My 6th of 7 Wonders of the World finally came to fruition on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Our tour group of 16 foreigners (2 Canada, 5 England, 2 Ireland, 2 Switzerland, 2 Greece & 3 USA) left downtown Beijing at 8am en route to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China.

Spanning over 4,163 miles, this construction marvel was started in the 9th century BC & the only manmade structure visible from space. It is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site that has 2500km open for hiking between watchtowers 1-20.

Little did I know my epic day in the making almost had a disastrous outcome. In China, a passport must be swiped at every major area of importance & readily available for inspection. So as we boarded the outbound bus, my OCD kicked in & I just happened to recheck my travel wallet to physically touch my passport again (which supposedly I thought I had already done twice). IYKYK a travelers’ worst nightmare is misplacing this crucial document & mine was NOT in its trusty safe place. Sheer panic poured all over my face & seeped into every ounce of my being, as I raced back up to my room to scrounge through all my belongings. Fortunately, all peace was restored when I found my key to the world tucked into my sweatshirt pocket from our excursion to the bustling street market the night prior.

So the journey can continue……

Most of our group chose to ride the short ski-like tram to the wall barrier & I quickly trudged upward to climb as much as possible in our 4 hour visit. I was pleasantly surprised by the mini/half steps making the ascent semi-tolerable at a slow pace. As I made it to the double digit towers, the crowds started to dissipate & I could truly be in the moment.

Pinch me. Could it be real that I’m actually in the remote mountains in China, 13 hours ahead & away from my daily life? A tear actually surfaced as I realized the magnitude of this moment. It is truly amazing the places you can go & the dreams you can make a reality with a little extra grit & belief in oneself. I don’t possess an off switch nor do anything half ass…. this is one of those defining days!

And to conclude this momentous occasion, I chose the thrill ride down on a toboggan slide pulling into the station with my hair on fire & smiling ear to ear!

Prioritizing experiences over material things is always an easy call for me. A little (calculated) risk can open up doors you never knew existed & transport you into another dimension of wonder. Follow me on a journey.

Would you rather…..

• Clip in to an iron rung via ferrata scaling straight up a Norwegian fjord to catch a mesmerizing sunset over the entire gorge RATHER THAN purchase an expensive car?
• Rappel & slide down a series of Costa Rican waterfalls at midnight with only a headlamp to guide the way RATHER THAN splurge on a new outfit?
• Hike 10 miles past stunning waterfalls with over a 3k ft elevation gain to enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic cliffside paradise RATHER THAN sit down to a four course meal?
• Wake up at 3am to catch a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon ride for sunrise over the Cappadocia, Turkey hoodoos RATHER THAN exchange/upgrade your electronics for the latest & greatest?
• Climb up the impressive red rock arches & wade waist deep in the bone chilling, water lining slot canyons throughout southern Utah RATHER THAN drink away your night at a local bar?
• Glide through the icebergs via zodiac in Antarctica where only ~.01% of people on Earth have witnessed baby penguins take their first leap of faith into the crystal clear ocean RATHER THAN buying another knick knack that will just collect dust on a house shelf?
• Beat the 5% odds of applying for the hardest hiking permit in the US & getting up at 4am to drive an hour down a bumpy dirt road with all of your clothes on to stay warm & trekking with only a headlamp for 3.5 miles to witness “The Wave” natural landscape without another soul in sight for 2+ hours RATHER THAN ordering take out or door dash repeatedly?
• Ride in the back of an open air jeep through the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan while wild camels race us into the blazing sunset RATHER THAN sipping away the frequent Starbucks run?
• Ditch your airline lost heavy hiking pack for only a 10 lb. small crossbody bag in hopes of renting a moped to putz around an Indonesian island paradise for 4 days RATHER THAN signing up for another boring gym membership?
• Go full throttle via snowmobile cutting through the fresh snow straight up a ski slope after midnight to a sea of stars RATHER THAN gamble away at the slots & black jack tables?
• Be tethered to a teammate while you scale & jump over the icy edges of a bottomless glacier crevice RATHER THAN sit in front of the TV watching old shows?

Find your happy & be relentless in pursuing that joy that sets your soul on fire. Your only limits are those that you self-impose.

Just go for it. No regrets….. EVER!!!

It’s always worth the extra effort (and stress) to see family. And I outdid myself on this one!

After a last minute pivot to surprise my brother’s family in Germany for a short fall getaway, I concocted a complicated web of plans to also squeeze in a double whammy to Indianapolis – see my other brother’s family who just moved here & my college best friend’s son’s only senior season college football game near the east coast.

I knew that my international flight would arrive via the new Terminal C, so I had to take the train back to the main terminal where I had strategically parked my car in the hotel top garage lot. Quickly switching out my dirty clothes bag with a new smaller pre-packed weekend bag, and I was off to catch my quick domestic flight. It was brilliant and I even had time to grab some queso/chips for dinner!

Jaxon was ready to play upon arrival and was so excited to show me around their new house in the Midwest after 15+ years in California.

Downtown Indy has gone through a massive resurgence, so I throughly enjoyed walking to the food halls, parks and enjoying the fall comfortable weather. Then I drove the hour northwest to Purdue’s campus and some nostalgia as it has been ~20 years since I had been to a couple of football games back in the Drew Brees era.

Oregon got rolling early and absolutely crushed the Boilermakers. It’s always a good day around my college peeps and so thankful we made the extra effort to connect! And there is nothing like a Friday night football game atmosphere showcased by a beautiful sunset, passionate fans, stadium hotdogs and the chill in the air of an autumn night.

Sunday was another whirlwind of playtime and a sad return to the airport to endcap a crazy week in the friendly skies. I was more than surprised when this crazy plan actually worked out flawlessly!!!

Being always open for a new adventure can lead to the most amazing experiences!

On the last day of our business trip to Sin City, we get a text that the Goodyear Blimp is anchored nearby due to the upcoming Wrestle Mania event. There just happened to be a few open slots for the next morning & of course I’m in!

I had planned to take off early into the Utah backcountry just 2 hours north, but it was a no brainer to delay my escape a couple of hours for this once-in-a-lifetime ride. Making it even more special is this 100th year of flight.

Can you believe there are only 8 guest seats in this 250 ft long behemoth loaded with 200k lbs of helium? In addition, there are only 11 active of 40 pilots worldwide certified to operate the 3 blimps located in the US (home based in LA, Ohio headquarters & Pompano Beach, FL).

The landing & takeoff are so tricky that guests have to alternate just to balance the weight, while pilots also have to follow suit quickly as we sway with every wind gust. The ascent is peaceful & swift, as we glide past the infamous Vegas Strip twice. The neon lights sleep during the daylight & the crowds flocking to all the entertainment venues aren’t yet buzzing, so we enjoy a few fleeting moments without all the glitz & glamour usually associated with the sports & entertainment capital of the world.

Thirty minutes expired in a flash, as the whole process is reversed so that the next set of special guests can experience this once-in-a-lifetime ride for themselves….. and I am just super thankful for the opportunity to live another dream!

I purposely booked my trip to Glacier NP the day after reservations were required knowing full well to still expect the crowds in mid September.

So my 6am wake up call was expected, but still rough nonetheless. The steady rainfall made for a stressful drive along the winding & narrow cliffside road, while the dreamworthy views were unfortunately non-existent. But I made it to the Logan’s Pass parking lot prior to 7am to grab a much coveted parking spot. However, the now steady downpour made me opt to take a nap prior to heading out to tackle the 3mi Hidden Lake overlook trail.

The clouds finally parted, so I donned my rain gear & slowly ascended the steep incline. And wouldn’t you know it, as soon as the path evened out, the storms started pounding us again…… but I kept plowing forward since I had already committed through the most difficult part of the trail. Upon reaching the overlook, I took refuge under a pine tree & waited for the fog to dissipate in hopes of getting rewarded for my efforts thus far. All the other soaked travelers gave up hope, but I stuck it out an extra 10 mins & got that view all by myself for ~8mins before it was swallowed up once again.

I enjoyed my favorite trekking snack, gummy bears, on the way back to the visitor center & continued my journey eastward bound descending into the Two Medicine valley. The 3.6mi hike to both St. Marys & Virginia Falls was a nice, quiet reprieve to end the day. The accommodations in East Glacier were scarce & pretty sketchy, so I barely took a shower & laid my head down for a few hours.

Then I was up early again to make my way to the Many Glacier entrance, historic lodge & numerous short trails with waterfalls, which was packed with very limited parking options.

With the lack of lodging options in this area, I begrudgingly made my way north over the border again to the town of Lethbridge for one night & actually beelined back to the Calgary airport at 3:30am a day early due to an impending Air Canada pilot strike.

And just like that, 10 days of complete silence & rejuvenation expired, and once again…..

I have no regrets!

I found a way to carve out exactly 5 days in mid October to be my brother’s family first visitor to Stuttgart, Germany & its was even more of a whirlwind than I had imagined.

Insert a catastrophic hurricane bearing down on the whole state of Florida just a day & a half prior to my departure, I was starting to panic that this perfectly planned excursion may not happen. But after being closed for 2 days (which is a rarity), Orlando Airport surprisingly opened on my travel day & I settled in for a brutal red eye and 8hr layover in London (on purpose). After expending 32k+ steps seeing my bucket list sites & lugging around my only bookbag, I was whipped but the fun was just starting….

To pull off this epic surprise, I arrived right before bed time on a Saturday night & walked in their apartment to lots of screams & hugs. Ooh how I have missed them!!!

With my birthday falling every few years on the Columbus holiday, we had 2 full days to go out & explore the local Oktoberfest festival and a few hikes to castle ruins. I love the old style buildings & quaint towns, while the pace of living is noticeably slower (which is such a blessing prior to my busy season).

I got to walk them to school & see each enjoy their extracurricular activities – Olivia horseback riding & fencing, Emma tap & cheer, and Carter karate & soccer. They still love playing at the park & bath time. Each night I even rotate whose room I sleep in because at their ages it always has to be fair! And while they sleep & due to the 6 hour time difference that I never adjusted to, I squeeze in some work nightly to hopefully lighten the load upon my return.

Needless to say, the days & hours fly by too quickly and I inevitably dread the final goodbyes. But they know I’ll be back in a mere 4 months, so that eases the sting somewhat this go-round.

After a quick flight back to London, I’m excited to try my first capsule hotel at Gatwick airport & catch some much needed zzzz’s prior to the long haul back to Orlando.

Wheels up!

Traveling at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, the bullet train is the only way to travel quickly between sightseeing cities in the massive country of China. Signage is flashing every which way & very intimidating amongst the thousands of locals all bustling about seamlessly.

Thankfully most are equipped with spacious seats & very clean. As we settled in for a 7 hour journey from Xi’an to Suzhou, I was stocked up with drinks & dinner of leftover pizza plus chips which I had stuffed into the back pocket of my seat. But in the blink of an eye, the train attendants had run thru the cabin & trashed all the miscellaneous stashes. OMG!

After realizing my misfortune, I took off in pursuit without much luck. So I resorted to ordering a bento box onboard, which actually turned out to be rather tasty. And also was surprised with a smorgasbord of items for the very apologetic staff.

The rest of the ride was fairly uneventful, as I indulged in a few shows & movies that I had downloaded prior along with a couple of naps. Then it was off to explore another new city!

While it takes a lot to impress me, I find pure joy in reminiscing post trip. It is my way of locking in all the memories and endcapping another experience exploring this amazing world.

I rarely come back without a smile on my face and have some sure fire tell signs that indicate a successful journey:

• Boots are soiled – usually I’m happiest when finding a trail and/or a waterfall to hike to, so getting lost in the wilderness is an easy win
• Hair is a hot mess – I used to pull my hair up in a uniform half pony but over the past few years I just let it flow with the wind as I ease into my “everything doesn’t have to be perfect” years
• Camera is full – I absolutely love capturing pics from numerous different angles and playing with lighting. I’m nowhere close to being a pro but so thankful for the digital era so I can just have fun shooting
• Sunburn – I’m definitely an outdoor girl and will always opt for sunshine and not afraid of enhancing my darker skin tone
• Sore all over – while I’m not in my best shape currently, I still don’t shy away from a hard trek and usually end up paying for it most of the week after
• Dreading packing up – I abhor even the thought of merging back into every day life and put it off to the very last second

Never regret investing in yourself and taking the trip. Any escape is worth the extra effort.

To say I was looking forward to this scenic roadtrip is an understatement. And despite the recent wildfires devastating areas around Jasper NP, I enjoyed the quieter September shoulder season cruising this infamous highway and stopping at every roadside body of water just to take it all in. What a blessing!

I opted to drive to the end of the parkway & make my way backwards to all the stops, in hopes of avoiding most of the crowds that were still prevalent despite being in the mid September sweet spot. My goal was to hit lots of mini hikes & couldn’t have been happier putzing around. The ice tipped peaks in the background were instantly inspiring & calming…. exactly what I needed!

The piercing blue waters were unlike any that I had ever seen & all my anxieties disappeared effortlessly. My favorite waterfall was at Mistaya Canyon, where I could have sat all day watching the rushing waters pound & carve out the landscape.

I drove until the boundary of the wildfires recent footprint & was heartbroken to see the devastation in Jasper. But nature is resilient & has already begun the regrowth process for future generations to enjoy.

Peyto Lake was crowded but a must see, where you could literally imagine the glaciers melting & receding at a rapid pace.

My final stop was at the popular Bow Lake, adjacent to the parkway, while slivers of the sunset started lighting up the sky in cool pastel colors. I thought for a quick second about taking a polar plunge, but these glaciers waters were downright frigid to the touch. So I threw pebbles into the calm lake & just started to dream…..

It was a big year……

2024 marked the big 50th year around the sun of our college group of friends and an easy excuse for a celebratory get together.

My girls flew into Orlando and despite weather delays, we made it back to my house just in time for a special 1am rocket launch viewing directly across the Indian River.

After sleeping in a bit, we took off for some H2O & FL sunshine therapy at Cocoa Beach. We may or may not have found some Jell-O shots and went back for round #2 before hitting the road for a 2 hr trek down to the middle of nowhere & the FL version of a dude ranch. The Westgate Resort team really went above and beyond to make our weekend special. First up, our accommodations got upgraded from the ultra cool teepee to each having our own bougee old fashioned wagon.

I surprised everyone with an elegant dinner to close out day 1, as we all toasted to long lasting friendship and endless happy memories. We enjoyed some good old fashioned pool time, a cruise on a classic airboat through the swamps, actually missed our monster dune buggy ride prior to enjoying the longest running weekly rodeo in the US via our special viewing area. The icing on top was an eerily, perfect sunset popping out after a monsoon and roasting s’mores at the bonfire (even while walking through knee deep, murky water to get to the fire pit).

Breakfast boxes were placed on our porch each morning stacked with country favorites of cinnamon rolls, egg and cheese biscuits, fruit, yogurt, juices and coffee….. enough to feed an army! We enjoyed tooling around the vast property on our golf cart and even managed to learn how to trap shoot together.

We begrudgingly raced back to the airport with numerous flight delays and cancellations looming due to a massive weather system encompassing the entire state. But all the girls finally got out with some very creative airport swapping and a little luck between storms. Where there is a will, the LRU crew will find a way to power through!

The weekend was truly a whirlwind and a much needed reprieve (each in our own way) through all the ups and downs of life. I’ll be forever grateful for this amazing group of ladies, the unwavering support and everyone putting a priority on our yearly getaways. What a gift!