the water or let them rest on top of them while the baby gets all of the attention.  

The trip to Magadalena Bay takes several hours from La Paz, but our tour guide and owner of Baja Sur Tours, Jahaziel, drove us there and we made a number of fun stops along the way, including a cafe with some of the best coffee I've ever had. As there are fossils found throughout the area, I even picked up some Megalodon shark teeth! ​

Our tour included only myself and my daughter Brooke, Jahaziel, and the boat captain. As we stepped inside the boat, we were excited with anticipation, and the day truly turned out to be one of the best of our lives.  How grateful I am that the whales chose to meet with us.

​Olivia, as one of the mother friendlies was referred to, floated right next to the boat as I rubbed her head for a good 10 minutes - until, baby suddenly popped up, nudging my arm similar to a jealous dog, looking for attention.​

The first video you'll see below is thanks to our amazing tour guide, Jahaziel of Baja Sur Tours, while I captured the one that follows - something I realized is not so easy to do when all you want to really do is enjoy this magical and even transformational experience that makes all the bad in the world seem to fade away as you connect with these magnificent animals.

This was only one day of our 8-day trip in Baja, so more posts to come, including snorkeling with sea lions and our stay in Cabo Pulmo National Park. There is so much to see and do on the Baja Peninsula, it would take years, if not a lifetime to experience it all.