Tracy Coleman

When preparing for a trip you know is a bit out of your comfort zone, it’s easy to envision different scenarios of what it might be like. Then, when it surprises you in delightful ways you have not experienced before, you are definitely going to want to come back for more. This was one of those trips! This seven-day trip mainly focused on camping, hiking, biking, and kayaking. But, we were also able to get a feel for much of the east coast of Sweden by exploring cool towns like Söderköping and Norrköping, and going off the grid and experiencing the calmer, slower part of the country on Torrö Island. Fun fact: Swedes can set up camp anywhere they desire, and our guides told of their own personal adventures kayaking and camping under the moonlight on various islands whenever the mood struck. Klättermusen Experiences is a travel company offering high-quality small-group adventures for people interested in active travel and connecting with nature and local cultures. They are focused on making outdoor adventure travel accessible and inclusive for travelers of all experience and mobility levels.

I have lived in Tampa for 17 years and have traveled to the Aventura area quite a few times but just realized a little farther South lies Miami Beach and Brickell, and I have found both locations to be quite captivating. Not to mention, Miami is a major international hub with access to many other parts of the world and PortMiami is home to most of the large cruise lines. In the last five months, I have made three trips there, each time discovering a new pocket of wonderfulness. While my interpretation of boutique may be vastly different from another’s interpretation, I am sharing two properties I consider boutique. Each is unique in their own right and has made a statement in the hospitality world, while also including elements that qualify them as boutique. So take a look and you decide.

If you would have told me I would backpack through Okinawa and on through to the island of Japan for 11 days, I would have heavily doubted you, but backpacking was so much easier than lugging suitcases up and down subway stairs and through train stations! Granted, the backpack got heavier as the time went on, but it was always manageable and allowed for much more flexibility than rolling a suitcase. My friend Marla suggested the backpack aspect. She gave me full rein to find and book our accommodations and plan our itinerary as long as they would appeal to her 19- and 22-year-old kids who were joining us. I planned it, we went and it was great!

It was a veritable mix of hotels, price points and experiences aimed at appealing to anyone with a desire to explore, eat a lot (healthy that is), walk even more and rest well (there is just something about sleeping on a futon on top of a tatami mat on the floor that brings on that deep sleep).

Tip: There are services in Japan that will pick up your suitcases and deliver them to your next destination if you don’t want to backpack or lug luggage.

Don’t think you have enough time for a getaway? Well, it is possible to catch up with friends, relax, rejuvenate and have a lot of fun in just one 24-hour cycle if it is done right.

Being prepared is the key in how to stay healthy while traveling. But at the same time, preparing for a trip can be the perfect storm for catching a virus, i.e., making sure the office will survive without you or getting the dog set at the day spa and lodge, etc. Tasks like these can and usually do lead to pre-trip stress. The measures presented here will increase your odds of remaining healthy prior to and during your trip. The key is to find what works best for you and then prepare! Having studied alternative medicine, including many courses in nutrition, I have compiled some of my favorite tips with personal anecdotal evidence from around the globe, geared toward longer and farther away trips, adjust as needed.

Experience two neighboring countries, each with their own unique aura. Croatia is a laid-back country appealing to all, from solo travelers to couples and families. The coastline is magnificent and the roads are very easy to drive on. If you keep driving South, you will eventually end up in Kotor Bay in Montenegro, which is less populated and overall possesses a sleepier vibe. Vacationing in Montenegro is all about relaxing and taking in the natural beauty of the area. Both areas are seasonal and the best time to make the trip is September through mid-October. The weather is still perfect and the crowds have dissipated. Families may want to travel in the summer, which is fun too, but much busier.

You know those locations you see and think: does this really exist?

Welcome to the San Blas Islands. Little tropical islands (approximately 365 of them/of which only 80 are inhabited) that are run by the Guna, a group of people that hold autonomy for the islands over the Republic of Panama and are thus held to their own tribal laws and live by their own customs. The San Blas are scattered in the Caribbean for 235 miles along the coastline of Panama down to Colombia. The Guna people and those that are endeared to the area, are heavily involved in sustainability and keeping the coral reefs and the islands as pristine as possible.

If you need to tune out, a catamaran charter through these islands is your answer! No excuse, other than to relax. Every morning, wake up in the comfy bed of your private stateroom (including a bathroom and a shower) with your only question being: what island will I swim to today? Then, dive into the sea and swim to that island, explore a little, and swim back for a fresh breakfast!

You may meet someone from another country while out kayaking or wave to some people across the water on their own sailing adventure, but they are far and few between. Anyway, you are more interested in a stingray sighting at night or what the fresh catch of the day is going to be, which is offered up by a Guna member coming alongside the catamaran to share their catch and enable them to earn some income.