As I was walking along the beach the other day, I came up with a simple, but BRILLIANT idea for a new Red Sox t-shirt: "I'm Dead Soxy". However, I Googled it merely moments later, and much to my dismay, it seems as though it wasn't as original as I had hoped. Back to the drawing board.. In order to quell my minor depression, I decided that I'd visit the hometown team itself to draw some inspiration from my dear Dirt Dogs, and boarded a plane up to Seattle where they&... Read Full Story

As part of my California-state tour, I jaunted up to Monterey this past weekend to visit some friends from my Glory Days.. high school.  As an aside, I had a layover in Los Angeles.  I barely buckled my seat belt before we touched ground in the big city.. what a joke.  Apparently it is quite difficult to get a direct flight into Monterey.  This made a lot of sense upon arrival as the size of the airport equated to the size of my elementary school, if that.  Many visitors to Monterey actually ... Read Full Story

As I get ready for my upcoming trip to London, I've started brushing up on my British English language skills. "What? British English language skills? Don't the Brits speak English?" While the Brits do in fact speak English, you'll find that it's not quite the same English that we speak here in the States.So before you pack up your briefcases, suitcases and backpacks, take the time to review some of these popular British words, phrases and slang or else risk making a... Read Full Story

Planning for the next extended troop hat begun! Destination: Austria, Czech Republic, and London Departure Date: May 25th (T-minus 47 days) Preparedness Level: Extremely Low (plane tickets purchased) Excitement Level: Bipolar?I'm not quite sure what is wrong with my troopin lil' self! I should be over the moon with anticipation and excitement. When I purchased my plane tickets, I almost started doing cartwheels through my office, yelling at the top of my lungs: "See you later SUC... Read Full Story

Ah, one of the age old questions when it comes to traveling; a quandary as perplexing as the chicken or the egg… okay, maybe not age old, but certainly an issue worth addressing.To be fair, and to be honest, there is not one right answer to this question. Traveling with cash boasts advantages and disadvantages, depending upon where you are. When traveling internationally, we have all been warned to keep personal belongings protected and in the line of sight. While this warning should truly... Read Full Story

Last week, I experienced my first island adventure.. well, other than Nantucket and Coronado. No offense to either as they are both absolutely beautiful and unique places, but the Dominican Republic represented my first trip to white sand beaches and clear blue waters. I felt like I was in a Corona commercial.. except the beach buzz was fueled by banana daiquiris and Presidente beers. While we weren't exactly roughing it or participating in a true sense of travel, it was still nothing ... Read Full Story

If you're looking for inspiration and motivation, then Miles from Nowhere should be within your queue of books.  The true story recounts a 2 year round the world bicycle trip by newlyweds, Barbara & Larry Savage.  Along the way, they not only encounter and overcome unique physical obstacles, but also conquer tremendous mental and emotional challenges.  While at times their frustrations and tensions seem to get the better of them, they inevitably form a stronger bond than either indivi... Read Full Story

Just recently, I had the pleasure of paying a long overdue visit to a friend from home that has resided in Los Angeles for the past 5+ years. My main concern in taking the journey was transportation. Although I do have a car here with me in San Diego, I'm not the most comfortable driver. So, I decided to look into train options.  For anyone traveling from San Diego to Los Angeles or vice versa, I would highly recommend Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner service. Especially if you'd rath... Read Full Story

I recently had the pleasure of reading Quest for the Kasbah by Richard Bangs.  As I became lost in the Moroccan adventure of the first few chapters, I could have sworn that I, myself, had written parts of this journey.  Although no two trips are ever identical, it seems as though we might have come quite close.Bangs describes a remarkable journey juxtaposing past and present day lifestyles as well as Morocco and the western world.  As the true definition of a melting pot, Morocco blends langu... Read Full Story

Ahhh Scotland land of Loch Ness, William Wallace, deep fried Mars bars, haggis, beautiful scenery, and DO NOT forget the Scotch Whiskey. Taking a bus tour to the Northern most parts of Scotland in February may not be the logical choice for a vacation, but I would beg to differ. Not only does the more extreme  (and cold) weather keep many tourists away - I mean come on, seeing sites without stumbling over fellow tourists is a dream - but the rain and wind seem to be practically ingrained in th... Read Full Story