Oaxaca, Mexico is magic, especially during the Dia de los Muertos celebrations! Learn about the holiday’s traditions and get an itinerary for your own Day of the Dead trip to Oaxaca!
Where to Stay in Oaxaca, Mexico
When I visited Oaxaca, I loved it so much I didn’t want to leave. My taxi driver and I chatted about it during my ride back to the airport. And even with my poor Spanish, there is one thing he said that I clearly understood: “Oaxaca es mágico.” With...
Hotel Tiki Tiki: Review of A Mid-Century Gem in Tulum
When I saw a new Tulum hotel called "Hotel Tiki Tiki" featured in Dwell Magazine, I knew I’d have to visit and review it since it combined so many of my favorite things: Tulum, mid-century...
Affordable Tulum: Beach Bliss on a Budget
ulum, Mexico is a hip vacation spot frequented by the stars. Get my best tips for an affordable Tulum trip: budget hotels, restaurants, activities & more!
Tulum Packing List: What To Take To Tulum
My Tulum packing list will help you be ready for a perfect vacation in any season – including weather info and sample outfits!
Río Lagartos Flamingos & Las Coloradas Pink Lakes
What if I told you that there was one location on Earth where you could see both flamingos in the wild AND otherworldly pink lakes? It's in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula in the city of Rio...
Driving in Mexico
On my most recent flight to Cancún, a seatmate and I chatted about our travel plans. When I said I was renting a car and driving in Mexico solo around the Yucatán Peninsula, she was...
How To Pet A Manatee (Without Going To Jail)
The first time I saw a manatee in the water, I mistook it for a rock. I first saw the manatee from the beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida. It had...
Snorkeling Liveaboard Packing List
For a liveaboard snorkel or dive trip, you won’t need much. You’ll spend your days in and out of the water constantly so I think it’s important to have at least two bathing suits, and other clothes that you can pull on easily after your snorkel or dive. Follow this snorkeling...
Thailand Snorkeling Liveaboard
I spent an amazing 3 days/3 nights on a Thailand snorkeling liveaboard trip. The excursion with Andaman Snorkel Discovery left from about 1.5 hours north of Phuket to the Similan and Surin Islands. The company has recently started trips to Myanmar as well, so I’m hoping to return for...
Two Weeks In Morocco Photo Gallery
With its dramatic landscapes, fascinating history, and intersection of Berber, Arabian and European culture, Morocco should be at the top of every adventure traveler's bucket list. I spent two weeks there in its cities, winding medinas, mountains and coastal towns. And one night under the...
Dry Tortugas National Park: Snorkeling, Day Trips & Camping
During a vacation to the Florida Keys, I took a day trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park on Garden Key, about 70 miles from Key West. With its white sand beaches and a secluded...
Inca Trail Part V: Booking Resource List
FYI, this post contains affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you purchase from them, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting all the free content on my site and helping me pay for my cat...
Inca Trail Part IV: Machu Picchu
Located in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the ruins of a 15th-century Inca city. The Incas built it around 1450, at the height of their empire, but abandoned it a century later during the Spanish Conquest. UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site in 1983. It was also chosen...
Inca Trail Part III: The Trek
In November, during Peru's rainy spring season, I hiked the Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu with my sister Holly. We did the "classic" 4-day, 3-night version of the trek. By hiking the trail, you enter the park from the "Sun Gate" at dawn and are able to see...
Two Weeks In Morocco
I spent two weeks in Morocco with Intrepid Travel's Best of Morocco Tour. With its dramatic landscapes, fascinating history, and intersection of Berber, Sub-Saharan, Arabian and European culture, it should be on the bucket list of every world traveler.
For solo travelers or couples, assembling...
Inca Trail Packing List: What to Pack for Hiking to Machu Picchu
Having the right gear will help you prepare for (and survive!) the trip of a lifetime while hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The trick is getting the right balance of things you'll need, while taking the absolute least weight possible. It will be...
Inca Trail Trek Training Plan
Will I Survive the Trek?
The simple answer is yes! Particularly by following a solid Inca Trail training plan, you will survive the Inca...