Category Archives: vacation

The Toddler Bucket List – Disneyland Has to Have a Place

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Athena at Disneyland

Do you think Athena, at two years old, has a bucket list? Not the kind where you think about death or even the length of life, but the kind where you dream of great adventures, destinations, and experiences? When I created my 2014 bucket list, I wanted to include things for the entire family; their happiness, after all, is directly related to mine. With her Mickey Mouse and friends obsession, Disneyland topped the list. We spent 10 hours at Disneyland and Disneyland Adventure Park and I realized that my greatest bucket list accomplishments are experiencing the complete joy of others, especially when it’s with my beautiful daughter and husband. Being at Disneyland brought about a joy in Athena, and us, that was magical. As a parent, I can now truly appreciate the hype of Disney.  Continue reading →

20 Beach Photos That Will Make You Wish You Were There Right Now

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If you’re not on the beach right now, it’s time to start saving for a vacation. Here are 20 beach photos to get you in relaxation mode. Do you recognize any of the destinations? How many have you visited?

Discover Aruba

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A Resort for All Generations – Atlantis, Bahamas

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Atlantis, The Royal Tower

I’ve found it! A resort that offers bucket list activities for all generations from grandparents to grandchildren from mothers to daughters. With scheduled entertainment, a marine habitat, a water park, and extreme water adventures, my mother, my sister, my daughter, and I all crossed items off of our list while staying at Atlantis, Bahamas. Offering the world’s largest open-air marine habitat, a 63-acre Aquaventure waterpark, and the largest conference space in the Caribbean, Atlantis is a palace fit for a bucket list lifestyle.  Continue reading →

Time to Share – Marriott’s Harbour Lake

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After the Warterslide, Marriott Vacation Club

I’d never stayed at a timeshare property. I’d never even visited one. Doesn’t that sound odd since I travel so frequently? I honestly thought that timeshares were for older people and they restricted you to one location indefinitely. How naive is that? But I bet I’m not alone, right? Then, I had the opportunity to visit Marriott’s Harbour Lake and my opinion completely changed. The property offers a maritime theme throughout with a pirate-inspired pool, Florida Falls (an interactive water playground), and a miniature golf course. The activities schedule includes experiences for the entire family with everything from tot music sessions to evening wine tasting socials. The rooms and villas are fresh with bold colors and separate living and dining areas with plenty of room for the extended family. It’s a whole new world of possibilities. Continue reading →

Moments as Deep as the Ocean Sand

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It’s 9:13 pm and I’m exhausted. I feel like it’s 4 o’clock in the morning. Why? because I Island Vista Resort, Myrtle Beachspent the day basking in the warm, bright sun, building sand castles, and running along the beach chasing birds. We’re spending the weekend at Island Vista Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC and it’s a remarkable place to enjoy with your family.  Continue reading →

Shower Me with Luxury – Old Edwards Inn

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We arrived at Old Edwards Inn, Highlands, North Carolina after dark this evening. Even in Old Edwards Inn - Highlands, NCthe absence of light, the beauty of the grounds at Old Edwards Inn shone through. Surrounded with period antiques and European charm, our suite is elegance at its best.  Continue reading →

Many Layers – Seeing Past the Red Light District, Amsterdam

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Travel is as much a part of my life as family and friends. When I’m on a plane, a train, or a bus heading toward a new location, I’m on an adrenaline high. All I need to do is think about exploring a new country or culture and my heart speeds up. After visiting 33 countries, it’s safe to say that I can’t write about them all and I most certainly can’t write about every experience in every city. So, when I posted about Amsterdam, I wrote about what surprised me the most: The Red Light District. Everything about it was new to me. I don’t normally walk down the street and see prostitutes or strip clubs; smoking anything is not done publicly; and a “coffee” shop sells coffee.  I was in no way uncomfortable with the Dutch tolerance and public display of sexuality; in fact, I might actually think it’s a better system, but it was definitely a notable experience. I left out the twinkling canals, the cleanliness of the city, the bikes that filled the streets, and the Anne Frank Museum that I imagined touring since learning about her in grade ten. Beautiful, open-minded, and filled with something new around every corner, Amsterdam is a delight to visit, even if you skip the Red Light District.  Continue reading →

Gliding with Southern California Soaring Academy

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Aviation, in all of its forms, has been on the top of my 2012 bucket list. Seeing LA from a helicopter was breathtakingly beautiful, but piloting a helicopter over LA during my first helicopter pilot lesson was even more spectacular. Similarly, piloting an airplane was exhilarating, but piloting an open-cockpit biplane that is purposely stalled over the ocean to spiral to what seems to be an imminent death is the most invigorating, adrenaline pumping adventure of a lifetime. Flying a jetpack opened my eyes to the limitless possibilities of flight while proving that anything truly is possible. I set the sky as the limit and soared through one adventure to the next. I only had one aviation bucket list adventure left on my 2012 list: piloting a glider. I made it happen with Southern California Soaring Academy. Darren and I, along with Darren’s Brother, Kevin, learned to fly by learning to soar.  Continue reading →

An Unknown Perk – If You See the Glass Half Full

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Driving across the country can be stressful. There are so many things to consider, to think about, to factor in, to plan…. Darren and I decided to move to Charlotte, NC from Laguna Hills, CA a couple of months ago and we put that plan into action. Booking U-Haul was a no-brainer for reasons I’ll explain at a later date, but today… today we learned a new perk to driving a U-Haul – road-side assistance or should I say, truck side assistance.

After driving for 12 hours yesterday, Darren was tired. We both slept like babies and were back at it again this morning. Breakfast at Denny’s in Albuquerque was a fitting way to start the day and I was sure to make a bathroom stop before hitting the road again. When I walked out to the truck, Darren was still standing outside. Continue reading →

Join Us on a Glider Flight in Southern California!

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I recently realized just how many California readers were following along and enjoying Bucket List Publications. It became blatantly obvious to me that there is a community of fellow adventure seekers and bucket list enthusiasts as I strolled through hundreds of comments and “likes” over the last few weeks. When I consider participating in an extreme adventure, I usually just ask Darren, my husband, and I’m certain that I’ll have a partner in crime, but I’d like to extend that welcome to all of my local readers.  On May 27th from 10am-1pm, Darren and I, along with his brother, are going to Southern California Soaring Academy for an introductory glider pilot lesson and we’d love to see you there. Continue reading →