Why the name "Latitude 21?

I promised to explain why I'm calling this forum "Latitude 21." Although the literal meaning refers to the geographic lines parallel to the equator, I chose the name for the feelings it inspires in me. The simultaneous relaxation and excitement I feel when I step off a crowded, chilly airplane into the lovely warm air of Hawaii. The thrill I get when I'm out snorkeling and spot a green sea turtle. The sense adventure while hiking to the top of a waterfall or ziplining over a canopy of trees (at least I hope I'd feel that way on a zipline; I haven't experienced it personally ... not YET, anyway. Stay tuned for a future post once I'm brave enough to give it a try). 

The tropics extend from roughly 23°26′ north of the equator to 23°26′ south. At or very near 21°N latitude, you find the islands of Molokai and Maui; Puerto Vallarta; Cancun; Isla Mujeres; the Bahamas; and the Turks and Caicos islands. On the other side of the equator, 21°S latitude passes through the state of Queensland in Australia; the Great Barrier Reef; the Cook Islands; and French Polynesia (not to mention some extraordinary places in Asia, South America, and Africa).

Many of these destinations are very special to me personally. I met my now-husband, Tom, in Turks and Caicos. During our courtship, Tom surprised me with a trip to Cancun. He later proposed on Molokai, and we bought my engagement ring on Maui. More recently, we realized a "bucket list" dream of visiting Australia and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef.

Clearly, these destinations can inspire romance (at least they did for Tom and me). These are also wonderful places to have fun with friends, bond with multiple generations of family, enjoy outdoor adventure, taste new foods, and explore different cultures. Even travelers whose sole objective was to relax on a beach can end up learning something about themselves and the world during their journeys. 

I hope to have guest bloggers from time to time, and we will definitely be writing on subjects  and destinations other than just the tropics. Through it all, we'll let the Latitude 21 frame of mind I described above set the tone for our discussions.

For now, I think I'll imagine I have an umbrella drink in one hand and a spear of fresh pineapple in the other. Aloha until next time!