Mac On the Map

The
journey
is the Goal

Find your next adventure as I take you across the map

  • Rainy Days on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

    Rainy Days on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

    Sadly, it rained consistently & violently during my few days in Coromandel, so I wasn’t able to see as much of the beauty as I was hoping to. Still, I could see through the mist that the dramatic coastline would be beautiful.   My first night was in the small town of Thames.  Before heading… Read more

  • Diving into the South Kona’s Colorful World, Hawai’i

    Diving into the South Kona’s Colorful World, Hawai’i

    My first day in Hawai’i was the perfect blend of adventure, exploration, history, culture, and food  I started with a drive down the windy narrow road to the coastline where I could rent both kayaks and snorkeling gear from Ehu and Kai Adventures I didn’t realize that the rentals were for the whole day, so… Read more

  • Nature and Whimsy in Akaroa, New Zealand

    Nature and Whimsy in Akaroa, New Zealand

    My first stop on the South Island of New Zealand, Akaroa grabbed my heart with its first stunning vistas along the steep and windy road down to the harbor. Only an hour and half from Christchurch, most people visit the town for just the day, but I happily booked two nights in this charming harbor… Read more

  • Tangled Up in the Blue Mountains, NSW Australia

    Tangled Up in the Blue Mountains, NSW Australia

    An easy two hour train ride from Sydney took me to the Blue Mountains National Park. There are several towns to stay in with access to the park; I chose Katoomba because I heard it was the largest of them.  The train station left me at one end of the main street, Katoomba street, and… Read more

  • Born of the Fire, Born of the Sea: Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i

    Born of the Fire, Born of the Sea: Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i

    One of the sights that makes the Big Island of Hawaii different from the rest of the Hawaiian islands is Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.  Established in 1916, the park encompasses over 350,000 acres extending from the sea to 13,680 feet.  It is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna… Read more

  • The Power of the French Broad River: Asheville, NC

    The Power of the French Broad River: Asheville, NC

    The French Broad River that runs through Asheville is the third oldest river in the world and one of the few rivers that flows north. Starting with the Cherokee nation, who inhabited this area for 10,000 years, several groups have used the river as the center point to their settlement, trade, and industry. However, after The… Read more

  • Being a Tourist in Venice, Italy

    Being a Tourist in Venice, Italy

    While I think Venice is really a city just to get lost in, there are some pretty amazing sights to see as well. Most of the famous ones are centered around St. Mark’s Square. St Mark’s Square is grand and opulent. The Doge Palace wraps around the large open square where cafes take turns playing… Read more

  • Beyond the Walls of Kotor’s Old City, Montenegro

    Beyond the Walls of Kotor’s Old City, Montenegro

    When more than one cruise ship is in port (most of the time), Kotor’s old city becomes too crowded to enjoy, so I tried to spend the midday hours venturing outside of the city walls.   Kotor is set at the base of Lovćen Mountain, so it’s easy to access the mountain trails from the city. … Read more

  • Walking into the History of Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Walking into the History of Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Dubrovnik’s walled old city was the most impressive of the medieval cities I visited during my trip.  Set at the base of a mountain along the coast, the city stands alone.   The Dubrovnik Walls were built up to 25 meters high and 6 meters thick with multiple layers to protect the city from cannonballs and… Read more

  • Wandering around the Old City of Munich, Germany

    Wandering around the Old City of Munich, Germany

    Today’s plan was to just walk around the city. I had researched specific sites to start the itinerary, but I was also ready to walk through any door to see where it led.  Munich’s old town has so many beautiful buildings, churches, and parks, that it wasn’t hard to spend a whole day talking in… Read more

  • Surrounded by Blue: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

    Surrounded by Blue: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

    Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s largest and most famous natural wonder, so even though it’s about a two hour drive over the mountains and through the rural towns of inland Croatia, tourists still flock to the park.  Declared a national park in 1949 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Plitvice Lakes is… Read more

  • A Day at the Museum: Florence, Italy

    A Day at the Museum: Florence, Italy

    On the first Sunday of every month from October to March, the state museums in Florence are free. This includes some of the most iconic museums in the city, so when I realized that I lucked out and would be in the city for one of these days, I knew that I had to put… Read more

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