Halifax, Nova Scotia is known for the friendliness of its locals and its scenic beauty. Steeped in history and culture, Halifax offers a number of historic sites to discover, natural areas to explore, cultural events to revel in, shops to browse, and restaurants to dine. With a population of 390,000, it is an ideal blend of big city and down-home hospitality.
Appropriately I am writing about green on St Patrick’s Day and everyone around me is sporting their finest green ware. When they asked me to write about the color green, I am not sure they knew it was my favorite color, but, really, what’s not to love? Green is the color of spring, of the Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers, and of the wonderful band Green Day. It is the name of one of the best REM albums. Green is the color jacket for which every golfer aspires. A green flag starts car races, even my 2 year old son knows that green means Go! Green is renewable and fresh. And, of course, it is the color of money. Who doesn’t want more green!
It had been a long-time dream of mine to visit Antarctica and I’m proud to say that I finally turned that dream into a reality this past November. Setting foot on the great white icy continent easily tops my life’s greatest experiences. Plus, the trip bestowed upon me an even greater appreciation for the wildlife conservation and research efforts in the Antarctic – something I now strongly advocate and donate to.
My trip, like most Antarctica expeditions, started in Ushuaia, Argentina – a city that prides itself on being the world’s southernmost city. Large mountains and the Tierra del Fuego National Park surround Ushuaia and Patagonia. After spending some time in the city, where popular activities include nature hikes, fishing and horseback riding, we headed out to sea and began our expedition.
This month we’re channeling our inner explorers and looking at ways to re-discover our world. Fortunately for us, many cruise itineraries imitate the routes charted by some of history’s greatest explorers. So if you’re feeling adventurous, pull out your compass, gather your bearings and set out to recreate these famous explorations. Or just find a cruise that will do the hard part for you – leaving you with all of the fun and none of the scurvy.
My passion to explore cultures around the world began as a child when my parents took me to a series of outdoor summer cultural festivals in my hometown of Baltimore, MD. This was my introduction to a taste of the world and soon became a running checklist of countries and culture to explore. I quickly became fascinated with the Far East and, like many Americans, my first exposure to Chinese culture was food, followed by art and jewelry. I soon developed a longing to see the culture first-hand and started planning my own trip.
Some of the best deals and exotic itineraries can be found when cruise ships reposition. This is often the case during the fall, depending on where in the world the ship is. For example, cruise ships can relocate from the United States to the Caribbean. This results in bargain prices and unique port of call combinations such as Eastern and Southern Caribbean islands or even Bermuda for the day.
In the northern hemisphere, fall marks the transition between summer into winter, usually beginning in September and ending in November. As a former teacher, I have always thought about fall in terms of either going back to school or work, as well as the beginning of football season. It’s a great time of year to take a cruise vacation, and there are plenty of destinations to consider. Popular fall itineraries include Canada and New England, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and repositioning voyages.
Taking a baby on vacation may seem more challenging than rewarding, and in my experience it’s a bit of both. I always joke when I get back from vacation with my daughter that I need another vacation on my own! When Erin was six months old we decided to take her on her first cruise.
Hollywood Beach, FloridaI chose Holland America because they had the most suitable itinerary, sailing on the Eurodam. When choosing an itinerary with babies or young children, the Caribbean is a very good choice. We visited St Thomas, Tortola and Grand Turk which are best known for their soft sandy beaches. We went for 7 nights and traveled in the month of December.
