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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

  • The Power of Adventure Vacations: Exploring Nature and Curiosity
  • The World’s Most Exciting Long-Distance Travel Routes
  • What to pack for the Camino de Santiago (and what to send ahead)
  • Trading Palm Trees for Twinkle Lights: Finding Winter Paradise in Europe’s Festive Old Towns
  • Hidden Alpine Destinations That Deserve More Attention
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…

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April 1, 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…

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August 5, 2025
Escape Guides

The Ultimate Olympic National Park Itinerary: Best Things to See and Do

It can definitely get a little overwhelming when trying to plan an Olympic National Park itinerary. There’s a lot of beautiful things to see and do, and you definitely will…

read more
September 5, 2026
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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 To Do In Bali: Bali Tours With Locals
    Travel Blog

    Why I’ll Probably Never Go Back To Bali

    September 14, 2015 / 25 Comments

    I know. It must be surprising to hear from me, but it’s true. I’ll probably never go back to Bali. What happened? About a year ago, I decided I would move there after falling in love with the rice fields, the lovely people and their ceremonies, the healers of Bali, and so many other things. But, things have changed, and now I will probably never go back. Here’s why. What Bali Used To Be Like The first time I went to Bali was in 2005. I’ve never really liked the Kuta area, though the first time I visited, I did spend a few days there. It’s the spring break tourist trap for young…

    Read More
    paradise

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    Tibetan Singing Bowl Lessons: The Best Thing I Did In Nepal

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    Travel Tips

    My Airbnb Review And An Airbnb Coupon For You

    August 12, 2015 / 7 Comments

    I have stayed in incredible places that are better than any hotel I could have stayed at by using Airbnb. Just to give you an idea, I have stayed in an incredible joglo (pictured above) in the middle of a rice field in Ubud, Bali. I also stayed in a magical roof-top glass enclosed bedroom, nestled in the trees, with a gorgeous view of all the churches and colonial buildings in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. If you’re headed to Singapore, you can stay in a very luxurious Singapore Airbnb. Here’s my Airbnb review that details my experiences both good and bad. My Airbnb Review All of my experiences except…

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    Bali Bliss: Unique Things To Do In Ubud

    July 1, 2019

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    July 7, 2026
  • beach wisdom, best beaches in the world
    Travel Tips

    You’re Missing Out If You Haven’t Been To These Best Beaches In The World

    July 27, 2015 / 15 Comments

    When booking a beach vacation, most people want to go to the best beaches in the world. But, often these beaches are the same ones that every tourist goes to. I have a different criteria for the best beaches in the world. I look for beaches that aren’t too crowded, that are full of natural beauty, and ones that offer something a little different from the rest. There is in fact a reason why going to the ocean feels so good. If you do some research on facts about the ocean, you will see that the ocean affects your life every day. Here are my favorites that you won’t want to miss. The Best…

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

    August 4, 2014

    Travel, Relaxation & Unexpected Adventures: A New Kind of Escape

    October 13, 2025

    Brazil: The Best Holiday Locations in 2025-Updated

    November 24, 2025
  • Lake Atitlan Guatemala
    Escape Guides

    Going To Lake Atitlan Guatemala? You Need This Guide!

    July 13, 2015 / 9 Comments

    Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake fills the caldera of a volcano, and the volcanic activity has caused three more volcanoes in the caldera. Lake Atitlan is surrounded by several villages, the most popular for tourists to stay at being San Pedro La Laguna and San Marcos. Overall, I found the Lake Atitlan views to be beautiful, but I also found it quite costly to stay there. The cost of food at restaurants was expensive. And, I prefer a beach where I can lie in the sun and swim in the ocean. The lake is not recommended for swimming,…

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    Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall

    The Ultimate Olympic National Park Itinerary: Best Things to See and Do

    September 5, 2026
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    January 18, 2013
    Lagos, Portugal best beaches in the world

    Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now

    June 23, 2014
  • traveling to Guatemala, Antigua
    Travel Tips

    The One Thing You Probably Don’t Know If You Are Traveling To Guatemala

    June 29, 2015 / 7 Comments

    If you are traveling to Guatemala and flying into the Guatemala City airport, you should know there are no ATM’s as you exit the airport. In fact, once you exit the International arrivals area, there aren’t even any currency exchanges. I was very surprised that none of my friends who had traveled to Guatemala, nor that any of the internet articles I had read on traveling to Guatemala had told me this. This left me and a few other people stranded without the cash we needed to pay a shuttle to leave the airport. Fortunately, our shuttle driver agreed to stop at an ATM en route to Antigua. The shuttle drivers do take US…

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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