I always get asked how I have the means to travel all over the world so frequently. It truly isn’t rocket science but an exercise in priorities & personal choices.

Am I a foodie? Nope.

Do I care if I eat Taco Bell or a five course steak dinner? I’ll always opt for quick & easy. Actually, I honestly prefer just a granola bar so I can simultaneously continue on my journey & maximize my time in each destination. And my first chore on any trip is to hit up the local grocery store for some sustainable fuel. Rarely am I wasting money on a daily Starbucks run (which is very common amongst travelers on my group trips), as my go-to refillable water bottle is sufficient (especially when adding squirts of Mio flavored water…. Gamechanger!).

One of my big superpowers is tracking down crazy flight deals. I enjoy the chase. My idea of low key fun is researching cheap flights via Google Flights & punching in all different scenarios (days, times, stay overs, one way connections, lower price windows, etc). Allegiance to any airline is a thing of the past, as I’m searching for the best fit into my tight schedule & what else I can squeeze into the adventure. Flight tracking is always a major bonus too, as any price fluctuations automatically send you an alert.

And I’m a die hard carryon only kinda girl. Not only do I avoid those exorbitant baggage fees & gain valuable time, but I’m more nimble just strapping a book-bag on. I’ve been in too many third world countries where we are schlepping our luggage down a dirt road or the polar opposite in the massive concrete jungle cities where elevator/escalator availability is questionable. Plus I’ve learned the hard way that over packing & carrying too much “stuff” just weighs you down. Don’t do it! Besides meticulously thought out layers of clothing, mobile entertainment, a few basic toiletries & snacks, what else do you really need?

Souvenirs are rarely a necessity anymore, as I’d rather opt for framing and/or blowing up some of my favorite photos as a daily visual reminder that the best things in life are experiences.

Lodging is typically my biggest expensive nowadays, but that hasn’t always been the case. As a young professional & aspiring full-time travel nomad, you have to make a dollar stretch a little farther so I’ve slept in my fair share of 1-star roach motels, holed up in the back seat of rental cars, booked a red eye flight, crashed on friends’ couches, pitched a tent in roadside campgrounds & squeezed into my single bunkbed in shady hostels. While I no longer enjoy snoozing in any of the above scenarios, I’ve survived all those unpredictable nights & have great memories to share!

Finally, as a National Park enthusiast, I firmly believe in the power of nature to rejuvenate my inner peace & balance. A majority of my adventures are based around these natural wonders and I’ve currently hiked in 54 of the 63 US parks so I also avidly renew my annual pass for just $80 (typically it would cost $30 entry per day). Obviously a no brainer!

So whatever your travel style entails, be free….. open your mind to the possibility that the unknown can be wildly invigorating & you don’t have to break the bank to get out of your comfort zone.

What would you do with your final 6.5 hours in Tokyo, which is half way around the world at 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time?

Even with my stealth packing the night prior, the 6:45am wake up call was still brutal. But I was on a mission to navigate the wildly tricky Japanese public metro system (successfully) en route to squeeze in a visit to the very unique Tokyo DisneySea.

I arrived 30 mins prior to opening to a literal “sea” of eager guests standing politely in line. Unlike westerners, they all behave in an orderly fashion & we ease through the gates into a whole new world. Meanwhile, I had stashed my big book-bag in a strategically located storage locker near the bus hub for my eventual airport transfer (and to of course maximize my time in the park).

But it was time to play & I had the time of my life just putzing around all the different lands. I couldn’t find a park map anywhere & the app didn’t work, but I throughly enjoyed the change of pace just leisurely going with the flow. Around every turn was a new surprise & I hopped on any ride that had less than a 30 min wait time, which actually turned into a really healthy plan:

• Monorail
• Electric Railway
• Nemo & Friends Searider
• Walk thru Fantasy Springs – WOW!!
• Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage
• Magic Lamp Theatre
• Caravan Carousel
• 20k Leagues Under the Sea
• Transit Steamer Line
• Character meet & greets
• Shopping

I also stopped at numerous food carts to test out the culture specific snacks & start getting rid of all my piled up yen change – shrimp & chicken sushi roll, crème brûlée churro, pizza turnover and tipo torta sweet potato.

And I should also add that I had to search for all the popcorn stands trying to find the coolest of the viral souvenir buckets to bring back home to my mom. But I also had to navigate all the crazy popcorn flavors offered & only one was at each location (garlic shrimp, black pepper, roast beef, curry and more that I ran out of time for). I ended up reenacting a bad game of memory & finally decided on caramel (since I had to eat it en route to the airport), while also getting caught in the light rain that camped out overhead for my last hour.

What a glorious last day of vacation!! After stealth mode to change into my comfy travel outfit (definitely needed for my 17 hour commute), I had a mere 5 minutes to spare before the bus came to swoop me away & back to reality.

SPOILER – which bucket did I find??? Well, I snagged one of the Peter Pan clock tower buckets that illuminates & ended up spilling it twice along my journey: once in the first 15 mins on the bus (which was very embarrassing because if you know anything about the Japanese culture, you don’t eat in public areas & you always take your own trash to dispose of privately) & the second was about 1 hour from home on the plane. It’s always a good story!

Over the years, I’ve become a master at maximizing my hard earned PTO. So when we had a business trip to the sports & entertainment capital of the world just prior to Easter weekend, I almost missed the golden opportunity to extend for 3.5 days in one of my absolute favorite places in the entire world…. southern Utah!

Of course I had already packed a week earlier, so with less than 24 hours until takeoff, I stuffed in my hiking gear & was ready for a spontaneous adventure. And for a mere $30, I changed my flight to a Sunday red eye without even blinking twice.

I have hundreds of bucket list hikes saved for these type of moments & quickly built a stellar itinerary basing out of St. George, Utah. And the icing on the cake was that every one of these treks were surprisingly all new territory for me.

Throw in free hotel room nights & breakfast due to saving my points, plus my local friend lending me her extra minivan, it was a recipe for a no frills, budget weekend…. just the way I liked it!

Each day I attacked a different direction & racked up 31 miles over 8 hikes & eclipsed 100k steps. It was physically exhausting but mentally reinvigorating. My poor feet!

And the weather wreaked havoc on my body. Vegas had been pushing 90 degrees all week, but the backcountry barely hit 40 degrees my first couple of days (not to mention the crosswind gusts were +40mph). Day 3 was the real doozy though, as I started my trek at 31 degrees with snow on the wood baseboards leading down into the canyon. Then my second hike of the day was the elusive Kanarra Falls, which was an inevitable plunge into the icy water knee deep for the last half of the hike straight up the belly of the slot canyon. Looking back, it was TOTALLY worth the temporary pain because it was absolutely breathtaking & worth all the hype!

From the unique spires of Cathedral Gorge State Park, to the sprawling views of Snow Canyon SP, to the awe inspiring towers of Kolob Canyon – Zion NP, to the glow of the Red Rock Conservation Area, the possibilities were endless until daylight finally faded away.

Considered by many to be the “8th wonder of the world”, the Terracotta Warriors are located in the central province (near the original capital of China) of Xi’an. To get access to this national landmark, most have to commit to a bullet train ride from either the major hubs of Beijing or Shanghai.

Already a UNESCO World Heritage site, this is the biggest tomb in the world at 35 square miles. It is an astounding 2,200 years old & took 38 years to build by over 1 million laborers.

Built to safeguard the tomb of Chinas first emperor Qin Shi Huang, it specifically highlights his pursuit of immortality & the afterlife. It has been excavated (thus far) in 3 distinct pits, where ~8k clay warriors/horses & +40k bronze weapons have been unearthed. Many were (unfortunately) severely damaged in a roof collapse in the not too distant past.

And to make the trip even more memorable, we exit the last pit to a frigid chill in the air & light snow falling into streets. Not sure if I was ready for this surprise!

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…..