I’ve always said, my hobby is trying new things, so when my good friend asked me to hike 17 miles in West Virginia over a weekend and spend the night under the stars, I said, absolutely. I’ve now camped a handful of times, but it’s always been car camping. Carrying all of your supplies, Read More
This spectacular natural formation dwarfs humans and is 55 ft higher than Niagara Falls! We’ve known about it for hundreds of years, but it took millions to form. Follow signs off I-81 north of Roanoke to Natural Bridge, VA. The town is small and consists of a beautiful old brick hotel and the Bridge’s Visitors’ Center., Read More
Did you know there is a tropical rainforest in the United States? It’s wet; it’s green; it’s beautiful; and it’s in Puerto Rico. The El Yunque National Forest gets anywhere from 50-250 inches of rain annually, so be prepared for it to be a little damp and watch the slick ground. It’s a great, Read More
If you’re visiting Ecuador, all the top-ten lists you will suggest the Otavalo Market. It is the largest outdoor market in South America located 1.5 to 3 hours north of Quito, depending how you get there. Public transportation can take a long time, so we booked a private car for two to take us, Read More
We’ve all heard about the rain forest, but what about the cloud forest? This is the THE place to see it! After spending several days drenched in sticky humidity at sea level, I took a taxi, then a boat, and then another taxi to reach the “green hill,” Monteverde.
UPDATE: Cloudbridge Sold October 2014
High up in the mountains of Costa Rica is a place that will take your breath away—a place where you literally breath in the clouds. I had one last day in the country and wanted to get out of the “tourist loop.” The drive from the Pacific Ocean is spectacular. The main road winds through small towns up the mountains, overlooking rivers, forests, and villages.
I went to Costa Rica for eco-tourism and this is definitely the place to do it! If you aren’t there during the peak tourist season (mid-December-April), which is also the dry season, you don’t necessarily have to book in advance. I decided to set-up one or two things that I really wanted to do and then just winged it.
If this is your first international trip, I know it can be scary, but this is a great place to try it out. For starters if you are traveling from the United States, the flights tend to be pretty cheap (considering). I picked my destination based on the flight price. Second when you book, keep in mind the seasons may be opposite of yours. Summer in the U.S. is June-September. In Costa Rica it’s not cold, but wet.