Are you thinking about an Alaska cruise this year but are overwhelmed with all the options? You are not alone and that's why we've come together with our blogger friends to prepare some tips to help!

For folks outside of the Baltimore / DC area, the notion of this area as a great destination for a sports-themed guys getaway may be an odd one to consider. However, while the region is overshadowed by legendary sports cities like New York, Boston, Chicago... or even Cleveland and Tampa... this is one of the best places in the entire country for sports lovers.

I don't usually do contests but even if I don't win a darn thing in this one... I just absolutely love Alaska. The state has captured my heart as well as my imagination. That is why for more than a decade we've been supporting Alaskan tourism as promoting the adventures you can have there on a cruise (or better - a cruise tour). Holland America Line has now launched a campaign that asks their fans to share a Love Letter To Alaska and 10 winners will receive suite accommodations on one of their six ships that will be offering Alaska cruises this summer. So, how could I resist a chance to once more profess my love for Alaska!

Valentine's Day is obviously an annual excuse to focus on love and romance, the reality is that any time of year is a great excuse for a romantic getaway. When it comes to the best vacation spots for couples, there's a lot of great options and it is really up to you to make sure it is the perfect fit for the two of you. Here's our picks for some of the most romantic destinations to take your wife this year!

We’re kicking off our effort to help highlight and support tourism destinations that we love with a conversation about different aspects of Alaska Tourism featuring some of our favorite blogger / influencer friends. You can join us here on the blog - don’t forget to scroll down for the giveaway! - as well as on social media as we post photos and discussion questions with some of our favorite Alaska tourism destinations and tour operators.

Riviera Maya is a popular holiday destination located on the south eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan. Whether you are seeking to visit Mayan ruins or relax on the white sand beaches, there is something for everyone here. In fact, one of the reasons it is such a great location is that unlike other island paradise locations in the Caribbean, there are plenty of day trip excursions and adventures you can take here that go well beyond simply soaking up the sun with a drink in your hand. If you’re thinking about visiting the Riviera Maya for your next trip, here are a few tips and tricks on what to look out for, when to go, and where to go.

Minivans aren't sexy or cool... right? Well not exactly. While minivans of your youth were more focused on utility than comfort, technology and design, today's current generation of minivans - especially the 2022 Toyota Sienna are a different breed. While utility is still paramount, minivans are truly my top choice of vehicle for long road trips where you'll be riding only on paved roads. Just because the roads are paved though doesn't mean you can't have a great adventure though and that's what we did while exploring Southwest Florida Everglades with a Toyota Sienna.

We're celebrating National Vacation Day today. It's been more than two years since the pandemic interrupted our normal plans for getting out of the house and exploring the world so I think it's about time to get back out there. To celebrate and help everyone think of some great vacation ideas we're joined by some of our blogger friends sharing their "dream vacation" ideas and travel advisor, Heather from Flow Voyages is even sponsoring a giveaway to help.

Las fall I spend five weeks traveling around south Florida and I stayed in a wide spectrum of properties from exclusive luxury beach resorts to contemporary business hotels but I didn't expect Lani Kai Island Resort to be my favorite spot. While anyone can build a fancy resort with the toppest of top tier amenities, it takes something special to develop a beach resort that captures the soul of the community and entices visitors to return - generation after generation.

There are loads of hotels in Las Vegas and many of those are located along the famous Las Vegas Strip. I've had an opportunity to visit most of the flashiest ones over the past several years (and I've even stayed in some of the worst) but for some reason Tropicana escaped me. This is remarkable when you consider that it is located in the perfect spot - close to the airport and the new Allegiant Field as well as walking distance to events across the street at MGM Grand like MMA Fights, Boxing, and concerts and other entertainment events.

Dallas is more than "just a city" it is a unique geo-political destination that like Los Angeles would be better thought of as a collection of smaller cities surrounding a central point. That might be a weird way to look at it but while I once looked at "Dallas" as a place to go for a guys getaway, I've started to think of the destination in terms of cities like Fort Worth, Irving, McKinney, Allen, and Lewisville instead. Not only would any of these destinations make for a great excuse to get a taste of Dallas... but even folks who live in the metroplex can easily travel to someplace new for a sort of guys getaway staycation experience.

Europe is the perfect destination for a summertime road trip adventure. The lush green fields, snow-capped mountains, quaint villages, vineyards, breweries, and historic castles make it easy to see why this region has been a tourist destination for centuries. If you're looking for something new to do during your next vacation or time off from work, consider planning a European road trip! In this post we will cover road trip ideas in Europe that are perfect destinations for adventuresome travelers looking to do a Euro road trip to experience both the history of Europe and enjoy some modern-day luxuries.

Paradise Coast is the very south western corner of Florida including Naples, Marco Island as well as inland areas such as Everglades City. It is a literal paradise destination for a guys getaway if you are looking for craft beer, fresh seafood, fishing, golf, beaches, and adventure exploring the natural environments ranging from lagoons to Everglades.

Airboat tours are THE iconic way to explore the Florida everglades and frankly I learned a lot more about the environment than I expected from the tour during our time flying across the water and weaving between clusters of mangrove trees. Wooten's is the original Southwest Florida Everglades airboat tours, established in 1953, and is unique since it sits on 253 acres of private land that apparently the national park service is trying hard to acquire so that it can be preserved.

Mindful Adventure Travel Specialist Recal Travel harnesses the power of adventure, nature, and mindfulness coaching to help travelers recalibrate with curated, retreat-style trips. Recal’s 2022 adventures are like no others, including unique ingredients such as Quiet Parks, Dark Sky Reserves, and Breathwork. These innovative journeys come at a time when people need it most.

You're finally going on your Route 66 Road Trip! You're excited, but you know that the best part about a road trip is picking out the perfect classic car to take with you. There are many different factors to consider when choosing a vehicle for your journey. In this blog post, we will talk about how to pick the perfect classic car for your Route 66 Road Trip and make sure it's ready before you go!

Let's just start this post by saying that I do believe in the scientific method of review and research, trusting experts but also verifying information against those things that I know are true for my personal situation. Right now, "The Media narrative" is that cruises are dangerous, covid is spreading everywhere and cruise ships are simply disease incubators. In fact, I had a friend post just that as a Facebook comment the other day. So why then did I just spend my own money booking a seven-day cruise to Mexico?

Virgin Voyages is essentially the anti-cruise. Created by Richard Branson who had, at the time anyhow, never gone on a mainstream cruise vacation but was convinced he could introduce a product that would both disrupt and revolutionize the industry. This brash hubris has resulted in an incredibly fun experience that is truly unlike any other Caribbean cruise option available.

Half Moon Cay is one of the most beautiful private islands in the Bahamas and you can only get there when sailing with Holland America Line and Carnival cruises, so it will never be overcrowded like other Caribbean ports that you might have visited in the past. However, as nice as the white sand beaches and turquois waters are... there's actually more to enjoy here as well. Honestly though, while I had seen excursion options listed in my cruise planner before, I had never bothered to look past what I already knew I as going to love... relaxing on the beach.

For many folks that lived in urban areas prior to the pandemic, rural areas seemed like a wonderful solution to escape to. While many urban dwellers ultimately chose to escape to places like Idaho, Florida, and Texas... most of us weren't lucky enough to have the resources to completely move. As we continue to recover from the pandemic though, this choice of rural vs urban living continues to be an important issue to consider in terms of quality of life and mental health.