Themes Archives - Page 9 of 17 - Traveling with MJTraveling with MJ

Category Archive: Themes

Road Trip Ahead: Coastal & Central Oregon

I’m up early today because I’ll be heading out on a road trip. Yes, me, a road trip. It’s a 5-day road trip with some other writers from the Seattle area and is sponsored by some nice folks in Oregon. (A full list of sponsors will accompany subsequent posts.) Joining me will be: Andy Hayes (from Sharing Travel Experiences), Kelly Goodman (from Travellious), and Michelle Schusterman (from Unlikely Places) The group will be meeting later thing morning (still in the early hours for most of us) at EverGreen Escapes who will be providing our driver and transportation for the trip in one of the comfy, bio-fueled Mercedes touring vans. Not familiar with EverGreen Escapes? Well I love these folks – I’ve met them personally – and was taken with their love of the Pacific Northwest, their commitment to their eco-friendly […]

Top 5 Drives with Views of the Ocean

When heading to the beach, the fun usually starts when you arrive at your destination. However, sometimes the stunning views along the road to the beach can mean that the journey itself is an enjoyable one thanks to the amazing sights you can take in along the way. Great ocean drives allow you to witness some stunning scenery of both sea and land while enjoying the freedom of the open road. Below, are five of the best driving routes with views of the ocean: Pacific Coast Highway – California Heading along the Pacific Coast Highway in southern California will see you travelling a 123-mile route that affords breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Starting from Monterey, the highway takes you through the Big Sur region of the state to Morro Bay and as it is a designated All-American Road, you […]

Small Plates Delight at Julian Serrano at ARIA Las Vegas

Last fall I stayed at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and became a fan of the LEED certified property. While there, I saw the Cirque du Soleil show Viva Elvis!, spent an afternoon at the spa, and had many fine meals, one of which was at Julian Serrano, a Spanish restaurant. Julian Serrano offers classic Spanish fare that includes hot and cold tapas, paella, and a variety of seafood dishes. My first visit was as part of a large group attending Blog World Expo. Since then, however, I’ve been back quite a few times – both with friends and as a solo diner. The restaurant has an open floor plan, and is vibrant and noisy as guest pass, share, and talk about their choices. If you’re looking for a fun and lively meal, this is the place. […]

My World Map Has Been Updated

After my most recent travels to Portugal, I figured it was time to update my “map of the world”. I love taking a look at how much (or how how little) of the world I’ve seen. It’s clear that I’ve got a long ways to go! How much of the world have you seen? Create your own travel mapMary Jo’s travel map has traveled to: Aruba, Bahamas, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, United States, United States Virgin Islands, Vatican City, USA States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

9 Tips for Waterfall Cascading

Waterfall cascading is an adventure activity that involves climbing up waterfalls and then jumping or sliding your way back down. While some consider it more “freestyle” than canyoneering (which is navigating a river canyon) if you find a good tour company, this can be a safe and enjoyable activity. While a good tour outfitter will take care of the safety aspect by providing helmets, life jackets, and guides, there are some other tips that one might want to consider before going on an adventure like this! Do not wear your sneakers unless you don’t mind getting them soaked. For our waterfall trip, we hiked along trails, through a stream, and finally arrived in a water pool. I wore my Vibram Fivefingers and they worked great and dried out quickly. The rubber on the bottom helped grip the rock when I […]

Understand the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey

For many travelers to Turkey, sampling the Turkish cuisine rates at the top of the to-experience list. After all the basic sightseeing is finished, and visitors move to some of the cultural experiences that the country has to offer, watching the whirling dervishes usually ranks high on the list. Often erroneously considered a folk dance troupe or some sort of trance inducing dance, the dervishes are more aligned with religion and philosophy than with entertainment. The ritual dancing is based on the teaching of the Persian philosopher and poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi who, along with his son, founded the Sufi Order. Sufis are part of the Sunni sect of Islam, and Mevlana Rumi’s teachings emphasized tolerance and patience, not revolutionaries, and their belief is that unification with God will occur through the constant movement of the universe. Okay, we […]

Spring Break Travel Questions from Kids

Spring break might be over for some kids, but there are still a lot of families traveling on the planes. I’m not sure if parents are taking the kids out of school, home schooling, or if perhaps there are schools with a really late spring break. Most of the families seem to be having a good time, the parents may be tired and the kids a little rambunctious – it’s spring break, after all – but every day it reminds me how families choose to make travel a priority. Kids are full of questions, whether they’re experienced travelers or first timers, and they’re not afraid to put it all out there. From questions about flight etiquette to other information, here are some of my favorite questions from spring break – along with a few answers (always slanted to be appropriate […]

Introducing: The Traveler’s Way

I’ve been laying low lately, not out of a lack of interesting travel experiences to write about or because I’m on the road, but because I’ve been in the midst of a big, big project. And when there’s a big project going on, I sort of go to ground, working hard to let things play out as they’re supposed to. So what’s been going on? After a number of years as working for other companies as a travel editor, I have gone out on my own, so to speak, joining with two highly respected individuals in the online travel space (more about them in a moment), to start a new online travel magazine. This is a big, and very exciting big step for me, and I am so darned excited that I can hardly stand it. The magazine is called […]

Wine Travel: You Can Take it With You

If you travel places known for outstanding food and wine, you’ve most likely been left figuring out a way to take some of your new favorites. Most often this doesn’t present a problem – unless your new favorite is wine, olive oil, specialty vinegar, or other liquid items. In the post 9-11 world, these delicious liquid treats require careful planning if you’re to get them home with you. Carry on restrictions will make it nearly impossible for you to carry on these liquid items, as most will be larger than the permitted 3 ounces allowed as carry-ons. That mean, you’ll need to prepare your items for safe transport in your checked luggage. Generally speaking, liquids under 24% alcohol are not considered hazardous material, and as such are not subject to a limitation or restriction in your checked luggage. Even […]

Traveling the East Coast Underground Railroad

In honor of Black History Month, I am pleased to feature this guest post on the Underground Railroad, a part of history that’s well worth spending time learning about. —- Over the years, I’ve found that introducing history to my children through travel has made more of a difference than anything they’ve read in history books. Visiting the places where history actually happened gives children and adults so much more knowledge. It also gives them a real connection to the past. As February is Black History Month, I’ve been researching Underground Railroad locations to bring history to life in our neighborhood and in preparation for our forthcoming family travels. Here are the most interesting Underground Railroad destinations on the East Coast which are open to the public: Florida – Fort Gadsden State Park, Route 65, Sumatra – This abandoned fort, […]