We’ve traveled 26 hours and half way around the world to experience Africa. After a night of catching up on sleep in the Sun Intercontinental Hotel at Johannesburg Airport, Alan and I catch the charter flight to Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands, a property in the Sabi Sands game preserve adjacent to Krueger National Park. When we arrive at Skukuza Airport, which is little more than a paved landing strip, Ivory Lodge guides, Lucas and Joseph, gather our luggage, then Alan and I climb into the Land Rover for our first ride down the dirt roads of the African bush. By the time we reach Ivory Lodge, we’ve seen velvet monkeys, impala, kudu and waterbuck. We’re greeted in the reception area with a cold towel plus a glass of iced tea sweetened with grenadine. Then, Robyn ... read more

After two days of jostling around on the four-wheel drive trails near Ouray, it’s time for another kind of muscle challenging activity - horseback riding. It seems odd to be paying the fee and signing waivers on the side of Highway 550. What if the horsewoman in the pickup truck drives away with our money? But, she doesn’t. Instead, she tells us to turn onto CR-14 for the winding drive back into the hills to the national forest access. The horses are chewing grass, patiently waiting, at the end of the road. Soon, more clients arrive plus another trailer full of horses. I make friends with my horse, Pedro, hoping he won’t take advantage of a newbie. As the group starts out, I manage to line up behind the trail boss, Sherry. She offers advice about ... read more

Today’s adventure includes exploring the trails in Yankee Boy Basin and Imogene Pass, high above Ouray, Colorado. Our 4-wheel drive friends, Dave and Cindy, plus their daughter Makenna, have joined us in Ouray for two days of driving the old mining trails that meander through the San Juan Mountains. On the Yankee Boy Basin Trail , the jeeps lurch over rocky ground, slowing down to inch along a narrow ledge that hugs the mountain on one side, with a steep drop-off on the other. Far below, old shacks sit beside piles of tailings from a defunct mine. Even though it’s late in June, the area is still recovering from a record snowfall, which means the trails are extra rough with debris from avalanches. The reward for bouncing around in the jeep…views of snowmelt waterfalls thundering down ... read more

What is it about an off-the-beaten-path location that is so appealing? Alan and I treasure the lack of crowds and the chance to discover something that not too many people know about. The url=http://myitchytravelfeet.com/2009/02/05/hiking-the-north-rim-at-black-canyon-of-the-gunnison-national-park/north rim of The Black Canyon of the Gunnison fits all of those parameters. Since I’m not the camping type, we choose url=http://myitchytravelfeet.com/2008/09/06/leroux-creek-inn-colorados-answer-to-the-french-wine-country/ Leroux Creek Inn & Vineyards in Hotchkiss, Colorado, for our headquarters. Our room in the southwestern style adobe bed and breakfast has views of the vineyard and the West Elk Mountains. Flowers are everywhere including hanging baskets of cascading blooms swinging in the summer breeze. Our breakfast of stuffed french toast is served at a table on th... read more

With Sonoran Desert temperatures reaching triple digits, Alan and I agree that it’s time for a road trip. The first stop on our “cooling off” journey is Greer, Arizona. Located in the White Mountains, the tiny village offers quiet seclusion combined with plenty of nature. It’s our kind of place. At The Amberian Peaks Lodge, our home for two nights, we can view the entire valley from the multi-level deck. We’ve found our spot for morning coffee or sipping a glass of wine in the late afternoon sun. And, at an elevation of over 8,000 ft., we quickly revive from Tucson’s scorching heat. In Greer, dining choices are limited, but we’re in luck. The Lodge’s restaurant has an excellent chef. Alan and I aren’t disappointed as we dine on halibut smothered in a verde sauce while ... read more