It’s been cold here in La Crosse lately. To humor myself in between putting on extra layers of clothing, I’ve been texting the current weather conditions to friends elsewhere. A friend in California said she was so cold she was wearing everything she owned. The temperature in her world: 35. (In her defense, she just … More La Crosse, Wisconsin: The Series
Years ago I had the opportunity to go whitewater rafting with friends in Alaska. It was my second time whitewater rafting; the first on a cross-country Amtrak trip while in high school. We had stopped in Glacier National Park on the way for hiking, camping and rafting. I was young, fit and fearless. We got … More Whitewater Rafting in Alaska
One never travels and returns home the same. Transformation is the inevitable outcome of any journey. And so it is with life. This month we said goodbye to my dear Daddy. Over the decades, we’ve covered a lot of ground together as travel companions. He and Mom took me on my first train ride, and … More Going Home
It’s time to work on dispelling the stereotype of the Ugly American. Here are 7 tips to help you on your way. … More 7 Ways to Avoid Being an “Ugly American”
Traveling to some of the most inspirational and life-changing places on this Earth is an impossibility to most Americans. And, it’s a problem. In this world economy, it is essential that we allow employees the chance to better understand the world – not through YouTube or Twitter or travel shows on CNN, but through that … More Your Vacation Needs an Overhaul: Here’s Why
Mother Nature isn’t making any fans this year, especially among the hiking crowd. Our outdoor training for Machu Picchu has suffered immensely as a result of her assault. Ideal winter conditions for hiking have been on short supply. It’s been bitterly cold, with dangerous wind chills. I’ve lost count of the number of days I’ve … More Training for Machu Picchu: The Home Stretch
I’ve been hearing a lot about this “Couch to 5k” app these days. I know it’s made a difference for some of my friends who want to get into shape. But I need something more. Is there a “Couch to Machu Picchu” app? Months ago, BackpackMr and I found a rock-bottom airfare to Peru, which … More From Couch to 5k…and Machu Picchu?
For some, the travel bug bites early, and hard. And with it comes a fever that compels the journey-woman to seek out more than distant lands and serene beaches. For her, travel is less about new places than it is about opportunities to serve, to help others who through circumstance and birthplace alone face a lifetime that is … More The Call to Serve: For two Wisconsin Women, Travel and Volunteerism Work Together
Photos and blog post by Joel Badzinski. I stand still and there is no sound. I feel only the chill air around me and a slight fatigue in my legs. I am at the bottom of a ravine, the lowest point of a trail called Darkside, perhaps so named by someone like me who appreciated … More A Walk on the Darkside: Hiking Wisconsin’s Peaceful Trails
Sometimes the longest journey is a weekly 1½ hour road trip from La Crosse, Wis. to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to find out if the reason your breast is bleeding is cancer, or not. After a summer of making that road trip, thankfully, for me, it is not. The journey is not yet over. … More The Longest Journey: Reflections on a Cancer Scare
Powerful Storytelling.
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