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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

  • 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

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

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
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
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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
  • Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
    Travel Tips

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

    August 4, 2014 / 8 Comments

    Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is considered to be one of the most sacred temples by the Thai people. Yes, it’s very touristy, being the third ranked site to visit on TripAdvisor, but it’s still very much worth a visit. Many of the people who visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Thailand aren’t tourists, but pilgrims, who come to this holy spot to pay respect. I recommend taking the 309 steps up the Naga serpent staircase to get the full effect, but if you don’t want to walk, you can also take a lift to the top for 30 baht ($1 USD). At the top, you will find the glistening…

    Read More
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    Kitchen at Gianni House

    Gianni House Hostel-A Good Budget Place To Stay In Giardini-Naxos

    April 9, 2014

    Bed and Breakfast Bella Trapani: A Charming Place To Stay in Trapani, Sicily

    March 31, 2014

    First Impressions Of Crete

    March 18, 2014
  • things to do in sardinia
    Travel Blog

    6 Things To Do In Sardinia That You Won’t Want To Miss

    July 28, 2014 / 10 Comments

    Sardinia and Sicily are two islands you absolutely shouldn’t miss when you travel to Italy. After seeing these areas, I wonder why so many people choose to go to the overcrowded Cinque Terre when these islands have so much more to offer. Sardinia is just glorious with a lot to see and do. Here are 6 things to do in Sardina that you won’t want to miss:  1.  Neptune’s Grotto Neptune’s Grotto was the most astonishing cave I’ve ever been to. Neptune’s Grotto is near the town of Alghero at the foot of the Capo Caccia cliffs. Whatever you do, don’t take the boat ride here. Part of the beauty was the stunning…

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    Things To Do On The Oregon Coast (All The Best Stops And Beaches)

    Things To Do On The Oregon Coast (All The Best Stops And Beaches)

    December 18, 2017

    Chasing Waterfalls At Silver Falls State Park In Oregon

    June 1, 2018

    Best Ways to Combine Casino Trips with Local Sightseeing

    January 14, 2026
  • meet the locals
    Travel Tips

    Meet The Locals While Traveling

    July 21, 2014 / 18 Comments

    Many people want to go beyond touristy activities and want to meet the locals while traveling.  If you’re like me, not only do you want to meet the locals, but you also want to taste their food. You don’t want the food that’s served at restaurants for tourists. You want the food that’s being cooked in people’s homes. I got just the opportunity to do that when Withlocals invited me to experience a dinner prepared by a local just outside of Chiang Mai.  Nicky, the host, really goes all out with this dinner. He doesn’t want people to just experience the food. He realizes that food is so interlaced with the…

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    Starting Your Travel Journey? Here Are 5 Challenges to Expect

    March 11, 2026
    NINETEEN-A Stylish Brighton Guesthouse In England

    NINETEEN-A Stylish Brighton Guesthouse In England

    June 5, 2016
    Boat in Belize

    Where I Found Happiness In Belize (It Wasn’t Where You Might Think!)

    February 15, 2013
  • Erice
    Travel Tips

    TRAVELING TO SICILY? DON’T MISS ERICE! THESE PHOTOS SHOW YOU WHY!!

    July 14, 2014 / 6 Comments

    Trapani, Sicily captured my heart when I visited Italy.  This city was originally built to be the port city for ancient Erice, which overlooks Trapani from Erice Mountain. When I found out that I could visit Erice by cable car (known as the funivia) , I knew I just had to visit. (Note: the cable car is closed from mid-January to mid-March, but there is a bus that goes to Erice.) I was not disappointed. This romantic town made me feel like I had stepped back in time. Not only did this midieval town offer staggering views, it had two castles, quiet cobblestone lanes that I wandered without seeing another soul (though, I’ve…

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    A Northwest Forest Pass or other valid parking pass is required to park at the Ramona Falls Trailhead

    Ramona Falls: The Most Breathtaking Waterfall In Oregon

    August 28, 2018
    A boat on the beach in the Dominican Republic

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    February 27, 2013
    Flower petals in Ubud

    Pictures From Ubud, Bali

    March 13, 2013
  • Cinque Terre
    Travel Tips

    5 Reasons Why Cinque Terre Is The Worst Place Ever

    July 7, 2014 / 55 Comments

    When I planned my trip to Europe, the Cinque Terre was one of the places I looked forward to visiting most. I would be going in April, during off-season, and really looked forward to encountering this place I had heard so much about. On my travels, nature is what speaks to me the most and I had a vision of submerging myself in the energy of this beautiful place. I envisioned a sleepy Italian fishing village that would be similar to what I had experienced in Trapani. Unfortunately, for me, the Cinque Terre turned out to be the worst place I had ever visited. Here’s why: 5 Reasons Why Cinque Terre Is The Worst…

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    A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

    A Love Letter To Greece In Her Difficult Times

    August 1, 2016
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    My Experience Of Volunteering With Dolphins And Whales In The Azores

    April 1, 2023
    Where To Stay In Athens: AthensWas, A Spectacular Athens Hotel That Combines Luxury With Design

    Where To Stay In Athens: AthensWas, A Spectacular Athens Hotel That Combines Luxury With Design

    May 18, 2016
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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