#120 Monterey Peninsula (Page 577)

October 27, 2011: I flew to San Francisco from Maryland - my 3rd time in three years. And yet, I had never made it to the Monterey Peninsula! So this time I made it a priority and I'm glad I did! I met my friend Mindy in San Francisco, then we rented a car and headed for the coast. Our first stop was in Carmel. After having a delicious lunch, we walked down Ocean Drive and walked right on to this gorgeous beach with Pebble Beach Golf course in the background.

Next, we paid $9.50 to do the 17-mile drive where we saw houses like this......

And Pebble Beach

From there, we drove to Monterey, which is right next to Carmel and met up with our friend, Tiffany. This is where the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is located.

We got cookies at the Nestle Cookie shop and appetizers at the El Torito that sits on the water where you can eat and enjoy views like this.

Verdict: Yup, I think it's a must. The United States has several charming towns, scenic spots and ocean views. But the Monterey Peninsula combines it all together and it's spectacular!

#119: Cage Diving with the Great Whites

September 2011: When we started planning our itinerary for our 3 days in Cape Town, swimming with Great White Sharks was first on my list. I'd seen documentaries about it, I'd read about it, I'd heard about it..... I was determined to do it! After doing quite a bit of research, we settled on going out with Brian McFarland, who has been featured on several documentaries and has spent his entire life around Great Whites.

Verdict: It was AMAZING!!!!! Absolutely one of the most fantastic, incredible things I have ever done and I absolutely LOVED it! And as I was eye to eye with one of the most magnificent creatures in the ocean, I thought to my self, "How in the world is this not listed as one of the 1000 Places book????" Well, it absolutely should be! Yes, we had terrible choppy seas and high swells and yes, we got crazy sick, but it was so worth it. We saw 9 sharks and saw them time and again, so it seemed like we saw many more. And this is one of those things you can't just explain. You have to do it. You have to experience it. It cost ~$250 per person. And, although I don't have any personal experience with any of the other shark diving operations, I would HIGHLY recommend this one. Brian and his team were incredible. As for logistics, they take off from Gansbaii, a two-hour drive from Cape Town.