Sandwiched between Italy and Croatia, Slovenia manages to squeeze in its own bit of coastline on the Bay of Trieste, which opens to the Adriatic. Koper, Izola and Piran are all historic cities along this gorgeous stretch of Slovenia that only spans some 10 miles or so as the bird flies. That makes it a perfect day trip from Trieste.

Venice, Italy is a must-visit for anyone who has never been as it really is a sight to see. If you mention Venice, people conjure up images of sunset gondola rides while being serenaded with Italian love songs. While I am sure that there was once a time that Venice was truly spectacular - I think that time has passed. Follow along for our thoughts and some tips from our first trip to Venice.

One of the most beautiful and picturesque spots in Italy lies along the Mediterranean on the western coast of the peninsula - Cinque Terre. Literally meaning five lands, Cinque Terre is a national park that is made up of five small coastal towns. From Monterosso al Mare in the north to Riomaggiore in the south, each village has its own personality and is worth a visit. If you only have a short time in the area, it is definitely doable to see them all in one day and that is exactly what we did.

Is an Italy trip complete without a trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa? We didn't think so. We made it a point to schedule some time during our tour of Italy to stop and be sure that the tower was still leaning. They have not stood it up straight and it has not fallen over yet so if you are in the area and haven't seen it - do it.

No matter how much time you have to spend in Florence, spend it wisely. There is so much to see and do in the birthplace of the renaissance that you can easily be overwhelmed. Whether you want to experience the arts, culture, history or great food, Florence is your place.

Spending the night in a medieval Tuscan castle is something that most people only dream about doing. However, it is easier than you think. Throughout Italy, there are castles that have been converted into accommodations for tourists. Some of them plush and luxurious while some of them still retain their minimalistic 12th century charm. We got the opportunity to rent out an entire castle and its associated farmhouses for our wedding.

Do all roads lead to Rome? Today, the ruins of the great Roman empire are surrounded by a modern capital city. Cobblestone streets that were once traveled by chariots and pedestrians are now bustling with cars and tourists. An impressive sports stadium was long ago pillaged for its beautiful marble and stonework. The crumbling walls of a once great palace are now covered with dirt and grass. The remaining structures are all that give us a look at what was like for these peoples 2,000 years ago.

Standing in the middle of Pompeii, looking up at Mt. Vesuvius tower over the city and hearing the rumble of the approaching thunderstorm, I couldn't help but think about what it must have been like the day of the eruption.

With little villages snuggled into coves along the Mediterranean shore and mountains in the background towering over them, the Amalfi Coast is a place made in someone's dream. It is one of the most spectacular places that I have visited to date and definitely our favorite in Italy. Follow along as we explore this slice of Italian heaven, from Ravello and Amalfi to Praiano and of course Positano.

Taormina is a hilltop town that sits along the coast of Sicily, in the shadow of Mt. Etna.

The three islands that make up the country of Malta offer whatever you want, relaxation, adventure, fun - it's your choice.

Growing up in Florida I have seen so many launches, from rockets to the space shuttle, but it never gets old. I was fortunate enough to be there for work during the first operational launch of the Falcon 9 Heavy. After a delay and then a scrub on the first attempt, I was able to make it back for the next night and the actual launch.

Rocket launches are one of the toughest things to photograph but also one of the most rewarding to photograph. One of the biggest challenges is timing and that starts with the launch itself. Some times you can travel great distances and make sacrifices to arrive at your perfect location, the weather may cooperate but in the end, the rocket may not launch. The launch is scrubbed. This happened to me on the most recent SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy launch from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral.

Madrid is such a beautiful city with a lot to offer travelers that is too often overlooked for Spain's Second City, Barcelona. I just visited Madrid for the first time and was amazed by the abundance of beautiful architecture, incredible food and the friendliness of the people. I spent two full days exploring the city and walking over 50,000 steps - this is what I found.

Zion National Park is the perfect weekend trip from Los Angeles any time of year, but it can be especially spectacular in the winter. One of the most popular parks, Zion National Park is definitely a must-visit in winter.

We spent the end of 2018 the same way that we spent the end of 2017, hiking. Griffith Park is one of our favorite hiking spots in Los Angeles because the views of Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles and the entire LA Basin are spectacular. There are so many trails throughout Griffith Park that you are sure to find new adventures each time you go.

Laguna Beach has some of my favorites beaches in all of California, if not the world. From the great scuba diving at Shaw's Cove to the sea caves at Thousand Steps beach to the castle tower at Victoria beach, there is so much to explore. Whether you are looking to capture a beautiful sunset or hang out with friends on the beach, make sure to do it in Laguna Beach.

Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach is a small, beautiful cove that is popular with scuba dive classes for doing the PADI open water checkout dive. I always joke that the cove was named after me but it has been around longer than I have. However, it is where I did my checkout dives in May 2014, when I got scuba certified. It is also where Amanda had her first experience scuba diving in the open ocean.