Momentum Expeditions Alaska Review:
An Incredible Wilderness AdventureThere are a lot of incredible places in Alaska. (Understatement!) I've been fortunate to visit many of the more easily accessible ones, and to share my stories and resources about them to help other people visit them too. And while I certainly travel a lot and specialize in Alaska travel, I don't really consider myself an "adventure traveler;" I jokingly say my style of adventure is more like "Diet Adventure" or "adventure light..."
Flytographer Review (2023): The Perfect Travel Souvenir
I knew from the first time I saw it: I needed photos for this blog with that "Greetings from Alaska" mural that had started popping up on Instagram. The only question was: how? Mr. V and I are pretty creative when it comes to getting photos of ourselves while traveling... but this is a big space to shoot and using a remote always feels awkward...
Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise Review: The Best Way to See Glaciers in Alaska
Want to see glaciers in Alaska? You're not alone in trying to figure out how. Read my Phillips' 26 Glacier Cruise review to decide if this is right for your Alaska trip.
UnCruise Hawaii Review: How to Spend a Week in Paradise
When most people go to Hawaii, they pick an island, choose a beachfront hotel, and call it done. But you're not most people, are you? If you're considering UnCruise in Hawaii, you already know you want more from your Hawaiian vacation than a tan and a Mai Tai hangover – though you can certainly have both during your Hawaii UnCruise experience...
UnCruise Alaska Review: The Ultimate Way to Cruise in Alaska
My coffee is steaming, as is my breath as I exhale in the cold morning air. I’m in Alaska. My home state. I’m back, for the first time in three years, and it’s May 2017. There’s still a bite of winter in the air. I'm standing aboard the bow of the Safari Endeavour, a ship operated by Seattle-based UnCruise Adventures...
UnCruise Baja Review: A Week on the Gulf of California
The taste of lime and salt mix on my tongue as the van hurdles back down the highway toward the marina of Puerto Escondido in Baja California Sur. Like so many memories of my UnCruise in Baja, it was unplanned but entirely entrancing. See, for most people, a van breaking down on vacation is a good way to ruin the day – with UnCruise, it's just another adventure, another chance to dive deep into the place you're visiting...
The 10 Most Popular Hotels in Alaska for 2023
When it comes to planning an Alaska trip, it's a fair understatement to say there's a lot to consider. From choosing when to visit and how much you can afford to spend to working out the finer details of different towns you want to visit and stringing together an Alaska itinerary... I feel a bit overwhelmed just typing that all out...
Tieks Review 2022: Are Tieks Worth the Cost?
The number one barrier to buying a pair of Tieks ballet flats is the price. Trust me, I get it. If you're reading this post or any other Tieks review, you're probably curious if a simple ballet flat can really be worth all the hype – and the price. Tieks cost $185+ per pair, after all! This isn't pocket change for most of us and is a bit scary when it's time to hit the 'Checkout' button...
Unbound Merino Review: Your New Essential Travel Layers
Over the years, I've gotten worse at packing. When I first started this site, the whole premise was packing light and using a valise (a weekend bag) to explore the world – hence the name of "Valerie & Valise." I was young (and dumb), with a strong back and loads of energy; now I'm a bit more mature, with back pain and a rolling carry-on, like so many others...
