Amy: After a lovely morning in Slovenia, we crossed the border into Italy, making a stop at the Lake Fusine area. The emerald lakes with their stunning reflections were breathtaking. Unfortunately, the weather turned rainy, so we took a less scenic but safer route to our first stop in the Dolomites: San Candido Innichen. We... Continue Reading →
Amy and Jon: After Zell am See, Jon drove the Austrian autobahn toward Slovenia, a country I had been eager to visit. Our first stop was Landskron Castle near Villach, Austria. We enjoyed lunch surrounded by a surprising number of Harley Davidson motorcycles. This area seems to be popular for bike tours and there was... Continue Reading →
Amy: Our latest trip began with a flight from Denver to Zurich on Edelweiss Air. Booking Economy Max proved to be a good choice, as the cabin was surprisingly empty, allowing some space to stretch out on the overnight journey. Our adventure kicked off as we landed in Zurich, Switzerland’s vibrant financial hub. It was... Continue Reading →
Jon and Amy: On our way to Rwanda - It’s fair to say that we were excited for our trip to Rwanda. After saying goodbye to our dog, Riggs, we made our way to Denver International Airport for the first leg of our trip. We took advantage of our Capital One lounge access and relaxed... Continue Reading →
Jon: A long flight from Amsterdam brought us to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, where we were shuttled to the Hôtel Des Milles Collines, which is known from the movie “Hotel Rwanda” for playing an integral part providing refuge to over 1000 people during the genocide of 1994. The hotel is well kept and... Continue Reading →
Amy: When booking our trip to Panama, I was able to add a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. For years, we’ve wanted to go back to one of our favorite places, Manuel Antonio on the western coast of Costa Rica. We have previously visited in 2009, 2010, and 2013, and marveled at the natural... Continue Reading →
Amy: Panama has been a travel destination on our list and with direct flights on Copa Airlines from Denver to Panama City, we took the opportunity to visit. A bonus was being able to add on a stop to one of our favorite destinations of the past in Costa Rica. Before kicking off our flight,... Continue Reading →
Amy: I love travel planning. The possibilities for exploring new places and seeing new sights brings such delight. Using the Google Flights "explore" feature, we narrowed our springtime travel plans and decided to fly into southern Croatia. This location is perfect for exploring a variety of beautiful and interesting sites across the region. Our overnight... Continue Reading →
Jon: A flight of just over five hours brought us from Denver to Liberia, Costa Rica. Amy and I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn next to the airport the first night. We enjoyed the pool, some of our favorite easy drinkin’ beer (Pilsen), and a nice dinner. The next morning we had a traditional... Continue Reading →
Amy: When my sister invited us for a Thanksgiving getaway to send my nephew off before his deployment with the Army National Guard, we were excited to join in for the long weekend. Since my nephew, Jake, was in Texas to prepare for development, we headed to Galveston, Texas to spend time together next to... Continue Reading →
Amy: After a beautiful week of travel, we headed to central Switzerland next. On our way up to Lucerne, we hopped off the train in Bellinzona. Since Jon loves unique architecture, we visited two of the three castles (Castelgrande and Montebello) that are featured within the city limits. A longer train journey then brought us... Continue Reading →
Amy: Switzerland’s towering peaks, crystal clear lakes, and charming little towns have called to us for the past few years. When we found a great deal on airfare to Geneva on Scott’s Cheap Flights, we couldn’t resist. After a quick stop-over at London Heathrow, we landed in the early evening at the Geneva Airport and... Continue Reading →
Amy: Spring is such a great time for a getaway, especially when celebrating my birthday in early April. After finding an affordable flight, we decided Austin would be a perfect place for a long weekend. Our first day greeted us with hot, sunny, humid weather. After the snowy Colorado winter, the heat was very welcomed. We... Continue Reading →
Jon: As lightning lit up the horizon, our plane made a roller coaster approach and abrupt landing that brought us into Lisbon, Portugal. Watching the news the next day, we learned that a hurricane hit the coast and was a likely factor in our sporty landing. Weary from the late and slightly unnerving flight, we... Continue Reading →
Jon: Taking the Thalys train from Paris to Brussels, Belgium was a breeze. The coach seats were comfortable and the journey was quick. I enjoyed glimpses of the countryside flash by as we sped to Brussels. We quickly transferred trains and were in the city of Ghent in time for an early check-in at our... Continue Reading →
Jon: Amy and I endured a long flight from Denver to Munich and connected on to Paris. Though weary, glimpses of the city below restored energy and enthusiasm as we landed. A train, easy metro ride, and short walk brought us to the Hotel Eldorado, our lodging for the next three nights. We got settled... Continue Reading →
Baltic Sea Cruise- Part Two (Estonia to Sweden to Finland) Jon: After our bustling tour through Russia, the next day brought a new city – Tallinn, Estonia. I had brought a walking guide for the Old Town section. There was a feel of historical charm before we even arrived. A brief walk from the ship brought... Continue Reading →
Baltic Sea Cruise- Part One (Finland to Russia) Jon: After 16 days apart, it was finally time to reunite with Amy in Helsinki, Finland. My friend and neighbor, Randy, helped me with a ride to catch the airport shuttle. I was soon off from Denver to Minneapolis where I’d briefly see my parents and sister.... Continue Reading →
Originally posted on GoLite's "Meaning of Lite" Blog (2014): Jon and Amy set a goal to summit 52 unique peaks in 2013. They dubbed it “Peak-a-Week” with the hope to see new places, break the habit of going to the same old hiking trails, and spend quality time together in the fresh air. Amy shares... Continue Reading →
Amy: We recently hit the one-year anniversary of returning from our travels! Here are some memorable moments from the past year. (Featured photo taken by Jon from our cottage) ~Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta- 2016~ ~Our rental cottage, views, and wildlife~ ~Loveland Skiing~ ~Time with Family and Friends~ ~Mom's 70th Birthday - Jake's Graduation~ ~All of our... Continue Reading →
Amy: Growing up in northern Minnesota, I have many memories of my mom talking about her Finnish ancestry. Being 100% Finnish, she always had a desire to visit the homeland of her grandparents. In July 2017, my mom (Judy), sister (Jen), and I were able to turn that desire into reality. Here are my four favorite... Continue Reading →
Amy: Our summer break provided us with more family time than we have had in the last decade. What a gift. However we were itching for a final getaway and we had accumulated a number of frequent flyer miles that we wanted to utilize. The best option for our waning travel budget turned out to... Continue Reading →
Amy: As G2 (our trusty 2006 Rav4) headed east across Canada, Jon and I marveled at the beauty we experienced in the Canadian Rockies. Our time in Banff and Jasper National Parks became a highlight of our travels with the distinctive blue waters and jagged peaks. However, the time had come to move on and... Continue Reading →
Jon: A relatively short drive north from Glacier National Park’s east entrance brought us to the US/Canada border. We did our best to answer the border guard’s questions about employment and where we live. This was the first time in our travels when someone deeply inquired about a home address and employment. Apparently unemployment and... Continue Reading →
Amy: There were a few places I knew I had to visit during the US road trip phase of our travels. We were departing from Oregon, one state I had been excited to visit for the first time, and were moving on to two other western states I hadn’t yet experienced. First, we decided to... Continue Reading →
Amy: Gray skies and low clouds clung to the morning sky as we drove the remaining miles up the Northern California coast toward our next destination: Oregon. Deciding whether to continue up the coast of Oregon or check out Crater Lake was a tough decision. We’d heard the coast was magnificent, but since we had... Continue Reading →
Jon: Crossing the border from Nevada into California brought relief as we left behind some of the bad vibes from having our bikes stolen. The warm light on the mountains also raised spirits as the sun set. After a night at the Vagabond Motel and working with insurance on our bikes, Amy and I made... Continue Reading →
Amy: Jon and I often end up in places we wouldn’t have anticipated. We have found interesting new locations based on recommendations from other travelers, a positive weather outlook, or affordability. After a few days of trying to avoid the rain in Northern Arizona, we ended up heading into Laughlin, Nevada based on a chat... Continue Reading →
Jon: Arizona has long held my interest as a place with dynamic landscapes and rich history, so I was thrilled to be going back. One of our first stops after the border sign was the town of Tombstone. I have a mild infatuation with the movie of the same name and had to see the... Continue Reading →
Amy: There is just something special about a road trip. Throughout our travels over the past eight months, we have put in many miles (or kilometers) on four wheels. In Phase One, our international leg, we explored Iceland, Austria, Germany, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand with rented vehicles and soaked up unexpected moments when something... Continue Reading →
Jon: A connection through San Francisco from Honolulu brought us back to Minneapolis, MN where we departed for our international journey months ago. This was our first taste of winter weather in quite some time and we weren’t conditioned for the frigid morning. Amy and I threw on our warmest layers and braved the cold... Continue Reading →
Amy: An early morning flight whisked us from Christchurch, New Zealand back to Australia. The first time we visited the “land down under” we were not able to make it to Sydney, but we didn’t want to miss out on the iconic city. As most flights back to the United States go through Australia, we... Continue Reading →
Jon: After getting Gramper back from his stay in the auto shop, we backtracked north through Queenstown before reaching new territory and the town of Twizel where we’d camp for the night. We arrived well before dark and decided to drive out to Lake Pukaki. We’d seen other distinctively blue glacial lakes. However, Lake Pukaki’s radiant... Continue Reading →
Jon: I fell asleep in our little campervan (aka Gramper) to a light sprinkle and woke the next morning to driving rain. Amy and I drove down the West Coast hoping the weather would improve further south in Fox Glacier. Luck, and proximity, weren’t on our side. If anything, the weather was worse. We stopped for... Continue Reading →
Amy: Weather. It’s one of those universal topics for small talk. In our former homes in Colorado and Minnesota, the weather always brings interesting extremes. From -37˚ F temperatures to feet of snow, it provides fodder for conversation and social media comments. Of course, it can also greatly impact moods and experiences while traveling. Our... Continue Reading →
Jon: After contending with illness and bad weather in northern Vietnam, I was excited to be someplace warmer to heal up. Our first days in Australia were spent just outside of Brisbane at Kirkland House B&B. We enjoyed a quiet and relaxing stay there and met up with Servas day hosts. Our hosts, Hilary and... Continue Reading →
Amy: A hot and humid Christmas morning in Cambodia shifted to a cool and rainy evening in northern Vietnam. Jon and I experienced our first two-country Christmas. We were grateful to have made it to Vietnam that evening at all, as when we arrived to the small international terminal at Siem Reap, we were told... Continue Reading →
Jon: Getting into Cambodia was a bit of an adventure. It entailed a long bus ride stopping at the border where we were met by an “escort” who “helped” us through the crossing. Small charges for paperwork and alternate transport crept in. It eventually became clear that the “escort” was there for a couple on... Continue Reading →
Amy: When we hit the road after selling our home four months ago, we knew we were in for an adventure. We’d have ups and down, good days and bad days, successes and challenges, laughs and tears...and lots to learn. Earlier this week, we hit the three month point since we lifted off for our... Continue Reading →
Amy: After our first couple of weeks in Thailand, we knew a trip to the beach was up next. We chose the island of Koh Chang on the northeastern side of the Gulf of Thailand. The island was recommended to me by a mentor and friend, Donna Duffy, and by others on our visit to Chiang... Continue Reading →
Amy: The sound of the rails lulled us to sleep on the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Our top bunks in the second class sleeper were cozy and the 13-hour trip went by relatively quickly. By mid-morning, we hopped off the train and walked to our accommodations at the affordable Rainforest Boutique Hotel. After a... Continue Reading →
Jon: Adventures ahead beckoned, but it was sad to leave South Africa - such a wonderful country filled with beautiful landscapes and people. A lengthy flight from Cape Town brought us to the country of Singapore for a half-day layover. Though long, the flight on Singapore Air (total shout out here) was really comfortable with good... Continue Reading →
PART THREE (FINALE): AN EXPERIENCE IN CONTRASTS Jon: After saying goodbyes at the Orange Elephant, Amy and I headed to Nature’s Valley. It was interesting to see the landscape change and the roads improve on the way toward Cape Town. After stopping for gas and trying some beef, ostrich, and kudu biltong, similar to jerky,... Continue Reading →
PART TWO: FINDING GIRAFFES AND DODGING COWS Amy: Being the wildlife lovers that we are, we couldn’t pass up the chance for some mini-safaris in South Africa. We took the suggestion to visit Oribi Gorge in the southeastern area of the country. In South Africa, we found that in addition to staying at backpacker lodging... Continue Reading →
PART ONE: DRIVING TO THE DRAKENSBERG Jon: As they say here in South Africa, Howzit? It’s been a while since our last post – mostly because Amy and I have been on the move by car and foot traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town. To dispel any concerns, we were not eaten by jackals or... Continue Reading →
Amy: I once read that the key to longer term travel is to move slowly. You save money by limiting transport and get to know an area and the culture better. Up until safari, we were not moving slowly. We were on the go. This was basically due to wanting to get on safari before the... Continue Reading →
Jon: After our stay in Bavaria, we made our way back to Salzburg and on to Tanzania. After our first night near Arusha, we decided to venture into the city to find a safari tour operator. I noticed a group about to board one of the iconic safari trucks from our hotel and inquired about... Continue Reading →
Jon: After our magnificent time in Zell am See, it was bittersweet to depart. However, we were on a tight timeline for Austria and Bavarian Germany and had to move along. We were on our way to Schwangau to take in Neuschwanstien Castle. The drive took us along winding mountain roads that gave a good sense... Continue Reading →
Amy: Ah, Zell am See. You did not disappoint. We started the morning in Salzburg and headed out for our first drive on the Autobahn. Jon did an excellent job driving our little red Toyota Yaris (side note: I LOVED the small cars and efficient little RVs all over Europe. Jon and I want one of... Continue Reading →
Jon: Our final night in England was pretty restless. The folks above us were banging around until 2 in the morning, so our 4:45am cab pickup came all too early. We were greeted at the airport with some surprise check-in fees that soured our already questionable moods. We boarded the plane and braced for the next... Continue Reading →
Jon: After a nice, albeit short, time in Iceland we hopped further across the pond to England on the last day of September. Our arrival point was the Gatwick Airport, which is south of London and much smaller than Heathrow. It was a very quick cab ride to our accommodations at Melville Lodge Guesthouse in Horley,... Continue Reading →
Our time planning in Minnesota to our first stop in Iceland
Amy: With the house echoing with emptiness, we packed the final boxes into my old, gold Rav4. We sold Jon's nicer, newer Xterra and are left with only one large possession: my somewhat banged up Gold Rav. We decided to spend a few weeks in MN with family- after enjoying a fun evening with our... Continue Reading →
Here we go. We sold the house. Downsized from 2000 square feet of space to a small storage unit. Left the comfort of the bi-weekly direct deposit. Learn more about the journey we are taking this year. Check out our posts from our travels around the world and the US. Let's do this! -Amy and Jon
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