Travel Tips

The Mouse that roars. One of the reasons I live in Florida close to Walt Disney World (but not too close--about 90 minutes away)

I try to visit Mickey at least every other month. I don't always go inside a theme park because there are so many things to see and do outside the gates for free.

Lake Tahoe and especially North Lake Tahoe & Incline Village on the Nevada side of the lake. The crystal clear water, the sparse but beautiful beaches nestled among the pine trees, the altitude (6,500 feet at lake level) and the four seasons that can be experienced with everything from swimming, boating, skiing, hiking, walking, shopping, gambling (although I don't), festivals, and a bunch of other activities or the option of doing nothing at all and sitting by a fireplace watching the snow fall.

Whether it is the fire department, police department, or the military (minus the politics) , I have a respect for anyone that works to serve others when it comes to prevention or protection as they are on duty 24/7/365 and usually get paid too little for too much dangerous work.

Everything from the Hot August Nights in Reno and Fantasy Fest in Key West to the Marion Popcorn Festival and the Gilroy Garlic Festival, I love the opportunities to travel to unusual locations, meet (unusual) people, and do unusual things.

All of these events listed above meet that critieria (and more)

OK, Dolly Parton may not be real here, but I did see her in person once. I have enjoyed the meeting of and company of celebrities and personalities like Senator (and shuttle astronaut) John Glenn.

From Key West to Maui and Alaska to Italy, I love viewing sunsets.

Sunset celebrations seem to be present everywhere on Florida's west coast and i always try to take time to appreciate the work that goes into each special sunset.

Living on water and being on the water during sunsets so often, I am always seeking a chance to view the "green flash"--but so far, no luck.

Yosemite National Park, The Grand Canyon, Mt. McKinley, or Haleakala Volcano on Maui, they all bring out a sense of awe in me and others and in these cases, a picture speaks a 1,000 words.

Reading a book on a cruiseship on an open deck, sleeping in late in a bungalow in the South Pacific, just sitting and watching and toasting a sunset in Mallory Square of Key West, or walking downtown in large cities just window shopping.

Stop and smell the roses is a phrase that we probably all could use at various times of our life.