When I was diagnosed with cancer, I needed to be surrounded by those who mattered most -- my children, family and friends. Being a part of the Women on Their Way's Local Nation "Sounding Board!" gave me the opportunity to do just that. After I completed treatment in Maryland, my mother and sisters in Florida were able to help me plan our Mother Daughters Weekend at the brand new Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek. The resort is absolutely gorgeous!

After I finished my volunteer work, the next phase of my Ecuadorian adventure began. I made the Quito Howard Johnson my headquarters as my partner and I explored Quito and Otavalo. To some, the name "Howard Johnson's" conjures up images of an old-fashioned hotel and restaurant chain where you could get a homemade ice-cream and fried clams, but this is not your grandfather's Howard Johnson. In Ecuador, Howard Johnson's is a thoroughly modern establishment that competes easily with nearby four-star hotel chains and offers comfortable accommodations, full breakfast buffet, exercise facilities, and free Wi-Fi. The Quito HoJos is also well located in the La Carolina district, from which you can explore the botanical gardens or catch a trolley that goes into the heart of the Old Town, which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site for its extraordinary Colonial architecture that dates back centuries.

 

When I first began traveling abroad many years ago, it only took a few trips for me to realize that each experience was similar to the last. Of course, the locations, language, and history changed--but there was still a thread of "sameness" to each trip that made me long for both a deeper experience and a more meaningful connection to the place that I was visiting. One year, after deciding to spend a summer abroad, I decided to try volunteering. I applied for a volunteer position in Greece and worked at a wildlife hospital caring for sick and injured animals. It was a tough and dirty job, but from then on, I was hooked.

Planning a summer family vacation can be exciting and a little stressful. The good news is the planning process can be less stress and more fun by getting the entire family involved. Each of my children had the task to research a cool place they would love to visit and present at our weekly family meeting why we as a family should travel to their place of choice. The decision to travel to Houston, Texas was mutually agreed as a family.

Using our Wyndham Reward to reserve our hotel online is easy as 1, 2, 3. Travel on Southwest Airlines is affordable when we booked in advance. We enjoyed our stay at the Wingate by Wyndham. The hotel is in a great location, the staff are warm and friendly and Fun in the Sun by the poolside added to the many amenities. Each morning the kids were able to make homemade waffles in the shape of the state of Texas.

Our last trip of 2011 was to travel to Panama City Beach Florida the first week of November 2011.  We stayed at the Wyndham Vacation Resorts Panama City Beach.  This area is known for its Emerald Waters and White Sands. We stayed in one of the Presidential Reserve 2 Bedroom Units on the 20th floor.  What a view from up there!

We came with relaxation on our minds to sit on the beach or near the many pools and soak up the sun and read a good book or two.  In the evenings we went to Pier Park which was just down the street for an assortment of excellent dinning and shopping opportunities.  Then back to our balcony or to the pool to enjoy one of the many beautiful sunsets.

While visiting the WorldMark in Pismo Beach, my girlfriends and I took full advantage of the Harvest Wine Festival, which is an annual event that occurs on the third weekend of every October. The festival is a time when  Paso Robles wineries invite the public to celebrate the year's harvest with fun events, including crushing, tours, barbecues, live music, and even complimentary tastings.

Here we are again- Part 3.  We are now in Moab, Utah.  A wonderful place to sight see in Arches National Monument and to 4-wheel.  We have rented another jeep and are starting our 4-wheeling adventure.  The first picture is at Gemini Bridges.  The other one, below, is on our 4-wheeling adventure.  That little line (road) in the picture is where we will end up after going down a mountain side!

The weather is hot but dry.  To me it was comfortable, but when you are sightseeing, you must remember to carry lots of water along with you.  When we rented the jeep from Moab Adventures, they provide a large ice chest full of ice and bottled water.  All we needed to do is bring along a healthy lunch and snacks.

Recently, a few girlfriends and I spent an extended weekend in Pismo Beach, a charming ocean town on the central coast of California. At first glance, a visitor could mistake Pismo Beach for any seaside location. Several restaurant signs and menus boast their superlative "World Famous Clam Chowder," and saltwater taffy, surf, and sand art are within mere blocks of each other. However typical this may all seem, we found that this particular beach town stood out above the rest because of their food, their events, and their proximity to premium wine country.

Sometimes Iyou just need to get away.  After a back injury ruined some summer plans, I decided to stay close after I had surgery to correct the problem.  I am fortunate to not only live close to many beautiful nature scapes, but also to some very significant historical sites.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is one of those significant historical sites.  It is home to one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War, but also to the famous "Gettysburg Address" in which President Abraham Lincoln declared a "new birth of freedom" in the United States.  2011 marks the Gettysburg 150 events which strive to encourage the legacy that the Gettysburg battle provided in changing the direction of the Civil War. 

Welcome back to Part 2. We stayed 3 days at the Wyndham Durango.  Durango is known for the Narrow Gage Railroad that travels from Durango to Silverton carrying passengers back in time to a small gold mining town of yesteryear.  We did not take the trip this year but have many times in the past.