It’s likely you imagine cold and ice in Iceland. It’s called Iceland, after all. But what would you say when you learn it’s green, so many shades of green. It’s also blue — an astonishing blue in the sky and in the sea. You might be surprised to learn it can be warm (and windy), […]
Laureen Haydock-Lund
Laureen Lund is a Silverdale native who has spent the past 25 years living in Gig Harbor. Retired from a career in marketing, media and public relations, Laureen and her husband, Arne, are on a multiyear world tour that will take them to all corners of the globe in search of adventure in their fabulous 50s. Laureen is a freelance writer and manager of the popular blog:
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Sedona in Living Color
Magnificent. Majestic. Magical. Sedona wears its rainbow of hues through every season, a painting in living color in Northern Arizona. Come for a day or a week or a lifetime, — Sedona will seduce you. It’s nature’s playground and a whole lot more. About a two-hour drive (115 miles) from Phoenix (unless you hit it […]
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Treasure Hunt in the Coachella Valley
Washingtonians love the oasis of greater Palm Springs. Many “snowbirds” winter in the California desert known as the Coachella Valley. Others come for a “rain getaway,” enjoying a few days to golf and lying next to the pool. With over 300 days of sunshine, the appeal is clear, but often visitors miss the hidden gems. […]
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The Great American Road Trip
Finding your travel comfort zone is different for each person, as everyone navigates a new, partially vaccinated country still reeling from the pandemic. As in 2020, close-to-home staycations continue to dominate, but some people are venturing farther, even internationally, in this brave new world. If you find yourself torn between staying put and jumping on […]
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Maui Now: What to Know Before Visiting Maui During the Pandemic
Everyone could use a little Aloha right now. Living day to day during the pandemic has created stress in people’s lives. Jobs, families, health and economic futures hang in peril, while lockdown challenges sanity. Are you dreaming of some island time to shake away the COVID-19 blues? Not everyone is comfortable traveling yet, but if […]
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Three Cottages to Get Away, Less than Three Hours Away
Cancelled vacations. Postponed honeymoons. Delayed holidays. This is how we will remember 2020. Travel plans all for naught. As this most-memorable year draws closer to an end, it might be the right time to plan a close-to-home getaway. A weekend or longer that feels like a vacation but is less than three hours from home. […]
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Magical Mauritius — Hidden Gem of the Indian Ocean
In the Indian Ocean southeast of the continent of Africa, some 1,200 miles off the coast, lies the idyllic volcanic island of Mauritius. A hidden gem of lush and beautiful beaches, excellent year-around weather and diverse cultural life. Logistics Most visitors will arrive at the Port Louis airport via South Africa, Kenya, Dubai or India. […]
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The Mountain Gorillas of Uganda — A Trek of a Lifetime
The mountains of Uganda and Congo bring to mind Hollywood stories like “King Kong” and “Gorillas in the Mist.” Known as the impenetrable jungle, this region makes trekking through dangerous and impossible without a guide. The 1988 film about the life of conservationist Dian Fossey and her work with mountain gorillas in the jungles of […]
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Africa’s Most Magnificent Waterfall
The photos don’t do it justice. The immense size of Victoria Falls and the tremendous amount of water flowing is hard to describe — or capture with a camera. You really must experience it; hear the roar, feel the vibration, taste the mist, witness the majesty. Victoria Falls straddles the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe […]