I couldn’t have been more excited to really explore Spain, France and Italy. We had a big group of 8 ready for a new adventure. As first timers, a cruise in my opinion is the least stressful way to cover a bunch of ground in Europe while not having to worry about planning activities & travel arrangements crossing many languages. Every morning we would wake up in a new location ready to venture out.

The history of Barcelona lured me into its elegance. We walked throughout the city taking it all in – Las Ramblas was like walking through a history book. We indulged in massive beers & tapas, which we had no idea were tiny portions so we had to stop twice for dinner. We even took an excursion just outside the city to the impeccable, hillside monastery of Montserrat and enjoyed the funicular to the top. The most memorable stop was a huge fort near the Olympic village that was a replica of old times – just stunning to get lost in and ponder about life back in those days.

Italy really clued me in to how young the US is and I eagerly wanted to learn so much more about ancient times. Climbing Mt. Vesuvius in the bitter winds, visiting the Pompeii ruins, walking ancient cobblestone streets, drinking obscene amounts of wine….. it was divine and we craved for more.

We arrived in Rome on the day of a taxi strike but were able to navigate the labyrinth of streets to take in some of the iconic sights – Trevi fountain, Pantheon (my fav), St. Peter’s Square, Colosseum and numerous bakeries.

We goofed off at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which had more to do than just climbing all the stairs, and pigged out on the best pizza and ice cold Peroni that we’ve ever had just one block away.

I looked forward to the France portion of the trip, where we stopped in Marseilles, got close to the island depicted in one of my fav movies the Count of Monte Cristo, took an excursion into Monaco to visit the castle, walked the poker room in the Grand Casino and drove the beautiful coast up to the historic city of Eze (my fav old time city perched on a mountain top with old cobblestone streets leading to an astounding view). But my top memory was the bay where we docked for this day – Villefranche. I have dreamed of this city overlooking the bay of crystal clear water and all sizes of boats, and know I will make it back there one day to rent a flat for a month. Bet on it.

And the trip didn’t end upon arrival back in Barcelona, as we hopped up to Paris for a few days to take in the sights and hit Disneyland Paris (cast members just can’t resist). I do remember multiple croissants daily, churches that will blow your mind at the intricacies and grandeur…. the rest is a blur but I no doubt must go back.

Even if your journey doesn’t include Disney, make sure to explore this part of the world and it’s rich history…. I promise you won’t be disappointed and walk away yearning for more.

I’ve had some really dope adventures in my life and the night dive with the manta rays ranks high up there.

Day 2 on the Big Island and I snagged the last spot on the 4:45pm boat – 4 divers and 9 snorkelers. I timed a short hike at the nearby national monument prior because it dumped out at the marina for this late day excursion. After a quick briefing, we jetted out onto the water just north of the main city to a protected cove.

We watched the sunset hit the horizon but I was more consumed by trying to not feed the fish. Of course I forgot my Dramamine back at my lodging, so I opted to suck on Fritos in hopes the salt would hold me over until we jumped in. Three mini bags later (and add in a bag of cool ranch Doritos too), we finally suited up and took the plunge.

It had been 1.5 years since my last dive and this was my first nighttime feat, but I settled in quickly as we explored the underworld en route to the “campfire”. Our guides set up fluorescent glow sticks in a circle and positioned us right along the shift in current where the plankton were abundant.

And sure enough, we had the best seats in the ocean when the 5 manta rays swooped in for a magnificent show. It was breathtaking and so freaking exhilarating to see them whizzing around just a few feet above our heads, as we all were just in awe at these beautiful creatures gliding along. Did you know each animal has its own unique spotted marking pattern on their bellies and if you find one that is undocumented, you get to name it?!

What a rush! Incredible experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I originally wanted to learn to scuba dive because it was a passion of my younger brother and thought we could share a common bond when traveling to exotic destinations. He taught me the basics in my apartment complex pool and I was hooked. So a few friends and I took advantage of a course taught at a Disney pool.

My first dives took place in the safe environment of DisneyQuest at Epcot, with all the kids & tourists waving through the glass. It was enthralling and addictive.

From Cozumel to Aruba to Hawaii to Key West, the underwater world is a widely untapped resource and paradise of its own. Most people will only scratch the surface while snorkeling on the waters edge. They can get a taste of the unknown, but only those that dive down know the complete exhilaration of joining marine life in their own habitat. While I’m still a novice with only 32 dives recorded in my book, each one is unique and so fun to venture out into the unknown. And the thrill of searching a historic shipwreck is the ultimate underwater find. Many reefs just forming are baron, but through the amazing force of nature, these playgrounds breed life and bloom into new worlds previously uncharted.

If you ever get the opportunity to get certified, jump on it. It’s a skill that can be used for a lifetime and anywhere your travels take you. I always wish that I found more time to enjoy this passion, but at minimum, I make plans for 2 trips per year to refresh my skills and remind me that I need to dive more often.

Still to this day, Disney’s private island is one of my fav places in the entire world. Why?

Why not?

I was in love the first time I saw us pulling into port on my starboard balcony overlooking the insanely blue lagoons of this man made island paradise. From the shoreside bbq, to tram rides to the exclusive adult beach, bike rides along the trails, climbing the tower for impeccable views, paddling boats, snorkeling the underwater trail, swimming with manta rays, floating in the shallow waters off the adult beach….. the list is never ending.

After 21 visits, I have a few highlights that are tops in my book. Winning the island 5k two straight years was very special, as I felt unstoppable and at the top of my game. Also I had my very own hammock by the Heads Up Bar that I had to be the first off the ship to snag each visit, as it became my safe haven. Does anyone remember the replica of the Pirates of the Caribbean ship docked here for years? And I always snatched a blue foam float to waste away the majority of my perfect day basking in the pristine Caribbean waters.

And needless to say, I always tried to delay the inevitable and meander slowly back to the ship in the hopes of being the last soul back on board as to not waste a single second on this dream of an island.

So what is that intangible thing that makes the place so special? If you’ve been, you know…….

We started with a dream of an amazing mentor, 20 teams and a handful of college recruiters.

Fast forward 10 years, we eclipsed 625 elite teams whom had to submit resumes, as we declined more teams than we accepted. We drew in 950+ college coaches recruiting and looking for the next superstars. So the mixture of the best teams playing on the best fields in front of ALL the nation’s college coaches = a recipe for greatness.

Talk about leaving a legacy and laying the groundwork for so many athletes and their future careers. It was special and we knew it. Our core team complemented each other so well and we pushed the limits. We challenged ourselves yearly to outdo ourselves and ultimately an over the top guest experience was our driving motivation. One of the few dream teams I’ve been a part of in my 25 year work career.

We sacrificed our holiday breaks to run world class events, as teams and families from around the globe chose to spend their time and hard earned money at Disney Sports. Even though the week leading up to Christmas was relatively quiet at the complex, we were on a hard core mission to prep as much as we could so that we could enjoy actual Christmas Day with our families.

At sunrise on the 26th, we were in full on event mode in preparation for our droves of incoming guests registrations. We had awesome goody bags prepared and went over the top with magical touches that only Disney can do. (To put it in perspective, one year we partnered with Adidas to give EACH player a mini ball = we had a crew with 2 ball pumps running 12 hours for 4 days straight to get ready. Do the quick math > 11K balls!! Because of course it wasn’t good enough just to stuff deflated balls in a bag. Only the best in all endeavors = quality!) Massive interactive areas featuring our sponsors also adorned our main hub area and created an electric vibe for all involved.

We expanded to 3 offsite facilities and the staffing plan was ridiculously complex. However, our expert team was always on point and we, in the overall big picture, had very few major fire drills to attend to. Besides an occasional referee not showing, teams showing up at the wrong fields, unexpected rain showers/delays, running out of catering portions, lost tickets, belligerent coaches and field conditions deteriorating, we attacked all issues head on.

We reset the standard for all awards ceremonies plus recreated Soccer Showcase specific medals and trophies that were very unique and coveted.

After 10 long days of whatever it took, we could all breathe a sigh of relief on the Sunday afternoon following New Years as the complex once again turned silent and the fields got their chance to recover….. and our staff finally got to sleep.

Fast paced and ridiculously addictive, racquetball is my adult passion. I actually took racquetball 101 my freshmen year in college to improve my footwork and agility to help out my basketball game. I got hooked! We didn’t have any courts near me growing up, so I didn’t know what I was getting into. But being athletic, I picked up the sport quickly. Mix in being slightly competitive (ok I’m extreme) and a nerd in studying the game, I wanted to learn by playing the best students and frequented the courts anytime I could between college athletics.

Hand eye coordination. Speed. Angles. Footwork. Sweat fest. Strategy = life skills!

After college, I moved to FL to work for Disney Sports but we didn’t house any courts so I quickly forgot about the game as I dove into my career. I bought a house and was ecstatic when I learned about 5 years in they were building a new park with 2 outdoor courts. I had to upgrade my racquet as the technology had changed rapidly during my hiatus. I was a regular and fell in love all over again, even if the outdoor 3 wall game was faster and required some adjustment to my strategy.

Fast forward a few years, I started a new career at the YMCA and my home base had 4 indoor courts. Jackpot. And they were old school, with the small doors you had to duck into. Day 1 I hit the court immediately after my 15 hour day and was so pumped. I never drove anywhere without my racquets in tow and challenged anyone who would not get tired of playing for hours. I was proud to start new leagues and host a few tournaments, since I knew just a little how to do that from my Disney events days. It was even more rewarding to teach newbies and see their reactions through learning new skills or winning a game. We hosted skills clinics for all ages just trying to expose more kids to this amazing sport that was slowing dying in popularity.

How stoked was I at my second Y location to actually get involved in the renovation and construction of two, new state of the art courts? With full glass back walls, gorgeous light brown wood flooring and LED lighting, I was so lucky to be the first to whack away on day 1 of reopening and never shied away from practicing during a free hour.

I also started training with a local coach and playing in local tournaments against the guys, where my game immediately elevated. I held my own but also just loved the new group of people I got to meet who shared my passion.

I do have a personal goal to play in the FL state games typically held in the first quarter of the year, so I’m trying to recommit and focus on conquering that bucket list item before my 50th birthday. Time is ticking……

The minute we drove into the east entrance at Badlands National Park I knew it was going to be special. I felt a resurgence of my childhood wonder & giddiness.

A sea of multi-colored spires jutted out from the landscape to create a beautiful & otherworldly backdrop. The 1.5 mi Notch trail was the perfect warm-up. The true test snuck up on us about halfway, as a rudimentary ladder was the only gateway to the upper trail of this rocky paradise. Rickety but sturdy. Scary but doable. Exhilarating…..I took an extra deep breath & charged upwards.

COURAGE to face my wildest fears & overcome any obstacle…. on this mountain, along this journey & in this one crazy life that we have.

My dad and I also drove the winding rim road in complete awe of our surrounds. We weaved in and out of sharp cliffs and colorful hill sides. A buffalo even came charging towards our car in search of water. Totally mesmerizing. And then came sunset and it is one of my top ten of all time….. can you imagine standing at the top of these majestic, multi-colored mounds to see a fireball in the sky lighting up everything in existence as far as the eye could see? If I could make time stand still, this would have been one of those perfect moments.

Go experience it for yourself, then smile a little wider & know “you got this” – the next step could be all your dreams coming true. 🧡💪💜💪💚💪

Update April 2021: On another epic road trip, I made sure to add a day specifically in the Badlands to revisit some of my favorite trails & add a few new ones to the list too. The notch trail didn’t disappoint again, as I added on a bunch of side cutoffs to even crazier and more dramatic viewpoints. I also found another blow your mind trail at the southern trailhead of Saddlepass. At only .25 miles, be prepared to climb straight uphill to the top of “the Wall” and enjoy a few minutes to just peer out from the peak of this outdoor lover’s paradise! And finally my last impression was 2 buffalos grazing immediately next to the “leaving the Badlands” sign, so I pulled off to the side for a few extra minutes to just watch these beautiful creatures and savor a couple more minutes of solitude.

I didn’t really get heavy into mountain biking until my early 30s. Did you know I actually participated in and placed in 6 races? What an extreme rush.

Whizzing between trees, ducking under limbs, skidding through sand pockets, splashing through mud, finding slim holes to squeeze past an opponent and biking along single track is indescribable. I may have suffered a nasty slash in my new bike seat on day 1, but am one with my slick Giant bike and know every creak/crevice when tackling any trail. Plus the seat has survived numerous crashes and brushes with danger, and is still thriving on runs 10 years later with no signs of wearing thin.

We had a small group of enthusiasts that would try to meet up once a quarter to let loose. Our usual choice to meet up at was the extensive system in Ocala at the Santos trailhead. Only 90 mins from Orlando, it was a half day escape. Trails for all abilities snaked in and out of the tree line with even a special bmx track for the real crazies. I thoroughly enjoyed leading the pack and setting the pace through mostly moderate single track trails for hours. And bringing a lunch to enjoy after the sweat fest was a must. I miss these days immensely.

It’s rare to find, but my race of choice was the duathlon, where I could mix it up between trail running and mountain biking. I was a stronger biker so I naturally favored the thrill of a speed ride. And I’ve always been drawn to hard core trails rather than the cadence of road biking.

As a self proclaimed perfectionist, I would plan to arrive to the race site a day or two prior so I could practice via multiple course repetitions. Did it help? Absolutely, even if just for my self confidence and a little bit of a mental edge. I have always thrived off of practice in all aspects of life and visualizing each turn, each corner, each obstacle. Then preparing to overcome any fears or second guessing.

My body doesn’t recover as quickly these days and I never got sucked into buying all the cool gear, but if I saw a duathlon scheduled close by in the woods, I would seriously reconsider my retirement from this adrenaline infused addiction.

The third weekend in August is the sweet spot – a week prior to the tourist rush of Labor Day and after most southern schools have already started back up. So my friends and I always spend a very enjoyable & chill week exploring the beautiful Keys. Plus it is Tessa’s birthday week so another great excuse to escape and celebrate her special day.

They drive the RVs with kayaks and paddle boards, I tow the jetski and we throw bikes, games, beach chairs and dive gear in too. In less than 5 hours, we are camped out half way down the Keys in the island of Marathon overlooking the gorgeous, aqua blue gulf waters on our waterfront campsite enjoying the western shoreline.

There is no plan and we like it that way. Docking the jetski on the water does give me a great excuse to see every sunrise and sunset to my hearts content. Days are exhausted by paddling amongst the narrow mangroves isles or snorkeling offshore. We spend every night on the dock watching the sun fade into the horizon and playing games until we hear the first yawn. My fav activity is to ride bikes down to the local ice cream shop, sometimes twice the same day (anything goes on vaca!). And we try to frequent a local beach bar to enjoy fresh seafood, live music and finish out summer with a final toast.

We usually will venture down to Key West for a day and always schedule a dive excursion to explore this underworld oozing with tragic shipwrecks around every bend. One day I will even make it to the remote Dry Tortugas National Park, which is located 70 miles west and accessible only by boat or seaplane.

The week passes in a flash and every year we seem to tack on another day to savor this home away from home. Here’s looking ahead to another adventure in only 3 months and 15 days!