Category Archives: Vacations

Look at that View! Ocean Sands Resort, Virginia Beach

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Waking up to the sound of the waves, strolling along the beach, and walking barefoot in theOcean Sands Resort Virginia Beach sand is my idea of a spectacular day; add my husband and my baby girl, and I can’t think of a better way to spend Labor Day weekend. Ocean Sands Resort in Virginia Beach offers all of the above in a hotel room that resembles home. This week, we put aside our adrenaline shoes and slipped into our sandals for a relaxing retreat at the beach. 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 →

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 →

Go Away – All About Travel

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When it comes to flights, vacations, or any form of travel, I enjoy convenient, one-stop shopping. Spur of the moment is what I’m all about; I’d love to hop on a plane and fly somewhere new and unexpected at the drop of a hat, but with a newborn I need a little bit more structure for the time being. While planning an upcoming flight, I thought I would give a travel agent a try. I was riddled with questions about traveling with newborns, but I didn’t know who to contact. Should I call the airlines? Should I search online? Where do I search for guidelines for traveling with children? Travel agents offer the one-stop shopping that saves time and provides less stress, leaving me to focus on other, more important, things like my baby girl. Travel expertise and friendly customer service make taking advantage of a travel agent worthwhile. My agent, Dortha, at All About Travel used her knowledge and expertise to ensure that all of my travel needs were met and all of my questions were answered. If you’d like to take all of the stress out of travel, try a travel agent.  Continue reading →

The Best Travel Accessories

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Add these travel accessories to your packing list for a simpler, more pleasant journey. With the right gear, the world is your oyster.

Ultimatesafe 32L: The world’s most secure backpack. 

The award-winning Ultimatesafe 32L anti-theft adventure travel pack not only meets international maximum carry-on standards, it’s ideal for long weekends away and is large enough to store all your gear.The covert built-in stainless steel wire cage can be locked closed and to a fixed object, providing the ultimate protection against thieves. A special blocking material prevents high tech identity thieves from downloading and stealing personal information stored on your passport and credit cards. The shoulder strap is reinforced with stainless steel wire which prevents it being easily cut so that the bag can’t be easily taken. The shoulder strap also has a releasable security hook at one end that allows you to attach the strap to a fixture, to stop thieves from easily walking off with your bag.  With slash-proof steel wire sewn into the bag and straps, tamper-proof zippers, and an RFID pocket that blocks electronic theft of your credit card and passport info, the UltimateSafe 32L is a thief’s worst nightmare. It includes a removable, wire-reinforced 20L TravelSafe storage bag for locking valuables in your hotel room, and a removable, padded laptop sleeve. Travel with confidence and relax knowing your gear is secure. Continue reading →

Giant Interaction at Sea World

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Beluga whales are the gentle giants of the sea and at SeaWorld San Diego, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to interact with these beautiful creatures. Between 12 and 14 feet long and weighing about 2000 pounds, belugas are roughly twice the size of bottlenose dolphins. These attentive animals played and interacted with their surroundings and us, seeming almost more timid than I felt. SeaWorld is one of only six facilities in the world to host beluga whales, and through the Beluga Interaction Program, I got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get in the water with these playful creatures. It’s one thing to see them twirling about behind a giant plexiglas tank, but it was a whole other world to have all 2,000 pounds wading in front of me, begging me to reach out and play. Continue reading →

MAKE YOUR BUCKET LIST DREAMS A REALITY

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Bucket List Publications wants to offer the opportunity for readers from around the world to achieve their dreams and cross off bucket list items. 

Imagine living every day to to the fullest and making your most burning desires come true. From extreme adventures like skydiving and bungee jumping, traveling the world, interacting with exotic animals, and creating a family with the man of my dreams, I’ve followed my bucket list to success. I’ve now broadened my horizons and set my sights on the bucket list goals of others. Continue reading →

Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited – #4 Djanet, Algeria

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Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited

With 33 countries under my belt, I’ve experienced some of the most amazing cities that the world has to offer. From great beaches, climate, friendly people, personal interests, world-famous attractions, architecture, history, and culture, there are many different factors that make a city great, let alone top ten!

#4 Djanet, Algeria – A Whole New World in a Grain of Sand

In the southeastern part of Algeria lies Djanet, which is hardly a city; rather it’s more like a cluster of buildings around the same oasis and a palm grove. Nevertheless, Westerners zip by in crowded jeeps, and covered faces trudge through the powdery sand led by a single Touareg. They follow a typical route that takes in the prehistoric cave art and visit the local market. At night, they find themselves nestled sweetly in comfortable rooms with toilets, showers, running water, and even mattresses. A smaller group of adventure-fueled travellers set out on a more demanding excursion by camel. They travel the silent dunes atop the creature of the desert. Almost no tourists will venture the limitless sandy land without four wheels or feet under them; I was about to embark on a journey beyond my wildest imagination. Continue reading →

Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited – #10 London – United Kingdom

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Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited

With 33 countries under my belt, I’ve experienced some of the most amazing cities that the world has to offer. From great beaches, climate, friendly people, personal interests, world-famous attractions, architecture, history and culture, there are many different factors that make a city great, let alone top ten!

So… here goes.

#10. London – United Kingdom

Legendary fog isn’t enough to keep Londontown out of the tourist limelight. London is the 2nd most visited city in the world with estimated 14.8 million visitors a year. Continue reading →

The San Francisco Beat

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We spent our two days in San Francisco strolling the familiar visitor zones of Fisherman’s Wharf, hopping the crowded tour bus to Muir Woods, taking snapshots of the Golden Gate Bridge, and exploring the Italian food districts. After all, what makes San Francisco so incomparable is the sheer breadth of its neighborhoods and its distinct pockets of local culture. Within a relatively compact 40-square-miles, we found showy Victorian manses and elegant Art Deco skyscrapers; the sprawling, verdant oasis of Golden Gate Park, along with some shockingly good museums; and oh the restaurants, with food, much of it made with sustainable, local ingredients, are simply sublime. Few other cities can match this town’s charm and simple bliss. Continue reading →