I had a great time with @RickySheety of Digital Nomads! They have several interviews with digital nomads and travelers, so be sure and check them out on YouTube!
Have You Ever Been to a Grape Stomp? Amazing fun!
The last Grape Stomp Event at Fall Creek Vineyards is on Saturday, August 26! Make plans and go!
I grew up with one image in my mind when it came to Grape Stomps at Winery Harvests: I Love Lucy, going deeper and deeper into her barrel of grapes! Also, there is a video out there of a woman in a super small barrel/bowl who fell off of a platform while stomping, and you don’t want to do that, do you? Don’t worry, there is a perfectly safe way to do a grape stomp…go to the Hill Country of Texas and enjoy the Grape Stomp at Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow, Texas, west of Austin! I was thrilled to be invited to the Grape Stomp Events at Fall Creek Vineyards. First, luncheon with celebrity chef, Jay Hunter, from the Horseshoe Bay Resort, then stomping grapes, followed by a fabulous wine tasting with Sergio Cuadra, the Director of Winemaking!
Driving to Fall Creek Vineyards from Dallas, I decided to take the scenic route instead of the horrible rush of I-35. From Dallas I took 67 to 281, and drove down to Johnson City (hometown of President Lyndon Baines Johnson), then to Driftwood, Texas, where Fall Creek Vineyards has a lovely, small vineyard of young grapes with a beautiful tasting room and a bed and breakfast. The vineyard is directly across from the entrance to the famous Salt Lick BBQ! I enjoyed exploring the vineyard, and spending a comfortable and quiet night. The next morning I drove to Tow, Texas, to the main Vineyard of Fall Creek. Tow is northwest of Marble Falls, and is in the real Texas Hill Country! I loved the drive, it was so beautiful.
At the luncheon, I met Susan Auler, one of the owners of Fall Creek, and she was absolutely delightful. Her warmth toward every visitor is a perfect example of Texas Hill Country hospitality! I was seated with fellow journalists, Ed and Glynnis, and we spent a lovely hour being treated to a two course luncheon. First, a beautiful salad, followed by the tastiest salmon dish I have ever had. Both dishes were beautifully plated. We enjoyed a lovely Fall Creek Vineyards Rose and a Merlot with lunch.
As wonderful as lunch was, I couldn’t wait to go and stomp on some grapes! Now, don’t worry, the grapes you stomp on do not go into the wine making. Two barrels were on a platform, full of grapes, and children and adults were thoroughly enjoying stomping! You can even buy a t-shirt to make your purple footprints on, showing that you stomped grapes at Fall Creek Vineyards.
Everyone was enjoying the events!
As fun as stomping was, I did have to hose off and head for the wine tasting with the Director of Winemaking, Sergio Cuadra. He showed us the vats where they “make” the wine, and we tasted out of the vats. The unfinished wines were almost creamy in color and consistency. The bouquet wasn’t yet strong, and the taste was a bit weak, but I actually enjoyed the unfinished product.
Next, we saw grapes that needed to be “pressed”. They are pressed three times a day, and I tried it, it is a little difficult!
What a day! I had so much fun, and met many people from all over Texas at the different events I attended. The luncheon and wine tasting require tickets, so be sure and get them here. I had no idea how much fun events at Fall Creek Vineyards could be! A band played, people had food, sodas, and seating available and brought their children, grandparents and dogs to the event. There are goodies for sale, especially fabulous Texas wine. I had a wonderful adventure and I urge you to head down to Tow on August 26! Enjoy!
My thanks to Fall Creek Vineyards for hosting me, you can be sure I will be back!
3 Reasons to Book a Solo Travel Getaway to the Virgin Islands
Feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind? Hour after hour of demands and deadlines, interrupted only by the buzz of technology notifications…. Sound familiar? How about….the Virgin Islands?
It’s time to schedule a trip – with yourself.
Whether you’re approaching burnout or taking preventive measures to stave it off, it’s time to unplug from the rest of the world and re-learn how to enjoy your own company. And there’s no better place than the Virgin Islands, a treasure trove of sandy beaches and turquoise waters, where you can reap these healthful benefits:
- Find out who you are
Make some time to figure out who you are and what you’ve become. Discover new interests, acquire new tastes, and log exciting new memories.
Travel Log:
-Explore new things to love: From exciting adventures like zip lining, kiteboarding, and night kayaking, to sampling local delicacies like callaloo, conch, and pates.
-Treat yourself to the ultimate journey of self-discovery – a custom, multi-island tour led by a local boat captain. Here’s your chance to uncover the best snorkeling spots, find the hottest island drink (ahem, Painkillers), and go on a quest to find the most tranquil, unspoiled island.
- Time to unwind
Time alone gives you the chance to clear your mind, focus, recharge. The benefits? Increased productivity and creativity when you return home. Pulitzer prize–winning writer John Updike observes: “It is often in idle moments that real inspiration comes.”
Travel Log:
–Relax in St. John’s Cinnamon Bay, a pristine island oasis.
-Virgin Gorda, BVI is the ideal spot to get some refresh time.
- Freedom to be flexible
Maybe you’re at everyone else’s mercy when you’re back home, but on this trip, you can do whatever you want. No schedule, no expectations. The choice is yours.
Travel Log:
-Head over to Maho Bay in St. John for superb snorkeling without the crowds. Turtle spottings are pretty much instantaneous in this locale!
And in your quest for bliss, take the words of Roy M. Goodman to heart: “Remember that happiness is a way of travel—not a destination.”
This post brought to you by Sonic Charters St. Thomas Boat Rental.
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The 3 Best Tourist Attractions in the Fabulous City of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires was a fantastic surprise when I visited in January of 2017, and these are the 3 Best Tourist attractions in my opinion. I did not expect the incredible European architecture, the cosmopolitan city, and the diversity of its citizens. My friend Annie and I very wisely chose a great, private tour company, Maria Corbalon Bespoke Tours, and we absolutely saw the best of Buenos Aires. Here are three places you must visit in order to really experience Buenos Aires!
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4 of the most Amazing Reasons I go on Citizen Science Trips
I participate in Citizen Science trips because I am a big believer in giving back. When we receive a benefit, I believe we should provide a benefit in return somewhere, somehow. Scuba Diving is a passion for me, animals are a passion, and photography underwater is a passion. I love the ocean, the earth, and all of its creatures. The point is, I must give back to the ocean in some way since I enjoy the ocean in so many different ways. How do I give back? I go on Citizen Science trips, which means I participate in collecting data for scientists to use, and in doing so, I also help support their work. I’ve done trips with All Out Africa, Marine Megafauna Foundation, and REEF. Why do I do it? Here are 4 of my reasons.
- I love to dive, so almost all of the citizen science I do is underwater. The ocean is in trouble, and so are many of its animals. As the ocean warms, coral bleaches and dies off, killing the foundation of life for many fish and animals the earth depends upon for sustenance. In order to know how a species is doing, data must be collected. That data involves Identification photography, noting the animal’s sex, noting any injuries, and watching the behavior of the animal. I love contributing to the body of knowledge about our ocean friends.
- I am fascinated by animals. There is nothing more exciting to me than watching them, and when appropriate, interacting with them. Most of the time, you don’t want to interact or disturb their behavior, but every once in a while you get to look them in the eye, or blow bubbles with mantas or play with dolphins, and it is nothing short of magical!
- I’m a geek. I love collecting data and loading it into data systems to produce results. Every time I submit an ID photo of an animal, I can’t wait to find out if it is a “new” animal (one never documented before), or if it has been encountered before, and where. When you report and encounter and upload data to Wildbook for Whalesharks (www.whaleshark.org) or Manta Matcher (www.mantamatcher.org) you receive updates if that animal is seen again. Almost every summer I go off the Yucatan to snorkel with WhaleSharks, and I always take ID photographs to upload. I receive many notifications every summer and fall that animals I have encountered have been encountered again. I like to look at the photos, and I feel a certain sense of accomplishment.
- Probably the most important reason I go on these trips is, simply, the people. I have met the most wonderful, amazing people on citizen science trips. You are always hearing people talk about their “tribe”, well, this is my tribe. Sadly for me, I can’t do it as a profession, all year long. I’m an introvert, but I am a social introvert, I can hang out with people and enjoy myself. I loved teaching at the university and counseling high school students. No man is an island! What is exciting for me is to be able to spend time with people who share the same interests and passions. These trips draw intelligent, excited, animated people who share my love of the sea and my sense of contribution. I can interact with the scientists and learn about the animals and the ocean itself. I love the people (for the most part!) I meet on these trips, and I am still in touch with many of them. We share a bond through the experience of passion and participation.
The last trip I took with Marine Megafauna’s Dr Andrea Marshall, Queen of Mantas, was an 11 day voyage in Raja Ampat, Indonesia on the luxury boutique liveaboard, The Arenui (not all trips are so luxurious, believe me!). It was a wonderful trip, and I enjoyed getting to know the other divers, who mostly were not there for the same reason I was, but who became very enthusiastic about taking Manta ID photographs. I believe no matter where they are diving, they will take ID photos of animals and send them to the databases for turtles, whales, dolphins, mola mola, and others. Inspiring others to take part in citizen science is also a contribution, and a way of giving back. You can do it too!
One doesn’t have to dive to do citizen science!No matter where you are, there are opportunities to participate. There is National Geographic’s list, and there are projects closer to home. I live in Dallas, Texas and here is a program to document wildlife in urban areas in North Texas Wild. You can also go to www.citizensciencecenter.com. Citizen scientists are a boon to scientists because so much more data can be obtained. If you are interested, you can find an opportunity near you! I highly recommend it!
Our Last Day In Raja Ampat was the Most Colorful Yet!
Any diver will tell you that the last few dives of a dive trip tend to be among the best of the entire journey! Our last day was the most colorful. I’m not sure why that is, perhaps the ocean and its creatures want to make sure we will come back to see them. Whatever the reason, here is a photoblog of day 10 in Raja Ampat, on the luxurious Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, with Andrea Marshall and Ray of Hope Expeditions! Enjoy the colors of the sea!