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

  • Talley Your Adventure Visits 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!

  • #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!