Welcome to our travel blog and hope you enjoy the glimpse of the wonders of the world as seen through our eyes!
To get started please use the menu on top or click on the map below for navigation to trips in specific regions or countries. Alternatively you can click on any of the recent trip links below the map to go directly to a trip. To learn more about the scope and status of this blog click here. To learn more about us click here.
Recent Trips
- Beautiful Pole Knoll Trail System
We spend the afternoon hiking the Pole Knoll Trail System before the rains make us return to the car for the long drive back to Phoenix - Exploring Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area
We start in the morning with an exploration of Jacques Marsh that is cut short due to the heat wave as well as lack of interesting birds - Confusing Squirrel Trail System
Our last stop for today is the Squirrel Springs trail system a convoluted series of loops with a beautiful creek nearby and lots of birds
Major Trips
- Family and friends in Romania, Germany and Poland
We spend three weeks meeting with family and friends in Romania and Germany with a day trip to visit Poznan in Poland - Warbler migration of Ohio
Four days in Northern Ohio at the Biggest Week in American Birding festival seeing lots of warblers and other birds - Magnificent Safari in Northern Tanzania and Qatar
We spend two weeks exploring the wilderness of Tanzania seeing lots of animals and birds and one day enjoying Doha’s skyline and culture - A fascinating trip into the Guianan jungle
Our first guided tour is in Guyana discovering waterfalls, hidden trails through the jungle and lots of hidden birds and mammals while avoiding the heat as much as possible - Impressive Madeira, beautiful Lyon and beyond
We spend three weeks exploring Madeira and then France between Lyon and Saint Tropez with friends and family during a heat wave - Endemic birds and historic sights in Taiwan
Already planned and then stopped by Covid this year we finally make it to Taiwan exploring beautiful natural areas and historic sights - An exploration of Newfoundland
Our trip through Newfoundland was a beautiful one with breathtaking views, interesting cultural and historical sites and some spectacular nature throughout - Southern France and Tenerife, an exciting mix
During this trip we explore Nice and the surrounding area with one set of relatives and Tenerife with another for two quite different special experiences - A fascinating trip through Northern India
Long delayed we finally make our way to the Indian subcontinent exploring the Mughal monuments around Delhi and finding tigers in the jungle - Three weeks, four countries, two very tired people
Milan, Prague, Switzerland and a dash of Romania made for a tiring but exhilaring Europe romp - Two weeks in Cyprus and Wales
Two week trip split between a longer exploration in Cyprus and a shorter expedition through Wales - One week in surprising Puerto Vallarta
Our first time visit to Puerto Vallarta to attend a nature festival and enjoy the beaches and surrounding towns - Short visit to Grand Cayman
Five day exploration of unexpectedly beautiful Grand Cayman Island seeing parrots, beautiful beaches and endemic iguanas - Three weeks visiting Estonia, Latvia, Hungary and Romania
Three weeks visiting two of the Baltic countries, seeing bears and then sightseeing through Hungary and Romania while visiting with family - Looking for bears around Alaska (and failing)
Two week tour in Alaska spending a few days in the far northwest of Alaska in Nome and the rest of the time exploring the more well known areas around Anchorage, from Seward and Homer to the south to Denali and Fairbanks in the north and Valdez in the east - Kauai Exploration
One week trip to Kauai, the Garden Isle, with lots of hiking and birding, some snorkeling and even some culture. - Our first Covid trip to Romania (and Turkey)
On our first trip back to Romania during Covid we explore Dobrogea after being quarantined for a few days and then spend a couple of fun filled days in Istanbul - Castles, temples and gardens in Japan
Our first trip to Asia is still in our minds one of the best trips we ever did with magnificent castles, beautiful temples and impressive gardens to explore - Our first, special, safari to Namibia and South Africa
Our first safari in Africa covers Namibia and South Africa seeing giraffes and zebras as well as enjoying the beautiful desert wildflowers bloom - Trip to the Arctic Circle in Finland
We meet in Finland with relatives to enjoy cooler weather see magnificent castles and cities enjoy nature and of course cross the Arctic Circle - One week in beautiful Puerto Rico
One week special trip to Puerto Rico for our first exploration of the Caribbean - Grand Tour de France with a bit of Morocco and Monaco
A grand tour of Southern France starting and ending in Paris with a couple sidetrips to Marrakesh and Monaco - Ireland Exploration
One week trip to Ireland making a grand tour of the Republic of Ireland with one day in Northern Ireland.
Longer Trips
- Exploring the Highline Trail and below Rim
We spend this weekend exploring the Highline Trail and a few other areas around Tonto Village during a cold spell - Long Weekend exploring the Patagonia area
This weekend we enjoy the cooler temperatures of Patagonia birdwatching and hiking in the area as well as dining and wining in town - Land Rovers and Rain in Temecula
This long weekend is spent in Temecula attending Destination Defender West and hiking and exploring the area while failing to avoid the rain - Geocaching event and exploration of the Rim
Today we are attending a Geocaching event followed by a breakfast and then exploring a few trails finding caches and avoiding the heat - Subaru Camp at Overland Expo West
We spend three days in Flagstaff to take part in the Subaru Camp and visit the Overland Expo West while taking a group drive and camping for one night - Bearizona, Alpacas and Petroglyphs near Williams
This long weekend we explore the area around Williams with the major goals being Bearizona, alpacas and an abandoned railroad tunnel - Trip to Romania visiting friends in Munchen
Our team is split again for a couple weeks as one of us travels to Germany, Romania and Hungary to meet friends and relatives - A long weekend of mushroom hunting and caches near Eager
We spend a long weekend joining mushrooms forays and finding caches and mushrooms as well as birds and mammals - Geowoodstock XX, our first one
For years we wanted to attend a Geowoodstock and because it is in Arizona we have no excuse this year so up to Flagstaff we go for a day of fun and events - Exploring around Arivaca, mostly Buenos Aires NWR
We take a long weekend trip to explore the Arivaca area with a focus on Buenos Aires NWR and the interesting birds that sometimes can be seen around here - Short visit to Orange County
A long weekend exploration of Orange County while visiting friends of relatives - Year End in Patagonia (Arizona)
We spend the end of the year near Patagonia hosting relatives, wine tasting, birdwatching and visiting ruins and ghost towns - A long weekend exploring the Page area
A long weekend exploration near Page with river crossings, arches, slot canyons and historical sites - Ruins, Volcanoes and a Solar Eclipse in New Mexico
A busy long weekend near Gallup exploring ruins and volcanoes with the highlight being the annular solar eclipse - Escaping the heat, mostly, near Safford
A long beautiful weekend spent exploring Mt Graham and the Gila Box Riparian NCA - Long weekend in Flagstaff
Long weekend trip exploring the Arizona Trail near Humphrey Peak as well as the Flagstaff Loop Trail - Exploring Portland during off-season
One week in Portland both working remotely and exploring the city during the off hours and weekend - Long weekend in Los Alamos and Aztec, NM
Two days exploring Los Alamos while at conference followed by a half day in Aztec to see the National Monument and interesting public lands - Alpine Mushroom Festival
Weekend trip to Alpine area to attend a Mushroom Festival Field trip and to finally climb Escudilla Mountain the third highest peak in Arizona - Grand Canyon Trip with Friends
Three day trip with one day in Williams, one day in Grand Canyon and one day in Sedona area - Tubac Hawk Watch
Two full day trip to Tubac to take part in the Hawk Watch and see the town and to Tumacacori NHS to see the beautiful ruins. - Everglades Birding Festival
Short weekend visit to Florida to take part in the Everglades Birding Festival for three full days visiting the Everglades, Upper Keys and Ft Lauderdale area. - Looking for birds at the Tucson Bird Festival
This weekend we are attending the Tucson Bird Festival taking part in multiple tours and enjoying our beautiful time in nature - A long weekend exploring around Cochise Mountains
On this Memorial Day weekend we explore Southeast Arizona both mountains and ghost towns while trying to avoid the oppresive heat - Snow Geese and Rock Tents in New Mexico
The MLK weekend is spent in New Mexico looking for geese and cranes and seeing interesting rock formations and historic towns - Ruins and petroglyphs in Utah and Colorado
One week trip in Utah and Colorado with a focus on ruins and petroglyphs as well as dinosaur sites along the way - An extended weekend exploring near Page
This extended weekend we explore the Page area stopping at the Richinbar mine on the way and the Wire Pass Slot Canyon as well as the Horseshoe Bend near Page - Exploring Washington D.C. and the surrounding area during a conference
During a trip to Washington DC for a conference we explore the capital city as well as the surrounding area - A camping trip near Flagstaff to see lava tubes and find caches
We spend an extended weekend at high altitudes exploring lava tubes and canyons and finding lots of caches - Long weekend of camping in the White Mountains
A long weekend visit to the White Mountains area finding abandoned places and enjoying the beautiful nature - Solo trip to Germany and Romania
This trip is more to visit with friends and family with most touristy stuff done around the historic Nuremberg city in Germany - A weekend exploration of the beautiful Page area
We spend a great weekend in the area around Page exploring beautiful landscapes, wading through rivers and hiking to toadstools and other otherworldly rock formations - Annual trip to Laughlin
We take an extended weekend trip to Laughlin searching for petroglyphs and enjoying Joshua Tree forests while finding lots of caches - New Year in the Palm Springs area
Long New Year weekend spent exploring the area around Palm Springs including the Pacific Crest Trail and Painted Canyon - One week in Cluj
One week extension of our Ireland trip to visit family in Cluj, Romania - Telluride here we come!
Two full days spent in Telluride area gave us a good idea about the major attractions here, snow covered mountains and old ghost towns - Two days on the North Rim of Grand Canyon
A two full day trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon visiting the major viewpoints and Lee’s Ferry on the way back - To Taos in New Mexico and back
Five day trip to New Mexico visiting Los Alamos and Taos as well as the Catwalk and the wilderness in Western New Mexico - Kanab Long Weekend
Trip to explore the Kanab Area including Lick Wash with stops along the way on the Arizona side at T Bar Ranch and a petroglyph site - Extended Weekend Trip to Las Vegas
Trip to explore Las Vegas while stopping in Quartzsite, Lake Havasu City and Laughlin and visiting the petroglyphs near Las Vegas - Laughlin MLK Weekend Trip
Three day long weekend trip (MLK day) exploring the area near Laughlin with forays in California and Nevada and sites in Arizona
Other Major Trips (links to an older blog)
