Travel Tips
I've been traveling more than half my life, and have visited nearly 30 countries.
Along the way, I've learned a few tips to help make the process of traveling more enjoyable.
Scroll down to see them all.
↓
5 Reasons to Visit Alaska in the Winter
In the past few years since I started writing about Alaska, I've noticed a trend. While I still get tons of emails with summer travel questions, increasingly people want to know why and how to visit Alaska in the winter...
The 10 Best Binoculars for Your Alaska Cruise in 2023
As you begin packing for your Alaska cruise, there’s a lot to remember. Layers ✔️ Camera ✔️ Day pack ✔️ But there’s one more item you might forget that will come in super handy for getting up close and personal with the massive sweeping majesty of Alaska: binoculars for your Alaska cruise...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Yosemite National Park (2023)
Among California's National Parks, there are some incredible natural wonders – but nowhere compares to Yosemite National Park. Instrumental in inspiring the preservation movement that led to the founding of the National Park Service, Yosemite was established in 1890. Since then, millions of people have made the journey to the park, especially the Yosemite Valley. But can you visit Yosemite in just one day?...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Zion National Park (2023)
Nestled in the heart of Utah's rugged landscapes, Zion National Park boasts a rich tapestry of majestic cliffs, verdant valleys, and meandering rivers, offering endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. Once you've seen it, you'll get it: it's one of the best national parks in the country and a favorite park for many...
Major Marine Tours Review: Seward’s Best Day Cruise (& My Personal Fave!)
Most people want to go to Alaska to take a cruise: they board a ship in Seattle or Vancouver, spend seven days wending their way north, and enjoy a few excursions along the way. Upon pulling into port in Alaska, usually in Seward or Whittier, they're then eager to explore Alaska by land: they see the sights in Anchorage, maybe explore the outdoors a bit (maybe by hiking), and try to catch a glimpse of Denali. Most visitors don't necessarily think to hop back on a boat and explore the waterways looking for wildlife; they skip the chance to explore these two northern ports entirely...
How to Visit Arches and Canyonlands in One Day
The sun lights the arch in a warm glow. The scenery sprawls out below you, perfect as a painting. The rock formations and canyons stand timeless and seemingly unchanging for millions of years... There's a reason that Southwest Utah has been sacred land to the indigenous peoples who lived in the area – and has been considered sacrosanct in our modern world...
An Epic 5-Day Southwest Road Trip & National Park Itinerary
Whenever I find myself in the Southwest, I always end up in awe. For being a relatively small region of the U.S., it's chock-full of natural wonders. In addition to awe, I also feel gratitude that so much of this region has been preserved and protected for future generations through our national park system and other land management programs. It's just not a place you can fly over and appreciate! What better way to explore the southwest than through a road trip...
40 Before 40: Goals to Accomplish Before My 40th Birthday
For my 35th birthday, here's an update to my 40 Before 40 project – the 40 goals I set on my 30th birthday and hope to accomplish by my 40th. This update includes goals I accomplished in the past year and my plans for the second half of this project...
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...