Tree house in Costa Rica

When I was a kid our family vacations included going camping in Eastern Washington, that was it.  I really loved this camping trip, it was great, but as soon as I moved out of the house my parents started going on great vacations with my little brothers.  One year they went to Costa Rica, I didn't get to go...I'm not bitter though.

 ~Bathroom in the Beachhouse Suite~

Since I didn't get to go with the family I guess I should add it to my list and go without them.  When I thought about where I would like to go I thought it might be fun to see if they had hotels that were tree houses so I could sleep out in the jungle.  I found a very amazing hotel called simply, 'Tree House Lodge'.  They have four tree houses and offer a nightly rate or a preplanned adventure.  The Lodge is located in Punta Uva in the province of Limon. 

                                                           ~The Garden House~

There are beautiful beaches, iguanas, and wonderful fruit and drinks.  What could be better.  I love a good adventure and sleeping in a tree house that is open to the jungle sounds like an adventure to me.

Bicycle the west coast

A couple of years ago I began riding bicycles, since then I have toured some very beautiful places in Washington and Canada on my bike.  Danny enjoys doing this with me so it is a form of traveling we get to do together.

I decided last year that one day when the girls are out of the house I am going to take seven weeks to bicycle the west coast from Seattle to Mexico.  When I began looking into it I discovered that this is a very popular ride that people come from around the world to complete.  I read numerous blogs about people's journey along the west coast.  I read an interesting blog about one mans trip, he provided a great picture diary about his journey.

The nice thing about this trip is that it would check off a lot of the places I would like to travel all in one trip.  I would get to ride along the beautiful Oregon Coast, meander through the red woods in northern California, swim in the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge and visit multiple lighthouses all while feeling the wind blow through my hair. 

Above is the Pigeon Point Lighthouse which is located just south of Pescadero California and is the tallest lighthouse in the USA.

Mamma Mia Greece

As the girls and I lay in bed watching Mamma Mia I decided I needed to travel to Greece sooner then later.  I just need to find a hotel where everyone breaks into song and choreographed dance every five minutes.  Greece has always been a place on my list, the beautiful white houses built into the hills over looking the crystal blue water is so alluring.  I know right now is probably not the best time to go, which is okay since Danny probably won't let me go anytime soon.  Maybe by the time I can travel there the economy will have recovered and there won't be rioting in the streets.

Mamma Mia was filmed in Mouresi on the island of Skopelos in the western Aegean Sea.  This island is also known for it olive oil and feta cheese.  When I visit Skopelos I would like to stay at Karaoulanis Beach Hotel.  This is a beautiful hotel situated right on the beach with amazing views of the water (according to the pictures they have on their website, so it must be accurate!)

 

Quebec Canada

The summer between my Junior and Senior years of high school my parents sent me to stay with a family friend in Montreal, Canada.  I was sent there under the pretext that I would practice my French while there.  I remember on the first day they asked my how old I was and made me answer in French, "Je suit dix-sept ans".  It was terrifying to try to speak French to these people because I had skipped most of Junior year of French class and really didn't learn anything.

While there the family took  me to see downtown Quebec and took me to Niagara Falls and many other beautiful places, unfortunately I was 17 and didn't appreciate the opportunity presented to me.  I remember eating savory crepes at an outdoor cafe' and walking through a street fair with artists and live music.  I enjoyed my time there but never really took advantage of the beautiful town I was in.  So I would love to be able to go back and really enjoy Quebec. 

Route 90 the Route 66 of the south

I love a good car ride where I can just sit back, feet up on the dash and watch the scenery fly by.  I have heard so much about traveling Route 66 but in my September National Geographic Traveler magazine there was an article about Route 90, the Route 66 of the south.  The old school highway runs through five states from the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville Florida to the city of Van Horn in west Texas.  This road is famous for the Eisenhower era tourist traps, and as the long lonely highway where Jayne Mansfield died in an automobile accident. 

The following link is a web site providing images of vintage post cards celebrating this great roadway.
http://ucmmuseum.com/hwy90home.htm

Shawshank Redemption

Ever since Andy Dufresne and Red reunited on the beach in Zihuatanejo at the end of the Shawshank Redemption I have wanted to visit there.  I'm not sure if the draw is the beautiful blue water or how happy the ending of the movie makes me, but I long to walk on that beach.

There are two possilbe origins for the name Zihuatanejo, one meaning "Water of the Yellow Mountain" and the other meaning, "Place of Women".  The town's history is one a sleepy fishing village but in the 1970's it began to transform into a resort town and today is the third most visited town in Mexico after Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.


If Zihuatanejo was good enough for Andy Dufresne then it is good enough for me.  I just hope I don't cry like I do every time a watch the movie.

Molson, Washington

Located in Okanagon County in northeastern Washington is the ghost town of Molson.  Molson looks as if the residence just got in their cars and left the town in the middle of the day and never returned.  The stores still have merchandise in the windows and cars parked out front. 

Molson was founded as a mining town in 1900 with a population of about 300 people but by 1901 the mining failed and the population dwindled to 13 people.  In 1905 word of a railroad coming to Molson brought a rise in the population.  The post office which was established in 1900 closed in 1967 and the mail was sent to Oroville.

I have been to the ghost town of Lester located off the Stampede Pass exit on I-90 and it was a neat place but only had a couple of house left standing.  Molson appears to have a large amount of buildings remaining to tour.  I find it sad to think that a once thriving town just sits neglected and decaying.  I love to walk among the buildings and think of the town get togethers that once took place in the now quiet streets.  One thing I have learned by researching ghost towns is that once the post office closes up there is no hope left for the town.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wa/molsen.html
http://www.pbase.com/mad_monte1/molson_washington

The Gold Mining Office

                                                                                     

An old farm house still standing in Molson

Rim at the Grand Canyon

Oh my!  This looks a little scary but I can't wait to walk out onto the Rim at the Grand Canyon.  I have not been to the Grand Canyon and what a way to start the trip. 

Ellis Island

New York is on my list of states to visit and while there I really want to go to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  I want to walk on the same ground my Great Grandmother walked on when she arrived in America in 1910 from Italy.  I already walked the streets of her village in Italy and touched the same door she pushed opened to go inside their house so why not touch the first place she touched when she arrived here at the age of five.

This picture is of Morrone del Sannio, the village where my Great Grandmother's family lived prior to arriving at Ellis Island on the ship Berlin on Septmeber 16, 1910.

My Great Granmothers house 3 Vico Arnaldo.

Back To Where it Began

The first place I would like to go is back to Italy!  I know there are other beautiful places in the world but so far the most beautiful place I've seen is Italy and why not go back again.  I bought a book titled One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy, I'd like to go to all 101 towns.  One town in particular is a small town in southern Italy called Alberobello.  Alberobello is known for the unusual architecture of these small cone shaped houses called 'Trulli.'  I want to tour these funky little houses.

Where Do I Want to Go?

I have always had a desire to travel and see the world and in 2010 I was finally blessed with the opportunity to spend two weeks touring Italy.  It was the most amazing trip and I fell in love with Italy and traveling.  I had hoped that going to Italy would curb my desire to travel but it had the exact opposite effect and now I just want to travel more.

I decided to keep a list of all the places I want to go and the things I want to see with the hope that one day I will get to travel to all the locations.  It's a big world out there and there is a lot to uncover.