Find travel guides, planning tips, advice, and resources for where you want to go for all the destinations I’ve visited! Everything is sorted by country and/or state for easy searching. Great for dreaming, planning, and making your trip a reality!
I never thought Nanjing, China would be on the list of most magnificent places I’ve been. For the most part, the city is dreary, smoggy, and grey, especially in winter. But Usnisa Palace in Niushoushan Cultural Park is so stunning that it raises the entire city up a notch, to a level normally held for […]
I Went to Usnisa Palace in Nanjing and My Jaw is Still on the Floor Read More »
Before I went to Phoenix, I thought of it as a pass-through city on the way to “better” attractions like the Grand Canyon or Sedona. That’s a shame because there are plenty of fun things to do in Phoenix itself. This metropolitan area is an incredible destination for sightDOING: there’s active travel, soft adventure, and
I gained 6 pounds my first month in Buffalo. I was determined to try all the iconic Buffalo foods, some of which I hadn’t had since I was a little girl. I stuffed my face with wings, sponge candy, and half a dozen cup-and-curl pepperoni pizzas. When you eat all that in a month, you
Independent travel in China is easier than you think thanks to high speed rail. Unlike buses, it’s easy to figure out and for the most part, trains run efficiently on schedule. As of 2019, there are 200+ departures on the train from Shanghai to Nanjing, making it incredibly easy to add in a side trip.
Yes, the Train from Shanghai to Nanjing is Easy, Fast, and Cheap! Read More »
With its indigenous culture and delicious food, there’s no surprise that Oaxaca is a popular Mexican destination. But if you’re planning a trip to this remarkable city, you might be wondering “is Oaxaca safe?” While, like anywhere, there is a possibility that a problem will occur, in general Oaxaca is safe to visit. Oaxaca Mexico
Is Oaxaca Safe? A Solo Female Traveler’s First-Hand Look Read More »
Against my better judgement, I used my one and only day in Stavanger to do the Pulpit Rock hike. On paper, this was a silly decision. It takes a ferry and bus to get there, using up precious time, and it’s notorious for being crowded. On top of that, it’s less of a “trail” and
Ultimate Cheat Sheet to Pulpit Rock Hike, One of the Best Hikes in Norway Read More »
No doubt about it, I’ve made some bad calls, like trying to climb a volcano the morning after a bout of food poisoning. Or the first time I went backcountry camping in Virginia. It was only a 14.4 mile trail, but I packed twice as much gear as I needed and it was 95 degrees
Old Rag Mountain is one of the most popular hikes at Shenandoah National Park, if not #1. It’s a well-deserved ranking and in fact, it’s so much fun I named it one of the top 5 hikes in Virginia. Despite being one of my favorite trails, I had never made the circuit in winter. With
“Hikers adore Anton Valley,” the guidebook stated. Sounded good to me: I wasn’t ready to deal with the hustle of Panama City and I love the outdoors. That’s why I boarded a bus to El Valle de Anton Panama, or “El Valle” as the Panamanians call it. As a bonus, it would be cooler there,
24 Photos of 24 Hours in El Valle de Anton Panama Read More »
There’s no excuse not to try traditional Nicaraguan food on your trip: meals are usually less than $5 and absolutely delicious! The country has a lot of variety in its cuisine, with each region having different specialties. From coconut and other flavors on the Caribbean coast to vigorón in Granada, there’s plenty to sample. Nicaraguan Food:
