Travel Guides

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!

Bring Exactly What You Need with this Norway Cruise Packing List

midnight sun norway

Even if you’ve cruised before, Norway is a whole different animal: the weather is finicky at best and there’s a good chance you’ll fly a low-cost airline to get to your starting and ending ports, where every pound of baggage costs you.  That’s why I’ve compiled the perfect Norway cruise packing list for you.  It […]

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I Went to Usnisa Palace in Nanjing and My Jaw is Still on the Floor

great hall usnisa palace nanjing

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

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Yes, the Train from Shanghai to Nanjing is Easy, Fast, and Cheap!

First class seats on the Nanjing Shanghai train

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.

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Is Oaxaca Safe? A Solo Female Traveler’s First-Hand Look

oaxaca mexico street

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

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Ultimate Cheat Sheet to Pulpit Rock Hike, One of the Best Hikes in Norway

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

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