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.
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10 Essentials You Need to Pack for Alaska in the Winter
The aurora dancing above a snowy field. Hearing the snowflakes fall on a quiet, dark night. That amazing feeling when you step inside, peel off your layers, and the warmth seeps back into your bones. There's something magical about Alaska in the winter...
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...
Which Alaska Cruise Ship Size Should You Book?
There are so many ways to see Alaska, it can quickly get overwhelming when you're planning a trip. Maybe you've already narrowed it down a bit and know you want to take an Alaska cruise – that's a good start. But even then, you might soon find yourself drowning in a sea of open tabs on your computer, comparing companies, itineraries, prices, and more...
5 Epic Train Rides in Alaska to Take On Your Trip
Train travel is magical. It's relentlessly consistent but un-rushed; it shows you the world but each moment is fleeting and requires a certain mindfulness to appreciate. Even if you don't consider yourself a "railhead" (a super-nerd about trains), there are some pretty incredible train rides in Alaska. Thanks to the unique organization of the Alaska Railroad and its role in Alaskan history, visitors today can travel across the state and back in time each time they board the Railroad's iconic blue and yellow trains...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Joshua Tree National Park
Short on time but keen for adventure? Here's an itinerary for one day in Joshua Tree National Park, from sunrise to sunset and even after!
Windstar Cruises Alaska Review: A Luxury Sail through the Inside Passage
Every morning, I would rise from bed, and walk to the curtains. I'd open them just a sliver – even at 6am, the sun was already high and the day was bright. And there it was: blue water – and blue skies! Though the forecast had called for rain the entire duration of our Windstar Cruise in Alaska and we packed with that in mind, good fortune smiled upon us. Almost every day of our journey through Alaska's Inside Passage aboard the Star Breeze was clear skies and sunshine... exactly the kind of magic you need to make memories in this incredible place...
The 17 Best Kenai Fjords National Park Cruises from Seward (2022)
The sky is clear and the sun creates a million sparkles of light on the face of the ocean. A humpback whale erupts from the shallow waves in a full breach. A glacier cracks loudly making the phrase "white thunder" make sense as a giant piece of ice falls into the water. An otter rides the wake of our boat, holding onto a rock it will use to crack open the clamshell in its other paw for lunch. These are some of the quintessential experiences you can have on a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise...
Seward’s Best Day Cruise: Major Marine Tours Review (2022)
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...
25 Wonderful Weekend Getaways from Seattle, Washington
Seattle is one of my favorite cities – I loved living there when I did (2013-2017), and I love traveling there now that I've moved away (I just celebrated my 35th birthday in Seattle!). But I also love escaping the city to enjoy some of the many Seattle weekend getaways around the Pacific Northwest...
