Explorations All Over

Just back (ish) from a 19-night adventure to, around, and back from Hawaii, I’m sharing the best moments, biggest surprises, and everything in between. From snorkeling with manta rays to discovering Spam musubi (yes, it’s delicious), to watching steam rise from the edge of a sleeping volcano—this isn’t your average island recap. 

Hear what makes each Hawaiian island unique, how sea days on SilverSea’s Silver Moon became a highlight,...

What happens when a cruise stop turns into one of your favorite resort vacations ever?

In this episode of Explorations All Over, Russ shares how a brief visit to Grand Case, St. Martin during a cruise led to not just one return trip — but several. From lazy mornings at the Grand Case Beach Club to unforgettable meals on a street lined with 40 gourmet restaurants, this story is about more than just palm trees and sunsets. It’s about ...

Why We Return to the City of Light Again and Again

In this deeply personal episode, Russ invites you along on a multi-decade love story with the City of Light. From a whirlwind 24-hour first visit in 2006 to slow, immersive returns in 2019, 2021, and 2023, discover how Paris evolved from a stopover into a beloved second home.

Whether you're a first-time traveler or a frequent flyer, you’ll find inspiration in the art, food, and ...

Ever wondered what makes cruise vacations so magical or why they inspire such passionate loyalty among travelers? Award-winning cruise consultant Kurt Oswald pulls back the curtain on the cruise industry, sharing the insider knowledge you need before booking your first (or next) voyage at sea.

Kurt addresses the most common concerns of first-time cruisers head-on - from fears about seasickness to worries about crowded ship...

This mini-episode is to tell you about the next episode I will be publishing which will feature a conversation I'm having with Kurt Oswald, a cruise advisor specialist with Expedia Cruises.

We're going to talk about everything from the basics of how to select a cruise that's right for you, your friends or your family, to what should you expect while you're on the ship.  We'll talk about how much a cruise rea...

After our 19-night Indian Ocean cruise on Silversea's "Silver Spirit", we decided to spend 4 extra nights in South Africa; one night in Cape Town and three nights in Franschoek, in the wine region.

Our Cape Town experience was fantastic and traveled all around the area learning about the history and culture of South Africa.  We got to see everything from the southwestern most tip of Africa, Cape Point to a colony of S...

With so many places to see and even more ways to get there, how do you even begin to start planning a vacation?  It can be overwhelming, but I share with you our method to plan an unforgettable journey.

I talk about the three factors to consider when planning a trip: the destination, the best way to get there and managing the budget.  I use our most recent cruise on Silversea Cruises' "Silver Spirit" to the Seychelles...

Whether you're new to travel or have been on the road for years, I'll share with you some practical tricks and tips to get the most out of your time off.

Using my first ever Greek adventure as a backdrop, I'll help you gain an understanding of how to maximize your travel experience, whether your traveling 200 miles from home or 5,000.

Discover 4 ways to get the most out of a trip and create memories to last a lifetime.

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[I decided to publish this episode sooner than my 2 week schedule since the first episode was so short.]

For those of us who enjoy traveling, we can all pretty much pinpoint the trip when we would say we were "bitten by the travel bug".  For me it was an amazing trip I took with my parents and sister in August 1975, which began on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and continued through some of the most popular European destinations.  ...