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101). Mexico Beaches - Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada With shores on two oceans, Mexico is a beach lover’s paradise. Here’s a primer on three of the beach areas, Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada Puerto Vallarta Considered a poor man’s Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta lies in the middle of the Bahia de Banderas, a huge bay. The beach is long and nice while the two lies at the foot of th... 102). Mexico Beaches – Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco Mexico beaches come in all shapes and sizes. Two of the most famous areas are Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco. Acapulco You’re probably already familiar with Acapulco if you ever watched the Wild World of Sports on ABC. Acapulco was exhibited frequently as the location of those sketchy cliff diving competitions. You know, the... 103). Mexico Beaches – Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Mexico has beautiful beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean. In this article, we look at two hot spots on the east coast – Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Playa del Carmen With one of the prettiest beaches on the Caribbean coast, Playa del Carmen was the hidden gem of Mexico for years and years. About 10 years ago, ... 104). Monaco – The Wealthy Conclave of Europe Perched over the Mediterranean Ocean, Monaco is a picturesque country. With very high prices, most travelers can only afford to spend one day in this conclave for the rich. Monaco The principality of Monaco is a bizarre little place. Situated to the east of the French Riviera, the country is very small and dominated by th... 105). Monte Carlo – Paradise of a Different Sort Monte Carlo is the city of glitz and over the top indulgence. I had to see it for at least a day trip and ended up finding my food paradise. Monte Carlo Surprise Monte Carlo is the where you go to see the pretty people. Well, maybe not pretty, but definitely wealthy. I was loafing in Nice for a few days and decided to joi... 106). Mountain Climbing – Preserve Your Experiences Mountain climbing is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your mountain climbing experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a mountain climbing journal for your adventures. Mountain Climbing Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent mounta... 107). Mountain, Ice and Rock Climbing Gift Ideas Some people just have the urge to climb up and up. If you’re giving gifts to a climber, here are a few mountain, ice and rock climbing gift ideas. Climbing Gifts You can usually identify a climber at an early age. You come home from work and the energetic two year old is hanging from the top shelf of the bookcase. By the ... 108). National Parks – Get Out of Your Car! The national park system in the United States is full of beauty and surprises. Still, you’ll be wondering if they’re worth it when you run into the crowds of other visitors. Road Side Viewing Sure, millions of people visit our national parks each year, miles of cars creep through at a painfully slow pace, parking lots are... 109). Nearly Broke in Nice, France I had been backpacking for three months around Europe and had reached my final destination of Nice. Too bad I had 10 days till my flight home and I was nearly broke! As I sat in the Gar de Nice, the train station, I started giving serious thought to how I was going to survive for 10 days on $150.00. I had just arrived from two weeks in... 110). New Requirements for Travelers Entering the United States Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere. This new requirement will... 111). North Spain – Santander, Zaragoza and Vigo Madrid and the attractions of southern Spain tend to get all of the attention. In the northern part of the country, Santander, Zargoza and Vigo are hidden gems. Santander Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Santander is a city going about its business. Squeezed between mountains and the harbor, the city is narrow ... 112). Old Spanish Charm – Valencia, Granada and Seville Much of Spain has undergone a modernization effort. Fortunately, cities such as Valencia, Granada and Seville retain much of their old world charm. Valencia Similar to Barcelona in some ways, Valencia is another must visit city in Spain. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean, the city has retained its old world charm... 113). Only in Russia – Tinda While living in Siberia for a year, I agreed to speak at a human rights conference. Only in Russia will you find a place like Tinda, a city we stopped in on our way. Trans-Siberian Railway When living in Siberia, the only way to get around is car, helicopter or the Trans-Siberian Railway. Since I had neither a car nor hel... 114). Pacific Crest Trail – History and Hiking It The Pacific Crest Trail runs over the mountain ranges dividing the west coast and the rest of the nation. There is a lot of history tied to the trail and it offers great hiking. Pacific Crest Trail – History Running from the border with Mexico to the Canadian border, the Pacific Crest Trail was used by settlers in the 180... 115). Packing Your Backpack for Europe Nothing beats backpacking in Europe if you get the opportunity. So, you probably want to know what to pack for Europe. Packing Your Backpack for Europe Millions of people head off to Europe on a backpacking trip each year. Having done it five times, I can tell you that it will be one of the best times of your life. That b... 116). Peter the Great’s Summer Palace – St. Petersburg, Russia During the communist reign in Russia, architectural styles could best be described as bland. Fortunately, the summer palace of Peter the Great wasn’t affected. Peterhof Known as Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great is a very impressive area. The palace is arranged with a central rectangle format over roughly two... 117). Playing Chess in Russia – The Agony of Victory Russians have a thing for chess and, frankly, are very good at it. Being from San Diego, I thought chess was something you put photo albums in. Playing Chess Playing chess requires thinking ten or twelve steps ahead. If I wanted to understand the Russian mind, I had to learn to play chess. If nothing else, it would be a g... 118). Portugal – Lisbon, Algarve and Lagos On the southwestern tip of continental Europe, Portugal is an old school country. In this article, we take a look at Lisbon, Lagos and the Algarve. Lisbon Lisbon is the biggest city in Portugal and is located on the Atlantic coast in middle of the country. I’ve been to Lisbon three times, but only for a few days each time.... 119). Rafting The River of No Return Whitewater rafting is simply a blast, pun intended. This brings us to the river of no return, an excellent challenge in Idaho. Rafting The River of No Return Idaho is an incredibly beautiful state, a place with no massive cities or the resulting urban sprawl that comes with them. It is a Rock Mountains state sitting on th... 120). Riviera Maya, Mexico – Paradise Defined The Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast was a secret getaway to paradise for many years. No longer. Now it is considered one of the finest beach areas in the world. Riviera Maya Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, the Riviera Maya is jaw dropping beautiful. Although the area was only known to a s... 121). Rock Climbing Areas in KY – Kentucky At first glance, rock climbing in Kentucky may seem like a far fetched idea. Au contraire! Red River Gorge provides great rock climbing areas in KY. Rock Climbing Areas in KY – Kentucky Located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, the greater Red River Gorge area is over 26,000 acres. The Red River runs for approximately ... 122). Rock Climbing – Christmas Gift Ideas We all know someone who’s idea of a good time is hanging off cliffs. If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for a rock climbing enthusiast, here’s some unique rock climbing gift ideas. Rock Climbing Gift Ideas You can always tell a rock climber by their appearance. White chalk fingers, bleeding knuckles, bent fingers a... 123). Rock Climbing – Preserve Your Experiences Rock climbing is a great way to escape the rat race, live on the edge and get a heck of a view. Alas, your rock climbing experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a rock climbing journal. Rock climbing Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent rock climbing experien... 124). Romania – Bucharest, Dracula and Transylvania Mention Romania and people immediately think of Dracula and a mid-evil country. Recovering from years of economic misery, Romania is quickly becoming the hidden jewel of Eastern Europe. Dracula v. Ceausescu In pop culture, Romania is always equated with Count Dracula, Bran Castle and Transylvania. These assumptions are wr... 125). Russia Travel Visa – Vodka and Old Friends If you think getting a visa to travel to Russia is difficult, you should try getting one to travel around the country. Living in Russia, I needed just such a Russia travel visa. Russia Travel Visa Unlike many countries, foreigners in Russia must declare on their travel visa where they will travel in the country. If they w... 126). Russian Romance – I Love You Romance and Russia, the two words just go together. Unless, of course, you are trying to speak in Russian. Russian Language The Russian language is not one that is typically considered a romance language. Based on the Cyrillic alphabet, there are a lot of stops and starts not to mention the occasional harsh noise. Given th... 127). Russian Thanksgiving Dinner – Mystery Ingredients Living for a year in Siberia was bound to results in a few laughs. There was no funnier time than my effort to celebrate Thanksgiving. The Set Up As an American male, my idea of cooking was dropping by the local Chinese restaurant on my way home from work. We are talking about a person who considers cooking rice a culinar... 128). San Diego Beach Hikes – Cardiff to Carlsbad San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the average home price being around $500,000, they better be interesting! To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to Carlsbad on the beach. For picturesque sunsets and “tasty waves”, the beach between Cardiff to Carlsbad can’t be beat. Car... 129). Siberia, Russia Part 3 – Communist Planes and Defining “Fluent” In the first two parts of this series, we covered my decision to move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story aboard the flight from Anchorage to Khabarovsk, Russia. Day 3 Technically, it’s day two and half. I think. Time began to blur as we flew over the... 130). Siberia, Russia Part 6 – When Stairs Attack in the Khabarovsk Train Station In this continuing series, we cover my move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story going to the train station in Khabarovsk to catch the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Day 4! If you’ve been reading this series on NomadJournalTrips.com, you know my original tra... 131). Siberia, Russia, Part 7 – The Trans-Siberian Railway After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip leaving the train station in Khabarovsk. A Train To Nowhere? In deciding to travel to Chita, Siberia, I had originally estimated a travel time o... 132). Siberia, Russia, Part 8 – The Slow Train After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Horror As my new Russian friend walked down the hall, I reflected on the information he had provided me with ... 133). Siberia, Russia, Part 9 – Chita After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the last stage of the seven-day trip to get there. Siberia As Seen From A Train In preparing for my trip, I had actually done some preparation. As a comm... 134). Siena, Italy – Medieval Life and Horse Racing Italy has many well-known travel destinations such as Rome. Less publicized destinations such as Siena are even better. Sienna Located roughly an hour outside of Florence, Siena is one of my favorite places in Italy. When you think gothic architecture and medieval town, you think of Siena. Built as a fortified city behind... 135). Sihanoukville, Cambodia – Mother Nature Playing Nightly Sihanoukville is a sleepy beach town in Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. In December, the beach is a great place to watch Mother Nature do her thing in spectacular fashion. Sihanoukville Named after a Cambodian King, Sihanoukville isn’t easy to get to, but it is worth the hassle. If you’re coming from Thailand, the best ... 136). Spain – Madrid, Barcelona and Ibiza Spain is the land of romance and amazing oddities. From bullfights to Gaudi to partying the night away on Ibiza, travelers could easily spend a year exploring Spain. Madrid With a population of over three million, Madrid is a big, modern city in central Spain. The suburbs of Madrid are very modern and not particularly int... 137). Staying in Barcelona for Extended Periods If you have every visited Barcelona, you know it is a place best experienced over a few months instead of a few days. Fortunately, the people of Barcelona know it as well. Staying in Barcelona for Extended Periods Like a fine wine, drinking in Barcelona shouldn’t be rushed. Visit the city for two or three days and you will... 138). Sweden Travel – Stockholm and Karlskrona Known as the land of Vikings, Sweden is actually an odd mix of cosmopolitan cities and vast stretches of wide-open spaces. For budget travelers, Sweden is a bit expensive. Stockholm An incredibly beautiful city in the summer, Stockholm is the Venice of Northern Europe. Like Venice, Stockholm is built on the water with can... 139). Switzerland – Interlaken, Zurich, St. Moritz and Geneva Switzerland is the land of skiing, chocolate and very private banking. Ah, but there is so much more to experience in the land of neutrality. Interlaken Interlaken gets its highly creative name from sitting on the split of land between two lakes. If you’re looking for a little extreme sporting, this is place. You can backp... 140). Thailand Rock Climbing Mention Thailand and images of beaches, elephants and Bangkok come to mind. Less known is the fact Thailand rock climbing is some of the best in the world. Thailand Rock Climbing Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is bordered by Cambodia, Burma and Laos in the north and Malaysia in the south. The shape of the country is ... 141). The Basics of Rafting The River Rapids Rafting the river rapids is a major adrenaline rush. If you are going to hit the rapids, you need to know some of the basic language thrown around in the sport. The Basics of Rafting The River Rapids As with any sport, it helps to have a basic understanding of the tools of the trade, techniques and such. Not only does this... 142). The Copper River Delta Shorebirds Festival – Bird Watching Alaska Style Held in Cordova, Alaska, the Copper River Delta Shorebirds Festival is a bird watcher’s dream come true. Hundreds of thousands birds migrate to the delta for your sighting pleasure. Copper River Delta Shorebirds Festival Held every May, the Copper River Delta Shorebirds Festival is the place to be if you want to view shor... 143). The Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival in Utah Coming up on its eighth year, the Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival is good get away for birders. Of course, a chance to visit Salt Lake City isn’t so bad either. Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival The Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival is both a mouthful and a great event. Close to Salt Lake City, but actual... 144). The One That Got Away on the Green River Fly fishing can be a surreal experience mending the soul of any person. That is, until you have to deal with the one that got away! The One That Got Away I’ve battled the crowds, seen the masses of fish in the crystal clear water, and been skunked by the some of the most educated trout around on the Green River below the F... 145). The Oregon Trail – Beginning in Arrow Rock, Missouri The Oregon Trail holds a unique place in the history of the United States. Thousands of pioneers used the trail to populate the middle and western parts of the country in the 19th century. Oregon Trail In the eighteen hundreds, the east coast of the United States had become overcrowded and expensive. For relief, people lo... 146). The Secret To Keeping Kids Interested on Family Vacations Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions. Writing Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent family vacation. Where there periods of time when you wished you kids wou... 147). The Ultimate Traveler’s Day Dream Come True More than a few times, I’ve caught myself sitting at work day dreaming about dropping everything and just jumping on a plane. In October of 2003, I did just that. Life can grind you down when you get in a rut. In my case, I had a particularly bad case of the blues in October 2003. My girlfriend and I had apparently come to an agreemen... 148). Travel Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville and Roads From Hell Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through 1980, the Khmer Rouge ruled the country, fanatics bent on genocide. Millions were killed and the period was put to film in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” Fortunately, those days are over and the country is becoming a tourist destination. Cambodia is a land of incredible contrast. Thic... 149). Travel Jokes Traveling can be a humbling experience, particularly when you travel to a foreign country. Such experiences, of course, give rise to travel jokes. Travel Jokes 1. Three brothers are sitting at the bar in a Moscow establishment. An older man is sitting at a table behind them and has obviously had too much vodka. He stands,... 150). Travel Journals – How To Keep A Travel Journal It goes without saying that memories of trips and vacations fade with time. If you learn how to keep a travel journal, this need not be the case. Traveling tends to be a schizophrenic event. On one hand, there is the trip you intended to take and may have even organized down to the tiniest detail. Then there is reality. Reality, of co... Browse Pages: [1] [2] 3 [4]