Podcast - Pure Life Podcast

Episode 27: Livermore Wineries of Northern California, Off-the-Beaten-Path Vineyards

Posted on November 24, 2019September 25, 2024 by admin

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!

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Episode 26: Charming Costa Rica, Eco-Tourism Adventures

Posted on November 10, 2019September 17, 2024 by admin

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!

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Episode 25: Exploring Bora Bora, the Jewel of the Pacific

Posted on November 3, 2019September 17, 2024 by admin

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!

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Episode 24: Exploring Exotic French Polynesia

Posted on October 29, 2019September 11, 2024 by admin

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!

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Episode 23: Highlights of Portugal

Posted on September 22, 2019September 10, 2024 by admin

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!

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Episode 22: Epic Road Trip Through Spain

Posted on September 3, 2019September 10, 2024 by admin

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 page. Happy traveling!

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Episode 21: ABC Islands Cruise on Royal Caribbean

Posted on August 19, 2019September 10, 2024 by admin

This episode centers on a topic we hope you will enjoy and find useful; cruising to the ABC Islands! It took us a while to overcome some of our hesitations and start entertaining the notion of taking a cruise. But once we did, we dove right in and chose to set sail with Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean offers a wide variety of destinations but more importantly has great accommodations for passengers of all ages. As such, it is a great cruise line to select if you wish to venture to the ABC Islands.

In this episode, we provide an overview of all the pros and cons of cruising plus our recommendations for getting the most of your time both on and off the ship. As an added bonus, we share information about the excursions we took in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and St. Maarten in the hopes it gives you some insights into what to expect and how to plan for an amazing experience in the ABC Islands. Of course, be sure to check out even more exciting images in our Destinations page. Enjoy!

Episode 20: Beaches Resort at Turks and Caicos

Posted on July 22, 2019September 10, 2024 by admin

In this episode, we head back to the Caribbean and explore the beautiful Beaches Resort on Turks and Caicos. The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of more than 40 islands and cays located east of Cuba and north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the Atlantic Ocean.

A British Overseas Territory, Turks and Caicos’ main industry is tourism and for good reason; it is home to some of the best beaches in the world along with luxury resorts, shops and restaurants. If tropical beach fun and all-inclusive amenities are top on your list of must haves for family vacations – including all-you-can-eat scuba diving – we highly recommend checking out Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos. And we break it all down for you in this episode from how to get there to what extra to plan for and all points in between. The islands are calling and Turks is your answer! Be sure to check out some of our pics on the Destination page as well. Enjoy!

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Episode 19: Best of Kauai, Hawaii

Posted on July 14, 2019September 26, 2024 by admin

In this episode, we round out our exploration of the Hawaiian Islands with our top picks for Kauai. Also known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is the oldest and northern-most of the Hawaiian islands and has had more time exposed to the elements to develop lush green tropical landscapes that are sure to inspire any visitor to explore further!

From the rugged Waimea Canyon to the inviting waters of the Poipu or Princeville, Kauai has tons to offer. It’s laid-back atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing family get away or for couples to reconnect. In this episode, we explore some of our favorite spots – from beaches to hotels – for making the most of this beautiful island. Words don’t really do Kauai justice, so please be sure to check out our pics on the Destinations page. Aloha and enjoy!

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Episode 18: Big Island, Hawaii

Posted on July 8, 2019September 10, 2024 by admin

This episode continues our adventures in Hawaii with a focus on the island of Hawaii, otherwise known as the Big Island. Hawaii – or the Big Island – is the largest and southern-most of the Hawaiian Islands, one of the largest islands of the United States and it is still growing!

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands tend to venture out from Oahu to Maui or Kauai as those islands are more populated, have more amenities and are lush with vegetation. The Big Island is full of lava flows and has active volcanoes giving it a much more diverse and somewhat younger landscape than the other islands. Don’t let that deter you from visiting the island – in fact there is so much diversity on the Big Island, we’re sure you’ll return again and again like we do to explore all it has to offer. If rustic adventures or ocean activities are on your list of things to do on vacation, the Big Island is a perfect destination and we break it all down here – from where to stay to what to do and all points in between. Be sure to check out some of our pictures on the Destinations page too. Aloha!

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