My Tops!

It’s about that time! The dreaded task that all who manage to visit every national park in America must face. Ranking the best.

Celebrating 419 Adventures in Joy, Gratitude, and Healing – Inspired by the U.S. National Park System

Well, I did it!! I made it to every national park unit in the entire NPS system. All 419 of them! A dream 4 years in the making.  A dream I set for myself during a dark time when I didn’t know what my future held and how long I’d have to enjoy it. And it saved my life.

My Botanical Bonanza Travel Year

Summer has arrived! Time for vacays and to get out there and explore this beautiful earth! Lately I’ve been reminiscing about one of the best travel themes I’ve done to date; my “Botanical Bonanza” of a year, visiting gorgeous floral and foliage destinations in the U.S (and Japan)! The gloriousness of the earth candy that awaited me was nothing short of spectacular. What a gorgeous year…

Disney Bucket List – Tokyo DisneySea

Now this park is something else! I actually have mixed feelings about this park. On the one hand, there are so many cool and unique things to see and do. There is a mile-long attraction list + even more food places and shows. However, it’s almost too much. It lacks the the classic elegance of Disneyland because they jammed so much theme into a small space. It is sensory overload. Often times I thought to myself… “I see what you’re trying to do here, and it mostly works, but something is still off.” I think they could have toned it down a bit, but at the same time… it was SO MUCH FUN to explore.

Disney Bucket List – Tokyo Disneyland

This was an absolute dream come true. I made it to Tokyo Disneyland! As if seeing the peak cherry blossom bloom wasn’t enough, now I’m continuing to check off a MAJOR lifelong bucket list item which is to visit all the Disney parks around the world. It is a phenomenal place but it is the most crowded Disney park in the world. Luckily, I researched the heck out of it and went with a plan. There are tons of great, really in-depth blog posts about Tokyo Disney. I recommend reading a lot of them so you can prepare yourself. From my visit, here are some insights and recommendations on what to see, what to do, what to eat and how to go about it all.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Season! Part 3: Osaka, Himeji & Hiroshima

What can I say about Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima? Delicious, historic, beautiful and significant. I was greeted with more amazing blossoms, but as I headed West the trip became shorter and more focused on squeezing in a few of the historical highlights before I headed home. The most significant being Hiroshima, the target site of the first nuclear bomb ever used in war.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Season! Part 2: Kyoto

Kyoto is the ultimate location to be when cherry blossoms are in season. The pale pink blossoms style the ancient temples, parks and canals like piped pink frosting. The contrast of red and pink against a blend of old woods, stone, ancient streets and manicured parks is absolutely striking. I was again treated to a peak bloom visit and saw the best places to soak in these fleeting beauties.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Season! Part 1: Tokyo

Last year I had a botanical bonanza of a travel year, aimed at visiting all the great seasonal foliage locations around the U.S. I had planned on finally catching the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. but somehow ended up in Japan! The mother of all cherry blossom destinations.

An Oz-some Road Trip in Kansas!

Tacos and totos’ and… snow? Oh my! Our latest themed trip took place in Kansas, home of The Wizard of Oz! As I continue on with my U.S. National Park trek, I always make sure to see the fun and quirky highlights along the way. One of my favorite trip things to do is plan a themed trip! I could not pass up the opportunity to do a Wizard of Oz trip in the merry ol’ land of Kansas. 

Oh by the way Doc, last week I hiked 6 miles in a lava field and visited a leper colony…

I have cancer in my bones. It’s going to limit me at some point. But guess what, not today! Today I’m going to reach for my goals and check off those bucket list experiences. My recent adventure island-hopping in Hawaii pushed me both physically and mentally. I did things I probably should not tell my Dr. about. But oh what an exciting trip!