Posts by Darlene Panzera
Top 15 Things To Do For Free in Waikiki
If you are traveling to Waikiki on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, you don’t need a lot of money to have a good time! Just being in this beautiful, plumeria flower scented tropical paradise with the soft sound of ukulele music filling the air is wonderful. But what if you want some action and unique things to do? Our post, Top 15 Things to Do For Free in Waikiki, will help you create fun, memorable experiences with your family and friends without draining your wallet.
Read MoreHiking the Diamond Head Summit Trail on Oahu, Hawaii
When visiting Oahu, Hawaii, one of the top ten things to do is to hike up to the summit of the Diamond Head (Lē‘ahi) Crater to see sweeping views of Waikiki and the surrounding sparkling blue coastline. The trail is 1.6 miles round trip, which can be completed in about 2 hours with a 560 ft. elevation gain. A historic military bunker, built in 1910, sits at the top and has an observation platform where you can take breathtaking pictures and see a navigational lighthouse below.
Read MoreSnowshoe Snoqualmie’s Gold Creek Pond Trail
New to snowshoeing? Or just need a fun day-trip getaway? Try snowshoeing the Gold Creek Pond Trail east of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State. With easy access just off I-90 at Exit 54, you can start snowshoeing through the tall evergreen trees on the edge of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest just minutes after parking…
Read MoreA First-timer’s Guide to Snowshoeing at Mt. Rainier
Looking to escape the gray skies and get outside? The Paradise area at Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington State is a great place for snowshoeing for several reasons.
Read More5 Reasons to Buy LOWA Women’s Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots
Hi, I’m Darlene Panzera, an adventurer, author, and mom, and I’d like to share 5 reasons why I decided to buy Lowa Women’s Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots.
Last year I bought a pair of hiking boots from another company that felt great when I tried them on in the store, but when I started hiking in them, they didn’t quite feel right. I kept telling myself they still needed to be broken in and that they’d be okay. I was so wrong! After several months of smaller hikes, I took a 6-mile hike to a fire tower in Washington’s Cascade Mountains and when I removed my boots my toes felt like they were on fire! The pain was almost unbearable. I had to face the fact that these boots were the wrong fit and I ended up giving them away to someone else even though I had spent over two hundred dollars on them.
This year when I went to buy new boots, I was more cautious. Below are a few of the deciding factors that led me to buy a pair of Lowa brand hiking boots:
Read MoreTop 12 Things To Do In Pennsylvania Amish Country
Top 12 Things To Do In Pennsylvania Amish Country By Darlene Panzera For years I heard my in-laws rave about their adventures in and around Lancaster, PA. They’d make me jealous as they’d talk about the mouth-watering homemade food served in the restaurants, the large production theater shows, and how the Amish community farmed their…
Read MoreDriving Around O’ahu: 7 Best Stops In 1 Day
During our last vacation to Hawai’i, our family stayed in Waikiki and decided to rent a car—for just one day—to drive around the island of O’ahu and see the sights. What can you see in a day? If we had wanted to visit every place along our loop around the island, or even spend much…
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