Take your sightseeing to the next level.
Although there are lots of reasons to visit Newfoundland, it was “Iceberg Alley” that most caught my attention. Icebergs in Newfoundland are so reliable that an entire industry has formed around taking tourists out to see the best bergs. And it’s easy to understand why — some of these icebergs can be as large as a house, and no matter their size, it’s probably a
Even if Newfoundland wasn’t on your bucket list before, hear me out. Its Viking history dates back to 1000 A.D. and John Cabot arrived with the Brits in 1497. Yet, somehow, this part of Canada is still unknown by most modern travelers. In a world where overtourism is creeping into dozens of destinations, it was refreshing to visit Newfoundland and feel like I had it
People ask me all the time how I get foreign currency before a trip and the quick answer is… I don’t. Why would I, when I can get cash on demand from any ATM in the world with no upcharge, no foreign transaction fee, no ATM fees, and at a fair exchange rate? Seriously, Charles Schwab Checking and their international ATM card have changed how
You guys know me: I plan all my own trips, possibly even to a fault. I read, research, and ask questions. I keep detailed notes in Google Docs and keep reading until I’m all-consumed with information overload. It’s not that I think I know every destination better than the experts, just that I’m a little obsessed. And for that reason, I’ve mostly avoided group tours
Truth be told, I went to Maria Island National Park in hopes of seeing kangaroos. I knew all about the Tasmania Painted Cliffs, but I figured they were wouldn’t be that impressive in person. We weren’t going at the right time of day for ideal lighting to bring out the colors and I thought they’d be overrun with visitors — after all, it was Easter
I’m one of those people that always thinks the grass is greener on the other side. That’s why, even after FINALLY figuring out a rental car strategy for my travels, I had to check out the new player in town. Turo car rental is a peer-to-peer car rental service — essentially Airbnb for cars. I took the plunge on my recent trip to Orange Beach and Gulf
I originally wrote a version of this post in 2013, but surprise-surprise! Sometimes things change (and sometimes they don’t). When I first started traveling, I was either really bad at guessing the types of things I like. Or maybe I was in denial? Or easily influenced by others? Who knows the actual reason, but it felt like I went to multiple places in a row
I’m just going to come right out and say it: the best beaches in the country are along the Gulf coast. I’ll take either of the most popular Alabama beaches — Gulf Shores and Orange Beach — over anything on the Atlantic seaboard. The sand is softer, the waves are gentler, and the sunsets are better. But we’re spoiled for choice even if you
When I’m on the road, wi-fi hotspots are essential to my work and they’re relatively easy to find. However, these hotspots are horrifically insecure unless you use a VPN. Most people know they shouldn’t log into their bank accounts or transmit personal information over public internet connections, but frankly that’s only half the battle. Simply checking your email could open up your account — including all previously
Orange Beach and it’s neighbor, Gulf Shores, are one of the country’s worst kept secrets. Northerners shrug off the entire state of Alabama (I hate to say it, but it’s true). No one thinks of traveling there — unless you live in driving distance, and then everyone knows it’s amazing. Way back in 2012, I stumbled on the Alabama coast by accident while on a solo trip. At
