All Stories by Mary

What do you do when a member of your family is unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer? Hopefully... you help them make the most of every moment. Take along a vibrant six year old adventurer and you have the definite recipe for success! This was nothing short of adventurous, we did everything from snorkeling and paddle boarding to kayaking and …

With 4 kids I've tried to take them each individually to explore a corner of the world and have some one on one time. My daughter, the wildlife lover, and I traveled to Greenland for some of the best whale watching I've experienced anywhere as well as charming local villages. Across the strait on the Canadian side we spotted polar bears feeding on …

Three local flights from southern Canada later, I arrived into the small northern Canada community of Pond Inlet. From here we boarded sleds pulled by snow mobiles and set off 45 miles along frozen ocean to the floe edge where the frozen channel were were traveling along meets up with the moving waters of the Atlantic. It is here where travelers …

The Falkland Islands offer a truly 'off the grid' experience. Many of the islands are home to only a handful of people. Travelers can walk amongst several different species of penguins, elephant seals, and other wildlife. Connected to the outside world primarily by once a week flights, this is one of the few last remaining truly remote areas of …

Of all the excursions in Torres del Paine, don't miss out on the Grey Glacier! We celebrated with Pisco Sours complete with 10,000 year old glacial ice before taking the easy trip back to the lakeshore. With the winds at our backs, the journey was calm and we could enjoy the scenery out on deck. Even with the rains and wind during our trip, our …

As a busy mother of 4, I seldom have time to take a step back and focus my attention on anything. We went ziplining, horseback riding, discovered local markets and enjoyed some wonderful food. This 11 day trip with my mom and oldest kids was a gift of shared time and memories we will never forget.

This is one of the best trips I've ever done anywhere! Stunning emerald green waters nestled in the hills of Patagonia. This is a great choice for adventurous multi-sport travelers with a mix of whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking and horseback riding! We also witnessed the authentic culture through shows and amazing food.

We embarked on a luxury small ship cruise from Athens to Alexandria with land tours into Syria and Cairo. Along the way, we saw the site of four Ancient Wonders of the World and other ancient sites dating from 2500 BC to the Middle Ages.

Mom, two-year-old Matthew and I enjoyed a unique small ship expedition of Central America's Panama and Costa Rica. We cruised the Panama Canal and had a true authentic experience with local children. We also hiked in the rainforest and whitewater rafted the rivers of Costa Rica. I loved spending time with my family in a beautiful location!

My seven year old loves camping so where better for a mom and son adventure than camping in Baja? We stayed at a lovely turtle conservation camp where we assisted with local turtle monitoring projects and went whale watching daily in search of gray whales in Magdalena Bay.

Though I've traveled to nearly 50 countries, I was not in a hurry to visit Hawaii. I always pictured it to be a mass tourist destination full of tacky souvenir shops and overcrowded beaches. I knew my husband would enjoy the ease of staying in the US for a change so I decided to take a chance on this small ship cruise on the Safari Explorer. It …

No one likes to expect trouble when they travel, but working in the industry, I've seen my share of unexpected issues arise. Because of this experience, I always get travel insurance. Though insurance is far from perfect, it does provide me piece of mind for the unexpected. In this case, it was the need to return home urgently from Transylvania …

As my kids have gotten older, I'm feeling more confident taking the whole family overseas at one time. This time we opted for a bit more 'traditional' vacation with a relaxing stay in Puerto Vallarta to recharge in the midst of an exhausting winter back home. We made the most of our week with lots of activities- ziplining, whale watching, swimming …

I lived in Germany briefly out of college and made some great friends there. It has long been my dream to bring my whole family back there to introduce them to our friends and their kids, some of whom are now college age themselves! This summer I was finally able to get a good deal on air tickets, rent a minivan and pack up the kids for a visit to …

Fulfilling a lifetime dream for my mom, Valetta, to visit Valletta, Malta on her birthday. We cruised aboard the Le Bougainville of Ponant. We visited so many sites and beautiful scenery. We saw temples and cathedrals, museums and ruins. We tasted local spices and strolled through markets. We even went to a movie set of The Count of Monte Cristo! …

Journey through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary to experience the rich history and warm hospitality in this region. We experienced the culture up close through the old buildings and ruins that we toured. We ate wonderful food paired with wine while we sailed through the Iron Gates on the Danube River.

What a better way to celebrate the completion of middle school, than an epic 2 week trip exploring Africa with my 14 year old daughter! We started in Capetown and worked our way down to the Cape of Good Hope, whale watching in Hermanus, ziplining in the winelands, and off to a safari by Kruger National Park. From there we flew to Victoria Falls …

My mother, son and I went to Antarctica to celebrate my son's 9th birthday and my 40th birthday! We crossed the Drake Passage and then landed on the 7th continent itself! We hiked around Deception Island amongst the many species of penguins and seals. Best birthday celebration ever!

My mom, husband, kids and I traveled to Puerto Vallarta for a week of sun and adventure- trying ATVs, snorkeling, boogie boarding, and even dinner on a pirate ship!

Traveling Alaska's Inside Passage from Juneau to Sitka on the National Geographic Quest

My daughter and I cruised from Basel to Amsterdam with the Amalucia at the start of the holiday season to enjoy the beautiful Christmas Markets along the Rhine.