Where to Stay in Valdez: 4 Nice Hotels in the Land of Waterfalls
Alaska is a big, wild, beautiful place – and each Alaska traveler I've met has a different list of places they want to go, things they want to experience, and memories they want to bring home. For some folks, escaping the crowds and cruise ships is essential, and research quickly shows that Valdez is a great option if you're willing to take the journey and have the time...
3 Days in San Jose, CA: Itinerary of the Best Things to Do in the South Bay
When you think of visiting the Bay Area, where comes to mind? San Francisco, definitely. Probably Oakland and/or Berkeley. Maybe somewhere in the North Bay like Napa or Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Does San Jose come to mind? There are far more things to do in San Jose than you might think. San Jose is the final piece of the puzzle – the South Bay’s great weekend destination...
Alaska in April: A Complete Guide to Visiting in Spring
Watching the seasons change in Alaska is an incredible experience. The snowclad mountains slowly change from their white vestiges to become clad in green. Wildlife begins to appear more frequently: moose move from the cities up into the mountains, bears emerge from their hibernation, and whales begin to reappear, seeking a season of feeding in Alaskan waters...
Where to Eat in Seward: A Local Guide to 17 Must-Try Spots
Nestled safely on the coast of Resurrection Bay, Seward is the Kenai Peninsula's most popular destination – in part aided by the fact that Alaskan cruise companies arrive and depart here throughout the summer months (and even into the late season!). During the peak season, there are enough visitors – both cruisers and independent travelers – to support a large number of restaurants and bars in this seaside community...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Bandelier National Monument
If you're looking for a place that will never stop surprising you, New Mexico is the destination. While I only took my first trip to New Mexico in July 2021 (to see the Virgin Galactic launch!), I made a return trip in September 2022 to explore a different part of the state, and I am endlessly surprised by how different New Mexico is compared to what I expect. Land of Enchantment, indeed...
10 Essentials to Pack for the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
The open road is calling, and you want to answer. Where better to explore the beauty of America than by making your way down the Pacific Coast Highway, which stretches from Washington State to the southern border of California?...
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...
My Yearly Mantra for Writing, Travel & Life in 2023
Here we are, at the start of another year. If you're reading this, first off: thank you. You've joined me once again on this journey we're all making through life and I'm glad to have you along the way – whether that's just this one post or another one about traveling to Alaska (or somewhere else)...
2022 in Review: My 5 Top Travel Experiences
Here we are, at the end of another year – it is astonishingly cliche to say it flew by, because it's actually a well-documented (though admittedly depressing) psychological phenomenon. 2022 was the first year since 2019 where life felt quite normal; Mr. V and I settled into our lives here in Cleveland, and I/we took several incredible trips that both helped me create better travel resources for work and enjoy the beauty of the world...
