Sponsored Post: Islands of Adventure

Love the feel of the sand between your toes, the feel of the ocean breeze on your skin, and the smell of the Caribbean sea but still find yourself looking for more to spice up your island escape? The Caribbean islands have so much more to offer than food, rum, sand, and sun – they are the Islands of Adventure!

Hang with sea turtles in Grand Cayman, climb the Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, go horseback riding on the beach in St.Lucia, or navigate the rushing rapids in Grenada The possibilities are endless!

Dunn’s River Falls – http://www.islandroutes.com

Dune Buggy Safari – http://www.islandroutes.com

This September I’ll be cruising the Caribbean via Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and I’m making arrangements with Island Routes to explore Grand Cayman and hangout with friendly sea turtles at one of the world’s few Turtle Conservation Parks.

Island Tour and Turtle Farm Tour – http://www.islandroutes.com

Founded by a group of energetic Caribbean people, their mission is to showcase the culture, beauty, and natural resources that define each unique island destination. –  http://www.islandroutes.com/about/

With over 140 unique, off-the-beaten-path excursions, Island Routes Tours offers something for everyone, with offerings amid the Caribbean’s most sought-after locales. Check out their 8 most popular tours across the islands:

• Island Routes Lover’s Rock Catamaran Cruise – Jamaica
• Horseback Ride ‘N’ Swim – St Lucia
• Power 360 – Antigua/St. John’s
• Eco Harbour Tour Adventure – Bahamas
• Pirates’ Sanctuary – Turks & Caicos
• Island Tour & Turtle Farm Combo – Grand Cayman
• Turtles at Sunset Cocktail Cruise – Barbados
• River Tubing Adventure – Grenada/St. Georges

What can you expect when you book with Island Routes?

• Transfers are provided to and from the tour site
• Tour times range from 2 ½ hours to 9 hours depending on tour chosen and transfer times
• Lunch is included on all day tours
• Knowledgeable Island Specialists
• Cancellations are easy should something come up
• Insurance Coverage is available
• You can make changes to your tour with ease

Up for an adventure!? What you tour would you book with Island Routes?

Visit www.islandroutes.com to learn more!

Until Next Time! -xo AGT

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Island Routes . All opinions are 100% mine.

The Runner, The Wino, and The Foodie

The Runner – My third and most challenging half marathon, The Fueled by Wine Half, provided some amazing views and really firmed up my gluts with all the hills.

Oh Yeah, Feeling the Burn!

This is definitely a race you need to do some prep for with lots and lots of hill training. The race is about 80-90% hills – the starting line is even on a hill, but the views once you reach the top of each hill are breathtaking – both literally and figuratively speaking lol.

The total climb of the course reached 840ft and ran through pristine Dundee Hills Vineyards and country roads. This year’s route included; The Four Graces, Archery Summit – Red Hills Estate Vineyard, Torii Mor Winery – Olson Vineyard and Lange Estate Vineyard

The Half Marathon Dream Team

The Wino – I’m partial white wines, Riesling, Moscato, and Chardonnay are some of my favs to drink alone or with a nice meaty Halibut steak.  When it comes to fresh pasta, tomato basil sauce, or warm chocolate chip cookies and smooth Malbec or Pinot Noir to is my go to. Whoo, I’m gettin hungry just typing this lol

I was able to taste some delicious wines at the wine festival post race and we visited 2 winaries in Dundee, Oregon before heading back to Portland courtesy of the Fueled by Wine Half Marathon swag bag.

Post Half Marathon Wine Party

Durant Vineyards

Winter’s Hill Vineyard

The Foodie – One of my favorite things to do when I travel is try new foods. I probably eat more during my travels than I do during my day -to – day activities at home. Which is all the more reason why I never leave home without a pair of running shoes and my iPad equipped with yoga and ab workouts.

Street Car yumminess at the Mississippi Street Fair

There were so many yummy places to grab a bite to eat – amazing dine in restaurants and yummy street car food, orgasmic Mexican food (that was so good it was gone before I even remembered to take a picture lol) and spicy bloody mary’s to go with brunch! Good thing I ran a half marathon while on vaca cuz I was in food and drink heaven :)

When you travel do you prefer to explore the restuarant scene or the street car food scene?

Until Next Time! -xo AGT

Destination Half Marathons

Traveling and running are two of my favorite things to do, so I figured I’d combine my love for the two and allow running to take me to new places. For my first half marathon I headed south to Orlando for palm trees, sunshine, and the Disney Princess Half Marathon. My second half marathon, the More/Fitness Women’s Half, took me across New York Harbor from Staten Island to Manhattan’s Upper Westside for a beautiful Sunday run around Central Park with some amazing women. The next one on my list, the Fueled By Wine Half, will take me across the country to Oregon’s beautiful wine country.

Fueled by Fine Wine, in collaboration with the Dundee Hills AVA, will be holding its fourth annual Fueled by Fine Wine Half-Marathon on Sunday July 14, 2013. I plan to start implementing my training plan May 1st, which will include running the hills of the Coast Guard base and the hills of Central Park to help build my endurance because I know the course will be challenging, especially running on unpaved trails. I don’t really train to win, I train to finish. I simply love to run and I enjoy the experience of running with others, running for my health, and seeing new places…and in this case, I run for wine :)

I’ve had a trip to Oregon in the works every since one of my best friends got stationed in North Bend, and when she called me up to tell me about the half  I didn’t hesitate to say yes and make the trip official. The chance to see explore a new city, hang with my bestie, to run unpaved vineyard trails as they wind through rows of grapes and under branches of Oregon’s prized hazelnut trees, another half marathon to check off the list, more race bling for my collection, and an after-party of winetasting …Yes Please :)

Check out some of the other awesome destination half marathons I’ve recently added to my race list:

1. Great Wall Half Marathon  http://great-wall-marathon.com/
2. OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon  http://www.500festival.com/mini-marathon
3. Miami Beach Half Marathon http://www.131marathon.com/miamibeach/NYC Half Marathon
4. Oasis Rock ‘n’ Roll Montreal Half Marathon http://ca.competitor.com/en/montreal
5. Rock ‘n’ Roll Oslo Half Marathon http://no.competitor.com/oslo/
6. Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/san-diego
7. Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/las-vegas
8. Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/nashville
9. Big Sur International Marathon http://www.bsim.org
10. New Jersey Marathon and Long Branch Half Marathon http://www.njmarathon.org/events/long_branch_half_marathon.aspx
11. Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon http://www.rundisney.com/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/
12. Tinker Bell Half Marathon http://www.rundisney.com/tinker-bell-half-marathon/
13. Napa-to-Sonoma Wine County Half Marathon http://destinationraces.com/runn2s/
14. Atlantic City Half Marathon http://www.acmarathon.org
15. Charleston Half Marathon http://charlestonmarathon.com

Right now I just have a list, the timeline of when I’ll finish them all is still in the works. Goals start by first putting them in writing right? So, I’m at least of quarter of the way there :) I’m pretty sure the New Jersey Half, the Tinker Bell Half, and the Atlantic City Half will be the first three I complete.

Running is a great way to meet new people and see new places! From China to Norway, Montreal to Miami, and NYC to San Diego I can’t wait to explore new places, try new food, meet new people, and run through some amazing cities!  How awesome would it be to run the Great Wall of China instead of simply walking it and taking pictures? To run the famous Vegas Strip at night under the neon lights? To run the longest boardwalk in the Unites States? Or to run the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Memories of your travels last longer and hold an even deeper meaning when you really experience your trip. Have you ever run a half marathon? Which one was your favorite?

Until next time -xo AGT