The Travel Oracle

The Travel Oracle
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  • Who is the Travel Oracle?
    • Contact us!
    • The places we’ve been
    • The Oracle Recommends…
    • Our City Guides
    • Travel Booking Services
  • Our World Famous Kidney Donor Athlete
    • Running Stories
  • Subscribe
  • The Golden Pelican Awards of Excellence
  • Newsletter
The Oracle Recommends...
The Oracle Recommends...
Running the World
Running the World
Feeling Spooky
Feeling Spooky
  • Traditional German band, with tubas and bassoons and drums, at the Haufbrau Haus in Munich

    The Five Best Places to Grab a Beer

    The second category in our “World’s Best” is a bit less “high society” and WAY more our normal vibe. (Click here to check out our first award category, the World’s Best Cocktail Bars.) That’s right, this week we are going to spin you around the globe and take you to the five best places to grab a beer. So if you’re one for an icy cold afternoon repose, pull up a bar stool and let’s go! The Surf Bar – Williamsburg, NY We visited the Surf Bar as a first stop on the “Martin’s Best” pub crawl. Though they JUST opened and we were the only people there, it was…

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    Red toriis (or gates) with Japanese writing on them and black bases

    The Fastest Train to a Quieter Time

    March 22, 2023
    Woman holding a beer and showing off her tee shirt that has a shamrock on it and the word "Shenanigans"

    Boston on the Holy Day of St. Practice

    June 6, 2024
    Ready for Cleveland Marathon

    Cleveland – The Marathon and the Speak Easy

    May 23, 2022
  • Man wearing a hat and shirt, covered in cartoon donuts who is standing before a road sign that reads “Gladstone City Limit”

    Pacing with a Purpose: A Marathon Weekend in Gladstone

    This past weekend, I had the privilege of pacing the 3:45 group at the MISH Waterfront Marathon in scenic Gladstone, MI, with the amazing team at OnPace Race. With Lake Michigan stretching out beside us and the morning mist lifting off the water, it was one of those races that reminds me why I run in the first place. Gladstone may be small, but it brings serious energy on race day. Runners gathered near the waterfront, the air cool and crisp—ideal marathon conditions. I pinned on my 3:45 pace bib, grabbed my flag, and met a group of nervous but excited runners ready to chase their goals. A Smooth and…

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    Runner crossing the finish line at the Publix marathon - under a balloon arch.

    The Publix Florida Marathon Race Recap

    February 13, 2025
    Woman with wind-blown hair and a man in a ball cap standing on a pier over the ocean.

    Beachy Vibes and Fast Race Times in Jacksonville

    February 16, 2023
    Man in a racing kit, with his arms spread wide, crossing the Willis bridge

    NYC 2024 Marathon – The Rest of the Story

    November 21, 2024
  • Golden Pelican award displayed with his arms spread wide on a black stand.

    The World’s Best Cocktail Bars

    In honor of our third birthday, we thought we’d share our picks for the best of the best. This week, we will take take a deep dive into the best bars around the world. These bars would earn the “Golden Pelican” for having the best cocktails mixed with the best atmosphere. So pull up a stool and let’s visit the World’s Best Cocktail Bars. The American Bar – London, England The American Bar has been at the top of several “Best Bar” lists over the years. Since we were in London, we felt it we should have “just one drink” there to see what the hype was about. (For those…

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    Race medal in pink with a palm treat that reads “Destination Donna 2023”

    The DONNA Race Recap

    February 9, 2023
    Group of people in winter clothes, smiling and hugging on an ice skating rink. Behind them are trees lit in white lights and a row of flags

    Skating Under the Stars and Other Shenanigans

    February 1, 2024
    Cellblock in the Ohio State Reformatory

    What’s Left of the Ohio State Reformatory

    October 17, 2024
  • Travel themed birthday cake, where the main part looks like a globe. There is a suite case next to it and a candle showing the number 3 on top

    We’re Three Today!

    At the Bayshore Marathon in 2022, we made the leap to open this website as a way to share our love for travel with the world. Since then, we’ve been on some CRAZY adventures together and learned a lot along the way. Why not join us as we unpack some of the highlights as we celebrate. We’re three today!! If we were a toddler, we would have our own cake to smash! The First Place We Wrote About As you may know, Boston holds a special place in our hearts. Stephen is working to becoming a legacy runner for the Boston Marathon which means we are planning to go back…

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    Woman holding a beer and showing off her tee shirt that has a shamrock on it and the word "Shenanigans"

    Boston on the Holy Day of St. Practice

    June 6, 2024
    Quincy Market Rotunda

    Boston – The Search for Craft Beer, Lobster and Gelato

    April 1, 2022
    Man wearing a scaly cap, holding a pint of craft beer

    Driving the Snakes Out of South Boston

    May 30, 2024
  • Tower of Windsor castle, surrounded by the beautiful gardens that used to be the moat

    To Dance a Small Jig on the Grave of Henry the VIII

    Although I’d already had the amazing opportunity to visit Windsor castle twice before, this time was really something special. You see, the first two times I visited, I was with my life long friend, Jules. And our main occupation while taking in the sights was 1. trying to get guardsmen to break their stoic demeanor and 2. to catch up on all the news from the last time we spoke. This time, sans best GF, I was REALLY able to admire the ancestral home of the Windsor’s. And more importantly, to dance a small jig on the grave of Henry the VIII. How DID we get so lucky? You may…

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    Woman and a man in renaissance garb. The man is holding up a live rat, and the woman has her hand over her mouth in surprise

    Our Annual Trip in the Time Machine

    September 21, 2023
    Traditional German band, with tubas and bassoons and drums, at the Haufbrau Haus in Munich

    The Five Best Places to Grab a Beer

    June 26, 2025

    The Magical Land of Uluru

    November 13, 2025
  • The front entrance of the Natural History Museum in London. It is has two towers with a large archway between them. The rest of the building has ornate arched windows.

    What if Hogwarts Also Had Dinosaurs?

    Some months ago we found out that our dear friend, Julie, would be running the London marathon to celebrate a milestone birthday. Since a quarter of a century is SUCH a big deal, we decided to join her in a little trip over the pond. And since Stephen enjoys running a race every now and then, he decided to join her in the run. So how about me? What did I decide to join in on? Well what if I told you there is a museum in London that looks like the school from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? That’s right, while we were there, we got to answer…

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    Moments you remember the most - trying Amaro in Italy

    The moments you remember the most might surprise you

    March 27, 2025
    Crowded bar in room with a low ceiling that has old wooden beams.

    Checking Out The Hidden Bars of London

    June 22, 2023
    Man running in a road race. Lifting his arms in victory

    The London Marathon – The Last of the World Majors

    June 29, 2023
  • Two men standing on a round platform, there is a colorful mural behind them, advertising Rockaway Brewing

    The Ferry and The Pub Crawl

    One perfect day this March, we met up with our favorite Scotsman. The N.Y.C. Half marathon behind him, Stephen was ready for some relaxation and maybe an adult beverage or two. Our friend, Martin, had just the thing. We’d take the ferry and do the Williamsburg to Long Island City pub crawl. If you like fun places and craft brews, hang with us because we’ve got a story for you! The 10am Ferry…What a View!! Our friend has lived in and around NYC for years now. And like us, he really enjoys getting out and taking in the sites. Back when he lived downtown, he would sometimes take the ferry…

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    A row of trees covered in yellow lights, behind a hot air balloon, that is lined in white lights

    What Would You Do with Just One Day in NYC?

    December 14, 2023

    New York 2022 – Day 4 (The Intrepid and the hike)

    May 6, 2022
    Screen showing a map of Pennsylvania and New York with the flight path highlighted in blue. In the middle is a circle.

    Our Unexpected Trip to Harrisburg

    November 17, 2022
  • Moments you remember the most - trying Amaro in Italy

    The moments you remember the most might surprise you

    We took our youngest daughter and her best friend on a trip to celebrate their graduating high school with honors. The ladies decided they wanted to experience London, Paris and Rome. As we built our itinerary, we made sure to hit all of the famous tourist spots. When we look back on our trip now, the things we saw aren’t really the things we reminisce about. This taught us a valuable lesson – when it comes to travel, the moments you remember the most might surprise you! Join us as we share the highlights of our European World tour and the lessons this trip taught us. London – 2 days…

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    Woman standing in a red telephone booth

    London – the Rest of the Story

    July 13, 2023
    Crowded bar in room with a low ceiling that has old wooden beams.

    Checking Out The Hidden Bars of London

    June 22, 2023
    The front entrance of the Natural History Museum in London. It is has two towers with a large archway between them. The rest of the building has ornate arched windows.

    What if Hogwarts Also Had Dinosaurs?

    May 15, 2025
  • Image of a blue medal that reads NYC Half,hanging from a green ribbon. The Brooklyn bridge is in the background.

    United Airlines NYC Half Recap

    I don’t run many half marathons and I certainly don’t race many but I was fortunate enough to snag a bib in the lottery for this year’s United Airline NYC Half this past weekend. I figured it would be a good tune up and a test of my fitness heading into this year’s Boston Marathon. The Goal My primary goal for the race was to run a hard effort and to challenge myself on the hills. I haven’t been a very strong runner on hills in the past and have incorporated more hill work and strength training to try and fix that. The course profile offered me a great opportunity to…

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    The NYC Marathon Medal in the center of the Vessel. The Vessel is concentric rings with squared edges made of copper with rings of glass between

    The NYC Marathon – More than a Walk in the Park

    December 1, 2022
    Large buildings covered in LED screens and lights. It's Times Square at night.

    The Best of The Big Apple

    August 30, 2023
    Group of people in winter clothes, smiling and hugging on an ice skating rink. Behind them are trees lit in white lights and a row of flags

    Skating Under the Stars and Other Shenanigans

    February 1, 2024
  • Red Torii in the water with a small boat in the distance

    Why Do We Love to Get Lost?

    People have sometimes asked us why we travel so much. For people who are home-bodies, the idea of packing up and going somewhere they’d never been before, seems unappealing or maybe even a bit frightening. But for us, there is just something about going on an adventure. What about you? Do you love to get lost too? Let’s take a minute to unpack why in the world we grab our bags and hit the road. A change of scenery is good for the soul Living in Michigan and not participating in winter sports, means I spend a lot of time indoors from November to March. And as much as I…

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    Two wooden tubs with two beer taps in between

    Have you ever wanted to soak in a vat of beer?

    August 18, 2022
    Small beagle and a black labradoodle sitting on a porch

    Dog Sitting in the Biggest, Small Town in America

    August 11, 2022
    Red Torii in the water with a small boat in the distance

    The Day of the Deer Assault

    March 30, 2023
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