Happy 18th Birthday to my youngest brother! He absolutely loves wolves, but in order to pet, visit or interact with wolves most places require you to be 18, well since the 15th was his 18th birthday you better believe we took him to go see some wolves. Colorado has a few options for visiting wolves, most of them are in the Colorado Springs area, however, we ultimately decided to go with Colorado Wolf Adventures and boy did they deliver! They take you on about a mile long, easy hike through the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The entire time you get to walk, pet, pose, and generally interact with the wolves. In total it was about an hour we got to spend with 2 wolves, Spirit and Ghost. Pure bred wolves (I believe, however, I could be wrong) are not allowed to interact with the public in such an atmosphere, so these wolves were 95% and 99% pure respectively. However, they carried every other wolf trait, general temperament, looks, and instincts. We avoided other people and especially dogs, however other hikers found the wolves fascinating and often didn't stray too far from our group so they too could see the wolves. Included is a photographer who gave us over 300 pictures of our family with the wolves at the end of the trip, no wait time on the pictures. They are high quality and really capture the time we spent with them. They begin by letting you know the wolves temperaments, their personalities, how to walk them and work with them, introduce you to the wolves and then you're off. The volunteers are very knowledgeable about wolves in general as well as the ones you are walking. There wasn't a question I had that they didn't have an answer to. They give you facts about how to take care of them and what their facilities are like. Wolves are a pack animal and need to be housed in a minimum of pairs, if not more. They need to live outside, with a 6 foot tall fence as well as 3 feet of fence below ground, and require 5-7 pounds of fresh meat a day per wolf. They are very intelligent and can escape any other enclosure, they also get bored and will destroy any home they are kept in, they cannot be potty trained or taught any of the usual tricks (sit, stay, shake). They are very smart and know what you want, they simply don't care to do what you say. They are not domesticated, a dog lives to please, they have spent thousands of years around humans and we thus have created a bond. This is not something a wolf possesses. These wolves have been around humans since they were born so they are as safe as you can be, however you do need to keep in mind they are not dogs and they demand a level of respect. If you know this and can keep this in mind while interacting with them, you will have no problems whatsoever. They were perfectly happy to let us pet them, walk them, sit with them, etc., we simply respected their boundaries. Spirit is a total love bug and adores belly rubs and ice apparently, we found ice on the trail and he was extremely happy to eat it. Ghost was the talkative one and would howl for us if we all howled with him. We all had a chance to walk one of the wolves, my parents and one brother walked Spirit, while my other brother and I walked Ghost. They made sure to take group shots as well as individual shots and action shots of us walking them, like I said, we received at least 300 pictures at the end of the hike. This was an absolutely wonderful experience, it's not every day you get to pet a wolf, let alone walk them or get your picture taken with them. The wolves are happy to go for a walk, just like any canine, and you can really feel the love and knowledge for the wolves by the staff. We had a fantastic time and would certainly recommend this adventure to anyone who has an interest or love for wolves! It helps support this rescue as well as further education about wolves and their importance to the ecosystem, and their need for proper care when kept in captivity. Make sure you check out Colorado Wolf Adventures, tell your friends, and next time you plan to go to the Garden of the Gods, make a reservation to walk with the wolves, you won't regret it! www.coloradowolfadventures.com Much Love, Jess (PS: The photos in this post are mine)
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It's time for the final installment of the series on the 4 day trip over Thanksgiving weekend. We returned to Long Beach Cruise Terminal on Sunday morning of the 25th, we ate a quick breakfast and everyone had to be off the ship by about 9am. We waved one last goodbye to our home on the seas, the Carnival Imagination, then embarked on a mile walk to get to our next boat. I had taken the Catalina Island Express once before over new years of 2016/17 with a friend, but we had been given a ride to get there from Los Angeles. This time I simply knew it was across the harbor, and the only way to get there was to get to the bridge that connected the harbor to the mainland, and that it was not far from the bridge. So we literally just walked in the direction of the bridge, following the meandering sidewalks that followed the ocean front and past random, fancy hotels. Clearly, whoever designed the bridge knew people like us would be following this exact trek as there were stairs leading up to the bridge and a very large bike and pedestrian lane on the bridge. After some slight confusion as to how far from the bridge the Express actually was, we made it a few hours early to our ferry ride. Luckily the ticket-woman was nice enough to bump up our appointment to 11 so we left immediately for Catalina. A quick hour-long ferry ride later and we were docking in Avalon. Though my brother and I shared some depression over the amount of plastic and trash we saw floating in the ocean between port and Catalina. From balloons to tarps, buckets, bags, and other items, it was a bit of a downer. Not being able to do anything about it as we sped past didn't help matters. I try to adopt as many low-impact activities as I can, using reusable bags and not single use plastic bags, hang drying my clothes instead of using a dryer, switching from cows milk to plant based alternatives for milk and butter, recycling everything possible, etc. While I know there is so much trash gunking up the ocean and harming marine life, it's so much worse to see it in person. If everyone did their part and cleaned up their areas and anything that happens to come into your awareness, the world would be a much cleaner place. Avalon tip! We were traveling with our luggage and we didn't want to carry all of that with us while we explored the Island. In Avalon, beside the Catalina Express there is a travel station with a few shops and information about activities on the island. There is also a stall that is simply a luggage storage business. It was $4 a bag (we only had 4 large backpacks) for the entire day. This was huge burden we no longer had to contend with, literally and metaphorically! Once we docked at Avalon we walked around and explored a couple shops and the pier, fed some fish, and waited for our next boat ride. Can you sense a theme here? This time we were taking a semi-submersible, a boat with a deeper bottom and windows so you can see under the water. We took the Catalina Island Undersea Expedition. They take you for about a 45 minute tour out to Lovers Cove to see thousands of fish and various aquatic views from kelp to sandy bottoms. Having been scuba diving at Catalina before, I can say we saw different places, fish, and it is a good way to get acquainted with the views of diving while not actually diving. However, I adore SCUBA diving and would have to say nothing truly compares to the feeling of being in the water and actually swimming through the ocean while having the sights and marine life all around you. When we returned to the pier I quickly slipped by sneakers off and walked along the beach. I can't be that close to the ocean without actually going in it! Then we rushed off to a golf cart rental to get one that could carry all 5 of us. Now, you may be wondering, why golf carts? Well, if you have never been to Avalon (or other small islands), the Island is so small (at least where the humans are allowed to live) that in order to get a car, residents must join a waiting list that takes years to be approved for! As there can only be so many cars on the island due to space concerns, etc. So, everyone else drives golf carts, as you can get to anywhere in Avalon in about 20 minutes via golf cart. We took the scenic tour and saw Avalon from every angle, it was quite the unique experience. As I had been to Avalon before, I was nominated to be the driver. If you ever take a day trip out to Avalon, I would highly suggest renting a golf cart, it was only $65 for 2 hours and it is well worth the cost! You can see the entire city, at your pace, and customize your tour to see what you want to see or skip what you don't. Our poor cart had a hard time trying to lug us all up the steep hills, but it persevered as the little cart that could and got us everywhere we wanted to go. Not always at Warp 9, but we made it nonetheless. Once we returned our golf cart we went looking for dinner and found an absolutely delicious one at The Lobster Trap. They have fresh seafood that is prepared to perfection and a great atmosphere. After that we took to walking the city until 7pm when our Express ride back to Long Beach would arrive. As winter is their off season, quite a few shops close up early, but those that remain open offered enough taste of the shopping to keep us busy for the remaining 2 hours. There is a Ghost Tour of the Island I was dying to take, but only ran at 2 (during the boat tour) and 8 (after I would have already left the Island), so unfortunately I missed out on that tour for the second time! However, I am sure I'll be back in Avalon someday, I'll make it to the ghost tour, and perhaps see the casino, at some time in the future. We then took our express ride back to Long Beach, my family playing cards with a new deck my mom had just purchased (with my motion sickness I can't read in any form on boats, planes, cars, trains, etc.). Our SuperShuttle met us at port in Long Beach and took us back to LAX. Boy was LAX busy on the 25th! We spent almost 1.5 hours getting there, over twice the amount of time it took to get from LAX to Long Beach, and all of the extra time was due to traffic. The closer we got to the airport the worse the traffic got as so many people were either flying out or returning home. We whisked through security (almost, they decided to unpack my entire bag for no apparent reason) and then sat at the gate. Our flight wasn't until nearly 1am, so most of us took a quick nap while waiting for the plane. We landed at 4, drove back home and my brothers immediately left for work/school, I was lucky and didn't have to clock in until a little after 11. With that, the whirlwind was complete, back to the daily grind and awaiting the next big adventure. Overall, we had a wonderful time and had a great family mini vacation. I would certainly recommend all of the things we did on this trip, especially Avalon, Catalina Island. My brothers even adored the Island and they don't enjoy travel, so that endorsement is a big one! It offers such a unique lifestyle and beachy, island vibe that is unlike any other. It has a little something for everyone no matter if you like shopping, swimming, diving, boating, jeeps, hiking, planes, and more! Much love, Jess Welcome to Ensenada! We really had a fun time in port in Ensenada, Mexico. We watched the ship dock at around 8am, which was quite an amazing process, to watch them maneuver this huge ship, which weighs over 70,000 tonnes, up against the dock. It takes 3-4 people to lift and tie the ropes, and that was just the port crew that we could see. Looking out from the ship you can see the flag of Mexico, which in Ensenada is the second largest in the country. You can see the city and residences sprawling up the surrounding mountains as they rise above the shore. Palm trees dot the areas between asphalt, concrete, and bustling city life. Buses and excursion transit begin to line up at the port in anticipation of the cruise ship emptying its passengers to explore the various attractions of the city. We disembarked from the Imagination at 8:30, past the photo ops and the lines of numerous other trips to be taken at Ensenada, wine tours, food tours, ATV and Jeep tours, kayaking and more. We found our check in for the Segway tour, of which our family were the only participants, quickly took a bathroom break and headed off with our guide to learn how to ride Segways. None of us had ever been on a Segway before, but luckily, as our instructors explained to us, they are in fact, very intuitive and easy to operate. It takes a few minutes to adjust, but once you do, it is one of the most fun and intuitive modes of transit I have ever taken. If I end up living in a city where I need to get from place to place via long walks and public transit, I am 100% buying a Segway! Our guides were extremely knowledgeable of the city and very easy to get along with, they made you feel like friends from the moment you met them. Their tour is only available through Carnival, and while this blog is not sponsored, if you ever do take a Carnival Cruise to Ensenada, I give this Segway tour a 10 out of 10, would absolutely recommend. They took us past the highlights of the city, recommendations for shopping and restaurants, where not to wander, and more. They even gave me advice for an upcoming trip I am going on later this month! Then they took us to the Riviera Museum and gave us a guided tour. It was a really beautiful place full of history, folktales, beautiful architecture, and some mystery. It starts at the bar where my Dad and I purchased authentic Mexican margaritas (which were very strong and extra delicious, also the drinking age in Mexico is 18, so drink up all you American minors! I'm 26 so I was just happy to have an authentic margarita!). After the museum we boarded our Segway's and concluded our tour. My brothers were ready to call it a day and returned to the ship, while my parents and I went into town to do some shopping. My Dad forgot that many countries barter over goods and ended up overpaying on a few things, but he got what he was looking for so it didn't bother him too much. Obviously, a store isn't really a place to barter, but street vendors are ready and willing to barter. If it isn't something you're used to, try going to garage sales in the states first, they are good places to get some practice, then you can take that new found skill and confidence overseas and fit right in. I found the culture really interesting to observe, vendors standing outside shops and stalls offering compliments and deals, "a Mexican minute to show you my shop" I was told multiple times, it all felt foreign and also familiar. Probably because Ensenada is very Americanized as many Americans retire here as the cost of living is lower but is also a stones throw from the States. On the way back to the ship we stopped at a large street market and bought some souvenirs. I also found some Horchata, which I had been looking for since I arrived. Then we went back to the ship for a very late lunch and to relax in the hot tub as we left port. This was a really great experience, a great place to dip your toes in international travel if you are just getting started and want to test yourself before you go someplace less tourist-y or close to home. Of course one day is always a whirlwind and you get but a taste of life elsewhere, but traveling is traveling, no matter how far or for how long. So enjoy every trip, whether it is to a new place in your state or a new country, you can see and learn something new everywhere you go. Thanks for tagging along in Ensenada, a slice of life and mixture of cultures nestled on the coast of Baja California between the Pacific and the mountains that surround it. Have you ever been to Ensenada? If so, leave your favorite story or part of the city in the comments below! Much Love, Jess Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving (for all my American friends), otherwise, just a lovely week! Last Thursday my family and I left on Thanksgiving morning to fly to Los Angeles for a 3 day cruise. I decided to break the review of the trip into 3 parts, this part about the cruise, the next part about Ensenada, and the final part about Catalina Island. This is to prevent this post from becoming unbelievably long, and to streamline each post to have a single theme so people can read what most interests them. I will attach pictures to each post so that these posts are a little easier to visualize. Now that we have some foundations, lets do this thing! On Thursday, 11/22, my family (my parents and two younger brothers) and I drove down to Denver International Airport (DIA), our flight was at about 8am, so we left the house at 4:30am. Since we live a little over an hour north of DIA, this got us to the airport around 6am, giving us the suggested 2 hours prior to flight to get through security, find our gate, eat breakfast, fill our empty water bottles, and get ready for boarding. Fun tip that I found this trip, DIA has a link with all of their security wait lines. This can really come in handy if you're in a hurry, or like me, hate TSA and want to spend as little time waiting in those obnoxious lines as possible. Here is the link, https://www.flydenver.com/security Another sidenote, I really love that DIA has bottle filling stations next to all their bathrooms with their water fountains, since I try to be low impact wherever possible, it makes it easier to fill my reusable bottle than a traditional water fountain. I found one at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as well, however, I have not spent as much time there, so I don't know how prevalent they are there. We flew frontier, which was fine, their hub is at DIA, so they often have affordable domestic flights. Nothing overly spectacular to report, other than, since it was only a 2 hour and 19 minute flight from DIA to LAX, there were no TV's onboard, so you'll need to bring your own entertainment. I get motion sick, so reading isn't an option for me. I typically listen to music and sleep, or listen to podcasts. Also, another tip that was passed onto me from a pilot friend, invest in a travel pillow. I bought one last November and have used it on 3 trips so far, all I can say is I am extremely happy I bought it. It really makes sleeping on a plane, or any public transit, much easier and feels less gross as you are sleeping on your own pillow, not a dirty wall or something else. Once we made it to LAX, we took a SuperShuttle from LAX to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, it was very affordable, and the driver was very friendly and accommodating, working Thanksgiving and everything. Once at the terminal, we didn't have to wait but an hour before they began to let us board the ship. We were sailing with Carnival aboard the Imagination, this was our second cruise with this company, and we actually enjoyed it more than the first time. The food was actually varied every day, with different meals and themes to choose from, they also had a buffet style and a sit-down dining option that felt like an expensive restaurant. Somehow the crew is able to remember names, our waitress and our room stewardess remembered our names and faces after meeting us all once. Our room stewardess, she remembered 2 of my family members without even seeing them, just us telling her their names. We are still wondering how she does it, as she has many, maybe even hundreds of rooms to service, each filled with 1-5 guests. She was extremely friendly, welcoming, and skilled at her job. If you are a smoker, there are a few smoking areas, however, your balcony is not one of them. There was a smoking area up on the Lido deck (where the pool was), so you didn't have to miss out on the music or events happening there, plus it had a great view of the ocean. I myself am not a smoker, but my Dad is, so we could hang near there if we wanted to visit with him. We didn't attend very many shows, only 3 comedy acts and 1 show. They did have a movie playing a few times a day, but I never made it to that either. The comedy shows were entertaining, their seating was nice. However, once you've seen one act by one of their onboard comedians (of which I think they had 2 or 3) you have seen their entire act. While they may perform several times a night, one being a family show and 1 or 2 being an adults only show, they are essentially the same show. So make sure you change it up by seeing different comedians and shows. The best way to keep track of events happening on the ship was using their CarnivalHUB app. While there is no wifi on the ship (unless you pay for one of their internet packages, which we did not, part of a vacation is to leave certain things behind and simply enjoy the trip and those you are traveling with) there is free wifi available that only works on the CarnivalHUB app. It lists the weather for the day, whether you will be out to see or in port, which port you are at, when you can leave the boat and when you need to return by, and all the events happening onboard. All shows, sales, events, parties, etc. are listed on the app, you can favorite which ones you want to attend, and even set reminders so that you don't miss them. It was very helpful. They do also give each room a daily paper that has the same information if you prefer. But I didn't need one more item to carry around, I was carrying my phone already since I was taking pictures, so using it for the app as well was very convenient. Cruising tip, make sure you turn your phone onto airplane mode once you leave port. This can save you hundreds of dollars in roaming fees as well as out of country fees. If you are spending a long period of time in one area, you may want to talk to your carrier about sim cards or packages for using your phone out of the country. Otherwise, just unplug from the digital world for a few days and enjoy your trip while saving some time and money! Overall, the ship was very pretty and had a lot of nice amenities. They had putt-putt golf on the 12th deck, tons of decks that overlooked the ocean, I found several where I could just stand at the railing and look out at the ocean, and did so for a few hours just to give myself some time to think and soak in the beautiful views, the fresh sea air, and and just take in a sight that I normally don't get in landlocked Colorado. They have the Serenity Lounge at the aft (back) of the ship that was 21+ only area. I spent a bit of time there as there was always a lounge chair available, 2 hot tubs, and a great, quiet, view of the ocean! So, if you're looking for a quick trip out of the country, this Carnival ship (Imagination) and vacation surprised us by how fun it was, how many amenities it offered, and the great selection of food for all meals! Add on the views and activities and we had a really fun time! Thanks for reading, and hope you have some time to take an adventure sometime soon! Much Love, Jess |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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