Paula Publicover

From black sand beaches to volcanoes to waterfalls, Costa Rica has it all!  You will see all kinds of wildlife like sloths, scarlet macaws, white faced capuchin monkeys and coatimundis.  This destination is not a place to sit and chill, it is a place to hike, zipline, fish, white water raft and of course bathe in the hot springs.

The pure beauty! Highlights of the trip - The Golden Circle which includes Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir National Park.   You can also see glaciers,  black sand beaches and mother nature at it's best.  They have museums, Hallgrímskirkja (Church of Island), festivals and great culinary experiences.

After reading Ann Frank I found going to the museum put it into a whole new perspective. It was quite moving. Too see a city with so many canals and so few cars. The mode of transportation is by boat, foot, bikes and public transportation. People tell you that Amsterdam is full of bikes but it is really hard to comprehend until you actually see it. There is actually a bike garage there! I t was interesting to see the countryside and to learn about their culture.

I went during the ski season and even though I don't ski there are things to do. There are two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb. I was able to take a chairlift up to the top of the mountain and from there they have a Peak 2 Peak gondola. The views are amazing. They will even take you down the mountain on a sled if you want the rush of going down but don't want to brave it yourself! They have a Tube park, dog sledding, snowshoeing or you could attend the Fire and Ice Show.
Don't like the winter, during the summer you can hike the mountain and for the real adventurous they have bike trails! You can go on the Cloudraker Skybridge or zip lining, the possibilities are endless. The village has a lot to offer with music, shopping, dining and a grocery store, all within walking distance if you stay in the village.

I love the natural beauty and Scotland does not disappoint! The countryside is absolutely beautiful. I also stopped at St Andrews Links, the home of golf. I am not a golfer but to be able to see this amazing golf course and the history behind it was a thrill. I even hit a few balls there, how can you not resist! The castles are full of history and a must see. One of them is The Edinburgh Castle, it sits above the city on Castle Rock. No trip to Scotland would be complete without a trip to a local pub and a tour of a whiskey distillery.