The thought of moving to another country might sound exciting, but it turns out you can’t just show up somewhere and hope it all works out. As much as we’d like to think of it as a permanent vacation, that’s not reality. Becoming an expat takes time and planning. So, we thought it would be fun to document our transition and at the same time keep our friends and family up to date. A portion of our blog will feature stories about the experiences we have with our transition including lifestyle changes and the challenges that come with living outside of the States. We look forward to creating relationships with others looking to move abroad or those who just love to travel. Thanks for checking us out!

Scott and Brenda

, ,

The Island of St. Lucia

With the recent good news that the island of St Lucia is opening back up to American tourists beginning in June, it might be a good time to at least start planning travel again. Airfares are at historic lows and many of the carriers are allowing…
, ,

Barcelona For The First Time

When trying to describe Barcelona, it's difficult to pick the proper superlative because they all apply. Barcelona is an amazingly beautiful and historic city with an incredibly rich and complex history. The people are warm and genuine and ready…
, ,

A Visit to Historic Old San Juan

One of the benefits of living in the Miami area is the ability to fly to a plethora of destinations for fairly cheap. With Miami International just twenty minutes away and Fort Lauderdale just up the road, it's easy to find spur of the moment…
, ,

Samara Tree House Inn

When Brenda and I are talking with people seeking recommendations for Costa Rica, one of the places we frequently suggest is Samara. It's a quaint, unpretentious village on the pacific coast with a wonderful beach and community. Its central…

What Is Old Can Be Made New

Here is an update on our circa 1936 condo in Miami Beach. Some are aware of what Brenda and I have been going through for the past year and a half but for those that aren't, the best explanation is that our place was literally falling apart…
, ,

You Had Me At Hello

Last year, Brenda and I decided to give it one more try in regard to finding a place in Costa Rica to call home for a while. It’s odd deciding to move to a different country yet not knowing where you will live. Our dilemma has been that we've…
,

The Best-laid Plans of Mice and Men...

  It's hard to believe that the last post was almost two years ago. I know it's a cliche but time certainly goes by way too fast. Our last entry was a summary of places we had been in 2017 with high expectations for a new year. We had…
,

A Year in Review: The Past, The Present, The Future

As the memories of 2017 start to slowly fade away and the anticipation of a new year begins to build, I thought it would be a good time to reflect a bit on some of our travel experiences from last year. It's no secret that Brenda and I love…
, , ,

Joglo Tree House. A Taste of Bali in Costa Rica

Brenda and I have a habit of trying to match destinations with accommodations. Usually, when we travel, we are trying to find a location and a place to stay that matches up with our personalities. We aren't that interested in an all-inclusive…
, ,

Costa Rica Part 3: Well That Was Different

Well that was different. To be honest, I don't even know where to begin with this one. Brenda and I had a game plan as mentioned in a previous post regarding our objectives for this trip, but so much occurred during our time in Costa Rica that…

The Women In Our Lives

Back in 1995 Brenda and I decided to take our first real vacation. We were approaching our ten year anniversary and wanted to celebrate by traveling somewhere other than northern Wisconsin. We married young, and like a lot of young couples struggled…
, ,

The search for a home: Part 2

A few months ago I posted about our upcoming trip back to Costa Rica. The last one in September was still fresh and Brenda and I knew we needed to start planning our next visit. I wrote about how this was going to be more research and exploration,…
, ,

Modern Map Art

A couple of months ago, Jennifer from Modern Map Art contacted me and asked if I would be interested in doing a review of one of their maps. They are a Madison, Wisconsin based company and noticed that our web designer is located in the same…
, ,

Miami Beach: Home Sweet Home?

About five years ago Brenda and I started looking for a place down south where we could get away from time to time during the god awful long Wisconsin winter. We sat down one weekend and put together a list of preferences, along with things…
Immigran expat map
,

Immigrant or Expat: What's in a name?

Of all the things to be concerned about regarding a potential move to Central America, I’m thinking about our status. I don’t mean where we are in the process or what our social status is. I’m wondering whether we'll be considered an immigrant…
, ,

Fabrica de Arte Cubano: This is what revolution looks like.

I had planned on writing a few in-depth reviews about our time in Havana, but to be honest I’m struggling to construct a cogent narrative. In a previous post, I wrote about trying to balance romanticizing Havana with the reality that is Cuba.…
, ,

Searching for a home in the Central Valley

Brenda and I have started planning another return visit to Costa Rica. It's been a few months since our last trip and we are itching to get back as soon as possible. This time, we'd like to explore the Central Valley, near San Jose. There are…

Havana, Cuba: Romance vs. Reality

In a few weeks, we will be headed to Havana, Cuba. Of all the places we’ve visited, Cuba may be the most intriguing. I’ve had Havana on my list for so many years that part of me can’t believe we are actually going. At the same time, apprehension…
Find your spot
, ,

Find Your Spot

Some years ago I came across a website called findyourspot. It's a survey site that recommends the best city/geographical area for you to live, based on answers to their questionnaire. The site matches up your personal preferences regarding…
, , ,

A Diamond In The Rough: Luna Llena Hotel

 Luna Llena Hotel It seems as though, on most trips, Brenda and I end up moving a couple of times. With limited time, we always want to experience as much as possible. Part of me would like to stay in the same place and avoid packing and unpacking. But…
, ,

Christmas Cruise: A Weekend at Walmart

A few years ago we started a new holiday tradition in our house. Realizing how much we disliked the craziness that is the American Christmas season, Brenda and I decided to start taking our three kids on a trip, in place of buying gifts. We…
21

Countries

Oh the places we've been - Skipping Stone Travel Blog
131

International Cities

Stay connected with us on Social Media!

Sign up for our Newsletter!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Skipping Stone

It’s all about where you land!