Thirdeyemom

A Stay in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland

Nestled at the bottom of the rugged Fjarðarheiði mountain pass at the end of a long, narrow fjord in Eastern Iceland is the magical coastal... Read More
Iceland: Two days in Mývatn and Krafla, Iceland

Day Five of our Ring Road Trip around Iceland found our family of four arriving early afternoon at Mývatn Lake, probably one of the most geologically... Read More
A Hike up to Iceland’s Newest Volcano: Fagradalsfjall

On July 29, our family of four took our first trip out of the country since before the pandemic to the magical, surreal landscape of... Read More
The George Floyd Murals of Minneapolis: A Demand for Justice, Hope and a Better Humanity

This is a developing story and I will be updating it regularly with new murals as they go up around the city. While not every... Read More
Take a Walk with Me Through Petra: One of Jordan’s Most Magical Places

Have you ever had one of those travel experiences that was so magical it was almost spiritual? That is how I felt when I discovered... Read More
Unforgettable Hikes along the Tour de Mont Blanc: Hike from Col des Montets to Lac Blanc

Sometimes in life, the best comes last. Serendipitously, this proved true with our very last hike on our intergenerational do it ourselves Tour de Mont... Read More
Two Days in Courmayeur

Tucked within two valleys, the Val Ferret and Val Veny on the southeastern side of Mont Blanc in the Aosta Valley of Italy lies the... Read More
The Best Hikes in Tucson’s Sabino Canyon

There is no better way to connect with the raw beauty of nature than by doing a good hike. I grew up hiking and for... Read More
First Time Guide to Climbing Kilimanjaro

Have you ever had a dream for so long that it never stopped bugging you until you decided to just do it? For me, it... Read More
A Magical Hike in Chile’s Parque Andino Juncal

"Frigid winds blow as we turn into the glacier’s gorge. Without foreseeing we begin to step on ice that shines in between the fallen rocks of surrounding towering mountains" - Nicolás Echenique,... Read More

January 21, 2022

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Ring Road Trip Around Iceland: The Beauty of Vik

At the southern tip of Iceland, only a few short hours drive from Reykjavik lies the lovely, quaint coastal village of Vik. This mystical seaside town is a beautiful place surrounded by long black sand beaches, craggy green mountains, and sharp sea cliffs. The trademark Vik is most known for is Reynisdrangar, a row of pointed basalt sea stacks that raise up to 217 feet/66 m into the air. You will soon discover that a day in Vik is not enough and you will be craving for more.

December 11, 2021December 12, 2021

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Ring Road Trip Around Iceland: Hike to Skaftafell Glacier

Curving alongside the southeastern tip of Iceland lies the immense Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap outside of the poles which has over 30 glacial tongues sliding down its mystical ice mass to the volcanic ground. A drive around the Ring Road passing the “Glacier of Lakes”, the Icelandic translation of Vatnajökull to English, is a magical, wondrous journey. It is a drive that encompasses some of the most spectacular glacial scenery on earth especially the beloved Skaftafell glacier.

December 2, 2021

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Travel During the Pandemic: A Visit to Jökulsárlón

We arrived at Jökulsárlón a little after noon and the small parking lot of my memories from 13 years before had definitely grown. As we approached, a sudden burst of memories came back to me of that first time my dad and I pulled over to see this very same sight. There were only a couple of cars in the makeshift lot and we had the entire place to ourselves. I remember marveling at the gigantic icebergs gleaming in the sun like diamonds floating off to sea. The surreal aquamarine color of the water mirrored at times inside the icebergs, freckled with black. It all felt like it was out of a fairytale, it was so sublime.

November 26, 2021

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Travel during a pandemic: When things go wrong

We were seven days into our ten-day Ring Road Trip around Iceland when our long-awaited family trip turned upside down. That morning, after a lovely hike along the waterfalls outside the coastal town of Seyðisfjörður, we loaded... Read More

March 3, 2020March 8, 2020

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How Your Travel Choices Can Empower Women Around the World

One of my favorite days of the year is International Women's Day which is held on March 8th. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and improving the lives of women around the... Read More

January 22, 2020June 30, 2020

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Global Family Travels: Life-Changing Travel Experiences for the Entire Family

Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse,” to foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens. In partnership with community-based partners, schools and non-profit organizations, we offer family-friendly, sustainable travel experiences in support of some key  United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). In partnership with community-based tour operators and local non-profit organizations, Global Family Travels creates and offers service-learning tours for families which include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.

October 30, 2019July 23, 2021

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The Best Sustainable Travel and Adventure Companies

Grab a cup of coffee or tea! This post is going to be a long one but I’m hoping it will be greatly appreciated. You may want to bookmark it for later as I’m certain that this constantly evolving list of the best sustainable and travel adventure companies in the industry will be an invaluable resource for future trip planning! Enjoy!

October 24, 2019October 25, 2019

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Saddle Skedaddle celebrates a landmark 25 years with exclusive new cycling trips

Saddle Skedaddle is the UK’s leading independent cycling vacation specialist that is all about doing something wonderful on two wheels. Our team of experts has searched far and wide for nearly 25 years to bring you some of the world’s most incredible locations and enchanting cultures to enjoy at the speed of the bike. It’s time to really meet a place, and its people, you’ll never want to forget.

August 29, 2021September 18, 2021

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A Hike up to Iceland’s Newest Volcano: Fagradalsfjall

A highlight of any trip to Iceland is a hike up the Geldingadalur Valley to see the the Fagradalsfjall Volcano. One of the most accessible active volcanos in Iceland, a visit to the Fagradalsfjall Volcano is an unforgettable experience.

April 20, 2021June 9, 2021

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Minneapolis: As the world watches, we wait

It is hard to believe that it has almost been a year since that fateful late spring day in May on the corner of Cup Foods, roughly three miles away from my house. For the... Read More

March 21, 2021March 21, 2021

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One Year In: Life in a Pandemic

Last week marks one year since I penned my fateful post Life in the Midst of a Pandemic, as the first case of COVID-19 came to my home state of Minnesota, and life as we had... Read More