Cindy Miller grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated cum laude from Drake University with a degree in International Relations. Her love of travel began as a kid when her parents dragged her across the country on countless great American road trips. A self-described homebody, she has ventured as far as Italy, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, and most recently Greece and Turkey, thus putting her definition of "homebody" in question. In addition to travel she loves adventure (hence the moniker attached to her business) and relishes the opportunity to venture off the beaten path and try something new. Occasionally, that includes kayaking fjords, hiking lava tubes, and something as ill-advised as throwing herself out of a perfectly good airplane. She is currently taking suggestions for her next adventure.
Since its inception in 2003, Global Adventures Travel has grown each year in revenue and clients. However, you won’t find it listed in the yellow pages. My business is built on previous client’s referrals and word-of-mouth support. I am committed to designing itineraries based on my client’s passions while adhering to their budget. I am also committed to expanding my own travel experiences. At last count I've journeyed to 4 continents and 31 countries, and my goal is all 7 continents and 100 countries. I want to be able to help clients navigate Tokyo’s subway system and chart the best driving itinerary through Tuscany. I refuse to be just a salesperson selling travel.
Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier
Shopping on Michigan Avenue and Water Tower Place
Fantastic shows at the Chicago Theater and House of Blues
Sunset cruise on Lake Michigan
Chicago River Walk
Water taxi between Museum Campus and Navy Pier
Ed Debevic's - Eat and Get Out!
Our last hotel is the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort. This resort is perfect for families – all accommodations are suites with full kitchens. The rooftop pool and hot tub have private cabanas and shopping and restaurants are within walking distance.
There’s so much to do on the Gulf coast – I think we’ve packed a lot into a few days. Our first stop was Tampa Bay Grand Prix for some indoor go-karting. They had karts for adults and children, which is really important to my 9 year old who likes to drive by himself.
Clearwater has a gorgeous beach – lots of chairs and umbrellas and the water was incredibly warm. Apparently I’m the only one in my family who likes to swim in the ocean, but I was happy to hang out on the beach with a good book. Just down the beach from the Hyatt is Pier 60 with vendors, children’s activities, and street performers. Movies are on the beach every Friday and Saturday night.
We finished our trip by driving 1.5 hours north to Crystal River, the home to a year-round population of manatees. Crystal River is the only place is Florida where you can swim with manatees. Our guide Traci with Native Vacations took us on a 4 hour tour to find manatees. The best time to find manatees in the bay is winter, but we found 8-10 that wanted to interact with us including a mother and her baby. Traci limits her trips to 6 people and really took the time to make sure we had a personal experience.
Tampa Bay Grand Prix
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort
Storm rolling in at sunset on Clearwater Beach
Swimming with Manatees in Crystal River
Swimming with Manatees in Crystal River
We’ve moved onto the Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando. It’s rated Orlando’s most family-friendly resort by TripAdvisor, and I definitely agree.
The resort has a heated pool and a larger lagoon-style pool with waterfalls, caves, swinging rope bridge, and 2 waterslides. There is a lake with a white sand beach for kayaking, canoeing, water bicycles, and paddleboats (but no swimming due to alligators). They also have a par-3 Pitch and Putt golf course, rock climbing wall, dive-in movies, and fire pit for s’mores. There are plenty of places for adults to relax – hammocks, hot tubs, and lounge chairs by the pool with bar service.
We spent all day at the resort and had plenty to keep us busy.
Hyatt Grand Cypress Orlando
Today didn’t start quite so early, but we were at Universal Studios when it opened. Universal Studios has built a new coaster – Rip Ride Rock It. It’s a pretty intense ride where you get to pick your own soundtrack (my personal choice – Sabotage by the Beastie Boys).
Universal has a fantastic Child Swap service, where children can wait with one parent while the other goes on the ride, then swap. The service is easy to use and perfect for families.
Rip Ride Rock It Coaster at Universal Studios
Horror Make-up Show at Universal Studios
We were up at 5:45am this morning so we could be on the first water taxi to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure. We’re staying at Portofino Bay Resort at Universal Orlando. When you stay at a Universal hotel, you get early admission to the parks and complimentary water taxis to the parks. My favorite benefit of staying at a Universal hotel is the Universal Express pass, which allows you to skip the regular lines.
Islands of Adventure theme park includes Marvel Super Hero Island, Jurassic Park, and Dr. Seuss. The Spiderman 3-D ride, Hulk roller coaster, Cat in the Hat,and now Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey are amazing!
Hogmeade Village in Islands of Adventure
Honeydukes in Hogsmeade Village at Islands of Adventure
Hogwarts at Islands of Adventure
Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure
Well, we’re finally in Florida! We were scheduled to travel in May, but my son broke his arm two days before we were supposed to leave. Did your travel agent buy travel insurance? NO! I assumed that this was a short trip, what could possibly happen? Don’t make the same mistake I did – buy travel insurance!!!
Our first stop was Medieval Times! For those of you who haven’t seen The Cable Guy with Jim Carrey, Medieval Times is a dinner show where you eat with your hands while watching knights on horses. The menu was pretty good – chicken, ribs, bread, soup, and dessert. We definitely didn’t leave hungry.
Medieval Times in Orlando
Medieval Times in Orlando
Medieval Times in Orlando
Today was FABULOUS! We spent the day at Patara Elephant Farm. There are so many elephant tours to choose from, and I’m so glad we chose this one.
The day started very early with an 8am pickup from the hotel. The 30 minute drive to the farm was beautiful, through the city, fields, and forest. I was in awe the minute we turned into the drive – there were elephants everywhere!
We were met by Pat, the owner, who told us about the farm’s mission. The elephant is revered in Thailand and is very important to the culture. The farm has 27 elephants that they have adopted from circuses, road-side attractions, and those mistreated in the logging industry. Their breeding program has been successful – we met their new twin girls!
Our group was really small – there were 4 couples. We were paired with an elephant based on their temperment and our personality. Our personal guide showed us how to check their health and then we fed them sugar cane, corn, and bananas. We walked them to the river and gave them a bath. They showed us how to climb up and trekked through the jungle to a waterfall. We swam with them and had a fantastic lunch. We trekked through rice paddies before returning to the farm.
Meeting Payow, my elephant for the day
Swimming with elephants in the waterfall
Twin baby girls
Massive footprint
Sleep was in short supply last night due to a neighbor hacking up a lung and the symphony of roosters that started at 4:57am. Since the windows only have shutters but no glass and the outside walls do not meet the ceiling, it was the alarm clock from hell. After a fantastic breakfast of fried eggs and toast with strawberry jam, morning announcements started. I can only assume the 20 minute message that blared from loudspeakers throughout the town was some sort of village update.
Our adventure today was Flight of the Gibbon, a zipline through a 1500 year old rain forest. I think I would have been fairly nervous had we not just went rock climbing. We rappelled (although nothing like the rappel into the cave the day before), crossed wood and cable bridges, zipped through the forest, and climbed rope ladders. Our guides were absolutely fantastic, and I felt extremely safe.
We returned to our hotel, the U Chiang Mai. I cannot say enough about this hotel – every time we returned they greeted us by name. I stood in the shower until I was pruny and laid on the king size feather bed and soaked up the air conditioning. I desperately wanted to get a massage at the women’s prison. The women participate in the work release program that gives them skills to succeed after they’re released. I had read it was fantastic and super cheap, but they were closed by the time we got there. So we went to Lila’s Massage (“When you think of massage, think of Lila”) next to our hotel. I talked my husband into a two hour couples’ session. I told him how fantastic my Thai massage was during our home stay in Mae Kompong, so he was willing. I chose a combination of treatments from a menu (30 minute scalp massage, 60 minute hot oil massage) and off we went. They gave us disposable underwear that would fit a 12-year-old boy or an adult Thai. My masseuse was fantastic, but my husband’s therapist had him on a torture rack. I’m not sure why she thought he needed a firm hand – I haven’t seen moves like that since the WWF came to Vets Auditorium.
After dinner we went to a Muay Thai fight. We’ve been to UFC in Vegas and sumo and Pride MMA in Japan, so we were excited to see Muay Thai in Thailand. Similar to sumo, it seemed like the fighters spent more time dancing around during the pre-fight ceremony than they did actually fighting.
Flight of the Gibbon
Flight of the Gibbon
Flight of the Gibbon
Our day has been fantastic – rock climbing, rapelling, and caving with Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures. We are spending the night with a family in the mountain village of Mae Kompong.
I had no idea what to expect when I signed up for rock climbing, but it was really fun. It is so incredibly hot and humid; I don’t think I’ve ever sweat so much in my life. Our guides outfitted us with our climbing gear and we drove about 45 minutes out of the city to Crazy Horse, an area of limestone cliffs and caves. We were the only beginner climbers in our group and had both instructors to ourselves - the others were from Austria and had their own gear. They probably have mountains in their backyard. We started with a trek straight up the mountain and I thought my legs were on fire. I didn’t make it very far up the first two routes but my husband flew up to the top like a monkey. We then rappelled down 55 meters (about 180 feet) into a large cave chamber inside the mountain and hiked out. We tried two more climbing routes after lunch and I was able to make it to the top of the last one! Our guides, Taw and Phi, were extremely friendly and I felt safe the entire time.
After a full day of climbing, we were driven to Mae Kompong, a mountain village about 20 minutes from Crazy Horse. We stayed with a woman, her son and his wife, and their 8 year old daughter. After sweating so much while rock climbing, I was really looking forward to a hot shower. I had to pour hot water into one bucket, rain water into another, and mix them together before I poured it over my head! I didn’t care – it was awesome. The houses were very open – no glass in the windows, only shutters and the walls didn’t meet the ceiling. You could hear the neighbors talking and people walking on the road. I took a walk in the village before dinner. People were out visiting with neighbors, children were playing, and a gorgeous waterfall flowed down the mountain and through the town. After a fantastic dinner, I helped with the dishes using no hot water, only cold water from a spigot outside the house. I had a Thai massage after dinner – it was a fantastic combination of a yoga session, chiropractic treatment, and traditional massage.
Rock Climbing at Crazy Horse
View from the top
Rappelling 180 feet into cave
Traditional Thai home in Mae Kompong
Living room of Thai home
Kitchen of Thai home
Mud slide blocking the road in Mae Kompong
Mae Kompong
We started our stay in Chiang Mai with a private tour. I had read fantastic things about Paul Collins with Best Tuk Tuk Tours, so we hired him for the day. I had emailed him prior to our arrival with a few requests. I really wanted to see Doi Suthep temple, the cottage industries in Bor Sang, and an orphanage. He had some fantastic suggestions for our itinerary, such as a monk chat.
We started our day with a ride up the winding mountain road to Doi Suthep, a temple built in the 14th century. The temple was on a beautiful mountain top with fantastic views of Chiang Mai. The temple is very sacred to Buddhists but also really popular with tourists. We ate lunch at a local restaurant, which was really good. Super cheap, too (40 baht, about $1.25).
After lunch we visited several cottage industries in Bor Sang village. Off a small road was a family-owned lacquerware business. The owner showed us the steps he takes to create each piece. His wife then carves intricate designs and his daughter paints gorgeous details. The umbrella village was larger – many women were making silk umbrellas. The silk factory was interesting. We saw the various stages, from silk moths having relations to silkworms chomping leaves to the cocoons being boiled. Women created silk fabric on large looms and would tailor clothing to your specific measurements.
Our next stop of the day was my favorite – Agape Home for Children. 95% of the children are HIV positive. They were so happy and looked so healthy. The boys loved my husband’s hat and sunglasses and wore them everywhere. They would have taken his shirt, if he’d let them! We pushed them on the swings and merry go round and watched them jump on the trampoline. Most of the kids warmed up to us quickly.
Our last stop of the day was Chedi Luang temple to talk with a monk. Paul highly suggested this and he didn’t disappoint. The monk we chatted with was from Laos. We were a little nervous at first but the conversation was fantastic. We had lots of questions and he was anxious to practice his English. I guess I always thought the rules associated with Christian priests were the same as those with Buddhists. My preconceived ideas were so wrong!
Paul Collins Best Tuk Tuk Tours
View from Doi Suthep temple
Doi Suthep Temple
Doi Suthep Temple
Umbrella factory
Silk factory
Agape Home for Children
Talking with a monk at Chedi Luang
