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The Highlights of Hoi An

Have you ever been someplace that you have never previously heard of and then been pleasantly surprised? Hoi An was just that for me. All I can say is…WOW! This city was my favorite during my ten-day G-Adventure tour of Vietnam that took us to Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Ha Long Bay, Mai Chau, and Hanoi.

This former trading port is a living museum of architectural fusion, where ornate Chinese assembly halls, weathered Japanese bridges, and mustard-yellow French colonial villas line the banks of the Thu Bon River. As night falls, the town sheds its quiet morning charm for a surreal, lantern-lit brilliance. Whether you’re navigating the bustling central market or floating a paper candle down the river, Hoi An’s special heritage is delightful. As a photographer, I couldn’t enough of this vibrant city!

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Apalachicola and St. George Island, Florida’s Forgotten Coast

I’m thankful for Florida’s forgotten coast because you can visit the historic town of Apalachicola and the beautiful beaches of St. George Island with your dog in tow and without the crowds. It was a perfect getaway place for me and my dog Annie as we roadtripped to Florida for three weeks in Venice to horse show in January.

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Things to Do in Cusco

Cusco, a UNSECO World Heritage Site, is situated at 11,152 feet high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere.

The bustling, mountain city of 500,000, features remarkable Inca stonework dating back to the 13^th century as well as beautiful colonial architecture from the Spanish conquest in the 16^th century.

Being the gateway to Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, Cusco attracts millions of tourists a year. It’s history and culture, gastronomic delights, and tremendous natural landscape afford tourists many things to do in Cusco.

Plan at least three days to acclimate to the high altitude and explore the city and Sacred Valley. Add more time for visiting Machu Picchu and hiking through the spectacular terrain.

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Things to Do in Mena

For our third annual girls hiking trip, we visited Mena in the Northwest corner of Arkansas. We normally have a group of 5 or 6, but schedules weren’t aligning, so Carol and I just drove from Dallas to Mena in hopes to soak in some fall colors. The short four-hour drive took us on highways and backroads, and we arrived just before dark.

I was in the area briefly thirteen years ago during my year-long road trip following scenic byways, and I’ve wanted to return for some leaf peeping. Unfortunately, this early November weekend didn’t bless us with vibrant reds and oranges, but we still saw some autumn colors and enjoyed ourselves around town.

History of Mena

Mena, the county seat of Polk County, Arkansas was founded as a railroad town in the 19^th Century. It is situated amid the mountains of Ouachita National Forest. Mena has a checkered past. It was once called the sundown town for its unacceptable treatment of African Americans. It was also in the news a lot for its role in a drug-smuggling operation and the Iran-Contra Scandal.

Today, while it has a diversified economy of agriculture and manufacturing, it has become a tourist destination due to its numerous recreational opportunities available in the surrounding national forest and state parks.

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