Travels with Tam

Making the most of travel to Ireland!

June 3, 2018 By Tam Warner 16 Comments

visit to Ireland, visit Ireland, Ireland, visit northern ireland, northern ireland — Dublin

Make the most of your visit to Ireland! Everyone should visit Ireland, especially me! I am one of many Americans who have Irish roots, and I would love to pay a visit to the land of my ancestors. Do you have Irish roots?

Did you know that Ireland is the size of Indiana? In the mid to late 19th century, the Irish immigrant numbers were huge in America, and my ancestor, Philip LaHart, was one of them. Philip was born in Killenaule, Tipperary, Ireland in 1845, and immigrated to America in1862, a few years after the “Refugee Crisis of the 19th Century”, the Potato Famine. Like the 1.5 million immigrants from Ireland between 1845-1855, he came to make a better life for himself, and succeeded. He was my second great grandfather, which isn’t very far back when you think about it! I very much want to visit Ireland and see where he came from.

Take a look at these top tips for enjoying your Ireland adventures.

In case you didn’t know already, Ireland is actually made up of two countries. Northern Ireland is a part of the UK, while the Republic of Ireland is a wholly independent country and one that will stay a part of the European Union after Brexit. With two different currencies, different accents and even different cultures – you should experience both during your visit. The history of Northern Ireland is a turbulent one, and one worth study. Weather-wise, both countries are the same in that they feature a sometimes cold and wet climate. Ireland.com says to visit during the summer to enjoy the warmest, driest weather.

Travel by car

With so much glorious countryside to explore, I’m told a rental car is the best idea. While you can take trains and other forms of public transport, you’ll find it much easier to drive – even if you are on the other side of the road! This 5-day south coast itinerary is a good way to explore towns and cities like Cork, Wexford and Waterford as well as some picturesque stops en route. If you want to camp during your visit, you’ll find some great spots to enjoy the outdoors, offering you the chance to see Ireland at its best.

Enjoy popular tours and attractions

A visit to Ireland can be made even better by taking in some of its most popular tours and attractions. If you love the Game of Thrones, you’ll love this awesome Game of Thrones tour. I know I will! Meanwhile, the delights of Dublin include the world-famous Guinness Factory, and you can find out exactly what Ed Sheeran was singing about in Galway. There really is a lot to fit in during your time. Personally, I think I need to spend a month at least.

Ireland has a long and fascinating history from castles to abbeys and more, you can discover incredible historical sites in Ireland and Northern Ireland. I also want to see Hore’s Abbey in Tipperary, and the Rock of Cashel in Cashel, Tipperary. Giant’s Causeway is known as a breathtaking spot, so make sure you add it to your list of things to see. If you know your Irish geneaology, there will be even more for you to see.

A visit to Ireland offers so many rich experiences, perfect to satisfy your wanderlust. Whether you’re planning to visit Europe for the summer or you want to tick Ireland off your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed with your adventures. Let’s start planning an Irish getaway and find out what makes this part of the world such a special place to visit. I’m ready to go! I wonder if I will meet Jon Snow?

Be sure to let me know all about your visit, and I will do the same.

How to Stay Fit While Traveling!

June 1, 2018 By Tam Warner 24 Comments

Trying to stay fit while traveling is a major challenge! Don’t I know? On fabulous trips with delicious food, it is easy to miss workouts!

Of course, if you’re traveling somewhere like New Zealand and staying in a place like Absoloot Value Accommodation Queenstown you’re going to be surrounded by active people that flock to New Zealand in order to experience the great outdoors and live a very active lifestyle.

When you travel in unfamiliar environments you don’t have consistent access to the gym equipment you’re used to. Many resorts do have workout facilities, but they aren’t always the best. With that in mind, here are three top tips on how to stay fit while you are traveling.

stay fit while traveling, new zealand, workout, stay fit — Some things are easy to take along, like the TRX Bands!

On Demand Fitness Classes

Les Mills now offers an on-demand digital platform containing the world’s most popular gym classes such as Body Pump, Body Balance and Body Combat. This relatively low-cost subscription model (around $10 per month) means you have access to online classes anywhere in the world, presuming you have an internet connection… you can even save them offline, on your phone, to watch them anywhere you can think of; even in the jungle or a remote desert island.

Swim

Swimming is one of the best ways to keep in shape as it’s a great cardiovascular sport plus it works every major muscle group in your body. This is always my go to exercise when I am near the ocean. Diving or snorkeling is an amazing workout and encompasses fun and learning with exercise. You can explore a whole new world beneath the water! Also, if you can afford to pay a little extra for a hotel with a pool then you can have a fantastic workout at no extra cost, in the comfort and convenience of your hotel. Going somewhere cold? Check for hotels with indoor pool facilities!

Take Some Equipment With You

Clearly, you won’t want to be taking weights on your flight but there are plenty of small and lightweight pieces of equipment that you can take along. For instance, you could take some TRX bands, resistance bands, which are particularly effective at working your upper body, and a skip rope. Skipping is how boxers train because it provides a fantastic all over cardiovascular workout. Then, there is always the option to go for a nice long walk and explore the area. I’ve been known to take a yoga mat along on trips!

Hey, there are many ways to keep fit while traveling, and just because you don’t have a gym doesn’t mean you can’t continue to exercise and stay in shape while you’re traveling the world. Keep exploring, my friends!

You’d also enjoy

http://tamtravels.wpengine.com/8-biggest-waterslides-world/

5 Types Of Trips To Spark Your Wanderlust This Summer!

May 11, 2018 By Tam Warner 17 Comments

wanderlust, big city, country, cultural explosion, bliss, types of trips, trips to take this summer — Photo by Oliver Sjostrom

Here are 5 Types of Trips to spark your wanderlust this summer! When you know that you want to travel, you start to get excited about where you’re going to go, but you don’t always know exactly what you want to do. It’s a big world, with so much to see and do, so how are you supposed to choose? You know that you can’t do it all at once, Instead, you need to focus on just one idea at a time. If your budget permits and you’ve got the time, you can always add on more stops, right? So, what will it be? Let’s look at the options!

City Lights

First of all, you’ve always got the option of jetting off on a weekend away to a big city. If you’re someone who loves to explore, take in the beauty of a new location, and just enjoy being somewhere completely different than what you’re used to, then it’s safe to say that being in a city will definitely work. Who doesn’t love the excitement of the big city lights?

Country Life

Sometimes, you just want to be able to enjoy a slower pace and ensure that you can get away from your busy schedule for a while. And that’s where the country comes in. Whether it’s heading out to somewhere local or going off to the French countryside where you can see fields for miles and can wake up with the birds, you know the country is always relaxing.

Sailing Away

From the country to the coast, another option is to hit the seas. And if you can get a yacht charter and hop around from island to island, what more could you want? If you know you want incredible weather, a slow pace of life, and to take in a range of different locations on sunny, lazy days, take a yacht charter this summer!

4. Cultural Explosion

Or maybe you want to escape the ordinary and head somewhere completely different? When you know that you want to push your comfort zone, a cultural explosion is exactly what you need. And I do not mean heading off to a different European city. Oh no, you’re going to want to hop over to Bali or visit Sri Lanka or Thailand or Africa, and really take in a different way of life.

Unadulterated Bliss

And finally, there’s also the option of going for what most of us will call our guilty pleasures – the secluded getaway. Because lying on a beach or being pampered in a spa resort really is one of the most relaxing and de-stressing travel experiences around!

So…what are YOU going to do???

YOU WOULD ALSO ENJOY:

http://tamtravels.wpengine.com/visit-sierra-laguna-biosphere-epic/

10 Places You Can Go Bat-Shit Crazy in Texas Hill Country!

April 26, 2018 By Tam Warner 7 Comments

ann richards congress avenue bridge, Austin, bat shit crazy, bat shit crazy in Texas, mexican free tailed bat — Mexican Free Tailed Bats in Austin! Photo by Dan Pancamo

Are you aware there are 10 places where you can go bat-shit crazy in the Lone Star State? Particularly in the Hill Country! Yep, the state of Texas is batty about bats! Texans love watching bats emerge in the evenings and they will travel to do it. Most particularly, Texas is crazy about the Mexican Free-tailed Bat who migrates to many parts of the state beginning in March every year. These cool bats spend their winters in Mexico and summers in Texas. Sounds kind of nice, don’t you think? So, why does Texas, or anyone for that matter, care about bat populations, you want to know? Well, the answer is quite simple: bats are a very necessary part of our ecosystem. Throughout history people have viewed bats in a negative fashion, but the fact is that they are a positive force in nature and in farming, for many reasons. They eat a lot of our most detested and bothersome insects such as mosquitoes, they pollinate many plant and tree species, and even their guano (waste) can be mined and used as a very valuable fertilizer. Farmers, especially those in Texas, encourage bats to forage on their lands nightly. Mexican Free-Tailed Bats love eating moths, and moths love to eat corn, cotton, pecans and sorghum from the fields. Did you know that moths can lay 1,000 eggs? Imagine the tons of moths eaten by bats, lowering the number of these pests eating crops. Studies have found that bats save millions of dollars in pesticide costs for farmers all over the United States, and that is good for humans and the economy as well. Texas Hill Country is a bat mecca! [Read more…] about 10 Places You Can Go Bat-Shit Crazy in Texas Hill Country!

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!

You’d also enjoy

http://tamtravels.wpengine.com/4-awesome-things-to-do-in-tasmania/

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!

Travel Adventures!

Devil’s Lake State Park

Wyalusing State Park

Kettle Moraine State Forest

Apostle Islands

Peninsula State Park

City Pass is the Best Way to Tour a City