"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." – Anonymous _ Soakin' up the sun... _ This was one of our favourite waterparks in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Missing the sunshine? _ This week we've got a full itinerary of theme parks in Florida including Disney World and Universal Studios as well as seeing the Blue Man Group. If you want to see this spectacular show yourself, you can win 4 tickets right now on travelwithbender.com. Tag your friends below to let them know and increase your chances of winning. Good luck! _ #travelblog

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20 Things To Do In Nashville With Kids

What comes to your mind when you think of Nashville? Bars, honky tonks, and country music? Well Nashville blew us away with so many fun things to do for families. The state capital of Tennessee really struck a chord with me (no pun intended) and I fell in love with Music City. Find out why...
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Phase 6 #motherofallroadtrips: Northeast to Southeast USA

We spent 3 weeks road tripping the east coast from New York to Orlando. But unlike our 2012 route, we opted for the inland route to take advantage of the magnetic Southern hospitality in Tennessee and Georgia. This leg of our epic road trip covered America’s chocolate capital, Coca Cola World, CNN headquarters, and roller coasters. Quite the combination!
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"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." - William Shakespeare _ The Shard. _ The European Union's tallest skyscraper, overlooking the Thames River in London, standing at 306 m (1,004 ft). Officially opened in February 2013, this beautiful, futuristic building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, became an instant icon on London's skyline. _ ▶ Currently we are giving away 4 tickets to Blue Man Group on travelwithbender.com - look for the banner at the top of the site. _ #theshard #londonlife

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Living The Dream: It’s Not About The Money

Tom & Anna left their mundane lives in the Philippines to pursue a life of passion. In the past year they have trekked jungles, tackled Spanish in Ecuador and blazed through Europe. They are here to tell us how they are Living The Dream.
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Top 10 Things To Do In New York With Kids

After our 5th visit to New York City you would think we were locals, but I am always surprised by how much there is to do and see in this city. Here’s our favourite things to do in New York with kids PLUS 3 insider tips.
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"Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget." _ Watching the sunset with friends on Anna Maria Island on Florida's west coast. _ Thanks to good friend Christa from @thefairytaletraveler for the insider tip. _ I've been a bit quiet on Instagram for the last week as we catch up on writing. If you're interested in awesome things to do in New York, South Dakota or Mall of America, take a look at the latest articles on travelwithbender.com. _ Next week we will visit Disney World and Universal Studios (including a Blue Man Group show). To spread the love we are giving away 4 tickets to Blue Man Group anywhere in the US. Look for the link at the *top* of travelwithbender.com or just follow the link in my bio to enter. _ #floridalife #motherofallroadtrips

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6 Things To Do In Sioux Falls With Kids (PLUS 1 You Absolutely Must Do)

We explored Sioux Falls for 3 days and found a bunch of fascinating attractions including America’s largest pile of gold bars on public display, butterflies, dragons, indoor camping, and a winery made of straw bales. But there was one experience that stood out above all these...
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4 Tickets For Blue Man Group

We're giving away a 'Family Four Pack' of Blue Man Group tickets to use at any US location - New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando or any stop on their National Tour.
Read more at our travel blog.

Where To Eat In Rapid City (If You Only Eat In 1 Restaurant)

Choosing a restaurant for lunch or dinner in a new city can be intimidating. This is especially true when you’ve only got a couple days on vacation - you want to ensure it’s the best experience for your family. So if you’re in Rapid City, South Dakota for only a short time, make your way to our #1 dining recommendation.
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"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu _ A beautiful heart. Captured in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. _ Share the love! Tag your special someone below to let them know you care. ❤ _ #love #bali

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13 Things To Do In Rapid City With Kids (PLUS Mount Rushmore)

Perhaps you thought of stopping in Rapid City, South Dakota for a night on your family road trip, allowing a quick visit to Mount Rushmore, as did we. But after we decided to hang around for 4 nights, we discovered there was so much more to do around Rapid City. Here’s our favourite 13 things to do (in addition to Mount Rushmore).
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"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." - Abraham Lincoln _ Walking through the streets of Melbourne, Australia. This city has dozens of alleyways, some of which are a buzz with trendy cafes and restaurants. Others, like this one, are quiet. A place of respite from the bustle of city life. _ #melbourne #australiagram

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"My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all." - John Lennon _ I can relate to John Lennon's quote. _ Spotted a large reflective dish outside the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville, KY. It made for a fascinating family portrait. _ We had a great time in Louisville in August 2015. It's a melting pot of fascinating cultural icons - from Muhammad Ali to Louisville Slugger baseball bats to the Kentucky Derby to KFC's headquarters. _ For our list of recommended attractions in Louisville check out travelwithbender.com. 👌 _ #louisvillelove #quotestoliveby

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"We know what we are, but know not what we may be." - William Shakespeare _ Walking along a pedestrian bridge spanning the ancient bay called Golden Horn in the centre of Istanbul, Turkey. _ The Golden Horn Metro Bridge was completed in 2014. But earliest settlements in this area reach back to 6700BCE. Now this deep natural bay is visited by 10 million international tourists each year. _ #oneistanbul

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#motherofallroadtrips

This is our hub for an epic 1-year road trip around the US and Canada. Find out where we've been, destination reviews, travel tips and more.
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The Ride NYC: New York’s Best Family Tour?

Part tour, part show, 100% entertainment. I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants. It’s by far the most unique tour I have ever been on in my entire life, blurring the lines between informative city tour, energetic stage performance and rip-roaring comedy show.
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"The shadow of past failures fall behind us when we walk towards enlightenment." - Josh Bender _ Make art, not war. _ Solitary walker in Istanbul, Turkey at sunset. Perfect lighting at golden hour and perfect street art. _ #goldenhour #oneistanbul

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"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll _ What's behind door #4? _ Walked through the backstreets of the neighbourhood of Fener in Istanbul, Turkey with @festtravel and spotted this irresistible #doorporn. _ This area is full of historic wooden mansions, churches, and synagogues dating from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. _ #urbandecay #oneistanbul

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Where To Stay At Mall Of America

With 2 hotels near Mall of America to choose from, we had a tough decision: the waterpark or the mall. Since we couldn’t make up our minds, we tried both so you can find out which hotel will suit your next vacation to Mall of America.
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"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us." - Joseph Campbell _ Quiet reflections outside Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. _ I went searching for the famed cat, Gli, that calls this museum home. But, alas, couldn't find it. If you search google for this cat you'll see how much it loves posing for photos. It's so popular, it has its own Facebook page - and probably has more followers than me. That's how you know we live in 2016! 😂 _ Thanks to @walksofturkey for the fabulous walking tour around this area. _ This long exposure shot was taken on my @vanguard_world Vanguard Alta Pro 254CT tripod. If you're interested in the camera gear I use or have any other questions, check out the link in my bio @travelwithbender or just DM me. _ #oneistanbul

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10 Things To Do In The Mall Of America With Kids

It’s no surprise Mall of America is one of the most visited tourist spots in the United States. We spent 3 days in the nation’s largest mall and enjoyed every minute of it - from thrilling roller coasters to stingray touch pools to getting lost in a mirror maze. This mall has it all.
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"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." - Arnold Schwarzenegger _ Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey. _ #istanbul

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"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings." - JM Barrie _ The bird man. Outside New Mosque (Yeni Cami) in Istanbul, Turkey. _ When I saw him it seemed like a Turkish version of the similar scene from Mary Poppins: "Feed the birds. Tuppence a bag. 🎶" _ Construction of this mosque started in 1597 at the orders of the Sultan's mother. The area was populated largely by Jewish people at the time and her hope was to to extend the influence of Islam within the city. But it drew criticism and construction stopped after the Sultan's death, where it sat in disrepair. After being ravaged by the Great Fire of Istanbul in 1660, it was finally rebuilt and completed 3 years later. I love historical buildings like this which have such a fascinating story behind them. _ Travel tip: While I toured around Istanbul I was able to stay online thanks to my magic little black box @tepwireless. Check out the sidebar of travelwithbender.com for a link to the full review and exclusive discount code. _ #istanbul

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Luggage Free Review: Too Good To Be True?

Transporting luggage can be one of the least enjoyable aspects of travel. So when I heard about Luggage Free’s door-to-door luggage delivery concept I was fascinated. How does it work? How much is it? Is it right for me? So many questions! So I tried it out and here’s my experience...
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"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting." - Ralph Waldo Emerson _ Fatih Mosque on the Istanbul old city skyline at sunset. _ This mosque was originally built in 1463, devastated by multiple earthquakes and rebuilt in 1766. _ This golden moment was one of my favourite sunsets in 4 years of nomadic travel. _ I took a photo walk with @vaughanmac_ around Istanbul for the whole day. Initially I hoped to capture the sunset from the top of Galata Tower. But with a long queue winding over 40 metres out of the tower I figured I'd have to find another vantage point. Walking down to the waterfront of Golden Horn I sought out the best location. By luck I tried the pedestrian overpass connected to the train line. And it turned out to be a winner, as I captured this epic view and many more. _ Even though we're only in February, I know at the end of the year this shot will end up on my list of top photos of 2016. _ Who is someone special you would like to share this sunset with? Tag them in your comment below. _ #istanbul #turkey

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"If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success." - John D. Rockefeller _ Galata Tower, standing tall in Istanbul's skyline. One of the most well recognised landmark in this beautiful city. _ Built in 1348 this medieval stone tower stretches 66.9 m (219 ft) into the sky. It's walls are 3.75 meters thick. _ To me it's more than just beautiful architecture. It epitomises leadership, confidence, steadfastness, durability and a thick skin. All the same attributes of the most inspiring people. _ While in Istanbul I stayed at @eresin_hotels_istanbul. #turkey #oneistanbul

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"One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying." - Joan of Arc _ Maiden's Tower in Istanbul, Turkey. _ This medieval tower stands in the Bosphorus Strait, straddling 2 continents. _ What's in a name? According to the most popular Turkish legend, an emperor had a much beloved daughter and one day, an oracle prophesied that she would be killed by a venomous snake on her 18th birthday. The emperor, in an effort to thwart his daughter's early demise by placing her away from land so as to keep her away from any snakes, had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus to protect his daughter until her 18th birthday. The princess was placed in the tower, where she was frequently visited only by her father. On the 18th birthday of the princess, the emperor brought her a basket of exotic sumptuous fruits as a birthday gift, delighted that he was able to prevent the prophecy. Upon reaching into the basket, however, a snake that had been hiding among the fruit bit the young princess and she died in her father's arms, just as the oracle had predicted. _ Travel tip: While I was in Istanbul I was always connected to the Internet thanks to my trusty @tepwireless. For my full review take a look at the right sidebar on travelwithbender.com. _ #istanbul

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A Rare Peek Into The Love Life Of 10 Top Travel Blogging Couples

When you travel the world as much as we do you seem to get stuck for ideas on a special, romantic Valentine's Day. We needed help. So in our second Valentines special we asked more of our favourite couple travel bloggers all about their private & personal love lives...
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"Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man." - Pliny the Elder _ The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, Turkey. _ A beautiful ancient underground water storage facility built in the 6th century. Before 1985 this photo would not have been possible as this room was filled with 100,000 tons of water. Once the water was drained, and 50,000 tons of silt and mud removed, the amazing engineering feat could be appreciated in all its splendour. _ 336 marble columns, standing 9 meters tall, hold up the ceiling. The majority of these were "recycled" from older construction projects. However the Roman origins of 2 particularly mysterious stone-sculpted "Medusa heads" are unknown. These were placed on their side and upside down to negate the mythic Gorgons' gaze. Smart thinking! _ I took this tour with @walksofturkey and also stayed at the beautiful @eresin_hotels_istanbul. I highly recommend you check them out next time you visit Istanbul, Turkey.

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"Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity." - Herbert Hoover _ Beautiful Istanbul. _ Mesmerising view from a secret window in the Hagia Sophia Museum that I call the "Josh window" (since it takes someone of my height to open it). _ In the background, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also popularly known as the Blue Mosque, has been an icon on the Istanbul skyline for 400 years. _ I captured this shot during a fantastic walking tour yesterday morning with @walksofturkey. When you're in town I highly recommend checking them out. _ #oneistanbul

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Phase 5 #motherofallroadtrips: North Coast-To-Coast USA

For this 3-week segment of our road trip we stretched the entire span of the United States from west to east. Yes, that’s over 10 states in less than 1 month.
Read more at our travel blog.

Beautiful Switzerland. Want to go? _ At the moment I'm in Istanbul, Turkey at the World Tourism Forum. Seems like Switzerland was a lifetime ago. _ #thepopulist #turkishairlines #bloggercasting #worldtourismforum

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I'm in Istanbul, Turkey at the moment and guess who I found... _ You might have heard of Paul Johnson, founder of A Luxury Travel Blog, one of the largest travel blogs in the world. _ Give us a like if you love to travel! And tag your favourite travel friend 👈 #worldtourismforum #thepopulist #turkishairlines #bloggercasting

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"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius _ Tallahassee in Florida has a fascinating history where Spanish settlers lived in harmony side-by-side with native Americans, the Apalachee, in the 17th century. Sadly, after conflict with British raiding parties in 1704 the mission was burned to the ground. _ While it was widely thought that the Apalachee had been lost to history, recently around 250 descents were found in Louisiana. _ This building is an accurate re-creation of the 17th century Franciscan church in the Spanish mission, rebuilt on the exact location of the original structure. Painstaking excavation has occurred on the surrounding site which has revealed intricate detail about a chapter in American history which was previously lost. _ A fascinating and inspiring story about different people from different backgrounds living together in peace and mutual respect. _ #ihearttally #florida #tallahassee

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Where To Eat In Mall Of America

Sit back, start your drool engine and get ready to feel hunger pains, because the Mall of America is filled with dozens of restaurants that will get your tastebuds racing. But how do you choose where to eat? We’ve tried these highly recommended eateries and will give you all the info you need to choose your (dining) adventure in America’s largest mall.
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10 Night Photography Tips For Beginners

If you own a digital SLR camera and are getting comfortable with daylight shooting, then the next natural progression is capturing the night. Find inspiration from several beautiful examples of night photos, plus 10 simple-to-follow tips you can use today to get a firm grasp on night photography.
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"I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it." - Rosalia de Castro _ Strolling along the beautiful beach at Intercontinental Jimbaran Bali Resort. @intercontinentalbaliresort _ If you're planning a trip to Bali search google for "where to stay in Bali" to find our article on the best hotels - each one we've stayed at over 10 different visits to the island of the gods. _ #balinese

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Jackson Hole: America’s Ultimate Family Snow Vacation?

What makes Jackson Hole unique, apart from hundreds of ski trails, is the wide range of attractions available to round out a family ski vacation. We only spent 3 days in this beautiful valley, but loved every minute. Here’s how to get the most out of your trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
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