The new year in Poconos

The Poconos is a great place to spend the winter months. I love exploring the area with friends and family, especially during the holidays. It’s easy to find peace in nature and enjoy new experiences together.

Poconos

  • The Poconos are a range of mountains in northeast Pennsylvania.
  • They’re one of the many wonderful places to visit in the state, and there’s no better time to go than winter!
  • If you’re looking for fun things to do in the region, look no further than this list:

Go in winter

For those of you who have not spent much time in the Poconos, let me tell you: winter is the best time to be there. The weather is gorgeous, the scenery is stunning and it’s generally a quieter season for travel (though hotels are still available!). If you’re an avid skier or snowboarder, this is your chance to hit one of many resorts open all year long including Camelback Mountain Resort and Jack Frost Ski Resort. If not, no worries—there’s plenty else to do that doesn’t involve staying on top of a mountain! Snowmobiling tours are available throughout most of December and January at High Country Adventures and can take you through some beautiful parts of the region.

Do the outdoor activities

The snow and ice make for a perfect outdoor playground. There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in Pocono resorts:

There’s something for everyone here!

Find peace at the Buddhist temple

  • The Buddhist temple is a peaceful place to relax.
  • You can meet new people at the Buddhist temple.
  • People go to the Buddhist temple for meditation and prayer.
  • The Buddhist temple has an exercise room where people can work out, stretch their muscles and get in shape at any time of day or night.
  • The Buddhist temple is a great place to relax and take in nature while enjoying tea or coffee with friends while chatting about your day’s events

The Poconos have great food, shopping and spas, along with exciting outdoor adventures.

  • Food, shopping and spas.
  • Exciting outdoor adventures.

The Pocono Mountains are full of things to do. You can go into the woods and see how it feels to be in nature, or you could go on a hike through an abandoned mining town. There is also plenty of shopping so you can find whatever you need at any time of year!

Seattle: A Travelers’ Pitstop

Seattle is such a wonderful city, with so much to do and see that you’ll want to stay for more than just a few days. The city is surrounded by mountains and water with beautiful views from every angle. Seattle has been ranked as one of the best cities in America by Travel+Leisure magazine and it’s easy to see why after visiting this bustling metropolis!

Location:

The city is located in Washington State, USA and has a population of over 600,000 people. Seattle is the largest city on the West Coast of the United States and also has a thriving economy that relies heavily on trade with Asia.

Seattle’s most recognizable landmark, the Space Needle, is located in the city’s center.

The Space Needle is surrounded by an amusement park called the Seattle Center. It’s a great place to go for a day trip, especially if you want to hit up the Pacific Science Center or the Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Here are some other Seattle-related destinations that are worth traveling to:

  • Pike Place Market (10 minutes from downtown)
  • The Fremont Troll (20 minutes from downtown)
  • Snoqualmie Falls (100 miles east)

The Climate:

The climate in Seattle is pretty temperate, with temperatures ranging between 4 and 16 degrees centigrade during the year. In summer, the average high temperature is around 21 degrees and there’s a good chance of rain. Winter months are less predictable–the temperature can fluctuate wildly between freezing and warm (a dip of just a few degrees can make a huge difference), but you can expect plenty of snow to keep things interesting!

This means that it rains most days and that the temperature stays between 4 and 16 degrees centigrade all year round.

Seattle is famous for its rain, which means that it rains most days and that the temperature stays between 4 and 16 degrees centigrade all year round.

If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, it’s best to pack light in order to avoid paying overweight baggage fees. If you do have any big bags, you should consider transferring some of their contents into smaller containers (e.g., make sure your shampoo bottle isn’t full of liquid). Keep in mind that liquids usually can’t be shared between flights with other travelers unless they’re packed inside one large container with a lid.

In addition, there are several months during which snow is possible.

Seattle is a rainy place. It rains most days of the year, and the rain can be quite heavy at times. It’s not uncommon to see people wearing rain jackets or even umbrellas on a typical day in Seattle!

Seattle has four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall—but it would be difficult to tell which season you’re experiencing at any given time. If you visit Seattle during one of its rainy winters (roughly half of them), you’ll probably want a jacket on hand at all times—even when it isn’t raining! That’s because the precipitation tends not just to be rain: sometimes there’s snow too!

The Night life:

You don’t have to brave the cold in Seattle – there are plenty of fantastic clubs that will keep you entertained throughout the night. The best clubs are located in downtown Seattle, which is home to some of the most popular bars and clubs in town. If you’re looking for a place with great music, then hit up one of these spots:

  • Century Ballroom (1005 5th Ave) – This venue offers live music every night and has been open since 1907! They’ve hosted many famous artists over the years like Nirvana, Queensrÿche and Pearl Jam. Make sure you check out their calendar before going so that you can see what’s playing that day/night. It’s also worth noting that they have an excellent food menu if hunger strikes while dancing away!
  • Nectar Lounge (414 E Pine St) – This bar opened its doors back in 1995 but it still remains popular amongst locals due to its selection of beers on tap as well as DJs who play different genres each night at varying times depending on when people arrive later than others.”

Tourists who want to go clubbing often head towards Pioneer Square in the downtown area.

If you’re in Seattle and are looking to go out and have a good time, Pioneer Square is the place to be. There are tons of bars, restaurants and clubs here that will keep you busy until 2am. The only downside is that it’s pretty crowded on Friday nights, so if you don’t mind waiting in line for an hour before getting into a club then this is definitely where you want to be!

Pioneer Square contains about 20 clubs but don’t worry if you want to go somewhere else since there are over 200 clubs in downtown Seattle alone.

If a clubbing atmosphere is what you’re after, Pioneer Square will not disappoint. It contains about 20 clubs but don’t worry if you want to go somewhere else since there are over 200 clubs in downtown Seattle alone. If the name of your favorite band is playing at the Paramount Theater or The Showbox, then by all means skip this part of town! In fact, if you’re looking for music venues with more intimate performances and/or less rowdy crowds, try The Triple Door or The Crocodile—both offer great acts year-round.

If live music isn’t your thing (or if you prefer dancing to rock bands), there are plenty of options here as well: Club Sur offers salsa nights with lessons by pros; New Century Theatre has jazz night on Fridays; and Myth Tavern hosts open mic nights every Wednesday evening from 8 pm until 10 pm (cover charge varies).

Takeaway: You’ll find lots of things to do in Seattle but you need to bring an umbrella!

It’s true that Seattle is a great place to visit. You can go clubbing in Pioneer Square or play golf at the Bellevue Golf Club. If you’re looking for something different, you could always rent a bicycle and ride around Alki Beach (which is also called West Seattle) or take the ferry to Bainbridge Island (a lovely place for whale watching).

But before you go anywhere else, make sure that you pack an umbrella!

With so much to see and do in Seattle, it’s no wonder that this city is such a popular travel destination. Whether you want to explore the city or take a day trip out of town, there’s something for everyone here. So grab your camera and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

Halloween In New Jersey

Halloween is fast approaching, and you know what that means: it’s time to get creative! If you live in New Jersey, you have a lot of options when it comes to celebrating this spooky season. And if nothing else is going on near your area, it might be time to think outside the box and plan your own party!

Theme parks are spooky enough in the daylight, but at night they get even better!

Theme parks are a great place to visit during Halloween. With their haunted houses, creepy characters and scary rides, they’ll be sure to get you in the spirit of the holiday.

It’s a good excuse to dress up, just make sure you watch where you’re going.

Halloween is a great time to get together with friends and family, dress up in exciting outfits, and act like someone else for a day. But there are certain things you should keep in mind when wearing your costume.

  • Make sure the costume is comfortable: If you’re going to be wearing it all night long, make sure it doesn’t itch or scratch anywhere! And try not to wear anything that could easily fall off or get knocked off—this means no hats or headbands unless they have elastic bands on them (or other similar mechanisms). Also make sure that nothing is too tight or restrictive so that you don’t pass out from lack of oxygen!
  • Don’t forget about the weather: This one goes without saying: if it’s cold outside then bring along warm clothes underneath your costume so that you don’t freeze during trick-or-treating hours! Same goes for rain; bring an umbrella if necessary! Can’t afford one? No problem—just use your halloween decorations as shelter from getting wet.

If nothing’s going on in your area, consider having a party of your own!

If you’re looking to have a Halloween party and your area is lacking in options, consider hosting one of your own! This can be a great opportunity to get together with friends and family.

  • Make sure to invite everyone who might be interested in attending. You don’t want anyone feeling left out or unhappy about not being invited!
  • Make sure that you plan enough food and drinks for everyone who shows up. If people are coming from far away (or if they need something quick) make sure there are plenty of snacks available on site at all times.
  • Have a theme for the party so it will be more fun for everyone involved – like having an 80s movie night or celebrating the release of Harry Potter: Prisoner Of Azkaban by watching the first two films back-to-back (the third will come later).

Halloween is a time to be creative, so think outside the box this year!

Halloween is a time to be creative, so think outside the box this year! If you don’t want to spend money on party games, consider making your own. This can be done with very little effort and is totally worth it. The options are endless:

  • Make up your own spooky version of “Would You Rather?”
  • Draw faces on watermelons and have guests try to guess who they belong to by asking questions or guessing at their favorite hobbies. Then eat them as part of the meal!
  • Create a haunted house out of cardboard boxes in which guests can walk through and see creepy things (such as fake rats) along the way.

Halloween is a time to be creative, so think outside the box this year! Whether you’re looking to get dressed up or host your own party, there’s no doubt that Halloween will be an exciting time for everyone involved.

What to do In Panama City!

Panama City is a place that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. For me, it’s one of the most exciting cities in the world and I’m always excited to go back. The city has so much history, culture, and adventure that you could spend weeks exploring it all. However, if you’re only going for a few days, here are some tips for making sure you get the most out of them!

Your first stop

After you’ve finished your breakfast, it’s time to hit the road. You’ll want to make sure that you get an early start so that you can see as much as possible in one day. The first stop on your itinerary should be the old town, which is located just minutes from your hotel.

While there are many attractions in this area, there are three places that we recommend seeing:

  • The Panama Canal – This is an engineering marvel and it offers visitors a glimpse into history with its locks and massive ships passing through them.
  • Casco Viejo – This is where most of Panama City’s historical buildings were built during colonial times (and rebuilt after being destroyed by earthquakes). It’s also home to several museums, restaurants and shops where you can buy souvenirs for family members back home! If possible try taking a tour while here so that someone else does all the driving around town instead!
  • Museum de Bellas Artes Nacionales – Located within Casco Viejo this museum showcases both contemporary art pieces along with those created centuries ago by Spanish masters who once lived here during their conquest days before becoming independent from Spain in 1821.”

From Panama City

To get from the city to the beaches, you can take one of the many buses that leave from Isla Colon and go directly to your destination. Use Google Maps to find out which bus will get you there fastest, or just ask a local. There are also taxis that will take you anywhere in town for about $3-5 USD depending on how far away it is.

If you’re visiting Panamá City during a holiday or festival, expect traffic jams and delays (which is why we recommend getting there early). Try not to stress about it too much—the locals all seem pretty relaxed about their commutes!

The best beaches around Panama City

Panama City beaches are some of the most beautiful and pristine in Central America. The best ones to visit are:

  • Bocas del Toro – 90 minutes from Panama City, this is a great place to go if you want to get away from it all and just relax on the beach. There’s nothing else around except a few resorts and restaurants, so if you’re looking for something more lively then this isn’t it!
  • Veraguas – 20 minutes away by car, this is one of my favorites because of its proximity to Panama City as well as being right next door to Parque Nacional Coiba (the largest national park in Panama). You can’t swim here but there are lots of other activities such as snorkeling or hiking through caves with thousands-year-old stalactites.
  • Isla Taboga – an island off Panama City with good beaches that’s perfect for swimming! It only takes about 30 minutes by ferry from Balboa Ferry Terminal which means no driving at all 🙂

Travel tip #1 – My favorite routes in Panama City

When you’re not exploring the museums, restaurants, and shops of Panama City, you’ll want to get out and see some of the sights. Some of my favorite routes include:

  • The Amador Causeway. This causeway is a great place to start your day because it offers views of both sides of Panama City while providing easy access to other parts of town. It’s also home to many hotels, so if you’re looking for a good beachside stay during your trip, this may be a good option for both convenience and price reasons. *There are also some great restaurants here too!*
  • Casco Viejo (Old Town). If you’re looking for an old-fashioned experience with lots of history and culture mixed in (and who isn’t?), then this area will fit nicely into anyone’s itinerary. Its narrow streets offer plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants that bring together colonial charm with modern amenities like wifi; they also house interesting museums like The Museum Of Contemporary Art And Design (MAC) which showcases modern works by Panamanian artists as well as international ones too.*This is definitely one place where we didn’t want our visit limited only by time constraints!*

If you ever get the chance to visit Panama City, don’t let it pass. It’s one of those cities that has a lot to offer, with a beautiful beach and fun attractions. If you want to experience Panama City in its fullest potential, then take my advice and travel around by bus or foot. It would also be wise to take an organized tour through the different neighborhoods as well as get acquainted with their history by visiting museums like Museum of Fine Arts or Museum of Modern Art.

Aruba: A peaceful island

Aruba is not only one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean, it’s also one of the driest. With a year-round average temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit and only about 12 inches of rain per year, Aruba has become a popular vacation spot for tourists looking for warm weather without much rainfall. The island’s name translates to “well-watered,” and its landscape is known for its desert cacti, limestone cliffs and sea caves—not exactly what comes to mind when you think about tropical beaches! However, there’s plenty more beyond these dry landscapes that makes Aruba an exquisite destination year-round.

The island’s long, dry season makes Aruba an exquisite vacation destination year-round.

Aruba’s dry season is from January to May, and the island’s climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The island experiences two rainy seasons: one in the summer (May-October) and one in winter (November-April).

The island’s name means “well-watered,” and its landscape is known for its desert cacti, limestone cliffs and sea caves.

Aruba is a small island in the Caribbean. The name means “well-watered,” and its landscape is known for its desert cacti, limestone cliffs and sea caves.

There are many interesting places that you can visit on Aruba:

  • The Aruban capital of Oranjestad has a charming town center surrounded by white beaches. It’s an easy walk from your hotel to shops where you can find souvenirs or clothes at reasonable prices.
  • If you’re looking for less touristy attractions, check out Baby Beach—a quiet strip of sand near Noord where there’s usually no one else around except locals who gather here to hang out with friends or watch the sunset over the ocean horizon. You may even see some fishermen casting their nets into the water!

Aruba’s jewel-toned waters are filled with colorful sea life, making it the perfect spot for snorkelers and divers.

When you’re in Aruba, the waters are filled with colorful sea life. Snorkeling is a popular activity and can be enjoyed year-round. Snorkelers take trips past the vibrant underwater world of coral reefs, sunken ships and marine wildlife.

While you’re exploring under water, don’t forget to look up at the colorful blue skies above as well!

Snorkeling trips take you past the vibrant underwater world of coral reefs, sunken ships and marine wildlife.

When you’re snorkeling, you’ll be able to explore the vibrant underwater world of coral reefs and marine life. You may even see some sunken ships!

To get started, grab your gear and head to any one of Aruba’s many beaches where you can rent equipment or take a tour with an outfit like Aruba Diving Center.

Bring along sunscreen and water shoes for the sandier beaches, as well as towels for drying off after your swims in the sea. Be sure not to forget your camera too! You don’t want anything getting in between you and those stunning photos with which to share your experience!

For visitors seeking activity on the water, windsurfing is a popular pastime thanks to trade winds that blow almost constantly across the island.

Harnessing the trade winds that blow almost constantly across the island, windsurfing is a popular pastime for visitors seeking excitement on the water. If you’re looking for something to do today, head down to Aruba’s beautiful shores and give it a try! This sport can be done on any body of water—even lakes or rivers—making it accessible for all ages and skill levels.

Aruba is a beautiful island that offers many activities for visitors of all ages. The island’s friendly people and warm climate make it a great destination for families who want to relax on the beach or explore the natural wonders that surround them. Visitors can also enjoy water sports like snorkeling and diving while they take in views of colorful reefs teeming with sea life!

Virginia is for lovers

April arrived, and I called up my friend, Lelette. I asked her for my birthday would she like to go to Virginia with me? She said, “is this the lavish trip for you and how long would it be for?” I immediately thought, no, however I couldn’t think of anything but to see my friend, Tre.

This would be the first time that we would all hang out together. Tre being a native to Virginia, I didn’t think of activities as this would be my first time to Richmond, VA. When speaking to him, he stated that Virginia is great for nature and food. So I took him on his offer of seeking a nature valley trip. I went back to Lelette and posed the idea of a nature trip. She was down for it and we discussed how long this trip would be. Since I was wrapping up my last semester in college, I figured this would be an ideal weekend getaway and I booked my trip to NY as we decided to drive down to VA. Based on Lelette assumption that VA was closer to NY than FL.

When speaking to Tre, after we reserved our rental, hotel and purchased the flight, he let us know that our skills of geography were wrong! (After that, we made sure to double check on any misinformation about locations LOL)

Couple of days has past and now it’s time to head to VA. Lelette and I take the drive to taking turns so we can have energy for our first activity. We arrived to the hotel, checked in, dropped off our belongings and headed straight to Belle Isle Park. The park was full of life! A flowing river, a shaded walking trail, and a bit of colonial history of the abandon buildings and dam.

 

Walking around in the summer heat of VA was glorious. It wasn’t baking or frigid, it was perfect so that Lelette took a nap on one of the stones by the river, peacefully.

On the second day, we went into the mountains. The mountains were scary to travel through because of all the hills; being from Florida you’re able to see the roads however some of the mountains roads were obscured by trees or being at the peak of a hill. We ran into some questionable areas of the mountain towns. Some of them looked like they were still in 1700 style homes and business, it was amazing to look at but we felt the vibe that we were not welcomed to the area. We drove quickly through it until we made it to our destination of a vineyard. It was my first time going to a vineyard and enjoying a live wine tasting. I enjoyed the flights of wine that we received for seeing the vineyard. After the wine, right next door was a strawberry patch and we indulged in strawberry picking.

This was a great way to end our quick trip to VA. We all agreed that we loved each other company and immediately discussed the next possible trip and aiming for a more adventure. Where could we possibly think to where to go next?

Stay tuned for the next stop.

 

Vamos A México

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My next stop, Mexico.

One day in the office, feeling dull and overwhelmed. I received a text from my friend asking me if I am interested in going to Mexico? I immediately replied, “YES! TELL ME WHEN?”

I was for her birthday in February and that was the perfect time to head to Mexico, it was extremely affordable. My friend was the travel agent for this entire trip. Normally, being invited for a birthday trip I would think it’s up to the invitees to plan for the birthday person. My friend planned every detail from the airline and airfare, to the hotel and transportation. I was relieved because I don’t know how to travel, never planned an itinerary in my life.

My friend booked the most intimate and nature hostel that I absolutely fell in love with. It was right across the beach and near the tourist area. It was the ideal location to be in Tulum.

And since we were across the beach, the locals set up the beach right in time for Valentine Day. After exploring what was around the immediate area, it was time to begin our adventure.

First day, we explored the beaches, which had bars and hotels all along the sands. Which was convenient to throughly enjoy time in the sun. The ocean sky was so blue, it so surreal that this beach was in Mexico (compared to Miami Beach). After soaking up some sun, we went bar hoping in Tulum. The bar scene is fantastic! Every turn each bar offered 3 free shots of local Mexican tequila. Now, the tequila in the US compared to Mexico’s tequila is vastly different; smoother and richer, 5 out of 5 hands down. I even bought a bottle to bring home. After we searched for something to eat. I would not suggest the tourist area because it has the same menu that we can get anywhere in the US like Alfredo pasta, and tacos. I couldn’t tell how many times we saw tacos but weren’t authentic tacos. We had to dig deep into finding a local restaurant to fully enjoy the experience and we found one. It was cute and quiet. We called it a night after that.

Second Day, it was time for real time adventure! My friend planned for us to head to the outskirts of Tulum to enjoy an outing of Bicycling through the city, where we found the ruins. My friend thought it was planned by me because I was leading the way (I found it just by coincidence). And right on time, we were on schedule for the next tour of the ruins. We parked our bikes and enjoyed the lesson of how the indigenous people built the homes to praise and worship the Gods.

We left for our next adventure to the RTV’s and I had a blast trekking through the woods and speeding past our group. I never ridden and RTV’s and my friend was scared for her life. The instructor told us to be careful, there is no safety measures but you being in control. The course of the ride was short but enjoyable.

The last thing to do was to take a dip in the cenoté, if you’re wondering what a cenoté is, it is a collapse earth filled with fresh water. And the one we visited was 10 feet deep! And that’s what they were able to measure! The cenoté goes deeper for all we know but here we are, and the instructor planned for us to zip line into it. Mind you, I don’t know how to swim or float. I took the challenge to do it anyways knowing the facts about me. And let me tell you, it was exhilarating! The rush, the conquering of my fear of not swimming (it helped that the instructor provided me a life jacket lol).

After all that, we were drained and exhausted. We had to ride our pedal bikes back to the city and head back to the hotel and rest. It was an active day.

The last day before our flight back to the US, was my favorite. Our tour guide, Ricardo, called us back up and offered a discount to have a tour of tequila history, basically a tequila tasting. We were told not to savor the flavor however we didn’t, we threw it back like they were shots and enjoy every bit of it. My highlight of this day was visiting the art museum, Mystik by Pepe Soho. This museum was inspiring and the art captured my eye and set a fire in me. Pepe Soho is a photographer his pieces were stunning where I now have my eye out for one of my favorite pieces. His museum is an experience to enjoy thoroughly. To end this fantastic trip, after we headed back to our hostel and I decided to surprise my friend for her birthday at this greek restaurant that caught my eye when were cycling through the city. What I loved about this restaurant is that they gave a live show with a violist and fire theatrics. It was show stopping and I was completely engaged with it.

What a way to end the trip! Mexico was a sight to see and I loved every bit of it. Would I recommend going? Forever and always. This trip set me on fire to pursue my career even further and expand to new horizons. I wouldn’t change it and I would love to go again.

Stay tuned to where I head next…

Arizona: Red Rocks and Mountains

 

It’s Thanksgiving week and I received a phone call from a long time friend. He asked me if I had anything planned for the holiday and he wants to do a Friends-giving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I had no plans because of classes. Normally, I would just stay home and call it evening but my friend and other plans. He offered to fly me out to Arizona. I didn’t even hesitate in my response to saying yes, especially after my trip for the Bahamas.

The flight was booked and I headed out to Arizona. Arizona was full of mountains, red rocks, and cliffs. When I landed I could tell that Arizona is a red state, not that I am political but Trump signs everywhere and questionable staring when walking around but Arizona was quite chill. Everything is spread out and there’s a lot of traffic in certain spots, I didn’t expect to run into. My time was spent with my friend and his friends, I was about to visit the mountain side and see the view from a roof top restaurant, I wanted to see the red stone mountains but my time was short in Arizona.

 

Bahama Mama

It’s near the end of 2020, mid December and I’ve been in a rut since COVID has taken over the world and put everything at a stand still. While I was stuck at home thinking to myself, “how can I expand my knowledge on photography and design?” , my two found loves. I inquired around all over social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok) and everyone that gave me an answer; because I got a lot of non responses or the simple decline to engage but follow me to find out more response. 😒 All the designers and photographers that I admire that did respond  all collectively said to travel.

After a long debate, I decided to follow their advice and booked my first time solo trip to the Bahamas. I was nervous, at first, because I never had traveled outside the U.S. I booked a weekend trip and I got a little spark in my heart for the taste of travel. The Bahamas was reopening after being shutdown the entire year so no one knew what was open but I stayed in Nassau and tried all kinds of food, and enjoyed the conch and seafood cuisine. The island was on a 9 to 5 schedule but after 5 PM, it was party and from the music to the alcohol, it was amazing experience. But what I enjoyed was the beach view! Its waters and skies were so clear and blue, it was so captivating and relaxing, I did not want to leave so quickly.

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Now, I got a fire to travel more, where do I go next?

Hello world!

Welcome to my blog, this is the journey of photography and travel. I decided to start traveling and taking pictures to inspire my designs. This is my journey into this world. I hope you enjoy the ride.