EXPLORE PATAGONIA AND ANTARCTICA ON OUR RECENT USATODAY ARTICLE AND OUR SCENIC PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE

Since a photo is worth 1,000 words, as they say, we invite you to join us pictorially on a recent cruise through the wonders of Chile's Patagonia and Antarctica onboard the luxurious Seabourn Venture. Enjoy our photo essay on USATODAY10Best, as well as a complete photo gallery of this unforgettable adventure on our PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE.

This photo of a magnificent blue ice floe was taken during a zodiac excursion through the Patagonia ice field, part of our incredible Seabourn experience.

Savor The Beauty of Europe's Rhine River on an AmaWaterways Cruise

Enjoy our photo gallery of a glorious cruise down the Rhine River on the AmaWaterways AmaMora, from Amsterdam to Basel, published recently on USATODAY 10BEST

In addition, check out our CRUISE PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY to enjoy a detailed compilation of each part of this magical trip along one of Europe’s most picturesque rivers.

The medieval city of Strasbourg is one of the many excursions offered on this Rhine River cruise.

©Joanne DiBona Photography

TAKE A PHOTO TOUR OF A MAGICAL CRUISE ALONG THE DALMATIAN COAST

One of the countless memories of our @Windstar cruise from Venice to Athens was a stop at the stunning island of Hvar, off Croatia's Dalmatian coast. We climbed up to the medieval Fortica fortress for panoramic views of the the medieval Old Town, islands and the blue Adriatic sea.

Since a photo is worth 1,000 words, I wanted to share some of the truly spectacular images we captured along the way.

View from the Fortica fortress, Hvar, Croatia © Joanne DiBona Photography

View from the Fortica fortress, Hvar, Croatia © Joanne DiBona Photography

The entire gallery of images from this oh-so-memorable voyage can be viewed on our JOANNE & TONY DIBONA PHOTOGRAPHY SITE. I hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as we did taking them.

San Antonio Texas--What's Old is New

While San Antonio, Texas is deservedly proud of its iconic landmark, The Alamo, the city offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. The recent expansion of the world-famous River Walk has also stimulated renovation projects of historical sites along its way, as well as new construction. A cultural tourism mecca, San Antonio's history can be seen today in its 18th century Missions and historic downtown, as well in its many outstanding museums. Recreational activities abound along the river and in the city's parks and neighborhoods. Colorful festivals year-round, a rich ethnic heritage, a vibrant dining scene, and a convention center expansion are just some of the reasons visitors continue to make their way to San Antonio for business and pleasure. 

All photos © Joanne DiBona  © Tony DiBona, All Rights Reserved

CLICK ON ARROWS AT RIGHT TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY OF SAN ANTONIO

A Springtime Trek Through Old Japan: The Kiso Road

There is no better way to discover the beauty of Japan than by seeing it on foot. 

Walk Japan a pioneer of off-the-beaten-path walking tours of the country, offers a wide variety of excursions for every fitness level in key locations throughout Japan. Check out my photo essay, recently published on 

USA TODAY TRAVEL/10Best

which details a magical Walk Japan trip that took us from the modern city of Nagoya to the historic old city of Matsumoto via the ancient Kiso Road and Nakasendo Way.

IF YOU GO: TRAVEL ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A TRIP TO JAPAN

Staying Connected

Everyone worries about staying connected while traveling abroad—and about racking up hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in roaming charges with your local provider if you aren’t careful.

One solution many opt for is to purchase a roaming data bundle from your U.S. provider. But I found a less expensive and extremely effective solution through CellHire. The company offers super fast 4G-LTE coverage with unlimited data (and that is the key here, as you will need it to access maps, information, Skype and your favorite social networks) for $14.95 a day-$79 a week-$159 a month. They also allow five users to connect to the MIFI, so this is a no brainer for families or people traveling in groups.

The connectivity was flawless. Whether I was in a train speeding through the Japanese Alps, overnighting in a remote mountain inn, or walking through city streets, this device was a lifesaver. Very simple to use, it also boasts hours of battery life. Sweet!

Cellhire also offers a variety of other connectivity options, so check them out before your next trip abroad.

Powering Up

My internet connectivity issue being solved, my next worry was how to power my phone and laptop while I was traveling on foot over hiking trails and by train from town to town.  This is when my Apelpi external battery charger came to my rescue.

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In addition to packing a hefty 6400 mAh capacity via two USB ports (and robust enough to charge multiple devices throughout the day), this charger doubles as a fashion statement. Who can resist a red (or pink or green) apple doing its thing next to your phone or tablet?  Light-weight and extremely durable (it was dropped by mistake a few times and survived the abuse), this will definitely be my favorite tech accessory on my future trips.

Keeping Healthy

Sure, keeping connected on international trips is important…..but so is keeping healthy.

I had heard about the importance of wearing compression socks on lengthy international flights for people with deep vein thrombosis and other circulatory disorders, but I never considered them for myself—until I ran across the stylish RejuvaHealth line!

The company features a series of slimming, shaping and supportive stockings, leggings and socks that utilize graduated compression to relieve soreness, pain, and reduce the swelling that often occurs on long flights.

Figuring it was worth a try, I opted for a pair of Rejuva Knee High Coolmax compression socks for the flight as well as a pair of black footless compression leggings for the walking trails. I selected the 15-20 compression level, which was perfect for me.

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To be honest, I didn’t expect much. But now I am convinced I will never fly again without a pair of compression socks nurturing my restricted circulation! I can’t believe what a difference they made in my comfort during that long flight, especially when I couldn’t move my legs except for under the seat for hours on end.

The leggings also made a significant difference on our trek--when we hiked more than 7 miles daily—in that I didn’t get the soreness in my calves as I expected. I’ll soon add more RejuvaHealth items to my travel wardrobe, to be sure.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: A Destination for All Seasons

The quaint town of Bayfield Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Superior, is the gateway to the magnificent Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a year-round visitor destination. Enjoy a slide show highlighting the culture and natural beauty of this area by logging on to  10BEST/USATODAY Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

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Elkhart Lake: Wisconsin's Historic Playground

The state of Wisconsin is filled with charming, historical visitor destinations, such as Elkhart Lake.

Please enjoy my USA Today photo show on this delightful town. Visit my Elkhart Lake Photo Gallery for more images of this charming Wisconsin destination.

The historic Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake Wisconsin   ©Joanne DiBona

The historic Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake Wisconsin   ©Joanne DiBona

Following in Darwin's Footsteps--Glorious Images of the Galapagos Islands

Ever dream about a trip to the Galapagos Islands? I have for years, and I finally was able to check it off my travel bucket list. Enjoy my photos of this enchanting archipelago as we follow in Darwin's footsteps.

USA TODAY TRAVEL