Walnut Grove Cruise & Ltd Travel Blog

Get ready for a decade of vacations with ‘new ship smell!’ And get set to soon book your place on one of three brand-new classes of ships that will change the world of cruising. Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises have together announced they’ve ordered the next generation of cruise ships. It’s the biggest ‘new build’... read more

Tulum's brand-new international airport – plus the inauguration of a tourist train in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula – are opening up fresh travel opportunities to explore Tulum and beyond. NEW: FELIPE CARRILLO PUERTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TULUMNot too long ago, Tulum was a tiny beach town of mangroves, powder-white beaches on crystal-clear waters and Mayan ruins on a cliff over the Caribbean sea.... read more

Spring has sprung and cultures the world over celebrate the season of fresh color and new life. It’s not all about bunnies, lambs, chicks, eggs, chocolate and spring flowers. Here are just a few different traditions that inspire us to travel in the springtime: Climb a Mayan Pyramid on the Spring Equinox in MexicoSpring officially begins on the Spring Equinox, usually... read more

The lush, terraced rice fields of Bali are iconic symbols of this legendary Indonesian island, lending inspiration to the pools of one resort. Surrounded by inviting greenery and nestled in the heart of Bali's exclusive beach enclave of Nusa Dua in the southeast part of the island, Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Resort invites guests to experience unmatched tropical escape in “the... read more

There’s a real man behind the legend that gets us wearing green every March 17th. And you can go beyond modern St. Patrick's Day ‘shenanigans’ to revisit the life of St. Patrick on a journey connecting places in Northern Ireland where his story became a legend that thrives to this day among the Irish and millions of people around the... read more

Wildlife photography safaris have never been more popular, as constant advances in technology make incredible image capture more accessible to ordinary travelers. One study of millions of wildlife photos on a photo-sharing website has revealed which countries’ creatures are the subject of the most snaps – indicating the best places to go to photograph some of the planet’s most photogenic... read more

We have lift off! It’s a “giant leap” for The Bahamas, which is joining the exclusive club of destinations appealing to fans of humankind’s Last Frontier. The country has entered into an agreement with Elon Musk’s space tourism company SpaceX to become a global destination to witness booster landings.  SpaceX – short for the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. – is planning mission... read more

It's not too late to book your all-inclusive getaway this season. But all resorts are not created equal. Making the wrong choice of an all-inclusive vacation can be the difference between the relaxing… or romantic… or active… or fun-filled family holiday you were hoping for. Even if you’ve had terrific holidays at certain resorts in the past, a different group of... read more

Ireland has St. Patrick’s Day, Scotland has…Robbie Burns Day. Scotland’s most celebratory day is in honor of its national poet. If everyone’s a little bit Irish on March 17th, then on January 25th, the date of Robert Burns’ birthday in 1759, everyone’s a little bit of a Scot. Throughout Scotland and among Scottish communities dispersed around the world, January 25 - Robbie Burns... read more

The EU’s Capitals of Culture program was designed to showcase the cultural riches of European cities that might not otherwise get the attention they deserve. Every year, new cities are designated that represent the incredible diversity of Europe’s landscapes, history, and resulting unique lifestyle heritage of different parts of the union.  A year-long calendar of events brings visitors from their... read more

Mexico is more than beaches. It’s also a country rich in folklore, traditions, culture, history, nature and cuisine. And some of Mexico’s towns have such a concentration of significance and authentic experiences for visitors, they’ve earned the label “Magical.”  As of 2023, 177 towns in Mexico have been designated “Magical Towns,” or “Pueblos Magicos” by the Mexican government. The program empowers... read more

Most of us are pretty careful about sun exposure when we travel on beach vacations these days. It’s hats and sunscreen all the way to protect our skin from the sun’s rays. But how about protecting the ocean we love to visit from the chemicals in our sunscreens?  The rise of "reef-safe" or "reef-friendly" or “ocean-friendly” sunscreen claims has a lot... read more

If you thought CERN, the renowned particle physics research facility in Geneva, was just for Nobel laureates and PhD’s, think again. The facility has inaugurated Science Gateway, a new, visionary hub with free admission for anyone from 5 to 95 to get involved in the next generation of human understanding of the universe at what may be the world’s most... read more

Til death do you party! Dia de los Muertos is a cherished Mexican holiday honoring the memories of loved ones who have passed away. Coming just a day after Halloween, and symbolized by an elegantly-dressed skeleton, Day of the Dead is often thought of as a similar celebration of the supernatural, but it is a uniquely Mexican holiday that’s more... read more

It’s shorthand for luxury cuisine, but lobster eaten fresh at the source can be also be casual, street food, family dining and fun! That’s the premise behind lobster festivals in Caribbean destinations where they have access to an abundance of what may be the most popular crustacean.  Unlike some festivals, lobster festivals are not limited to a single month or season... read more

30 times in 30 years. That’s an incredible vote of confidence in the resort chain named “The Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand” for the 30th time at the 30th annual World Travel Awards. It wasn’t the only win for Sandals Resorts International, either. It scored 13 more prestigious awards.  Sandals Resorts International is the parent company of two luxury, all-inclusive resort chains: couples-only Sandals... read more

New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, and whether you call yourself a nature lover, adrenaline junkie, foodie, wine or culture aficionado, you’ll find reasons to visit both.  North IslandWhile New Zealand’s North Island is the smaller of the two islands, it has more people and the country’s major cosmopolitan cities, including the capital,... read more

Scotland’s most famous legend… may not remain a mystery for much longer. A new Loch Ness Centre at the famous lake in the Scottish Highlands is promising to unleash the biggest search for “Nessie” in over half a century. And visitors can join in the quest!  Nessie may be the biggest attraction in the Scottish Highlands that no one can prove they’ve... read more

The Mediterranean is full of ancient maritime cultures, but some seaside countries are just recently becoming popular cruise destinations. One up-and-coming cruise hub in the eastern end of this historic sea offers the best of Mediterranean, modern European, and Middle Eastern cultures and lifestyles. Not to mention the spiritual attractions of the home of Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths.  And the... read more

What’s the fastest-disappearing natural phenomenon? Dark skies. As cities expand, the night skies are flooded with light, dimming our views of the complex, mystical wonders of the heavens that inspired our ancestors.  We are still fascinated by the night skies, and many of us take time on vacation to spend our evenings outdoors gazing up into the darkness and its mysteries.  Luckily,... read more