Isle of Skye, Scotland Discover the Isle of Skyes dramatic, otherworldly landscapes—among Scotlands most stunning. This expert road trip guide, based on my firsthand experience, helps you plan the perfect adventure. While Edinburgh and Loch Ness are iconic, nothing compares to a road trip through the Scottish Highlands to the Isle of Skye. The scenery here is rugged, breathtaking, and utterly raw. Skyes terrain captivates with its wild beauty. I recently completed a self-drive road trip

Scottish Highlands, Scotland The Scottish Highlands live up to their legendary beauty. Discover my expert tips for an unforgettable road trip through majestic mountains, misty lochs, and rugged glens. The Scottish Highlands had topped my travel bucket list for years. After an exhilarating 4-day road trip through Lochaber and the West Highlands, Im sharing my proven itinerary to help you make the most of your adventure. Why visit the Scottish Highlands? If you love hiking towering mountains, c

Las Coloradas, Mexico Hidden away on the tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a magical place full of color. These stunning cotton-candy pink lakes filled with salt are called Las Coloradas. 2021 UPDATE: A lot has changed since we first visited these lakes in 2016. Entering the water near the salt factory is no longer allowed. The pink lakes are a bit more crowded, there’s an entrance fee, a parking lot, and bus loads of tourists are normal. Las Coloradas means “the colored&

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Hiking in waist-deep water through dark caves at Rio Secreto, we turned a corner to discover a massive cavern decorated with incredible stalactites all over the ceiling. Spelunking, or exploring caves, is one of my favorite adventure travel activities. I’ve hiked and crawled through natural underground passageways in South Africa, Guatemala, Iceland, and more. But Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is teeming with incredible caves too. There is something exciting

Jökulsárlón, Iceland Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland features dramatic blue- and black-streaked icebergs drifting with the tide. Discover expert tips for an unforgettable visit to this iconic site. Jökulsárlón is Icelands deepest and most breathtaking glacial lagoon, drawing tourists, photographers, adventurers, and even Hollywood stars. A century ago, this area was solid ice from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Due to rising global temperatures since around 1920, the glaciers edge bega

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland mesmerizes with its jagged icebergs in shades of blue and black, drifting with the tide. As an experienced traveler, here are my essential tips for visiting this iconic natural wonder. Jökulsárlón is Iceland’s deepest and largest glacial lake, captivating tourists, photographers, adventurers, and even Hollywood filmmakers like James Bond. Over the past century, retreating Breiðamerkurjökull glacier—due to rising global

Asheville, North Carolina Asheville has to be one of the coolest small cities on the American East Coast, with a relaxed bohemian vibe and adventurous spirit. Here are some fun things to do there! Located in North Carolina’s scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has a unique mix of hipster coffee shops, award-winning restaurants, outdoor activities, and more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the US. After hearing about Asheville for years, whether from friends, or the Obama&rs

Yucatán, Mexico Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula boasts pristine tropical beaches, diverse wildlife, ancient Mayan ruins, charming villages, and thrilling adventure activities. The Yucatán Peninsula features emerald waters giving way to turquoise waves lapping at powdery white coral-sand beaches—some of Mexicos finest. Lush green forests conceal Mayan ruins and colonial architecture, while vibrant sea life thrives beneath Caribbean-blue skies. Many refer to the “Yucatán Peninsula” simply as “Yucatá

Ely, Minnesota If you’re looking to get away, unwind, and reconnect with nature, you really can’t beat a backcountry canoe trip into Minnesota’s pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area. With the wind at my back, I glided effortlessly over the cool lake water with every thrust of my paddle. The calming silence broken only by the lonely wail of a loon swimming close by… My father & sister were slightly ahead of me, scouting for our first campsite. Our lightweight kevlar

Hawaiis Big Island We spent 5 unforgettable days discovering Hawaiis stunning waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes, and wildlife. Discover the top things to do on the Big Island for an epic adventure! While Oahu draws the biggest crowds, Hawaiis Big Island—also known as Hawaii Island—is the largest and still expanding due to active volcanic activity. Years ago, as a cash-strapped college student on Oahu, I couldnt afford inter-island trips. Our recent road trip changed that, revealing the incredibl

Iceland Driving Guide Ready for an epic road trip driving in Iceland? Renting a car is the best way to experience this beautiful country. But there are a few things you should know before you go. So you’ve drooled over photos on Instagram for years, and are finally planning your own epic road trip to drive around Iceland! After visiting a few times now, driving in Iceland on the famous Ring Road and the Golden Circle has been one of my favorite adventures after 10-years of travel and vi

Dublin, Ireland Dublin, Irelands vibrant capital, captivates with its colorful doors, lively music, and rich history. Discover the best attractions for an unforgettable visit. As one of Europes smaller capitals, Dublin punches above its weight, enchanting visitors with stunning cathedrals, historic pubs, world-class museums, and secret spots. From quirky hidden gems to iconic landmarks, this guide—drawn from my familys genealogy trip tracing my Irish roots—shares 30 fun, unique things to do y

Nomadic Living As a digital nomad and avid traveler, Ive frequently connected with Irish people by mentioning my heritage. While Americans proudly embrace their immigrant roots, I took it further: after thorough research and application, I officially became an Irish citizen by descent. With Irish ancestry on both sides, I qualified through my grandmother. If you have Irish parents or grandparents, you may be eligible too, gaining a valuable second passport with EU benefits. This process offer

Edinburgh, Scotland Edinburgh, home to scholars, authors, philosophers, and infamous figures from its dark past, is an ancient city built at the base of an extinct volcano. Scotlands capital blends rich history with vibrant modern culture. In recent years, Edinburgh has emerged as a global hub for art, theater, and creativity, hosting world-renowned festivals and events. Every street showcases centuries of history, evoking the pages of your favorite novels. From the Royal Mile to Arthur’s Sea

Chichen Itza, Mexico The history of Chichén Itzá is not for the faint of heart. These ancient Mayan temple ruins in Mexico are shrouded in mystery and brimming with gruesome stories. Once you finally get past an army of local vendors at the entrance, the ancient stone carvings of fearsome creatures and bloodthirsty warriors at Chichen Itza inspire awe. This pre-Hispanic city (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) has a fascinating 1,000-year-old history. It is the second most visited

Kamchatka, Russia In the remote Russian peninsula of Kamchatka, indigenous Even people have tended vast reindeer herds for centuries. After a grueling snowmobile journey through brutal conditions, we finally connected with these resilient nomads. Blasting winter snow pelted my face like thousands of frozen needles. Navigating snowmobiles through a blinding whiteout with 60 mph winds and a wind chill of -39°F, we fought to descend a vast, featureless alpine plateau. Conditions worsened by the

Havana, Cuba Havana captivates with its historic architecture, iconic classic cars, vibrant live music, and refreshing mojitos. Discover the top 25 things to do in this enchanting city. Recent easing of U.S. travel restrictions has boosted tourism to Cuba, drawing more visitors to Havana than ever. Just one hour from Miami by flight, this vibrant capital blends vintage charm with colorful, weathered infrastructure, Spanish colonial architecture, lively nightlife, and eclectic art scenes. Desp

Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland Deep within Iceland’s central highlands, Kerlingarfjöll is a group of small geothermically active and rust-colored mountains capped with snow. Here’s how to organize your own self-drive adventure. Kerlingarfjöll is a lesser-known day-hiking experience not too far away from Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route. It was one of my favorite stops in Iceland! If you want to get off the beaten path a bit and extend your Golden Circle trip with

Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland Nestled deep in Iceland’s central highlands, Kerlingarfjöll boasts small, geothermally active mountains with striking rust-colored rhyolite peaks often capped in snow. Discover how to plan your own self-drive adventure to this captivating destination. Kerlingarfjöll offers a lesser-known yet rewarding day-hiking experience, conveniently located near Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle route. It remains one of my top highlights from exploring Iceland. For those s

Iceland Facts Discover astonishing facts about Iceland, from the cultural practice of letting babies nap outside, to savoring fermented shark (hákarl), and using an app to avoid dating relatives. Tourism has surged in recent years, with Iceland welcoming over 2 million visitors annually to its Nordic island paradise. The countrys diverse landscapes feature black sand beaches, blue glaciers, thundering waterfalls, whale watching, and the mesmerizing Northern Lights. Explore 25 intriguin