The Coolest Thing I Did in WA that I Didn’t Even Know Existed: The Pemberton Climbing Trees

The Coolest Thing I Did in WA that I Didn’t Even Know Existed: The Pemberton Climbing Trees

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When my friend suggested that we climb some trees on our recent weekend camping trip in WA (Western Australia), I think I replied with something along the lines of “Oh, I love climbing trees.” But ladies and gentlemen, this is not the tree-climbing of your childhood, this is some exhilarating adventuring. And once I found out more about the trees, the question I couldn’t wait to answer was: What does it feel like to climb a giant tree? Now, when…

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Foodie Bucket List: The 16 Best Local Foods (and Drinks) in Israel

Foodie Bucket List: The 16 Best Local Foods (and Drinks) in Israel

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Leading up to my most recent trip to Israel, I was a bit stymied by the ‘travel planning’ phase I engage in for most of my trips. I lived in Israel for a year, which was the start of my extensive traveling. I’ve been back to visit many times since, and not so much changes from year to year. Besides catching up with friends and family, how would I spend my time there? Then, the night before my trip, I…

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Impressions & Top Insider Picks for What to Do in Jerusalem

Impressions & Top Insider Picks for What to Do in Jerusalem

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Jerusalem is built on a series of hills, and as you approach the city in a vehicle for the first time, you feel the anticipation build more and more as you loop around the winding roads. At some point it occurs to you to turn your head, and you find yourself looking down into the dramatic valleys and into the distance at this sacred biblical land. Just when you think you might have arrived, there is one more turn, one…

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8 Best Wineries to Visit in Israel

8 Best Wineries to Visit in Israel

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“If the Romans made wine here 2,000 years ago, why can’t we today?” These wise words from one of the more recent Israeli winemakers of the Judean Desert south of Jerusalem embody the explosion of new wineries in Israel over the last decade or so, with the most up-and-coming regions being located in Israel’s desert areas in the south of the country. Wine has been produced in Israel for millenia – dating from biblical times and later during the Roman…

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What It’s Like Moving Back “Home” After Living Abroad & Tips on How to Adjust

What It’s Like Moving Back “Home” After Living Abroad & Tips on How to Adjust

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They say that the hardest adjustment for an expat is moving back “home” after living abroad. They’re not wrong. I studied and volunteered in Israel for a year after high school, and was surprised that after 18 years of living and growing up in the United States, and only 1 year of living in Israel, I came home with culture shock. Of course, I wondered how it was possible that I could feel so out of place in America, yet…

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Travel Inspiration: My First-Ever Cheese Pilgrimage

Travel Inspiration: My First-Ever Cheese Pilgrimage

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If I asked most people I know how they pick where they travel, I’d get replies about an image of a beautiful beach, a famous landmark, an activity on a bucket list, or maybe even a specific cuisine or wine varietal that comes from a particular region.  But . . . a cheese? I’ve always liked cheese, but I’ve never been obsessive about it.  Sometimes I have 4 or 5 different types in the refrigerator, sometimes these days just one…

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Insider Bucket List – 20 Top Experiences to Seek Out in Israel

Insider Bucket List – 20 Top Experiences to Seek Out in Israel

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Many people travel to Israel as religious pilgrims, but this tiny country on the Mediterranean has so much to offer every type of traveler. From outdoor adventure to Roman ruins to burgeoning boutique wineries to relaxing beach days, there is a seemingly endless list of attractions and superlatives to seek out. You can treat this post as a bucket list, or merely as a starting point to get a sense of all of the ways to spend your visit to…

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Best Places to Eat (& Drink) in Israel

Best Places to Eat (& Drink) in Israel

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Israeli cuisine is quite varied, but mostly local, so when a specific restaurants stands out for me, it’s really something special. Living there, I shopped for fresh produce at the shuk (market), bought my pita in stacks of ten several times a week, and mostly cooked at home. And with such fresh ingredients – the fruits and vegetables are at the peak of ripeness – you don’t need to do much to make them taste amazing. Not surprisingly, salads and…

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Naples Cheat Sheet: What to Do & Where to Eat

Naples Cheat Sheet: What to Do & Where to Eat

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Impressions Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza, however the Neapolitan pizza tradition is just scratching the surface of what the city has to offer. Many people pass by Naples on their Italy travels, or stay for just a few hours when transiting, but there is such a special personality of the city that warrants a longer stay. You can read more about my impressions of Naples and all of the crazy experiences I’ve had that represent some of the…

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Costa Rican Coffee Tradition: The Chorreador

Costa Rican Coffee Tradition: The Chorreador

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I’m an atypical coffee aficionado. Most coffee fiends I know were downing multiple cups of joe as a high school student, or at least by the time they graduated high school. Me? Despite being an academic overachiever and prolific procrastinator (I pulled all-nighters starting in high school), I made it through college and several years into the workforce without much in the way of caffeine, aside from the occasional chai tea latte. And then I started teaching. Teaching high school,…

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