One of my favorite days of the year is any time I get the opportunity to walk into Cameron Indoor Stadium. It never gets old……

I seriously get goose bumps just stepping foot into the grand lobby, in the presence of Blue Devil royalty. The nostalgia rushes back in an instant of my glory days leading the fast break in a musty old gym.

And once a year, I do everything in my power to descend upon this infamous playing ground to soak in all the energy of college basketball.

So when I found out that my 90s idol was back for the first time coaching against the Blue Devils, it was instantly my mission (no excuses) to be in attendance. My college ball mate Libby was game to indulge my fantasies & met me for a fun girls weekend in Durham.

Knowing that my December & January busy season was off limits, it worked beautifully that Arizona State was the first preseason exhibition game in late October. And it was extra special being a fundraiser to help kids fighting cancer!

Plus we got to check out the freshman phenom Cooper Flag in his TV debut, throwing down electric dunks & showcasing his extremely competitive persona. His rookie teammate Kon Kneuppel was equally impressive with his shooting range and basketball IQ.

Halftime was ridiculously enjoyable, as Coach K returned to the court with his heir apparent Coach Scheyer to present Bobby Hurley a commemorative ball & show a tear jerking highlight video of him leading the back to back National Champions from 1991 & 1992.

That team is the reason I love college basketball and the power of a collective unit firing on all cylinders. Coach K took 5 elite players & taught them the value of team first, elevating them to achieve greatness together. And ultimately, this led to a dynasty that is now commonly referred to as the Brotherhood.

Once you feel the power of being a Cameron Crazy, you are a die hard devil fan for life!

Until next year…..

What do sports event planners do for fun on vacation? We tour other facilities of course!

On my free day in Beijing prior to meeting my travel group, I actually braved the subway system (without getting lost I might add) to ride 12 stations north to Olympic Park. The undeniable first sight is the cage like behemoth of a structure monopolizing the skyline of numerous other sporting venues. This “Bird’s Nest” has a unique style that combines interlocking steel & an elliptical base like a tree & its roots….. the cradle of life & a nest of reproduction. 

This venue hosted the 2022 Olympics opening & closing ceremonies, track & field & football games with a staggering capacity of 91,000 guests. Made with 42,000 tons of steel, it is comprised of 3 concrete layer bowls & designed to last 100 yrs.

Olympic Themes:

2008 – One world. One dream. 

2022 – Together for a shared future. 

I opted to do the self guided tour & thought it was well worth the 100 yen (~$14). They had numerous displays highlighting the Games medals, costumes, credentials & shops with memorabilia. If only I had any room in my 1 book bag or understood the machines that put your picture on an Olympic medal, then I would have spent some money on these unique gifts.

We got to see the golden entryway where dignitaries were brought through quietly, watch from the grandstand the recent snow being plowed off the field, take part in numerous selfie photo opportunities & my favorite climbing to the catwalk to scale the roof exterior. It was a gorgeous day & the views of the city were exquisite.

Before I realized it, I had spent 3 hours exploring the area & needed to make the ~40min homeward journey via public transport (and maybe a side excursion to see the local Bell & Drum Towers that were along my route). Days definitely fly by when you are on sightseeing expeditions!

Took the 4 hour direct train from Vienna to Prague & had the whole afternoon to explore. After ditching my heavy bookbag at my cute boutique hotel only 1 block off the main tourist hub, I beelined for the Old Town Square & made it just as the infamous Astronomical Clock chimed at the top of the hour.

Tourists were buzzing everywhere & I hit all the major spots: touring St Nicholas Church, walking the beautiful Charles Bridge, escaping to nature at Petrin Hill, trudging up to the top of Prague Castle, basking in the glory of St Vitus Church and strolling the bustling shopping alleyways. I even indulged in a traditional Trdelník pistachio pastry while making my way back towards the main square & finally retiring my tired feet.

Prior to my direct flight the next afternoon to China, I even got up early to hit a few more city highlights: the Dancing House, Franz Kafka statue and the Municpal Library book tour.

After a whirlwind 23 hours in Prague, I had a semi-permanent smile & believe I have found my new favorite European city!

First day in Stuttgart, Germany & the day before my 50th birthday….. where would you go to? Oktoberfest of course!!!

Little did I know, but the family had traditional dwindles (long, lacey dresses) for us to wear & I was absolutely mortified. But I was a good auntie & “sucked it up” only to find out that MAYBE 10% of the crowd followed suit. Not happy….

So we enjoyed the rare sunshine, live music, watching locals dancing on tables, burgers & rides even though we couldn’t read or understand a darn thing. The kids loved the bumper cars even though I was clueless that the tokens had to be inserted in the hood to start up.

But the highlight of our adventure was without question the Euro Coaster. With four seats across, the girls all loaded up & I got scolded in German because I was crossing my feet (due to my flowing skirt) so the big, burly attendant had to reach between my legs to buckle me up. Oops! The ride was jerky & the photo snapped proves Emma was absolutely terrified, but the real entertainment started at the exit.

We all jump off the elevated seats & my stupid dwindle gets stuck on the seatbelt. So of course, I tumble over head first & walking on my hands to move with the cars while my ass is straight up in the air. Between sheer terror & laughing hysterically, I’m seriously stuck & took 3 guys to get me back upright. Definitely a top 10 GDC moment!

The family then attacks the Big Bamboo, which was a fun obstacle course themed like a Hawaiian beach party. Well….. Carter freaks out on the moving rope climb & we get to the top deck with a huge wind tunnel so all of our dresses are now flying above our heads. Nothing like mooning the entire festival! Then Belinda falls right thru one of the fake floor boards into the water hazard & I get drenched while filming the crew exiting the final plank challenge. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!

Our final adventure was a haunted house roller coaster, which Emma dramatically disliked. Overall, it was a fun outing & core memories made!

There may or may not be a tear (or two) in my eye & a semi-permanent smile on my face. This dreamy, elusive location has held the #1 spot on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Euphoria has suddenly taken over my body & transported me to another world.

Altogether there are 1,192 islands in the Maldives, of which only 198 are inhabited. They are grouped into 26 atolls (chains of islands grouped together where the volcano rims caved in) and seemingly endless places to explore.

I had the best of both worlds…… 6 days by sea & 3 days on land:

• Sunbathing & letting my thoughts wander on deck
• Snorkeling to my hearts content amongst the breathtaking coral reefs
• Reveling in the beautiful & abundant wildlife below shorelines
• Enjoying my nightly dose of sunsets
• Walking aimlessly on random sandbars that popped up at low tide
• Wading in my own overwater bungalow pool
• Paddleboarding slowly & without a care in the world
• Floating in the beach bay for hours
• Strolling along the tropical grounds of the beach resort at night
• Sipping a freshly made, different tropical juice every day

A dream? Absolutely.

Dreams are meant to be slightly out of reach, but also attainable. Some may be big, while others could just be simple things. Keep dreaming……

My #1 bucket list location for years, just over the Canada border, finally became a reality in Sept 2024. I had planned a massive 10 day roadtrip loop through Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Revelstoke, Kootenay and (dipping back into the US) at Glacier National Parks.

I was very overdue for a backwoods adventure & disconnecting (on purpose) for a bit…..

My list of researched hikes exceeded 50, so I had plenty of options to happily get lost in. Day 1 was a crazy caving adventure above Canmore & enjoying a few of the local favorite trails in the Policeman’s Creek boardwalk & Upper Grassi Lakes (amazing).

Day 2 was another jolt of craziness in tackling the Mt. Norquay via ferrata, which was half a day of climbing the cliffside rock faces (highly recommend). Then I enjoyed all the downtown Banff sights, including Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain hoodoos, Bow Falls, Art in Nature trail, Cave & Basin and the massive Fairmont hotel.

Then it was off to stay for 3 nights in a quaint cabin in the centrally located Johnston Canyon area. Silverton Falls was a quiet 2mi trek without the crowds, while the main attraction was a nice reprieve meandering 3.5mi through the peaceful boardwalks built between the towering cliffs.

I even dipped into adjoining Kootenay NP to visit the majestic Marble Canyon prior to hitting the crown jewel – Lake Louise (I had to unfortunately pass on seeing adjacent Lake Moraine this time around). To skip all the madness & reservation confusion around the shuttle system needed to access the lake, I opted to arrive at 7pm sharp when cars were actually allowed to park at the base so I could enjoy sunset. The aqua blue water looked fake but mesmerizing. I settled into a quiet rock perch to enjoy a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and peacefully waste the evening away.

I could have used a couple more days to attack more nearby trails that had been recommended, but I wanted to forge deeper into the Canadian wilderness. So I continued north & west through Golden with the impressive Takakkaw Falls & the pounding Wapta Falls (two must sees), while also pushing further to hike numerous short trails in both Revelstoke & Glacier (Canada) NPs.

And I found the perfect, quiet Airbnb mountain retreat just south of Golden for a full recovery day prior to my long drive back into the US to the elusive Glacier NP in Montana.

And the adventure continues…..

Every hour on the hour between 9am & 11pm, a spectacle takes place in Prague’s Old Town Square as eager tourists all have their phones aimed at this medieval clock. It dates back to 1410 and got severely damaged during the second World War, but has had numerous repairs & been back in operation since 1948.

For 45 seconds, two windows open up while the 12 apostles pass by while the grim reaper rings the death bell while holding up an hour glass.

Did you know the clock actually has 3 hands – sun, moon & the current zodiac sign the sun is in? The lower round of the clock is actually divided into 365 steps serving as a calendar.

The local legends states that upon completion, Master Hanuš had his eyes gouged out so that he couldn’t replicate this creation. Then guided by the resounding chimes, he forced his hand into the clock’s movement & shut down its operation for 100 years until the next repair could be completed.

So eager onlookers eagerly crowd around to witness this special occurrence & I can honestly say I came back 3 times just to partake again and again and again!

Deep in the countryside between Agra & Jaipur is a Dhula Village that is the perfect hideaway for a dose of relaxation. 

Our adventure group arrived via a long pothole infested backroad to a quiet oasis outfitted with glamping tents. 

We all made a beeline for the unexpected luxury of an aqua blue swimming pool, nestled underneath the ancient temples of 3 fallen royal family members. The drinks were flowing, music pumping & water games rocking with plenty of laughter in the air. 

We didn’t even care that the sky unleashed her fury during our self care session, since the previous few sightseeing days had been scorching in late August.

Our home for the night was basic but welcomed. With 2 singles cots, attached bathroom, fan & locker provided in each tent, it was a great reminder that simplicity can be a wonderful escape & needed every so often for just a personal reset. 

A traditional Indian dinner was served in the beautifully acquainted main house & we even learned the delightfully addictive card game of $@&?head to keep the laughs rolling. What’s the odds that my first game I pulled out a crazy win?!? 

With the downpours coming in periodic waves, we all finally retired to our own beds & got serenaded to sleep with the sweet sounds of nature. What a blessing to be here in this moment & totally disconnected to the outside world!

Just four months since my first visit and I’m again boarding a red eye en route to England. I barely skated through bag weight checks (literally at the max 22lbs max) plus a sling bag, so thankfully didn’t get hit with a painful $75 feet this go around. And my luck continued, as I drew a cozy window seat near the back of the plane with my middle seat partner finding an alternative prior to actual takeoff.

After catching a few zzzzzs, I was semi ready for 7 hours of exploration during my layover. I had researched two unconventional options – navigating the complicated bus system on the outskirts to Stonehenge or take a combo of trains/busses to Pooh Corner to indulge my childhood fantasies.

The other challenges I faced were transferring from Gatwick to Heathrow airports, so storing my bigger book-bag wasn’t an option plus there were limited options open on Sundays. And I should mention the bitter cold (~10 degrees less than usual) February weather reminding me how spoiled us Floridians have become.

I quickly determined that my first choice was going to be a bust, as it was almost 2 hours one way & the bus schedules weren’t conducive to an American on a very specific mission.

So I took a combo of trains to the end of the line in southeast London, in hopes of catching the bus route to Hartfield in East Sussex. My lunchtime arrival didn’t help, as the lack of options forced me to call an uber with hopes of getting me the last 10 miles to my destination. But after waiting for 3 different drivers and ultimately being cancelled by all, I unfortunately had to abort this mission.

Sidebar……If you know me, my birthday is shared with Winnie the Pooh so as a child I was obsessed with Pooh and friends rather than dolls. Can you believe I still have my very first oversized stuffed animal & it is even sporting an ash stain on its forehead from a church special day that I wanted to share? And working for Disney for 15 years, I spent way too much money on collecting anything and everything I could find of this chubby little honey loving bear. My home office even has 400+ Pooh beanie babies all dressed in unique outfits!

So I missed out on a cup of hot chocolate in my very own Pooh Bear mug at the Team Room, shopping at the on-site store, prancing through the 100 Acre Woods near the Ashdown Forest and walking through the Pooh’seum showcasing the life of author A.A. Milne.

To finish my journey, I rode the complex networks of trains and finally made it to Heathrow without really accomplishing much but chowing down on some ramen noodles.

Moral of the story – I don’t have too many travel blunders along my wild journey of life, but every now & then a plan doesn’t come to fruition & I’ve learned just to shrug it off!