At 10,023 feet, the summit at Haleakala National Park is a must do when visiting the island of Maui.

The silence is inspiring.

The crunch of the volcanic ash beneath your dust caked hiking boots is deafening, in a crazy, cool way.

If you dare, take a portion of the Sliding Sands trail down into the belly of the crater. The lonely silhouette of a line leads into the vast emptiness beyond the furthest dormant cinder cones you can visualize.

The trek back uphill isn’t THAT bad when you just keep thinking one foot in front of the other, and the pleasant surprise of your ears popping as you very slowly ascend.

And if you time it just right in the late afternoon, you can witness another miracle nightly. Sunset is a spectacle with everyone flocking up the mountainside to breathe in the unspoiled beauty of another day setting below. Between the chill of the air and the anticipation of the fireball eclipsing the horizon, it’s one of those moments stuck in your head that can never be replaced or forgotten. That sunset glow….. just WOW!

A tropical adventure haven.

My first visit was a group multi sport trip of hiking, rafting, biking and multiple addons. We rode a 4×4 to an isolated farm to start our trek into the jungle, where we only brought what we could carry on our backs. True roughing it. We hiked through mud deep into the unknown to a quaint country shack overlooking the local active volcano. We slept in hammocks amongst the stars and it was glorious. We had homemade breakfast waiting for us every morning (made in the outdoor kitchen by the home owner) and then took off in a different direction each of the next 3 days to explore waterfalls and find exotic wilderness creatures.

Then we were off to white water raft the local rapids to reach our next hidden cliff top jungle cabins – so dreamy! Fresh fruits from the jungle were plentiful & we relaxed in our own hammocks without a care in the world. Our water adventure wasn’t so pleasant as my boat didn’t want to paddle which made the low waters hard to navigate without getting stuck frequently. At least we can laugh about it now!

We also hit the tourist Arenal Volcano area for biking and zip lining. That zip line exposed me to the Tarzan swing – basically a free fall the first 25 feet then you are literally swing out over the lush jungle. And I know your thinking do people actually beat their chest and yelp? Ahhhh yep. Surreal!

My second trip to this hidden gem was a last minute decision (seriously booked it and left 24 hours later) during the summer. I got whisked away via a boat to a lodge deep in the canals that was paradise.

I had my own log cabin overlooking the ocean and falling asleep to the crashing waves. We took a speed boat to visit the local floating cities, hiked the local trails, kayaked, ran on the beach, sipped on frilly drinks, swam in the turtle shaped pool, played board games until the wee hours of the morning and had no connection to the real world for 5 glorious days.

And I might have been the guinea pig to test that a massive spider walking on my face wouldn’t actually kill me – terrifying experience! 🕷

When I travel to Central America or South America, I typically use GAdventures to plan all the details as they do a great job sourcing local guides and finding quaint lodging that you would never be able to find on your own.

But I did venture out to another company for this trip. It was a little slower paced and I thoroughly enjoyed a different type of adventure. We sailed into the Caribbean on a small skipper, walked across country borders, hiked into the jungle to find ancient ruins, stayed in log cabins on an island paradise and indulged in local cuisine.

Scaling old ruins and temples was fascinating and totally enthralling. I could never tire of walking the steps of history and imaging life in primitive times. I was always the last to come back down and join the group, but I didn’t care….. I was just having too much fun.

I remember learning “less is more” upon our arrival onto the quaint island of Caye Caulker, where there are no cars and everyone was responsible for carrying their own bags. I could run around the outskirts of the island twice on my daily jaunt and loved being completely disconnected with the real world. We would spend the evenings jumping off the old watering hole and taking in spectacular sunsets. Ahhh to go back…… and not to forget on our way back to our little hole in the wall accommodations, the loose electrical wiring actually caught fire so we enjoyed a scorching summer night without AC, fans or lighting. I really can’t make this kinda stuff up!

Traveling in itself is the adventure. Be ready for anything and just let others happen. 🇧🇿 🇬🇹 🇭🇳

My story joining the “Happiest place on Earth” cast:

After graduating and coaching basketball for 2 years at my alma mater, I made the huge leap to start over in Orlando, FL. I wanted to go where no one knew me and see what I could make of it.

Over Spring Break in 1998, I visited my newlywed friends Alanda & Wayne who had moved to “The City Beautiful”. I was offered 2 jobs on the spot – #1 was an administrative assistant at a construction company & #2 was a hospitality hostess at either the All-Sports Resort or the Polynesian Resort. I returned to Lenoir-Rhyne College to pack up my minimum belongings and moved a week later.

Being a Disney nut, the choice was obvious even though it started at minimum wage with a college education. And everyone would think I picked the sporty option, as I was known as the jock. But remember, no one knew that persona in sunny FL, so I shocked my friends when I showed up to the upscale “Poly” having to don a lavender blazer, flowery bow tie & tan long skirt. Being that I got hired in the start of summer, I was dripping every day walking into work from the cast parking lot far, far away.

After intense Disney training known as Traditions, I got thrown into the craziness of the #1 vacation destination in the world. I picked up every overtime shift available and learned all the front desk roles in no time. With no seniority, I actually chose to take on the 3rd shift night auditor to somehow use my math degree and get 3 days off a week (4 overnight shifts * 10 hrs = more time to explore FL). And I loved being the courier/runner because I got to take & pick up deliveries to all different places on property, so I learned all the roads and secret entrances.

I’ll never forget my favorite part of the overnight shift was folding all the departing guests bills and then having to run around the resort delivering them by kicking them under doors. I made it a big game and had my own routes where I would try to beat my times nightly. I got so good at it that we would have time to watch 2 movies upon my return and prior to our morning counterparts arriving. Ahhhhh, the good ol’ days. And that was when I knew that I could and wanted to do more.

I also picked up a second job at the Central FL YMCA as a membership rep, which also led to being an after school counselor & an aquatics lifeguard supervisor for a summer. I slept when I could, but in your early 20s, I had boundless energy anyways.

After 8 months, I started getting antsy and I put all my efforts into volunteering at the newly opened Disney’s Wide World of Sports. I knew I had found my calling – sports & Disney in the same sentence was my definition of the perfect role. My first few events I helped at track and field meets, plus the elite Clay Court Tennis Championships. Being that I was the youngest volunteer by like 25 years, I won the coveted spot on center court sweeping lines for the pros like Michael Chang & Jim Courier. That was my ticket. I learned the operations, met the leaders and was picked up immediately, as I knew they would have to expand and hire to grow this new concept.

15 years later……. ✨ ✨✨

Would you purposely schedule an overnight layover in a foreign city just to get a glimpse of one of your long-standing bucket list destinations? Hell yes!

En route back to Athens from a glorious 8 days hiking on the island of Crete and a spontaneous 2 days in Santorini, I arrived into a deserted airport around 10pm. Prearranging for a driver is a must when dealing with after hours arrivals and I was off to find my hostel for the night. Hostels are not very common in America, but I really only needed a pad to crash in for a few hours, a reputable & clean spot, a cheaper lodging option and something semi close to the ancient ruins.

I originally booked a four person room for approximately $22 and of course got assigned a top bunk. My roomies were all out so I quickly got settled (the key is repacking the night prior to ease the stress) and actually got offered my own 6 bed room instead. Mmmmm….. yes please!

Odds would have it that I couldn’t sleep, so with 3.5 hours of shut eye, I ventured out into the Athens streets to make the most of my only morning. Ruins and archeological sites adorned almost every corner leading straight uphill for a mere 15 min walk to the majestic Acropolis. I climbed to Areopagus Hill at 7:50am to get my first glimpse of this iconic monument.

It was surreal to be standing in the shadows of ancient gods and structures so important to the Greek culture. And at 8am opening, I had the place all to myself to revel in. Truly a gift.

Restoration efforts were in full force and it was humbling to just sit in silence to imagine day to day life back in the site’s heyday. I’ve experienced a lot of ruins over the past month in Egypt and throughout Greece, but nothing compares to this massive site perched upon the top of the hill overseeing the Greek people far below.

I even got yelled at for setting up my mini tripod to get my own instagram worthy shot perched on the lone limestone block in a field of other rocks. I’m still not sure what I did wrong but I listened to the guide yelling at me in Greek, smiled and went along to explore the rest of the site in peace. (Pic #1 below)

My two hours were up and I backtracked down to the city center along narrow cobblestone stairways, found the metro station only 1 block away from my accommodations, grabbed my 2 book bags and was off to my next adventure!

Wheels up!!!

The after glow of a sunset from the infamous Waikiki beach just hit differently.

Truly spellbinding.

EVERY night no one missed a chance to slow down and appreciate Mother Nature put on a spectacular show. There was a silence from the droves of tourists lining the shoreline and hundreds of suffers bobbing in the water, as well as the sailboats cruising in the shallow waters.

It is always special to watch the last rays of sunlight dance along the horizon, but here in the aloha state, the real show begins just after that final sliver eases away.

The next 30-45 minutes you are dazzled by the kaleidoscope of colors popping before your eyes and begging you to keep them peeled for the possibility of more to come.

You breathe in the calm of another day gone and the hope of what is to come tomorrow….. which will inevitably include another chance to view a miracle.

Adventure travel is my passion and I have to say Southern Utah is my “go to” location for an awesome outdoor itinerary suitable for any weekend warrior looking to get out of their comfort zone.

In January 2022, I quickly threw together a jam-packed 6 day journey that exceeded even my own expectations. FYI, I consistently use the All Trails app for directions to trailheads and routes, as well as downloaded the Kanab Trails app for this specific adventure.

Here are my recommendations and even a few additions I didn’t have time to squeeze in (but did all the research for):

Day 1 – being a National Park junkie, I had never made time prior to hit up the remote Great Basin in eastern Nevada so that was my launching point. Winter season does limit some trail availability especially to Wheeler Peak (13k feet the highest point in the state) but I thoroughly enjoyed trying out crampons for the first time ever along portions of the Lehman Creek, Mountain View & Grey Cliffs trails. The highlight was without question the Lehman Cave tour (pic #1) at 200 ft underground and the formations were stunning! (As an alternative, I would highly recommend Zion NP which is closer and my favorite NP – hiking the Narrows or Angel’s Landing are must dos).

Day 2 – basing out of Kanab is highly recommended, as every day I opted to take my chances in the daily lottery for The Wave (9am at the Kanab Civic Center). Thereafter, I would break off in a different direction every day. First on my list was the Pipe Spring National Monument. The ridge trail was only .5 mi but it got the blood pumping and had amazing views towards the Grand Canyon to the south (pic #2). I then made my way west/north to Kanarraville Falls, which you need to secure a permit online prior (easy to get). Winter hikes can be hit or miss with icy conditions even though I had crampons, as I was only able to access ~ half of the 6 mile trek, but it was a beautiful hike that I would definitely return to conquer. I then continued my loop back to Kanab and squeezed in the 1.9 mile Red Hollow Slot Canyon in Orderville. So much fun!!!

Day 3 – I headed east to an awesome 2 mile jaunt to the Toadstools (pic #3). Right off the highway, you follow a wash to otherworldly hoodoos and a playground to explore all morning. Be sure to venture both directions past the “big hammer” hoodoo. Just a few miles down a dirt road, I also added in a spontaneous 1 mile walk to The Nautilus. You have to see it to believe it…. a natural “swirl” formation in the middle of nowhere. Finally I took a chance to see if my rented Versa could make the treacherous 8 mile or 30 min drive to the trailhead of Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch (which is the longest slot canyon in the world). And oohhh it was a blessing to spend 5 miles wandering through this stunning terrain (pic #4). One of the highlights of my trip! Bring lunch and take every chute to explore to your hearts content.

Day 4 – I made the quick drive north to Belly of the Dragon (pic #5), a man-made tunnel that is worth a quick visit, and you can even continue on for a few more miles through the wash to another small slot canyon if you desire. Then hit up the Moqui Caves for a touristy cave experience. Take a left immediately outside and climb up the sandstone cliff side to be delighted by another fun diversion at the Kanab Sand Caves (pic #6). On your way back to town, stop by the amazing Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to volunteer or take a tour of this beautiful property. When back in town, check out the big “K” adorning the cliff side and trek the easy 1.5 mile K-hill trail for great views of the city. I chose to end my day with a big 4.5 mile sunset hike up the Bunting trail (pic #7). Very doable, but this trek is at a 45% angle and the last stretch has you scaling very narrow ridges (in the snow it is very sketchy). But the views are tremendous and incredibly satisfying!

Day 5 – miraculously I WON the Wave lottery for tomorrow, so today I changed my plan to not go so strenuous. First hike was 3 miles into Tom’s Canyon, which is accessible easily from the east side of town. Next I scheduled an ATV tour with Kanab Tour Co. to one of my bucket list spots at Peekaboo Slot Canyon (pic #8). It was pricey but I didn’t want to take any chances getting stuck in the VERY deep sand on the access roads. Definitely no regrets, as we had a blast flying through the backcountry single track and up ridiculous sand hills en route to the canyon. The slot was awe inspiring and downright surreal to traverse (pic #9). Nearby is another gem and an easy .25 mile trek to Sand Dune Arch. I finished my day wanting to take in my last Kanab sunset, so opted to do the first part of the K-hill trail again to sit on one of the many benches and just enjoy my surroundings.

Day 6 – Wave day! I am fortunate I had already accessed the Wire Pass trailhead, so I knew the condition of the dirt road in and also where this trail bisected. Therefore, I chose to beat the crowds and start my trek just prior to twilight. The NPS gives you a good map and pictures to follow, but I recommend a headlamp and GPS as well. This 6.4 mile hike was one of my favorite hikes EVER (pic #10) – varied terrain, wildlife peeking out everywhere, sunrise glow was unparalleled and the colors were unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed!

A few alternatives if you have a rugged SUV and have time to drive a little further to the outskirts:

• Zebra slot canyon
• Spooky slot canyon
• Coyote gulch 2.5 miles
• Bull valley gorge .9 mile
• Willis creek 5.8 miles
• Devils garden 1 mile in Grand Staircase Escalante
• White pocket – Coyote Buttes south
• Cottonwood wash narrows 1.5 miles
• Cedar Breaks NM ridge line trail
• I had already been to Bryce Canyon but I HIGHLY recommend seeing daybreak from Sunrise Point & hiking the Figure 8 full loop!

I miss Utah already! My itinerary map (pic #11) shows a visual of this aggressive plan and how motivated I was to experience as much as I possibly could. Enjoy all the varied hikes and outdoor experiences that will definitely have me coming back for more…. sooner rather than later next time!

While I’m a self proclaimed adrenaline junkie, you would be surprised at the places that I remember while traversing across this big country. This is by no means a perfect list, as there are a few states that I definitely need to explore more of in the future. Enjoy this virtual road trip to my favorites…… so far!

Alabama. I just barely dipped into this state but we really enjoyed exploring the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, followed by fresh seafood at one of the many fish camp restaurants along the water.

Alaska. I loved cruising to be able to experience multiple ports. Most memorable was walking onto the Mendenhall Glacier.

Arizona. Sedona is absolutely stunning and a must visit for everyone in their lifetime. Tons of trails are at your doorstep. My favorites were Fay Canyon, Devils Bridge, Hangover and Cathedral Rock.

Arkansas. The 6 mile dirt/gravel road is a little gnarly but the reward is worth it….. frequently noted as the best trail in the state, the 3 mile trek to Hawksbill Crag (or called Whitaker Point) meanders along cliff sides to a spectacular viewpoint.

California. Considering the possibilities here, you can’t go wrong with Yosemite’s Half Dome, Death Valley, driving the gorgeous coastal cliffs and I love the hidden gem of Pinnacles National Park.

Colorado. This state has so many amazing vistas and hidden gems, but Garden of the Gods is that special place that makes all other destinations pale in beauty.

Connecticut. Just because I love a good Julia Robert’s flick, visit the town of Mystic for some nostalgia and pizza.

Delaware. Growing up I vaguely remember visiting Rehoboth Beach for a quick getaway.

Florida. My home state for the past 24 years is a travelers paradise year round. I love the majestic Florida Keys for all the wildlife, scuba diving/snorkeling, views and just a great beachy vibe.

Georgia. Renting a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a step back in time with a drive in movie theatre, tubing the Toccoa River, hiking and numerous others will keep you entertained. I also love hiking up Stone Mountain for a rush!

Hawaii. Volcanoes National Park was fascinating stumbling along former lava flow paths. Plus the snorkeling in any beach cove was plentiful and if you want a huge rush….. try a night manta ray dive!

Idaho. My dad and I thoroughly enjoyed the Centennial Park Twin Falls and Shoshone Waterfalls in Idaho Falls. You can even walk behind one of them!

Illinois. My mom grew up in Chicago, so we visited numerous times growing up and I’ll never forget how ridiculously afraid I was of going to the top of the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower)!

Indiana. Visiting the iconic Indianapolis Speedway is a big rush and we even had the special pleasure of playing the golf course inside the track!

Iowa. I was pleasantly surprised with the Maquoketa Caves State Park. With over 3 miles of trails to 16 caves, it was a delight to explore this remote nature area.

Kansas. When my niece was a toddler, I really enjoyed the Army town of Leavenworth and visiting the Carousel Museum.

Kentucky. Finally made it to Mammoth Cave National Park, which is the longest cave in the world, and took the Historic Tour!

Louisiana. New Orleans was sensory overload and great to just hit the city by foot and eat/drink to your hearts content, especially the savory bengeits.

Maine. Acadia National Park has a bunch of shorter trails (Beehive & Precipice are both for the adrenaline junkies) and seeing an epic sunrise from Cadillac Mountain is a must!

Maryland. The Inner Harbor is always a favorite to explore including the Baltimore Aquarium.

Massachusetts. I love the history of the Freedom Trail and touring the iconic city of Boston.

Michigan. Mackinaw Island was a blast from the past with all the horse drawn carriages and culture.

Minnesota. Driving the Lake Superior circle was so gorgeous and relaxing. Try to make the full circle loop!

Missouri. In college, our soccer team made a big road trip to the Midwest and I remember visiting the towering St. Louis Arch. It was recently upgraded as a National Park in 2018.

Mississippi. I’ll need to go back to explore more but I did check out the energy of a Mississippi State University football game on a beautiful fall evening.

Montana. Yellowstone has to be high on your bucket list to explore all the geysers and revel in the abundant wildlife.

Nebraska. Seeing an unspoiled sunset over the vast plains of the Scott’s Bluff or Agate Fossil Beds National Monuments is priceless, along with following along on parts of the historic Oregon Trail (who remembers the old school video game of the same name?)

Nevada. Valley of Fire State Park is a hidden gem and a must do. Try the White Domes and Firewave hikes for a great afternoon out exploring slot canyons and stunning rock formations.

New Hampshire. Franconia ridge has a beautiful area called the Basin with a bunch of short trails to some gorgeous waterfalls.

New Jersey. Pick a beach – Ocean City, Cape May, Atlantic City.

New Mexico. There are a ton of options if you are a history seeker but I absolutely loved the 2 mile headland trail at El Morro National Monument (take it counterclockwise).

New York. While I love strolling around the diversity in Central Park, I’m partial to lake living along the shores of Lake Michigan near the incomparable Niagara Falls.

North Carolina. Hiking and camping in the Linville gorge area in the western part of the state is pure serenity, including Grandfather Mountain and the mile high swinging bridge.

North Dakota. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is remote but worth the trip. Bison and wild horses graze everywhere and I especially enjoyed the trails in Wind Canyon.

Ohio. During a business trip to Cleveland, I made a side visit to the Rock & Roll hall of fame. Who doesn’t love some music to brighten up your day?

Oklahoma. My one visit to this state was to benchmark the operations of the NCAA Softball World Series held at a beautiful stadium in Oklahoma City. I also remember a few chuck wagon festival along the way!

Orgeon. Crater Lake National Park was downright stunning in winter with the crystal blue waters beckoning you to explore more.

Pennsylvania. My teenage years were consumed with travel ball up and down the east coast and I loved living in the dorms on the gorgeous Bryn Mawr campus.

Rhode Island. Hop on a ferry and explore the quaint Block Island.

South Carolina. While I love the quaint Hilton Head island immensely, I’m partial to my childhood yearly trips to Surfside Beach (southern portion of Myrtle Beach).

South Dakota. Badlands National Park is a whirlwind. Definitely take 2 small but challenging treks – the notch and saddlepass (southern access point) trails.

Tennessee. Nashville is such a warm & fuzzy city that has a little bit of everything especially getting your live music fix, while Gatlinburg is also my speed when needing an outdoor adventure.

Texas. Guadalupe Mountains National Park has a fun hike called Devils stairs that takes you along a dried out river bed scrambling over massive rocks and culminating at a hairy climb.

Utah. This is probably my favorite state in regards to natural beauty and wonders. Very difficult choice so it’s a tie between Zion (the Narrows & Angels Landing trails) and Arches National Parks (the full Devils Garden loop).

Vermont. I thoroughly enjoyed the 6 mile challenge of trekking up to Camel’s Hump State Park Summit (and if you go a little further you can see a plane wreckage). Plus Stowe is home to Sound of Music Von Trapp Family Lodge & headquarters of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream!

Virginia. I was born in Manassas in extreme Northern Virginia, so we grew up around the historic battlefields which are always a treat to explore and learn, plus a bonus of proximity to the national mall (museums & monuments of DC).

Washington. Mt. Ranier was an incredible sight and even more challenging to hike in the snow to stunning peak lookouts.

West Virginia. This state is home to the newest & 63rd National Park with New River Gorge and don’t miss Harper’s Ferry National Monument.

Wisconsin. Take a hike to the cliffside sea caves at Apostle National Lakeshore.

Wyoming. Circling the Devils Tower on a hike is a treat and if you dare…. sign up for a rock climbing excursion from this midwest wonder!

As I write this, I’m sleeping on a mattress with 7 other avid travelers under the stars on an old fashioned felucca parked somewhere on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt between Aswan and Luxor.

Surreal?? Absolutely!

If I back up to the start of our adventure, we left our hotel around 10:30am in Aswan to board a simple sailboat for a day of sailing the Nile. For the previous 3 days, we had been busy exploring all the ancient sites including the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Philae Temple, Temple of Abu Simbel and the Egyptian Museum. So a chill day was the perfect midweek break we didn’t even know we needed.

The deck had a massive mattress and pillows for everyone, so we spread out and plopped down. We were fortunate to have an amazing headwind that had us gliding down river 25-30 km. Temperatures in early June were already toppling 100 degrees, so we were super thankful for the escape from the stifling inner city heat. The trip was a pure delight as I found myself smiling at each turn of the bow, as we slowly “S” curved our way downstream. Between Bob Marley playing on the speaker, swimming in the chilly waters, playing “Heads Up” trivia and slurping our happy drinks, we had not a care in the world for those 5 glorious hours.

We even had a support boat following our brigade with toilets and serving fresh local delicacies for a truly authentic experience.

As it is approaching 10:45pm, everyone else is fast asleep and I’m still daydreaming about this perfect day half way around the world. And with sunrise at an insane 4:35am, I’m needing to fall asleep soon but know that even with a face mask and earplugs that I won’t be coming down from this high anytime soon!