Embark on an excursion from the Costa Maya cruise port to Chacchoben, the ancient Mayan city, followed by a relaxing dip in the crystal-clear waters of Laguna Bacalar. This was our itinerary when your Norwegian cruise ship stopped here. Start of the Trip We headed off the cruise ship onto the pier. The lineup for excursions is to the right of the shopping plaza and…
Go for a swim, fly across the island on a zipline, or just lay out on the beach are some of the many activities at Harvest Caye in Belize. You can also take excursions on the mainland of Belize, but we decided to spend the day on the island after a busy day in Roatan. OVERVIEW This island is private and for guests on Norwegian…
Monkeys jump on your shoulders, macaws are free roaming and you even cross a swinging bridge at Gumbalimba Park in Roatan, Honduras. During our Norwegian Cruise, we took an excursion to Gumbalimba Park that included swimming at Tabyana Beach Resort. Going to Gumbalimba Park Meet the tour leader just outside the port gates on the main road. You will walk through the port area and…
Check out ancient Mayan relics at Museo de Cozumel or find Mexican blankets and souvenirs in the market by Benito Juarez Park in San Miguel de Cozumel. We also had plenty of time to enjoy authentic Mexican food while we explored this town. Why We Chose to Be On Our Own The Norwegian Cruise Terminal is near San Miguel de Cozumel so we decided to…
Explore the Cache River State Natural Area that has a swamp, where water surrounds huge tree trunks and you can cross a bridge near the confluence of two streams. HISTORY Native Americans found the swamp area perfect for hunting and fishing while the first Europeans found the wet soil bad for farming but good for lumbering. Some of the area was drained but the Cache…
Hike along farm fields and by a rocky stream on the Jones Farm Multi-Purpose Trail located on the outskirts of Waterloo, IL. I hiked 1.4 miles doing a loop on a natural surface combined with some gravel road walking. Elevation gain was 89 feet. The area is supposed to have five miles of trails in total. Start of the Hike I parked in the pull-off…
Hike over 100 feet above the Meramec River and through dolomite woodlands on the Deer Run Trail at Onondaga Cave State Park. This hike is listed at 2.5 but starting directly from the parking lot and with lookout stops I clocked in at 2.8 miles with 351 feet of elevation gain. The surface is a mixture of gravel, rock, and dirt with some hill climbing,…
Hike above sandstone canyons and along rocky streams deep in the woods at Storment Hauss Nature Preserve south of Waterloo, Ill. This is a 1.3-mile hike that includes the single track before the loop and stops along the way with 128 feet of elevation gain. It is rated moderately difficult due to its primitive natural tread surface and alignment that traverses ridges, ravines, and small…
Explore Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, an ancient six-square-mile city of 20,000 people and filled with huge man-made mounds. These mysterious mounds were abandoned around 1400 A.D. This walk includes Monks Mound which rises 100 feet above the surrounding land. A massive building once stood on the summit where a principal chief would live, conduct ceremonies, and govern. Located near Collinsville, IL. and the intersection…
Hike the Confluence Trail in Alton along the Mississippi River where you can search the sky for eagles and watch the barges ply the river. This is a 5.2-mile out-and-back walk on a paved trail that starts near the Melcin Price Lock and Dam and ends on the riverfront in Alton. It has only 69 feet of elevation gain and is stroller-friendly. The full Madison…
