latest trips

I can still recall my first introduction to the South American continent with remarkable clarity. I was seated cross-legged on the rug in Mrs. Fuller’s first-grade classroom when she unfurled an enormous map of South America before us. My eyes were immediately drawn to the long, slender country tracing the continent’s western edge. By second grade, that fascination had taken root so deeply that I asked for a globe for Christmas. The one I received was a relief globe, and I vividly remember running my fingers across the raised contours of the Andes and the distant Himalayas, marveling at the vastness of the world. Who could have imagined that, fifty years later, that same globe would tell such a different story—no Soviet Union, no Czechoslovakia,

After completing an 8 day multi-adventure trip with Explorer Chick Adventure Company, I continued my exploration of Croatia on my own in September 2025. The Explore Chick tour explored the capital of Zagreb, the Istrian Peninsula, Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica, and Kornati National Parks, and the coastal city of Split. I had booked an additional 4 night stay in Dubrovnik, also known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Unbeknownst to me, so did one of my fellow Explorer Chicks, Debbie. We had booked different lodging and different activities, but chose to travel from Split to Dubrovnik together. I enjoy balancing my trips with an organized tour portion as well as a few days exploring on my own. Day 1 Dubrovnik Old Town and Mt Srd Debbie

I’m not entirely sure when a trip to Croatia first captured my imagination, but I know it began after I saw a breathtaking photograph of Plitvice Lakes National Park. From that moment, the idea of exploring the country’s natural beauty took hold. Two companies I was familiar with offered multi-adventure tours of Croatia: Wild Women Expeditions, a Canadian-based company I had traveled with before, and their U.S. competitor, Explorer Chick. I carefully compared both itineraries, and while I had thoroughly enjoyed Wild Women’s hiking trip through Scotland, it was Explorer Chick’s Croatian adventure that ultimately won me over. Their itinerary included a cycling excursion and a via ferrata — though I suspected it wouldn’t be quite as intense as the one Colin and I tackled

This was my second week of a two week hiking adventure in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. My Northern Coast hiking trip with Wilderness Ireland ended in Derry, Northern Ireland and my second week of hiking with Wilderness Ireland would be starting in Galway, Ireland the following morning. I had originally booked a seat on the Expressway 64 bus from Derry to Galway, which was to be a six hour bus ride. Nicola, a fellow hiker from the Northern Coast tour, offered me a ride in her rental car instead as she was driving to Limerick in the Republic of Ireland to visit family and I graciously accepted. Our route took us south through Letterkenny and into County Donegal, then past the impressive

In May 2024, I embarked on my first international adventure that blended solo travel with a group experience: a journey to the breathtaking landscapes of Scotland. I spent five days independently exploring the historic charm of Edinburgh and the scenic beauty of Inverness before joining a remarkable group of women on a hiking tour with Wild Women Expeditions (WWE).  Wild Women Expeditions, a Canadian company founded by a woman, partners with local outfitters to lead their international trips. For our Scottish adventure, WWE collaborated with Wilderness Scotland, a company whose professionalism and passion deeply impressed me. So much so, that by the end of the trip I found myself researching how I might return – this time to hike, the iconic West Highland Way with

My 2025 Ireland hiking tours were slated to start in Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), and finish in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. I like to arrive in a foreign country a few days early if I am on a scheduled tour to allow for any potential travel delays. For this trip, I chose to explore Belfast before my tours began. The main reason was because I really wanted to visit Titanic Belfast, but also, I had a half day at the end of the trip to explore Dublin. Day 1 Dublin to Belfast My direct flight from Boston to Dublin arrived on time around 8:30 AM.  I had pre-booked a seat on the 9:50 AM Dublin Express

Day 1 Arrival in Terlingua, Texas Our Southwest flight #892 departed Providence on time, with the cabin pleasantly sparse at just 55% capacity. We touched down in Chicago Midway a full 35 minutes ahead of schedule. With a generous four-hour layover ahead, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at Gene’s Bistro in Terminal B, followed by a mile-long stroll through the adjoining terminals to stretch our legs and get some steps in. I took the opportunity to write and send off a few postcards before we boarded our connecting flight. Southwest flight #1441 to El Paso departed promptly at 12:50 PM. We landed 20 minutes early, at 2:50 PM MST, greeted by a stunning panoramic view of the Franklin Mountains. Our good fortune continued: our checked

As part of our 10 day Best of the Dolomites Trek in September 2024 I scheduled two rest days in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.  On most of our adventures I try to schedule something that is somewhat outside of my comfort zone, whether it be parasailing in Aruba, hot air ballooning in Utah, paragliding in Switzerland, or glacier hiking in Iceland.  For the Dolomites, it was an easy decision – try a Via ferrata.  Via ferrata translates to “iron path” and consists of a protected hiking/climbing route.  The protection consists of cables, rungs, ladders, and railings embedded into the rock along the route.  The hiker wears a special harness that has two leashes which the hiker affixes to the cable along the route with caribiners. If

Ever since Colin and I visited the Swiss Alps (Jungfrau region) in 2019, I have been yearning to get back to that part of Europe. I’m a mountain girl at heart and the scenery in the Swiss Alps was surreal. It is still my favorite vacation ever, beating out Iceland and narrowly surpassing the Scottish Highlands. I felt like I was in a fairytale with the majestic mountains, gushing waterfalls, and green meadows filled with wildflowers, and of course I can’t forget the cows with their clanging bells. The Mont Blanc Trek (105+ mile trek around Mont Blanc , the highest mountain in Europe outside the Caucasus mountain), the Haute Route, (137 mile trek from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland), and the Alta Via 1