Bienvenidos a Miami
March 9, 2010
“Bienvenidos a Miami” or Welcome to Miami as Will Smith says in his über catchy 90’s pop hit is truly appropriate. You get enveloped with an inviting feeling the minute you arrive in this southern Florida hot spot and that feeling helps prepare you for all of the excitement to come. Just two weeks ago I was heading to Key West with my boyfriend, not a virtual exploration, but a real, live trip and I was happy to get out of my cubicle. Leaving behind a huge snowstorm that hit the north east with a vengeance, we gleefully packed carry-ons and departed for sunnier (and much warmer) accommodations. We landed in Miami, rented a car and began our journey down to Key West. And what a lovely drive it was! With the radio blasting and a cool breeze blowing through my hair, 125 miles later we arrived in America’s Caribbean. Read more
Everything and then some. Find it all in Argentina.
January 12, 2010
Like many of you, my new year’s resolution is to travel more. There are just so many amazing destinations in the world and in my blog this past year; I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the places I want to go. One region which has always held a certain kind of mystery for me is South America, and specifically of interest is Argentina. It has always been in my top ten destinations to visit because of its gorgeous landscapes, fascinating cities and lively culture. Read more
Quick Getaways to Boston and Washington DC!
December 8, 2009
I can’t believe that I’ve been sitting behind this desk for almost a year now writing about all of the amazing places I want to visit. How fast the time has gone by! Last month the topic was honeymooning in Mexico, but this month I’ve decided to keep it local and faux visit the cities of Boston and Washington DC through the advice of my always-ready-to-make-me-jealous colleagues, the travel experts. These two beautiful north eastern cities are full of excitement, history, fun attractions and amazing cuisine. But the best part is that these no passport, no hassle vacation destinations are only a short trip away! Read more
Want a honeymoon in paradise? Mexico delivers!
October 20, 2009
When the leaves start to change colors and the air gets brisk, I am instantly in awe of the romantic nature of this season. It’s hard to get away from images of lovers walking arm and arm or enjoying those last few warm days at the park on a picnic blanket. Before Halloween even hits, my mind is already on the holidays and snuggling up next to your loved one with cocoa in hand. All of these lovey-dovey ideals might seem trite to some, but I am a total sucker for them. With several friends newly engaged, this is of course, all the more relevant and its got me thinking about the perfect honeymoon in paradise. Read more
Panama – More Than Just A Canal
September 21, 2009
My most recent stationary global exploration takes me to the vibrant country of Panama. The more I research and chat with the experts, the more I realize that Panama is an undiscovered gem in Central America, and it has so much more to offer than just the Panama Canal. I find it hard to shake the feeling that just having Panama on my vacation radar means that I’m in on a little secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover. However, until the anticipated tourism explosion, Panama remains totally accessible to travelers on a budget, and there’s no shortage of beaches, mountains and rain forests to explore in this scenic country. Read more
Costa Rica- Monkeys and Toucans and Alligators, Oh my!
August 18, 2009
No artificial ingredients, huh? That’s Costa Rica’s credo and from the experts I’ve spoken with, this statement holds true. So while tied to my desk, my newest journey takes me to this exotic Latin American destination. When you mention Costa Rica, people imagine it’s what paradise must look like. I personally always pictured a rainforest with wild cats lounging in giant trees. In my mind’s eye it was a lot like the children’s movie Jungle Book. Read more
Hawaii is Chock Full O’ Aloha Spirit
July 17, 2009
“The fresh, floral air energizes you. The warm, tranquil waters refresh you. The breathtaking, natural beauty renews you.” At least that’s how the Hawaii Tourist Board describes a vacation experience on one of their six unique islands. Not surprisingly, that’s also what I’ve been hearing from all my internal Hawaii experts. So I’m taking my latest journey without ever leaving my desk to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai and Lanai. Read more
Fall Into “The Gap” In Barbados!
June 23, 2009
No, I’m not talking about the retailer…. I am talking about the super hip-strip in Barbados called the St. Lawrence Gap, which has some of the hottest clubs and bars to be found in the Caribbean. My newest faux adventure takes me to this sunny destination and thankfully I had an expert on hand to tell me all about it. Barbados is a place rich with beauty, not only in their stunning landscapes but also in their native people, called Bajans. Read more
Jamaican Me Crazy!
February 23, 2009
In my latest stationary exploration, the journey this time is to the third largest Caribbean island, Jamaica. As one of the few destinations I have actually been to, I can corroborate my Senior Product Manager’s story. Jamaica really does look like the postcards. As she’s gearing up for a vacation there next week and thus has “Jamaican Fever”, I figured now would be the perfect time to pick her brain. But as soon as I heard she was going away, I said, “Wait, wait, wait… this just sunk in. You’re going on vacation to Jamaica? But you go there like a few times a year for work already. Why would you want to go back on your own time? Aren’t you burnt out?” To which she replied, “Jamaica is the perfect destination. If you get burnt out, you’re not doing it right. There’s so much to do there, I’ll never have the ability to do it all.” It was in that moment that I realized she was completely right. Jamaica is one of those islands you could visit 20 times and still have a ton of stuff on your to-do list for next time. Read more
Iguana Go Back To Aruba!
January 24, 2009
In my ongoing quest to explore the world beyond my cubicle, this time I find myself in Aruba. Well, not actually in Aruba but vicariously vacationing there through the descriptions of two of my managers. These two lovely ladies recently spent four sun-soaked days in Aruba and came back to report their findings. Just as I had suspected, Aruba turned out to be awesome and I turned out to be jealous.
The thing that sets blog apart from others is that I actually have been to Aruba. Yes, I was with my family and yes, I was only 15- but so what? I’ve been there and that’s what counts. Even all these years later, I can remember how the crystal clear water was set ablaze with colorful tropical fish swimming around. All these exotic species I had only seen on Animal Planet were just hanging out as I waded in the water. The flood of wild iguanas sunning their bellies mid-morning was also a sight to see. I even had a flashback to my cousin Ilana and I going horseback riding on the beach for the first time. We also took a sunset cruise, but mostly we just spent long afternoons lazing under the warm sun. To this day, it is probably the best Caribbean vacation I’ve had to date.
So, as you can imagine, hearing that Aruba is just as beautiful as ever made me reminisce and want to go online and book a getaway immediately. The Managers told me all about the gentle yet constant trade wind breezes which keep the island’s temperature comfortable all year long. They told me about the multicultural patchwork of diverse ancestry which describes the local culture. They even told me about the bustling night life, superb shopping, cool architecture and the affordability of local restaurants. But none of that matters to me…. I just want to feel like I am swimming in a really expensive fish tank again.
On a Caribbean island like Aruba where hospitality and friendliness are tantamount to natural beauty, it’s easy to understand why people choose this destination time and time again. One of my managers mentioned that she had been to Aruba several times before this trip for weekend girl’s getaways. She regaled me with a wild tale of amazing Cuban food and live music at Mr. Jazz (along with the island’s best Mojito) followed by late night dancing at Soprano’s. It made me want to plan a little escape with my best girlfriends too, but I can appreciate that Aruba would also make a great romantic destination for couples. Either way, I’m definitely going back one day.
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