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Top 5 Things to do in Dominica
Whether you’re arriving in Dominica by cruise ship, commercial plane, or private jet, this volcanic, rainforest-covered island offers up plenty of ways to simply kick back and relax. It’s Dominica’s adventure scene, however, which makes this a truly unique and rewarding Caribbean holiday.
There’s no shortage of beautiful islands to choose from in the Caribbean, but one gem that is often overlooked in the Windward Islands group is Dominica. Remarkably different than other nearby islands both in terms of culture and natural landscapes, Dominica is finally starting to gain attention as the next hot ecotourism destination.
Having been a filming location for Pirates of the Caribbean, you too can partake in your own exciting adventures including jungle jeep safaris, scuba diving, rowboat river journeys, river tubing, and horseback riding both on the beach and actually in the sea.
Two-thirds of Dominica is covered in rainforest, much of this untouched land home to national parks filled with waterfalls, hot springs, and other natural wonders. While narrowing down the best things to experience in Dominica definitely isn’t easy, here are my top five things not to miss on your next Dominica getaway.
read moreCygnet Retreat: An Ultra Modern Base for the Wild Nature of the Huon Valley
Restricted to Tasmania during the pandemic, Mike and I have made an effort to explore our home state. Though being ‘confined’ to such a naturally beautiful island with a number of world famous wilderness destinations free of crowds and chaos is far from limiting!
Our experience in the Huon Valley was the perfect balance of wild exploration, while still being able to relax in luxury after days full of dramatic adventure; a balance made possible by checking into the ultra modern Cygnet Retreat.
Nestled in Southern Tasmania just a short drive from Hobart, Cygnet is now known as the place to escape the fast-paced stresses of our modern day to day.
read moreThe Cape House: Our Stay in a Turn of the Century Luxury Farmhouse in Southern Tasmania
Growing up in Hobart, I have many fond memories of heading to our family shack along the coast of Southern Tasmania. It had been years since I had returned to this southernmost part of Australia and I was eager to share the area with my American husband.
Basing ourselves in Dover, this region is defined by a culture of holiday homes; you won’t find high-rise cookie-cutter hotels here; it’s authentic living in seaside towns, from cosy waterfront studios, to beach-side bungalows, and locally owned villas in forested surrounds.
Surrounded by wilderness and relaxation, we were fortunate to stay at what must be Dover’s most unique and stunning property, a turn of the 20th century farmhouse that has been very much renovated into a luxury holiday home.
Known as the Peninsula Experience, this unique and secluded property actually boasts two separate houses which includes The Cape House and The Boat House. This is our experience at The Cape House.
read moreThings to do in the Huon Valley: A 4-5 Day Itinerary for Southern Tasmania
The Huon Valley has long been a popular day trip option from Hobart. After-all, just a 30 minute drive south of the city and you’ll be at the source of some of the finest food and freshest ingredients in the country.
Apple growers, craft cider makers, boutique winemakers, salmon producers, and other homegrown produce means even many locals make the drive just for lunch.
But this is a region defined by more than just its food excellence, and if you’re visiting the State, the traditional day trip from Hobart won’t even come close to doing the region justice.
Because on top of the apple cider, salmon sushi, and mouthwatering apple pie (trust me, you’ll order two servings), the Huon Valley also serves up incredible natural beauty, and a huge range of adventure. And they serve it to you on a platter!
The Huon Valley is full of beaches, caves, thermal springs, and is the gateway to the southern forests and World Heritage Wilderness Walks. You can explore by jet boat, hang glider, foot, or car, and if you’re hungry inbetween, fuel up on produce from local roadside stalls.
The Huon Valley is not a day trip destination. It’s worthy of far more time. We recommend at least four to five days for exploring the region.
read moreThe EB240: A Portable Solar Power Station with a MASSIVE Power Load
We’re forced to forgo many comforts when we travel, from familiar food to leisurely hot showers (not every country enjoys a seemingly endless supply of hot water!), and sleeping on a comfortable pillow.
But for all the comforts you sacrifice to hit the road, access to power shouldn’t be one of them. After-all, electricity is one of the most important blessings science has given us!
Power is everything when you travel; keeping your phone charged means communication in an emergency; keeping a fridge going means food for off grid trips, or during a natural disaster / power outage.
Keeping a TV in your van means you won’t kill the family you committed to share a confined space with, and keeping lights charged could save your life during night-time adventures.
But how do you guarentee you have constant access to a reliable source of power? The EB240 is a portable solar power station from MAXOAK which has a huge capacity and load, and is super long lasting for travel in the outdoors, an RV, or even for use as emergency backup power at home.
read moreReasons to Travel with a Portable Massage Gun
It only occurred to me recently that I could travel with a portable massage gun. I had always worked the cost of a spa treatment into my budget, knowing I would definitely be in need after adventures like Machu Picchu and Kilimanjaro.
Though I’m starting to crave massage treatments more and more nowadays, even during fairly chilled out styles of travel; whether it’s from exhausted feet after walking a city all day, or pain and soreness during road-trips from driving long distances.
Maybe I’ve finally gotten soft, or maybe it’s the effects of old age (I swear I’m 32 going on 60!), but either way, I’m starting to really value the physical benefits of massage for making the most of my travels.
To date, I’ve just sucked up the high cost and been paying. Though it’s always a tough internal battle when you look at a spa menu and compare that cost to a flight, or a train!
And while there might not be anything which can completely replace a trained professional, why I didn’t realize I could spend the cost of one treatment to buy my own hand-held massage device is beyond me!
read moreLoom Footwear: Reasons to Pack These Lightweight Waterproof Sneakers!
I’m often asked what makes a good travel shoe and my number one response is usually versatility. While it would be nice to pack a dozen different pairs of shoes, this is totally impractical when traveling, and in trying to adhere to luggage size and weight restrictions the goal is pack just one or two pairs of lightweight shoes that you can use for a wide range of activities.
Most versatile shoes are lacking in one particular area though, and that’s in being waterproof. Which is important because, trust me, it rains in pretty much every country! Enter Loom.
Loom Footwear has not only created a highly-versatile sneaker, they’ve gone a step further and made them waterproof. Stylish enough for city walking, they’re also great hiking shoes that can stand up to a number of elements.
Both lightweight and comfortable, they’re easy to pack and can worn all day without suffering from sore feet. All of this adds up to Loom waterproof sneakers being an ideal choice for travel footwear.
read more5 Ways to Tackle Your Travel Anxiety
We all hear (constantly!) that travel improves mental health, though with all the stress around planning and spending time in unfamiliar places, many people find themselves susceptible to travel anxiety.
While this isn’t an official mental health condition that can be diagnosed, travel can really exacerbate general anxiety symptoms and can prevent you from enjoying your experience. Some people find it so severe that they avoid travel altogether.
While mental health was once seen as taboo and rarely discussed, today we’ve started to talk about it. Anxiety doesn’t go away because you’re traveling, and dealing with anxiety overseas can be much more distressing than when you experience them at home. So it is important to talk about.
If you suffer from travel anxiety, it doesn’t mean that you can’t travel the world, but it may mean you have to do a bit more planning to manage your health and tackle your reactions so you can keep yourself in check.
read moreThe World’s Best Beach Casinos
While Las Vegas may be the most visited casino destination on the planet, why place yourself in the middle of the desert when there are luxurious beach resorts offering up just as much fun gambling action!
Whether you’re into roulette, poker, or slots, you’ll find great beach casinos scattered around America, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and even Australia.
All-inclusive beach resorts with casinos are a winning combination for many travellers; you can enjoy lounging beneath palm trees and swimming with friendly reef sharks by day and then take in non-stop night-time action to compete with poker sharks by night.
If you’re thinking about taking a gambling beach holiday, here are my top five lucky recommendations for beachside casinos. You may just end up winning back your vacation travel costs if you play your cards right, or at the very least, come away with a few sand dollars!
read moreBest Islands to Explore around Fort Myers, Florida
Known as the “Gateway to Southwest Florida”, Fort Myers makes the perfect base for exploring the many beautiful islands that are easily accessible from the city.
Being lucky enough to have called this subtropical paradise home for two years, Fort Myers is a place packed with excitement. Now a major tourist destination, snowbirds from northern cities choose to overwinter here and more and more people are relocating every year.
Islands around Fort Myers are home to abundant wildlife, loads of outdoor recreation including exceptional golfing, and many of Florida’s most beautiful hidden beaches. So we’ve partnered with Hotels.com to bring you a list of our favorites!
Once you’re finished shopping at the outlets and catching a baseball spring training game, be sure to check out these top nearby islands, each offering their own unique attractions and character.
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