South Africa – Exceeds all Expectations!
January 19, 2011
This blog is especially important to me because it’s always been a life dream of mine to travel to South Africa! I can’t even describe how I long to go on a safari in Kruger National Park and see wild animals roaming freely without a care in the world. Imagine having a beautiful dinner with gourmet cuisine and delicious South African wine under the stars in the middle of the park. Can life get better than that?

Peru including the lost city of Machu Picchu
December 14, 2010
The next destination that we would like to share with you is the thrilling country of Peru! Whether in pursuit of high altitude adventure, a spiritual quest, archaeological phenomenon, or vibrant nightlife, a visit to Peru truly satisfies. Rich in ancient culture and tradition, Peru is home to imperial ruins of great civilizations, including the lost city of Machu Picchu. Imagine exploring the ancient Incan ruins and marveling at how those lived many many years ago. Let’s see first hand how one of my colleagues would describe her recent journey to this extraordinary land.

Israel: Beautiful, Special and Amazing
November 2, 2010
Hello All, My name is Katie and I am pleased to announce that I am the new “Inside Traveler!” I am truly excited to take on this new role, however I sure do have some big shoes to fill. From here on out, the new blogs that I will be writing are going to take on a different twist. I am going to meet with people who have gone on amazing vacations and experienced things that will thrill all who read. I will conduct interview-like meetings and then share all of the information with you to keep you entertained and knowledgeable about the wonderful destinations around the world.

Fare Thee Well!
July 28, 2010
Throughout my tenure as your resident desktop traveler I’ve learned so much about the beautiful destinations available for an affordable vacation and I thank you for giving me your feedback along the way. It is with both excitement and hesitation that I announce this will be my last correspondence to you. I am feeling excited because I am moving on professionally (and may finally get to travel to some exotic destinations!) and feeling hesitant because I have enjoyed every minute of writing this blog and will certainly miss it.

Bienvenidos a Miami
March 9, 2010
"Bienvenidos a Miami" or Welcome to Miami as Will Smith says in his über catchy 90’s pop hit is truly appropriate. You get enveloped with an inviting feeling the minute you arrive in this southern Florida hot spot and that feeling helps prepare you for all of the excitement to come. Just two weeks ago I was heading to Key West with my boyfriend, not a virtual exploration, but a real, live trip and I was happy to get out of my cubicle. Leaving behind a huge snowstorm that hit the north east with a vengeance, we gleefully packed carry-ons and departed for sunnier (and much warmer) accommodations. We landed in Miami, rented a car and began our journey down to Key West. And what a lovely drive it was! With the radio blasting and a cool breeze blowing through my hair, 125 miles later we arrived in America’s Caribbean.

Everything and then some.
Find it all in Argentina.
January 12, 2010
Like many of you, my new year’s resolution is to travel more. There are just so many amazing destinations in the world and in my blog this past year; I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the places I want to go. One region which has always held a certain kind of mystery for me is South America, and specifically of interest is Argentina. It has always been in my top ten destinations to visit because of its gorgeous landscapes, fascinating cities and lively culture.

Quick Getaways to Boston and Washington DC!
December 8, 2009
I can’t believe that I’ve been sitting behind this desk for almost a year now writing about all of the amazing places I want to visit. How fast the time has gone by! Last month the topic was honeymooning in Mexico, but this month I’ve decided to keep it local and faux visit the cities of Boston and Washington DC through the advice of my always-ready-to-make-me-jealous colleagues, the travel experts. These two beautiful north eastern cities are full of excitement, history, fun attractions and amazing cuisine. But the best part is that these no passport, no hassle vacation destinations are only a short trip away!

Want a honeymoon in paradise? Mexico delivers!
October 20, 2009
When the leaves start to change colors and the air gets brisk, I am instantly in awe of the romantic nature of this season. It’s hard to get away from images of lovers walking arm and arm or enjoying those last few warm days at the park on a picnic blanket. Before Halloween even hits, my mind is already on the holidays and snuggling up next to your loved one with cocoa in hand. All of these lovey-dovey ideals might seem trite to some, but I am a total sucker for them. With several friends newly engaged, this is of course, all the more relevant and its got me thinking about the perfect honeymoon in paradise.

Panama – More Than Just A Canal
September 21, 2009
My most recent stationary global exploration takes me to the vibrant country of Panama. The more I research and chat with the experts, the more I realize that Panama is an undiscovered gem in Central America, and it has so much more to offer than just the Panama Canal. I find it hard to shake the feeling that just having Panama on my vacation radar means that I’m in on a little secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover. However, until the anticipated tourism explosion, Panama remains totally accessible to travelers on a budget, and there’s no shortage of beaches, mountains and rain forests to explore in this scenic country.

Costa Rica - Monkeys and Toucans and
Alligators, Oh my!
August 18, 2009
No artificial ingredients, huh? That’s Costa Rica’s credo and from the experts I’ve spoken with, this statement holds true. So while tied to my desk, my newest journey takes me to this exotic Latin American destination. When you mention Costa Rica, people imagine it’s what paradise must look like. I personally always pictured a rainforest with wild cats lounging in giant trees. In my mind’s eye it was a lot like the children’s movie Jungle Book.

Hawaii is Chock Full O’ Aloha Spirit
July 17, 2009
"The fresh, floral air energizes you. The warm, tranquil waters refresh you. The breathtaking, natural beauty renews you." At least that’s how the Hawaii Tourist Board describes a vacation experience on one of their six unique islands. Not surprisingly, that’s also what I’ve been hearing from all my internal Hawaii experts. So I’m taking my latest journey without ever leaving my desk to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai and Lanai.

Fall Into “The Gap” In Barbados!
June 23, 2009
No, I’m not talking about the retailer... I am talking about the super hip-strip in Barbados called the St. Lawrence Gap, which has some of the hottest clubs and bars to be found in the Caribbean. My newest faux adventure takes me to this sunny destination and thankfully I had an expert on hand to tell me all about it. Barbados is a place rich with beauty, not only in their stunning landscapes but also in their native people, called Bajans.

Iguana Go Back To Aruba!
January 24, 2009
In my ongoing quest to explore the world beyond my cubicle, this time I find myself in Aruba. Well, not actually in Aruba but vicariously vacationing there through the descriptions of two of my managers. These two lovely ladies recently spent four sun-soaked days in Aruba and came back to report their findings. Just as I had suspected, Aruba turned out to be awesome and I turned out to be jealous.

Blue Curacao?
January 2, 2009
Okay, so this travel blog assignment comes down the pike and the word around the campfire is that I’m going to interview people when they come back from their trips. It’s funny. I thought they knew that I wanted to see the sugar sand beaches for myself and maybe get a spa treatment and eat some gourmet food while I was at it. I can now look forward to hearing about the beauty of the Caribbean from my coworkers even more than I did before. They’ll watch me salivate as they tell me detailed accounts of amazing cuisine, adventurous excursions, beautiful architecture, fascinating culture and breathtaking sunsets.

Where It All Began
November 21, 2008
I’ve always hoped in my 20s to have the kinds of adventures my parents had in theirs. Growing up, all I heard were stories about how they would stay up into the wee hours of the morning planning their travels and then go to the post office and ask for their mail to be held until their return. They would just pack their bags and leave. Sometimes they were gone for months at a time with no fear, no worries about the consequences or repercussions of their actions. With that kind of history, it’s easy to see why I’ve had the travel bug since inception. Truth be told, I was conceived on a cross country road trip my parents took back in the early 80s, and thus began my journey as a traveler and free spirit.

Tahiti and Her Islands
November 15, 2008
Most people think that Tahiti and Her Islands is a romantic laid back kind of place. Actually there is so much to do and see that adds adventure, culture and fine eating as well as experiences that you will never forget. Tahiti and Her Islands offer so many different options that will fulfill all of your needs. The city tours give you culture, history and beauty beyond belief.  For adventure, Tahiti and her Islands offer everything from Catamaran rides to ATV adventures. One of my favorites is a visit to the Dolphin Encounter in Moorea.  I recently watched a small group of people on this tour. They get into the water with the dolphins and interact with them as they are learning about them. The look on the faces of the tourists was pure amazement.