Do you smile when you look through old photographs of places you have been on your vacations and remember the sights and sounds?
It seems that our world is now divided into before versus during the pandemic. We are not out of the woods yet, and many people are not traveling outside their own comfort zones or their country. In some countries, lockdowns and mandates are still in place. Even if you go to vacation spots, restaurants and shops might be closed.
I do love to travel, both in and out of the country. However, as the global pandemic lingers, it’s impossible for me to go overseas at this time. Staycations are all I can do. How are you spending your vacations these days as we weather the situation worldwide? Are you staying at home or traveling within your own country? Or is your country or region still under lockdown?
Before the pandemic, I traveled quite a bit. In 2018, my family and I went to seven countries in two months for my son’s senior-year adventure. I’m glad we did it then.
In my story world, I love to mention places I have been, things I’ve seen and experienced outside the USA, where I live and write my books. The first three novels in my Vacation Sweethearts series focus on International romances.
That’s on my mind today. But first, let me mention the triple giveaways.
Giveaway: You don’t have to answer all three questions. I’ll enter the names into a drawing to win an ebook from my Vacation Sweethearts collection. The winner gets to choose which ebook from Books 1-4. The giveaway ends on Monday, September 21, 2021.
An American Art Teacher in the Bahamas:
Have you visited the Bahamas? The weather is perpetually warm there, and I love the daily sunshine. I don’t burn easily, but I would still wear hats and put on sunblock, nonetheless. When I think of the Bahamas, I think of bright summer sunlight. I love Nassau, with its mix of old British colonial architecture and busy marketplaces selling bright fabric and local products that I can only find in bazaars.
Into this setting, I placed Smile for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 1). American potter Tina MacFarland finds herself teaching art in a summer camp run by the Chapel by the Sea church in Nassau. This is the second time she’s been back in the Bahamas, and the second time she has to put up with her nemesis, Bahamian assistant headmaster (principal) Byron Moss. The school is super conservative and doesn’t allow workplace romance, but Byron is in love with Tina.
Giveaway Question: What is a “royal poinciana”? If you don’t know that, what is the most exotic plant you’ve personally come across? If you’re not familiar with unusual plants, what about exotic fruits that you might find in a grocery store near you?
An Irish Triple Amputee in the Great Smoky Mountains:
What about the mountains? Most of my readers live in the USA, and I enjoyed my visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. What if a hunky Irish former soldier visits the mountains? That’s a bit ordinary, isn’t it? The Smokies get tourists all the time. So what if this ex-soldier is now on a secret mission and is running away from his enemies? Ah, that makes it more interesting to me. And what if he has a personal challenge of being not just an amputee, but a triple amputee?
From Ireland to Tennessee, Keenan has traveled far. In the Smokies, our Irish hero hides from his pursuers, and meets American girl Phoebe, who also has secrets of her own. Reach for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 2) is primarily a romance, but with a side dish of suspense. You don’t have to be a suspense fan to read this novel, which has a happy ending, as does all my romantic stories.
My novel is set in the fall (autumn) season. I love writing about fall weather. However, falling leaves can make walking on riverbanks slippery, especially after a rain. In Reach for Me, our hero Keenan is looking for Phoebe, who has gone for a walk alone. That’s not something advisable in the mountains. It’s safer to have a walking buddy, don’t you think?
Giveaway Question: Do you like to walk in the woods in the fall? What about camping out in the mountains among the fall foliage? What do you like to do in the fall season?
A French ex-Wife in Alaska:
The third novel in my Vacation Sweethearts series takes us to Alaska. The last two ocean cruises we took in Alaska were for seven days each, and I think that’s a good span of time to be cruising along the Alaskan and Canadian coastlines. We went in the summer time, when it was warmest in Alaska. But for this tropical girl, Alaska is cold in July, so cold that I wore a goose down jacket when we went outside.
When I travel, I often wonder about the people all around me, about what sort of lives they live. In my romantic women’s fiction, Wait for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 3), American billionaire Logan and French translator Marie have been divorced for several years. Logan has full custody of their son, a five-year-old who wants his parents to take him on a summer cruise to Alaska. I was imagining what it would be like for a divorced couple to come together for a family vacation. Will they be able to pull it off? Why didn’t Marie get custody of their son and take him home to France with her? As the story unfolds, I reveal that mystery.
Giveaway Question: Have you been on a cruise? What type of cruise is it? Where did you go? How did you enjoy it?
Well, I hope our mini virtual travel is fun for you if you’re not able to travel much these days. I am writing more travel romances in this series, and I hope we will have a great time visiting more places in the world.
Don’t forget to answer at least one question if you’d like to participate in the giveaway drawing. The winner gets to choose one book from the published ebooks in my Vacation Sweethearts collection.
Here’s to armchair traveling. Stay safe and have fun!
Jan Thompson
Ausjenny says
I have never been on a cruise but would love to one day and Alaska is one place I would love to do one. (Hawaii is the other).
We don’t really have woods close by to walk in but I do enjoy looking at the changing colours of leaves. When I visited Canada I really enjoyed them in Vancouver. Where I am they are not as impressive as other places. I don’t live near mountains but do enjoy visiting. There is something special about mountains.
as for the first question I have no idea. In Hawaii I saw a showcase of Orchids which was so beautiful.
I haven’t really been anywhere for a couple of years partly due to now having cats and also the pandemic. Parts of Australia are in lockdown. my state has borders closed to some states and masks are required indoors (shopping etc). Also some restrictions on numbers. I do want to get back to Hawaii some time and also see my American friend again
Renate says
Hi Jan! This 70 year old Michigan retiree enjoys has traveled the USA from coast to coast (26 states) and internationally (9 foreign countries on 3 continents). Before Covid as retirees we were hoping to take a road trip to Stratford, Ontario for some Shakespeare theatre. Not sure when Americans will be able to freely travel to Canada. Michigan borders the country.
Q1 – Exotic plants and fruits. In 2009 in Tokyo while strolling through the Japanese Emperor’s Garden I saw 35 varieties of bamboo and the fragrant blooming Jasmine. Not something that we have in the Midwest. The prefecture Wakayama is known for UME (a Japanese plum), which is a small bitter fruit but tasty in juice. The city council of Tanabe greeted us teachers with a sampling of their unique fruit UME.
Q2 – In the Midwest fall is my favorite time of year with its cooler temperatures, colorful foliage, great pumpkin displays and tasty apples. Michigan at its finest. My son neighborhood is near a pumpkin field. Yesterday went on a road trip North along Lake Michigan’s shore and trees are starting to change color. We were hoping to spend an extended weekend in Northern Michigan, but we have seen a rise of Covid cases. My favorite Mountains are the Smokey Mountains and over the years have made several trips. In June with our oldest son, his wife, and 3 grandkids we spent a week in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Q3 – As a German Kindergartner immigrating in February on a ship to the USA, I am not fond of cruises. I was very seasick for 5 days of the 7 day Atlantic Ocean crossing. But in the summer of 1971 a college friend and I did a 5 day cruise on the Lord Selkirk on Lake Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). Queen Elizabeth had a day cruise on the ship the day before. The Lord Selkirk was a small ship with only 125 passengers. The best part of the cruise was visiting an Indian village at Norway House and every night watching the moon rise and the northern lights.
During these unprecedented times, arm chair travel definitely is safer and less stressful.
Best wishes. Fun blog today. Delightful questions. Enjoy your weekend.
Jessica G says
I love to visit the smoky mountains. I’m about 4 hours from Gatlinburg. It’s a great long weekend trip. I’ve also been on one cruise. Should have been in another by now but after rebooking 3 times hopefully next July will happen! Our first cruise was on the Disney Dream with me, my mom, my sister, and my niece. It was a wonderful 4 night trip to Nassau (we stayed on the ship and enjoyed it) and their private island Castaway Cay which was paradise!
kim hansen says
Love walking in the wood and camping out in the wilderness. Love the cooler temps and leaves changing in the fall.
Jeanna Massman says
I’ve never been on a cruise but I would love to go sometime! Thanks for the giveaway.
Lori R says
I love to walk in the woods in the fall. I love the beautiful colors on the trees and the crisp fall air. I also love to go to a pumpkin patch, go through the corn maze, go on a hayride. We also enjoy having a bonfire and roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. Fall is my favorite season!
Trudy says
I’ve never been on a cruise, nor have I been to the Bahamas. However, a Royal Poinciana I think is a flowering tree. I have plumeria’s, the flowers they make lei’s from. My dream vacation is a trip to Alaska, and it’s on my bucket list! Since FL doesn’t do fall, I used to go visit family in NW GA to see the leaves change colors, plus it was so much cooler!! This year was the first vacation trip I had in over 9 years, and I went to visit family. The only bummer was I went in July instead of October. However, October is the start of my busy season with my insurance business, so I couldn’t go then. Georgia is hot in July, though not as bad as Florida!
Kendra Muonio says
A royal poinciana is a flowering tree that grows in Madagascar.Last Christmas my brother got my family slot of the exotic fruits (passion fruit, starfruit,guava,jack fruit and more).yes I like walking in the woods in the fall.i like all the leaves changing colors in the fall and getting together more with my extended family during the fall.My family makes homemade apple cider in a cider press it is so good.No I never have been on a cruise.
Jcp says
Armchair travel is all I seem to do but my world has gotten smaller as I have to avoid unvaccinated people (some in my family and close friends)
Megan says
I’ve only been to one of the three places you mention, the Smoky Mountains. They are gorgeous! Its so pretty driving in them and seeing the different colors in the trees. I enjoy taking a walk in the fall near the woods when the leaves are changing. Its fun to see the wind come up and see the leaves falling from the trees and twirling on their way down. I’d love to see Bermuda and Alaska some day.
Patty says
Q2 Fall is a great time of the year to go hiking in our area. We are in the upstate of SC and it is considered the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Jan Thompson says
Australia is on my bucket list. So is New Zealand. I think that means at least two separate vacations. I wonder when the pandemic will be over.
Yes, I’m still wearing masks in shops and buildings. While, masks are not required in my state since many people have been vaccinated, many of us still wear masks to be on the safe side. Hope you can easily buy masks even with the lockdown. Over here last year, essential services like package delivery still continued.
I agree that it’s hard to travel with cats at home. Pet sitters won’t take them, and they will not be happy in a pet hotel. So we pay our friends to come over and feed the cat and spend time with him when we are out of town. I don’t think I’ll want another pet after this house cat. I might be too old for it. Plus, it would be fun to travel again.
I hope you get to go on a cruise soon. I have never cruised around Hawaii, but people who have gone said that it’s a lovely vacation (once in a lifetime trip). They were able to island-hop to several islands in Hawaii on their day excursions. I think that’s a great way to visit the islands without having to pack and unpack along the way.
Thank you for your comments. Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
Putting your name in the drawing!
Jan Thompson says
Wow! You’re definitely a world traveler. Thank you for answering all three questions so vividly.
That 7-day transatlantic voyage sounds like an ordeal. I’ve only been sick once onboard a small ship in the Caribbean, which is why I now prefer larger ships. However, going on a riverboat cruise, the smaller ships are better. I was in Germany on the big river a few years ago. It seems like yesterday, but that was pre-pandemic.
Old world Japan is on my bucket list. I would love to see the bamboo garden. In the local botanical gardens here, they have a small Japanese garden. It’s lovely, but I would like to see the real thing in Japan, for sure.
Yes to fall! Can’t wait. I bet the Midwest is astounding beautiful in the fall. I like Georgia fall too but it’s not as spectacular as the north with the bright foliage. We might get a week or two, and sometimes the colors don’t change until late October, and then the leaves fall completely off in November.
Thank you for your wonderful comments! Have a delightful weekend in the Lord!
Putting your name in the drawing!
Jan Thompson says
Your Disney cruise sounds fun! The Bahamas cruise I went to also stopped at Nassau. The cruise line took us by boat to a private cay as well, and it was most memorable for me. I did nothing all day long but walked about the beach and read (or napped!) in hammocks under coconut trees. I wrote about some of the sights and sounds in Smile for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 1).
I aso like the Smokies, especially in the Fall. I hope you get to visit more often. I remember Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville. Once upon a time, I also stayed in a cabin by a mountain stream. It was lovely. The morning mist/fog was surreal. I’d love to go back soon.
Thank you for your comments. Have a great weekend in the Lord!
Putting your name in the drawing!
Jan Thompson says
Me too re: walk in the woods. Do you camp out in a cabin, RV, trailer, or a tent?
Yes, the cooler temperatures outdoors are great. I am looking forward to fall.
Thank you for your comments. Putting your name in the drawing!
Jan Thompson says
I hope you get to go on a cruise soon when it’s safe to do so. Some cruise lines are open for business, but the idea of closed quarters and dining halls still make me stay away for now. When the coast is clear, I’d like to go on another cruise.
Entering your name in the drawing. Thank you for your comments and have a lovely weekend!
Jan Thompson says
Sounds like fall is your favorite season! Those are some of the fun things to do in the fall. I love to take photos in the fall too because of the changing leaf colors. A bonfire is so much fun. I do like s’mores with extra chocolate.
Entering your name in the drawing. Thank you for your comments and have a lovely weekend!
Jan Thompson says
I forgot that you’re in Florida. Well, that was my second favorite state after Georgia, but I think it’s a TIE now. I love the beaches of FL even though it’s a major trade-off (mountains and foliage). However, I grew up by the beach, so I am always partial to the beach. Most of my books are set in GA, but my heart is on the beach.
I hope to visit New England some day (I have a giant vacation bucket list LOL) and see the amazing colors of fall. They seem to be more spectacular than GA, but I like the North GA mountains too. Yes, GA is hot in July and August. I love the sunshine, but it would be slightly cooler on the beach.
I’m glad you were able to visit family this year. I hope we can all travel more soon.
Entering your name in the drawing. Thank you for your comments and have a wonderful weekend!
Jan Thompson says
Yes, you got it! The royal poinciana is a tropical flowering tree. In some places, it’s also called the Flame of the Forest. I know I’m in my island hometown when I see the flaming red flowers blooming in the spectacularly tall trees that look like they came out of the jungles somewhere.
That’s cool that you were able to taste some tropical fruits. Did you get any dragon fruit? That is somewhat new to me too. I like all the fruits you listed!
I’m glad you can visit your family in the beautiful fall season. That sounds fun! Apple cider is so delicious. I have to get it from the grocery store.
Hope that someday you can go on a cruise. I like river cruises more than ocean cruises because there are more stops along the way. I hope to go on a Mississippi River cruise some day.
Entering your name in the drawing. Thank you for your comments and have a great weekend!
Jan Thompson says
That’s the safest travel right now — staycation!
Thank you for your comments and have a wonderful weekend!
Kendra Muonio says
Yes I got dragon fruit
Jan Thompson says
Yes, I agree! I love the Smoky Mountains in the fall too. The drive through the mountains is very scenic, and so are the walks in the woods. I described some of the walking scenes I’ve experienced in Reach for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 2) and also Cherish You So (Savannah Sweethearts Book 4).
I hope you can visit the Caribbean and Alaska too. It will be different and fun!
Thank you for your comments. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a great weekend in the Lord!
Jan Thompson says
The Appalachian is quite a place. I heard it takes “forever” (weeks or months?) to hike to Maine. At the start of the hiking trail in North GA, I would see lots of hikers just starting out with their backpacks and all. Since SC is still in the foothills, I can imagine the long trek they have ahead of them!
There is a wooded park/preserve behind our old house, and in the 20 years we’ve stayed there, we didn’t spend enough time outdoors in the woods. I wish we had. There are many trails there, including some that meandered by streams. The woods look very much like the area where the Appalachian begins (that’s about 1.5-2 hours of driving north of us). I don’t know if we will ever return to the area. But someday in the future we might.
Thank you for your comments. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a wonderful weekend!
Kelley Blair says
I just discovered strawberry apples. Thank you kindly
denise says
I haven’t been on a cruise, but I have been to the Smoky Mountains a lot.
Royal Poinciana is the “Flower of Calvary” tree.
Melynda says
I love the leaves changing colors in the fall! We live in a valley surrounded by mountains, so we have many opportunities to see them whether that be on a hike, drive, or just going out into our back yard.
Trixi says
I haven’t been on a cruise before….but my husband wants to do the inner passage cruise in Alaska. I’d love to do something a little warmer like a Caribbean cruise. That’s a maybe someday vacation!
We haven’t traveled far in the last 18 months either. Mostly like you, mini-staycations near to where we live. We’ve rented quite a few AirBnB’s away from the crowds where we can do our own thing & still have great family time together.
Jan Thompson says
Cool!
Jan Thompson says
That sounds interesting! I’ll have to look for it. I do love apples of all kinds.
Thank you and will enter your name in the drawing. Have a great weekend!
Jan Thompson says
Thank you! Yes the royal poinciana has many names. My favorite is the Flame of the Forest because the flowers are fiery red.
Several people have said they like the Smokies. I hope to go back soon.
Thank you for your comments. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a great weekend!
Jan Thompson says
Nice! You’re fortunate you don’t have to drive hours to get to the mountains. I bet you have an astounding view. I remember when we stayed in a cabin by a river at the bottom of the Smokies, the entire side of the mountains all around us were glorious with fall foliage. They provided vivid memories that I later wrote into my books. I love the season and hope to write more books set in the fall.
Thank you for your comments. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
Jan Thompson says
You can do both, maybe. Be on the lookout for deals. Sometimes the cruise lines drop their prices just to fill up the staterooms. We did the Inside Passage cruise twice, and the Bahamas cruise once. IDK which one I like better because they both were wonderful in their own ways. The sights and sounds are totally different.
That’s a wonderful idea to rent something local. We did not do that during the shutdown because we stayed at home and took day trips only. Our old house, which is sold now, was like a treehouse because there was a forest behind the backyard. So when we looked out of the windows from our living room, it felt like looking out of a tree house. It’s like a retreat in a quiet suburb. Where we go next, I don’t know, but I pray that we will have a nice staycation environment also so that we don’t have to travel far to be “away from the crowds” as you mentioned.
What a wonderful world God has made. But alas, we can’t travel to every amazing place that I see in photographs and on social media.
Thank you for your comments. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a wonderful Sunday tomorrow!
CarolynP says
Hi we wanted to do an Alaskan cruise when we lived in Vancouver but it didn’t come to pass (hopefully one day). We have done a cruise from Sydney Australia to New Caledonia and Vanuatu (7 days). Our friends got married on the cruise ship and it was an awesome trip. Will do more one day.
I googled the Royal Poinciana and realised it is what we call the Flame Tree here in New Zealand and it grows a lot in the north, very pretty.
Thanks
Debra J Pruss says
I would say a pineapple or star fruit are the most exotic fruit that I have encountered. I love the mountains. Since I have become disabled, I am not able to travel any longer. I can relive in my mind, through pictures as well as books the beauty of the mountains. We enjoy the colors in the fall as we drive. We also have found a parking spot in the park to look at the fall leaves and nature. I have never had the opportunity to go on a cruise. I have heard such wonderful things about all that happens. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Jan Thompson says
Oh that’s cool that the Flame of the Forest also grows in NZ! Nice. Yes I like the tree. God is so creative when He made it. Sometimes it has other color flowers (like yellow, I think), but the ones I know of are primarily red.
That sounds like an amazing cruise with the wedding onboard. So romantic! Australia & New Zealand are on my travel bucket list.
Thank you for your comments. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a wonderful weekend!
Jan Thompson says
Yes, the star fruit is interesting, isn’t it? I do like it, but it’s not easy to find. I found some at Publix the other day, and because it’s rare to see it there, I took some photos.
Pineapples are good for you, but I forget why. I just think all these fruits are great to eat too. I like pineapple in cooking too e.g. chicken.
My mother is in a wheelchair, and she can’t travel anymore either. We all go to visit her. It breaks my heart that I can’t visit her because of the ongoing pandemic. Her health is very fragile, so my brothers tell me not to go no matter whether vaccinated or not. We talk on the phone and that’s the best we can do. But God is with her to keep her safe. And may God keep us all safe too.
Yes, I love the colors of the fall foliage. Most of the time, we take my mother-in-law and we don’t get out of the car. We just drive through the forest roads and look through the windows. Sometimes we do park by the lake where they have cabins, and we can take in the scenic view. I’m glad you get to go on the fall drive. Does your state parks have a leaf page — one that tells you when the leaves have turned colors? Georgia does, so I can check online to see whether it’s worth driving out at that time or whether we should wait another week.
Yes, cruises are fun too, but right now, it’s for the brave and super healthy. I’m not one of those LOL. So I will be staying at home for a while. You don’t miss anything, so no worries. In Wait for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 3), I described an Alaskan cruise, but I also threw in a spot of suspense. I had fun writing that novel. I don’t think I will be writing about cruises for a while, so that’s the only novel I have with the storyline set onboard a ship for a majority of the book.
Thank you for your comments! I’ll put your name in the drawing. Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
Lincoln says
Hi, Jan!
I have wonderful memories of seeing the leaves turn in the fall both in my native New York state and on a special trip to New England. My wife and I have been both to Hawaii and on a Caribbean cruise. Both included training classes for a business we were learning. It was a wonderful perk! The most exotic plants we have seen are probably the bird of paradise flowers in Hawaii.
Thanks for a fun post. :-)
Kendra Muonio says
I got to go to the beach a few times this summer and to California in March but haven’t traveled much due to the pandemic.my brother gets make a wish so we are going to go to Hawaii but are not sure when we will get to go because of the pandemic .the soonest they said we could go is spring of 2022.if we want to go everyone that can had to get vaccinated some of my siblings are too young to get vaccinated.
Priscila Perales says
Yes to fall and walking trails/going hiking!
One fruit I’d love to see (more?) in stores is lucuma.
Ausjenny says
here my state the restrictions are not bad and we have only had mandatory masks for about 2 months now. Our state hasn’t had many cases and only 4 deaths last year. I have made a few for myself and bought a couple cloth ones. They are easy to buy and some places offer the disposible ones which I cant wear.
We are getting there I think we are over 50% double vaxxed in my state.
Libby is so scared of other people and Henry while not as scared doesn’t socialise with others. so having someone come to feed them they don’t see them.
Amy Perrault says
What is a “royal poinciana” well it’s The spruce tree that’s red & orange. We do go for walks but mostly camp & it’s all spring to late fall & we love it. I’ve never been on a cruise & don’t like to bee in the water or flying. The most in the water is swimming or a pontoon boat to nice water falls here.
Sylvain P says
The first question is a Spruce tree which has nice orange-red leaves. My family loves to camp & would year round if possible but we walk trails too. I’ve not been on a cruise but it sounds nice but never got to it or gotten my family into wanting to try it by going on to see what it looks like.
Natalya Lakhno says
Third question is for me 😃 I love cruising! Unfortunately, like you said, pandemic happened. Our last cruise was in February 2020 right before everything closed in March.
We’ve traveled to Mexican Riviera on a new ship 🛳
Jan Thompson says
Hello – Fall in New York and New England must be incredibly spectacular! I’ve seen amazing photos on Instagram, and the northeast is on my bucket list.
I’d like to return to the Caribbean some day. And it would be nice to visit my aunt in Hawaii. After the pandemic is over.
Thank you for your comments. Sounds like you had a wonderful couple’s vacation. Those are the best ones — husband and wife traveling together. Entering your name in the drawing. Have a wonderful week!
Jan Thompson says
Glad things are potentially returning to normal in your state. Over here in my state things are pretty normal except that people still wear masks in stores if they want to. I do.
Praying that God will heal the world!
Thanks again for you comments. Have a wonderful week!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
I saw a bird of paradise at a florist once. It’s definitely exotic. I haven’t been on a cruise. My husband has an aversion to water, so I doubt I ever will. I’m not the sightseeing type anyway. I’d probably stay in my cabin the entire time. I’ve been to several cities for writers conferences and never left the hotel. I love walking in the woods in the fall. My FAVORITE season!
Alicia Haney says
Hi, I have never been on a cruise, and I really wouldn’t want to go on one, especially because I don’t swim and I think cruise ships are just too over crowded, I would rather spend my time in a cabin in the woods. I would love to travel by train some day.