The Travel Life and Living with Intention

   Sometimes we find the most amazing, beautiful landscapes in our own backyard.  As much as I LOVE to travel, I also really enjoy a few secret places right near my home. Stratford Ecological Center is a most serene, delightful, off-the-beaten-path place where I can escape for an afternoon and feel like I've been lost in the woods, discovering new paths, bridges and remnants of those who have traveled here before. Isn't this chair a gem?!  As I sat on it, contemplating the reflection of the sky in the water, I also thought of the others who had been sitting here before my arrival.  Why had they come?  Were they seeking clarity, peace of mind, fresh air?  Or were they in need of the healing hand of nature to caress an old wound? Whatever the reason, being outdoors in an environment like Stratford is soothing. It's food for the soul, and we all need to spend more time, nourishing ourselves outdoors.    I hope you have your own secret hid...

Head Light, Portland, ME Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, Vermont New England Fall Foliage       “I’ve been having so much fun! This doesn’t feel like a tour; it’s just a group of girlfriends traveling together and having a good time.”  I heard this comment during our farewell dinner conversation around the table in Ogunquit, Maine.  We started the tour in New Hampshire just six days earlier, and now we were gathered around the table, reminiscing about the wonderful moments we had shared while traveling through the spectacular fall colors of New England.  Strangers just a week ago, these ladies had become friends throughout our travels.  The trip wasn’t just about the fall foliage. It truly was an experience among friends that will be remembered for years to come. It’s hard to come up with favorite memories. The experiences all blend together seamlessly in a mosaic of colors, sights, smells, tastes and emotions that made this trip...

  The unique and magnificent flavor of Quebec was captured and savored during this delicious trip to La Belle Province. It was so...so....very French!!!  And yet we never left North America. This was a trip during which we were able to appreciate good food, good conversation and in the end, good friends. It truly was an experience which is summed up in the motto of the province itself, Je me souviens....I remember.  And we always will remember this very special experience we had together as travelers, and as friends!   Burlington, Vermont was our starting point, but as soon as we crossed the border into the province of Quebec, we knew we were in another world. Our first stop at a depanneur brought us cheese curds that squeaked between our teeth and cinnamon bun flavored potato chips! We soon discovered that the city of Montreal is not only French, but a kaleidoscope of many cultures, blended together in a melting pot of colors, flavors and smells that delighted ou...

Pure Michigan  Surrounded by the sparkling blue waters of lakes Michigan and Huron,  the state of Michigan is a true diamond in the Great Lakes region.  The beaches and dunes of the west coast (Lake Michigan) are beautiful and are meant to be enjoyed on Michigan time...don't be in a hurry if you come here!   We decided to spend most of our time in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region, traveling up the western part of the state. Leaving from Grand Rapids, we headed to the coast and our first stop was in the quaint town of Frankfurt right on Lake Michigan. The town is truly delightful with a park on the bay as well as a sparkling, clean beach with a lighthouse out on the pier. The walk out to the lighthouse was a perfect beginning of our day, as the Michigan air is pure, clean, fresh and invigorating. Lots of sandwich places and cafes along the main street offer brown bag lunches for a picnic, so we had ours at the park on the bay, watching the sail boats come in and ou...

     Snowball fights in July while wearing shorts and sandals! That was a real treat during the nation’s midsummer heat wave in 2012. Glacier National Park, The Crown of the Continent, was the perfect place to be for all of us:  perfect weather, beautiful mountains, invigorating hikes, a refreshing boat ride on the lake, and a group of 12 cheerful travelers.        There is nothing quite as energizing as spending time outdoors in the fresh mountain air. No shopping malls or fine dining for this crew. We were out for a good time in the mountains, and that’s exactly what we got.  The boat trip on Two Medicine Lake was just the beginning of a grand adventure for us. We stepped off the boat and into the woods, then hiked to Twin Falls. The trail was filled with an array of wild flowers, including Montana’s state flower, Bear Grass, which has nothing to do with bears, and looks like a white globe of fluff on the end of a tall, st...

Have you heard of 'Glamping'? It is truly an outdoor girl's dream!  Ok, maybe not all outdoor girls, but definitely a dream trip for me. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to go to the Snake River in Idaho for an exciting, rafting adventure on this phenomenal river. Where the Snake River heads north and forms the border between Idaho and Oregon, is Hell's Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America.  Boulders and rock slides have rolled into the river to create the biggest rapids in the Pacific North west. Between rapids, we had spectacular scenery that we enjoyed from the river, and we also went ashore to experience challenging hikes where we encountered Rocky Mountain Big Horn sheep and mountain goats. The river was wild at some points, with class IV rapids like Wild Sheep and Granite Creek. At other times, we kicked back, watched the sky, and floated down the river without a care in the world. And we were totally unplugged!  No cell phone coverage in this remo...

One of my favorite North American destinations is Glacier National Park and Waterton International Peace Park, just north of Glacier.  Hiking, kayaking, and beauty-gazing are the three top activities in this stunning Crown of the Continent!

Melissa has ten years of experience in organizing and leading trips and has had the travel bug for over 30 years, taking her to adventures in Asia, Europe and throughout North America. Her first experience traveling abroad was as a student, studying in the Loire Valley of France, and since then, travel has been a part of her life. As a French teacher, she has taken students to various parts of France and throughout the province of Quebec. She has also traveled to the beautiful French island of Guadeloupe, living with a family and studying the culture and language of the Guadeloupians.  With her own family, Melissa lived for several years in Japan, where she and her husband raised three children. The children have flown from the nest, and now reside in Seoul, South Korea, Denver, Colorado, and New York City. Melissa has also led tours throughout North America during her summers off from teaching. For Melissa, the greatest joy of travel is sharing adventure, exceptional food, and...