Travel Blog
Passion Before Paycheck
As far back as I can remember, I have been passionate about discovering new places and meeting people from different cultures than my own. This motivation was instilled in me by my family. We took day trips on Saturday or Sunday, traveled each summer through the United States and Canada. Each trip was a learning experience and an opportunity to meet many great people along the way. Read More ...
Travel Blog
To Have Or To Do? That Is The Question
Even in these tough economic times, you may find yourself with a bit of cash to spare. You've been working hard, and you want to treat yourself. Should you spend it on an "experience", such as an soft adventure tour, sporting event or concert? Or a material object? Maybe you been thinking about a new car, or that 60" high definition plasma flat panel television with Dolby Surround Sound (I want one). Which would you choose? If you said ‘both’, you are a person after my own heart. But greed aside it does raise the interesting question of whether you cherish experiences or possessions more. Read More ...
Travel Blog
Academic Basis for Adventure/Travel Studies
Every once in a while I hear objections to granting academic credits to students on a tour. Some faculty continue to hold students as prisoners of time, calendars and classrooms and don't use the available instructional technology to maximize a student's learning opportunities. Having written this, remember, experiential learning was an accepted practice long before instructional technology became vogue. Having answered these questions so many times before I decided to write a quick Blog on the topic. Read More ...
Travel Blog
Power of Context and Experience
I talk to travelers all the time, and it seems to me that in the age of Disneyland and Club Med, we are loosing our dedication to the experience of real places. For me, I'm committed to the character of the places I visit: their built environment, cultural heritage, and living fabric. I enjoy didactic walking seminars, to bring me, and those with me, together with the place I'm visiting in a manner beneficial to both. Read More ...
Travel Blog
Experiencing The World Through Others
There are many aspects of travel that appeal to me. Sometimes I travel alone and that experience of moving through the world as a solitary individual always makes me watch more, take more in and notice the details. Going it alone has its advantages, of course. If you’re looking for maximum freedom to go where you desire, when you desire and in whatever way you desire, solo travel often works for me. But lately, having someone along for the ride is indispensable. Read More ...
Travel Blog
Is It Time To Travel To Mexico?
There has been even more fallout from the so-called H1N1 flu, or the “infodemic,” as some are calling it.
What’s so crazy about that is that it’s no longer front page news.
Gee, duh.
Most importantly, it’s become a great time to go to Mexico. Read More ...
Travel Blog
What Are You Waiting For? Just Do It!
Life is stressful. College, working, bills, the economy, errands, love, family, commuting- lots of stress. It all adds to the mountain and causes us much anxiety. When people feel stress, it’s important we relieve it and one of the best ways to do that is to travel. Travel can refresh us. It is like a time out from life- recess and its fun. It slows us down, makes us stop and smell the roses, and creates a little change from the norm in our life. Read More ...
Travel Blog
Make 2012 Our Best Year Ever
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. - Eleanor Roosevelt
As I reflect on this past year, I realized that 2008-09 has not been one of my best. It’s funny, because I'm usually more positive when I'm being reflective. In my life, my years typically seem to get better and better. And so I reflected on what made this past year less than great. I have a job, a pretty good job, while many don't - I have the money and the time to feed my passion for travel and play. But, there still exists those nagging thoughts lurking in the back of my mind.
My thoughts turned to how I could leverage the issues of the past year against the successes of years past for future improvement. I’d like to share some things I’ve learned about those past years, (great and less than great) and how we might be able to use them to make this next year our greatest year yet. Read More ...