Rob Taylor's Blog, page 13

Seattle Kayaking: Best Spots in the Puget Sound Area

Kayaking around the Seattle Area is a great way to experience the Pacific Northwest. Growing up in Seattle and on the Olympic Peninsula, I can say that the best way to get outdoors and fall in love with the Puget Sound area is from the water. Seattle is such an outdoorsy city that kayaking all around the Sounds is a normal activity.

Seattle is loaded with kayaking locations. Lakes, rivers, and the many bays await paddlers of all experience levels. The Seattle area is chocked full of paddle co...

Kayaking Kauai: Paddling the Garden Island of Hawaii

The island of Kauai is the only place in the gorgeous state of Hawaii that has navigable rivers besides the Wailuku River in Hilo on the Big Island. In open water, a paddle along the rugged and lush background provides the perfect setting for a day at sea. Turtles, dolphins, and whales may swim alongside you. On land, you have more activities than you can fit on a vacation but having a truly Hawaiian experience may make you want to move here. Kayaking around Kauai is a unique adventure and somet...

Best Kayaking Spots on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State

Just across the Puget Sound from Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula is an easy getaway from the Seattle Metropolitan area, either for a day trip or a weekend. If you’re traveling from Eastern Washington and the Tri-Cities, it is about a four hour drive to the OP, but it’s worth it! Olympic Peninsula kayaking is such a diverse experience and the wildlife is remarkable. Having grown up here, I’m not impartial, I guess.

The Olympic Peninsula is a landmass that protrudes westward from the mainland of...

Southern California Kayaking: Getting on the Water in San Diego County

Southern California kayaking might not be on your travel plan, but it’s a thing and it’s a fun change to the usual SoCal vacation plan. San Diego County’s unique climate and geography make it a must-go for kayakers and SUP users alike. From navigating local harbors to surfing some of the best swells in the country, this county has the conditions to leave the newest paddlers feeling at ease or an opportunity for those with more experience to push their skills to the test (and practice righting yo...

Kayaking in the Tri Cities Area of Washington Wine Country

Kayaking in the Tri Cities wine country of Washington State is a fun and VERY DIFFERENT sort of paddling adventure. The cities of Pasco, Richland and Kennewick are at the center of the region, each of which is known in its own right for producing some of the best Washington Wines and other agricultural crops. And there is kayaking all through the Tri-Cities area!

The Tri-Cities region is rich in history where many of these kayaking waterways remain nearly as pristine as when the first paddler...

St Augustine Lighthouse: the Tallest and Most Beautiful View in Town

St Augustine is full of historic sites and unique museums downtown, but you’ve got to pop over to Anastasia Island for one of the most iconic sights in town: the St Augustine Lighthouse. Being the second tallest lighthouse in Florida, you can’t miss it. In fact you can see it from downtown, from Vilano Beach and from all around the island.

We’ve got all the details on visiting the St Augustine Lighthouse, from climbing the tower to exploring the grounds and museum buildings. And did you know ...

Complete List of Beach Access Spots in St Augustine

Living in St Augustine Beach, the most common questions we get are all about where the beach access points and parking are. So how do you get to enjoy the beautiful, sandy beaches of Saint Augustine, FL? Easy! St Johns County and the respective towns do a great job of making sure that the public has access to the beach any time of year. Whether you want to walk across a boardwalk, drive on with your car, or just park and bring your cooler and umbrella, there are lots of options.

No beaches i...

St Augustine’s Fountain of Youth: Everything You Need to Know

OMG, the Fountain of Youth in St Augustine is both hilarious and awesome. It’s one of our most popular tourist attractions and I’ll tell you why in a minute. If you’re planning to come visit, or if you’re a local with friends and family coming to town, chances are it’s going to come up to visit the Fountain of Youth. I’ve got the full scoop for you so you can make an informed decision.

Keep in mind that I travel a lot and get to experience all kinds of interesting places, including archaeolog...

The GTM Research Reserve: the Best Nature Spot to Explore in St Augustine

I love all of the nature surrounding us here in St Augustine. The GTM Research Reserve is one of our favorite places to enjoy our local wildlife and have some, surprisingly, unusual experiences. The GTM is our go-to for beaches, for wildlife education, shark tooth hunting and more. Keep reading to see what is so special and make plans to add it to your time in St Augustine.

Whether you’re visiting St Augustine and staying at The Local for a week, or if you’re just passing through on a North F...

Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik: Unique 1 to 3 Day Plans

So, you know that we had the most amazing time sailing from Split to Dubrovnik with Med Sailing Holidays, well after we made our final port, we took some extra time to explore King’s Landing… I mean Dubrovnik. We had the run of weather in Dubrovnik, including the most booming thunder ever, but most of the time is was sunny. I mean it was hot. And this is just how we handled the hot days with the best activities in Dubrovnik.

Even though it is on the water, the Adriatic Sea specifically, Dubro...