Outside in Oregon – Woods, Wine, and Waterfalls

Outside in Oregon – Woods, Wine, and Waterfalls

After riding the rails up the edge of the Pacific, starting in Los Angeles, the Coast Starlight dropped me off in the verdant state of Oregon in May for three of my favorite things – hiking, winery visits, and spending time with friends (not necessarily in that order – the first two were greatly enhanced by the third!) Jeanne and Sally, friends I met in La Manzanilla, Mexico, were kind and generous hosts, sharing their homes and...

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Couch Surfing in Treviso

Couch Surfing in Treviso

What do you do when you want to go to Venice, but the hotels are way out of your budget, and you’d really rather get to know the locals anyway, than stay in an anonymous hotel in a crazy tourist area? You try couch surfing! Couch surfing is more of a cultural exchange than a free place to stay. True, there is no charge (although it’s suggested that you bring your host a small gift, or cook them a meal). If you are not familiar with...

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Wine About New Zealand

Wine About New Zealand

When you think about wine in New Zealand, mostly Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir come to mind. New Zealander’s do make other lovely wines, however I have to admit I love their SB’s and Pinots, and had fun exploring 3 of the wine regions on the South Island, including Canterbury/Waipara, Marlborough, and Central Otago. Heading north out of Christchurch on my way to Blenheim, a town in the heart of the Marlborough region, I first...

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10 Things I Love About Australia

10 Things I Love About Australia

Australia is awesome! I know that word is overused and trite, but this is a case where it fits. After two months in Australia, I’ve barely scratched the surface, but here are 10 reasons you should consider going down under to Oz… Faces & Places  1) The people – Amanda & Maurice, Lenore & Lindsey, Soraya, Clare, and Derek, took me into their homes and their lives, and shared their country with me. Australia is full...

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Tantalizing Tasmania (Part 2, the North)

Tantalizing Tasmania (Part 2, the North)

Northern Tasmania has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast, be it bushwalking or beach walking, and the wine scene isn’t anything to sneeze at either, with the famous Tamar wine region nearby. I was fortunate to spend a couple of weeks in Port Sorell, with some day trips to nearby areas, including the renowned   Cradle Mountain.  After passing through the town of Scheffield, famous for it’s multitude of murals, which were...

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