Alaska isn't called the last frontier for nothing. It is vast and spectacularly beautiful. In fact, it's the most beautiful place I have ever been. It is a photographer's dream. From Anchorage to Talkeetna, to Juneau, to Portage Valley, so much wildlife, so much beauty. That's Alaska--SO MUCH of everything. I've shared 15 different places including activities, restaurants and lodging. I have also included over 60 of my own personal photos I took along the way. This truly was a trip of a lifetime.

Columbus is the second largest city in Georgia, and is adjacent to Ft. Benning, home of the Infantry and the sixth largest military installation in the world. Both lie on the border of the Chattahoochee River across from Alabama. Parts of Ft. Benning even extend into Alabama. I spent the vast majority of my life living in Columbus as the daughter of a career Army serviceman, so I know both locations extremely well. Maybe you're traveling through on your way somewhere or you have a military family member "turning blue," and you're here for the ceremony, either way this guide will lead you to the high spots Columbus & Ft. Benning have to offer. I also include many of the photos I took at each place.

Seeing all of the lighthouses we could find was the focus of this trip, but we found so much more along the way. Flying into Boston, Massachusetts we made our way along the coast all the way to Portland, Maine. We stayed five nights and six days exploring all of the nooks and crannies we encountered. Lighthouses were definitely found and loved, but excitedly so was a fort built in the 1600's, a local bar with ties to a tragedy as well as part of a movie, a fabulously, politically incorrect tour, and even stayed in a witch's house. You will find all of these in this guide and so much more. Lighthouses, restaurants, tours, and oh my gosh, the best donuts you will find anywhere. This was an incredibly fun trip. I also include many of the photos I took at each place.

Friday Harbor is a magical, harbor town in the San Juan Islands of Washington. It is on San Juan Island, one of the three largest islands in this archipelago. If you are a seafaring, wildlife loving, outdoors person you have found your little piece of heaven. It is all here. Even those of you who love to shop or just people watch, Friday Harbor is the place for you. I brought my granddaughter here for her high school graduation gift and we spent four nights and five days exploring every inch of the island. We sailed, went whale watching, lighthouse hunting, and sometimes just relaxed with a drink and incredible views (ok, it was only me with the adult beverage). In this guide I share with you all the places we went, where we stayed, how we got there, and some wonderful restaurants. This is your one stop shop to Friday Harbor. I also include many of the photos I took at each place.

Key West is Florida's most Southern point, and only 90 miles North of Cuba. Key West is Florida’s irreverent paradise, a blend of history, climate, natural beauty, cultural diversity, architecture. At night on Duval St, it is party central. Put away your inhibitions and shyness and join the fun. Key West is a very walkable town, but if you really want to experience all there is to see, rent a scooter for your entire trip. Trust me, it's a blast. I decided to take a long weekend solo to Key West. What a fun town to chill, explore and party in. I tried to hit all the well known sites during the day, and some great bar and grills at night. Mission accomplished. Mallory Square at sunset is not to be missed. Also, if it's pristine beaches you are wanting to experience, KW might not be the place for you. There is only one public beach (Smather) that has 1/2 a mile of white sand that is worth spending time at (in my opinion). This guide will lead you to all the best places to hit up while you're in Key West.

Churchill is located on Hudson Bay, at the mouth of the Churchill River and on the edge of the Arctic Circle. To say Churchill is remote is an understatement. There are no roads in, so your only way to arrive is either by air or a two day (one way) train ride. Churchill is known as the Polar Bear capital of the world, and is the location of the annual Beluga whale migration. Each of these has a very short season of viewing. Polar Bears can typically be found in October and November, but can vary slightly (I was lucky enough to encounter 3 in July). Beluga season is mid July to mid August. It is also one of the premier places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights. The best time for the AB is late Fall, Winter, and early Spring. I went at the end of July and stayed for 4 nights and 5 days for the Beluga whale migration and it was worth every single penny it cost. Make no mistake, this is not an inexpensive trip due to Churchill's location. Everything has to be either flown, or railed in, so their costs reflect that. There is only one commercial airline that flies there from Winnipeg. But again, it was totally worth it and I can only describe sharing the waters with the Belugas as a magical experience. I will be back. This guide contains a complete list of my exciting journey--to include accompanying photos I took. Even with Churchill being very small (only about 800 full time residents) there is much to see and do. I also include many of the photos I took at each place.

From the time I fell in love with the Beach Boys music, I have been an ocean loving girl. I longed to go to the California coast and live the life, surfing, and lying on the beach all day. But growing up in the Southern part of the United States that never was to be. I never lost either my love of the beach/ocean or my desire to see the California coast, but it was a long, LONG time before I could make that dream come true. But finally I did, and believe me, it was all I hoped and imagined it would be. I traveled the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Pismo Beach exploring every little place that looked fun, interesting or just spectacularly scenic. As you can imagine--I stopped a LOT. In this guide I will share with you all of the wonderful places I discovered. You too can live the dream. I also include many of the photos I took at each place.

Florida is always an ocean lovers paradise and a visit to Jupiter is no exception. Located on the Atlantic coast and only being about 2 hours from Miami, and about 2 1/2 hours from the Orlando airport makes Jupiter an easy destination from several of the major airports. We spent 3 nights and 4 fun FILLED days exploring the area. This guide contains 8 fabulous places and fun things we did along with 1 Tiki Bar that should be considered a destination all by itself. We went to 4 restaurants, and stayed at one amazing Airbnb. I've shared my own photos and detailed info for most. Follow this guide for a guaranteed fun filled time in beautiful Jupiter . I also include many of the photos I took at each place.