Monthly Newsletters

December 2025 Newsletter

There is something about Africa that is at the same time exciting and calming. The bustle of the souks in Marrakech, the temples of ancient civilizations in Egypt, the ever changing wildlife in southern Africa, the dark skies filled with stars in the mountains and the deserts. The countless languages spoken all around, the people always proud to welcome you and share their country (and maybe sell you something too!) So much vibrancy and life all around.

While I didn't intentionally plan it as I was scheduling my 2025 travels, I ended up visiting the African continent three times! Each trip unique and packed with memories to last a lifetime.

In March, I spent three weeks in Morocco visiting the desert with Darin, Marrakech and Essaouira with Darin & friends, and then heading into the Atlas mountains to hike with a group of women.

In June, it was off to South Africa with Darin and ten friends from across the U.S. We spent the next 11 days driving through South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in search of "the Big Five!" After our friends headed home, Darin and I flew to Thula Thula, a private game reserve on the eastern coast of South Africa. Since reading the book, The Elephant Whisperer, we had longed to visit Nana's herd for ourselves. It did not disappoint and we plan to return one day to volunteer.

My last stop was just a few weeks ago when I had the privilege of heading to Egypt as one of 35 travel agents chosen to visit and learn more with Insight Vacations. I averaged about 5 hours of sleep a night as we packed in as much as possible in just a week. It was sometimes hard to process everything we saw - from royal mummies, to sailing on the Nile, to floating above ancient temples in hot air balloon, to going inside a pyramid! It was all incredible.

If you'd like to learn more about visiting Africa, please reach out. I'm happy to plan the perfect vacation for you.

Enjoy Every Day,

Jennie

Sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor, Egypt. Over 30 colorful balloons floating over the green sugar cane fields, the Nile River, the rocky, brown mountains, and the temples and tombs below. We couldn't stop taking pictures just trying to capture it all.

Our trusty camels taking us to our camp in the desert. It's a bit like a roller coaster when they get up and go back down again!

The Chobe River runs through Chobe National Park in Botswana and forms the border between Namibia and Botswana for some time. Elephants are the stars here but we got lucky with some lion sightings too!

Checking out Philea Temple near Aswan. This entire temple was MOVED in the 1970s after the original island it was located on was flooded when the High Dam was built.

To think, this place was built twice!

Jeannette and I painting during our Artisan tour in the Marrakech souks.

Darin snapping pics of some zebra at Thula Thula. Each morning and afternoon we went out with our guide on game drives. You never knew what you'd see!

The Great Sphinx of Giza and Pyramid of Khafre. This one looks like the largest pyramid but is actually smaller than the Great Pyramid next to it. This one sits up on a hill so looks bigger. It's hard to comprehend the scale of these temples and tombs, even after being right next to them and climbing inside. Truly incredible how these were constructed!

With our guides, Hanane and Mama Bea, in the Atlas Mountains. This was on our third day of hiking and the highest we climbed. The landscape and the sky were beautiful.

At the Ngoma River Lodge we explored the hidden waterways on a mokoro, what was traditionally a dug out canoe is now made of fiberglass. We spotted colorful frogs, learned how birds construct their nests to confuse predators, and even came across a hippo bedroom.

One afternoon, we had the chance to spend an hour sailing on the Nile aboard a felucca. It was quiet and peaceful. These guys were our crew.

Half Way to St. Patrick's Day Newsletter

tour card_0004_Ireland Walking & Hiking_ Cork to Kerry (1)

Photo Credit: CIE Tours and Azamara Cruises

Can you believe the Savannah Irish Festival was more than six months ago? That means we're only six months away from St. Patrick's Day! What better way to get in the spirit than a trip to Ireland.

Raise a glass with the locals as they spin yarns in a classic Irish pub, watch the sheepdogs work, take a ferry to Inis Mor and bike around the island, hike the rugged Northern coast and discover monastic ruins and historic castles. The options are endless!

Choose to make new friends on a guided tour or small group hike, form your own group with a private driver, or allow me to custom create an itinerary just for you. However you choose to see the Emerald Isle, I can help create the perfect trip for you. Below are just a few ideas. Reach out today to start planning!

Enjoy Every Day,

Jennie

Ireland on Foot - True Slow Travel

Experience the beauty of Ireland on foot. These small group hiking tours are limited to a max of 16 guests. Ideal for active travelers, with up to five hours of scenic walking per day at a comfortable pace. Cover two to six miles over well-maintained paths and hill trails.

Carry just your day pack while the driver moves your bag from place to place. Choose from 8 nights along the Northern Coast or in the south - from Cork to Kerry. Available from May-September.

Taste of Ireland

For those short on vacation time, this fast-paced itinerary highlights top Irish sites in just six nights. Grab a pint at the Guinness Storehouse, kiss the Blarney Stone, take in the views along the Ring of Kerry, marvel at the Cliffs of Moher, and dine in a castle.

Available as a guided tour or a self-drive. Custom tours are always available as well. Available year-round.

Jewels of Ireland

If you have more time to explore, this two week itinerary is ideal. You will take in the best of both the north and south of Ireland. Taste one of a kind ice cream flavors at Murphy's Ice Cream in Dingle, relax on a catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, watch craftspeople create fine china at Belleek Pottery, walk the city walls of Derry and the Giant's Causeway, and much more.

Available as a guided tour or a self-drive. Custom tours are always available as well. Available year-round.

Ireland Intensive Cruise - June 19, 2027

If you prefer to unpack only once, a cruise around Ireland is for you. This small ship welcomes a max of 700 passengers and calls at ports you may not visit with a standard land tour.

Just a few stops include Belfast, Donegal, Galway, Foynes, and the picture postcard perfect town of Bantry Harbour. Extended docking hours allow plenty of time on land to explore everything Ireland has to offer.

September 2025 Newsletter

Have you heard the term "cozy season?" No? I hadn't either until recently. Someone in a marketing office must have come up with it because it sounded better than "low season." I suppose it does.

"Cozy Season" invokes images of a warm fire, twinkling lights, strolling along quiet streets, and having a drink with the locals.

Ultimately, travel in low season can bring shorter days, colder & wetter weather, fewer crowds and lower prices. All of this often equates to a slower, more peaceful style of travel.

With the right clothes, expectations, and itinerary, traveling in the Northern Hemisphere from November to March offers big benefits! Check out a few ideas below. When you're ready to explore, reach out and I can help you plan the perfect trip.

Enjoy Every Day,
Jennie

Five Places to Visit During "Cozy Season"

European Holiday Markets

While you likely won't be avoiding the crowds, there is nothing better to get you in the holiday spirit than a classic European Christmas market. Some of the best are in Poland, Germany, Austria, & France. Markets generally open in late November and run through Christmas Eve.

One of the best ways to visit multiple markets is with a river cruise. Each day, you'll wake up in a new city waiting to be explored.

Walkin' in an Alaskan Wonderland

While Alaska is a very popular summer cruise destination, there is so much more to see beyond its coastline. A visit in November and December allow you to experience some of its winter delights - dog sledding, glacier hiking, ice fishing, and cross country skiing - before the full force of winter sets in.

What if you don't have clothes to keep warm? Don't worry about buying heavy winter coats, pants & boots. There are companies in Anchorage that offer rentals!

City Escapes in the United Kingdom

Cities in the United Kingdom are jam packed with things to do - many of them indoors. Winter is the perfect time to catch a show at Royal Albert Hall in London, wander the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, soak in a spa in Bath, or climb the towers of York Minster.

If you like to shop, January tends to offer big discounts. After an afternoon of shopping, stop for high tea before finishing the day with a theater performance.

Pub Hopping in Ireland

If anything screams "cozy," it's a classic Irish Pub. It can be rainy, windy and cold outside but you'll always be warmly welcomed with a drink, stories and music inside.

Ireland is beautiful and green year-round and, with the right clothes, offers spectacular hiking even in the winter. Easy to navigate by car, bus, train, or an organized tour, Ireland is an easy place to visit any time of year.

Italian Winter Adventures

Italy remains at the top of most travelers' lists. From June-September, it is busy. Very busy.

A visit during cozy season can give you a glimpse of a different place. While most places in beach destinations will be closed, this is the perfect time to visit some of the classic Italian spots - the Vatican in Rome, the Uffizi in Florence, and even St. Mark's in Venice (though you may experience the Acqua Alta). Hiking in Cinque Terre and Tuscany is also possible & quiet.