Tropical Travel Girl
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- Animal Encounters
- Beachcombing
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- Island Food and Drink
- Island Treasures
- Packing
- Scuba diving and snorkeling
- Tropical Flora and Fauna
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Why I Love Navarre Beach on the Florida Panhandle
I loved Navarre before Navarre was cool. “Under the radar” is a term that aptly applied to Navarre Beach in 1973. That’s when I first visited this 12-mile stretch of sand on the Florida Panhandle, located on Santa Rosa Island between the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary. Navarre Beach was almost …
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Memphis Beyond Graceland: Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Memphis, Tennessee, known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock & Roll, is also where many of the biggest names in soul music—Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, and others—got their start. Visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to experience the history of the unique sound of Memphis soul. …
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My Favorite Experiences Aboard Holland America’s Koningsdam on an Inside Passage Alaska Cruise
Alaska, often called The Last Frontier, was a new frontier for me since, more often than not, I’ve chosen tropical destinations for my travels. But it was time for the Tropical Travel Girl to go north to Alaska! There were several choices to make. Which cruise line, which ship, and which departure port? Like more …
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Indoor Oceans: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota is more than just an Aquarium. Its tagline, “Science is The Attraction” says it well… It is one of the world’s few remaining independent marine research laboratories, with field stations in eastern Sarasota County and the Florida Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium – Where “Science is The …
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Visit Sarasota Florida for its “Beaches and Beyond!”
The word is out about Sarasota, Florida, and other communities within Sarasota County! Its 40 miles of gorgeous Gulf of Mexico coastline and barrier islands or “keys” — Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Casey Key and Manasota Key — have been recognized again and again. Recent Honors and Accolades: Sarasota was chosen …
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Visit the Bradenton Area: Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, “Real. Authentic. Florida.”
Every part of the Florida Gulf Coast has its own personality, its own vibe. After recently visiting the Bradenton area with a small group of travel writers, I can wholeheartedly embrace the tourism bureau’s tagline. “Real. Authentic. Florida.” Very few resorts have more than three stories; many are small and family owned. Rental homes and …
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Indoor Oceans: Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium, originally opened in 1956, has grown to become one of British Columbia’s top tourist and event destinations. When I discovered Canada’s largest Aquarium would be near our hotel in Vancouver, I knew I had to plan a visit. The Vancouver Aquarium is located within Stanley Park, North America’s third largest park, which …
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Indoor Oceans: Texas State Aquarium
The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is the largest in the state. The Texas State Aquarium opened in 1990 and was doubled in size in 2017 with the addition of new exhibits. Anytime my travels take me close to an Aquarium, it’s high on my list of “must-dos.” If I can’t be in the …
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Yes! Tahiti has its own wine!
When you think of Tahiti, you may think of a plethora of fruity tropical drinks, made with coconuts, mangos, passionfruit, pineapple…the list goes on. But wine? Yes! Tahiti has its own wine! Vin de Tahiti is produced from grapes grown in the heart of the South Pacific. The vineyard is located on Rangiroa in the …
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Poisson Cru photo wins Honorable Mention award in IFWTWA photo contest
My photo of poisson cru has won an Honorable Mention award in the (IFWTWA) International Food, Wine, Travel Association’s first annual Photo Contest (Category: Raw Food). I am very appreciative of this recognition! Poisson cru, which translates as “raw fish,” is considered to be Tahiti’s national dish. Chunks of fresh raw tuna, combined with lime …
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How I display my sand collection and shells
In a previous post, “Why I love islands: beachcombing (sand and shell collecting),” I shared how I became fascinated with combing the beaches for shells. Although I grew up in southern Indiana, far from an ocean, I became exposed to turquoise ocean waters and white, sandy beaches during multiple childhood vacations in Florida with my …
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A look back at 2019 travels: Texas, Florida, New York, Washington and New Mexico
Texas, Florida, New York, Washington and New Mexico. With the exception of a short sojourn to the Florida Keys in May, tropical travels took a backseat for me in 2019. Instead, I visited parts of the U.S. that were completely new to me. Most of them focused, at least in part, on wine regions. April …
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Cover photo wins Silver Award in 2019 NATJA awards competition!
I am honored to be the recipient of a SILVER AWARD in the 28th Annual North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) Awards Competition for 2019 in the category: Photography: Landscape, Nature, Architecture – Online! My photo of a nurse shark circling a submerged table at Havaiki Lodge, Fakarava, Tuamotus, French Polynesia, was selected for the …
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“Talking Tahiti” on Travel Itch Radio!
Tropical Travel Girl “Talking Tahiti” on Travel Itch Radio I had a great time “Talking Tahiti” with Dan Schlossberg on Travel Itch Radio! You can listen anytime at the link above! Learn more about my Windstar Cruises 10-day Tahiti-Tuamotus cruise, our stay in an overwater bungalow at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, as well as …
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Listen to Tropical Travel Girl on Big Blend Radio!
Tropical Travel Girl is on the radio! From the Greek Isles to South America, the South Pacific and Caribbean, award-winning travel writer Debbra Dunning Brouillette talks with Big Blend Radio about her tropical island adventures. To listen, click below: Tropical Island Travel I was honored to be a guest on Big Blend Radio, a weekly …
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10 tips to overcome jet lag
Are you planning a trip that will involve travel across several time zones? If so, you may find yourself experiencing jet lag. Jet lag is defined as a temporary condition that is experienced when one travels across several time zones. Jet lag isnʼt permanent, but its temporary effects can cause fatigue, insomnia, dehydration, headache, irritability, …
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10 Tips to Stay Healthy on Vacation
Here are 10 tips to stay healthy while traveling:Water, not wine. Drink plenty of water during your flights to stay hydrated, and wait until you reach your destination to have that glass of wine, or your favorite island cocktail.
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When in the islands, do as the islanders do…
When you travel to a tropical island, do you drink the local beer or ask for a Bud Light? Do you make a beeline for the KFC or other American chain (on islands that have them) or ask where the locals go for lunch? Do you do as the islanders do, or avoid any deviation …
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Ten travel books to warm up your winter
In the middle of winter, when cold temperatures and snowy days keep us inside, cozily snuggled up on the couch with a cup of tea, transporting ourselves to tropical destinations can bring a little sunshine to our dreary world. Here are 10 travel books to consider putting on your winter reading list! (Click on titles …
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Four Seasons Bora Bora photo takes Honorable Mention honors in 2018 NATJA awards
Do you have a favorite photo? I’ve taken thousands of photos over the years in exotic locations throughout the world, but this is one of my all-time favorites — taken in December 2017 at Four Seasons Bora Bora, one of the dreamiest locations in the South Pacific. That made it all the more special to …
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Are you a thalassophile? (n. a lover of the sea)
From the Greek word thalassa, meaning “sea,” a thalassophile can be defined as “a lover of the sea.” It is the perfect word to describe me, someone who loves the sea or ocean. I am a thalassophile, are you?
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Tahiti – our final port of call
Our 10-day Tahiti and Tuamotus cruise aboard Windstar’s Wind Spirit began and ended in Tahiti, largest of the 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia and largest of the Society Islands that include Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and Taha’a.
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Moorea
While author James Michener famously called Bora Bora the most beautiful island in the world, world traveler and guidebook author, Arthur Frommer, considers Moorea the most beautiful.
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Bora Bora
Ah, Bora Bora! Tales of the South Pacific author James Michener called Bora Bora “the most beautiful island in the world,” and I heartily agree. It had been seven years since my first visit to this small island (less than 12 square miles) dominated by two volcanic peaks — Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia — …
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Huahine
Windstar’s Wind Spirit didn’t have to travel far to reach Huahine from our last port of call — Taha’a. Also a part of the Society Islands, it is sometimes nicknamed the “Garden of Eden” for its lush, tropical landscapes.
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Memphis Beyond Graceland: Where to eat – gourmet to budget
In previous posts, I covered our three nights in Memphis…but hey, after all that touring, we had to eat! Here are some suggestions for where to eat, gourmet to budget…
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Taha’a and Motu Mahaea
After a day at sea, we reached our first port within the Society Islands group — Taha’a, the Vanilla Island. Following an island tour, we spent the afternoon on on Motu Mahaea, a private island where we could swim, snorkel and relax…
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Rangiroa – our second port of call
Rangiroa, the largest atoll in the Tuamotus chain and one of the largest in the world, had been on my radar for more than two decades…and now we had arrived!
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Indoor Oceans: Seattle Aquarium
As an ocean-lover and scuba diver, I get excited about any opportunity to visit an Aquarium. I like to call them “indoor oceans…” The Seattle Aquarium, ninth largest in the U.S. by attendance, was no exception.
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Fakarava – our first port of call
Fakarava was the first port of call on our Windstar 10-day Tahiti-Tuamotus cruise. It is the second largest atoll in the Tuamotus and has been designated a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
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Indoor Oceans: Georgia Aquarium is world’s largest
If you are as fascinated by the underwater world as I am, the Georgia Aquarium should be on your “must-see” list. When it comes to “indoor oceans,” Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest.
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Indoor Oceans: Diving with Whale Sharks at Georgia Aquarium (VIDEO)
Who would like to be in the water with whale sharks — the biggest fish in the sea? Me! Me! Me! At the Georgia Aquarium (the world’s largest), you can do just that as part of its Journey with Gentle Giants program. If there was ever an Indoor Ocean to behold, it is here…
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: On board Windstar’s Wind Spirit
So what’s it like to be on board Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit…in Tahiti, no less? Since the ship will be your temporary home for seven to 10 days, according to which itinerary you choose (7 day, Dreams of Tahiti or 10-day Tahiti and Tuamotus), it’s nice to get a feel for what life is like …
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Tahiti and Tuamotus: Choosing to Cruise
More than six years have passed since my husband and I returned from a dozen days spent in Tahiti and the Tuamotus — a remote part of the South Pacific located halfway between California and Australia — and I still haven’t fully recovered. Any vestiges of jet lag dissipated long ago and re-entry to real …
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Three articles win awards in 2017 NATJA awards competition!
The NATJA (North American Travel Journalists Association) award winners have been announced! I was pleased to receive three awards for 2017! The SILVER prize winner was for my article, “Eternal appeal,” on my Greek Isles cruise on Windstar Cruises, published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, entered in the category, Cruises – Print Publication. You can …
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Tropical Travel Girl named to Best Boomer Travel Blogs to Follow in 2018!
I am honored that my site, Tropical Travel Girl, has been named to the “Ultimate List of the Best Boomer Travel Blogs to Follow in 2018” by Getting on Travel, the first and only multi-authored online magazine catering to the over-50 luxury traveler. Check out the list of 45 blogs and you will be sure to find helpful resources for your travels!
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Indoor Oceans: The Aquarium at Moody Gardens, Galveston Island, Texas
I’ve visited lots of aquariums, or as I like to call them — indoor oceans — but never one located inside a bright turquoise glass-windowed pyramid! A total of 1.5 million gallons of saltwater exhibits are contained within the 10-story aquarium, including ocean life from the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean. It is the largest aquarium …
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Memphis beyond Graceland: Sun Studio
While no trip to Memphis would be complete without paying a visit to the home of the King of Rock ‘n Roll, this city has a lot to offer beyond Graceland. Of course, much of it is still related to the mark Elvis Presley made after moving with his family to Memphis…
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Visiting Graceland and Elvis Presley’s Memphis™ entertainment complex
It had been 15 years since I entered the gates of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. This year, 2017, the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing on August 16, 1977, the timing was right to return.
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New article: “Beaches and Beyond” Indiana Dunes article in AAA Home & Away
Yes, my home state of Indiana has beaches! My article on the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and State Park entitled “Beaches and Beyond,” which showcases the beauty of Lake Michigan’s shoreline, was published in the Hoosier edition of AAA Home & Away magazine’s July/August 2017 issue. In the future, I’ll be adding a Destination Page …
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Indoor Oceans: North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
As a SCUBA diver for more than two decades, one of my favorite places to be is underwater exploring a coral reef, swimming among colorful schools of fish. When that’s not possible, visiting an aquarium like the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is an excellent alternative.
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Happy World Oceans Day! “Turn the Tide” on plastic pollution!
Oceans. I’ve been in love with the ocean from the first time I saw the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time in, on or under the Caribbean Sea as a scuba diver, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. When I learned there is an annual World Oceans Day, I wanted to do my part to spread the word.
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North Carolina’s Crystal Coast: Cape Lookout National Seashore and Lighthouse
Wide beaches and wild horses await visitors to North Carolina’s Cape Lookout National Seashore, covering more than 50 miles on three undeveloped barrier islands off its central shore.
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Product Review: Morning Glamour Satin Pillowcases
I have slept on satin pillowcases for many years, and have traveled with them for years as well. I often give them as gifts, too, to my travel-loving friends and family members. Sleeping on satin keeps my fine hair from tangling and, as a “side sleeper,” it keeps me from waking up with facial creases …
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A look back at 2016 travels: April – California’s Central Coast (Oxnard and Morro Bay)
Springtime is a glorious time of year to visit California’s central coast. I spent the first nine days of April 2016 in a roughly 200-mile area within Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties, venturing as far north as Paso Robles…
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Hyatt Ziva Cancun article on JohnnyJet.com is NATJA awards Finalist
“The New, All-Inclusive Hyatt Ziva Cancun: A Welcome Addition to Cancun’s Hotel Zone,” my article posted on JohnnyJet.com, received Finalist honors in the 2016 (NATJA) North American Travel Journalists Association’s awards competition. The category was Special Focus Travel Articles – Internet: Resorts. This awards competition, now in its 25th year, honors the “best of the …
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A look back at 2016 travels: April – California’s Central Coast (Paso Robles)
Springtime is a glorious time of year to visit California’s central coast. I spent the first nine days of April 2016 in a roughly 200-mile area within Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties, venturing as far north as Paso Robles…
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Island Treasures: Mopion Islet, Grenadines
Mopion islet. I discovered it in 2004 after surfacing from a dive on the surrounding coral reefs, and snapped this photograph that has become one of my all-time favorites. It was only after…
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A look back at 2016 travels: January – Sanibel Island, Florida
For those of us who love to travel, looking back at the memories we’ve made in places outside our home territory is a way to extend the pleasure of the experiences we’ve had. It also helps to reinvigorate the sense of wanderlust we feel for seeking out new destinations to explore in the year to come. I hope you’ll enjoy this retrospective of my travels in the past year.
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Chico’s: my go-to travelin’ clothes! (Win a Chico’s Zenergy® outfit!)
Ever since a Chico’s store opened in my hometown of Evansville, IN, in the early 2000s, my wardrobe has increasingly been filled with Chico’s clothing and accessories. I am truly a Chico’s girl! The classic styling with just enough trendiness to not be boring and stodgy suits me, and many of my Chico’s pieces have …
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Ah, Athens! Must-see sites: Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Thinking of booking a cruise of the Greek Isles that leaves from Athens? If so, you should plan to arrive a day before the ship departs from Piraeus port for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, you don’t want to miss the ship, due to unforeseen circumstances, like a flight delay or cancellation. And you don’t want to miss experiencing the high points of this amazing ancient city.
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New Interview with Tropical Travel Girl on Travel Notes and Beyond
Learn more “About Me” in a new interview posted on Anda Galffy’s site, TravelNotesandBeyond.com: Click Here: Interview – Debbra Dunning Brouillette – Tropical Travel Girl I’ve introduced myself here on Tropical Travel Girl on the About Me page, but if you would like to get to know me even better, you may wish to check …
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Serendipity in Santorini: A Day to Remember
Serendipity: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
What were the chances… “You’re going to Santorini when?” My husband and I had booked our Windstar cruise of the Greek Isles and two weeks before we were to leave, I found out that a couple from my hometown — very good friends that I’d known most of my life — were going to be staying on Santorini the same week we would be visiting from our ship.
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Hyatt Ziva Cancun resort featured on JohnnyJet.com
Thinking of traveling to Cancun? The all-inclusive resort, the Hyatt Ziva Cancun, is worthy of adding to your list! My blog post about this special place, posted on Johnny Jet’s website – johnnyjet.com, several months ago, will give you a full report on its rooms, restaurants and activities.
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Scuba diving on Looe Key Reef, Florida Keys: a sanctuary for sea life
Scuba diving to a soundtrack of tunes like Jimmy Buffet’s “Fins” and the Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden” was a first for me. Typically, the only sounds I hear underwater are the sounds of my own breathing, in and out through the regulator, as I fin along the reef.
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Star Clippers cruise article is NATJA awards Finalist
“Stow Away,” my article on a Star Clippers Mediterranean cruise, published in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, received Finalist honors in the 2015 Awards Competition of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). The category was Special Focus Travel Articles – Print: Cruises. The cruise departed from Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands off the coast …
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Morro Bay, California: Sea otters, sea lions and seagulls, oh my!
While the focal point of Morro Bay, California, is Morro Rock, one of nine extinct volcanic peaks found along the central coast, the sea life in the bay itself is what attracted me most on a recent visit. Along with a group of fellow travel writers, I boarded Sub Sea Tours’ SSV Seaview, a 21-passenger …
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Tropical packing tips from expert Anne McAlpin, packitup.com
Anne McAlpin, nationally known packing expert and author of Pack it Up: Travel Smart, Pack Light, travels more than 100 days a year and averages 12 flights each month. She has visited 78 countries on six continents, including lots of tropical islands. In a recent interview she shared specific tips on what to pack for …
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Undersea Attractions: Underwater Sculpture Parks in Grenada and Mexico
I have strolled through many museums, admiring artwork and sculptures from renowned artists, but my visit to an underwater museum, outfitted in SCUBA gear, was a first for me. Last July, my husband and I visited Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park during our stay at the all-inclusive, Sandals LaSource Grenada and found it to be a …
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Bird-lovers flock to Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
While Sanibel Island, Florida, is perhaps best known for its world-class shelling, it is also the location of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex — the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the U.S. Covering over 6,400 acres, it attracts over 245 bird species and is famous worldwide for its spectacular migratory bird populations. …
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Shelling on Sanibel with “Shellebrity” Pam Rambo, Iloveshelling.com
It’s not every day that you get to walk the beach with a “shellebrity.” Pam Rambo, shelling expert extraordinaire, based on Sanibel Island, Florida, graciously agreed to meet up with me, along with my husband, Stephen, when we were on vacation in Sanibel in early January.
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Nevis, West Indies: Mangos and a Visit from an Old Friend
An old friend paid me a visit at my Paradise Beach Nevis villa on my first full day in Nevis, June 8. Pas Turner and I go way back—to ’98 or ’99—when I had my first mango daiquiri at Cla-Cha-Del, the restaurant he then operated along with his mom, Claudina.
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Four Seasons Nevis – Dive and Dine experience: from ocean to table
If you’re a certified scuba diver and a lobster lover, boy, do I have an experience for you! On a recent trip to Nevis, while staying at the Four Seasons resort, I accompanied Executive Chef Jason Adams, on a quest to lasso a lobster.
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“Pack It Up” expert Anne McAlpin shares her story and how Oprah played a part in her success
The travel bug bit Anne McAlpin at age 16, when she spent six weeks cycling through Europe. It was her first experience with overpacking, as she and…
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How to choose your ideal island destination: Getting started
“What is your favorite island?” Because of my experience in traveling to tropical locations, this is a question I’m often asked.
Others are: “I want to go somewhere…
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Why I love islands: history and culture
I’ll admit it. History and geography weren’t my favorite subjects in school. Memorizing dry, historical facts and trying to make sense of places on a one-dimensional map…
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Island Treasures: Motu Tapu, Conrad Bora Bora Nui’s private islet
It’s the most photographed islet in the South Pacific—Motu Tapu—just a five-minute boat ride from the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort. It was the private beach of…
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It’s Launch Day! March 30, 2015
I chose this day, March 30th, as the official launch day for my website, not at random, but because it is my dad’s birthday. William R. (Bill)…
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Welcome to Tropical Travel Girl!
Now that you’ve found your way here, I’d like to help you navigate the site and know what’s here.
To learn about me and how I came to…
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Why I love islands: food and drink
Do you ever dream about a good meal you had while visiting a faraway destination? Do you ever wish you could return to that restaurant and experience…
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Why I love islands: flora and fauna
Petunias and geraniums are about as exotic as it gets in Indiana, except for the occasional “hot house” orchid we can buy but must keep indoors so…
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Why I love islands: beachcombing (sand and shell collecting)
Beachcombing is one of my favorite beach activities. Since childhood vacations in Florida with my family, I have been fascinated with shells. Not long ago, I removed…
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Why I love islands: scuba diving and snorkeling
Since the Florida vacations of my childhood, I’ve loved going to the beach. In my younger life, that meant sunbathing, walking up and down the beach, and…