Adventure Travel Photography Blog
So, I have always felt that as an American, I needed to visit Graceland. I’m not sure why given I’m not an Elvis fanatic, but I finally decided to visit Memphis in between my trip to Dallas for my high school reunion and my trip to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. I was pleasantly surprised by Memphis and Graceland!
Continue reading “Memphis: A Three Day Itinerary”
So, I have wanted to visit Graceland for some time now. Don’t ask me why because I’m not an Elvis fanatic nor do I know much about him. But I feel as an American, it’s my duty see what all the craze is about.
Over the years, I’ve scanned Graceland’s website thinking I might get to Memphis soon. Tickets used to be a reasonable $30, but recently with a massive renovation to the complex, the price to enter has sky rocketed. Tours range anywhere from $41 to see the mansion only to $174 for the Ultimate VIP experience.
VISIT GRACELAND!
Saba is a Dutch island in the Caribbean Sea. Only five square miles with a population of 2,000, this small island is known as the Unspoiled Queen. With little commercialization and no cruise ships, Saba is a tropical paradise!
Saba was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 but he did not consider the mountainous landscape important enough to colonize. From its discovery until 1816, Saba changed hands many times…from the Spanish, to the French, and to the Dutch who took final possession.
The island includes four small settlements, the world’s shortest commercial runway (1,200 feet), the tallest mountain in the Netherlands which is the potentially active volcano Mt. Scenery, and world class SCUBA diving.
EXPLORE!
It has been a few years since I’ve been to the Caribbean, and I always like visiting a tropical destination during Colorado’s snowy months. This year I selected a combination of three nearby islands; Anguilla, Saba, and St. Maarten.
My first stop was Anguilla via St. Maarten. There is not a direct flight from Denver to St. Maarten, so I had to go through Charlotte. Short layover times for winter delays encouraged me to fly to Charlotte the previous night. Good choice! The Denver airport shut down due to the bomb cyclone winter storm the day after I left.
GO TO THE BEACH!
While I read the general information about a ferry transfer from St. Maarten to Anguilla at Stmartinbookings.com, few small details still alluded me. As such, I have written a post for the first timers who are flying into the airport at Simpson Bay on the dutch side of St. Maarten, and need to get to Anguilla.
TIPS!
Upon booking my impromptu trip to Panama, I hadn’t even heard of Boquete. After sifting through a Panama travel guide, I ended up in this small mountain town for three days! Boquete is located in Panama’s western-most Province of Chiriquí about 40 miles from the Costa Rica border. At 3,900 feet above sea level, its climate as well as its natural environment attracts locals, tourists and a large ex-pat community.
EXPLORE!
I found a cheap flight to Panama, so I picked up a Lonely Plant guide and figured out a week’s itinerary…three days in Panama City and three days in Boquete. Aside from the Panama Canal, I hadn’t heard much about the country, so I went with guarded expectations. I was pleasantly surprised.
I found the wonderful Latin America culture coupled with some American conveniences such as safe drinking water, easy and cheap Uber rides, excellent food, and US currency to be perfect!
EXPLORE!
While I didn’t try many restaurants in Panama City, I’m going to go out on a limb and say Donde José is one of the best! Actually, I don’t even think I have to go out on a limb to say that, as it is one of the best restaurants anywhere where I’ve been. The eight-course tasting menu is unique and fun!
HAVE A TASTE!
The Danube River originates in Germany and flows southeast 1,770 miles through ten countries and into the Black Sea. With the help of a lock system, 1,500 of those miles are navigable, thus it is an attractive river cruise destination.
TAKE A CRUISE
I arrived in Krakow from Prague via a seven-hour train ride. I followed the signage from the train station to Krakow’s Old Town which took me through the mall, up to an exit through a Christmas market, down into a tunnel beneath a street and then into a lovely park dusted in a light snow. The walk through the park to one of the many streets that lead the square was quite soothing after a long day.
EXPLORE!