The Travel Life and Living with Intention

   The people you're with make the trip!  Family by marriage, sisters by choice, we sisters-in-law, found a perfect opportunity to visit one of the most stunning shorelines in the United States.  My niece recently moved to Portland, Maine for her first job out of college. It didn't take much to convince us to come and visit her.  Maine has it all:  rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, stunning hiking trails, sunny skies and beautiful lighthouses shrouded in blankets of fog.     One day in Boston   We took a flight to Boston to start a six day trip, and eventually found ourselves five hours north in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.  When we first landed at Logan International Airport, we immediately took a water taxi across Boston Harbor to Long Wharf. It was an ideal way to see Boston from the water and a great chance to appreciate the working harbor that it is. Long Wharf is just a short walk to the historic Quincy ...

National Parks Circle Tour 2015 Women Traveling Together Melissa Sigrist   The natural beauty that exists within the United States is nothing short of astounding. The evidence of this lay sprawling before us on the National Parks circle tour with WTT, which included the states of Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.  We had many seasoned travelers with us, and some women who were just beginning their world treks, but we all agreed:  our National Parks are unmatched anywhere in the world.  The landscapes entertained us every day with new views, new lighting, and new skies. Like the Native American saying about rivers, we never stepped into the same landscape twice.  Sedona is still a small town in Arizona, but tourists from around the world have discovered her natural red rock beauty. Morning sunrises and fiery sunsets are a feast for the eyes. A morning hot air balloon ride was a dream come true for some of our travelers and an amazing beginning of our t...

Not every sky will be blue and not every day is springtime. So on the spiritual path a person learns to find this kind of happiness without needing nice things to happen on the outside. Rather, you find happiness by being who you really are. This isn't mystical. Young children are happy being who they are. The trick is to regain such a state when you are grown and have seen the light and dark sides of life. - Deepak Chopra

Chautauqua Park, Boulder, CO Hi everyone!  This spring I had the opportunity to travel out to Denver for a visit with my 26-year-old son.  It was one of those trips that I didn't want to end, and I left feeling like this is a place I would love to live. What is it about Denver that makes you just want to be a part of it?  Part of this amazing energy?  What makes Denver so special?   First of all, it has so many options, all within an hours drive, and thanks to my downtown Denver host, I was able to experience amazing restaurants, great rooftop bars, hikes in fresh fallen snow, and local venues that make Denver what it is: a must-do destination! We experienced three areas of Denver that all contribute to the energy of this state capitol. The 16th Street Mall is the one that is most familiar.  Start at Commons Park, which is found on the banks of the South Platte River and happens to be the birthplace of Denver. W...

Do you ever find yourself dreaming of a more adventurous life, and wondering what it is that will make you feel truly alive again, from your finger tips to your toes?  I recently discovered one of these experiences for me on a sailing vessel in the Caribbean.  Imagine the fresh ocean breeze in your face as you pull up the billowing sails of a Tall Ship with your fellow ship mates, salt water misting your skin. You’ll soon feel at home with the oceanic swells that rock this majestic vessel of bright white canvas reaching up to the clear blue skies. You’ve seen the photos and sketches of these traditional Tall Ships, but being a part of the ship stirs something deep inside your soul that pulls you into her enduring charm.  Tall Ship Sailing in the Caribbean is both exotic and romantic at the same time. Above all, it is intoxicating!  It takes you out of your comfort zone, and into a  new life of adventure that most can only imagine. It is traditional ...

 Home is no longer a particular place for us. It used to be our wonderful cape cod home in a typical midwest neighborhood complete with a split rail fence. But now we are empty nesters, and the baby birds have really spread their wings! Denver, Seattle, and Seoul, South Korea! I'm thinking about investing in the airline industry.    Home is now wherever we make it happen.  "It" is coordinating work schedules, airline tickets, B&B's, rental cars, local activities and the desire to be together.  This Christmas, it was in Seattle where our daughter has made her home in the Green Lake neighborhood.  We began Christmas Eve with an absolutely inspiring gathering at the nearby Ballard Church .  I felt like BC captured the vibe of Seattle: casual, rockin' music, fun, accepting, and tolerant of all who walk through their doors.  Christmas Eve was good food, good wine, candle light, and the much longed-for company of two of our chil...