Welcome to the Gerken Getaways Blog!

Travel helps to connect you with other areas of the world, experience different cultures and appreciate what you have in your own back yard. I have been married for 25 years. I think that one of the keys to our great...

The world is a wide and wonderful place. Trying to decide when and where to travel next can be a difficult decision. That is where the services of a travel professional can smooth the way to help you to narrow...

I am a Fan of Jamaica. I have been since my first visit in 1997. That was the year that my wonderful husband, took pity on the mother of a 3-year-old and an 13-month- old and gave us some R...

As the school children return to their work, it is time for the adults to play. It is not too late to plan fall travel treats. There are many options still available and the prices have dropped as the suppliers are...

Have you ever wondered why people seek out and use a travel professional to help them plan a trip? The reasons vary from not having enough time to plan to just wanting it all planned for them. But the very...

This summer, I traveled for 5 weeks and was able to stay healthy. Traveling is hard on your system, but the rewards of new places, new faces and new experiences makes it worth the effort. Healthy travel takes just a...

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="150"] Avalon Suite Room[/caption] Two weeks ago, Tim and I boarded the Avalon Illumination in Budapest, Hungary to cruise up the Danube River. This is our first experience with river cruising. This itinerary is called Magnificent Europe. It spans...

California is a great place to visit for its National Parks. From north to south a few parks to see are Lassen Volcanic N.P., Yosemite N.P., and Sequoia and Kings Canyon. If you want to jump out to the northern...

Oregon not only has the last miles of the Historic Oregon trail, it also boasts beautiful beaches and National Parks. Crater Lake National Park and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are two parks to add to your bucket list. Crater Lake...

This week, April 18th-24th is National Parks week. The National Park system is 100 years old this year. To honor this week, I will be posting about various National Parks of the west that I have visited. If you would...