THE GLOBETROTTING KIRKS JOURNAL
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Italy's Pale Mountains: Dolomites hiking highlights
The Dolomites have boomed in popularity, thanks to social media and increased demand for active outdoor travel. This UNESCO World Heritage site is distinguished by an unusual combination of sharp white peaks, glacial lakes, green pastures, charming towns and sweet refugios. Skiing here would be breath-taking. During the summer, cable cars designed for skiing offer easy access to gorgeous vistas while adventurers can have their fill of via ferratas, tough hikes, biking and paragliding. Here were our highlights over eight days in September.
Read the story →Belugas, (Polar) Bears, and Blooms with Frontiers North
In August 2026, I returned to Churchill, Manitoba for Frontiers North Adventure’s Belugas, Bears, and Blooms itinerary, which did not disappoint! They're a locally-owned company that knows the area extremely well and exhibits deep respect for the First Nation people and conservation, as well as being much less expensive than the luxury lodge options.
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Exploring the Azores with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
A remote set of volcanic islands roughly one-third of the way from Portugal’s mainland to Boston, the Azores are isolated and spectacular, boasting dramatic landscapes, exciting hikes, and terrific whale watching opportunities. As an avid adventurer, the mountainous beauty and variety of these islands has called to me for a long time. The Azores certainly didn’t disappoint!
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An Incredible Week of Adventure, Camaraderie, and Wildlife in Alaska with UnCruise Adventures
Who doesn’t love Alaska? With its astonishing scenery, abundant wildlife, and varied opportunities for activity, there’s truly something for everyone. UnCruise Adventures allows travelers to visit the remote corners of this stunning state, taking their small ships to otherwise inaccessible destinations and leading adventurers on kayak trips, bushwhacks through the forest, tidal pool walks, skiff rides, and more. If you’re looking to really experience Alaska and get up close and personal with nature, this is the way to do it!
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In Search of the Northern Lights: Seven Days in Norway with HX Expeditions
I saw the Northern Lights for the first time in August 2025, unexpectedly, in Canada, and the experience whetted my desire to see them in all their glory. I had previously visited Norway in 2024 for a fantastic expedition cruise around Svalbard in search of polar bears (a different trip report) and was eager to return. Around Tromsø is one of the best places to see the Aurora Borealis, and see them we did!
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A Week in Tanzania with the Big Five & Hundreds of Big Cats
Safaris are my favorite kind of travel, and this week-long adventure at the end of 2025 was my fifth (my second in Tanzania). Tanzania is home to the Serengeti, which is what many people picture when imagining what it looks like to go on an African safari, with sweeping plains, the Great Migration, and a huge population of lions and other big cats (my favorite). It’s one of the best places for a first safari—or a hundredth!
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Gorillas and Hikers in the Mist: 4 Days of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
As someone who seeks out animal-related experiences in every corner of the globe, gorilla trekking has been on my bucket list for a long time. These gentle giants are difficult to reach, but the challenge is part of the adventure, and the hour (or four, on a habituation trek!) you spend with them is one you’ll never forget. There’s really nothing like staring into the soulful eyes of a massive silverback, or watching a proud young gorilla beat its chest and glare at you.
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Seven Shows in Four Days: A New York Adventure
Forgive the tardiness of this blog post about our October 16-20th trip to our beloved New York City. Mei-Mei and I have been astonished and thrilled by how quickly business has picked up, but we promise not to neglect the blog!
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Birds, Bears, Belugas, and So Much More: Our Churchill Adventure
If spotting polar bears in the wild is on your bucket list, there are only a few destinations to consider: Norway, Kaktovik, Alaska (off-limits for now), and parts of Canada, Greenland and Russia. There are currently two accessible areas where polar bears are
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Panda-monium: close encounters in Chengdu and Wolong, China
If you are going to China, and you're as smitten as we are by adorable giant pandas, you must go to Chengdu in the western Sichuan province.
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Exploring Antarctica and the Arctic: How did two Floridians end up at both polar regions in one year, and what did they discover?
My adult daughter and I have had the good fortune to travel extensively over the past decade since my retirement.
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Himalayan Adventure: Hiking the Annapurna Circuit
The Himalayas are a hiker's paradise. I love scenic multi-day hikes that don't require camping, and the Annapurna Circuit delivered in spades. Breathtaking views abound, and getting to experience the local culture at each stop adds a whole other level to the adventure.
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Is Antarctica calling you? Here's everything you need to know.
I must confess. Not that long ago, I was not all that interested in visiting Antarctica.
Read the story →In search of polar bears on an Arctic expedition
Since my retirement in 2015, I have embraced “carpe diem” with a passion, checking off my bucket list one by one.
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Come safari with us!
We once worried that a second African safari would be redundant, even disappointing.
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100 miles in 10 days: the (nearly) perfect Patagonia hiking trip
My adult daughter, Regan, and I are active, independent travelers who love the great outdoors.
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Paradise Found: French Polynesia
**Azure waters against lush green crags; golden sunsets and sunrises; balmy temperatures without humidity; all manner of bold fish and sea creatures savoring thriving coral.**
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Enchanting Galapagos: a wildlife wonderland
I confess. I had thought the Galapagos would be kind of boring: big turtles and lots of birds on barren rock. Yawn.
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My heritage journey to Hong Kong and China
_**(I first posted a version of this in 2016 but have updated with some fascinating research I had time to pursue in 2020 during COVID.)**_
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Western Parks adventure: top highlights
My daughter and I enjoyed three fabulous weeks at six national parks, hiking 108 miles with 24,000 feet elevation gain (Everest is 29,000 feet!). We flew into Denver June 22, 2021, then drove 3,200 miles to Rocky Mountain NP, Grand Canyon South, Grand Canyon N
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New Zealand adrenaline rush: Two death-defying weeks
Regan wanted to go all out during our two weeks in New Zealand; I turned 60 in October and wanted to wrap the year in style, so she didn't have to twist my arm, much. Except for the whole jumping out of a perfectly fine airplane thing.
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Which Alp is the coolest?
Randy and I spent two glorious weeks reveling in Switzerland's famed Alps in September.
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Viva La Via Ferrata!
In researching our Switzerland trip, I came across the Via Ferrata hike/climb from Murren. While intrigued, I feared it was too daunting.
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Around Iceland in 10 days: Top highlights
We enjoyed 10 whirlwind (literally) days in late August for our first trip to this unique country.
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3 perfect weeks in South Africa
Our first visit to this vast country exceeded our expectations in every way: The beauty and variety of the gorgeous coast and the mountainous interior; the sophisticated and inexpensive food; and the marvelous creatures, especially on our Timbavati safari. But
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Is a river cruise for you? Take a virtual ride on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on Uniworld
We are active, independent travelers who took our first river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest (almost) on the Uniworld River Princess starting Aug. 5, 2018. If you're considering a European river cruise, here's what to expect.
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Top 10 Balkan highlights: the best of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro
In August 2018, we explored the Balkans for the first time, with 17 days in Croatia, four in Slovenia, three in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a day trip to Montenegro. This included a seven-day cruise from Split to Dubrovnik aboard the Mama Marija, stopping at six c
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Bosnia-Herzegovina highlights in 4 days
Our six-week adventure starting Aug. 4, 2018, included five new countries for us: Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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Amalfi Coast and more: Top 10 highlights
We spent three wonderful weeks savoring the Amalfi Coast with two nights each at Ravello, Praiano and Positano, followed by Sorrento, Sicily and Stromboli. You really can't experience or appreciate the charm of each town as a day tripper.
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Top 10 safari highlights from Tanzania, Africa
Six of us had an amazing expedition to Tanzania for eight nights starting on Christmas Eve 2017.
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Ireland: Top 10 highlights driving around the Emerald Isle
We nearly circled the Emerald Isle over 16 days, driving 1500 miles through some 1500 wrong-way-roundabouts--or so it seemed.
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Magical Machu Picchu and hiking Huayna Picchu
And still, Machu Picchu is a stunning revelation that captivates the heart and soul.
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Tackling the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
This famed 12-mile hike between Mt. Doom (aka Ngauruhoe) and Tongariro would be relatively easy for strong hikers on a nice day, even with the steep grades and slippery slopes. The route is a mix of steps, walkways, ash, rocky dirt up and down with signposts t
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Top 10 highlights from Down Under
Over 34 days, we enjoyed some of Australia's top sites and crisscrossed 930 miles of New Zealand’s twisty roads. This included six days of independent travel in Australia, 17 days aboard Holland America's Maasdam from Sydney to Auckland; and nine days roaming
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Top 10 China highlights
Our 30-day odyssey across China exceeded our expectations as we hiked, biked, flew, cruised and ate our way across 14 cities from June 20-July 20. Here, in reverse order, are the top 10 of oh-so-many amazing experiences.
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China dim sum report
Our China culinary adventure began in the southern region with four dim sum brunches and two dim sum dinners over eight days. When we completed our 30-day odyssey, we had an even 10 dim sums literally under our belts, thanks to my daughter Regan's avid researc
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Mystical Angkor temples
Siem Reap, Cambodia, is 32 travel hours from Fort Myers--literally and figuratively a world away.
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