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. Impact-Site-Verification: 8a69d429-4a55-4b53-b8f6-72c437661af5

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

  • Fall Flashback – #TravelingTalleys visit Denmark and Norway

    Ferry ride – Hamburg to Copenhagen

    When we first went overseas, we purchased the Eurorail Global Pass. It was worth every penny to have the unlimited ability to travel from country to country at a whim. We did not plan our hotels ahead of time, except when we visited Romania. The pass, at least in 2010, covered a ferry ride across the Baltic Sea. Heading out of Hamburg, Germany, and arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark, the ferry ride itself was absolutely fascinating. First off, we had just ended our last contract on Lindblad Expeditions, so we were very familiar and use to living & working on a boat. A ferry ride sounded delightful, especially since we could just be passengers. Second, it was really cool starting on a rail line and watching it drive right on board the ferry! We disembarked the train car and had the ability to walk around the ferry until we were about 15 minutes out. The crew then asked us to get back on the train car so it could attach to the rail line and drive off when we arrived. Pretty cool! The day was beautiful. We spent a lot of time outside, enjoying the fresh air and remarking on how lucky we were to get a ferry ride out of our pass deal. Another great reason we recommend these types of passes! You can choose the amount of time and select your countries to customize it. We did unlimited stops and included all countries associated with the pass. On average, we stayed in one city for two nights. Most of the time, we were using the pass to travel from place to place.

    Copenhagen, Denmark

    While the ride over was serene, when we arrived in Copenhagen later in the evening it was rainy and cold. We were traveling in late October and hoping that our avoidance of the busy season would shield us from the high prices we read about in Denmark. We were wrong! We stayed at a hostel – there are plenty in the area – where we had to rent out own sheets and share a room with four other bunkers. In the end, we paid around $100 US. I would not call that cheap for us at the time! Especially for a hostel…we found during this trip that it was better to get a hotel in most situations than a hostel. When you travel today, you have a lot more options – such as Airbnb. Look up and compare what type of experience you want before traveling. One of the reasons we ran into a high price issue was our lack of planning ahead and reserving rooms before we arrived. That was what we wanted to do – so we were okay with paying $100 for one night in a hostel. Later, when we were in Romania, we ended up staying two nights for $30…it all works out in the end. Just make sure you have a budget plan and stick to that! We budgeted for $100 a day – so exhausting out budget on the hostel meant that the next day we needed to adjust accordingly. Luckily we had friends in Germany we were able to stay with while crossing Europe during our three months of travel, so we were able to have a few zero days!

    Halden, Norway

    We didn’t spend long in Denmark. When we arrived at the train station in Copenhagen after sailing across the Baltic, I was very excited to find the Little Mermaid statue. Growing up watching the Little Mermaid and knowing her story originated in Denmark, I wanted to include it with our spontaneous trip up north. Well…was I bummed when I found out that for the first time in her history she had been loaded to a museum in CHINA! So, she was not there! I was so disappointed. With nothing else on my list of things to see in Denmark, we decided to continue north through Sweden into Norway. At this time, we were tired and hungry and exhausted – a bad combination when trying to navigate through a country that does not speak English and has limited signage! What felt like hours later we ended up finding a hostel.

    Tip – When we arrive in a new city, it is our common practice to try to find the tourist office and see if we can get recommendations from an English speaking person. It is usually less presumptuous to speak to them directly in English, and they always point us in the direction we need. Sometimes we get make great connection – like when we arrived in Sighisoara Romania and talked with a local who was planning a trip to Disney – and most of the time we walk away confident that we are heading into a safe area for the night. Well, there was nothing like this when we arrived in Norway and since we were not heading to a major city like Oslo, we were on our own. When we got into our room I was so happy to drop my backpack and sit for the evening. We ended up exploring the area a little bit during the night – why not, we were already awake! – and took our time getting out of the hostel the next morning. Our trip was quick – we left to head back to Germany the next day – but from what I remember in Norway connected me to my time in Alaska.

    The nights we spent in both Denmark and Norway were also marked by the uniquness in the cuisine each night. In Denmark, we ended up spending another considerable amount for my salmon and Clinton’s burger – but DANG was it good! In Norway, we had a great server who ended up having to come to our defense when we were carded and I realized I had left my passport up in the hostel. We had to climb a ridiculous amount of stairs at a considerable steepness, so when we were carded I was less than amused. If I had to go up to get my ID, well…I wasn’t coming back down to prove it. Our server, who didn’t need me to even explain this, was able to intervene before we were thrown out of the restaurant. Apparently after a certain time, the restaurant becomes a bar and you need to be 21 or over. I wouldn’t recommend having your passport on you if you can secure it in a location, but maybe a copy of it or even a US ID with your birth date could have avoided the discussion. (Maybe!) While our time in Scandinavia was very short, it was memorable because of how we used multiple forms of transportation to get across Europe.

    I always encourage travelers to go off the beaten path and take advantage of a trip to a new place, even if it is just for a day. You never know what you will discover or see! Our train ride through Sweden was beautiful and our time on the ferry was amazing – for more reasons than just scenery. It was cool seeing how transportation worked internationally and neat seeing a small town where we were completely out of our element. Norway reminded us of Alaska and since we had just needed our boat season in Alaska it was a bit of a call back. Make sure to add the Scandinavian countries to your list for the future – they do not disappoint!

  • Hiking: Civil War Battlefields of Virginia and Maryland

    My first memory of a park ranger was when I visited Chancellorsville Battlefield and went on a tour. I was 12 and was just developing my love of history – specifically the Civil War – and was on a grand tour of battlefields as we traveled to Pennsylvania from Florida. This was not the first battlefield we had already visited, but it was the first one where I felt a connection to the story the park ranger was telling. I felt like I was part of the group of soldiers who stumbled upon General Jackson and shot him, only to realize friendly fire had condemned him to death. Later, when we visited the house where Jackson was placed as he slowly died of pneumonia, and I was able to ask all my follow up questions from the battle. The ranger there was so informative, so inspiring, I was hooked! I thought they did an excellent job of bringing history to life. Isn’t that the point of visiting a park?!

    Today, I like to visit battlefields for their many hiking trails. Most battlefields are driving/scenic road parks (where you drive from point to point, usually within a small town or city) or a large swatch of land parks (various waysides telling you specific areas where an Army performed a specific part of the battle).

    Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park – Chancellorsville History Trail
    Don’t be confused! The Battle of Chancellorsville is part of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP, but is a completely separate part of the park with its own visitor center to preserve the history of this Civil War battle. This part of the park is my absolute favorite – and is fascinating to walk instead of drive. The Chancellorsville History Loop Trail is 3.2 miles, mostly through a heavily wooded area. The trail is small and hard to pass slower hikers, so be aware of your surroundings and make sure to ‘pull over’ if you realize someone is behind you at a faster pace! I spent most of the hike watching my footing, as the tree roots and rocks along the path raise up considerably and tripping is a higher risk. Being in the woods, though, was very serene. Though I was watching my footing, I was also looking around, imagining I was a soldier walking through the area. Hot, humid, and densely forested – that probably did not make for such a great time, even in 1863. Be aware, there are no signs in the areas that connect to a parking lot or to indicate a turn. I ended up asking a fellow hiker to help point me in the right direction when the trail spit me out into an open field! When in the woods, it is really easy to follow. I highly recommend that if you have a couple hours, you take the time to hike this incredible trail! There were historical markers along the path that indicated specific parts of the battle. If you don’t already know much about the battle, reading these along the way will help orient you. Make sure to pack water and sun tan lotion!

    Manassas National Battlefield Park – First Manassas Hike
    This 5.4 mile hike has been the longest hike I’ve done this summer. I had initially wanted to connect with the Second Manassas hike, which can be done, but the signage was not that clear at the intersection. By the time I realized I was still on First Manassas, I was almost done with mile 5. Very much worth doing separately, though. Most of the hike is through the fields occupied by Stonewall Jackson and his troops, and the iconic location where Jackson earned his nickname is marked with a statue of him on horseback. I found the hike peaceful in the morning, and if you take some time to stop and read the informative waysides, educational! There are many diversional trails along the way, so take care to look at each intersection and make sure you are still on your intended path. This trail was mostly along large fields overlooking rolling hills. This battlefield was literally in the backyards of Virginians, many who did not take the war serious – at least the First Manassas. Those citizens were caught up in the Union retreat and hampered efforts by the Confederates to pursue them.

    Antietam National Battlefield- Bloody Lane Trail
    Like Manassas, I’ve visited Antietam many times in my life so far. One of the most iconic spots is the Observation Tower. This tower was built to help give a better viewpoint for visitors to see the entirety of the landscape. Reading about the severity and depth of this particular battle is hard to understand by standing in a Visitor Center or next to a parcel of land. Taking in the view from the top, a visitor can now truly envision the battle as they read about the strategic troop movement, and subsequent destruction. This open air classroom is an excellent way for even young visitors to connect to the past. This trail was a bit difficult to follow – I eventually asked a couple who were walking by, who ended up being locals and knew the path well. The Observation Tower is just a small detour along this trail, and since it is a loop, you see and learn about multiple things without repeat. Take your time and enjoy this hike – you definitely need to download a map or ask a ranger for a paper copy! If hiking is not your thing, for this battlefield, I also recommend the drive. Stop by the Visitor Center to get more information on the battlefield drive. You will be able to cover more ground with a vehicle, and you’ll see more exciting landmarks than the many fields I saw during my hike.

    Monocacy National Battlefield – Ford Loop Trail
    I have never been to Monocacy before, and as it is mostly a drive to location, it is a bit difficult to navigate by walking. Unlike Antietam and Manassas, the entirety of the battlefield is not connected under National Park regulations. The driving tour brings you down many open roads that locals and tourists are using that are not necessarily looking to be part of the National Park tour, so it doesn’t have the typical ‘park’ feel. The Visitor Center is small, but everyone is friendly, and the hikes do have trailheads immediately next to a parking lot for ease of start and finish. The Ford Loop Trail is at stop #2 for the driving tour. There was a lot of on-going construction, as evident from the large tractors and machinery in use while I was trying to hike! I did go through the museum for this battlefield, and while it was very informational, it was not necessarily something I’d send a family or younger kids to as they will probably lose their focus. I ended up skipping parts of the museum – mostly because I knew the history already – but did pause at the parts where they describe the flags of the Confederacy. It was interesting how they tried to keep that part of history relevant – as flags very must are when it comes to war and battle – but try to remain inclusive. They did a pretty good job trying to make sure they keep the history without being offensive.

    It has been great connecting again with the Civil War by hiking the battlefields while I am staying in Maryland/Virginia. Even if history or the Civil War is not your thing, consider taking a hike as a motivation to visiting a battlefield in the future. Many parks offer immersive ways to connect to nature, as well as history, and you will find that battlefields are enjoyed by many for their trails!

  • Visiting Jamaica – Resort Style!

    Clinton and I recently had the opportunity to visit Jamaica in style. One of my best friends from high school – who also happened to be my maid of honor at our wedding – invited us to HER wedding in Jamaica! Being Jamaican herself, and marrying another Jamaican she met in Florida, it only made complete sense that the wedding take place in Jamaica. It also made sense that the wedding would be one of complete STYLE – at a Sandals resort. We were so excited to be invited that we decided to extend our stay so we could soak up as much Jamaica in the winter as we could – while also celebrating the union of an amazing couple! 

    Sandals resorts are adult only, all inclusive hotels with over a dozen restaurants within the secured location that is the entire resort. It was interesting that when we arrived, we were discouraged from walking between the two sections of the Ochi Rios Sandals resort. Instead, we were told to wait for the shuttle that ran between the two for pretty much 24 hours a day. Our friend used a travel agent to help with booking the trip, who we were also able to work with to get an escort from the minute we landed in Jamaica to when we left on the plane for the US. It was nice having someone help us through Jamaican customs, which included a shuttle service between the airport and hotel and a lounge area at the airport for us to wait. 

    We stayed in Ochi Rios, which is the northern part of Jamaica. The ocean was absolutely beautiful! We were able to spend a day out with friends on a boat where we snorkeled over a nearby reef! The boat ride was perfect – the wind in our hair, great Jamaican drinks, and friends – what could be better?! The boat pilots were pretty hilarious as well; and I think the most authentic people we met during our trip. They made sure to keep us supplied with Red Stripe and Coca Cola. For lunch, we stopped at a Margaritaville – which was everything touristy you would expect. People came up to us wanting to take our picture for money, we had a limited menu, and we had to buy our own drinks. The best part of lunch was laying on the beach and swimming in the water near the restaurant. One of the coolest places we were able to visit this day was Dunn’s River Falls. It includes a hike up the waterfall, while standing literally IN the waterfall! It was a lot of fun to hike this way, and we felt pretty victorious when we got to the top. You can just walk up the side of the waterfall on a paved trail if you don’t want to do the hike, but if you are willing to be part of the experience, I recommend you try! 

    The swimming areas were amazing. We had access to the ocean, with secluded places to stay and watch the blues and greens dance off the water. It was nice having the opportunity to sit with Clinton and just relax. Multiple pools – including one that seemed to be less frequented than others – were around the entire complex, and they usually were accompanied by a hot tub. The restaurants were delicious and varied, which was good since we were there for a week and didn’t want to double up on food choices! Because it was an all-inclusive resort, they tailored the food portions to a sample size for each person. This made it nice when we wanted to go from food to ocean and back to food, but didn’t want to gorge on big meals. Drinks (alcohol and not) were part of the deal, too. For me, it was nice being able to order fruity blended alcoholic drinks and have them brought to me – fancy! – and still have a non-alcoholic option for Clinton. 

    The resort did feel a bit stuffy at some points – especially for non fancy people like Clinton and I – but it was definitely worth the experience. We didn’t have to worry about carrying a wallet or ID, everything was already paid for so we didn’t have to budget in our head, and it was nice feeling pampered instead of planning each day the night before to make sure it worked out logistically for the morning. We were truly able to relax and enjoy the resort life! 

    The best part was the wedding, which was a gorgeous affair. It was amazing seeing two wonderful people be joined together in love. Now that COVID is no longer an excuse to not travel, it was nice to add another country to our travel list. Hopefully, we are able to keep up this trend each year and add a new country to the list with more frequency. Travel is fun!