Arizona, Travel, Adventure Monica Ortega Arizona, Travel, Adventure Monica Ortega

The Best Way To See Monument Valley

Monument Valley is one of those places that many people know about but not many experience. At least, not experience well. Located on the border of Arizona and Utah, Monument Valley is seemingly in the middle of nowhere but also in between iconic locations like Moab, The Grand-Staircase Escalante, and The Grand Canyon. It’s a sacred valley in the heart of Navajo Nation and became a tourist destination for its towering red rock beauty and its infamous filming locations.

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Travel, Idaho, Food and Drink Monica Ortega Travel, Idaho, Food and Drink Monica Ortega

7 Places to Eat in Priest Lake Idaho

Priest Lake is considered Idaho’s Crown Jewel and once you visit, you’ll see why. The 19-mile long lake is surrounded by the incredible Selkirk Mountains and everywhere you look appears to be out of a postcard. There are year-round adventures in Priest Lake and always something going on. But more than the stunning vistas and outdoor recreations, is the food! From fine dining with a view, to a restaurant sitting on top of a waterfall, to a bar with a seedy past, this region has some incredible and unique restaurants! Here are 7 places to eat in Priest Lake Idaho.

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Travel, Adventure, Idaho Monica Ortega Travel, Adventure, Idaho Monica Ortega

Winter Adventures in Priest Lake Idaho

North Idaho is the ultimate nature-lovers paradise. There is year-round outdoor adventure here and they always have something going on. Winter is no exception. From snowmobile races, to endless trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, there is no shortage of winter activities in Priest Lake. Ready for a snow-filled vacation? Here’s what you need to know about visiting Priest Lake in the wintertime.

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Travel, Lifestyle Monica Ortega Travel, Lifestyle Monica Ortega

2021 Travel Recap

2021 was the year of getting back to travel. For me, I spent the majority of the year exploring my new home state of Colorado. From the Rocky Mountains, to Red Rocks, to the western slope, this state has SO much to offer. But the year was so much more than travel. From publishing my first book, to becoming an official business with Pivoting Productions LLC. the travel show has expanded to so much more than I ever could have imagined! Let’s take a look at this year’s biggest moments.

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Travel, Adventure, Arizona, National Parks Monica Ortega Travel, Adventure, Arizona, National Parks Monica Ortega

Two Incredible Ways to Experience the Grand Canyon

I’d been to Grand Canyon National Park a few times on various road trips and made the stop along the way. I’ve gotten out of the car and snapped the obligatory Instagram-worthy pics and then hopped right back in the car. But that’s not truly experiencing this magnificent park and seeing it in all of its glory. That’s why when I had the opportunity to take an REI adventure tour flying over the canyon and then hiking into it, I jumped at the chance.

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Travel, Adventure, Arizona Monica Ortega Travel, Adventure, Arizona Monica Ortega

Arizona Biking, Kayaking, and the Superstition Mountains with REI Adventures

REI offers adventures that range from 1 day to 10 days and they have something for everyone. They offer women’s-only trips, beginning adventures, under 30, and more. If you’ve been wanting to get out and explore but are nervous to go alone or overwhelmed by the planning of an adventure excursion, I highly recommend these trips!

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Travel, International Monica Ortega Travel, International Monica Ortega

Best Beaches in Crete

On the top of the itinerary for any Cretan holiday is a visit to a beautiful beach. Maybe you want to relax on the sand with a good book, or perhaps you want to explore the underwater scenery by snorkeling. Whatever option you choose, Crete has everything you need for a beach holiday, with plenty of options to ensure that you never get bored. Here, we take a look at some of the top spots – make sure to pack some snacks and sunscreen because you’ll never want to leave. 

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Travel Monica Ortega Travel Monica Ortega

Introducing the Celebrity Apex! An Innovative Luxury Cruise Experience

Celebrity Cruise Lines newest ship the Apex was set to sail in March of 2020 and then the world came to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic and everything was put on hold. This past month, I had the amazing opportunity to be one of the first people on board to experience this beautiful ship. The Celebrity Apex is the second in the brand new Celebrity Edge series and is the epitome of luxury cruising.

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Travel, Florida, Lifestyle Monica Ortega Travel, Florida, Lifestyle Monica Ortega

Why Now is the Safest Time to go on a Cruise on the Brand New Celebrity Apex

As someone who’s immunocompromised, I (like many of you) was terrified at the idea of going on a cruise ship after these past 18 months. And then I began to learn about the MANY protocols Celebrity Cruises has put in place to ensure passenger health and safety. So if you too are hesitant about hopping back onto a cruise ship, ease you mind and read on.

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Travel, International, Guest Blogs Monica Ortega Travel, International, Guest Blogs Monica Ortega

Cool Things To Do Near San Juan Airport

Do you have time to pass while you wait for your flight? Perhaps you did not get to see all that you wanted to while on this lovely island. Take some time to see a bit more of Puerto Rico before taking off. Look for a luggage storage locker near the airport, stow away your bags and other belongings and check out our list of cool things to do near San Juan Airport.

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Travel, Lifestyle Monica Ortega Travel, Lifestyle Monica Ortega

Traveling Like A Future Resident

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a love/hate relationship with Los Angeles. It’s a weird place to live and while great for the entertainment industry, I’m constantly waiting for them to realize I’m not cool enough for the party and kick me out. It’s basically a constant case of middle school insecurity.

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Speaking, Lifestyle, Travel Monica Ortega Speaking, Lifestyle, Travel Monica Ortega

Women in Travel Summit - The Premiere Event For Ladies Who Love Travel

Three years ago I had just begun my show when I decided to attend my first conference; the Women in Travel Summit. This conference is all about women of all different backgrounds who share a love of travel. There were bloggers, vloggers, and travel lovers of all kinds. I fell in love. It was amazing to be surrounded by so many like-minded and motivated women!

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California Oktoberfest at Alpine Village

Alpine Village, in Torrance, California, is about 20 minutes south of Los Angeles. The Steinhaus Tavern at the village was built by European immigrants over 50 years ago and serves craft beers and homemade sausages year-round. There is also a German Market that is open year-round with a butcher, bakery, and other imported items. They have special festivals at Easter and Christmas as well as different beer festivals. But it's their Oktoberfest that won me over! 50 people ban together to build the 32,000 sq.ft. tent in the parking lot of Alpine Village to accommodate the 60,000+ people that come to Oktoberfest each year.

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Hiking to Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

The Half Dome hike has amazing scenery with up close views of Vernal and Nevada Fall. Whatever your level or desire, there are multiple hikes and stopping points along the Mist Trail and you can turn around at any time. So here is a breakdown of the hike up to Half Dome and some facts you'll need if you're lucky enough to get to the summit!

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Bridge to Nowhere Hike

The Bridge to Nowhere hike was one of those mysterious, must-do hikes that I seemed to hear about as soon as I moved to Los Angeles. This hike is epic for a reason! It's beautiful, rugged, filled with river crossings, bungee jumpers, a beautiful bridge and even some waterfalls and swimming holes! I never thought I could find this type of terrain so close to LA!

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