Pure Life Podcast | Japan Travel, Immersive Travel & Meaningful Escapes

In this episode, we take a detour from international travel and focus on the U.S. as we discuss the wine country in the Livermore Valley of Northern California. Just a short hop east from San Francisco or north east of San Jose, Livermore is nestled in a small valley of rolling hills, natural beauty and really good wineries!

Livermore is home to some of the oldest wineries in California. It’s warm, arid climate is ideal for red verities such as Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel as well as other reds and blends. Unlike the hustle and pomp and circumstance that seems to imbibe Napa, Livermore is a real hidden gem where you will find an inviting, relaxing atmosphere, beautiful scenery and delicious wines! In this episode, we cover a few of our favorite wineries and give you a virtual “taste” of what to expect at each. Be sure to visit our Destinations page for even more wineries. Enjoy!

In this podcast, we explore where we discovered the perfect name for our podcast – Pura Vida or Pure Life – from a recent visit to Costa Rica. Located just north of Panama, Costa Rica enjoys a tropical climate year round that makes it a perfect destination for eco-tourism.

If you love nature and rustic adventures, then Costa Rica is a perfect destination! Enjoy the lush rain forests, plentiful rivers and tributaries as well as volcanoes and natural hot springs – not to mention the wildlife! From toucans to three toed sloths, howler monkeys and American crocodiles, there’s something waiting around every corner to explore. We break it all down for you here and provide some tips on how to maximize your adventure. Enjoy!

In this podcast episode, we uncover the origin of our site and podcast name – Pura Vida or Pure Life – from an eco-tourism jaunt to Costa Rica. Located just north of Panama, Costa Rica enjoys a tropical climate year round that makes it a perfect destination for travelers seeking beach, jungle or other tropical activities.

If you love nature and rustic adventures, then Costa Rica is a perfect destination! Enjoy the lush rain forests, plentiful rivers and tributaries as well as volcanoes and natural hot springs – not to mention the wildlife! From toucans to three toed sloths, howler monkeys and American crocodiles, there’s something waiting around every corner to explore. We break it all down for you here and provide some tips on how to maximize your adventure. Be sure to also check out our Destinations page for even more info on this and other exciting destinations. Enjoy!

This week we continue exploring French Polynesia with a trip to beautiful Bora Bora. Located about 143 miles north west of Tahiti in the western part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, Bora Bora is best known for its tranquil turquoise lagoon and numerous over-water bungalows and resorts.While in Bora Bora, we took in a variety of activities, including the not-to-be-missed shark feeding and sting ray excursion, a two-tank scuba dive, a jeep 4×4 tour of the main island, and even a visit to the turtle sanctuary at the Le Meridian resort. In this podcast episode we break it all down and provide expert tips on how to get the most out of your time in Bora Bora. And since it is one of the most beautiful and romantic places on earth, we even provide tips and advice on how to plan and what to expect for weddings or vow renewal ceremonies – which we also did for our milestone anniversary. Be sure to check out our all of pics from French Polynesia in the Destinations tab. Enjoy!

This week we continue exploring French Polynesia with a trip to beautiful Bora Bora. Located about 143 miles north west of Tahiti in the western part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, Bora Bora is best known for its tranquil turquoise lagoon and numerous over-water bungalows and resorts.

While in Bora Bora, we took in a variety of activities, including the not-to-be-missed shark feeding and sting ray excursion, a two-tank scuba dive, a jeep 4×4 tour of the main island, and even a visit to the turtle sanctuary at the Le Meridian resort. In this podcast episode we break it all down and provide expert tips on how to get the most out of your time in Bora Bora. And since it is one of the most beautiful and romantic places on earth, we even provide tips and advice on how to plan and what to expect for weddings or vow renewal ceremonies – which we also did for our milestone anniversary. Be sure to check out our all of pics from French Polynesia on our Destinations page. Enjoy!

In this episode we set out to explore the South Pacific on an exotic get-away to French Polynesia. As a young couple, especially before kids, we couldn’t think of another place more romantic than the islands of French Polynesia, so we booked a vacation on the islands of Tahiti and Mo’orea.

Tahiti is probably better known than Mo’orea but only because to get to French Polynesia you have to fly in and out of Tahiti. But, just a scant 11 miles north-west of Tahiti is the island of Mo’orea and wow – what a wonderful way to get introduced to the warmth and beauty of the Polynesian culture. In this episode, we break down the accommodations, activities and all the “wish I knew before I went” topics that make Mo’orea a must visit destination. Be sure to check out more of the behind the scenes in our Destinations page. Enjoy!

We are back from a brief break and this time we set out to explore the South Pacific on an exotic get-away in French Polynesia. As a young couple, especially before kids, we couldn’t think of another place more romantic than the islands of French Polynesia, so we booked a vacation on the islands of Tahiti and Mo’orea.

Tahiti is probably better known than Mo’orea but only because to get to French Polynesia you have to fly in and out of Tahiti. But, just a scant 11 miles north-west of Tahiti is the island of Mo’orea and wow – what a wonderful way to get introduced to the warmth and beauty of the Polynesian culture. In this episode, we break down the accommodations, activities and all the “wish I knew before I went” topics that make Mo’orea a must visit destination. Enjoy!

This week we complete our recent road trip in Europe with a quick four day excursion in Portugal. Driving from Spain to Portugal is a breeze, so we set off from Seville, Spain to our first stop in southern Portugal – an amazing beach-front town called Burgau.

After a quick overnight in Burgau we drove up north to Lisbon to stay for the next three days to explore the Portuguese capital along with the towns of Sintra and Evora. Along the way, we picked up some useful tips and tricks on where to go, where to eat, how to get around (especially with a large family) and how to make the most of your time in these amazing cities. If you are a fan of Portugal and looking for some new recommendations or planning your first trip to country, this episode is a must listen. Enjoy!

In this episode, we complete our European road trip with a quick four day excursion in Portugal. Driving from Spain to Portugal is a breeze, so we set off from Seville, Spain to our first stop in southern Portugal – an amazing beach-front town called Burgau.

After a quick overnight in Burgau we drove up north to Lisbon to stay for the next three days to explore the Portuguese capital along with the towns of Sintra and Evora. Along the way, we picked up some useful tips and tricks on where to go, where to eat, how to get around (especially with a large family) and how to make the most of your time in these amazing cities. If you are a fan of Portugal and looking for some new recommendations or planning your first trip to country, this episode is a must listen. Be sure to catch the sights as well on our Destinations page. Enjoy!

Always on the hunt for an epic adventure, we decided to take a road trip through Spain and Portugal. With so many places and things to discuss, we’re going to break our trip into two episodes with this one solely focused on Spain. And one thing became very clear throughout this adventure - you learn tons more about the country you are visiting when you drive.

This trip took us into Madrid, the capital of Spain, where we rented a car and started exploring! With luggage in hand, we packed our car and drove all over exploring Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Cadiz! Through it all we break it all down and give some tips and tricks we learned along the way to help you navigate your own adventures in Spain. And be sure to check out even more images in our Destinations and Spain pages. Happy traveling!