NOTE: this page last updated on October 12, 2020
If you are a new reader, this Quick Start Guide to Traveling With the Jones was created to help you find what you are looking for more quickly among the 1,000+ posts on this site.
On this blog, we share travel discoveries – both our own as well as those of others – to inspire travelers of all ages and all levels of travel experience.
We are Janis and Jeff Jones — road warriors, cruise aficionados, food and wine lovers, and weekend adventurers. We enjoy exploring the world, whether by cruise ship, train, hiking, or the local bus.
In normal times — before the COVID -19 pandemic — we traveled extensively for our work. Mr. Jones is an information technology consultant, while Mrs. Jones is the the managing partner in a travel company, as well as a marketing consultant (when someone twists her arm to take on a project.) We have both worked remotely for more than 10 years.
Exploring the world is our passion. We make the most of frequent flier miles, hotel points, and credit cards that reward us with points and miles. In non-pandemic times, we spend a significant portion of our disposable income on travel.
We have visited more than 110 of the Traveler’s Century Club list of 324 of world’s countries and territories. When it comes to the U.S. State Department’s List of 195 Independent States of the World, our count is significantly lower. One of us has visited all 50 of the United States but not nearly all of its Territories.
To find posts on a topic of destination, enter it in the search box at the top right corner of this page, or near the bottom of the scroll if you are reading this on a mobile device.
Although we currently live in Denver, Colorado – more than 1,000 miles from an ocean – we love exploring the world from a cruise ship. These are some of our most popular posts on cruise tips:
- Do I need a passport to go on a cruise?
- How to Get an Onboard Credit For Every Cruise You Take
- 11 Out-of-the-Way Places Best Explored From a Cruise Ship
- Celebrating 20 Years of Cruising: What Has Changed Versus What Has Stayed the Same
- Is the Signature Beverage Program on Holland America Cruises A Good Deal?
Click here for an in-depth guide to our cruise posts by topic and cruise line.
Jeff, frequently referred to as Mr. Jones in blog posts, was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and is one of the state’s biggest fans. We visit Alaska several times a year. Our most-read posts on Alaska include:
- Visiting Alaska? 22 Fun Facts You Might Want to Know
- Visiting Anchorage? 12 Tips from Local Residents
- Visiting Alaska This Summer? 10 Tips on What to Pack
- Visiting Alaska? 5 Books to Read
To find more posts on Alaska from Glacier Bay to Homer, check out Planning to Visit Alaska? 23 Insights to Help You Have a Better Trip
Destination Discoveries highlight places that we have found unique – both close to home and around the world.
- Destination Discovery: The Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Wattens, Austria
- Destination Discovery: Marina Bay Sands Sky Park, Singapore
- Destination Discovery: The “Blue Eye” and Sarandë (Saranda), Albania
- Destination Discovery: Peanuts on Parade, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Destination Discovery: Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
Find discoveries posts detailed by destination in A World of Destination Discoveries.
Like many of our readers, we enjoy exploring local food and wine when we travel.
Here is a sampling of our popular food posts:
- Anthony Bourdain Knows What He’s Talking About: Unbelievably Good Food at the Singapore Grand Hyatt Hotel
- An Evening at Le Cirque onboard the Veendam
- Exploring New York City – Eataly
- Enjoying Modern German Food at Affäre in Kansas City’s Crossroads
- 5 Delicious Places to Eat and Drink in Homer, Alaska
We became wine fans when we lived in San Francisco and got married in Sonoma County. Places that have the climate for growing good wine grapes are destinations we enjoy visiting. Here are some of our most popular wine posts:
- The World’s Oldest Grape Vine in Maribor, Slovenia
- A Perfect Lunch in Sonoma Wine Country
- Mission Hill Family Estate
- Dundee Hills AVA, Oregon
- Swan Valley Wine Tour from Fremantle, Australia
Learn more about some of our favorite wine destinations in Enjoying Wine Round the World.
We like to research destinations before we visit. If you enjoy geography-related trivia, check out these Fun Facts posts:
- 25 Fun Facts About the Azores
- 14 Fun Facts to Know About Rotorua, New Zealand
- 12 Fun Facts You May Not Know About the Great Wall of China
- Visiting Alaska? 22 Fun Facts You Might Want to Know
- 18 Fun Facts About Phuket, Thailand
- Visiting Bora Bora? 8 Fun Facts to Know
Check out all of the Fun Facts posts in Fun Facts from Travel Destinations Around the World.
Thirteen years and going strong.
We started this blog in May, 2007 when we quit our jobs and traveled in Europe for five months, mostly by cruise ship. While many folks have the kind of summer adventure in their 20s, we did it in our early-forties. We think travel changes one’s life for the better, and that most anyone, regardless of age or income can find a way to explore the world. Learn more about our passion for travel in A Girl, A Guy and Their Travel Love Story.
Let us hear from you.
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