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This Way To Paradise

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  • 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

  • How to Find a Secluded Beach Getaway Without Spending a Fortune
  • How to Find Your Own Paradise on Vacation
  • From Theme Parks to Coastal Escapes: Planning a Florida Vacation That Has It All
  • Small Ship vs. Large Ship: Which Nile Cruise Suits First-Timers?
  • Beach at Sunrise, Pyramids by Noon: A Day Across Egypt
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
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…

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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
  • 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…

    Read More
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    Brazil: The Best Holiday Locations in 2025-Updated

    November 24, 2025

    The Best Places to Visit Near Dubai When You Have a Car

    October 15, 2026
    10 Things You Should Know Before Quitting Your Job To Travel The World

    10 Things You Should Know Before Quitting Your Job To Travel The World

    October 30, 2025
  • 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…

    Read More
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    Skip the Hotel, Skip the Villa: The French Summer Luxury Everyone Overlooks

    July 7, 2026
    Photos That Will Have You Booking A Trip To The Na Pali Coast

    19 Photos That Will Have You Booking A Trip To The Na Pali Coast

    June 13, 2016

    Dream-Worthy Oahu Beaches That Aren’t In Waikiki

    June 28, 2017
  • 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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    How an Organized Travel Plan Gives You More Freedom

    January 27, 2026
    The Best Beaches In St Petersburg and Clearwater, FL

    The Best Beaches In St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL

    November 5, 2021
    traveling to Guatemala, Antigua

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

    June 29, 2015
  • Sankampaeng Hot springs
    Food

    How To Boil An Egg In Thailand: My Visit To Sankampaeng Hot Springs

    June 30, 2014 / 9 Comments

    The Sankampaeng Hot Springs, about 36 kilometers from Chiang Mai, Thailand, are where the Thai families traditionally go to spend time together. They soak their feet while picnicking on snacks of quail, duck, and chicken eggs that they cook in pools of the boiling hot water that flows from the springs. So, when my tuk tuk driver, Auddy, asked if I wanted to go, I knew I couldn’t refuse. Besides, he had only mentioned these eggs to me about 5 times already, so I knew it was as much a treat for him as it would be for me. The drive there was spectacular with gorgeous views of rice fields and scenes…

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    Belize Food-Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker

    January 27, 2013
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    A Perfect Meal At La Teca

    January 21, 2013

    How to Plan a Weekend Around Great Food

    August 25, 2026
  • Lagos, Portugal best beaches in the world
    Escape Guides

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

    June 23, 2014 / 38 Comments

    If you are wondering where to travel next, you need to take a look at Lagos, Portugal. Here are 7 reasons why: Why You Need To Put Lagos On Your Bucket List 1.  Perfect Beaches Portugal has some of the best beaches in Europe. The beaches are so stunningly gorgeous that you will feel like you are in a dream when you see them. Beach caves connect some of the beaches, while towering cliffs surround you in a hug from the Universe. The sand is the perfect softness and the aquamarine waters will leave you feeling soothed in a way that not even spa treatments could do. In fact, I consider the…

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    These Seychelles Beaches Will Give You Serious Wanderlust

    May 23, 2017

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    April 17, 2026

    Hidden Alpine Destinations That Deserve More Attention

    September 21, 2026
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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