Konnichiwa from Japan! During our trip, we made stops at Mount Fuji, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Osaka before arriving in Kyoto. We’ve already posted photo-heavy installments of this trip report from Tokyo through Nagoya, and will have the other parts of the report soon. (Last updated January 24, 2018.) This post basically just functions as a […]
My Top 10 U.S. National Parks (So Far)
/29 Comments/in Top 10 National Parks /by Tom BrickerIf you’ve perused the National Parks category of the blog, you might know that I’m a huge NPS enthusiast. In this post, I wanted to share my favorite parks from Maine to Hawaii, and everywhere in between. For a number of years growing up, we took two vacations every year: Florida in the late winter […]
Merriman’s: Top 10 Restaurant in United States?
/8 Comments/in Dining Hawaii /by Tom BrickerOn our last visit to Hawaii, we dined at Merriman’s for one of the best meals we’ve ever had. So, when TripAdvisor released their Travelers’ Choice Awards, I was not too surprised to see it rank #10. (Along with another favorite of ours, Victoria & Albert’s in Walt Disney World, which ranked #2.) In this […]
Hiroshima Japan Fall Trip Report
/8 Comments/in Reports Japan /by Tom BrickerIt’s been a while since the last installment of our Japan Fall & Winter Trip Report, but we pick up from our Miyajima installment with our other days in Hiroshima. Our first night in Hiroshima, we did some work before heading to downtown for dinner, walking to a place called Sushitei Kamiyacho. This was among the […]
Brickers’ Fall & Winter Japan Trip Report
/15 Comments/in Reports Japan, Tokyo /by Tom BrickerKonnichiwa from Japan! During our trip, we made stops at Mount Fuji, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Osaka before arriving in Kyoto. We’ve already posted photo-heavy installments of this trip report from Tokyo through Nagoya, and will have the other parts of the report soon. (Last updated January 24, 2018.) This post basically just functions as a […]
Top 10 Things to Do in Kyoto, Japan
/6 Comments/in Things to Do, Tips & Tricks Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerAs Japan’s “cultural capital,” Kyoto has no shortage of things to do and places to see. Its temples and shrines alone number over 1,600, with a dozen of those being UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its allure goes far beyond the spiritual, with Kyoto offering so much that you could spend months here without experiencing all […]
Heisler Park: Laguna Beach’s Crown Jewel
/6 Comments/in Things to Do California, Laguna Beach, SoCal /by Tom BrickerHeisler Park in Laguna Beach, California is not a hidden gem. Its beaches are no secrets, and its beautifully-manicured landscape is rarely devoid of people. Despite it being a popular place to relax, walk, and exercise in Orange County, Heisler Park is still underrated. How can this be possible if it’s a popular spot? Because […]
Beat Bergen’s Crowds: Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen
/2 Comments/in Things to Do Norway /by Tom BrickerThe Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen is one of Bergen, Norway’s most popular attractions. Located downtown near the fish market and Bryggen Wharf, this should be your top priority when visiting Bergen. Literally, make it the very first thing you do! We were visiting Bergen via a cruise ship, and we had read a lot […]
Ninnaji Temple Info, Tips & Review
/5 Comments/in Things to Do Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerNinnaji Temple (仁和寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northwest Kyoto, Japan. It’s one of the few high-profile with free admission to the grounds, and it’s near popular spots in Arashiyama. In this post, I’ll share photos I took at Ninnaji, info & tips for visiting, history of the temple, and thoughts on our […]
Fjellstua Viewpoint: Ålesund, Norway’s #1 Thing to Do
/2 Comments/in Things to Do Norway /by Tom BrickerOne of the best things to do in Ålesund, Norway is the Aksla Viewpoint, which is also known as Fjellstua Viewpoint. Not only is this fun and stunning, but it’s free and requires minimum time. That’s probably why it’s the #1 thing to do in Ålesund per TripAdvisor reviews. In this post, we’ll share photos from Aksla […]
Blog Update: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going Next…
/44 Comments/in Reports /by Tom BrickerWe’re back from Japan and gearing up for a big year. In this post, I want to run through a variety of topics looking back at last year and forward to this year, covering where the blog is going next. Mostly, I want to “think aloud” a bit, tossing around some ideas, explaining my rationale, […]