Yelapa – a hidden(ish) gem near Puerto Vallarta

Yelapa is a small boat access town off the beaten path near Puerto Vallarta.  These two town shares the same bay. Although Yelapa is on the coast, the towering mountains keep roads away, which gives it a remote island-feel. This town does have a daily influx of tourists on boat trips from Puerto Vallarta that…

Beach adventure on horseback: Lake Ontario

It has been a slow year for horseback riding. Unfortunately, last fall Miss Scout pulled the check ligament and the superior digital flexor tendon in both front legs. At the time and because she was, I thought it was the end of her riding career. She recovered better than expected with the help of great…

San Pedro, Belize: secret beach, scuba diving and swimming with sharks

The last leg of our Belize trip was to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye - off the coast of mainland Belize. We split our trip between the mainland and the islands off the coast of Belize. There is such a contrast between continental life and life on the islands in Belize, but it is worth seeing…

Colombia: Santa Marta and Crystal Beach

  After a few days in Cartagena, we were more comfortable navigating Colombia and my conversational Spanish was improving. We looked forward to our trip to explore the Northern Coast of Colombia. On to the next adventure! Santa Marta is a popular destination for travelers and a great stepping off point for trips to Parque…

An afternoon horseback riding in Mexico

  A warm salty breeze, crashing waves and the glow of a setting sun – I could not imagine a better backdrop to a horseback ride down the beach. We were visiting San Pancho in Nayarit, Mexico.  Although this town is about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, it is worth the drive for a taste…

Why you should leave the resort in Mexico.

  I’m surprised by how many people told me to stay near the hotels in Mexico. Resorts are beautiful, but you do not get the true feeling of a country on one. Always be cautious, but you can certainly journey off the resort. Just be aware of your surroundings and travel with someone you trust. Not only…

What to do on a 8 hour layover…

  …in Miami? The answer is not stay in the airport all day. Some advance googling proved it is relatively easy to travel in the immediate area of the Miami airport with a long enough layover.  Our first order of business upon landing was to stop at the American Airlines help counter and see if…