Adventure
Discover France’s Secret Villages
Walking in the Maritime Alps leads to the Mediterranean Coast Rocky, snowcapped Alps tumble down to the dazzling waters of the Mediterranean coast along the French and Italian border. My love of France and its sleepy villages fueled my choice to hike through this Mediterranean wonderland, not far from the region’s hub of Nice. Every […]
Iceland by sea: explore the land of puffins, elves and fjords
Despite its name, only 10% of Iceland is actually covered in ice. In fact, the country about the size of Maine, is gloriously green. Wildflower fields, lush meadows, and rich tundra blanket a landscape of astonishing variety: black sand beaches, tumbling waterfalls, active volcanoes, bubbling hot springs in the middle of the wilderness, and snowcapped […]
Ski or hike in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Head to Zermatt, Switzerland for spectacular powder runs, stunning trails and the romantic charm of an idyllic Alpine village. Matterhorn Magic Walt Disney was inspired by the majestic sharp mountain in southern Switzerland and copied it for the famous Disneyland ride. It’s easy to fall in love with the Swiss winter, especially in the shadow of […]
Family Travel. The best and the worst family getaways.
Family travel is a time to make memories that last a lifetime. Over two decades and to over two dozen countries, I traveled with my kids, usually without an adult partner to help out. If you want to do more than beaches and amusement parks, then read on for tips and scroll down for suggestions for […]
Seattle’s Best Attractions Selected by Locals
I’ve learned that your first impression of a city remains with you always. Every time I fly into Seattle I am awed by the snowy mountain peaks, forests of black firs and the unrelenting wateriness of the scenery. Even the drive from the airport into town is bordered by huge fir forests and the area is veined with […]
Active days, comfortable nights in the Canadian Rockies.
The Canadian Rockies Only an hour from Calgary, and three hours from San Francisco, the Canadian Rockies are a fabulous destination for adventurers and nature lovers. Most popular things to do Don’t miss Lake Louise, Banff, Jasper and the Icefields Parkway. If you go, you shouldn’t miss these, but to get a real taste of the […]
Ireland by Bike: Pedaling Through the Emerald Isle
If life seems richer, greener, and more melodic in Ireland, that’s because there is simply more clear air, clean water, verdant countryside, and heart-lifting music in everyday life. Join me as I explore Ireland by bike. For ten entrancing days, I cycled the quiet back roads of the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula […]
Ten things you need to know before you go to Vietnam
Marybeth Bond, Gutsy Traveler I just returned from Vietnam, an outrageously exciting country to travel to. A little preparation before you go can take the headache out of simple things like crossing the street or avoiding dog or cat meat. 1. Learn how to cross the street (–and stay alive), slowly wade out into the […]
South Africa Standouts
South Africa is seductive; it is wild; it is a photographer’s paradise, a gourmet’s Valhalla, an adventurer’s Utopia. From the dazzling city of Cape Town curled around the base of a 3,500-foot-high Table Mountain, to the mountainous Winelands, to five-star, big five animal safaris, South Africa should be on everyone’s bucket list. I’m just […]
Gutsy or Adventurous? Bike Tours or Pedal Cross Country?
Bike tours? Wasn’t it enough to take bike tours? Well no. For reasons that made perfect sense to us, but not to my husband or most of my friends, we chose to bike from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast, camping, preparing our own meals and charting our own course unassisted by a professional support […]