Category Archives: Blog

Welcome to My World

Welcome to My World
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was hoping you would. Grab a seat and let’s get to know one another. My name is Heidi Siefkas, but I have gone by many other nicknames – pumpkin, Hi-d, Miss Trempealeau, and Heidi Suitcase, which morphed into Ms Traveling Pants. I was born and raised in a…
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Waimea Canyon and Hanapepe Kauai – Make a Day and Night of It

Waimea Canyon and Hanapepe Kauai – Make a Day and Night of It
Whether staying on the North or South Shore of Kauai, you cannot miss taking a drive to Waimea Canyon. With the accolade of being the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, it is epic. And, you won’t truly believe it until you see it with your own eyes and experience its grandeur. The palate of colors…
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Unusual Holiday Adventure Travel – Camping in a Cave Kauai

Unusual Holiday Adventure Travel – Camping in a Cave Kauai
Holiday travel is typically something very special, whether it's because of the people you are with and/or the place. My recent holiday was no different. Just days after making a trans-Pacific move from the mainland to Hawaii's farthest island, Kauai, I knew I was in for an unusual, yet adventure packed holiday. Adventuring on the…
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Travel to the Finger Lakes for Leaf-Peeping

Travel to the Finger Lakes for Leaf-Peeping
So what is this leaf-peeping thing? It is a common, hip term for people just like me who travel to view and photograph the fall foliage with its brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds. However, how many of you have done an adventure leaf peeping trip? I recently came back from the coolest, leaf peeping trip…
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Inspirational Travel to Machu Picchu Peru

Inspirational Travel to Machu Picchu Peru
Having just returned from my first Machu Picchu experience,  I must say, it was inspirational. You have probably heard the quote, "Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by those that take your breath away." And, that quote sums up Machu Picchu on so many levels. Let me paint you the picture…
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Alaska: The Tip of the Iceberg

Alaska: The Tip of the Iceberg
Although Alaska is often left off the travel list because of its challenging climate and remote location, Alaska is certainly where one discovers new exciting surprises around each bend in the trail, channel, or glacier.  When presented with the opportunity to move to Southeast Alaska for the summer, I took it.  I’m proud to say…
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3 Alaska Adventures Near Mendenhall Valley

3 Alaska Adventures Near Mendenhall Valley
As I look out my new Alaskan home's window, I can see the Mendenhall glacier, snowy mountain tops, and endless wilderness.  Although only a novice in Alaska, my first two weeks here have been full of adventure, leaving no stone unturned or better said leaving no adventure undiscovered. Over the next four months, I plan…
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3 Must-Dos in Buenos Aires Argentina

3 Must-Dos in Buenos Aires Argentina
The finale or icing on top of my South American walkabout cake was Buenos Aires. With previous spectacular stops in Patagonia, Chile and Mendoza, Argentina, BA and its porteños certainly won my heart through my stomach as well as my dancing feet. After an overnight bus from Mendoza, I arrived in sizzling BA with a short,…
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3 Adventures Not to Miss in Mendoza Argentina

3 Adventures Not to Miss in Mendoza Argentina
The second leg of my South American Walkabout could not have been more inviting. After a long, overnight bus ride from Santiago, Chile and over the Andes, Mendoza, Argentina greeted me with a glorious sunrise over the desert, rolling out the true welcome mat of the Home of Malbec. Although my first leg was beautiful, the near-freezing…
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Adventures in Torres del Paine Patagonia Chile – Tudo Azul

Adventures in Torres del Paine Patagonia Chile – Tudo Azul
First, let me explain why I used the unusual Tudo Azul in the title! Although Chile's national language is Spanish, I chose an expression, "Tudo Azul," which comes from Portuguese. It literally translates to everything's blue, but is more commonly understood as everything's rosy. Thus,"Tudo Azul," ties together the positive experience I had traveling through…
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