Roys Peak Track Wanaka

Roys Peak Track: Stats, Photos, Hiking with Kids

Julie New Zealand 26 Comments

Roys Peak Track is one of the best hikes to do on the South Island of New Zealand. Located in Wanaka, this trail takes you high into the mountains for breathtaking panoramic views over Wanaka and Lake Wanaka. The hike itself is not all that exciting, but the main reason for hiking Roys Peak Track is for the views from …

Queenstown Luge

Becoming Adrenaline Junkies in Queenstown, New Zealand

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

This post could have been called a lot of things.  Blowing the Budget BIG TIME.  Having the Time of Our Lives.  Getting Our Adrenaline Fix.  Best Three Days Ever.  #Neverwanttogohome. We had an absolutely amazing, action packed three days here. And there is still so much to do when we come back, and come back we will definitely do. Forget …

Julie Bungy Jump

A Tale of Four Bungy Jumps

Julie New Zealand 4 Comments

Prior to our trip around the world, we would never have gone bungy jumping.  That’s just for crazy people, right?!  But as we passed bungy jump locations around the world, the idea grew on us.  Once in Queenstown, the birthplace of bungy jumping, the idea didn’t sound so crazy anymore. How could we circle this globe, trying to experience as …

Milford Sound

Milford Sound: Day Trip Options, Key Summit Hike & HELPFUL Tips

Julie New Zealand 22 Comments

The Milford Sound (also called Piopiotahi), one of New Zealand’s most popular sights, is located just a few hours away from Queenstown and Te Anau on the South Island. In 2008, the Milford Sound took the #1 spot on TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice World Destinations. And nearby Queenstown took second place. That just goes to show how popular (and touristy) the …

Wow New Zealand

Wow!

Julie New Zealand 4 Comments

I had once heard that New Zealand is such a beautiful place that you can’t believe it, even when you see it with your own eyes. We have only been here several days now and I agree with that statement. New Zealand just may be the most beautiful country we have ever visited. This post was written at the beginning …

Fiji Sunset

Fiji…One Week In Paradise

Julie Fiji 6 Comments

Ahhh…Fiji.  Paradise. Fiji was everything we expected and more. Crystal clear aquamarine water, white sandy beaches, amazing sunsets, beautiful islands. We joke around that Fiji is our vacation from our vacation…a very long vacation, I know.  Here we got some much needed R & R from our fast paced travels around the world. I can’t complain about the challenges and …

Modriki Island Fiji

Beautiful Modriki Island, The Filming Site for the Movie “Cast Away”

Julie Fiji 6 Comments

Ahhh….Fiji. This has to be one of the most beautiful places we have been to yet.  No wonder it is such a popular location for filming movies. Movies such as “The Blue Lagoon” and “Cast Away” were filmed here. During our short stay in Fiji we took a tour out to Modriki Island (also called Monuriki Island), the filming site …

Taroko Gorge

You Can’t Visit Taiwan Without Exploring Taroko National Park

Julie Taiwan 13 Comments

Add Taroko National Park to the list of beautiful places in Taiwan. This national park, located on the eastern coast of Taiwan very close to the city of Hualien, is a huge draw for visitors to Taiwan. It was a huge draw for us as well, as our family can’t resist hiking trails, rock scrambles, and beautiful vistas, things Taroko …

Taiwan Facts

Ten Interesting Facts About Taiwan You Probably Didn’t Know

Julie Taiwan 15 Comments

Before our trip around the world I knew very little about Taiwan. It wasn’t even on our radar as a destination for our journey around the globe. While browsing through hotels on Trip Advisor, tourism advertisements and facts about Taiwan kept popping up. After the tenth advertisement, Taiwan captured my attention and I took my first look at the Taiwan …

Teapot Mountain Hike

Hiking Teapot Mountain in Taiwan

Julie Taiwan 49 Comments

Hiking Teapot Mountain was a fantastic experience. This hike would end up being our favorite in Taiwan as it had all of our favorite elements: stunning scenery, rock scrambles, steep ascents that required basic rock climbing skills, and an almost deserted trail. We saw hardly anyone else on this hike leaving us to wonder where everyone was. Why don’t more …

China Travel Tips

China Travel Tips: Things To Know Before Traveling to China

Julie China, Travel Advice 48 Comments

Traveling through China can be a very rewarding experience but it does come with its share of challenges. With the right expectations and a little preparation (such as reading our China travel tips), a visit to China can be an amazing experience. Many people travel here on a tour, eliminating the challenges of arranging itineraries, transportation, hotels, and meals. As …

Shanghai Skyline 2015

Photo Tour of Shanghai

Julie China 4 Comments

We spent several days exploring Shanghai while on our trip around the world. For part of our visit to China, we were joined by my mother, Kathy, and Tim’s mother, Valerie. While traveling, most of the time we feel like we fit in with our wardrobe. Traveling with only five shirts and several pairs of pants really limits the types …

Great Wall

Hiking Jiankou to Mutianyu on the Great Wall of China

Julie China 25 Comments

The Great Wall of China…one of the world’s most iconic sights and one of the top ten things to do on many traveler’s bucket lists.  We couldn’t visit China without seeing this amazing place.  It was so amazing that we actually visited the Great Wall twice. Our first visit was to the restored section at Mutianyu.  Several days later we hiked …

Zhangjiajie

Photo Tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Julie China 22 Comments

Zhangjiajie, China…a place you may never have heard of but have seen if you watched the movie “Avatar.”  When we learned that there was a place on earth that served as the inspiration for one of its most scenic landscapes, we put it at the top of our list. Zhangjiajie…the Inspiration for the Landscape in “Avatar” This place is Zhangjiajie, …