Experiences You Should Have

Dive or Swim with Great White Sharks: Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes

Diving or swimming with Great White Sharks is on many people's bucket list and I got to swim with this amazing apex predator 8 years ago in 2010. However, this podcast (please listen above) is about Dive Instructor, Sarah Mayte's experience of diving and swimming with Great Whites in Mexico.

Sarah's trip was incredible. They saw over 20 different Great White Sharks over the course of 3 days. At one time, they had 6 circling their cages at one time. Sarah was very lucky because when I went at the same time 8 years ago, we saw about 4 Great Whites.

Sarah led her dive trip through Jack's Diving Locker and she booked this trip really early and went with a group of friends and coworkers. Their boat had about 30 guests, and 13 of them were part of Sarah's group. Now wouldn't that be a fantastic trip to go on with your friends and family?

Where is the Best Place to go to Dive or Swim with Great White Sharks?

Not many people know this, but the best place to go for fantastic visibility and a great encounter is Guadalupe, Mexico. It's a tiny island west of Baja Mexico, and it takes about 24 hours via boat to get there, which is why you would go on a small liveaboard boat for this kind of expedition.

The worst place to go swimming with Great Whites is the Farallon Islands. You can't chum there and the visibility is low. Many people go to South Africa, however, the visibility isn't very clear and the sharks are hit or miss.

The most reliable place to see Great White Sharks is Guadalupe.

Photo by Jeff Milisen

How Do You Get to Guadalupe, Mexico to Swim with Great Whites?

You first fly to San Diego, California, then a bus will pick you up at your hotel. Sarah's bus had a big life-sized Great White Shark on the side of it. They drive you across the border to Ensenada, and you have to walk across the border and get your passport stamped. Then you head to the port, and get on your boat!

Photo by Jeff Milisen

Then it's about a good 24-hour boat ride to get to Guadalupe. You sleep, eat, dive, and swim right off the boat, the boat becomes your home, hence why it's called a liveaboard.

How Long is the Expedition to Swim with Great Whites in Guadalupe?

The average time needed for this trip is at least 7 days. It will take up a day to get from San Diego to Ensenada, then 24-hour boat ride to Guadalupe, 3 days with the Great Whites, a 24-hour boat trip back to Ensenada, then your bus ride back to San Diego, and you also need to allow time to get to San Diego from where you live. Budget at least a week if not more for this incredible experience.

What is Your Average Day Like at Guadalupe?

They opened the cages at 6:30 in the morning, and yes, everyone must use a cage (even though I personally would feel safe without the cage). There was no sun out and the water was cold, about 67-68 degrees. You might be tired, haven't had your coffee yet, but who needs coffee when you're jumping into cold water surrounded by Great Whites. The boat started chumming at 6:30, and the small fish showed up, then the Amberjacks came.

About 20 minutes into sitting around underwater in the cage, waiting for the sunrise show up, Sarah, saw a figure and was the biggest one they saw on their trip about 16-18 feet. Her name was Lucy and she has a deformed fin. She's scraped up and ragged because many sharks are. Many Great Whites actually have scars from where Cookie Cutter sharks have bitten them, pretty interesting to see. You spend the entire day in the cage or up on the boat eating and warming up.

Photo by Jeff Milisen

Sleep, Great Whites, Eat, Great Whites, Eat, Great Whites, Eat Great Whites, Story Telling, then Sleep... not bad at all.

The first day they saw 15 Great White Sharks and the second day they saw 10 Great White Sharks.

What was Sarah's Favorite Part About the Trip?

Sarah's not a photographer and loves watching animal movement.

24 Hours in London (Podcast Show Notes)

24 hours in London is better than no hours in London! London is a fascinating place that's easy to navigate, it's rich in history, and the food. Oh my, the food is so good, it will take you to a new land you may never want to return where you came from. Listen to this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or click the play button above!

 

My proposed itinerary for 24 Hours in London

 

Head Over to the British Museum

I think it's important to see real history (and stolen treasure) and explore one of the best Museums Britain has to offer. At the British Museum, you can see mummies (many), the Rosetta stone, Samurai armor, Younger Memnon and much much more.

Take a Tour of the Tower

The Tower was one of my favorite places I visited. It will blow you away! The Crown Jewels are kept here (yes, they are real) and you can even find real Palace guards here. Tours are given throughout the day and are given by a real Yeoman. This isn't Disney, the people that work there are the real deal. The last tour starts at 2:30 PM in the winter and 3:30 in the summer.

Give yourself a few hours to explore the Tower and hear the stories.

Go Up in the Shard at Sunset

The Shard is 95 stories high and the views at the top are breathtaking! There's even a bar up top so you can sip on your favorite drink as you soak up the views. There is something magical about watching London turn from day to night, plus it's not far from The Tower. Up there you can see excellent views of the Tower Bridge and all of London.

 

Enjoy the Food

Tapas de Brindisa is just around the corner from the Shard, and if you are a meat eater, you have to try their Iberico. It is heaven in your mouth!! If Spanish tapas is not your thing, then make a reservation for Indian food at Dishoom. I also thoroughly enjoyed Lahore Kebab House. I can still taste the curries I had there as they dance on my tongue.

Eat Breakfast or Lunch at The Borough Market

From December 4th to the New Year the Borough Market is open 7 days a week. The rest of the year, they are open Monday-Saturday (closed on Sunday). You must go here. The food here will take you to another land. I found an amazing sauteed mushrooms with a spelt risotto that blew me away and some of the best mussels I had ever eaten. This market won't disappoint!

Skip High Tea and Head Over to Tipsy Tea!

I know that high tea is the thing to do in London, but let me tell you, it is expensive!! I am not willing to shell out $80 for tea and crumpets. However, I will pay $40 for 2 cocktails, a tray of sandwiches and desserts, an amazing magician (Harry de Cruz), and amazing music in a place that will transport you to another era.

That's right, I'm talking Mr. Fogg's Residence. This amazing gem made me get up and dance the Charleston as the lovely piano player played behind me. Now if you're not into a cocktail or not of age, then I don't recommend going here, however, if you appreciate a solid drink, from a teapot, then make a reservation!

Tips for Visiting London

 

Use the Tube for Transportation and a Tip on Accessible Travel

Fly into London, take underground trains (The Tube) into the city (avoid the Heathrow Express as it is pricey!). You will need to add money to an Oyster card at the airport to use the Tube everywhere. For 24 hours, throw $9 on there, you should be fine.

It's fairly easy to read the map for the Tube and if you're unsure of how to get somewhere, put where you are going into Google Maps and click on 'trains' and follow the walking and train directions. If you are in a wheelchair, get off on the stations with an accessible sign on them on the map, and there you can use an elevator to get out.

Check out the London Pass

Take a look at what you want to do compared against the cost of a London Pass. The London Pass will get you into the Tower, The Shard, The British Museum and more.

Everything You Need to Know about Skydiving Everest (Podcast Show Notes)

I interviewed an old friend from my skydiving days, Tom Noonan about skydiving Everest. We knew each other from our time in Lake Wales and Skydive Deland. He works for UPT, and I used to work for UPT when I lived in Florida.

Tom Noonan has over 3,500 skydives and has been skydiving Everest since 2008. He also along with Wendy Smith hold the world record for the highest parachute landing at 17,192 feet. If you have questions about Skydive Everest or want to Skydive Everest, Tom can help make that dream come true. 

Listen above to the interview with Tom or listen to Experiences You Should Have where you listen to podcasts to hear the full interview and the experience of skydiving Everest!

What is the Most Adventurous Thing You can Do in Life?

 

Skydiving Everest is definitely one of the most extreme things you could do. Skydiving in a remote and scenic location, and place that skydiving experience in the remote Himalaya, while integrating HALO, makes skydiving Everest the ultimate experience.

Photo by Wendy Smith

 

What is a HALO Jump?

 

A HALO jump is High Altitude Low Opening skydive. Low opening means you have taken a long delay and open at a normal opening altitude or lower. Many times HALO jumps are used in military skydiving, however, there are many licensed skydivers who aren't military who do HALO jumps and you can skydive Everest with a tandem instructor and partake in a HALO jump. 

 

Why Go Skydiving at Mt. Everest?

 

You will leave Nepal a changed person. There is something about Nepal. The universe makes more sense there than anywhere else in the world. It’s impossible to describe the experience that people have, but it is life changing.

 

The power of that part of the world, being immersed in that environment is like nothing else in the world. Tom has always said that he has left part of his soul in the Himalaya and everytime he returns, he feels like he is coming home.

How do you get to Mount Everest to go Skydiving?

 

Getting to Everest is a long trip. From the US it’s a 21-hour flight (quicker flights). Once you arrive in Katmandu, it’s like NYC. It’s busy, bustling, there’s people, activity everywhere. The following day they take a flight to Lukla, which is 9,000 feet above sea level and is the world’s most dangerous airport. You can only land one direction, no matter what the winds are doing. The pilots there are extraordinarily talented. It’s the equivalent of landing on an aircraft carrier without landing on an aircraft carrier.

 

Once in Lukla, you are at the entryway to the Himalaya. They then start a trek for 2 days. They walk 8-12 miles in those 2 days and ascend from 9,000 feet to 11,000 feet, then they spend 2 days acclimating to 11,500 feet. For most people, being at 5,000 feet will wind people. The higher you go, the more you need to work on climatizing. Your heart will increase, and their breath will increase, so they take their time with their trek.  

During the time of acclimating they stay at tea houses, a big house with 30 rooms or so with a common kitchen and common area. They feed you and is a nice place to rest.

Is there a city or town in the Himalayas?

There is a little town called, Namche (population 1,600), and it actually has a coffee shop, bars, pizza, and more. Cafe 8848  is a great place to rest and work on climatizing. In Namche, they have pizzas, restaurants and some of highest bar tabs are had up there. Tom doesn’t consume any alcohol up there because one beer has the effect of 2-3 beers. It’s easier to get dehydrated, so Tom recommends using a level of caution when drinking at high altitudes.

Where is the Airport to Skydive Next to Everest?

700 feet above Namche is a 1200 foot dirt runway, the Syangboche airport, one of the highest airports in the world. This is the setup for the dropzone where you can skydive Everest!

Kayaking in Greenland Podcast Show Notes

Listen to the latest podcast episode of Experiences You Should Have Above!

Also Subscribe to Experiences You Should Have on iTunes, Google Podcasts (or where you listen to podcasts).

 

Meet Katie Beth Gill, an incredible woman, and childhood friend who has traveled the world. She works for Doctors Without Borders and has been to 63 countries! When I asked her what was the one experience she thinks others should have, she responded with "Kayaking in Greenland." When Katie Beth tells you it's a must see, it is advice you should take to heart. Katie Beth did a great job of painting the experience and I am adding this experience to my own bucket list!

Follow Katie Beth on Instagram to see her amazing photos of her world travels!

Some Interesting Facts About Greenland

Only 56,000 people live in Greenland... you heard it right, 56,000!

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by ice and glaciers

In central Greenland, the sun does not set from the end of May to the end of July, also known as the midnight sun.

Greenland now has a growing mosquito problem, which is associated with warmer climates (they are usually gone by the end of July)

Kayaking was invented in Greenland by the Inuit, and the word kayak originates from a Greenlandic word, qajaq.

Why Should You Go Kayaking in Greenland?

The kayak was invented in Greenland, why not go to the mother country to experience kayaking in a remote, but jaw-dropping landscape. You can go out on the water and be immersed in beautiful hues of purple, blue, and shades of white from icebergs jutting out the water. Can you imagine being on the water, in a kayak, in Greenland and hearing icebergs calving while seeing an array of beautiful colors in front of you?

Plus, did you know, you might see majestic whales! I bet you will remember that day forever, and that is what life is all about... experiences.

Where Do you Fly Into to Go Kayaking in Greenland

Katie Beth flew into Ilulissat (JAV), which is not the cheapest place to fly into. I just looked up round-trip tickets from Portland, Oregon to Ilulissat for July and the price of the ticket is 2k round trip, which is not cheap. However, this is a bucket list trip and you can start saving now! If you fly on Icelandair, you can have a free stopover in Iceland on your way there. While you're there, you should check out the Golden Circle or have an adventure of a lifetime in the Hornstrandir Nature Preserve.

Kayak Tours in Ilulissat, Greenland (and Costs)

Katie went with PGI Greenland, which she saw as soon as she got to Ilulissat. It's a small town, with only four thousand people living there, so it was easy to find PGI Greenland. They offer a morning kayak tour and an evening kayak tour. Kayak tours are offered in the summer and cost 1345 Kr ($145) for a guided 3-hour tour around Greenland Icebergs and it includes all the gear you need.

Total Trip Costs

Katie Beth's trip wasn't cheap, it cost her $5,000. She and her friend stayed in the Ilulissat Hostel, which is the cheapest accommodations in Ilulissat, however, it costs them about $70 a night, so budget appropriately. There are a handful of restaurants there, but a simple chicken wrap cost Katie around $25, so plan on doing some grocery shopping while you're there. It's not a tipping culture, so you don't have to plan extra cash for large tips.

If you've always wanted to kayak around icebergs, traveling and kayaking Greenland is actually half the price of going to Antarctica!

Is Kayaking in Greenland Kid Friendly?

It really depends on what your kid is into. If your kid/s are into nature, then this would be an amazing experience. PGI Greenland kayak tours says that there is no minimum age for their kayak tours, but the child must be 1.5m tall, which is 4'9". Sounds like it will be a while before we're taking our baby there.

Other Recommended Episodes of Experiences You Should Have Podcast

Canyoneering (Waterfall Rappelling) Podcast Show Notes with Joshua Lambus

Joshua Lambus is one of those people who is very magnetizing. He is Kona based and is a world-renowned photographer, check out his incredible photos! Josh is an experience lover whether it's underwater with Tiger Sharks, falling through the sky, walking on a slackline high above the earth (high-lining), or waterfall rappelling, a part of canyoneering. In this episode, we are exploring the world of canyoneering (or canyoning depending on what part of the world you're in).

What Is Canyoneering?

Canyoneering is more than waterfall rappelling. It is essentially figuring out how to get down a canyon by rappelling (or abseiling), scrambling, climbing, jumping, swimming or other. This is not a walk in a park, it requires many different skills to be able to navigate a canyon safely, and a beginner route could take all day.

What's Great About Canyoneering?

Every experience is different and requires problem-solving in order to make it out. Josh, was first introduced to canyoneering when he was slacklining in high places (hi-lining), and originally thought canyoneering was a means to an end, meaning it was a way to slackline, however along that process, Josh fell in love with canyoneering.

Many times Josh and his friends do exploratory canyoneering. They look at various maps and enter an area that hasn't been explored.

5 years ago, Josh and his friends went to a place that was a black dot on a map, where the shade and shadow met. They found themselves over 400 feet of exposure, which was exactly how much rope they brought (thankfully). They dropped down a 2-tiered waterfall, one 180 feet, and another 200 feet with a small section of ledge between the two. It was breathtaking and was one of Josh's largest rappel.

One day Josh took his helicopter pilot friend to a small canyon, quick and easy (8 hours). There were massive boulders, tunnels, old train tracks, and his friend was blown away. The next time he took a flight, he saw the canyon from his helicopter, and it was a teeny tiny canyon and it was a canyon he had never seen before. It's amazing how we pass by things every day and don't realize the secrets the canyons hold until you're in it.

Photo by Joshua Lambus

What Does Canyoneering Feel Like?

The first time you get to a drop and look over that edge (like 100 ft, 150 ft), you first get that feeling of how am I going to do this. Many times people walk to the top of waterfalls, but that is as far as they go. But in canyoneering, you are stepping over that edge and the edge now becomes the beginning.

Once people start to go over the edge, their perspective starts to change as new possibilities are created. You go from seeing something as impossible to possible.

We are 2-dimensional beings, but once you get into Scuba Diving, Skydiving, or Rappelling, you add in a new perspective and a new dimension you can live in.

Sometimes you might be rappelling into a cave with a waterfall, then you might swim through a cave that pops out into a river. Josh never realized this experience was possible until he did it.

Photo by Greg Chavdarian

Goes to show, that you don't know what you don't know, and you may need to question yourself like Steph Davis, that the Edge is Just the Beginning.

The Edge Is Just the Beginning - Steph Davis

How Close Are You to Waterfalls?

You enter at some point into a canyon, you might be walking along banks, or swimming through a canyon, but there are times when the elevation stops abruptly, and many times, they need to rappel down a waterfall.

If they are lucky, they like to rappel down the side of a waterfall, but sometimes because of the way the way the canyon is carved, sometimes they rappel down the center of a waterfall. The thing is, if the rope falls through the water, then the rope could get stuck.

Photo by Joshua Lambus

Dangers of Canyoneering:

You are reliant on gear and gear can fail or ...

Podcast Show Notes: Traveling to Antarctica

Meet Chelsea Turner from the New Wifestyle blog and listen to the above podcast episode on traveling to Antarctica. Chelsea and her husband decided to go to Antarctica together a few years ago and this experience changed her life for the better.

How Do You Get to Antarctica?

You can fly to Antarctica, but it’s going to cost you a pretty penny, possibly adding 10k to your trip. Most take cruises through Drake Passage, which has some of the roughest seas in the world. It’s a 2 day (38 hour) boat trip from the most southern part of Argentina, Ushuaia, which is where many Antarctica trips start. You can also take a boat from New Zealand.

How is the Cruise to Antarctica?

The boat that Chelsea took was smaller than most, it held around 80 people, which is nice if you ask me. They weren't on a cruise like an Alaskan Cruise, they were on a true adventure expedition! They went with Antarpply Expeditions. The first two days traveling to Antarctica had rough seas, but it was nice and calm when they made it to Antarctica. It’s a good idea to take the drowsy Dramamine and spend those 2 days sleeping on the boat until you arrive in Antarctica.  She and her husband had her own room, but they went with a cheaper room and had bunk beds and a shared bathroom with another room. The people you are on the boat with are the same people you will see the entire trip, and they made life-long friends on the boat. The entire expedition was 10 nights and 11 days, but 4 of those days were travel days.

What Does Antarctica Look Like?

It's stark white with majestic sharp-peaked mountains, icebergs, untouched snow, and it feels like you are on another planet. It’s so isolating and makes you feel apart of a huge world and gives you a new perception of how vast it is. It’s a beautiful blank slate and it feels like a different planet. Chelsea didn’t see a town. There are 10,000 people that live in Antarctica in the summer (November-March), but in the Winter, there are only 1,000 people that live there during the darkest of the days in the Winter. There are research bases in Antarctica, but the tourist boat didn’t go to a research base.

What Can You Do in Antarctica

You are constantly going on and off the boat. Get a ‘cruise’ out of your head, this is an exploration. You are exploring day in and day out. Zodiac boats would take you to little islands and they even took them to an active volcano. They saw penguins, humpback whales, orcas, and got to see many icebergs.

Why Travel to Antarctica?

You can go to a place where not many people get to, plus you can see a goal come to fruition in saving for a big trip.

Go to Antarctica if you love adventure and meet like-minded people. Go there if you want to have an experience that you’ve never experienced before. Plus, you'll make lifelong friends, and who doesn't love those?

How Much Does Traveling to Antarctica Cost?

Including flights to Argentina and the boat and expedition to Antarctica, it was about 10,000 per person. This was for a budget room, a bunk bed with a shared bathroom, and they planned this 10 months in advance. If you are flexible, you could find a cheaper last-minute deal. If you skip the 38-hour boat ride, you can fly to Antarctica and then join up with a fancy cruise, but you will be paying a pretty price tag for it, at least 20,000 per person.

You can check out current rates with Antarpply Expeditions here.

When Can You Tavel to Antarctica?

November-March are you only months that you can travel there, or you might get stuck in Antarctica.

Antarctica Packing Checklist

• Smart Wool Socks

• Good Winter Coat

• Warm Hat

• Warm Gloves

• Hiking Boots

• Snow Pants

• Thermal Pants

• Fleece

• Face Mask

• Under Layers

• Passport

*Don’t bring hand warmers, they won’t work

Top Tips for Traveling to Antarctica:

• Be open new experiences, new people

• Embrace the fact that you are in Antarctica

A View Into the World of Skydiving

Skydiving has always been near and dear to my heart. I have over 400 skydives and I started skydiving when I was 20 years old. My first time skydiving started in Lake Wales, Florida outside of Orlando. I will never forget being in the back of the Twin Otter strapped to my instructor and doing a backflip out of the plane. We saw earth, sky, earth, sky, earth, sky, then earth again. When I felt the wind at my face in freefall, I realized that skydiving was not so scary after all. I started smiling and laughing in freefall. Once we landed, I signed up to go for a 2nd tandem skydive. At the end of my 2nd tandem, and decided to hang out at the dropzone (skydiving center) longer. As people finished skydiving for the day, they went over to a fire pit. Skydivers gathered around the fire and started telling adventure stories and their 'oh sh&*% moments'. As I sat there listening to the crackling fire and the skydiving adventure stories, I realized I had found a special group of people. One by one the skydivers left the fire and started to retreat into their tents and trailers at the dropzone. I saw that these skydivers lived there. I had found a community... an adventure community and I realized I wanted to be one of them, and so I did. I learned to skydive (which didn't come naturally). I'll save my learning to skydive story for another day, but it's a good one, I promise.

Gail's first time skydiving in Lake Wales, Florida

That's the start of my story, but I wanted to bring someone I highly respect in the skydiving world on the show to talk about her first time skydiving, Melanie Curtis.

World-Renowned Skydiver, Melanie Curtis

 

Melanie Curtis and Jason Moleski, professional and world-renowned skydivers started a new podcast called Trust the Journey. I thought bringing Melanie onto the show would be a great idea because she is a life coach and helps people overcome fear and employ courage. She helps others have a mindset shift between what we are capable of doing and what is possible. Melanie has been skydiving for 23 years and her first skydive still motivates her and essentially changed her for the better. Melanie also runs a group called the VSC (virtual skydiving coach) which helps new skydivers entering the sport.

Melanie Curtis's First Time Skydiving

Melanie was 18 years old when she went on her first skydive. Aviation was in her family since she was alive. Her dad was a pilot and had an airport at her house (a grass strip by her house). Her dad opened a skydive at the house with his best friend that was in upstate New York. Their dropzone is no longer in operation but it was called Verona Skydiving Center back in the day.

Melanie sat in on the first jump course many times growing up because she grew up around the dropzone. She was so scared to go for the first time and could have jumped when she was 16 (today you need to be 18 to go skydiving in the US), but she took her time to go on her first skydive. One day after Melanie graduated from high school she decided she would go skydiving the very next day. She told herself that, "tomorrow is the day". The next day she entered her first jump course for her first static line jump and had the intention of making her first skydive after the ground course. She was afraid, but her courage exceeded her fear and she went to that first jump course with the intention of making her first skydive.

The Day Came for Melanie to Jump

Most people who go for their first skydive go on a tandem skydive (which is highly recommended). Melanie did her first skydive 18 years ago and her first skydive was static line and she wasn't attached to an instructor. Melanie made her first skydive out of a small Cessna. Melanie was sitting behind the pilot's (her dad) seat facing the tail of the plane, next to the door. They were flying on jump run which is the height where they would exit the airplane. It was time to open the door,

Learn about going off the ring road and experiencing a multi-day hike in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in Iceland.

Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Mary Stange on Taking a Train Through the Scottish Highlands with her Family

Mary Stange from Bambinos Without Borders blog shared one of her favorite experiences on Experiences You Should Have Podcast, which was seeing Scotland by train in the Scottish Highlands with her 2-year-old son and husband. This particular train trip was only 2 hours from start to finish and it was a magical experience. Scotland has always been a bucket list place for Mary, and she got to see this magical place even with a toddler! The landscape was completely magical, green, mountainous, with rivers and cliffs. Everywhere you turned, it felt like a storybook and every detail felt like it was living and breathing. It was so captivating. The spirit of Scotland was breathed in the rich landscape and this was very magical place for Mary. Scotland has always been described as majestic Scotland, and now she knows why.

Traveling to Scotland with a Toddler

Mary's family train trip through the Scottish highlands was about 2 hours start to finish and it included lunch! They took the Strathspey Railway for their adventure. They started in Aviemore, then went to Boat of Garten, then to Broomhill and then back to Aviemore. This Scotland steam train tour through the highlands is definitely a family-friendly trip. Mary's son was on the train as a 2-year-old and still talks about it 2 years later. He remembers the engine, watching the engineer shoveling coal into the firebox, and he remembers the experience of being on a train and climbing inside of it. I mean, a train trip is a 2-year-old's dream come true, and can also same the same for almost any age. The 2-hour steam train trip was perfect for having a toddler on board, but if Mary and her family return to Scotland, they'd like to do a longer steam train trip.

Seeing Scotland by train should definitely be on your list because it takes you back to a very historic time and you can see the impact they had on the industrial revolution and you can go anywhere in Scotland and find a steam train to take you back to the romantic nature of railway travel. 

Cost of a Traditional Sunday Luncheon Scotland Train Tour

The cost of this particular Scottish highlands steam train lunch trip (lunch included) was 43 pounds per adult and 21.50 per child. The food on the train was very nice. They tried to put a fancy Sunday luncheon. They served tomato soup, roasted veggies, smoked salmon, potatoes, puddings, desserts, meat, coffee, and tea. They also served haggis, a Scottish dish that is composed of minced sheep and other organs. If Haggis is your thing, check out this haggis recipe that got some pretty good reviews on The Spruce Eats! If you want to see the full Sunday lunch menu for the Strathspey Railway, you can view the menu online here. 

Best Time to go to Scotland:

Mary and her family went in September, but it did rain a lot. The rain was more like a pacific northwest drizzle, not enough The best months to visit are actually May and June.

What Types of Clothes Should You Pack for a Trip to Scotland?

Raincoat

Layers - you never know when the sun will come out

What other Toddler / Family Friendly Things You Should Do While You're in Scotland?

Definitely check out some distilleries. Turns out you can bring kids to many different distilleries, check out Mary’s blog post on Bambino's Without Borders on kid-friendly Scotland distilleries. If you have kids, you should definitely check out the playground at the Ballindalloch Castle. When you vacation with kids, many times you are sightseeing between playgrounds.

They are so many hidden towns, islands, and small places in Scotland and The Isle of Skye is on Mary’s list to check out next time. 

The Harry Potter Train and other Trains in Scotland

Hogwarts Express - Harry Potter Train de:Benutzer:Nicolas17, Glenfinnan Viaduct, CC BY-SA 2.5

The train that Mary went on isn't the only Steam Train in Scotland.

Experience an Ice Cave, Nude Beaches, and a Nude Spa in Austria with Emmitt Muckles with Billionaire Lifestyle Podcast

Podcast Show Notes - Listen to the episode above or on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts (for Android users)

Emmitt Muckles with Billionaire Lifestyle Podcast (about conscious creators, perfecting your trinity and living life to the fullest), tells all about his baring meeting with his future in-laws in Austria. Emmitt joined his future wife at the time and her parents to an Ice Cave and then to a beach.

Check out Emmitt's Show!

Dachstein Ice Cave in Austria

Before Emmitt started his nude adventure, he and his soon to be in-laws went to the Dachstein Ice Cave in Hallstatt, Austria, which is one of the largest caves in the world. You can visit this ice cave with kids, but make sure you dress warmly as it gets pretty cold in there. You can take a cable car to the cave and when you leave you can take a cable car to a nearby beach.

After the tour, they took a cable car to the beach. At the end of the beach, they saw 10-foot shrubs, and Emmitt found out that he was being taken to a nude beach. It's not uncommon to find people in Austria who enjoy nude beaches. In 2016, Austria took the title from Germany as sunbathers most likely to go nude at a beach (Expedia Flip Flop Report).

At the nude beach, Emmitt realized that he had nothing to judge by at the beach. The people he saw could have been bums or CEOs. He couldn't see if people had pedicures, manicures, designer clothes, etc. All he could see if people were fit or not. Going to the nude beach leveled the playing field and all he could see were human beings. The beach visit didn't last long, an hour into being at at the nude beach, Emmitt was stung by a wasp... in the groin! Now the wasps are out in August and September, so protect the family jewels and consider going in May, June, or July.

Visiting a Nude Spa in Austria

Two years later, Emmitt and his wife went back to Austria. This time he figured there would be a nude moment with his in-laws. His in-laws suggested going to a spa, but when he heard the word 'spa', he thought it was massages and cucumbers. They brought him to a spa, which looked like a community center upstairs that had a basketball court, cafe, etc. But the spa was downstairs. He had to take a shower first, then it was time to go in the buff. Everyone was nude in the spa below and there were multiple saunas with temperatures ranging from 100 degrees to 120 degrees. The spa was co-ed and he only saw adults there of all ages. And yes, everyone was naked.

Photo from https://www.alpentherme.com/en

Nude Spa Outdoors

There was an outdoor section of the spa with a lap pool and there was a pool that turned into a hot spring which is known as a 'bad aussee'. There was also a cold pool that was ice cold to cool down in.

If you want to know what you found is a spa, you will see the word 'bad' around the spa name.

The Cost to go to a Nude Spa in Austria

Emmitt only paid $37 to go to the nude spa in Austria. If you add in lunch that you eat at the spa, you're looking at under $50 for an entire day at the spa. The spa that Emmitt went to gave him an RFID armband to pay for his food, so he didn't need to walk around with his wallet or cash. Pretty smart.

What Should You Bring to a Nude Spa?

Sunscreen

Flip Flops

Your own robe (if you don't want to wear one from the spa)

An open mind

Being Naked is Taboo

Many people think being naked is taboo and if you see someone naked, nude, in the buff... that it is a sexual thing. Many people like to be naked because it is freeing. If everyone is naked on a nude beach or at a nude spa, it doesn't turn into an orgy. We were born in our birth suits and there is nothing wrong with enjoying being naked.

Let's talk about Nude Spa and Nude Beach Etiquette

Now if someone doesn't follow the etiquette and gets aroused at a nude beach, spa, or even when painting a subject,