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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

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  • Why The People You Meet Are What Make Travel Unforgettable
  • Sports Tourism by the Sea: How Beach Cities Turn Matches into Mini-Vacations
  • The Best Pacific Northwest Road Trip from Portland: Routes, Stops, and How to Plan Yours
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

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
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
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My Favorite Greek Island
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Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
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Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
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The Secret Beach on the Big Island
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Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
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Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • What It's Like To Stay In A Travelopo Mallorca Villa
    Places To Stay

    What It’s Like To Stay In A Travelopo Mallorca Villa

    May 13, 2016 / 4 Comments

    Travelopo  asked me to review one of their villas in Mallorca, an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I’ve rented apartments while traveling but never an entire villa, and I have to say there were a lot of perks to having a villa for the week. The best part was that there were three bedrooms so I was able to invite a few friends to join me. We stayed in Villa Nico, a very traditional Spanish-style house. My Experience Staying In A Travelopo Mallorca Villa My favorite part was having our own pool. The setting outside was just gorgeous with towering hills, plenty of flowers and plants surrounding us, and it felt very…

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  • 5 Reasons I Was Delighted By The Blue Lagoon
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    5 Reasons I Was Delighted By The Blue Lagoon

    May 12, 2016 / No Comments

    Before going to Iceland, I heard lots of reasons why I should and shouldn’t visit the Blue Lagoon. It’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I didn’t listen to the naysayers. I knew it was a place I had to visit. I’m so glad I did. 5 Reasons Why The Blue Lagoon Delighted Me 1. The Scenery Was As Otherwordly As It Looked In The Pictures Many times I’ve arrived at destinations that were on my bucket list, only to find them disappointing or not at all like I was expecting. I went to the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon, and I didn’t find it very crowded…

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    Washington Hikes: Buck Creek Falls

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  • Where To Stay In Reykjavik: Eric The Red Guesthouse Will Make You Feel Right At Home
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    Where To Stay In Reykjavik: Eric The Red Guesthouse Will Make You Feel Right At Home

    May 4, 2016 / 2 Comments

    After taking the long, two-day journey from Hawaii to Iceland, I was beyond exhausted when I arrived in Reykjavik. How comforting it felt to arrive at Eric the Red Guesthouse, and to be welcomed with the full hospitality of Edda and Runar Sigurdsson. Photo by Amanda Prock The wind outside may have chilled us to the bone, but Runnar made us feel right at home, greeting us in his bathrobe, and leading us into the cozy, romantic haven of Eric the Red. Golden light streamed into the dining room, as Edda fed our hungry souls a beautiful breakfast, complete with the best homemade bread I’ve ever had. If you are…

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  • These Photos Of Iceland Will Make You Want To Go There Right Now
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    Photos Of Iceland That Will Make You Want To Go There Right Now

    May 3, 2016 / 12 Comments

    When I first decided to come to Iceland, I was overwhelmed with the choices of where to go in Iceland. I only had six days, so not a lot of time to explore the entire country. Plus, I couldn’t find my driver’s license, so renting a car was out of the question. Reykjavik Excursions made the decision an easy one with the many tours they offered as day trips out of Reykjavik. I am the type of person who prefers to base myself out of one area, rather than packing and unpacking bags every day. I went on both the Wonders of Snæfellsnes and the popular Golden Circle tour with a visit to the…

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  • u Hikes: Why You Will Love Manoa Falls
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    Oahu Hiking: Why You Will Love Manoa Falls

    April 26, 2016 / 16 Comments

    When the first Polynesians arrived on Oahu, Hawaii, it was mainly forest. Most people who don’t live in Hawaii or who haven’t visited don’t realize that there is still tropical rainforest on Oahu. The forest of Oahu is full of eucalyptus trees, Koa hardwoods, Norfolk pine trees, banana trees, ginger, coffee shrubs, and so much more. The Manoa Falls hike is a remarkable hike that lets you explore a part of this rainforest. Why You Will Love Manoa Falls The hike to Manoa Falls is lush and full of life.   flowers fall to the ground whispering their scent into your ears  birds give their songs to the sky eucalyptus opens your mind to the…

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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