• Start Here
  • Contact Me
  • Advertise/Hire Me
  • Privacy Policy

This Way To Paradise

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me

Recent Posts

  • Where to Stay in Los Cabos: 7 Boutique Hotels That Make Baja Feel Unforgettable
  • 4 Stunning Greek Beaches Perfect For Families
  • Hidden Culinary Gems: Extraordinary Dishes Worth Trying
  • 10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
  • UK Escapes That Rival Any Global Hotspot
Travel Tips

San Pancho & Sayulita Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know

I just got back from my travels to San Pancho and Sayulita in Mexico, and I had a wonderful time. These two beach towns are right next to each other,…

read more
November 28, 2025
Escape Guides

10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

If you’re looking for an uncrowded escape, you need to know about these hidden beaches in Mexico. Everyone tends to gravitate towards Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and to Cabos,…

read more
May 29, 2026
Escape Guides

From Dolphins To Fish Tacos: The Best Things To Do In Loreto

I just returned from Loreto, Mexico, and while I can’t say it was my favorite place in Mexico, it still had its charms. Zipolite still gets my vote for being…

read more
August 5, 2025
Travel Tips

Unforgettable Things To Do in Portland, Oregon

I moved back to Portland, Oregon after living in Charleston, SC and St Pete, FL the past four years. Moving back has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever…

read more
April 1, 2025
Link 1
My Favorite Greek Island
Link 1
Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
Link 1
Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
Link 1
The Secret Beach on the Big Island
Link 1
Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
Link 1
Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • Why Mallorca Stole My Heart
    Travel Tips

    Why Mallorca Stole My Heart

    August 31, 2016 / 2 Comments

    Mallorca is timeless. It’s romantic. Mallorca is Spain. Chilled glasses of white wine beckon you to sit in tiny villages doing nothing And after the wine there are the tapas which make your tongue feel more alive than it has in a long while Each day seems to linger So long that you notice the flowers Have time to pet a stranger’s dog And startle the sheep You will come to know what blue really is The coastline will make you feel like you are in a dream Everywhere you turn  You will feel like Mallorca loves you back There are views that just don’t stop once Mallorca stares into the window of your heart you just…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Why Ibiza is still the Mediterranean’s most captivating escape in 2026

    March 19, 2026
    Songkran

    Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide

    July 31, 2017
    Norwegian Air reviews nightmare complaints

    Norwegian Air Review: How My Dreamliner Experience Turned Into A Nightmare

    August 11, 2014
  • What No One Tells You About Beach Living
    Travel Blog

    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    August 15, 2016 / 20 Comments

    My wildest dream recently came true. After coming across a list of my life dreams and realizing that my #1 dream was to live on the beach, I decided to move back to Hawaii. Imagine my surprise when I found the cutest cottage right on the beach. So, how has it been? Was this dream of beach living worth pursuing? Here’s what it’s been like so far. What No One Tells You About Beach Living 1. You Learn To Slow Way Down You throw out your to do list, and instead plan your day around sun rises and sun sets, beach walks, and hammock lying. The sound of the ocean becomes…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

    Two Sacred Sites In Chiang Mai: Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep and Huay Kaew Waterfall

    August 4, 2014

    The Sequoia National Park & King’s Canyon Travel Guide

    August 20, 2019
    Washington Hikes: The Columbia Gorge Labyrinth Has It All

    Washington Hikes: The Columbia Gorge Labyrinth Has It All

    October 29, 2018
  • A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times
    Travel Blog

    A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

    August 1, 2016 / 7 Comments

    When I told people that I would be going to spend over a month in Greece this past spring, I got some interesting responses. “Isn’t it dangerous right now? Will the ATM’s work? Aren’t there refugees? Is it safe?” I’ve traveled enough now to know you can’t pay attention to the media when it comes to travel safety issues. Often, the places portrayed as the most chaotic, are usually the most peaceful. Also, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be forced to leave my home country, and I had hopes of helping and talking to any refugees I came across. I wanted to know their stories, hear about life from their…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Val enjoying a becak ride, Ambon

    Ambon, Maluku,The Capital Of The Spice Islands-Not To Be Missed Photos

    April 18, 2013
    Footprints in the sand Raja Ampat

    Trapped in the Mosquito Netting-More Adventures From Raja Ampat

    March 29, 2013
    All The Places You Need To Stop On A Big Sur Road Trip

    All The Places You Need To Stop On A Big Sur Road Trip

    January 31, 2020
  • What Being Back In Hawaii Is Really Like-The Good And The Bad
    Travel Blog

    What Being Back In Hawaii Is Really Like-The Good And The Bad

    July 12, 2016 / 11 Comments

    Well, I made it! I made it back to Hawaii. After living in Mexico for almost two years, my heart felt like something was missing. While in Mexico, I came across a list of my dreams that I had made years ago. The incredible thing was I had done almost everything on this list. Traveled the world, healed the pain of the past, and surrounded myself with beautiful friends who I loved dearly. Just about everything I had written down had been done. All except the first one. That dream was to live on a cottage on the beach. Well, my heart sunk, as I realized I didn’t live anywhere near…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Silver Springs

    Exploring Florida Springs: Nature’s Liquid Jewels

    November 28, 2023

    All The Best Things To Do In Dubai

    September 11, 2025
    odo-In Temple: The Place For Meditation In Honolulu

    Byodo-In Temple: The Place For Meditation In Honolulu

    November 6, 2017
  • An Alternative To Staying In Touristy Waikiki: Rent This Condo In Makaha
    Places To Stay,  Travel Blog

    An Alternative To Staying In Touristy Waikiki: Rent This Condo In Makaha

    June 27, 2016 / 2 Comments

    Many people who visit the island of Oahu in Hawaii for vacation don’t like it as much as the other islands. This is because they never leave Waikiki. Waikiki is good for the type of person who is looking for the shopping, nightlife, and variety of restaurants. But, if you’ve come to Hawaii to enjoy the beach and nature in a more tranquil setting, you want to stay outside of Waikiki. Makaha is an excellent alternative that will give you more of a true Hawaiian experience. This main floor condo at the Makaha Beach Cabanas is right on the beach. Not only that, Makaha Beach is one of the least crowded beaches…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    lotus flower how to travel mindfully

    How To Travel The World With Mindfulness

    January 6, 2014
    Cinnamon Rolls

    Saving Money For Travel: How I Saved $300 With This Basket Of Cinnamon Rolls

    February 19, 2013
    Raja Ampat Dive Resort sign made of shells

    Raja Ampat Dive Resort-Where To Stay In Raja Ampat

    March 30, 2013
3233343536

About Me

I am always looking for the perfect escape, the perfect paradise, the kind of place that tosses your cares into the sea. Fortunately, I have discovered many! I created this site to show you where to go and how to get there. My goal is to show you that Paradise is only a plane ticket (or boat ride) away. I have inspired many others to travel and to create a better life. I am available for inspirational speaking, coaching, writing, travel planning, and photography.

©2026