Stunning African Silhouettes and Do recent world events make you less likely to travel?

How the Stunning African Batik Silhouettes Are Made

Ever wonder how the beautiful silhouette scenes of Africa make it on to fabric?

We did and, as part of our Discover Corps experience in Tanzania, we learned the secret.

We even got to try our hand at making our own.
The method is called batik and the process uses colorful dyes -- controlled by... CONTINUE READING >>

Quick Question:
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Quick question: Do recent world events make you less likely to travel? Posted by GypsyNester-Celebrating Life After Kids on Thursday, December 3, 2015

 Also on GypsyNester.com this week:

Put On Your Big Boy Pants!

I've beaten the crap outta these pants! 

 I've worn them all over the world - while speaking at conventions and book events, touring cities, rambling on ruins, having cocktails and dinners at a fancy resorts, on trains, planes, and buses, volunteering in Africa, eating my way through Italy, taking in theater in NYC...

 Now that’s putting them through the true GypsyNester paces and, at the end of it all... CONTINUE READING >>

The Ultimate Baby Boomer and Empty Nester Gift Guide!

Ah, the holidays are upon us, and as sure as the season’s first chills -- and the smell of turkey fills the air -- the madness of Black Friday cannot be far behind.

Your thoughtful GypsyNesters want to save everyone a trip through the horrifying madness that goes on at the mall this time of year by sharing this hand-dandy gift guide!... SEE ALL OF OUR SPECTACULAR GIFT SUGGESTIONS! >>

Why We are Honored to be a PBS Next Avenue “Sites We Love”

Have you ever had something really good happen to you out of the blue?

That's how we felt when PBS's Next Avenue contacted us saying that they were featuring us as a Sites We Love.

Shut up! we thought. This seriously can't be happening. We freaking LOVE Next Avenue... CLICK TO SEE WHY WE ARE SO HONORED >>

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Going Gypsy: One Couple's Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at All (find out more) Available from Skyhorse Publishing! Order Now - Wherever Books Are Sold! Also available as an audiobook from Audible.com

How it Feels to Visit the Atomic Bomb Ground Zero in Nagasaki, Japan

Physically being in the Zone of Prayers brought us to an emotional state that is impossible to describe.

But, despite the horrific history of this spot, our feelings were directed toward peace and remembrance.

The site is incredibly solemn, yet very beautiful... CONTINUE READING >>

Also on GypsyNester.com this week:

Every family has 'em.

Piles of throw-away snapshots that you can't bear to throw away. Before digital cameras, our generation put every picture -- no matter how bad -- into a photo album. After all, they were precious - and we shelled out big bucks to have them developed.

Then there are the CLASSICS. The ones you should have thrown away, but instead you frame them. This one is ours. Think about it, we thought we were sitting for a lovely family portrait. Clearly, all heck is breaking loose and none of us could... CONTINUE READING >>

Follow us here too!: Facebook - Twitter - YouTube - Google+ - Pinterest - Instagram - GoodReads - StumbleUpon - RSS Going Gypsy One Couple's Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at All (find out more) Coming in February 2015 from Skyhorse Publishing! Pre-Order Now - Wherever Books Are Sold!

Let Us Introdoos-ya to Noosa, Australia

The area is stunningly beautiful -- packed full of National Parks and State Forests, beaches, and wildlife -- and is quite the foodie town!

Join your GypsyNesters as we jump into adventure, cavort with kookaburras, drop bears and mamils, swim at the base of a waterfall, and eat and relax our way through Noosa... CONTINUE READING >>

Follow us here too!: Facebook - Twitter - YouTube - Google+ - Pinterest - Instagram - GoodReads - StumbleUpon - RSS Going Gypsy One Couple's Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at All (find out more) Coming in February 2015 from Skyhorse Publishing! Pre-Order Now - Wherever Books Are Sold!

Cedar Key – Florida’s Spare Key

It's clam-tastic!

Cedar Key sits just off the coast in the northwest corner of the Gulf of Mexico, clear across the state from the well-known chain of islands down south.

The locals like to call it the "Island That Time Forgot,” and it certainly does have... CONTINUE READING >>

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Journey to the Most Active Volcano in Costa Rica

Costa Rica sits right smack on the Pacific Ring of Fire -- volcanic activity is nearly constant -- and we couldn’t imagine a visit without seeing one of the country’s six active volcanoes.

Our journey covered an amazing amount of territory in one day.

We saw everything from urban to small town, cloud forest to volcano, without ever once getting lost. And for bonus not-getting-lost points, we still had time to spend a pampered afternoon lounging in nature’s hot tubs.... CONTINUE READING >>

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Delivering Supplies to a Little School in the Jungle

We will carry this in our hearts forever...

The Anita School was built specifically for the children of immigrant workers on one of the sprawling palm plantations in the Quepos area of Costa Rica.

Driving several miles down a dusty dirt road through the dense rows of palms, we reached a one-room schoolhouse... CONTINUE READING >>

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A Powerful Prayer at The Peace Garden of Nagasaki, Japan

Nagasaki, Japan is no doubt best known as the site of the second atomic bombing on August 9, 1945.

The Peace Garden commemorates that tragic event in a beautiful and hopeful place... CONTINUE READING >>

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Swamps, Shrimp and Sea Monsters in Coastal Georgia

Just below, as in south of, the famous Carolina Lowcountry lies a lesser known region, Coastal Georgia.

Geographically, culturally, and historically this area is virtually indistinguishable from its northern neighbor, it's simply the Savannah River that separates them.

Join us as we survey the swamps, seafood, and even a sea serpent along the Atlantic shoreline.... CONTINUE READING >> 

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A Day of Reflection in Nagasaki, Japan

Our day of reflection takes through cherry blossom-strewn, peaceful Nagasaki.

Join us as we stroll through The Peace Garden with its towering Prayer Monument,  wonder at the surviving statues of a church at ground zero of the atomic bomb, visit the epicenter and the Atomic Bomb Museum.

We'll take you back to the day when the clocks forever stopped at 11:02... CONTINUE READING >> 

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It's Cherry Blossom Time in Japan!

In another of what seem to be unbelievable bits of good timing we have encountered in our travels, we hit Japan right at the peak of the cherry blossoms blooming.

At our first stop, Nagasaki, we were enthralled by the flowering trees all around The Atomic Bomb Museum. They helped add a quiet touch to the somber site advocating peace near the epicenter of... CONTINUE READING >> 

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Sled Dogs & Snow Ghosts - Whitefish, Montana in the Winter

Whitefish, Montana! A quirky, friendly little town with a great sense of humor, a fabulous microbrewery, and some of the most incredible scenery in the world!

Join us as we head into Glacier National Park in the snow and dog sled (!!!) through the breathtaking Stillwater State Forest with goofy grins pasted on our faces... CONTINUE READING >> 

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Finding Germany in the Mountains of Georgia

The unexpected surprises that lurk around the next corner are one of the things that can make travel so interesting.

Boy, did we get one of those in the mountains of northern Georgia when we came upon the old fashioned Bavarian village of Helen.

Tucked into a valley on the banks of The Chattahoochee River, we suddenly found ourselves driving through an anachronism of epic proportions. Every building, down to the gas station... CONTINUE READING >> 

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Northern (Ontario) Lights

Late summer in Northern Ontario has weather that humans were meant to live in.

Warm, but not hot, during the days and cool, crisp nights. A perfect escape from the heat and humidity south of the border. Yes, that's how Canadian's refer to The United States.

Our mission north had a two-fold agenda, enjoy the climate, and finally find a... CONTINUE READING >>

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America's Other West Coast

Who knew America has two West Coasts? Well now we do, after discovering Florida's hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline facing west onto the Gulf of Mexico.

Sometimes called The Sunset Coast, most of it is much less crowded than the... CONTINUE READING >>

Boy, Are We Everglade We Came!

Your GypsyNesters take on the Everglades - all good fun until  a very uncomfortable Veronica gets her hands on an alligator!

We encountered gator wrestling, did some (really fast!) airboat riding and visited the smallest post office in the US.

And that's just the beginning... CONTINUE READING >>

Okee Dokee Okefenokee

Yes, the Okefenokee Swamp is a real place - and we were up to our elbows in alligators!

Two things struck us, first, someone should try using an alligator next time they want to set the long jump world's record and, second, The Okefenokee's most famous resident, Pogo, had it wrong. We have met the enemy and he sure ain't us. He's all teeth and.... CONTINUE READING >>

Savannah Squared

Savannah is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. Or at least we didn't. But the city is gorgeous and the pace slow, so it seemed like a perfect place to take a little bicycle tour.

We did know that Forrest Gump waited for his bus somewhere in... CONTINUE READING >>

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Ed(isto Island)

Our adventure through the Sea Islands continues with a mysterious "mound of mystery," a secretive gathering of the world's richest men and a home built by the Undersheriff of Herefordshire in 1743, basically out of trash. It still... CONTINUE READING >>

Spanish Moss & She Crab Soup

Your GypsyNesters hit the Lowcountry of South Carolina! Join us as we learn about the Gullah culture and cuisine, visit the Penn School and check out the eerie Chapel of Ease.

The remote chapel, located on Land's End Road on St. Helena Island has some spooky folklore associated with it... CONTINUE READING >>

Let Us Run This Bayou

In Louisiana, the area south of I-10 and west of New Orleans is a “whole 'nudder t'ing.” Over the years we've made periodic pilgrimages and would be hard-pressed to come up with a part of this great country that we are more fond of. Through hardship and isolation, a society singular to this region has developed with its own food, music and unique language. We love spending time in amongst it all

The main factor in the... read more