Trip Reports Archives – Page 3 of 26

Coffee and Chocolate Tour

June 27th, 2023admin0 Comments

Our third day in Arenal was the only one where we had two different tours in the same day. In the morning, most of the group zip lined (a few opted out and relaxed at the hotel) and in the afternoon we all went on a coffee and chocolate tour. This tour was really more for the adults, although we hoped the chocolate part would be enough to keep the kids interested. We were picked up at the hotel and taken to North Fields Coffee, a small family-owned coffee plantation. Our group of 16 was in one tour group and …

Arenal Zip Lining

June 26th, 2023admin0 Comments

When my husband and I came to Costa Rica in 2012, we were blown away by our zip lining experience with Sky Adventures. We took a tram to the top of the mountain and then the zip lines literally burst through the jungle treetops, with breathtaking views from every platform and line. The lines were so high and so long that my husband declared that if he had known what he was getting into, he never would have done it. So when it came time to sign up for zip lining on this trip, he said thanks but no thanks. …

Rio Balsa Whitewater Rafting

June 25th, 2023admin0 Comments

Whitewater rafting was high on our adventure wishlist in Costa Rica, and with kids ranging in age from 8 to 16 in our group, we were looking for a family friendly rafting option. Rio Balsa provides class II-III rapids, which are suitable for kids 8 and up. Our travel agent booked us with Wave Expeditions, and they picked us up from our hotel and took us to the river. On the bus ride, they gave us detailed rafting and safety instructions. The instructions were very thorough (complete with a miniature raft for demonstrations) and it was obvious that the company …

Trail of 1968

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

Our final stop on our combination tour with Canoa Aventura was the Trail of 1968. Named after the huge eruption of Arenal Volcano in 1968, this trail runs along the hardened lava flows and offers amazing views of the volcano itself. The trail is only 1.2 kilometers but does include some steep uphill sections. From the parking lot, we got another postcard perfect view of the volcano. After taking in the views, one of our guides told us the history of the volcano and gave a wonderful explanation of the eruption of 1968. It was fascinating to learn that Arenal …

La Fortuna Waterfall

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

The second stop on our combination tour with Canoa Aventura was La Fortuna Waterfall. This impressive waterfall emerges through an opening in the jungle and plunges 200 feet to a pool below. You can reach the base of the waterfall by taking the stairs down – all 530 of them. (Remember of course that you’ll have to take them back up!) There is a viewpoint before the stairs begin, as well as a restaurant, souvenir shop, and bathrooms with showers and changing areas. The stairs are challenging (both up and down!) but worth it. Once you reach the bottom, there …

Mistico Hanging Bridges

June 24th, 2023admin0 Comments

Our first day in Arenal was jam-packed with activities. We did an 8 hour combination tour with Canoa Aventura that included Mistico Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and the Trail of 1968. Mistico Park and the Arenal Hanging Bridges was our first stop. While the main attraction of the park is its hanging bridges, the views of the volcano are stunning from the moment you step out of the parking lot. We were extremely fortunate to be there on a clear day. Our guides must have told us a dozen times that we were so lucky because the volcano is …

Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds

April 30th, 2023admin0 Comments

Artist Pablo Picasso is most famous for co-founding Cubism, a new style of modern painting, in the early 1900s. Inspired by African art, Picasso’s cubist pieces utilized geometric components to create figures and forms. While his most famous works, such as Guernica and Girl Before a Mirror, are examples from his cubist period, he was also a prolific landscape artist throughout his career and its various stages. The Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds exhibit celebrates his lesser recognized works from this genre. From his beginnings in art school right up until his death, Picasso explored the intersection of man and …

Pink Jeep Smoky Mountain Tours

April 20th, 2023admin0 Comments

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles North Carolina and Tennessee and is the most visited national park in the US. It is less than 3 hours away from us yet somehow we have never visited! It was definitely high on my reasons for picking Tennessee for our spring break trip. Normally we would find some hiking trails to explore but since we were traveling with my parents, I wanted to find a different way to see the park. Pink Jeep Tours fit the bill exactly! Started as an off-road tour company in Sedona AZ, Pink Jeep Tours now offers …

Dollywood

April 19th, 2023admin0 Comments

I have secretly wanted to go to Dollywood for years but knew my husband and boys wouldn’t be super excited about it. So when we were floating around the idea of a Tennessee road trip, I knew I had my opening. I sold it as a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and subtly tacked on a stop in Dollywood since we would already be in the area. It’s not that my boys need a lot of prodding to go to an amusement park, but unless you are a country music fan or a young kid, Dollywood on the surface …

Country Music Hall of Fame

April 18th, 2023admin0 Comments

The Country Music Hall of Fame was established in 1967 but moved to its current location in the heart of Downtown Nashville in 2001. The museum is one of the most iconic buildings in the city, and musical symbolism is heavily featured in its architectural design. From above, the building is shaped like a bass clef. From the street, the front of the building looks like a piano, with the windows emulating the black keys. The left side of the building features a rotunda, with a replica radio tower at its peak. Even the disc-shaped tiers on top of the …