Saturday 30 April 2016

"As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal." - Robin S. Sharma _ The colour of Wales. _ Sunset over Llynnau Mymbyr near Capel Curig in Wales, United Kingdom. _ Out of the 10 million tourists to visit Wales each year, only 1 million are from outside the UK, making this country relatively unknown on most tourists radars. This was easily one of our favourite European road trips - everywhere we turned was stunning landscapes and historical locations. _ I was a little apprehensive beforehand about the cultural and language differences, but embraced the change. And the locals we met were some of the kindest and most hospitable. Not to mention one of the top meals I've ever eaten was in a remote Welsh town. _ I love Wales. We wrote a comprehensive road trip guide packed with tips. Just Google "Ultimate Wales road trip" to find it on travelwithbender.com. _ #findyourepic #wales


"There is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory." - Unknown _ Feeling like a champion in Arches National Park, Utah. _ Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100


10 Best Road Trip Snacks – (Mostly) Healthy Ideas

We’ve driven our fair share of miles over the years. Our current #motherofallroadtrips across the US & Canada started in June 2015 and will finish in June 2016. It has been on this precise road trip that I’ve discovered the most valuable, hard-earned secrets about travelling with kids. And this best secret is…?
Read more at our travel blog.

Friday 29 April 2016

Cape San Blas, Florida: My New Secret Beach

Florida is a vacation mix-a-lot. Some people go to Florida to spend every day at a theme park. Others look forward to a glamorous tropical cruise. And last, but not least, it’s hard to resist the lure of Florida’s sandy white beaches. And that is why we came back to Florida… beach, sun, rest, and relaxation. And we found all of that on Cape San Blas in Gulf County.
Read more at our travel blog.

Thursday 28 April 2016

"Together we can face any challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky." - Sonia Gandhi ..... Hiking through Kasha - Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. ..... This remote area is located about half way between Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico. While it doesn't have the same high profile as Antelope Canyon, this slot canyon hike was incredibly beautiful. Even my 5 & 7-year-olds made it to the peak of this challenging trail. Highly recommended. It took my breath away... In more ways than one. ..... Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100 ..... #newmexico #naturelovers


"Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain." - Richard M. Nixon _ Lookout at Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. _ Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100 #utah #findyourpark


Unshakable Proof That Strangers Make Travel Better

As we have travelled around the world over the last 4 years we’ve realized that people are kinder than we often give them credit for. Our reliance on complete strangers and people we haven’t met (in person) has blossomed since our nomadic travels started and we haven’t been let down. By and large, the human race is kind. Contrary to what you see on the news. National Pay It Forward Day is April 28th and we are showing you how #NiceTravels.
Read more at our travel blog.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

23 Sanity-Saving Hacks For 1 Day At Disney World

Disney World is expensive. And it takes time. With a 5 & 7-year-old in tow I just could not comprehend 5 days visiting 4 different parks. Was I doing them a disservice by not taking them? Was I spoiling their childhood? Turns out one day at Disney still made me the best mum in the world.
Read more at our travel blog.

Friday 22 April 2016

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didnt do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain _ Sunset over Port St Joe Marina in @gulfcountyfl Florida. _ We took a 2-hour private cruise around Saint Joseph Bay and topped it off admiring these spectacular colours in the sky. _ This scene of boats reminded me of Mark Twain's famous quote which is the anthem of our travel blog travelwithbender.com. _ #GCFLnofilter #sunsetlovers


via Instagram

How To Learn Photography In 33 Easy Step-By-Step Lessons

So whether you just want to dip your toe into photography, take your hobby the to the next level or pursue a career as a professional travel photographer, everything you need is now only one click away.
Read more at our travel blog.

Crayola Experience Orlando: When You Need To Escape Floridas Theme Parks

You came to Orlando, Florida for Disney. You did LEGOLAND, Universal Studios and now you need a little down time. Crayola Experience is just what you’re looking for.
Read more at our travel blog.

Monday 18 April 2016

What Kind Of European Bus Tour Are You?

There are so many ways to get around Europe. We’ve driven through Italy, France and Spain. We’ve traversed the continent by train. What we haven’t done is a bus tour. Find out how to match the right bus tour to match your personality and interests with this fun guide.
Read more at our travel blog.

52 Amazing Pictures That Will Convince You To Visit Istanbul

Istanbul is precipitously perched between east and west. At the convergence of cultures, continents and empires. Turkey been the home to over a dozen empires over the last 4000 years, including Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Every dynasty has left its lasting mark creating a melting pot of religions, food, and architecture. That’s what makes Istanbul so beautiful.
Read more at our travel blog.

Sunday 17 April 2016

"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift." - Albert Einstein _ Looking through the round window... _ North Window arch in Arches National Park, Utah. #motherofallroadtrips #😍 _ Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100 Focal length: 78mm Aperture: 6.3 Exposure: 1/800sec ISO: 125 _ I've been testing out the new @lumixusa DMC-ZS100 for the last few weeks and the quality has been impressive considering its a compact camera. While it's not going to replace my DSLR, it sure packs a punch for its size and it a fraction of the weight. A neat travel camera for beginners and photography enthusiasts.


"You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself." - Diana Ross _ Golden sunny afternoon over New York City from the top of the Rockefeller Center. 🔆 _ One World Trade is on the far left and if you squint carefully you can just see the Statue of Liberty. I'd have to say that this is one of the best big city views in the world. _ Shot in early January 2016. _ Check out http://ift.tt/1SKod5d to see an article we wrote about how we'd recommend spending a family weekend getaway in the Big Apple. Hint: catching a glimpse of this view is on there. _ @travelocity @RoamingGnome #newyorkcity


Thursday 14 April 2016

Unveiling The New LEGO Movie At LEGOLAND Florida

Not only did we attend the recent launch of "The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure” at LEGOLAND Florida, but spent 2 days discovering how awesome everything really is. Find out our top tips to make the most of your visit to one of Florida’s best theme parks.
Read more at our travel blog.

5 Reasons Why I’m Going To Gulf County, Florida

Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen the sea? Too long. Growing up and by the ocean most of my life, makes that 2 months too many. I miss its salty siren call. My hands are already shaking from withdrawals. So that is why I knew I had to get back to Florida. But not just any part of Florida. The warm waters and sandy beaches of Gulf County. Why?...
Read more at our travel blog.

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." - Thomas Merton _ Sunset over Balanced Rock in Arches National Park, Utah. _ Standing 128 feet (39 m), the big rock on top is the size of three school buses. Beautiful! _ I stood here last week, watching the sun sink into the horizon, lighting up the sky every imaginable colour. Feels like too long ago. You know what I mean? _ #utah #findyourpark


Wednesday 13 April 2016

"I trust that when people meet, we meet for a transcendent reason, and that the challenges we face in life are always lessons that serve our soul's growth." - Marianne Williamson _ Built in 1887, the historic Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado has a fascinating story. _ Built by Henry Strater (a pharmacist from Cleveland), his brothers and father, the construction required 376,000 native red bricks. Suites featured cutting edge features for its time (like wood-burning stoves, washstands, and even pianos). Henry leased the property to H.L. Rice who managed it successfully while Henry setup a pharmacy in the corner of the hotel. Inexperienced Strater neglected to exclude his pharmacy from the lease to Rice, who then extracted an extremely large rent from Strater. Furious at this, Strater built another hotel down the road intent on putting Rice out of business. _ In 1895 the Silver Panic ended up putting both men out of business. _ Today the Strater Hotel has become the most beautiful historic hotel in Colorado featuring the world's largest collection of American Victorian-era walnut furniture. Each suite is individually decorated and transports you back to a by-gone era. We loved staying here for 3 nights while we explored Durango and the surrounding region. _ If you love history, I highly recommend staying here. _ @visitdurango @straterhotel


5 Things To Do In Atlanta With Kids

The city of Coca Cola. And CNN. Which came first? Which is better to visit? And which is better for your health? These pressing questions will be answered and more in tonight’s episode of Travel With Bender.
Read more at our travel blog.

Sunday 10 April 2016

"Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring." - William Alexander _ Montezuma Valley Outlook in Mesa Verde national park in southwest Colorado. We were here last week while staying in Durango. _ The appropriately named rock formation The Knife Edge in the background contrasts perfectly against the burnt out tree in the foreground. _ What this photo doesn't show is the gale-force winds on the mountain side sweeping up from the valley below. I could barely stand up straight, let alone hold the camera still. The shot turned out just fine fortunately... After a couple tries. 😊 _ Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100. @visitdurango


"The glitter in the sky looks as if I could scoop it all up in my hands and let the stars swirl and touch one another, but they are so distant, so very far apart, that they cannot feel the warmth of each other, even though they are made of burning." — Beth Revis, Across the Universe _ Over 1.4 million people visit Arches National Park, Utah each year... And I can see why. We spent today driving around and hiking the trails. Its pure natural beauty. After my kids went to sleep I returned by myself after dark and captured more otherworldly scenes, this time without the crowds. _ Bright stars twinkled between the clouds. But in this particular spot near Skyline Arch the night was much darker than this long exposure suggests. So dark and so quiet and so isolated, I felt like the last person on earth. It was both unnerving and liberating at the same time. I could barely see my hand in front of my face. But I knew exactly where I was... My car on the other hand was a different story. There's nothing quite like being alone in the wilderness with time to reflect and meditate. I love the serenity. #utah #findyourpark


Saturday 9 April 2016

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. ... There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter." - Rachel Carson, Silent Spring _ The famous Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. _ I captured this shot yesterday as we explored the National Park. I've seen dozens of photos of this well-known sandstone arch but for some reason it looked different in real life. What most shots don't capture is the sudden vertical drop into a deep canyon. It's actually suspended over a vertigo-inducing precipice, so that little bit of rock at the bottom of the shot is as close as you can get to the arch (without climbing on top which is not allowed, or smart for that matter). Getting up close is not for the faint hearted. Fortunately that's never stopped me 😉 How about you? _ #utah Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100


"This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls." - John Muir _ Today we explored Canyonlands National Park near Moab, #Utah. This was one of my favourite views from Green River Overlook. _ Just stunning! _ Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100 #findyourpark @lumixusa


Wednesday 6 April 2016

"There are amazingly wonderful people in all walks of life; some familiar to us and others not. Stretch yourself and really get to know people. People are in many ways one of our greatest treasures." - Bryant H. McGill _ View from a lookout in Mesa Verde national park in southwest Colorado, USA. _ We took a drive through one of the most unique archaeological sites in the United States yesterday - Mesa Verde. But the lookout points high above the surrounding region were just as gorgeous. _ Camera: Panasonic #LUMIX DMC-ZS100 Focal length: 91mm Aperture: 5.9 ISO: 125 Exposure time: 1/2000 📸 #visitdurango #colorado


Personal Trainer Food Review: Is Eating Healthy This Easy?

Weight is a deeply personal topic. And not a topic I ever thought I would write about. But I put this simple, sensible eating plan to the test for 1 month and the results were surprising.
Read more at our travel blog.

"Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right." – Henry Ford _ Walking through the slot canyon at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument near Santa Fe, New Mexico. _ I didn't know if my kids would be able to handle the 3 mile round hike through the desert and up a rocky outcrop, but they never cease to impress me. Little legends! _ This place is gorgeous and if you're near Santa Fe or Albuquerque, then you have to check it out. #santafe #newmexico _ Thanks to the new algorithm from Instagram there's a chance you could miss out on my snaps. 😩 To get notified as soon as my new IG posts are live, just tap my profile @travelwithbender and tap the menu button in the top right and enable notifications. 👍😎 You'll make me 😄🎉 if you do.