May I ask a favor? It would mean a lot to me if you could take a few minutes to provide me some feedback. I have spent a significant amount of time thinking about how to share more of my passions in The Active Explorer. However, this blog is nothing without you the reader, so the next logical step is …
Photo of the day: A steep approach to Albert Mountain
On a solo Appalachian Trail backpacking trip, I came upon these stairs leading up…way up. I was approaching Albert Mountain in North Carolina, and the last third of a mile to the summit climbed nearly 500 feet. Part of the climb had stairs, while other parts were a rocky grab-the-tree-branches scramble. Sadly, this photo doesn’t give a good perspective on …
Five favorite drinks from my travels
I’ve logged thousands of miles over the last year and along the way I’ve found several drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, that I enjoyed. Some drinks need to be enjoyed in the context of a place or experience or they lose their charm. For example, most of the time Summer Shandy wouldn’t be my first pick because I’m a dark …
Photo of the day: Why I hike
Yes, a car ride to the mall would be an easier outing, but I’m more interested in epic views, tranquil lakes and nature. My sister shot this photo of me next to Dardanelles Lake south of Lake Tahoe. It captured my contemplative mood as I took in our surroundings and asked, “how did I get so lucky?” Did you enjoy …
What’s in my pack: A Gobi Gear Hoboroll
There is never enough room in my backpack or my suitcase. I do my best to organize and compress things to a fraction of their original size, but the first time I dig around looking for something that inevitably is at the bottom of my bag, all of my efforts are for naught. I utilize compression sacks in my backpack …
Cravings: The Mount Dora Historic Inn’s peach ricotta pancakes
There is something inherently romantic about a historic bed and breakfast. I’m not sure if it’s the feeling that time has stopped, like stepping into another era, or if it’s all of the pretty furniture and accessories. I especially like themed rooms with lots of small details that I would never think of adding in my own home. Then there …
Feeding my adrenaline addiction in Riviera Maya
In case you missed it, I’m an adrenaline junkie. Well, I guess it’s hard to miss if you’re a regular reader of this blog. So when an invitation to experience Riviera Maya’s adventurous side I could hardly contain myself. First, I took a few deep breaths before replying via email so it wouldn’t be too obvious how excited I was; …
Returning to Riviera Maya
This May, I visited Riviera Maya to attend the Word Travel and Tourism Council Summit of the Americas. While I was thrilled to be part of the event, I was restless to get out and explore the more adventurous side of the region. This part of Mexico offers numerous adventure activities from snorkeling to rappelling into deep cenotes. Thanks to …