Category: Travel

Discovering the world one step at a time. Travel stories, pictures, and travel hacking. Be a globetrotter on a budget!

Life is short and the world is big. We share our love of travel by taking beautiful pictures and recommending the top things to do at destinations all over the world.

We traveled to the Connecticut capitol and found fun facts
Connecticut Capitol

One of our quests entails visiting every single capitol building in the USA. Working slowly, we have done 9 out of 50 so far. Read all about it on our Visit all Capitols page.

Travel to Europe

Since Karen was born in the Netherlands, and one of our daughters lived in the UK for a few years, we tend to travel to Europe fairly frequently. Here are some of our tips and tricks for Europe travel:

  • Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail: Strong Focus On Whales and Epic Views

    , , , ,

    The Makapu’u Lighthouse trail is one of the most popular hikes on Oahu, Hawai’i. What to expect on the hike and find out about the lighthouse. Is the Makapuu lighthouse trail easy or hard? How long is the hike? Can you see whales? What is the best time to see whales? Fresnel lens. National Historic…

    The Makapu’u Lighthouse trail is one of the most popular hikes on Oahu, Hawai’i. How hard is the hike? What is the history of the lighthouse? How long is the trail? Can you really see humpback whales from the shore? The trail has epic views! Find out what a Fresnel lens is. What to expect if you are not as fit as the average bear or suffer from a chronic illness like MS. The #sunset was amazing! #OurCarpeDiem #Hawaii #hiking #multiplesclerosis #chronicillness #spoonie #makapuu
  • Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch: Feeding Frenzy on Stellwagen Bank

    , ,

    Why you should go whale watching at Stellwagen Bank with the Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch from Provincetown, MA. Watch bubble-net feeding, kick feeding and tons of humpbacks all around the boat.

    Watch Whales at Stellwagen Bank with Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
  • The Ultimate Guide to Bungee-Jumping Off The Space Needle!

    , , , ,

    Have you ever considered bungee jumping off the Space Needle!? When you travel to #Seattle, everyone tells you that you should visit the Space Needle. We took it one step further and ended up bungee-jumping off the Space Needle. Even with my multiple sclerosis! Go find out how I did this and put this on…

    Bungee Jumping off the Space Needle Have you ever considered bungee jumping off the Space Needle!? When you travel to #Seattle, everyone will tell you that you should visit the Space Needle. We took it one step further and ended up bungee-jumping off the Space Needle. Even with my multiple sclerosis! Go find out how I did this and put this on your bucketlist. It also talks about the amazing #ADA access to the Space Needle. Go read #OurCarpeDiem #travel #traveltips #MultipleSclerosis #Seattle #VirtualReality #bucketlist
  • The Best Gray Whale Watching is in Magdalena Bay

    ,

    The grey whales of Magdalena Bay will rock you! Find out everything you need to know about these gentle giants and if you are lucky, touch a whale! If you love nature, you will really enjoy this article and find out about a unique type of whale watching

    The grey whales of Magdalena Bay will rock you! Find out everything you need to know about these gentle giants and if you are lucky, touch a whale! If you love nature, you will really enjoy this article and find out about a unique type of whale watching #GreyWhales #ThingsToDo #WhaleWatching #MagdalenaBay #OurCarpeDiem #MexicoTravel
  • The Pierce Manse: Discover One Of The Worst Presidents!

    , ,

    The Pierce Manse used to be the home of the only New Hampshire POTUS Franklin Pierce. Did you know he was one of the worst presidents ever? He didn’t even want to be president but somehow got elected anyway. Read the story of his sad life and bad presidency and find out how and where…

    The Pierce Manse used to be the home of the only New Hampshire POTUS Franklin Pierce. Did you know he was one of the worst presidents ever? He didn’t even want to be president but somehow got elected anyway. Read the story of his sad life and bad presidency and find out how and where to visit the Pierce Manse in Concord NH. #OurCarpeDiem #USHistory #FranklinPierce #ConcordNH
  • Unlock The Unforgettable Maine State House And Its Liberty Bell

    , ,

    Discover the Maine state house in Augusta and admire Maine’s liberty bell and a last century’s school house bell. Find out more about this historic place.

    Discover the Maine state house in Augusta, Maine's liberty bell and a last century's school house bell. Enjoy the architecture of this historic place which was designed by Bullfinch. Take a stroll in the park adjacent to the state house. One of the fun things to do when you travel to Maine. Learn more about US history. Carpe diem, click and read! #OurCarpeDiem #travel #Maine #statehouse #capitol #USAtravel #bucketlist #thingstodo #architecture
  • How to Make the Most out of Your Trip to Isla Contoy!

    , , ,

    This island close to #Cancun in the #RivieraMaya is a nature lovers paradise. Find out how to get there and what you can expect once you reach #IslaContoy. Stunning pictures and useful information about a day trip and what birds and other creatures you will encounter. Do not miss this #Mexico #NationalPark and #EcoReserve and…

    This island close to #Cancun in the #RivieraMaya is a nature lovers paradise. Find out how to get there and what you can expect once you reach #IslaContoy. Stunning pictures and useful information about a day trip and what birds and other creatures you will encounter. Do not miss this #Mexico #NationalPark and #EcoReserve and spend on day on the water and on this uninhabited island, together with frigate birds and #crocodiles. #OurCarpeDiem #birding #travelguide #snorkeling
  • Discover 10 Unexpected Facts about the Vermont State House

    , ,

    Vermont State House: Ten Fun Facts Do you know what color the original dome of the Vermont state house in Montpelier was? Or where the fossils in the state house hung out 500 million years ago? You too can be a winner at #jeopardy by reading this article! Why are there Spanish cannons? What connection…

    Vermont State House: Ten Fun Facts Do you know what color the original dome of the Vermont state house in Montpelier was? Or where the fossils in the state house hung out 500 million years ago? You too can be a winner at #jeopardy by reading this article! Why are there Spanish cannons? What connection does Vermont have to the USS Constitution? Top things to do in Vermont #travelguide #OurCarpeDiem #Vermont #statehouse #capitol #montpelier #capital #VermontStateCapitol #funfacts #trivia
  • Top Ten Fun Facts about the New Hampshire State House

    , ,

    New Hampshire State House: 10 Fun Facts Discover the New Hampshire State House in Concord NH and admire New Hampshire’s liberty bell. One of the fun and free things to do when you travel to New Hampshire. Learn more about US history. Take a New Hampshire State House Tour. Where did the state motto Live…

    New Hampshire State House: 10 Fun Facts Discover the New Hampshire State House in Concord NH and admire New Hampshire's liberty bell. One of the fun and free things to do when you travel to New Hampshire. Learn more about US history. Take a New Hampshire State House Tour. Where did the state motto Live Free or Die originate? How much do NH legislators get paid? Carpe diem, click and read! #OurCarpeDiem #travel #NewHampshire #statehouse #capitol #USAtravel #bucketlist #thingstodo #budgettravel
  • Dutch Golden Age Luxury At The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

    , ,

    The fascinating history of the Dutch Golden Age merchants who ruled the seven seas and built canal houses to match their status.. Now you can stay right where the Russian Emperor Alexander I and Dutch kings visited! Even if you can’t afford to stay, enjoy the award winning restaurants and soak up the long history…

    Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam Fascinating history of the Dutch Golden Age which culminated in the construction of luxury mansions right at the Amsterdam canals. The Waldorf is at the Herengracht (Gentlemen’s Canal) and is a #bucketlist destination for sure. Explore the award winning restaurants, find out how we managed to stay for free and travel back in time with all the modern comforts. #OurCarpeDiem #WaldorfAstoria #HiltonHotels #Travelguide #AmsterdamNetherlands