I’ve always loved flamingos. There’s something so graceful and yet silly about them: if ballerina comedians were a thing, flamingos would be their spirit...
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 nearly speechless. I had to work to convince her I wasn’t a crazy person with a death wish. I’m still not sure I...
Affordable Tulum: 6 Steps To Luxury On A Budget
When is the last time you had a vacation so perfect that you considered burning your passport and staying forever? If you’ve been to Tulum, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, get ready to start plotting your passport's...
How To Pet A Manatee Without Going To Jail
We watched from shore as a manatee’s snout popped up above the surface of the water for a breath of air. Over and over again, the manatee surfaced, but we were too far away to get a good look. My mom and I were at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida, and it was the last day of our trip to the Keys. I started...
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 liveaboard packing list for the necessities of what to...
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 another adventure. I chose them based on their good...
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 stars in the Sahara.
To view the Morocco Photo...
Dry Tortugas National Park
During a trip to the Florida Keys, I spent a day at Dry Tortugas National Park on Garden Key, 70 miles from Key West. It was on a trip with my mom, and honestly she planned and booked that part of the itinerary without me really even knowing what it was. She kept talking about “dry tortugas” and I was like, sure, sure, we’re going to...
Inca Trail Part V: Booking Resource List
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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 as one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World" in an...
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 Machu Picchu from a high vantage point. If you're...
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 an itinerary for a place like Morocco - including...
Inca Trail Part II: The Packing List
Having the right Inca Trail packing list and gear will help you prepare for (and survive!) the trip of a lifetime. The trick is getting the right balance of things you'll need while taking the absolute least weight possible. It will be different for each trekker, of course, and will vary based on what your trek company provides and the...
Inca Trail Part I: The Training Plan
Will I Survive?
The simple answer is yes! Particularly by following a solid Inca Trail training plan, you will survive the hike. There are few people who don't make it (my guide only mentioned one and might have been kidding). By using a training plan and upping your basic fitness level, you can make the long days of the hike...