Category: Travel

Photo Diary: Georgia Aquarium

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Before I left for Atlanta I decided I was going to record the entire trip to a T. Well, I only did that at the aquarium, other than that it was just a few group selfies. The only reason I did at the aquarium was because everything was so jaw dropping. I’m trying to find a better balance in recording and living, because I feel like I’m bouncing between the extremes.

But as for the aquarium, it was the best one I’ve ever been to. The pure size of the whale sharks was stunning (they said their biggest was 20ft!). The beluga whale that chased it’s own air rings around the tank. The sea lion show!!! They didn’t let us take pictures during it, but guys, it was the best thing ever. Sea lions have more talent than I do.

I don’t have words, but there are some more pictures below to try and do it justice.

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The Alps: A Backyard View in Switzerland

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I’m sadly not in Switzerland, though if someone would like to pay for me to go back I’d be more than willing! These photos were taken from my trip to Europe a few years ago when I went to visit my aunt in Switzerland before going with them to Spain for New Years.

The amazing thing about these photos is I was standing in my aunts neighborhood (now they live just outside of Toronto). While I was taking these photos my cousin asked me why I was taking so many pictures of “the mountains”. I was like “Catherine, these are the Alps! I know you see them everyday, but they’re a big deal.”

It makes you think about the things that you see everyday that you don’t find special anymore. There are a lot of beautiful daily sights to see.

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Feeling Alive on Lake Fontana:

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My amazing neighbor opens his house and boat to us almost every summer on the beautiful mountain lake Fontana. It’s another place that has captured my heart over the years. (Like I needed another reason to love North Carolina so dearly.)

Actually scratch that- I always need more reasons to love North Carolina. It’s my favorite place in the world, it’s the place that will always be my home… and it’s great because though I’m very settled in my little region of North Carolina- if I need something even slightly different, NC has it all. Mountains, lakes, pastures, islands, beaches, country sides, amazing cities. If there is a place for anything and everything, it is here, in my home state.

But more on that after a few more gorgeous lake views. Continue reading →

Hot Springing:

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If you had told me I’d be in a bikini in 14 degrees I would have told you were insane. Well this week it was true. Half soaked in 115 degree water. Half is being snowed on. It was a cool experience to say the least.

Also snow and steam make for some nice photos. I took about thirty, but these three were my favorites. There was only one down side of the hot springs and that was that they were crowded. We went to the Chena Hot Springs right outside of Fairbanks, and while it was busy the activities were so much fun. We went snow mobile riding and on a northern light tour (more on that later).

I learned some interesting things about hot springs:

  • If your hair is completely frozen- don’t bend it! It’ll break.
  • If it turns your nice silver jewelry bronze- don’t panic! Rub some toothpaste on them, they’ll be good as new.

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Alaskan Dog Sledding:

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I’ve always loved speed (I race horses for crying out loud!) and I love animals, so dog sledding seemed like a great activity to invest some time in. It did not disappoint. We went sledding with Golden Heart Dog Tours and I would recommend them to anyone. Our tour guide had completed the Iditarod and two of the dogs we were riding with were ones she run with.

I didn’t know anything about dog sledding, so saying I learned a lot isn’t much of a statement, but the amount of care and skill used to run these animals is truly remarkable. Our guide fell in love with dog racing and left a lot behind to come do it. I can understand how it would be come an addiction. In fact, I could even see myself getting to that point.

It might seem like a bit of a tourist activity (and I’ll admit it is) but it was a hundred and ten percent worth it!

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Landed in Alaska:

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Some beautiful mountain pictures from my plane ride to Alaska. I didn’t announce it formally on here- so I thought I’d take the night I still have wi-fi to share these images (more below) and tell you that I’m checking out for a week because I’m in America’s last frontier! My dad and I our doing a huge father/daughter bounding trip. We’ve talked about going to Alaska for years, and decided that if we were going to do it it should be while I was still in school. Talk about a killer final spring break.

So far my dad and I have just been in Fairbanks, but we start reaching past that tomorrow. Look forward for a lot more posts- on dog sledding, on snow mobile riding, and on the NORTHERN LIGHTS. See you soon bloggers.

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