Dear NEXT TRAVELER to St Thomas & St. John!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Cinnamon Bay (St. John)
2. Maho Bay (St. John)
3. Trunk Bay (St. John)
4. Charlotte Amalie downtown explore (St. Thomas)
5. Cas Cay Kayak Snorkel Tour (St. Thomas)
6. Secret Harbour Beach (St. Thomas)

For our 25th Wedding Anniversary, we flew to St. Thomas USVI to celebrate for a few days. We were excited to explore the US Virgin Islands. We had always heard about the beautiful beaches and water and had several beaches on our list to explore. The US Virgin Islands are a territory of the United States. The islands were purchased from Denmark in 1917. The US dollar is accepted on the islands and you don’t need a passport to travel there. For us the biggest difference on the islands is that they drive on the left side of the road. That took a little bit of time to get used to. The capital is Charlotte Amalie, which is located on St. Thomas.

We flew from Orlando, Florida on a direct flight to St Thomas. There isn’t an airport on St. John, only on St. Thomas. To get to the island of St. John, you’ll need to take the ferry. The ferry schedule travels frequently. We did find that it was easier to ferry from St Thomas to St John than from St. John to St. Thomas.
Both St. Thomas & St. John have beautiful bays and beaches, however, we preferred St. John. St. John is the smallest of the islands but 60% of the island is protected by the Virgin Islands National Park. We beach hopped between Cinnamon Bay, Trunk Bay & Maho Bay. Cinnamon Bay & Trunk Bay were our favorites.
When we landed in St. Thomas, we walked outside the airport and there were taxi vans everywhere. We told them what resort we were staying at and they put us in a van that was taking several other couples. It was quite the ride to our resort. The taxi driver was flying down very narrow streets on the left side of the road with lots of other cars. A little crazy, but we made it safe.

We stayed at Point Pleasant Resort on Water Bay in St. Thomas. The views are incredible BUT there are lots of steps to climb because it’s on the side of a mountain. After checking into our condo and getting settled we explored Smith Bay and had dinner at Shoreline Bar & Grill. It’s a cute little restaurant on Cokie Beach area. There were tarpon fish all in the water just beside our table. People kept throwing them food. The food was good but very expensive.

After dinner we walked the shoreline in front of Margaritaville and headed up to Cokie Beach. It was starting to get dark. We ran into a group of 20-year-olds and one of the girls was really drunk and she started pulling her pants down and she ended up peeing on a huge pile of seaweed on the beach. Her friends told us please don’t video her and put it on Facebook. I told them I would absolutely not be doing any kind of videoing of her. Craziness! As we were walking to Cokie Beach there was really loud music and a lot of people being crazy. We headed back to our resort and found out later that Cokie beach is not safe at night. We could definitely feel it.

We rented a jeep from a local man and were so glad to have it. A jeep rental is a must when visiting the islands. There is so much to explore on both the islands of St. Thomas & St. John. We were told by several people to go to Moe‘s market grocery store to get our food but had been warned that the food was really expensive in the islands. They were not kidding. The food in the grocery store was several dollars more than what we typically paid. We paid $13 for some reef safe sunscreen. However, the next day we found out that there was also a Kmart on the island. When we shopped there, it was the normal US prices. We realized that Moes market and the other tourist shops are priced for tourists.

We drove to Drakes seat which is a lookout over Magens Bay. It was unbelievably beautiful with the clear water and the green mountains.

Magens Bay. Beautiful beach with gorgeous palm trees. It does have shower and bathroom facilities. You do have to pay a small entrance fee to enter. There are picnic benches that are first come, first serve.

We decided to spend a couple hours exploring the capital – Charlotte Amalie.
*Jewish synagogue – It took us some time to find the Jewish synagogue. It was literally in an alleyway street. We weren’t able to go into the synagogue but the building from the outside was beautiful.
*99 Steps are a historic landmark built by Danish colonists in the 1700s using ballast bricks from ships to connect the waterfront to the upper town. Despite the name, there are actually 103 steps. We climbed them all and were tired after but loved the views of the harbor and city. It was a really pretty area with flowers and several hidden gardens and monuments to the St. Thomas area.
*Blackbeard’s Tower – When we visited, Blackbeards tower was closed because of damage from a hurricane from a few years before. Blackbeard’s Castle, originally the Danish watchtower Skytsborg, known for its pirate legends and panoramic views. Built in 1679, the stone tower was used to guard the harbor. 

*We tried to hike out to “mermaids chair.” It’s a secluded beach on the westernmost tip of St. Thomas, where the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea meet. Sadly, we got there too late and wouldn’t have time to make the hike before the tide came in and it got dark. To get to Mermaids Chair you have to hike through the gated community of The Preserve at Botany Bay. The hike is about 3.6 miles round trip, mostly downhill on a paved road but the return climb is uphill.

We drove down to the port area where the cruise ships come in. We ended up walking around the port and eating dinner at Tap n Still. The burgers and fries were really good and reasonably priced.

Ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. The process was extremely interesting and there were several times we weren’t even sure we were in the right lines or doing what we should. We finally made it onto the huge boat that hauled the cars and it was a beautiful ride over to St. John. The water is absolutely gorgeous. We couldn’t believe how many boats were in the harbors.
There are 2 ferry routes. The shortest route is between Red Hook on St. Thomas and Cruz Bay on St. John, costs $6.00 each way, and takes approximately 20 minutes and runs hourly between 6:00 am and Midnight. The longer ferry route runs from downtown Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) also to Cruz Bay (St. John), that costs $12.00 each way, has more limited hours and takes approximately 40 minutes.

Cinnamon Bay. I have wanted to go to Cinnamon Bay on St. John for over 15 years. My fascination for Cinnamon Bay started when I heard Kenny Chesney sing about it in his Old Blue Chair song. It did not disappoint! It was absolutely beautiful water. The mountains all around the water are extraordinary. The sand was much lighter color and much softer than even on St. Thomas beaches. It was an absolutely magical day at the beach! Perfect everything!

Maho Bay. This bay had such a great beach village vibe. This is a great beach especially if you have kids. The village area was super fun. You could shop, get all kinds of treats and souvenirs. We bought souvenir bracelets for the girls and they loved them. This beach is known for its good snorkeling and being able to see the turtles in the grass just off the shoreline.

Cinnamon Bay Ruins. The Cinnamon Bay house ruins often referred to as the 1680 Estate House or Danish Warehouse, are the oldest standing structures on St. John, located across the street from Cinnamon Bay Beach. The site served as a plantation owner’s house, warehouse, and later an archeology lab/museum. Visitors can explore the nearby Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation Nature Loop, a 0.5-mile trail that passes through ruins of a factory, horse mill, and slave quarters. The ruins were damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Trunk Bay. Wow! I know why Trunk Bay is one of the most famous on St John. It was absolutely gorgeous. There were some huge rocks just off the shore. It’s famous for its 650-foot underwater snorkeling trail of the coral reef. The water and beach were just as pretty as Cinnamon Bay but there were more people and they had bathrooms, showers, snorkeling gear rentals, and a snack shack. There is a $5 entrance fee.

Ferry to St. Thomas. This was a little scary. St. John where the car ferry is, is very busy. We thought we were in the right place but we couldn’t ever get to the car ferry. It was essential that we made it to the car ferry at the right time so we didn’t miss it going back. We soon found out that we were at the people ferry and not the car ferry. Then it was difficult trying to get to where the actual car ferry was. It’s definitely not nearly as orderly as we’re used to things in the US and everyone is definitely on island time. We were sweating it pretty hard until we were actually on the boat headed back. The car ferry back was smaller and we were not able to open our car door. We were glad we were on the larger ferry on the way over so we could get out and see the beautiful water.

K-mart. We found out from some ladies on Cinnamon Bay Beach that they bought souvenirs at Kmart. We looked it up and sure enough there was a Kmart on St. Thomas. We went and bought some aloe because we were both burnt. We were also able to buy some snacks and discovered that Kmart prices were normal prices and not the inflated tourist prices.

Pizza Hut. There aren’t that many fast food places on the island and we decided pizza sounded good. We went inside and placed our order and then waited out in the jeep until it was ready. The people working at the Pizza Hut and waiting inside for their food couldn’t have been nicer. We have been so impressed by the kindness and hospitality from everyone. There’s definitely a feeling that this is their island and they feel ownership of it. They’re being kind to share it with us but not in a “we don’t belong way” but in a “we need to be respectful way.”

Cas Cay Kayak & Snorkel Tour. We booked a 3-hour kayak & snorkel tour through Virgin Islands EcoTours at the St. Thomas Cas Cay Mangrove Lagoon Marine Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary. It was fantastic. They advertise “paddling through serene mangrove waterways, hiking volcanic cliffs, and witnessing the natural wonder of a tidal blowhole—an adventure found only at Cas Cay. Snorkel in crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant marine life like starfish, barracudas, and even nurse sharks. Enjoy delightful surprises like hermit crab races and personalized guidance that make the tour equally entertaining and educational for all ages.” Honestly, mostly all of this was spot on. When we drove to the location, we weren’t exactly sure we were in the right place. It wasn’t what we would typically find in the US for a “marine reserve & wildlife sanctuary,” but the signage matched up. We parked and after checking in, they gave us our snorkel & mask and showed us lockers where we could keep our belongings. They helped us to get into a kayak and made sure we were comfortable and ready.
We kayaked through the mangroves and it was incredible. The water was beautiful and clear. They kept a good pace and I thought the balance for kids and older people in our group, was exactly what was needed. After the kayaking, we climbed up the volcanic cliffs to the blowhole. The rocks were slippery and you did have to be careful because they were covered with water, but all ages should be able to handle the climb. When we got to the area of the blowhole, the guide told us to hold on, and I wasn’t prepared for how strong the spray would be. It shocked me but it was great!
After the volcanic rocks & blowhole, we saw the hermit crab race, which was funny and then we were able to snorkel. The guides helped anyone who hadn’t snorkeled before. They pointed out a small sunken boat, the tropical fish and helped us see a stingray. We hadn’t snorkeled very much before this tour and after such great guidance from the tour guides, we were hooked. It was an awesome tour and a wonderful day.

Secret Harbour Beach. I had heard about Secret Harbour Beach that it wasn’t heavily populated but beautiful and still had palm trees that hadn’t been damaged from the recent hurricanes. We decided to go there and watch the sunset. It was awesome! The resort on the beach, Secret Harbour Beach Resort offers dining and accommodations. It was my favorite beach on Saint Thomas.

Tap & Still. We had enjoyed dinner there at the port and ended up eating there again at their other location – in the red Hook area. The Redhook area is very touristy but has really cute shopping and stores.

St. Thomas airport. We had been warned that we needed to allow three hours at the airport to get through security. They were not kidding. It was crazy getting through customs and TSA security. We finally made it through and grabbed some lunch in the airport. The plane ended up boarding almost an hour late. Island time. 🌴 Everything on the island moves slower.

The US Virgin Islands are special. The water, sand, and scenic beauty is unmatched. We hope you fall in love with the islands like we did when you TRAVEL to the St Thomas & St John.

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to the Bahamas – Nassau & Princess Cays!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Nassau – Love Beach
2. Nassau – Blue Lagoon Islands – Swim with Dolphins
3. Nassau – Straw Market
4. Princess Cays – Ziplining & Sunning

We have taken a couple cruises to the Bahamas and visited both Nassau & Princess Cays. We explored different beaches and cays each time we were there. Our first visit we took the local bus from the cruise port to Love Beach toward the other end of Nassau. It was a short ride and it was memorable to visit with locals and learn more about the island.

We had heard that Love Beach was a local beach area that was more private and had a huge conch shell wall and beautiful water. It was all true! We loved it! For a small fee you could rent beach chairs for a couple hours. The water was gorgeous, the sand was soft and we loved the couple of hours we spent there. When we were ready to leave, we caught the local bus just outside the entrance to the beach. Just make sure to plan enough time to get back. We learned that the local bus doesn’t always arrive at the exact time and there are multiple stops on the way back to the cruise port. We have found that “Island Time” is a real thing. It’s a nice break from a fast and intense pace, but just make sure to have the extra time!

We took an excursion to Blue Lagoon Island to swim with the dolphins. We caught the ferry from the cruise ship pier and had quite an adventurous ride to the Cay. The waters were a little rough and at times we were all splashed. It was fine with us and part of the adventures of the day. When we were pulling into the Cay, we noticed how beautiful the waters were – the clearest shades of green and blue. Once we left the ferry we found a spot on the beach. There were plenty of chairs and a water playground. Brad & I had played on a water playground several years before when we visited Costa Maya, Mexico and the kids were so excited to play on the one at this excursion. It did not disappoint. They tried so many times to get to the top and several times were even successful. They had a great time.

After the playground and resting on the beach, we made our way to the Swimming with Dolphins area. It was a bit of a walk from the beach to where the dolphins were but most of the way was paved with wooden docks or concrete. The dolphin encounter was incredible. We were in the water with the dolphin but didn’t truly swim the dolphin, he swam around us. We had our picture made with the dolphin and it was actually an amazing opportunity.

Nassau – Straw Market. In the middle of Nassau is a large mixture of open-air and indoor shops. It’s full of souvenirs and items. It’s worth a walk-through to see handmade local items and even to take the time to talk to the locals and have them tell you about their town.

Princess Cays. This cay is a private island exclusively for guests of Carnival & Princess cruises. It is absolutely stunning. The water is a perfectly clear mix of blues & greens. The sand is sparkling white. There are multiple areas of lounge chairs and beautiful cabana buildings for rent. Then even offer ziplining.

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Panama City & Panama City Beach!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Panama City Beach – St. Andrews State Park
2. Shell Island
3. Pier Park shopping & SkyWheel
4. Schooners Restaurant – “last local beach club”
5. Captain Anderson’s restaurant & boat tours & fishing charters
6. Shipwreck Island
7. Cruise the Strip activities – Coconut Creek mini golf & gran maze, go-karts, WonderWorks, and ZooWorld
8. Panama City Downtown Marina & antique shopping
9. Beach Drive

The beach. I have been to beaches on the west coast, the east coast, Mexico, the Caribbean & Central America and I can honestly say that on the PERFECT BEACH DAY when all the elements line up with the most gorgeous mix of blue and green water, the perfect water temperature and the sugar white sand with powder-like consistency I haven’t been to a beach any better than Panama City Beach. I know that’s saying a lot and admit that sometimes the perfect beach day conditions don’t always line up. However, I would still take my chances on a beach day in Panama City Beach. There are different areas to access the beach and the Gulf and some are better suited to what you are looking for.
If I am planning a longer day at the beach and especially if I have my children with me, St. Andrews State Park is my favorite location. The state park does require an entrance fee and often during peak times, it will fill up. During those peak times, be sure to arrive no later than mid-morning. The park opens at 8 am and closes at sundown. It’s $8 per vehicle to enter. The biggest advantage are the bathrooms and the showers. It’s always nice after a full day at the beach to shower off the sand and salt water before the drive back to your home or condo. If I only have a couple hours to enjoy the beach, I usually take advantage of any of the many beach access points from 98/Front Beach Rd. Some of the access points are a little better than others for better parking or showers. My favorite one is Rick Seltzer Park. It has good free parking, restrooms, outdoor showers and a gazebo.

Shell Island. If you can take a boat to Shell Island, it’s a great way to spend the day on a beautiful island with not quite as many tourists. Shell Island is 7 miles long and undeveloped. It’s beautiful and more remote with wildlife but no concessions or restrooms. There are several ferry options.

Pier Park. At the west end of Panama City Beach is a huge shopping district full of the best shops, outdoor mall, entertainment options including an IMAX theater and ferris wheel & great restaurants. It’s called Pier Park because of the close proximity to a fantastic pier out into the gulf.

When I am visiting Panama City, I love when there is time to have lunch at Schooners. I’ve been having lunch and an occasional dinner there for 30 years. The food is always delicious with fresh seafood and so many options. I love that the restaurant is directly on the beach. I love to linger after eating and take in the views of the gulf. From the Schooners website: “lunch is awesome. Dinner is awesome. The beach is awesome. The sunsets are awesome. As a matter of fact, this just might be the best place on the planet.” I couldn’t agree more!

Captain Andersons is the place when you want to feel a little fancy for dinner but want a good meal with lots of options for fresh seafood. The dinners are always amazing. Captain Andersons Marina also offers boat tours and fishing charters. We have never been disappointed with the fishing charters through Captain Anderson.

Shipwreck Island Water Park. I’ve been visiting this water park for over 30 years. The Lazy River is the best way to relax and cool off at the hottest part of the day. The waterpark has plenty to offer for all ages but not so big that the older kids can’t go play and you meet up. My favorite ride as a teenager was the Rapids and that’s probably still true…just a few years later.

Beach Activities. On Front Beach Road and Thomas Drive are plenty of activities to keep everyone busy. Coconut Creek mini golf & gran maze is always so much fun. There’s (3) 18-hole mini-golf courses and a huge gran maze about the size of a football field that you can navigate your way out of.
Hidden Lagoon Golf & Racetrack is one of our favorite places to ride go karts. There are several places on Panama City Beach – find your favorite!
WonderWorks has an upside down house, laser tag & a ropes course.
ZooWorld – interactive zoo where you can feed several zoo animals including goats, ponies, sheep, llama, cows and an exotic deer. You can join an up-close experience and meet a capybara or a lemur, wade with gators, kiss a kangaroo joey or pet a sloth! If you have pet lovers in your group, this is a must!

Panama City Downtown Marina & Antique Shopping. The downtown marina was destroyed in 2018 by Hurricane Michael. The city has rebuilt the marina and its even better. It’s a great place to see the bay that feeds into the gulf. You can fish from the pier. There is an Indigo Hotel on the marina pier. During the day there is a water playground and at night you can go for a ride in the glow in the dark kayaks – Glow Float.
There are some great antique stores in the downtown area of Panama City. Most of them are on Harrison Avenue which is the main street through downtown. My top favorites are: The Antique Cottage (903 Harrison Ave) and Main Street Antiques on Harrison (535 Harrison Ave). There are always plenty of vintage finds.

Beach Drive. I honestly don’t feel like my visit to Panama City is complete if I haven’t been down Beach Drive. This small strip of 98 is so nostalgic for me. When I was a teenager and new at driving, I learned to take this road to avoid some of the traffic on 15th Street. Not only was the road less crowded but the views were incredible. On the left you could see the water of the bay and on the right you could see the beautiful homes and historic mansions of the area. If I’m planning a trip to downtown Panama City, you better believe I’m going to get there driving down Beach Drive.

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Portland, Oregon & Washington!
Highlights/Recommendations:
Oregon:
1. Downtown Portland:
Powell City of Books
Voodoo Donuts
2. Portland Oregon LDS Temple
3. The Grotto
4. Twilight Fans – Bella Swan House

Washington:
1. Mt. St. Helen’s
2. Seattle Washington LDS Temple
3. Pike Place Market
4. Starbucks (original location)
5. Washington State Ferry
6. Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park
7. Ruby Beach
8. Twilight Fans – Forks, La Push Beach

One of my best friends of over 30 years is a flight attendant and had a few days off and asked me if I wanted to go on an adventure with her. Neither of us had been to the state of Oregon and we spent 36 hours flying from Memphis, Tennessee to Porland, Oregon and exploring the northwest side of Oregon and road tripping to the northwest side of Washington. It was a whirlwind 3 days but we saw some amazingly beautiful places and had some crazy adventures and tender mercies along the way.

We left Memphis, Tennessee airport and flew a red-eye flight into Portland, Oregon. It was after midnight when we landed and even though we were tired, we immediately fell in love with the Portland Oregon airport. The interior ceiling was covered in beautiful wooden beams. Gorgeous! We are both tree lovers and if they aren’t still growing in nature, we love to see them used in beautiful applications. This was! We picked up our rental car and headed straight to the hotel – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portland – Jantzen Beach. The beds were super comfy, but might have been softer than normal because we were so tired and ready to crash! Either way, it was a good night’s sleep.

We were out the door pretty early the next morning after a filling breakfast at the hotel. Our travel itinerary was full and we were hoping to check off a lot of places. Our first stop was the Portland Oregon LDS Temple in Lake Oswego. It was tucked away in a business area and behind towering Douglas fir trees and we didn’t even see the Temple at first. Once we pulled into the parking lot we could see the beauty of the white Vermont marble. It was exquisite! The temple is 181 feet tall with 6 stunning spires. The beautiful tulips of all varieties were planted along the temple grounds. Such a special place! The temple was dedicated in 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley.

We picked up some snacks, lots of Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke and some ice in an insulated wet/dry bag (this detail matters later) from Fred Meyer and headed to The Grotto. The Grotto is a Catholic outdoor shrine. We were actually traveling during Easter week and thought it would be an added bonus to visit a place dedicated to Christ. The parking lot at the Grotto is full of more enormous Douglas fir trees and as soon as you leave your car, you notice a cooler outdoor temperature. You could feel the tranquility and peace of the area. We walked the Stations of the Cross and loved feeling closer to our Savior during our visit. We were there 45 minutes and only visited the Lower Gardens and the gift store but highly recommend taking the time and paying the cost to see and experience the Upper Gardens!

Our next stop was in downtown Portland at Powell City of Books. We had read that Powell Books is the largest bookstore in the world. It is 4 stories in an entire city block in downtown Portland. It was incredible! Not only did it have every book you could ever want but it was so well organized by genre in categorized rooms. They also had a wonderful selection of postcards, travel stickers and other souvenirs. We stayed about 45 minutes but could see how an entire day could be spent there. We street parked and paid the meter and had no problems walking a block or so to our car.

We were getting hungry and headed to Voodoo Donuts at their original location – Old Town – 22 SW 3rd Avenue. We had heard they had quite an extensive variety of doughnuts. We were not disappointed. We parked in the alley next to the store. There was a security guard at the front door and he was only letting in one group at a time. We wondered why a security guard and limited entrance to the store was necessary. We didn’t feel unsafe and after just a short wait, we loaded up on several varieties of donuts. The maple bacon donut was my favorite and Karen loved the snickers one.

Since we were going to be in the area of several locations related to the Twilight book & movie series, we felt we should stop at a few of the locations as we were going by them. The actual house that was used for Bella Swan and her dad is located in St. Helens, OR. There were signs asking for twilight fans to park at the bottom of the drive and walk up to the house. It wasn’t a far walk but was uphill. It was interesting to see the difference of how the house is portrayed in the movies and the actual reality. In the movie, it seems like the house is off of a long road and slightly remote, but the house is actually located in a neighborhood. We noticed the house is available for rent. We snapped a couple pictures and checked it off our list.

We crossed into the state of Washington.

Our next stop was Castle Rock. We were looking for a large boulder. We arrived at the address and the only thing we saw was a beautiful river. We were a little disappointed but decided we must have misunderstood something and took a picture of the beautiful river and wished we had kayaks to paddle and enjoy it. We were getting hungry and decided to stop at a Subway and grab a sandwich before our next big adventure – Mt. St. Helens! When we got back in the car the warning light was on indicating low tire pressure. I didn’t think it was too big of a deal and was happy we were in a small town and it didn’t take very long to find a gas station with air to inflate the tire. We started the drive up to Mt. St. Helens and I saw a souvenir shop, Mt. St. Helens Gifts as one of the last places before the long drive. I quickly asked Karen if she wanted to stop and buy some souvenirs and before she could fully respond, I whipped into the parking lot, surprising both of us. As soon as I opened the car door, I heard a hissing noise coming from the tire that I had just aired up. I knew that was not good. Karen went inside to look around and I got on the phone with the rental car agency. They kindly suggested we could exchange the car at another location, but I looked and it was over an hour away. I knew the tire would never make it. The next option was to have Roadside Assistance come and repair the tire. I knew both of those options were going to involve several hours and more time than we could spare. I asked if it was an option to repair the tire at a local auto stop. They indicated I could do that and I could be reimbursed for the expense. The super kind owner at Mt. St. Helens Gifts suggested an auto repair place that was conveniently less than a mile away. We bought our souvenirs and made our way to Castle Rock Auto Care. The kindest lady at the front desk said they would be able to help us and within 30 minutes – Miguel had the tire repaired and we were back on our way to Mt. St. Helens. If you are EVER in need in Castle Rock, Oregon, you couldn’t find a friendlier town to help you on your way. We were so grateful.

The drive up to Mt. St. Helens is long and we were very often the only ones on the road. We also lost phone service for most of the drive. We couldn’t help but think the castle rock landmark we missed helped detour us, so we found the tire leak and had it repaired before we were isolated and not able to receive the auto services we would need. We felt VERY blessed! We knew it was a tender mercy. Although the drive is long, it is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful! During the drive up, we passed by an area with the most amazing trees. I ended up calling them the “Bob Ross trees.” The trunks and bark were perfectly straight and such a bright white color and were contrasted by elongated, elegant branches with the most perfect shades of green. It looked like they were just painted to be there. It was breath-taking.
When we visited, the Visitors Center was closed. We stopped anyway and took a couple of pictures at the lookout. They were pretty and it was amazing to see a volcano mountain that was active almost 45 years before. But, we knew we wanted to get closer. The lady at the souvenir shop suggested the Coldwater Lake lookout and that was our target. She wasn’t wrong. The view was beautiful. My favorite lookout was Elk Lake Viewpoint. I loved seeing the volcano mountain framed with the green trees and the crystal blue lake just in front of it. It was a beautiful place! We also stopped at a bridge overlook and heard some elk grunting and breaking trees in the woods. We didn’t know the sounds were coming from elk at the time and thought it might be the Sasquatch. The sasquatch stories are very prevalent in the area. It was exciting as we ran back to the car before Bigfoot could grab us. Lots of bigfoot souvenirs where we stopped.

Mt. St. Helens. Such beauty even knowing how deadly and destructive it can be. The day it last erupted was Karens 5th birthday. She has always been fascinated with the volcano mountain and it was her top place to visit during this trip. It did not disappoint. Because Mt. St. Helens in a glacier, it is always covered in snow. The contrast of the snow-covered mountain surrounded by all of the green trees made for exceptional scenery. We read about the last eruption and the damage with it and the lives that were lost. We were so sad for the area and were amazed at the tenacity and survival of the local people, animals and how nature had rebuilt. Amazing stop! We left the mountain and headed north to Seattle, Washington.

On our drive to the hotel we stopped at the Seattle Washington LDS temple in Bellevue, Washington. I had been wanting to get a good picture of the pink cherry blossom trees but hadn’t been able to make it happen. When we pulled into the drive of the temple we saw that it was lined with gorgeous cherry blossom trees that were in full bloom. We arrived at dusk and the pink blossoms against the darkening sky made for such a beautiful picture. I felt blessed again. We couldn’t believe the height and overall size of the temple, it was huge. It’s 179 feet high. The back of the temple had a curved wall that I’m sure has been used for many youth group pictures. The temple was dedicated in 1980 by Spencer W. Kimball.

We pulled into the Kimpton Hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle and started getting our things out. I noticed behind the driver’s seat, the passenger floorboard was wet. I moved some things around and realized the ice bag with our drinks had melted and leaked. There was a huge puddle. The valet immediately realized there was a problem. Tender mercy – we chose to stay at a nicer hotel that had services available and they quickly got us a steamer machine that also removed water and in less than 20 minutes the puddle of water was gone. The amazing valet also agreed to park the car in a place where the back window could be left slightly open and the floorboard would continue to dry. It had been a wonderful but long day and we were more than happy to crash into our beds at the Kimpton. The beds were comfy, the rooms spacious with heavily-lined black out curtains and we had a great view of the downtown streets of Seattle.

The next morning we checked out of the hotel and headed to Starbucks and Pike Place Market. We saw several available street parking places and decided to use that option since we were only planning to be at the market a couple of hours. Pike Place Market parking typically costs $15 for 3 hours but if you arrive by 9 am you can park all day for $15.

My daughter is a huge Starbucks fan and loves their mixed lemonades. I was excited to make it to the original location so I could get her some unique souvenirs. There is often a line outside to get into the shop and we were fortunate enough to get there early so we didn’t have to wait. Inside you can either get in the line to order food and drinks or the line to buy souvenirs. It’s a well-oiled machine where the lines move fast with a really quaint atmosphere.

Pike Place Market did not disappoint. It is located on the waterfront of the Puget Sound. Make sure to go to the back of the market and take pictures of the harbor, the Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges, the Seattle Great Wheel (ferris wheel), and the Space Needle. The view of Mount Rainier is stunning. You can also watch the different ferry services from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, Bremerton and even Victoria, British Columbia. There is so much to see at Pike Place Market. There are food vendors, flower stands, artwork, jewelry & clothing dealers, and probably any other item you could think to purchase.

A great place to visit was Pike Place Fish Market. This is the world famous seafood market where they throw fish. The practice of throwing fish was started in the 1980s when the former owner wanted to quickly get the purchased fish from the display area to the employee behind the counter who would be wrapping it. All of the employees chant and shout as the fish is being purchased and thrown. It’s fun to watch and worth sticking around the front of the store to see it. You can buy wild salmon, halibut, king crab and even caviar. They offer overnight shipping to anywhere in the United States. We didn’t buy any fish but we did buy some seasoning. It was a great atmosphere and certainly a highlight of the Market area.

We left the market and took the Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island. The ferry lines operate continuously throughout the day and the process of driving your car onto and off the ferry is well supervised and a smooth process. We entered the Seattle Ferry Terminal line up area and waited about 30 minutes to drive onto the Kaleetan Ferry. Within 15 minutes we were pulling away from the dock and had beautiful views of Seattle from the water. There’s a large indoor area on the ferry where people were looking at the water and scenery and several families were putting puzzles together. It was a 30-minute ferry ride. We pulled into the harbor and drove off onto Bainbridge Island.

As we were making our way from Bainbridge Island to Forks, Washington we drove on the Hood Canal Floating Bridge. This bridge has a drawbridge section and as we were pulling onto the bridge, traffic stopped and we saw a large fishing vessel in the water. We watched it pass through the drawbridge and also noticed what looked like a navy boat with large guns on each side of the boat. The drawbridge didn’t lower and we continued to wait. In just a few minutes we saw a submarine coming toward the bridge and noticed another navy boat with large guns on the other side. We found out later that the navy submarine we saw was the USS Jimmy Carter, only one of three Sea Wolf class submarines. It was returning to port at Bangor Base. We felt fortunate to get to see the submarine.

The drive from Port Angeles toward Forks, WA is absolutely breathtaking as you make your way through Olympic National Park. The drive along Lake Crescent in the National Park is stunning. The lake waters have the deepest blue colors. The exceptional clarity of the water is caused by low levels of nitrogen which prevent algae growth. The crystal clear, blue waters combined with the souring mountain ranges was so beautiful. The trees were so tall and so plentiful that we would often be driving through tree canopies.

We made it to Forks, Washington. The Twilight book series and movies were set in this small town. The town only has a population of 3,000. There is a Forks welcome sign as you enter the town. We drove to Forks High School and took a couple pictures. The high school is located right off the main road of the town.

About 20 minutes from Forks on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean is La Push Beach. La Push Beach is actually made up of 3 different beaches: First, Second, and Third. The entire area is located in the Quileute Indian Reservation. We went to First Beach because you can drive right to it at the very end of the road. Second and Third Beaches have to be hiked to. You will pass the entrance to these beaches as you drive to First Beach.
We parked at the shore edge of First Beach – 320 Ocean Front Drive. The beach was full of driftwood. We had to carefully climb over the large logs to walk to the water. There is a large driftwood wall from the beach and into the water that separates the water into two sections. It’s a beautiful combination of water, sand, driftwood and rock. The surf was really strong. We didn’t notice anyone in the water on that day. There are multiple, large sea stacks in the water. It made for such a beautiful coastline. There are a couple port-a-potties available in the parking lot just before the beach.

On our drive back to Forks, we passed the Quileute Tribal School which had a large sign in front of the school by the road. There is also a Welcome Twilight Fans Treaty Line sign on the way back to Forks. We stopped at a couple souvenir places and everyone was so friendly. We found the best selection of Forks & Pacific Northwest souvenirs at Forks Outfitters. They had a fantastic variety of shirts, sweatshirts, cups, magnets and stickers.

From Forks we made our way to Ruby Beach. We had heard Ruby Beach was a magical place and had planned to stop, if we had time. We were so glad we decided to include it in our stops. It was my favorite beach! It was truly magical. After you park in the parking lot, you walk down the gravel pathway to the beach. It is a bit of a steep walk but manageable. You can see the beach from the top of the walk but once you are level with the beach you really appreciate all the features of the beach. There is driftwood everywhere – large trees and logs that you have to climb over to get to the water. There are beautiful tidepools with abundant sea life and full of surf washing in and out from the ocean. There are so many different sizes of rock formations or sea stacks, you can even climb on them. There are rocks and pebbles all along the shore. The beach gets its name from the reddish color sand that resembles rubies. It is a gorgeous beach and full of so many things to explore.

From Ruby Beach we drove to Portland. The drive along the coast was not nearly as picturesque, mostly because the forest was so dense. We did see some beach access areas but the hike down to the beach from the road seemed very high and almost inaccessible. We felt like we had seen such beautiful beaches during our trip and were happy with where we had been.

We had high expectations for our visit to the Oregon and Washington states. We knew we had limited time and we packed in as many things as we could. The Pacific Northwest was incredible and full of so many spectacular things to see and do. A very special place.

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Niagara Falls New York!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Maid of the Mist tour
2. Observation Tower
3. Niagara Scenic Trolley

We took a guided boat tour from the Maid of the Mist. They have double decker boats and you’re able to have a close-up experience with the falls. The tour includes a souvenir rain poncho to wear for protection from the water while you’re on the boat experiencing the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. When we purchased tickets for the tour they were $30 for adults, $20 for youth (6-12) and children under 5 were free. We felt the cost was well worth being able to experience the falls from the boat. It was incredible!

The Niagara Observation Tower gives you the best views of the Falls and the Niagara River. There are elevators at the Observation Tower which you can take to the base of the gorge and also board the Maid of the Mist boat tours. There is also a trolley that will take you through the park. We were able to walk the park without any challenges but it would be a great option to take the trolley.

We loved Niagara Falls State Park! The falls were beautiful and so inspiring.

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Palmyra New York & Susquehanna Pennsylvania!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. The Sacred Grove
2. The Sacred Grove Historical Site – Smith Family Farm
3. Palmyra Temple
4. Hill Cumorah
5. Grandin Printshop – Book of Mormon Publication Location
6. Priesthood Restoration Site

It was a dream come true to be in the Sacred Grove with our family. It is a beautifully wooded area. The temperature in the Grove was cooler and you could feel that it was a solemn and sacred place. There were a couple paths and many benches to rest and reflect. For so many years I wanted to go and visit and then to be there with my family was emotional and soul-filling.
In the spring of 1820, Joseph was 14 years old when he decided he should ask his questions to God through prayer after reading James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.” Joseph was concerned about his own salvation and wanted to know which church could bring him to God. Joseph ventured to a place in the woods near his home and knelt in prayer. To his astonishment, he was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ. The instruction they gave him as an answer to his prayer spurred the beginning of the restoration of Christ’s church on the earth.

The Smith Family Farm has so much to explore: The Sacred Grove Welcome Center, Joseph’s Boyhood Home, Smith Farm Home, Threshing Barn and Copper Shop. We spent about an hour exploring these locations with a guided tour from one of the many missionaries on the property. Our favorite was Joseph’s Boyhood Home. It was humbling to see the low ceilings and feel how small the house was compared to current homes. It was incredible to be in the place where so many special moments occurred and to know that Joseph Smith was raised by his family between those 4 walls.

Palmyra New York Temple. The Temple is less than a mile from the Smith Family Farm and the Sacred Grove. It was amazing to be able to see the top of the temple through the trees of the farm. What a spectacular sight that would have been for the members of the Smith family? The Palmyra New York Temple was announced on February 9, 1999 and dedicated by President Hinckley on April 6, 2000.

The Grandin Printshop – Book of Mormon Historic Publication Site is on Main Street just 3 miles from the Smith Family Farm. You can park directly in front of the brick building and there are missionaries inside the building that describe the printing and process of the Book of the Mormon. There are several rare editions of the Book of Mormon and other great displays throughout the building.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant began in 1937 and grew to more than 700 cast members, 1,300 costumes, a 10-level stage, and attracted approximately 35,000 viewers annually. The pageant was performed for the last time in 2019 and we were fortunate to be able to be there for one of the final performances. Because seating for the pageant is first-come, first-serve, when we first arrived in Palmyra we found the spot we where we wanted to sit and placed some of our belongings on a few of the chairs and then visited the other church historical sites throughout Palmyra. The pageant didn’t begin until it was dark around 9 pm and when we came back to our seats around 7 pm everything was as we had left it. We visited with the people sitting around us, met and took pictures with the performers and bought popcorn and drinks for the show.
The set, costumes, special effects, script, and acting were all incredible. The depiction of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites was breathtaking. He descended from the top of Hill Cumorah lit with a spotlight, dressed in white so that it appeared that he was glowing. His love for the Nephite people and their children was so tender. It was a wonderful portrayal and the Spirit throughout was so strong. There was a beautiful sunset before the show started and a beautiful moon throughout the performance. It was as if all nature was in agreement of the sacredness of the special performance.

The Priesthood Restoration Site in Susquehanna Pennsylvania is 2.5 hours (155 miles) from the Hill Cumorah and Smith Family Farm sites in New York. There is a Visitors Center, several statues and reconstructed homes all commemorating the events surrounding the translation of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.

It’s a short drive (less than a mile) from the Visitors Center and trail walk to the river to see where Joseph and Oliver were baptized in the Susquehanna River.
On May 15, 1829, in answer to Joseph and Oliver’s prayer about baptism, God sent John the Baptist, who conferred on Joseph and Oliver the Aaronic Priesthood.  Joseph and Oliver then baptized each other in the Susquehanna River.
We felt honored to visit so many historical places that were part of the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1800s.

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to New Jersey!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Carlos Bakery

This is only a very small representation of the state of New Jersey. We hope to visit again soon and atleast see these additional places:
1. Liberty State Park – ferry to Ellis Island
2. Atlantic City Boardwalk
3. Ocean City Beach

Our son started watching Carlos Bakery when he was in Kindergarten. He always said he wanted to go visit and try their amazing desserts. When we started planning this summer trip to New York I made sure he would get the chance to visit and actually try one of their pastries. He was so excited! They were even better than he hoped!

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Independence Hall
2. Climb the Rocky Steps
at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
3. United States Mint at Philadelphia

NEXT TIME:
1. Liberty Bell
2. LOVE sculpture
3. Reading Terminal Market
4. Benjamin Franklin Parkway

We traveled with our two older children to Philadelphia as part of a quick visit to several other states. These are the highlights from our day in Philly.

We booked tickets for a guided tour of Independence Hall through the National Park Service. They only cost $1 each but were important to secure a spot for a guided tour. The tour lasted about 20 minutes that enabled us to see the Assembly Room (where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed). We were required to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the tour. We hung out in the park area until the time for our tour.

We didn’t see the Liberty Bell because the wait was over an hour. We had been traveling for several days and the kids weren’t feeling like standing in line for over an hour. We decided to pass on the tour and save it for next time. Instead, we decided to visit the US Mint.

The United States Mint was on our list to visit because of a family friend that is an avid coin collector and our son was finishing up his Eagle Scout requirements and one of his options was to visit a mint. Win-Win! We took a self-guided tour that lasted about 45 minutes. There is plenty to see and lots of signage to help explain the process of minting. We thought it was great. The United States Mint is located at 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA 19106

After the MINT visit we took the PHLASH bus and rode through the downtown Philly area. We saw the Philadelphia Capitol and the Philadelphia LDS Temple. The architecture of both of these buildings is stunning.

We rode the bus to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to attempt to run up the Rocky Steps.

There are 72 steps to climb to re-create what Sylvester Stallone did in the Rocky movie. We started strong but quickly realized we hadn’t trained like Rocky to be able to run up them all. We took the famous picture from the top of the stairs with a view of the Philadelphia city skyline.

Philadelphia was great and we look forward to another visit to see more! It is The City of Brotherly Love!

Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Costa Rica!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. La Fortuna
2. Arenal Volcano
3. Arenal Rafting Company
4. ATV through the jungle
5. La Fortuna Waterfall
6. Jaho Beach
7. Ziplining – Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park
8. Princesa De La Luna EcoLodge
9. Costa Rica LDS Temple

For our son’s High School Senior Trip, we took him and a couple of his friends to Costa Rica. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! We were overwhelmed with the beauty and diversity of Costa Rica and the absolute kindness and hospitality of the Costa Rican people. Our son and his friends spoke a very small amount of Spanish from several years of high school Spanish classes and through what they knew and some help from Google translate we were able to communicate for what we needed. I’ll highlight a few communication snafus throughout the post. But even with those few instances, I would absolutely return without hesitation. I have, however strengthened my own Spanish skills, since returning home.

In just the few days we were in Costa Rica, we saw such a diversity of landscapes – jungles, volcanos, waterfalls, rivers and beaches. Such a beautiful place!

We flew out of New Orleans to San Juan, Costa Rica with a layover in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was an early morning start and since we had a limited number of days, we knew we needed to rest on the flights so we could hit the ground ready to go once we landed in Costa Rica. Immigration into Costa Rica didn’t take too long. We landed in Costa Rica at 12:30 pm and arrived at the Adobe Rental Car location by 1:45 (just over an hour). Adobe Rental Car was recommended through another Costa Rica blog: https://mytanfeet.com/. We rented a van since we had 3 tall teenagers BUT we thought we were getting a typical mini-van and we actually rented a VERY large cargo-type van. We had PLENTY of space but there were a few times it was hard to navigate and park. Just be aware of what you are renting. The Adobe Rental Car driver was waiting for us at the exit of the airport. After a quick drive to the rental location we were loaded and off to explore!

Just a short drive from the airport we found the San Jose, Costa Rica LDS Temple. The temple was closed for renovations but one of the foremen, Randall was gracious enough to allow us in the gate and look at the front of the temple. We saw a group of missionaries across the street from the temple and since our son had recently received his mission call to serve in the Minneapolis Minnesota Mission (Spanish speaking) and would be leaving in November, we took it as a tender mercy to meet this group. They led us toward a great local restaurant for lunch, just across from the temple.

After lunch we drove about 2.5 hours to La Fortuna. It was a beautiful drive!

We had booked our first two nights at an eco-lodge in the middle of the jungle. It lived up to its name! It was fantastic but definitely in the middle of the jungle. Princess de la Luna La Fortuna: https://www.princesadelalunaecolodge.com/. We found the eco-lodge through Trip Advisor and for an authentic experience, it was perfect. Within an hour of arriving, the manager and a couple staff prepared us a wonderful local dinner.

After dinner, we were happy to head to our rooms. The rooms were large with plenty of bed options. There was not air conditioning in the rooms, but fans were available and the temperature was mild. The beds were comfortable and we truly felt like we were immersed in the jungle. We crashed early to bed. We were all exhausted and had a fun next day planned.

The manager of the Eco Lodge booked us on an ATV adventure through the jungle. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g309226-d1553128-Reviews-Jaguariders_Fortuna_Arenal-La_Fortuna_de_San_Carlos_Arenal_Volcano_National_Park_.html
The location of the tour was easy to find and the employees were very helpful and made sure we had a wonderful ride on the ATVs. I have only ridden an ATV a handful of times in my life and I was a little apprehensive that I would know how to change gears but our guide was very thorough and made sure I knew exactly what to do and I had no problem on the tour.

We had the best time. At the end of the ATV tour, our guide made sure to point out a sloth that was in the top of one of the trees. We were covered in mud and had the biggest smiles. Great tour!

After our ATV adventure, we found a local pizza restaurant – La Cava Restaurant. The pizza was great. https://lacava.restaurant/. It had started to rain some when we were eating pizza and it was nice to rest from the ATV adventure and see and hear the rain falling in the jungle atmosphere. We decided to explore the city center of La Fortuna.

Our son and friends bought soccer jerseys. My phone screen broke during the ATV adventure and we found a phone repair shop and they quickly fixed it. We also found the nicest man that ran a local ice cream shop. It was delicious and perfect as we dodged the rain drops.

We enjoyed the rest of the evening at the EcoLodge – laying in the hammocks, napping & listening to the light rain failing. The views of the volcano from the hammocks were incredible!

Volcano History – The Arenal Volcano is 5,358 feet tall. In 1968 the Volcano erupted unexpectedly, destroying the small town of Tabacón but has been dormant since 2010.

We were all so excited for our Whitewater Rafting adventure. William, the manager at the Eco Lodge also set up the whitewater rafting adventure for us (have I mentioned yet that he was FANTASTIC?) – Arenal Rafting Company. https://arenalrafting.com/
The meeting place for rafting was easy to find. We waited about 30 minutes for the group to assemble.

We got onto the charter bus and after a scenic drive (with a stop at a local souvenir and produce stand) we were at the river.

After a brief rafting demonstration, the employees helped us get our life jackets and helmets on and into the river we went. The river rapids were perfect! We booked the Class III & IV rapids and they did not disappoint. Our guide made sure we were safe and prepared for the advanced rapids. He went above and beyond to make sure our experience was fantastic.

Towards the end of the rafting, our guide beached our raft and jumped onto the riverbank and succeeded in catching a poison dart frog to show us. I was unbelievably nervous! The last thing I wanted was to happen was for anyone to get stug by a poison dart frog. We survived it and it added to the wildness and unexpected fun of the adventure. Perfect Day!

La Fortuna Waterfall! We were so excited to hike and experience this waterfall. I had seen so many gorgeous pictures of the waterfall and couldn’t believe we were there to see it, feel it and experience it. I had read that there were 500 steps down to the waterfall and I thought it wouldn’t be such a big deal but I quickly learned that IT WAS A BIG DEAL! You need to be in decent shape to do this many steps. Luckily there are plenty of benches and places to stop and rest along the way but allow yourself enough time to make the trek.

The waterfall is 246 feet high. It was absolutely breath-taking! There is a pool just down from the waterfall just has the most beautiful turquoise water and it’s crystal clear. It’s a great swimming area. It’s full of fish and beautiful large rocks. So many people were swimming, relaxing and just enjoying the stunning waterfall and water. We spent an hour or so just enjoying the experience – we knew the hike back up with all those steps was waiting for us and we weren’t in a hurry. PREPARE for the hike but the view and experience is well worth it!

We drove from the Eco Lodge outside La Fortuna to Jaco Beach. We booked a beach view condo for 2 nights https://www.hotels.com/ho714054112/bahia-encantada-h3-g3-jaco-costa-rica/?semcid=HCOM-US.UB.BING.PT-DSA-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=a1428547483.b11331510087318657.g1dat-2335019100179488:loc-190.e1c.m126207fea8d331e4a990e184d70260048.r1.c1.j175004.k1142150.d183219689732296.h1b.i1.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&msclkid=26207fea8d331e4a990e184d70260048 – we found a great deal at $180/night because we were in the off-season. It took us around 5 hours to get there with multiple stops. We arrived after dark and this is where the biggest language snafu happened. The condo security guard only spoke Spanish and took his security guard assignment VERY seriously. I only spoke English and he wasn’t really interested in making the check in process very easy for me. To his credit, I booked the reservation late and we didn’t show up on the listing he had received. Finally using google translate and help from two managers that translated for us, he realized our reservation was real and allowed us in. I vowed then to not come back to Costa Rica until I knew atleast some Spanish. The condo premises and amenities were very nice. The pool area was fantastic. The rooms were really good. All around the condo was construction. It looked even better in the morning when we could see the beautiful water, sand and palm trees.

We spent the morning exploring the main streets of Jaco. Everyone was friendly and we felt safe. Some spoke English, some did not. Some did but didn’t want us to know that. Overall, we felt welcome. We found a great local taco shop, TacoBenos. The owner was awesome and was happy to share local insights. The tacos were excellent!

Beautiful View! This was our son’s first time in the Pacific Ocean.

While we were walking on the beach we started noticing some commotion in the water and people running in and out and finally heard someone say “crocodile.” We laughed – no way! Until, we saw it. THERE WAS A CROCODILE in the OCEAN! We were shocked. Some of the locals explained that a river overflows into the ocean and often crocodiles swim in. We spent an hour or more watching a local group of fisherman try to catch the crocodile. It was wild!

The guys decided they really wanted to zipline through the jungle for their last big Costa Rican experience. We found a recommended company and couldn’t have been happier.
https://vistalossuenosadventurepark.com/ We were one of the last groups for the day and had the best guides. It was awesome to be so high in the trees and the zipline runs were long. Highly recommend!

On the search for El Miro (an abandon mansion with incredible views) https://explanders.com/latin-america-antarctica/costa_rica/the-ruins-of-el-miro/
we found Mirador de Jaco. Sadly we weren’t able to find the entrance to El Miro and after a long day, our group was happy enough to love the views from Mirador de Jaco. It was fun to see so many different groups of people taking pictures. The sunset over the water was incredible.

We were starving after the views of the sunset and were happy to find Marea Alta Restaurant. They had great local food with large quantities and lots of variety. After dinner we walked the streets of Jaco and we could feel a different vibe than earlier in the day. We didn’t feel unsafe on the main road but didn’t feel comfortable venturing beyond the main road and away from larger groups of people. We found some great souvenir shops.

There was one more thing on our Jaco list to do – Tarcoles crocodile bridge. I had read about a bridge where you could see lots of crocodiles in the water. We decided to go there on our way from Jaco to the airport. We arrived at the bridge around 8 am. We parked on the side of the highway and there was only one other family there. Sadly, we only saw 1 crocodile the 30 minutes we were there. We had heard that the best time to visit was in the morning but we were a little disappointed. Even though we didn’t see the dozens of crocodiles we had hoped for – it was still a good experience to see the river and atleast one croc. This post has some more detailed information about the Crocodile Bridge.
https://costaricatravellife.com/costa-rica-crocodile-bridge/#:~:text=Since%20the%20crocodile%20bridge%20is%20located%20on

The drive from Jaco to the San Jose Costa Rica airport took about 2 hours. The roads were good and we actually made it sooner than we planned. The flight out of Costa Rica went well. We made it to Ft. Lauderdale but didn’t get through Customs fast enough and actually missed our flight to New Orleans. We ended up staying the night in Ft. Lauderdale and were so happy when we finally made it back home.

Costa Rica was incredible and we can’t wait to plan another trip back!