Talley Your Adventure – The Blog

Adventure Awaits!

At Talley Your Adventure, we don’t just plan luxury and culturally rich travel experiences—we live and breathe them. Our blog, travelingtalleys.blog, is where we share the real stories behind our adventures: kayaking alongside glaciers in Alaska, exploring temples in Japan, chasing waterfalls in Iceland, and wandering through storybook towns in Germany. If it’s unforgettable, chances are we’ve done it—or we’re planning it next.

Nicolette brings deep experience in travel and heritage. With a Master’s in Public History, she’s worked as a Supervisory Park Ranger, Revenue Manager, and Program Analyst across multiple national parks for over a decade. Her career has taken her from managing interpretive boat tours in Alaska’s wild backcountry to overseeing large-scale visitor service projects with million-dollar budgets. And yes—she’s also a licensed 100-Ton Inland Master Boat Captain who’s led cultural and ecological tours from riverboats to remote beaches.

Clinton’s travel roots run just as deep. He’s worked in logistics and operations for the National Park Service and was a key member of the hospitality team aboard National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions. From managing guest services on remote international voyages to coordinating facility software systems stateside, he knows what it takes to deliver seamless, high-end travel experiences—even in the most unpredictable places.

Together, we created Talley Your Adventure to bring our experience, passion, and attention to detail to your travel planning. Whether it’s a fully curated group trip or a personalized vacation built just for you, we combine expert-level service with insider know-how—so you can focus on the magic of the journey.

Want us to help you on your next adventure? Head over to www.talleyyouradventure.com!

@talleyyouradventure_dv
Sakura Blooms – Inuyama, Japan

  • #FindYourPark @Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

    When Clinton and I headed west to Page we mainly stuck to I40 so that we could make time and have an easy drive. We did head out to National Park during out trip so that we could learn more about the landscape and to experience a different perspective of history. One of these trips led us to Washita Battlefield National Historic Site.

    Washita Battlefield protects the sit where the Battle of Washita occurred – or more importantly, a small peaceful villiage of Souther Cheyenne of Cheif Black Kettle. Early in the morning on November 27, 1868 the village was attacked by the 7th US Cavalry under Lt. Col. George Custer.

    Historically, pioneers and Native Americans consistently collided on the Great Plains during the decades before and after the Civil War. In 1864, four years before the Battle of Washita, troops under the command of Col. J.M. Chivington attacked the destroyed Chief Black Kettle and Chief White Antelope at Sand Creek. Black Kettle’s band had flown an American Flag and a white flag and considered themselves at peace. In response to this massacre, a federal Peace Commission was created. Indian Territory was established in present day Oklahoma and US policy forced Native Americans across the country to relocate to these reservations. In October 1867, the Peace Commission assigned the Cheyenne a reservation in the new Indian Territory.

    Native American raids across the plain terrified the settlers. The soldiers mounted campaigns to meet the resistance of forced settlements. Black Kettle and Arapaho Chief Big Mouth went to General William Hazen in Fort Cobb November 1868 to ask for shelter an protection. Their request was refused. Disheartened, Black Kettle still believed that he was safe and refused to move his encampment further downriver closer to the other larger encampments who were also wintering. The massacre began early the next day, with Chief Black Kettle and his wife among those killed.

    It is so important to visit places like this to get a full 360 view of topics in history, even if they are painful. We were able to take some time and watch the introduction video in the Visitor Center. Afterwards there was a question on the board: Would you go to war? After reading the history, watching the video, and hearing the testimonies it was a powerful statement. Answering it may differ depending on your perspective of course, but it was a great and unobtrusive way of explaining a horrific part of American history. We were unfortunately unable to walk onto the battlefield because dogs were not allowed and we did not want to leave them that long in the car, but if you get the time when visiting it is recommended! Watch the video and drive a little through the surrounding grasslands to get a true understanding of this great area.

  • #TalleyYourAdventure visits Barcelona, Spain – during OFF SEASON! #travelsmart #berespectful #offseasontravel

    Traveling around the world can be thrilling and, in a lot of cases, a ‘once-in-a-lifetime-experience’, but that doesn’t mean that traveling does not come with respect for other cultures, lifestyles, and customs. Clinton and I visited Barcelona, Spain, in December 2023 – definitely the off season for the country! I’m sure many of you who are considering visiting popular Eastern European countries might be a little nervous to travel after reading what is currently going on in many countries as a reaction to over-tourism. Talley Your Adventure is here to help you navigate this, even if you do want to travel during peak season! Typically, Europeans celebrate their ‘holiday’ season (not to be confused with the US holiday season, which is usually Thanksgiving/Christmas) between July – September to enjoy their own country or neighboring areas.

    We had decided to visit friends and family in Germany for Christmas, and took the week before to add a new country to my list- Spain! Barcelona was chosen because we wanted an ‘artistic’ experience. And boy, did Barcelona deliver! We stayed at the InterContinental Barcelona, which was absolutely fabulous! It had the InterContinental lounge, which was the main reason we booked it, and it was so nice to be able to relax at their spa! The spa was out of this world and completely European – steam shower, scent room, hot/dry sauna, and a circuit pool with blue lights for true relaxation. We were able to get a massage as well as luxury hotel amenities for skin care. They had a Michelin Star Chef on site, the youngest in Spain, who treated us to a 12 course dinner – heads up, if you get the wine flight it is 6-8 GLASSES! Because the restaurant was in the hotel, Clinton just had to walk to me upstairs! 😉

    Barcelona was host to the Summer Olympics 1992 and while visiting, we were able to see many of the sites where the various trials took place as well as the football stadium for the FC Barcelona. You are able to walk into a viewing area to see the historic stadium even when there is no ongoing game!

    The InterContinental Hotel was also great because the lounge access we had, because we are Diamond Elite members, allowed us the opportunity to talk directly with their concierge service. They helped us book a tour the next day to see the art museums and cultural sites in the city! Our guide not only brough us to the stadium, but also to the Sagrada Familia, which is still under construction! It is slated to be completed in 2026. The church is a wonderful display of culture meeting architecture and is breathtaking to view. We highly recommend taking time to visit the Sagrada Familia, even if it is still under construction. For starters, being part of the creation of historical places and artifacts is in itself pretty cool, but we also don’t want anyone thinking they should delay travel for any reason! Like we stated before – visit Barcelona, just visit during the off-season and be respectful of the locals! This is this home all year round.

    It is really hard to put into words how majestic it is to be in the city of Barcelona, even for just a week. It is such an amazingly cultural and artistic city. Murals plaster the walls and buildings as you walk from art museum to art museum, and their appreciation for expression in many different forms – written, spoken, drawn – is refreshing. We were able to visit MACBA Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona and the European Museum of Modern Art. Between the contemporary art of Banksy to the modern art of Picasso, I felt inspired with each new piece of art or room. Picasso is one of my favorite artists, and seeing his early work – the blue era – and other pieces that defined the artist he would eventually be known as for the majority of the world, was absolutely fantastic. It was also nice to be able to see other artists that I love – Guillermo, (Banksy), and Dali – in one gorgeous location. The museums continue to celebrate local artists and new art, with many different exhibits and displays peppered through the museums for you to view. We both had a great time spending a day visiting museums!

    Strolling along La Rambla was part of the experience when visiting Barcelona and be sure to take half a day for the visit! We were able to explore the entire street, from sampling restaurants and taking in the sights, truly being part of Barcelona. Our hotel was not on the street, but if you considered a stay along the street, it would not be a bad idea. The best part of Barcelona was the food. Tapas is a real thing here – pretty much an origin story! – and it does not disappoint at all! It was a bit of an adjustment for us as early risers as most of the city does not start until later in the day. Dinner is usually around 9 or 10 p.m, which is pretty late for us! They do ‘celebrate’ siesta time between 2-5ish, so many places close down. We had to move our schedule back a few hours, but well worth it! Walking around the vibrant city vs. a quieter morning is such a difference! Smaller portions, tapas, is very nice to have with this walkable city. You can really try and sample many different types of food without needing to consume an entire meal. It is highly encouraged to think outside the box and try something different – trust your waiter! You really can’t go wrong with the majority of choices in Spain for tapas.

    While we were in Barcelona, we did a day trip to France. I’ll write about that more in a later blog post! If you are considering a trip to Spain and want advice, make sure to contact us at talleyouradventure@gmail.com!

  • Experience the #GreatOutdoors and #VisitUtah -traversing the Burr Trail

    Welcome back! We went to many different places around Baltimore before we moved out west, but we’ve also spent each weekend exploring the beautiful area surrounding Page. Our first real weekend in Page started early. After viewing homes for sale, we packed up our camping gear and the dogs and headed out on an ambitious trip – heading towards Bryce Canyon and diverting off on the Burr Trail towards the Burr Trailback country of Utah. This trip takes you through Grand Staircase Escalante, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Capital Reef. It is very important to remember that each of these parks is under a different designation (national park, rec area, etc.) and is also under a different agency, such as the Bureau of Land Management or the National Park Service. Always check to see if camping, lighting a fire, drinking the water, etc. is allowed before assuming it is! For Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capital Reef National Park, a free permit is required before camping, even in dispersed locations. You can stop by a Visitor Center to obtain a permit. Also remember to pack it in and pack it out Heading to Bryce– the great outdoors is not your personal dumpster! Take your trash out of the area and properly dispose of it. Make sure your camp fire is completely out and remember to look up! The stars in remote locations are gorgeous!

    We visited the Burr Trail when we were working a summer job at Bullfrog Marina in Glen Canyon years ago. From what Clinton and I remember, it was not a very well traveled road and took some navigation, especially up and down the switchbacks. It was about a five to six hour drive one way and about the same back. While driving, it is hard not to stare out at the beautiful landscape. I highly recommend that you take your time and pull over whenever possible. Even if that time is spent just staring out into the wilderness, it is definitely worth the time. We also had the dogs, and the weather was just perfect to get out and explore when we could. Since this is the desert, we packed multiple sources of water along with plenty of snacks in case we got hungry during the drive. We had our jet-boil so we could cook dinner, and we’ve been experimenting with dehydrated food while camping.

    I should probably mention right about now that I drive a Honda Accord. Before that I had a Honda Civic, and it drove on every single road I’ve been on with the Accord so far. Do your research, make sure you feel safe, but don’t underestimate the power of a smaller sedan. It has gotten me in and out of many different landscapes. Be confident, but don’t be stupid. If the ground feels strange as I drive over it I stop and reassess. My point is that you don’t need a huge SUV or a 4×4 just to get to a remote location – but Grand Staircase Camping_2you better believe we’ve done our research. Front wheel drive helps a lot, and we ALWAYS get our maintenance done. Sometimes we do it ourselves, but it gets done. Don’t put yourself in a situation you could have avoided.

    The dogs have really loved climbing along the red rock that makes up a lot of the landscape here. Another cool feature is Navajo sandstone. Predominately found in southern Utah, Navajo Sandstone usually looks like large domes and bluffs white in color. By far one of the best features of the landscape, it looks just as amazing even at night when the stars are out. When we first moved here, the moon was almost a full moon. We enjoyed going out and seeing more stars that we ever saw in Baltimore, but since it was so bright because of the moon we also could see neat reflections on the water or different shadows along the canyon and Lake Powell. Very pretty! Now that it is darker, the sky is bright and the constellations are amazing. We hope to join a few local star parties, and maybe buy our own telescope!

    This is all for now, stay tuned! We will be going back and forth between our trips out to other parks out here in Page, or the places we visited on the east coast before we moved out here. Until next time!

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