Christchurch – A ‘Munted’ City
The last time I visited Christchurch, the city center was lively and bustling. The evening air was filled with the sounds of cars, buses,...
Going Wild for Wildlife on an Akaroa Harbor Cruise
You usually hear about one animal and one animal only when it comes to Akaroa — the Hector's Dolphin. This tiny dolphin — the...
Akaroa, Je T’aime
It's not hard to be charmed by the little French-infused coastal town of Akaroa. With it's numerous cafes, its stunning location, and its French...
Hiking New Zealand’s Queen Charlotte Track
New Zealand is known for a lot of things — its beautiful scenery, its adrenaline-inducing adventure sports, and, of course, its wide variety of...
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
Pearl Harbor. Chances are you've heard of it – and no, I'm not talking about the 2001 movie starring Ben Affleck and Josh Harnett....
Guest Post: 5 Steps to Survive Holy Week in Seville
Today's guest post comes from Cat Gaa of Sunshine and Siestas. Cat left her native Chicago after graduating college to teach English in Spain...
Not in Kansas Anymore (or Adventures in a Beijing Techno Club)
Now I know what Dorothy felt like. I now know what it must have been like for the young girl from black-and-white Kansas to...
The Day I ALMOST Swam With Sharks
Ever since I started following the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” ages ago, I’ve been sort of fascinated by sharks — these sharp-toothed, oft-misunderstood creatures...
The Maori Legend of Lake Wakatipu
Last week, I read a post over on Finding the Universe about the myth that explains how the volcanoes on New Zealand's North Island...
Chicago Pizza Smackdown: Gino’s East vs. Giordano’s
You can’t go to Chicago without trying some of its famous deep dish pizza. It would be like a slight to the city. Like...
My 5 Favorite Views in New Zealand
New Zealand is full of beautiful views. From snow-capped mountains, to untouched beaches, to geothermal wonders, to lush rainforests, to rugged coastlines, to colorful towns…...
Paying My Respects at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
I'm usually a fan of cemeteries. I think they can be beautiful places to visit, and many of them around the world are really...
A Hint of Asia in Hawaii – Byodo-in Temple
Nestled at the base of the lush Ko'olau mountains in Hawaii sits a nod to the state's Asian heritage — the beautiful Byodo-in Temple....
Why You Should Get Lost While Traveling
Most people don’t like to be lost. They don’t like feeling out of the loop, or like they’ve missed something. Most of all, they...
Ka’a’awa Valley: Where the Cows and the Dinosaurs Roam
I’m definitely no stranger to the film tourism phenomenon. I’ve seen my fair share of bare hills, snow-capped mountains, river-strewn valleys and patches of...
Fun Facts I Learned in Hawaii
Even though Hawaii is still a part of the United States, it's easy to feel like you're headed to a completely different country when...
Travel Tips: Using The Bus to Get Around Honolulu
So you’re going to Honolulu. You want to see as much of the island of Oahu as possible, but you don’t really like guided...