Travel

Fun Giveaway! 2 Lucky Winners will receive a Cool Travel Gift

April 23, 2018 By Tam Warner 7 Comments

Travels with Tam has teamed up with EXPLORE LOCAL BOX to offer this giveaway for a cool, local, travel-based gift box!

Now you, or your gift recipient (Mother?) can travel monthly! Not everyone can travel extensively, or even very often, but thanks to Explore Local Box, founded by Jessica Larrabee, you can! I just went to Boston by box, and it was an awesome little trip! The box is so cute and has goodies that explore the local flavors and cultures of other locales. There is a new city box available every month. Anyone who loves to travel, and/or loves food, will love to win this $39.99 Explore Local Box, just in time for Mother’s Day!

2 Lucky Winners will be chosen on May 6, 2018, and those winners will be able to ship the boxes to any location in the USA or Canada. Enter now to win an Explore Local Box! Hurry and ENTER NOW! Entries also available to the right, on the sidebar!

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What can YOU do on this Earth Day to make the World a Better Place?

April 20, 2018 By Tam Warner 3 Comments

What can YOU do on this Earth Day to make the World a Better Place?

We all live on our beautiful planet, and humans sometimes forget that we are not the only life on the planet. We are the only species who can cause harm to our planet, though, and we have and continue to do so. The Earth is our home, our sustenance, and we depend upon her for everything. Would you treat your house the way humans have (and still do) treated the Earth? I certainly hope not. We are in a bit of pickle these days, and she needs all the assistance we can give her.

earth day 2018, make a contribution, donate to wildlife, plastic in our oceans, reduce plastic — Here I am on a citizen science expedition, taking photo Identification shots of Manta Rays at the Revillagigedos.

We can all do something! It isn’t that hard. Plastic is one of the major ways we can make a difference. Plastic is choking our oceans, our wildlife is ingesting it, and dying from it. Fish really cannot help eating plastic. Much of it smells like food, after all. Fish, shellfish, oysters…they all ingest a lot of plastics. Did you know that one out of four fish has plastic in its tummy? That means plastic is in their tissues which has negative impacts for them…but what about humans? How much plastic are we consuming by eating fish and animals who eat plastic? One study says we could be consuming 11,000 plastics a year, through our seafood. What is the effect on humans? Well, it hurts fish, it stands to reason it isn’t good for us. Would you cook a piece of plastic for dinner and eat it? But we are consuming a lot of it through our foods.

What can YOU do?

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY BY TAKING ACTION Think of all the goods we can buy that are not plastic, but sustainable woods, plants and fibers. I use compostable K-cups for my Keurig. I’m very happy I don’t have to get rid of it because I love my coffee! Click this link and see some of the products you could purchase instead of plastics! I keep paper straws in my glove box, and bamboo utensils. And don’t forget to tell restaurants, no straw, no plastic forks! I get so mad at myself when I forget to do it.

TAKE THE PLEDGE! EarthDay.org is encouraging all of us to take a pledge to reduce our single use plastics. Say no to plastic grocery bags! Reduce your intake of bottled water…carry a water bottle you can refill. Have you seen the landfills and oceans filled with those plastic water bottles? Awful. By 2020 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! That will not be good for humans, or fish.

MAKE A DONATION OR BUY A PRODUCT THAT BENEFITS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION There are many awesome organizations out there working hard to make our Earth a better place. Such as?

MEET THE OCEAN Meet the Ocean is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on the importance of the saltwaters of our planet. Employing science, storytelling, and encounters from earth’s most remote locations, we combat environmental apathy and further understanding of how the ocean functions, in order to better protect it. They have a sweet shop filled with cool tees and art prints.

MARINE MEGAFAUNA FOUNDATION As a species, our survival is dependent on our oceans being healthy and full of life, yet only four percent of them are currently protected. This means that vast areas are left unregulated and vulnerable to ever-increasing human pressures such as unsustainable fishing, irresponsible waste management and climate change. This organization is active in research, protection and education. My book, ALL FISH FACES, available on Amazon and here on my author page, gives 10% to this organization to assist in its goals. I have traveled with these scientists and participated in citizen science. Support them!

TEENS4OCEANS Led by scientists, educators, and most importantly students, Teens4Oceans impacts youth, their peers, and their parents, by providing them with the tools and resources to become Ocean Stewards.

REEF REEF conserves marine environments worldwide. Our mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community. REEF also takes the public on scuba citizen science trips, I have been on one and loved it! I have learned so much from REEF.

National Geographic has several charities like their Big Cat Initiative, there is World Wildlife Fund, Sea Shepherds, the list is endless. If none of these appeal to you, I’m sure you can find another that will!

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Why I Love The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa!

April 18, 2018 By Tam Warner 12 Comments

westin los cabos, westin villas resort and spa, los cabos, baja, mexico — This was my view while being escorted to my villa. Wow! I love the architecture!

Why I love the The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa? What is NOT to love? My thanks to Los Cabos Tourism and the Westin for hosting me on this amazing property!

westin los cabos, westin villas resort and spa, los cabos, — The cool lobby.

The information says it is “renewed”, but it certainly looks brand new! I couldn’t believe it when the car pulled up to drop me off. The lobby is open air with gorgeous stonework, and the staff could not be any friendlier or helpful! Every single staff member treated me like a queen. The buildings are gorgeous, and blend in with the mountain desert behind it. Every small detail was in place, and the buildings were just stunning. The Westin is environmentally friendly as well, check out their commitment to helping our oceans and our planet.

My villa was amazing. Amazing! The view was just incredible, and my balcony had a hot tub on it! A lovely bottle of wine and sweets welcomed me to the 2 bedroom villa with full kitchen. I never wanted to leave the balcony which overlooked the pools and the ocean. I had just come off a liveaboard dive boat, and nothing is ever clean or dry on a boat. The villa had a washer and dryer, and it was wonderful to pile all of my clothes into the washer and then go off to explore.

I was so hungry, and my restaurant selection was large. There are four restaurants, a swim up bar, and a market. I chose the beachfront restaurant, Coralline. It was gloriously peaceful, shaded, with the sound of pounding waves. They had excellent french fries! You don’t get french fries on a dive boat, and I was feeling deprived, so it was the first thing I ordered! Yum!

Breakfast buffet is served at Cocina Casera, also overlooking the ocean. The breakfast was delicious, and the restaurant has themed buffets every night. Yum! I had a quick sandwich at La Cantina Sports Bar and it was also excellent. I shopped at the Mercadito (market) for soda and snacks. The only restaurant I did not get to was El Ciruelo, the hilltop restaurant with incredible views of the sunset. It looked lovely, but time just ran out. I couldn’t force myself to get out of the infinity pool or off the beach to make reservations! Next time!

The pool area is right on the beach, and there is a pool for adults, and one for children. I love the separation. When you have children or grandchildren you love being with them and hearing their noise and splashing, but when you want some quiet adult time, it is lovely to have a tranquil spot. The pool is heated to just the right temperature, and is long enough to get some exercise. Loved it!

The hotel has everything you could imagine in a resort. Tennis, golf, Kids Club, baby sitting, a soothing spa where I had an incredibly pampered massage… It is just amazing. If you are headed to Cabo, I recommend the Westin Villas Resort and Spa Los Cabos with all my heart. I hope to go back for a longer stay and take my family!

PIN IT!

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The 6 Best Places to Hike in Wisconsin!

April 16, 2018 By Tam Warner 13 Comments

The 6 best places to hike in Wisconsin are beautiful! Are you under the impression that Wisconsin is a frozen tundra or is flat and only focused on bicycle trails? Have you wondered where you can go for some great hiking that rivals other areas of the country? If so, this post is for you!

As an idea for a post, I thought this one would be easy. Great hiking trails in Wisconsin? There are plenty! The problem came down to narrowing it down into a neat little list that I could easily share with everyone!

With 47 state parks, 72 counties with their own great parks, and over 2500 miles of hiking trails, including two National Trails – the Ice Age Scenic Trail and the North Country Scenic Trail, this one was a lot more difficult than I imagined!

So, to help me organize my thoughts, I decided to focus on trails in some of the main geographic formations of Wisconsin, the Driftless Area, the Kettle Moraines, Door County Peninsula, Apostle Islands, and the Upper Highlands.

Most of the Wisconsin landscape was formed by huge glaciers. The Driftless Area, shared by Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, is a region left untouched by glaciers, leaving a rugged terrain formed by major rivers, like the Mississippi, and flooding from melting glaciers.

At the eastern edge of this area lies one of my favorite State Parks and hiking areas, Devil’s Lake.

Devil’s Lake State Park

Devil’s Lake State Park is the largest state park in Wisconsin and one of the oldest. Its 500-foot quartzite bluffs are part of the Baraboo Range and includes a 360 acre lake, a mixed conifer-deciduous forest, unique rock formations, effigy mounds, and a deep gorge known as Parfrey’s Glen.

The area is an unexpected natural wonder and an outdoor paradise of the Midwest.

There are 41 miles of hiking trails in the park, including the Ice Age Trail, and the best ones are listed here.

The best trail to hike is a loop made up of West Bluff Trail, Balanced Rock Trail, East Bluff Trail and Devil’s Doorway plus a bit of walking through the parking lots and concession area, for a total of about 4.5 miles.

The trail consists of stone steps, rock formations, scenic views, bluff edges, woods, cliffs, and boardwalks.

Going up the bluff at Balanced Rock Trail is easier, in my opinion, than going down. You can start at the South Shore or the North Shore, but either way, I’d go counter-clockwise. There is a steep climb with rock steps and switchbacks, but well worth the views!

When you get to the top, head right along the East Bluff Trail to the Devil’s Doorway side trail before double-backing and continuing on along the cliff. You could also descend down via the Potholes Trail if you’re short on time.

You’ll have to drive down the road a bit to Parfreys Glen, a 1.5 out-and-back trail through a scenic gorge at the eastern end of the park. Powerful floods have changed the glen and the official trail now ends at the gorge. Hikers can continue on by navigating a stream and rough stone to the waterfall.

Wyalusing State Park

Wyalusing State Park, also residing in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, sits 500 feet above where the waters of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers meet and is one of Wisconsin’s oldest parks. The park consists of campsites with views and even a canoe/kayaking trail.

It has over 14 miles of hiking trails, and the best are listed here.

Bluff Trail to Old Immigrant Trail

This 3-mile trail starts at some scenic outlooks, winds down through a couple staircases/ladders to Treasure Cave, and then follows the ridge along the Wisconsin River bluff to the other side of the campground.

You can also connect to the Old Wagon Road Trail (1 mile) which takes a path through the woods out to the park road in order to make a loop.

Sugar Maple Trail

This 2.5 mile loop through the woods includes a self-guided nature trail with informational signs. A short side trail leads to Pictured Rock Cave with a wet-weather waterfall.

Sentinel Ridge Trail

This 1.5 mile trail follows the ridge above the Mississippi River side of the park in between the Old Immigrant Trail and the Sugar Maple Trail. You will either need to go out and back or follow the park road back to your starting point.

There are some steep areas and great views along this trail, along with Indian mounds.

Kettle Moraine State Forest

Kettle Moraine is a large area of lakes, kettles, serpentine ridges, and canonical hills in Eastern Wisconsin formed by receding glaciers and offering many outdoor recreation opportunities. It includes a State Forest and is divided into a Northern Unit with 14 trailheads and a Southern Unit with 17 trailheads.

The best of over 145 miles of trails in this area are listed here.

Ice Age Trail to Lapham Peak
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is more than 1,000 miles in 30 counties across Wisconsin. It starts at Interstate State Park, following the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin to Lake Michigan.

The trail covers some of Wisconsin’s most scenic areas, including the Kettle Moraine area. One of the best sections is the hike to Lapham Peak.

This 2.8-mile trail is a moderate loop through woods and grassy areas. It starts at the entrance of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Laphma Peak Unit and includes an observation tower at Lapham Peak. You can connect up to the Kettle View Trail to make the loop.

Also in the Kettle Moraine Forest, don’t miss the 3.4 mile out-and-back Bald Bluff Trail, the Emma Carlin Trails (watch out for mountain bikes!), Scuppernong Trail, and the Parnell Tower Trail. All worthy for a stop!

Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is made up of 21 islands and 12 miles of coastal mainland on the shores of Lake Superior. It includes cliffs, sea caves, rock formations, beaches, light houses, and many hiking trails.

Seeing all of the features of the islands requires a boat tour, and some of the 50 miles of hiking trails are only accessible via boat. The best trails are listed here.

Meyers Beach Sea Cave Trail (aka Lakeshore Trail)
This 4.6-mile out-and-back trail follows the shoreline of Lake Superior and offers spectacular views of the lake and the sea caves below. It starts with a boardwalk at Meyer’s Beach and includes edge and wooded sections.

Island Hikes
Take the ferry over to Madeline Island and hike Big Bay State Park, then check out the trails and camping at Stockton Island, hike the Overlook Trail and see the Hole in the Wall on Oak Island, and wander among 250-year-old trees and view sea caves on Sand Island.

As you leave the Apostle Islands, head over to Lost Creek Falls, one of Wisconsin’s best waterfall hiking trails. It’s a 2.2-mile out and back trail through lush woods to a beautiful waterfall. To access the trail from Cornucopia, take County Road C South to Trail Drive (on the right) to the parking area.

Peninsula State Park

Peninsula State Park is located in the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin, which lies between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The park includes high bluffs and sandy beaches with 8 miles of shoreline on Green Bay.

The Eagle Bluff Trail is a 2-mile loop along the shoreline and through woods with stunning views and some beach access. You walk along the water with 100 foot bluffs and a some caves. You can extend your hike by taking Minnehaha to Lone Pine to Sentinel to make a 4.25 mile loop.

The park is filled with miles 30 miles of hiking and bicycle trails which make for easy hiking throughout the rest of the park and shoreline.

These are just five of the top hiking areas of Wisconsin. I’m sure if you ask 10 people who love Wisconsin, you will get a different list! There are just that many great trails and scenic areas! If you’re going to hike these areas, it’s a good idea to bring mosquito and tick repellent (Deep Woods Off is my favorite), plenty of water, and a Wisconsin State Park pass.

However, I do think that these hikes do a great job at representing the diverse geography of Wisconsin. It’s a beautiful state with a lot to offer. Many of these hiking trails are open in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. So, don’t be afraid to come any time of year to check them out!

If you are thinking of planning a road trip to or in Wisconsin, or looking for recommendations on where to stay, eat, or other activities while exploring this wonderful area, we can help! Just let us know at Roadtrippers R Us!

Thanks for reading!

Kristi, aka The Trippy Tripster!

You Will Have Fun while Walking and Shopping in the Gruene Historic District!

April 13, 2018 By Tam Warner 1 Comment

visit the Gruene Historic District, Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, visit New Braunfels, texas tour — The Famous Gruene Dance Hall! The film Michael, with John Travolta, was filmed here!

A visit to the Gruene Historic District is an absolute MUST when visiting New Braunfels. It is a quaint area with entertainment, shopping, and eating, and what’s better than that? On my visit to New Braunfels I so enjoyed my visit to Gruene with Judy from In New Braunfels. Here is how I heard the story: in the 1840s a German named Ernst Gruene (pronounced Green) decided to immigrate to start a new life. His fiance was not too crazy about the idea and refused to go. Ernst saw a young woman hanging laundry while walking through his village in Germany, and asked her to marry him and move to America. She said yes. And so they came to New Braunfels in 1845, bought land downriver from the settlement, and ended up building a family, a town, a prosperous cotton business, and his wife, Antoinette, undoubtedly ruled the roost.

While visiting the town I really enjoyed seeing photos of the family. Gruene’s history and historic buildings are a lovely place to wander. There is the Gruene Mansion (now an Inn), the Gruene Dance Hall where music is still played every night and Texans can dance to their heart’s content, a general store, more homes, inns, etc. The district is on the national historic register, and everything is kept up beautifully. Right on the river, one can eat, do wine tasting, shop, and dance. Gruene is a very German, but also very Texan, town. I loved it and can’t wait to go back when I have plenty of leisure time to spend the entire day there. Definitely weekend worthy, folks!

visit the Gruene Historic District, Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, visit New Braunfels, gruene mansion inn — The Gruene Mansion is now an Inn! I’d love to stay, isn’t it quaint?

The rivers and springs are a vital part of life in New Braunfels.

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Enjoy a Fascinating Stroll through Downtown New Braunfels

April 9, 2018 By Tam Warner 6 Comments

Stroll through Downtown New Braunfels! On a recent visit to New Braunfels, Texas, between San Antonio and Austin, I took a Saturday morning stroll with Jan Kingsbury of SPASS Walking Tours. Jan has lived in New Braunfels for most of her life, and knows the city very well indeed! I was fascinated by the history and color of the town. Let’s start our walk at the Farmers Market, open every Saturday!